Michael Gainor Still Sings Irish Songs Despite 87 Years
--Mackville Pioneer Hale And Hearty After Long And Active Life --
By W. F. Winsey
After working in the garden all morning, Michael Gainor, 87 year old Mackville, complained to the writer a few days ago, that he was getting a trifle weaker day by day and less able to stand physical exertion than when he was young.
"Are you not in good health", inquired the writer.
"Yes," was the prompt reply, "I have a good appetite, sleep soundly and was never ill a day in my life."
"If that is the case and if you would go easy on that work in the garden, you might hold your own and even notice some improvements." suggested the writer. "You are no spring chicken and you should not try to keep pace with the young birds."
After the introductory dialogue was completed in the Gainor home, Mr. Gainor for the entertainment of his guest sang a good old Irish song. Stimulated by the words and the music, weariness was displaced by animation. At this point, Mr. Gainor declared that he had sung Irish songs and played the violin in his home and at parties and dances for the last fifty years.
In October, 1877, soon after he was married to Johanna Barry while working for the Barrys near Mackville, Mr. Gainor bought a stock of goods in Chicago and opened up a general store and saloon in Mackville.
2 FAMILIES IN VILLAGE
At the time Mr. Gainor started in business, he had, as competitors in the saloon business, Geo. Rabb and Edward McGillan. There were only two families living in the village and David Barry who cut down the first tree in the town of Center was living to the north of the village. Barry settled in the town of Center in 1848. A log church, built by Peter Hephner, who settled in Mackville in 1849 and who donated the land for a new church and the cemetery, was standing when Gainor opened up his doors for business, but the frame of the new church had been put up.
Mr. Gainor was a large contributor to the building of the new church and new sisters' house and helped to build them. As soon as he could, he bought the old house, formerly occupied by the sisters, moved it to an acre of ground and is now living in the house and working the land.
After enjoying a very prosperous business for a long term of years, and setting aside a snug little fortune, Gainor rented his store to Philip Barry in 1893, bought five houses in Appleton and retired from business. His store burned to the ground in 1898.
To rebuild he sold his five houses in Appleton, moved back again to Mackville and when the new building was ready for occupancy, opened up a new general store and saloon. He continued in business till nine years ago when he sold out to his son Joseph and retired for the second time.
In 1847, when the famine in Ireland drove a number of emigrants to America, the Gainor family and a party of relatives and friends started from the city of Limerick for Quebec. In the Gainor family were father and mother, Mrs. Patrick Patten, Appleton, and Mrs. John Barry. They went to Canada to join an uncle who had been writing and inviting them to come. The party landed at Montreal, stayed there a few weeks and proceeded by team and boat to Branford, Canada, where the elder Gainor died.
After the death of the father the family moved to Norwich township later to Woodstock and remained in Canada until October 1849. After the mother had married Phillip Greening, a blacksmith, Thomas Hays, an uncle of the Gainors who was a builder of locks on the Fox river, invited the family to come to the Fox river valley. The Gainors set out by boat from Canada for Green Bay. Greening got work shoeing horses for the government and the family lived in Green Bay until 1851.
Later the family located on a wild tract near Chilton in February 1857. There were no trees cut on the land and no buildings when the family arrived to take possession.
After clearing and improving the farm, in 1863, when the war of the rebellion was on, the family sold out and shipped the household goods and located on a farm near Prairie du Chien. In 1868 the Iowa farm was disposed of and the family moved to Fond du Lac, settling on a farm of 120 acres four miles southeast of the city.
The family remained on the latter farm five years when a sale was again made and another farm of 260 acres was bought at Seven Mile Creek. Later the family again sold out and returned to Chilton.
When Mr. Gainor, subject of this sketch, returned to Chilton he worked at the carpenter trade several years before starting for Mackville. He was married in Chilton and the newly wedded pair naturally gravitated toward their relatives, the Barrys in Mackville.
Mr. Gainor was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1836, was married to Johanna Barry in Chilton in 1876. Mrs. Gainor died in 1895 and he was married again in 1895 to Helen Holsknecht, still living. The children are, Mrs. Paul Schroeder, Appleton; George, Oregon; Joseph, Mackville, Mrs. Wyenberg[Weyenberg], Apppleton; Mrs. Edward Verkeuhlen, North Dakota; Mrs. Louis Hartl, Seymour; Victor, living with his parents.
Source: Appleton Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, Sat. Evening 8 Oct 1923, p. 7, col. 2-4
--Mackville Pioneer Hale And Hearty After Long And Active Life --
By W. F. Winsey
After working in the garden all morning, Michael Gainor, 87 year old Mackville, complained to the writer a few days ago, that he was getting a trifle weaker day by day and less able to stand physical exertion than when he was young.
"Are you not in good health", inquired the writer.
"Yes," was the prompt reply, "I have a good appetite, sleep soundly and was never ill a day in my life."
"If that is the case and if you would go easy on that work in the garden, you might hold your own and even notice some improvements." suggested the writer. "You are no spring chicken and you should not try to keep pace with the young birds."
After the introductory dialogue was completed in the Gainor home, Mr. Gainor for the entertainment of his guest sang a good old Irish song. Stimulated by the words and the music, weariness was displaced by animation. At this point, Mr. Gainor declared that he had sung Irish songs and played the violin in his home and at parties and dances for the last fifty years.
In October, 1877, soon after he was married to Johanna Barry while working for the Barrys near Mackville, Mr. Gainor bought a stock of goods in Chicago and opened up a general store and saloon in Mackville.
