Re: Patrick McKenna b c 1830 Ire - US
-
In reply to:
Patrick McKenna b c 1830 Ire - US
Mary Beaumont 10/14/00
My McKenna line has always been a mystery to me.I have a Patrick McKenna in my family tree.He was my great great grandfather.He was born in 1830 in Ireland.He married Margaret (maiden name unknown but may be Connley or Conway).They immigrated to New York where they had two daughters, Mary Ann McKenna born 1859 and Catherine Rose McKenna born 1860.They packed up their small children and moved to Jones Territory in Nebraska.They probably came to homestead.They are listed in the 1860 census with the last name McCann.Then, they mysteriously disappeared.In the 1870 census, on the same land (which became Big Sandy, Jefferson, Nebraska) Mary Ann McKenna and Catherine Rose McKenna are found being raised by different parents, James and Catherine Conway.I read in a historical book of that area that there were some Indian attacks and many early settlers were killed.The book even mentioned areas near Patrick and Margaret's homestead.I can only imagine that they were killed by the Indians and that maybe Margaret's brother came out to take care of the girls.I am just wondering because the children remained on the same land and when Catherine Rose McKenna got married, she listed her mother's maiden name at Conway.Anyone else have any information or if Mary Beaumont still checks these boards, please respond.