#96 THE FIRST STEPHEN
My husband is the fourth generation of Stephen Whelans. He shares this name with his uncle and godfather Stephen Whelan (1926-1950), his grandfather Stephen Whelan (1881-1926), and his great-grandfather Stephen Whelan (1825-1906).
STEPHEN WHELAN I
Great-grandfather Stephen Whelan was aged 22 when he emigrated from Country Carlow, Ireland in 1847 with his
parents, Thomas and Mary, and his eight siblings. Stephen was the second oldest
of the six sons and three daughters. The family settled in Renfrew County.
It was
reported in his obituary that Stephen had gone, as a young man, to Australia
and California to prospect for gold. The California Gold Rush began 1848 and
reached its peak in 1852; the Australia gold rush was in the early 1850s. (The
only documentation I could find is of a Stephen Whelan who entered Victoria,
Australia as an unassisted inward passenger in October 1858 aboard the Red
Jacket; a Patrick Whelan had entered six months previously. There is no proof
that these were our two brothers. But Stephen is not listed in
the 1861 Canadian census, so perhaps he was prospecting out of country then. All that is
certain is that Stephen never struck it rich in either of these adventures!)
On January 18, 1869, Stephen, aged 44, married Hannah O’Gorman, aged 20 in St. James the Less Church, Eganville.
Stephen and Hannah had twelve children—five sons (with the expected forenames: Thomas, Patrick, William, Stephen, Peter, James) and eight daughters (Mary Catherine, Elizabeth, Margaret Ellen, Julia, Monica, Anna), One daughter, Monica, died young but another baby was then given this forename.)
In 1870, Stephen purchased 200 acres on Lot 8, Concession 8, Admaston, Township. He paid $1200 ($75,000 today) for this property. On the 1871 census, he reported that 100 acres had been cleared and 40 acres were in pasture Fifty acres of hay produced 15 tons. He had planted 6 acres of wheat and harvested 20 bushels of spring wheat, 100 bushels of oats, 4 bushels of rye. The one acre of potatoes produced 60 bushels (Irish!). He also grew 19 bushels of turnips and 4 bushels of carrots. Stephen owned 2 horses, 5 milk cows, 6 sheep, 2 pigs; he sold/butchered 4 sheep and 4 pigs. He sold 200 pounds of butter and 7 pounds of wool.
In the 1870s,
Admaston was in its early development; logging was the economic backbone. Farmers
like the Whelans faced significant challenges as the land, climate and limited
infrastructure all made agriculture difficult. Much of Renfrew County, including
Admaston, had thin rocky and infertile soil. Settlers had to clear dense forests
before they could farm; this was labour-intensive, requiring axes, saws, and
controlled burns. Stumps left behind made plowing difficult. Farmers then had to
remove stones by hand or with oxen. The soil in Renfrew was much better suited to
livestock-grazing than growing crops and this limited what farmers could produce.
The area experienced long, cold winters and a short growing season and this made
it difficult to grow staple crops like wheat. Insects like grasshoppers and
cutworms destroyed crops while larger animals like deer, bears and wolves were
common and could threaten livestock. The price of crops fluctuated and poor
yields could mean hardship or even starvation.
Many
farmers to Renfrew arrived with little money and had to be self-sufficient. They
kept livestock like cows, pigs and chickens to supplement their diet. Their farms
were small and most focused on subsistence farming to provide for their family rather
than producing cash crops.
In the
1870s, roads were rough, often just dirt trails; thus, it was difficult to get
produce to market and this limited farmers’ ability to trade or profit from
surplus crops. As money was scarce, trade was mostly through bartering. Farmers
would take surplus goods such as eggs, butter and wool to Renfrew or Pembroke
where they could trade for supplies. There were few local mills so farmers often
had to travel long distances to grind their grain into flour. Small general
stores provided a limited amount of essential goods. Horses and oxen were the
primary means of transport, but in winter, sleighs were used to travel along
snow-covered roads.
Most settlers
lived in in log cabins, which they built from the dense forest. The homes were
simple, with a wood stove for heating and cooking, and rough-hewn furniture.
Harsh winters made survival difficult and required careful food storage.
Sickness and injuries were common, with few doctors available. Home remedies
and midwives played a critical role in healthcare. A single teacher taught
children of all ages in a one-room schoolhouse.
Churches were the heart of the community and central to social life. The Whelans attended St.Michael’s R.C. Church in Douglas. A log chapel had been replaced in 1864 and was dedicated to St.Michael the Archangel, but within 20 years the congregation had grown such that a larger building was begun and dedicated in 1889. The Whelans and other parishioners cut the timber and were involved in this construction. Limestone for the building was from the Douglas area, but the marble was hauled 30 km from Quebec. Stephen and Hannah’s children were baptized here.
In 1888 the Whelan Post Office was established. In 1892, the name was changed to Whelan Lake because mail was being missent to Whalen in Middlesex County. Stephen Whelan was its first post master and ran the service out of his home. After Stephen’s death in 1906, Hannah assumed the position. Whelan Post Office was closed in 1916 on Hannah’s death.
