John Shanahan 1831-1895

I'm looking for information about my mother's family.

John Shanahan was born in Roscrae in 1831.

Ann Duncan was born in Ennis in 1833

Here is a newspaper article about them that has most of the relevant information:

1853 Families of the first 25 years 1878 (undated newspaper article) Picture of Ann SHANAHAN (1833-1923) and John SHANAHAN (1832-1895) John and Ann SHANAHAN settled in the Gillespie area in 1856. John SHANAHAN was born in 1832 in Roscrae, Ireland and Ann (DUNCAN) SHANAHAN was born in 1833 in Ennis, Ireland. She was 13 years old when she came to America. They were married in 1856 in Alton, Illinois, and moved to Gillespie that year.

There were only 6 or 7 houses in Gillespie at that time, and they made their first home at the corner of Oak and Adams. They had 12 children: 3 sons, John, Patrick and George, 5 daughters, Rose (CARROLL), Margaret (BARTLETT), Elizabeth (McEVOY), Anna (FIREHAMMER), and Johanna (MORRISEY). Four children died in infancy. There are 28 grandchildren, and 46 great grandchildren.

Mr. SHANAHAN was a foreman for the New York Central Railroad until 1870, when he purchased a farm of 80 acres for $500.00 from John & Julia JONES. This farm is located in Section 5, twp. 8, Range 6. The farm was sold in 1919 to the RELEFORD family, and is now owned and operated by Floyd RELEFORD. Mr. RELEFORD has the original abstract of title, showing it was a homestead grant on Oct. 30, 1850 from the United States of American to Wiad R. RHOADS.

John SHANAHAN died on May 29, 1895, and was buried in the old Catholic Cemetery out by the City Lakes, but was later moved to Holy Cross Cemetery. Mrs. SHANAHAN moved back to town in 1900, and resided in the house at the corner of Jersey and Pine. She died on October 28, 1923, and was the oldest resident of Gillespie when she died. She is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. Descendants living in Gillespie are Mrs. Lydia SHANAHAN (George), daughter-in-law; 3 grandchildren, Marie CARROLL KEUPPER, Kathryn SHANAHAN SKOSEY, Anna M. SHANAHAN LIPSEY; 2 great grandchildren, Lillian M. KEUPPER and Margaret M. BARTLETT NOVAK; 1 great-great grandson, Joseph BARTLETT NOVAK; and 2 great-great-great grandchildren, Joseph BARTLETT NOVAK II and Ann Marie NOVAK.

The George Shanahan married to Lydia in this article (his second wife after being widowed), was my grandfather.