Descendants of John O

John O'Callaghan of Ingersoll, Ontario
Index of Descendants Digital Images Related O'Callaghans? Acknowledgments Links Additions/Corrections Recent Updates Created: December 15, 2001 Last Updated: August 19, 2002 E-mail me Home (Minogue Pages) Main Home	John O'Callaghan (sometimes written Callaghan) was born on 24 June 1814 in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. He married Bridget Syron , also of County Mayo, about 1833. Her exact surname is uncertain, as all the following variations have been found in different documents – Tyrone, Siron, Tyrell, Bryan, and Ryan. Between 1842 and 1843, John and Bridget migrated to Canada. They came with their three children - Ellen, age 8; John, age, 6; and Michael, age 2. A second daughter, Elizabeth was born and baptized in 1843 in Lachine, Quebec which is on the island of Montreal, so it is possible that the port of call for them would have been Quebec City and they would then have traveled down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. John went into business supplying meat to men working on the Beauharnois Canal, which was near Salsberry-de-Valleyfield, south of the St. Lawrence. Upon the completion of the Montreal area canal project, the family moved to what is now St. Catharine’s, Ontario, where construction of the Welland Canal was starting. This was actually the second of the four versions of the canal (which was completed in 1845), and entered Lake Ontario at Port Dalhousie. Evidence of its existence may be seen today in the old stonewalls lining the end of the Dalhousie Harbour, as far as Lakeshore Road. The fourth and present canal’s Lake Ontario entry is to the east, at Port Weller, with the Lake Erie access at Port Colborne. The second canal had another optional Lake Erie access at Port Maitland, via the Wainfleet Canal diversion. John carried on the same meat supply business here as he had in Quebec. In 1850, John and Bridget moved to Norwich Township, in Oxford County, Ontario (known as Canada West at that time). They lived here for fourteen years, where John went into business buying cattle and farming. The 1851 Census of Canada West lists John head of household on the as a farmer in Norwich, born in Ireland, who will be 37 on his next birthday, surname is spelled as Calligan. He and his wife, Bridget, and their seven children (Ellen, John, Michael, Elizabeth, Peter, Frank, and James) were living in a log house (as opposed to a log shanty or lean-to, which was the common "starter house" of the time). The census of 1861 in District 2, North Norwich, Oxford County, listed John as a 47-year-old farmer, born in Ireland, Catholic, and living with his wife, Bridget, and their nine children in a two-story frame house. Son, Michael is missing from the family. Daughters Maria and Bridget have joined the family in the past ten years. For several years in the early 1860's, John farmed in Dereham Township, also in Oxford County. In the 1862 Dereham directory, he is listed as living on Concession 2, Lot 11. In 1867, Canada West became Ontario, a province of the new country of Canada. The family’s final move was to Ingersoll, Oxford County, around 1869. Here, John became a very successful merchant dealing in meat, groceries, liquor, etc. and carried on business in a site formerly owned by Mr. Phelan. He built a large brick business on the west side of Thames Street and north of Charles Street. It still stands today. The clerk in the Pizza Pizza shop in the building recalls hearing it "used to be a butcher shop". In fact, the 1894 Ingersoll Directory lists this lot as the O’Callaghan Brothers Meat Market operated by John’s sons James, Frank and George. In 1874, John purchased the McMurray House, a rather large hotel on the corner of Thames and Oxford Streets and in 1876 he bought the "Stables". Presumably the stables refer to the livery stables known to be near the same corner. The census of 1871 Canadian census of Ingersoll lists John as 56 years old, a merchant, born in Ireland, Catholic, literate, and living with his wife, Bridget, and five of their children (Frank, James, Maria, George, and Bridget). It appears that almost all of the children are listed as 3 -4 years younger than in previous censuses. Census and other records refer to John as "John O’Callaghan, esq." or "John O’Callaghan, gentleman". These expressions were not used lightly in the 19^th century, especially in official documents. They are both old terms imported from England which indicate an individual of wealth, stature, and influence, and most important, a property owner of some consequence. John was widowed in 1885 when Bridget passed away at the age of 71. Six years later he appeared on the Canadian census of 1891 in Ingersoll as 76 years old, widow, born in Ireland, parents born in Ireland, occupation is a Gentleman. The 1894 and 1895 Ingersoll directories list his residence as the west side of Thames, 4 north of Charles. This would be next door to the O’Callaghan Brothers Meat Market. On the Thursday evening of October 2, 1902 at fifteen minutes to seven, John was celebrating the visit of son John, who lived in Michigan, and whom he had not seen for some time. He was in conversation with his youngest son George, when he turned to cross the street. He was on his way to an evening mass at Sacred Heart Church, about two blocks away. George called out to him to warn of an approaching CPR work train. John turned and waved, as though to say he was safe. The train was closer or faster than he had estimated it to be. He was struck by the locomotive, and died a few minutes later. The Ingersoll Daily Chronicle called