McKERNAN ANNEX

 

Theresa C. (McKernan) Biles Pedigree

(Start at generation 1, below.)

 

WORKING DRAFT

Last Change: 11 August 2024

 

Biles, Theresa (McKernan) 1870's (52) - close up #.jpg

 

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Origin of the surname “McKernan:”

 

 

Generation

 

4  

 

3   John McKiernan

 

1. Biographical notes:

 

Born 1780 in Ireland.  Died 1860 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Moved to California about 1898.

 

2. Wife: Mary Smith/Rose (?)

 

Born May 1782 in Ireland.  Died 16 July 1865 in Dushore Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

 

3. Children: (number & order uncertain)

 

a. Mary McKernan: (perhaps a sibling of Peter) Born about 1786.  Died 16 July 1865, age 79 years, 4 months.

 

b. James Thomas McKiernan: Born 1797 in Ireland.  Died after 1860 in Dushore Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

 

c. John McKernan: (perhaps a sibling of Peter) Born January 1801.  Died 17 October 1881, age 80, in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

 

d. Peter McKernan: See generation 2, below.

 

e. Thomas McKernan: Born 1813.  Died 1882.

 

f. Patrick McKernan: Born 1814.  Died 1896.

 

g. Matilda McKernan: (perhaps a sibling of Peter) Born about 1815.  Died 15 November 1843, age 28.

 

h. James McKernan: Perhaps a sibling of Peter.  Perhaps married 2 July 1862.

 

i. Mary McMiernan: (by one account) Born 1836.

 

2   Peter McKernan

 

1. Biographical notes:

 

Born 22 June 1803 in County Monahan, Ireland.  Died 14 October 1867 in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania; interred Dushore Catholic Cemetery.  Emigrated from County Monahan, Ireland to America, working 1st in the vicinity of New Orleans, Louisiana.  May have been supporting himself doing road work as he worked his way north.  Settled at Laddsburg, Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

2. Wife: Mary Elizabeth Stevens (photos)

"Polly"

 

Born 7 June 1827 at Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Pennsylvania; daughter of Seth S. and Polly (Lee) Stevens and sister of Emma (Stevens)(Place) Irvine, who married (2nd), as his 3rd wife, John Irvine (3).  Mary (Stevens) McKernan died 20 May 1893 in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.

 

3. Children:

 

a. Eleanor "Ellen" McKernan: (photos) Born 15 October 1848 in Pennsylvania.  Died 2 October 1922 at Stroudsburg, Stroud Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.  Married Henry Knowles (photos)(more info) and had 5 children, including the following son:

 

(1. John Knowles: (photos)

 

b. Theresa C. McKernan: See generation 1, below.

 

c. Katherine/Katheryn “Kate” McKernan: Born 24 March 1855 in Pennsylvania.  Died 2 December 1924.  Married William Bowman French “Bowman” (b. 3/5 Aug 1854), perhaps son or grandson of Oscar French of Litchfield near Windham Center and 1st cousin of Lucy A. (Dowd) Irvine (wife of Washington Irvine; their mothers were both Schraeders), on 11 April 1874.  Bowman was a “sawyer” and traveled all over the country fixing saw blades in sawmills.  Katherine and Bowman had the following children:

 

(1. Anna French: Born 11 April 1875.  Died 1875, age 4 months.

 

(2. William Wallace French: Born 7 April 1877.  Died August 1924.  Married Mary Verbeck (b. 7 Jun 1870?), niece of Esther Verbeck, who married Edwin Burr Barns and had Leslie Edwin Barns, who married Caltha Elizabeth Camp, 3rd child of Betsey Biles (and Calvin Camp), who was the 14th child of Alexander Patterson Biles.  No children left.

 

(3. Theresa Maud French: Born 22 July 1879.  Died April 1939.  Married Clarence Victor Kinney about 1898; no children survived their mother.

 

(4. Oscar French: Born 2 July 1881.  Followed in his father’s business as a “sawyer,” traveling widely to repair commercial application saw blades.  Married Nellie Morley.

 

(5. Jennie French: (photos) Born 7 March 1883.  Died 26 August 1961.  Married (1st) Daniel “Dan” Wagner (b. 7 Nov 1880) in July 1912.  Married (2nd) Henry Delaney (b. 2 Mar 1874) on 8 February 1938.  No children mentioned.

 

(6. Katherine French: Born 26 June 1885 at (perhaps) Wichita, Kansas.  Died about 1932/33.  Married John Brown and had 4 children who lived to have children of their own.

 

(7. Bowman French, Jr.: Born 18 August 1889.  Married (1st) Fanny Doane, who, along with a child, died young.  Bowman married 3 more times; “no legitimate children survived.”

