#97 GRANDFATHER 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 Generation 2

Stephen had eleven siblings; he was one of the middle children and the youngest of the five sons. He was born July 8, 1881 on the family homestead in Admaston Township, Renfrew County.

 His father, Stephen, willed the family homestead to an older brother, Patrick but if Stephen lived on that farm with his mother and brother, William, and if after ten years, he had helped to improve the farm, he then could purchase it from Patrick for $1200. This Stephen did in 1916. (Patrick retained ½ interest in all minerals rights on the property). Stephen also paid $1 to his brother, William, as a quit claim on the property.

                                                                photos taken mid 1980s

On June 25, 1912, Stephen, aged 30, married Isabella “Bella” O’Shaughnessy, aged 18, in St.Michael’s Church, Douglas, Renfrew County. 

Bella was born August 8 1893 in Bromley Township. She was the daughter of John O’Shaughnessy (1850-1914) and his second wife Mary Jane Shields (1859-1928) She had two brothers, Martin (1896-1969) and John (1899-1971) and two half-sisters, Bridget (1879-1953) and Elizabeth (1882-1943).

Stephen and Bella had eight children—4 sons, 4 daughters. Two babies died in infancy—Lillian, 6 days old , of spinal bifida and Harold, 3 weeks old, of malnutrition (or SIDs).

In mid-June 1926, Stephen was out chasing dogs that were worrying his sheep; he was accidentally wounded from his rifle; infection/gangrene set in and he may have become delirious.  Three weeks later, “he seemed to be worrying over the circumstances, though the wounds were not very serious”. Stephen asked his oldest daughter to fetch his rifle and he later shot himself through the head. Bella awoke to “find him absent from the house, and going out to look for him, found him lying dead behind the garage.” Stephen was 41 years old. He was buried in St.Michael’s R.C. Cemetery in Douglas.

Bella was four months pregnant when her husband died. She raised six children, saw that her family was well-educated and that each had a profession. Bella would insist that her daughters review their timetables and spelling homework as she braided their hair as she helped them get ready for school each morning. Oldest son, Lorne, became head of household and took a paternal attitude towards his siblings. (for example, Lorne made sleds and skiis for them for winter fun.)

                                                         Lorne Mona Bella Rita Murray                                                                                                                                Stephen  Clare                                                                                                                                               (likely 1939-40)

                                                                Bella & her daughters                                                                                                                                 Clare, Mona, Bella, Rita

Bella farmed the property for the next twenty years. In her obituary, it says “Experienced farmers had the highest praise for the capable way Mrs. Whelan superintended and administered her farm business. Her neighbours  spoke of her many acts of kindness, her cheerfulness, concern for others, and her great knowledge.” But farming this rocky land was not easy.

In 1946, Bella sold the 200 acre farm for $4,157  (abt $68,200 today) and moved to Pembroke to live with daughter Clare. Bella suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis which especially affected the carpal-metacarpal joints of her hands.  She was a devout member of her church, the CWL and Sacred Heart League. 

Grandchildren remember her as soft-spoken, gentle, gray-haired woman (Chantal). Joan, around age 10, remembers talking with her grandmother and being told that when she got married to always put aside a little money from the grocery and household budget as you never knew what might happen in the future and you might need something to fall back on. And Mary Anne said, "I was always afraid of grandma because of her stern look, her arthritic hands, and her wheelchair. I was too young to understand what a tough life she endured." Unfortunately, most likely due to her illness and tough life, Grandma Bella came across as dismissive and dour and not able to warmly connect with her many young grandchildren. 

                                                            Bella and grandson, Patrick

                                                       Bella & granddaughter, Mary Anne

Arthritis forced Bella into using a cane and then a wheelchair and eventually she moved into Miramachi Lodge. Bella passed on Jume 13, 1972 in Pembroke and is buried alongside Stephen in St.Michael’s R.C. Cemetery in Douglas.

                                                 St. Michael's R.C. Cemetery, Douglas, Ont

 Stephen Whelan                                                                                                                                                b. Jul 8, 1881 in Admaston Twp, Renfrew County                                                                                    m. Isabella O'Shaughnessy on Jan 25 1912 in Douglas, Ont                                                                       d. Jul 1 1926, Admaston Twp, Renfrew Co.                                                                                        Isabella O'Shaughnessy                                                                                                                                    b. Aug 8 1893 in Bromley Twp, Renfrew Co                                                                                              d. Jun 13, 1972 in Pembroke, Ont                                                                                                                (Steve's paternal grandparents)  

DESCENDANTS OF STEPHEN & ISABELLA

                                                Mona, Rita, Murray, Clare, Stephen, Lorne                                                                                                                   (about 1941)

(my blog #17 has photos of these generations of  Whelan Weddings)

1.      1. John Lawrence “Lorne” Whelan (Nov 12, 1913-Aug 22, 1997) married Therese Barrette (1924-2018) in 1957. They were both teaching high school in Alexandria when they met.

a.      Children: Chantal 

b.     Grandchildren: Blaise, Clemence, Auguste

2.      2. Joseph Harold Whelan (Oct 11, 1915-Nov 6, 1915)

3.      3. Mary Lillian Whelan (Oct 12, 1915-Oct 18, 1915)

4.      4. Mary Monica “Mona” Whelan (Sept 24 1916- Oct 19, 2007) married Chester Muir (1916-1991) in 1951. Chester served in the Canadian army in Africa, Sicily and Italy. (my blog#42 Chester Serving in Sicily)  He worked as an accountant for Falconbridge. Retirement for Mona and Chester was spent in Florida and playing bridge.

a.      Children: Catherine, Patricia  

b.     Grandchildren: Lindsay, Heather, Amy

c.      Great-grandchildren: Oakley/ Harper, Hayden/ Parker, Brooks

5.      5. Rita Isabella Whelan (Apr 1, 1919-Jun 10, 2012) married Allan St.James (1903-1977) in 1950. Allan served as a medic in the Canadian army in France, Italy and Holland. He later practiced as a pharmacist in Pembroke. Rita was a hospital nurse and later worked at Miramachi Lodge.

a.      Children: Mary Anne

b.     Grandchildren: Tanner, Tiffany

c.      Great Grandchildren: Parker, Elisabeth/ Jackson, Max, Sawyer, Lily

6.      6. Murray Leonard Whelan (Jun 5, 1920-Apr 24, 1994) married Ellen Walsh (1912-1996) in 1946. (my blog #33 Tragic Times). Murray worked for Canada Post in Toronto. He loved his golf and bowling and a good game of euchre or cribbage (with no breaks for the grandkids)

a.      Children: Wayne, Stephen, Joan

b.     Grandchildren: Jessica, Beverly

c.      Great Grandchildren: Sophia, Ellie, Oliver/ Miles, Owen, Calvin

7.      7. Clare Leona Whelan (Jul 5 1925-Mar 20, 1973) married William Nolan (1916-2007) in 1952. Bill served in the Canadian Army in Italy. Clare was a nurse in Pembroke.

a.      Children: Patrick, Brian

b.     Grandchildren: Sean, David, Clarissa/ Rebecca, Megan

c.      Great Grandchildren: Valentyna/Bonnie

8.      8. Stephen Whelan (Nov. 2, 1926-Dec 13, 1950) married Rita Shea (1919-2017) in 1949. (my blog #21 Rita’s Rescue) Stephen died in a tragic accident at Chalk River in 1950 (my next blog)

a. Children: Kathleen