John "one of the best known men in Oxford County". He was 88 years old. He was buried on 5 October 1902 in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. John and Bridget are buried together in Section B, Row F. In a will written on October 17, 1899, John left the majority of his property to his sons James and George. Sadly this appears to have caused a rift between the children as court records indicate that John, Maria, Ellen, Elizabeth, and Frank were plaintiffs in a case to contest the will. Sons George, James, and daughter, Bridget were listed as defendants. It appears the will was found to be valid and John gave up his executorships to the will, while James and George retained theirs. It is not known if this caused permanent damage to family relationships. (Transcription of the will and probate records can be found in the "Digital Images" section of the website.) As previously mentioned, John and Bridget had ten children. We have seen that George, James and Frank were in the meat business as owners of the O’Callaghan Meat Market in Ingersoll which was located on the west side of Thames Street, 5 buildings north of Charles Street. George married Mary Donnelly, apparently unrelated to the notorious Donnelly family in nearby Lucan. They remained in Ingersoll and had four children (John Leo 1885-1886, May Margaret 1887-1956, Frederick Aloysius 1889-1920, and Kathleen 1894-1956). James married Kate Carroll and they also had four children (John Carroll 1885-1907, Daniel James 1889-1925, Thomas D'Arcy 1893-1961, and Catherine Mary 1896-1928). At some point, they relocated to Detroit. It appears that Frank never married and remained in Ingersoll until his death in 1913 at the age of 65. The obituary states that he died at his brother, George's house, and that he had been an invalid for over 30 years. Michael married Ann Diggles and they moved to Chicago where they had three daughters, Henrietta, Louise, and Sarah. Michael died at the early age of 49. Peter is not mentioned in John’s will, so it is assumed that he predeceased him. The last Ingersoll census that lists Peter is in 1861 at the age of 17. Oldest son John was married twice - once to Anna Ramsey Ward and once to Rosina Braendle Smith. It is not known if there were any children in either marriage. John died at the age of 84 in Clare, Michigan. Daughter Ellen and her husband, Redmond Sage, a successful farmer in the Norwich area had five daughters (Agnes, MaryEllen, Sarah Bridget, Catherine, and Elizabeth) and seven sons (Mike, James Patrick, Thomas Francis, Redmond, John Anthony) and interestingly calling the last born, on July 4, 1875, George Washington Sage. Ellen died in Ingersoll at the age of 94. Elizabeth married first, John Gibbons, and following his death, married Patrick Quigley. Elizabeth and John had three children and for ran a grocery store and inn in Goldstone until John passed away at an early age of tuberculosis. Following the death of her second husband, Patrick, Elizabeth and her children moved to Hamilton in the early 1900’s. Maria married William Dwyer, a stonecutter and member of a family in the business. One would suspect that the fine red stone markers at the O’Callaghan, Dwyer, Sage, Hanlon, Donnelly and Carroll graves would be a result of this family connection. Maria and William had at least nine children (William, Agnes, Frank, Owen Thomas, John Joseph, Mary Ann, George, Elizabeth, and Margaret) and it appears they eventually settled in London, Ontario. Finally, Malinda, the youngest of John’s children, married Darius Francis Hincks (Frank) Doty, son of Edwin Doty and Bridget O'Reilly on the 22nd of November 1882. Although the Sacred Heart Church records in Ingersoll list Malinda's name as Bridget, it is believed by the writer that this was a possible transposition error by the priest. Malinda's mother's name was Bridget and in all other documents we have found (marriage, census, death, her father's probate record) she is listed as Malinda. Malinda and Frank had seven children and eventually migrated to the USA (Buffalo, N.Y., Michigan, and Ohio). Their oldest child, Edwin O'Reilly (b. 22 Aug. 1883), married Ida Mae Fitch and they had three children, Magdalene, John O'Reilly, and Isabelle Blanche. Edwin died in Lorain, Ohio, in 1920 at the age of 36. Mallinda's second child, John, was born in Michigan, in July of 1886, and died in Cleveland, Ohio on the 19 Feb 1912 at the age of 25. All that is known of the next two children is that daughter, Mary, was born in Ingersoll, in Nov. 1888 and Cathleen in Jan 1891. Daughter Magdalene, born in 1893, married a Harry Lyons in Ohio in 1916. The last two children were twins. Marguerite and Frank were born in Buffalo in May of 1898. Marguerite married Edward Kelly in 1919, but she died an early death in 1921 at the age of 23. Twin, Frank, died early also at the age of 38 in March of 1937. Malinda died on the 20th of July, 1934 at the age of 76 having been predeceased by three of her children and her husband (Frank died in 1931). Both Malinda and Frank are buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

John O'Callaghan of Ingersoll, Ontario

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Created: December 15, 2001

Last Updated: August 19, 2002

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John O'Callaghan (sometimes written Callaghan) was born on 24 June 1814 in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. He married Bridget Syron , also of County Mayo, about 1833. Her exact surname is uncertain, as all the following variations have been found in different documents – Tyrone, Siron, Tyrell, Bryan, and Ryan.