 

(8. Miles French: (photos) (more info) Born 3 August 1891 at East Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 27 January 1973, age 81, at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Bradford County; interred Nichols Cemetery.  Resided in Windham Township (RD #2, Athens), Bradford County.  Employed as a farmer at Windham Summit.  Married Mildred Dell Morrell (photos) (b. 7 Jun 1889), daughter of Peter Merrill, on 14 February 1915 at the Towanda Courthouse and had 9 children, including the following:

 

(a. Clarence French: Born 22 February 1916.  Resided at RD #2, Nichols.

 

(b. Miles French, Jr.: Resided at RD #1, Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(c. Dorothea “Dorothy” French: Married Kenneth Folk and resided at RD #2, Nichols.

 

(d. Bernice French: Married (1st) Henry Brown and resided at RD #2, Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Married (2nd) (?) Austin and resided at Nichols.

 

(e. Oscar William French: Resided at RD #2 Athens, Bradford  County, Pennsylvania.  Married (?) and had the following children: (one born January, the other November of the same year)

 

(1) Oscar William French, Jr.: (photos) (more info) Apparently enlisted in the US Air Force.

 

(2) 

 

Oscar, Sr. and his wife were subsequently divorced. 

 

(f. Mildred French: Married Claude Arnold and resided at RD #2, Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(g. Ruthanna French: Married Perry Brown and resided at Warren Center/Windham Summit.

 

(d. Norman French: Resided at RD #2, Nichols.

 

(e. Lloyd French: Resided with his parents at RD #2, Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(9. Floyd French: Born 24 September 1893.  Employed as a machinist.  Married Rose Van Riper (b. 15 Mar 1895) and had the following children: (6 by another account; 3 had children)

 

(a. Nelson French: Resided at Barton.  Apparently had the following daughter:

 

(1) Daughter.

 

(b. Althea French: Resided at Barton and had the following children:

 

(1) Son.

 

(2) Daughter.

 

(c. Arthur French: Never married.

 

(d. Wilma French.

 

(e. Theresa “Tessie” French: Married (1st) (?), but subsequently divorced.  Married (2nd) (?).  Had several children.

 

(f. Charles French.

 

(10. Blanche Rhea French: Born 31 July 1895.  Died about age 19.

 

d. Mary McKernan: (photos) Born 5 January 1858.  Died December 1937.  Married Frank Evans (photos) and had 3 children, including:

 

(1. Daughter. (photos)

 

e. Luke P. McKernan (have seen both Patrick & Paul): (photos) Born 30 March 1860 at Laddsburg, Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died there 7 May 1923, age 63 years, 1 month, and 7 days, from complications of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.  Employed as a farmer.  Resided at the old McKernan “home place” at Laddsburg, Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Married Lura Chapman in 1887/88 and had the following children.

 

(1. Byron James McKernan: Born 1888.  Kept honey bees that produced buck wheat honey.  Married Anna C. Jeffries and had the following son

 

(a. Byron James McKernan, Jr.: (more info) Born about 1925 at Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 1972, age 47, in Jersey Shore Hospital from complications of heart disease; interred St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania.  Graduated 1942 from Towanda High School, Towanda, Bradford County.  Served in the US Army in Europe during World War II.  Subsequently graduated from Penn State University with BS and MS degrees majoring in psychology.  Taught and supervised high school special education and also served as a clinical psychologist.  Married Betty Ayers and resided at McElhattan, Clinton County, Pennsylvania.  Byron and Betty had 2 daughters and 4 sons.

 

(2. Elyda McKernan: Married (1st) (?) Cummisbey and had 3 children, each of whom had children.  Married (2nd) (?) Sando and had 3 children, each of whom had children.

 

(3. Lola McKernan: Married Clear (sp) Loomis and had 3 children, including:

 

(a. David Luke Loomis.

 

(b. Laura Chapman Loomis.

 

(4. Kathryn “Kate” E. McKernan: (photos) (more info) Born 6 June 1893 at Laddsburg, Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 1 March 1978, age 84, at the Bradford County Manor; interred Epiphany Cemetery, Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Married Thomas McMahon (photos) (d. 1969) on 12 September 1917 at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania and initially resided at Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Two years later moved to 211 W. Pine Street, Athens, Bradford County.  Thomas was employed as a Lehigh Valley Railroad engineer.  Kate and Thomas had the following children:

 

(a. Thomas McMahon: In 1967 resided at New York City, New York.

 

(b. Nora McMahon: Married (?) Jewell and in 1978 resided at Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(c. James McMahon: In 1978 resided at Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(d. Michael McMahon: In 1978 resided at Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(e. Joseph Paul McMahon “Paul”: In 1978 resided with his parents at Athens, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(5. Mabel McKernan: Born 4 June 1895.  Married Thomas “Tom” Shaffer and had 5 children.

 

(6. Dessie McKernan: Died as a baby.

 

(7. Rodney McKernan: Died young.

