#3. Daniel Logue Jr. – My artistic inspiration

Daniel Logue painting a portrait of his father.

This week, I continue with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by writing about an uncle I had never met. Today, January 26, would have been his birthday.

I’ve been interested in art since I was a child. I spent hours drawing and painting. I was lucky enough to have parents who supported my whim, and bought me art supplies, art books, and even Saturday morning art lessons. So, I had always been fascinated about hearing my dad talk about his brother, Daniel, who had been a commercial artist.

My uncle Dan was born on January 26, 1927 in Philadelphia, PA and was the eldest child of my grandparents, Daniel and Emma Logue. They too, encouraged the young Daniel to develop his artistic talent.

Daniel was obviously very talented. He was challenged a bit, because he was color blind. I was told that sometimes his flesh tones might have been a little too green. But, that did not stop him from pursuing what he obviously loved to do. He successfully learned how to work through his affliction and produced many beautiful paintings.

Pastel painting by Daniel Logue Jr

Daniel eventually got a job as an illustrator at an advertising agency in Philadelphia. He married his wife, Evelyn, who was also an artist and had a son.

But sadly, Daniel died at the very young age of 31 of complications while having a routine surgery done. He was supposed to have been the best man at my parents’ wedding that year in 1959.

Since he passed away before I was born, I was never lucky enough to have met my Uncle Daniel. I really wish I could have. However, hearing about him inspired me to also pursue a career in art. I am now an art director and have worked at various ad agencies throughout my career. I suppose I have my uncle to thank for that.

 

2. Levi Tennison

It’s an important day in our family today: it’s my stepson’s 18th birthday. I decided to use this landmark date as inspiration in finding an ancestor to write about for the 52 Ancestors challenge. So I looked at the calendar in my Family Tree Maker program and discovered that my stepson shares a birthday with his 4th great grandfather, Levi Tennison. I really did not know very much about this ancestor, so I did some digging. As it turned out, I found some very interesting reading.

Levi was born 181 years ago on January 19, 1833 in Illinois, possibly somewhere in Shelby County. His parents were Rutherford and Rhody (nee Whitfield). At some point, Levi, his parents and 6 siblings left Illinois. In 1850 they were found living in Carroll County, Arkansas.

Around 1854-1856, Levi married Elizabeth Jane Seals in Arkansas. Eleven children were born to them over the years.

Levi and his family moved around quite a bit. The family was found living in Bourbon County, Kansas from 1860-1870. Levi’s occupation was listed as “farmer.” Then in 1880, they were found living in Lampasas County, Texas.

Life seemed to have taken a curve once they began living in Texas. His oldest son, Joseph “J.W.” was ambushed and shot to death on April 16, 1886 while walking home outside of Comanche, Texas. Four men were arrested for the murder. Another son, William Edward, was arrested for theft of a horse, and was incarcerated at the Texas Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas on August 10, 1880, at the age of 15. However, he was pardoned by the governor on March 8, 1881, because of his youth.

By 1910, Levi and his wife were living in Wheeler County, Texas, near their daughter, Samantha. Levi’s occupation was listed as “clergyman.”

Levi continued to live in Wheeler until his death on September 3, 1920. He is buried in the Wheeler Cemetery alongside his wife. Their tombstone, although broken from the heat of a wildfire, clearly reads, “Rev. Levi L. Tenison.”

Levi and his family had been just names to me, until I had decided to delve more into his life this weekend. I especially interested in learning more about the tragic end of his son, Joseph and why a group of men would murder someone in a small, rural community. And how and when did Levi decide to become a clergyman? So many questions to find answers to!

1. Margaret Carney Cone – #52Ancestors

Margaret Carney Cone, her sister, Mary Carney O’Mara. Some of Mary’s daughters standing behind them.

I am not the first genealogist in my family. It turns out my great grandmother had to do some digging in order to find her sister.

Margaret “Maggie” Carney, was born April 2, 1859 in Scranton, PA to Patrick and Bridget (McDonald) Carney. Her younger siblings, Mary Ann and James Patrick, were born in 1863 and 1864, respectively.

Shortly after James birth, it was said that the parents became unable to care for the children, and they were placed in a home, called the Scranton Asylum. It is not known what became of their parents after this time.

Margaret was taken from the home by an uncle of her father shortly afterwards. The baby, James, was taken by a cousin of their mother. Margaret and James were fortunate enough to have grown up near each other and knew each other. However, Mary was taken from a family not related, and lived in nearby Wyoming County. She did not have any contact with her siblings at all while growing up.

Margaret eventually moved to Yonkers, New York to live with her aunt. She met Patrick Cone while living there, and married him on April 12, 1879. Patrick and Margaret had 10 children. They also moved to Philadelphia, where Patrick had a job working at the Dobson Carpet Mill. Patrick died of a brain tumor September 15, 1912.

Margaret had tried searching for her lost sister for years. After Patrick’s death, the need to find her grew stronger. She had discovered that Mary had been taken by a Joly family and went to live with them in Wyoming County. At the suggestion of a cousin, Margaret placed an ad in the local paper in that area, The Wyoming Democrat. The ad ran on October 31, 1924.

The ad that helped Margaret Carney Cone find her sister, Mary, after 40 years of being apart.

It turns out that Mary was living in Wyoming County on a farm in Stowell. She was married to John O’Mara and had 16 children. Mary’s husband, John, was the one who spotted the ad in the paper. After an exchange of letters, Margaret went to meet Mary in Stowell. After almost 40 years of diligent searching, Margaret was finally reunited with her lost sister.

They were able to visit each other several times a year, with their families for many years afterwards. Margaret died August 27, 1944 in Philadelphia. Mary died January 5, 1955 in Stowell. However, their spirit of learning more about the family still lives on.