Between 1842 and 1843, John and Bridget migrated to Canada. They came with their three children - Ellen, age 8; John, age, 6; and Michael, age 2. A second daughter, Elizabeth was born and baptized in 1843 in Lachine, Quebec which is on the island of Montreal, so it is possible that the port of call for them would have been Quebec City and they would then have traveled down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. John went into business supplying meat to men working on the Beauharnois Canal, which was near Salsberry-de-Valleyfield, south of the St. Lawrence.

Upon the completion of the Montreal area canal project, the family moved to what is now St. Catharine’s, Ontario, where construction of the Welland Canal was starting. This was actually the second of the four versions of the canal (which was completed in 1845), and entered Lake Ontario at Port Dalhousie. Evidence of its existence may be seen today in the old stonewalls lining the end of the Dalhousie Harbour, as far as Lakeshore Road. The fourth and present canal’s Lake Ontario entry is to the east, at Port Weller, with the Lake Erie access at Port Colborne. The second canal had another optional Lake Erie access at Port Maitland, via the Wainfleet Canal diversion. John carried on the same meat supply business here as he had in Quebec.

In 1850, John and Bridget moved to Norwich Township, in Oxford County, Ontario (known as Canada West at that time). They lived here for fourteen years, where John went into business buying cattle and farming. The 1851 Census of Canada West lists John head of household on the as a farmer in Norwich, born in Ireland, who will be 37 on his next birthday, surname is spelled as Calligan. He and his wife, Bridget, and their seven children (Ellen, John, Michael, Elizabeth, Peter, Frank, and James) were living in a log house (as opposed to a log shanty or lean-to, which was the common "starter house" of the time). The census of 1861 in District 2, North Norwich, Oxford County, listed John as a 47-year-old farmer, born in Ireland, Catholic, and living with his wife, Bridget, and their nine children in a two-story frame house. Son, Michael is missing from the family. Daughters Maria and Bridget have joined the family in the past ten years.

For several years in the early 1860's, John farmed in Dereham Township, also in Oxford County. In the 1862 Dereham directory, he is listed as living on Concession 2, Lot 11. In 1867, Canada West became Ontario, a province of the new country of Canada.

The family’s final move was to Ingersoll, Oxford County, around 1869. Here, John became a very successful merchant dealing in meat, groceries, liquor, etc. and carried on business in a site formerly owned by Mr. Phelan. He built a large brick business on the west side of Thames Street and north of Charles Street. It still stands today. The clerk in the Pizza Pizza shop in the building recalls hearing it "used to be a butcher shop". In fact, the 1894 Ingersoll Directory lists this lot as the O’Callaghan Brothers Meat Market operated by John’s sons James, Frank and George.

In 1874, John purchased the McMurray House, a rather large hotel on the corner of Thames and Oxford Streets and in 1876 he bought the "Stables". Presumably the stables refer to the livery stables known to be near the same corner. The census of 1871 Canadian census of Ingersoll lists John as 56 years old, a merchant, born in Ireland, Catholic, literate, and living with his wife, Bridget, and five of their children (Frank, James, Maria, George, and Bridget). It appears that almost all of the children are listed as 3 -4 years younger than in previous censuses.

Census and other records refer to John as "John O’Callaghan, esq." or "John O’Callaghan, gentleman". These expressions were not used lightly in the 19^th century, especially in official documents. They are both old terms imported from England which indicate an individual of wealth, stature, and influence, and most important, a property owner of some consequence.

John was widowed in 1885 when Bridget passed away at the age of 71. Six years later he appeared on the Canadian census of 1891 in Ingersoll as 76 years old, widow, born in Ireland, parents born in Ireland, occupation is a Gentleman. The 1894 and 1895 Ingersoll directories list his residence as the west side of Thames, 4 north of Charles. This would be next door to the O’Callaghan Brothers Meat Market.

On the Thursday evening of October 2, 1902 at fifteen minutes to seven, John was celebrating the visit of son John, who lived in Michigan, and whom he had not seen for some time. He was in conversation with his youngest son George, when he turned to cross the street. He was on his way to an evening mass at Sacred Heart Church, about two blocks away. George called out to him to warn of an approaching CPR work train. John turned and waved, as though to say he was safe. The train was closer or faster than he had estimated it to be. He was struck by the locomotive, and died a few minutes later.