 

(8. Martin McKernan: Born 1901/02.

 

(9. Mary McKernan: Married James Sluyter/Sluitur/Slyter (d. 2 Nov 1956, age 55, in an auto accident).  No children of their own, but did adopt a daughter.

 

(10. Evelyn McKernan: Married (?) Mahoney and resided at Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Evelyn and her husband had 3 daughters, who had children.

 

(11. Josephine M. McKernan: Born 18 June 1908 in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died August 1990.  Married (?)_Sullivan and resided at Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Josephine and her husband had 2 children, both married.

 

(12. Joseph McKernan: Married Laura Haflett (a nurse) and resided at Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Joseph and Laura had 6 children.

 

(13. Bernard McKernan: Married a widow with 4 children and in 1978 resided at Rome, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

f. John McKernan: (photos) Born 23 August 1862 in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died there 13 April 1929.  In 1942 resided at the McKernan  “home place” in Laddsburg, Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Married Teresa/Thresa McDermit/McDermott (more info) (b. 1868 in Albany Twp, Bradford Co., PA, d. there 1951? at home), daughter of Henry and Helen/Ellin (Cummiskey) McDermott, on 27 January 1893 in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania and had 8 children, including:

 

(1. Mary M. McKernan: Born 3 March 1894 in New Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died there 30 November 1965.  Married Joseph "Joe" T. Sando (b. 22 Jun 1896 in New Albany Twp, Bradford Co., PA, d. 20 Aug 1960 at Elmira, Chemung Co., NY) and resided at Elmira, Broome County, New York.

 

(2. Ellen T. McKernan: Born April 1896 in Pennsylvania.  Perhaps married J. T. Marshall and resided at Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylania.

 

(3. John Henry McKernan: Born 3 December 1899/98 in Pennsylvania.  Resided at Buffalo, Erie County, New York.

 

(4. Edmund B. McKernan: Born 24 September 1900 in New Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died there 1 June 1935.

 

(5. Joseph Gregory McKernan "Gregory": Born 5 September 1903 in Pennsylvania.  Died June 1973 in Dushore Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.  Resided with his parents.

 

(6. Veronica/Elizabeth F. McKernan: Born about 1906 in Pennsylvania.  Married William Ryan (b. abt 1906 in NYS), son of James A. and Frances (?) Ryan, on 17 February 1930 in Chemung County, New York and resided at Elmira, Chemung County, New York.

 

(7. Rose S./Celsus McKernan: Born 26 October 1907 at Laddsburg, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 19 April 1996 at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.  Married Elmer Raymond Bigger (b. 2 Dec 1902, d. 25 Dec 1969) and resided at Hughesville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

 

(8. Gerard Peter McKernan: Born 5 May 1912 at Laddsburg, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 24 August 1977 at Elmira, Chemung County, New York.  Resided at Elmira, Broome County, New York.

 

g. Emma McKernan: Born 30 May 1865.  Died 24 February 1898 in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania; interred Saint Basil Cemetery, Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.  Married Wesley Sylvester Steafather (b. abt 1869 in PA, d. 12 Jun 1924 in CA; interred Ararat Cem., Fresno, Fresno Co., CA), son of Lucas and Mary (Knolles) Steafather, and had the following children:

 

(1. Clinton Steafather: Moved to Bakersfield, Kern County, California with his father and brother after his mother's death in 1898.  No known further contact with his sister, Grace.

 

(2. Grover Steafather: Born 3 July 1893 at Lopez, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.  Died 17 September 1942 at French Camp, San Joaquin County, California.  After his mother's death in 1898 moved to Bakersfield, Kern County, California with his father and brother.  Drove east from California to visit his sister, Grace, and her family in Pennsylvania at least once.

 

Grover Steafather married Tressa Marinda Garner (b. 25 Apr 1894 at Clifton, Franklin Co., ID, d. 22 Aug 1956 at Jerome, Jerome Co., ID; interred Elba Grandview Cem., Elba, Cassia Co., ID), daughter of Charles Henry and Sarah Melvina (Marinda)(Jensen) Garner.

 

(3. Grace Etta Steafather: Born 31 January 1895.  Died 18 November 1972.  After her mother’s death Grace was raised by her Aunt Theresa (McKernan) Biles and Theresa’s family, while her father and brothers moved to California.  In the 1920's Grace attempted to locate her father and brothers, but was largely unsuccessful.

 

Grace Steafather married Earl Denver Young.  Of interest, Grace’s oldest child, Charles, sensed as he grew up that his mother was not totally and warmly welcomed by Theresa’s husband, James, who struggled to support his own family and, thus, was not always happy with the arrangement.  However, Grace definitely felt her two, unmarried step sisters, Emma and Anna Biles were very good and kind to her, encouraging her growth and development in every possible way.  In their later lives, when Emma and Anna needed help, Grace tried her best to reciprocate.  For further details on Grace, see paragraph 4.C.3.h. of the Jacob Place Biles page.