Whelan Lake postal cancellation stamp
Stephen was
quite involved in local politics and served as Admaston Reeve for over three
decades. From the Eganville Leader January 20, 1905: Mr. Stephen Whelan,
the veteran reeve of Admaston for thirty-three consecutive years, has retired
on his well won laurels. During his time he was invincible and could have
retained the position until the end had he chose to do so. He had long since
overcome all opposition and circumvented successfully all schemes to defeat him.
Alliances were formed against him only to be broken and cast back in dismay. It
is perhaps just to Mr. Whelan to say of him that after his career at the head
of the municipality of Admaston for a third of a century, that while
discharging his duty conscientiously and efficiently, he has done so without
making enemies or leaving any sting of remorse behind him. It is to be hoped
that the people of Admaston will signalize his departure by a handsome
testimonial of regard in recognition of his long and faithful service to the
corporation.
As Reeve for so many years. Stephen oversaw a range of responsibilities. He was head of the local government and presided over council meetings; he helped council establish local by-laws such as land use, road maintenance and local taxes; he played a key role in setting the township budget, ensuring that public funds were allocated for things like road repairs, education and public services; he would help set local tax rates. Ensuring that roads and bridges were properly maintained was a key responsibility, as road conditions in rural areas could affect trade, transportation and the community’s general livelihood. Stephen would also have been involved with managing local schools, health efforts, and social support for widows, orphans and the elderly. He would have been vested in law enforcement and mediating disputes between residents related to land ownership, business practices or other local matters. A Reeve was involved with various local events and matters, providing guidance and leadership to the community. He would have additional political responsibilities, representing Admaston at the County or provincial level. For instance, in the late 19th century, Stephen was part of a local delegation that approached Sir Wilfrid Laurier about compensation for a railway re-routing.
Stephen passed on March 3, 1906, aged 81. Hannah passed on November 3, 1919, aged 71. They are buried St. Michael Roman Catholic Cemetery, Douglas, Renfrew County.
Stephen Whelan & Hannah O'Gorman, St.Michael's Cemetery, Douglas, Ont
Stephen Whelan b. abt 1825 in Co.Carlow, Ireland m. Hannah O'Gorman (1848-1919) on Jan 18 1869 in Eganville, Renfrew Co d. Mar 3, 1906 in Admaston Twp, Renfrew Co., Ont Steve's great-grandfather (Whelan line)
Stephen’s will was probated August 1906. His estate was valued at $7120 (household goods $50: farming implements$200: horses $500: horned cattle $500: sheep $20: book debts $50: real estate $5800) minus $3800 mortgage. Eldest son, Thomas, received Lot 19 plus a team of horses; Wife Hannah Lot 20: Stephen $1200 son Patrick had already received money: son William $1+his clothes and maintenance; daughter Margaret $100; Mary Catherine & Elizabeth had already received a dowry; Gertrude & Mona received the cost of their education until they could earn a living.
Stephen and Hannah had twelve children.
1. 1. Thomas S Whelan (1870-) was willed a
160 acre farm by his father. Thomas married Elizabeth Emma Valliquette in 1915.
In 1916, the Courts ordered that Thomas could sell his farm free of his wife as
she was “of unsound mind” but had to give a $130 cash value of the dower to the
Inspector of Prison and Public Charities for Ontario. Emma died 1918 of Spanish
flu. It is possible that Thomas died Nov. 2 1950 in the Perth House of
Industry.
2. 2. Patrick John Whelan (1871-1942) was willed the 200 acre family homestead but sold it to his brother, Stephen. Patrick became a timber agent for the Crown. He married Elizabeth O’Shaughnessy and they had two children.
3. 3.William James Whelan (1873-1949) There
must have been a reason why father Stephen willed William only $1, his clothes
and his maintenance. William lived with mother on the family farm until her death
in 1919; after that he likely worked as a labourer in Renfrew. He died in the
House of Providence, Kingston, on Sept 19, 1949, aged 76.
4. 4. Mary Catherine Whelan married widower John Connolly in 1892. They had 3 children.
5. 5. Peter Whelan (1878-1907) went to
California about 1895. Family did not hear from him for five years; he was so
out of touch with his family that he did not know that his father died.
6. 6. Elizabeth Whelan (1879-1961) married Thomas McCourt and they had four children. Thomas willed his farm and all stock and personal property to his oldest son and to each of his daughters one cow and bed and bedding when they married (or turned 21).
7. 7. Stephen Whelan (1881-1926) married Isabella O’Shaughnessy and they had eight children. He farmed his father’s farm. Stephen and Isabella are our direct ancestors.
8. 8. Margaret Ellen “Maggie” Whelan (1883-1957) taught school for a few years before she married Michael Sheehan. They had 10 children including two daughters who became nuns with the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Pembroke.
9. 9. Anna Cecilia Whelan (1886-1920) married Michael James Connolly. They had four children.
10 10. Julia Whelan (1888-) possibly married Lorne Larson
2. 11. Monica Whelan (1888-1888) possibly a
twin sister of Julia who died in infancy
3. 12. Monica “Mona” Whelan (1892-1977) trained as a nurse and was a nursing sister in World War I. She married Lieut-Colonel O.K.Gibson, who helped establish the Canadian Dental Corps and was named an MBE and OBE for his service . Mona and O.K.’s remarkable life is my blog #13 Two Who Served.
Very interesting, thank you.
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