The Ingersoll Daily Chronicle called John "one of the best known men in Oxford County". He was 88 years old. He was buried on 5 October 1902 in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. John and Bridget are buried together in Section B, Row F.

In a will written on October 17, 1899, John left the majority of his property to his sons James and George. Sadly this appears to have caused a rift between the children as court records indicate that John, Maria, Ellen, Elizabeth, and Frank were plaintiffs in a case to contest the will. Sons George, James, and daughter, Bridget were listed as defendants. It appears the will was found to be valid and John gave up his executorships to the will, while James and George retained theirs. It is not known if this caused permanent damage to family relationships. (Transcription of the will and probate records can be found in the "Digital Images" section of the website.)

As previously mentioned, John and Bridget had ten children.

We have seen that George, James and Frank were in the meat business as owners of the O’Callaghan Meat Market in Ingersoll which was located on the west side of Thames Street, 5 buildings north of Charles Street. George married Mary Donnelly, apparently unrelated to the notorious Donnelly family in nearby Lucan. They remained in Ingersoll and had four children (John Leo 1885-1886, May Margaret 1887-1956, Frederick Aloysius 1889-1920, and Kathleen 1894-1956). James married Kate Carroll and they also had four children (John Carroll 1885-1907, Daniel James 1889-1925, Thomas D'Arcy 1893-1961, and Catherine Mary 1896-1928). At some point, they relocated to Detroit. It appears that Frank never married and remained in Ingersoll until his death in 1913 at the age of 65. The obituary states that he died at his brother, George's house, and that he had been an invalid for over 30 years.

Michael married Ann Diggles and they moved to Chicago where they had three daughters, Henrietta, Louise, and Sarah. Michael died at the early age of 49. Peter is not mentioned in John’s will, so it is assumed that he predeceased him. The last Ingersoll census that lists Peter is in 1861 at the age of 17. Oldest son John was married twice - once to Anna Ramsey Ward and once to Rosina Braendle Smith. It is not known if there were any children in either marriage. John died at the age of 84 in Clare, Michigan.

Daughter Ellen and her husband, Redmond Sage, a successful farmer in the Norwich area had five daughters (Agnes, MaryEllen, Sarah Bridget, Catherine, and Elizabeth) and seven sons (Mike, James Patrick, Thomas Francis, Redmond, John Anthony) and interestingly calling the last born, on July 4, 1875, George Washington Sage. Ellen died in Ingersoll at the age of 94.

Elizabeth married first, John Gibbons, and following his death, married Patrick Quigley. Elizabeth and John had three children and for ran a grocery store and inn in Goldstone until John passed away at an early age of tuberculosis. Following the death of her second husband, Patrick, Elizabeth and her children moved to Hamilton in the early 1900’s.

Maria married William Dwyer, a stonecutter and member of a family in the business. One would suspect that the fine red stone markers at the O’Callaghan, Dwyer, Sage, Hanlon, Donnelly and Carroll graves would be a result of this family connection. Maria and William had at least nine children (William, Agnes, Frank, Owen Thomas, John Joseph, Mary Ann, George, Elizabeth, and Margaret) and it appears they eventually settled in London, Ontario.

Finally, Malinda, the youngest of John’s children, married Darius Francis Hincks (Frank) Doty, son of Edwin Doty and Bridget O'Reilly on the 22nd of November 1882. Although the Sacred Heart Church records in Ingersoll list Malinda's name as Bridget, it is believed by the writer that this was a possible transposition error by the priest. Malinda's mother's name was Bridget and in all other documents we have found (marriage, census, death, her father's probate record) she is listed as Malinda. Malinda and Frank had seven children and eventually migrated to the USA (Buffalo, N.Y., Michigan, and Ohio). Their oldest child, Edwin O'Reilly (b. 22 Aug. 1883), married Ida Mae Fitch and they had three children, Magdalene, John O'Reilly, and Isabelle Blanche. Edwin died in Lorain, Ohio, in 1920 at the age of 36. Mallinda's second child, John, was born in Michigan, in July of 1886, and died in Cleveland, Ohio on the 19 Feb 1912 at the age of 25. All that is known of the next two children is that daughter, Mary, was born in Ingersoll, in Nov. 1888 and Cathleen in Jan 1891. Daughter Magdalene, born in 1893, married a Harry Lyons in Ohio in 1916. The last two children were twins. Marguerite and Frank were born in Buffalo in May of 1898. Marguerite married Edward Kelly in 1919, but she died an early death in 1921 at the age of 23. Twin, Frank, died early also at the age of 38 in March of 1937. Malinda died on the 20th of July, 1934 at the age of 76 having been predeceased by three of her children and her husband (Frank died in 1931). Both Malinda and Frank are buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.