 

h. Anna “Ann” A. McKernan: (photos) Born 30 June 1868 in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died 24 June 1932; interred Evergreen Cemetery, Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.

 

1900 US Census: Frank W. Height, age 30 (b. May 1870 in Ill, parents b. IL) and employed as a teamster, was heading a household at 228 East Eleventh Street in the City of Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.  The household also included his wife of 10 years, Anna Height, age 31 (b. Jun 1868 in PA; father b. Ireland; mother b. PA), who had had 2 children, 1 of whom was still alive; and son, Roy F. Height, age 9 (b. May 1891 in CO).

 

1910 US Census: Frank Hight, age 39 (b. IL; parents b. OH) and employed as a teamster for a grocery store, was heading a household at 228 East Eleventh Street in the City of Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.  He had been married once.  The household also included his wife of 20 years, Annie Hight, age 41 (b. PA; father b. Ireland; mother b. PA), who had been married once and had had 2 children, 1 of whom was still alive; and son, Roy Hight, age 18 (b. CO), single, and employed as a teamster for a grocery store.

 

1920 US Census: Frank W. Hight, age 49 (b. IL; parents b. OH) and employed as a wagon driver for a grocery store, was heading a household at 228 East Eleventh Street in the City of Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.  The household also included his wife, Anna A. Hight, age 50 (b. PA; father b. Ireland; mother b. PA).

 

1930 US Census: Anna Hight, age 61 (b. PA; father b. PA; mother b. Ireland), widowed, and not employed, was heading a single-person household at 228 East Eleventh Street in the City of Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.

 

Anna McKernan married Franklin "Frank" W. Hight (photos) (b. May 1870 in IL, d. 1927 in CO; interred with Anna) about 1890 and had 2 children, including:

 

(1. Roy Franklin Hight: (photos) Born 31 May 1891 at Leadville, Lake County, Colorado.  Married Kathryn G. (?).

 

(2. Child: Died before 1900 in Colorado.

      

1   Theresa C. McKernan:

 

Born 13 May 1853 in Pennsylvania.  Died 24 July 1932 in Pennsylvania.  Married, as his 2nd wife, James Monroe Biles, paragraph 4.C.3. of the Jacob Place Biles page, which is generation 8 of the Ancestors of John Addison Biles in September 1879.

 

See Jacob Place Biles Page for More Info

 

 

Note 1: Miles French lived up Litchfield way toward Windham Center.  There was a news picture of Mr. And Mrs. Miles French’s 50th wedding anniversary.  They were married 14 February 1915 and had the following children:

 

1. Clarence French of Nichols, New York.

2. Miles French, Jr. of Sayre, Pennsylvania.

3. Oscar French of Athens, Pennnsylvania.

4. Norman French of Nichols, New York.

5. Leyland French of Athens, Pennsylvania.

6. Mrs. Bernice ??Austys?? of Nichols, New York.

7. Mrs. Dorthea Falk of Nichols, New York.

8. Mrs. Mildred Arnold of Athens, Pennsylvania.

9. Mrs. Ruthanne Brown of Nichols, New York.

 

 

Note 2: Memories of Marian Elizabeth Biles

 

“Several times I was at Anna’s [youngest daughter of James Monroe Biles] when McKernan relatives came to call – there were some Knowles folks; I think from the Easton, Pennsylvania area.  There was somebody from Towanda, I don’t know who they were.  Josephine seems to be a name I associate with that location.  If I ever get hold of my old diaries, they might show something (I didn’t always take my diary along when I went overnight or on a weekend.).

 

“Also, Uncle Luke’s family seemed to come often.  I was over there also (to Uncle Luke’s family) (Don’t ask me where ‘over there’ was – across the river on the hill-tops somewhere).  Byron had bees and buck-wheat honey.”

 

XXXXX

 

Other, still unidentified, McKernans:

 

1. Patrick McKernan: Married Margaret Taffe and resided in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Patrick and Margaret had the following children:

 

a. Patrick F. McKernan: (more info) Born 29 February 1880 in Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Died May 1978, age 98, at the Bradford County Manor, Burlington, Bradford County; interred Saint Basil’s Cemetery, Dushore, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.  Employed as a woodsman and farmer.  Apparently never married.

 

b. Daughter: Married (?) Cummiskey and had the following children:

 

(1. Richard Cummiskey: Resided in New Albany Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

 

(2. Patrick Cummiskey: Resided at Binghamton, Broome County, New York.

 

(3. Joseph Cummiskey: Resided at Elmira, Broome County, New York.

 

(4. William Cummiskey: Resided at Horseheads, Chemung County, New York.

 

 

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