2 FAMILIES IN VILLAGE
At the time Mr. Gainor started in business, he had, as competitors in the saloon business, Geo. Rabb and Edward McGillan. There were only two families living in the village and David Barry who cut down the first tree in the town of Center was living to the north of the village. Barry settled in the town of Center in 1848. A log church, built by Peter Hephner, who settled in Mackville in 1849 and who donated the land for a new church and the cemetery, was standing when Gainor opened up his doors for business, but the frame of the new church had been put up.
Mr. Gainor was a large contributor to the building of the new church and new sisters' house and helped to build them. As soon as he could, he bought the old house, formerly occupied by the sisters, moved it to an acre of ground and is now living in the house and working the land.
After enjoying a very prosperous business for a long term of years, and setting aside a snug little fortune, Gainor rented his store to Philip Barry in 1893, bought five houses in Appleton and retired from business. His store burned to the ground in 1898.
To rebuild he sold his five houses in Appleton, moved back again to Mackville and when the new building was ready for occupancy, opened up a new general store and saloon. He continued in business till nine years ago when he sold out to his son Joseph and retired for the second time.
In 1847, when the famine in Ireland drove a number of emigrants to America, the Gainor family and a party of relatives and friends started from the city of Limerick for Quebec. In the Gainor family were father and mother, Mrs. Patrick Patten, Appleton, and Mrs. John Barry. They went to Canada to join an uncle who had been writing and inviting them to come. The party landed at Montreal, stayed there a few weeks and proceeded by team and boat to Branford, Canada, where the elder Gainor died.
After the death of the father the family moved to Norwich township later to Woodstock and remained in Canada until October 1849. After the mother had married Phillip Greening, a blacksmith, Thomas Hays, an uncle of the Gainors who was a builder of locks on the Fox river, invited the family to come to the Fox river valley. The Gainors set out by boat from Canada for Green Bay. Greening got work shoeing horses for the government and the family lived in Green Bay until 1851.
Later the family located on a wild tract near Chilton in February 1857. There were no trees cut on the land and no buildings when the family arrived to take possession.
After clearing and improving the farm, in 1863, when the war of the rebellion was on, the family sold out and shipped the household goods and located on a farm near Prairie du Chien. In 1868 the Iowa farm was disposed of and the family moved to Fond du Lac, settling on a farm of 120 acres four miles southeast of the city.
The family remained on the latter farm five years when a sale was again made and another farm of 260 acres was bought at Seven Mile Creek. Later the family again sold out and returned to Chilton.
When Mr. Gainor, subject of this sketch, returned to Chilton he worked at the carpenter trade several years before starting for Mackville. He was married in Chilton and the newly wedded pair naturally gravitated toward their relatives, the Barrys in Mackville.
Mr. Gainor was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1836, was married to Johanna Barry in Chilton in 1876. Mrs. Gainor died in 1895 and he was married again in 1895 to Helen Holsknecht, still living. The children are, Mrs. Paul Schroeder, Appleton; George, Oregon; Joseph, Mackville, Mrs. Wyenberg[Weyenberg], Apppleton; Mrs. Edward Verkeuhlen, North Dakota; Mrs. Louis Hartl, Seymour; Victor, living with his parents.
Source: Appleton Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, Sat. Evening 8 Oct 1923, p. 7, col. 2-4
Michael Gainor Still Sings Irish Songs Despite 87 Years
--Mackville Pioneer Hale And Hearty After Long And Active Life --
By W. F. Winsey
After working in the garden all morning, Michael Gainor, 87 year old Mackville, complained to the writer a few days ago, that he was getting a trifle weaker day by day and less able to stand physical exertion than when he was young.
"Are you not in good health", inquired the writer.
"Yes," was the prompt reply, "I have a good appetite, sleep soundly and was never ill a day in my life."
"If that is the case and if you would go easy on that work in the garden, you might hold your own and even notice some improvements." suggested the writer. "You are no spring chicken and you should not try to keep pace with the young birds."
After the introductory dialogue was completed in the Gainor home, Mr. Gainor for the entertainment of his guest sang a good old Irish song. Stimulated by the words and the music, weariness was displaced by animation. At this point, Mr. Gainor declared that he had sung Irish songs and played the violin in his home and at parties and dances for the last fifty years.
In October, 1877, soon after he was married to Johanna Barry while working for the Barrys near Mackville, Mr. Gainor bought a stock of goods in Chicago and opened up a general store and saloon in Mackville.
2 FAMILIES IN VILLAGE
At the time Mr. Gainor started in business, he had, as competitors in the saloon business, Geo. Rabb and Edward McGillan. There were only two families living in the village and David Barry who cut down the first tree in the town of Center was living to the north of the village. Barry settled in the town of Center in 1848. A log church, built by Peter Hephner, who settled in Mackville in 1849 and who donated the land for a new church and the cemetery, was standing when Gainor opened up his doors for business, but the frame of the new church had been put up.
Mr. Gainor was a large contributor to the building of the new church and new sisters' house and helped to build them. As soon as he could, he bought the old house, formerly occupied by the sisters, moved it to an acre of ground and is now living in the house and working the land.
After enjoying a very prosperous business for a long term of years, and setting aside a snug little fortune, Gainor rented his store to Philip Barry in 1893, bought five houses in Appleton and retired from business. His store burned to the ground in 1898.
To rebuild he sold his five houses in Appleton, moved back again to Mackville and when the new building was ready for occupancy, opened up a new general store and saloon. He continued in business till nine years ago when he sold out to his son Joseph and retired for the second time.
In 1847, when the famine in Ireland drove a number of emigrants to America, the Gainor family and a party of relatives and friends started from the city of Limerick for Quebec. In the Gainor family were father and mother, Mrs. Patrick Patten, Appleton, and Mrs. John Barry. They went to Canada to join an uncle who had been writing and inviting them to come. The party landed at Montreal, stayed there a few weeks and proceeded by team and boat to Branford, Canada, where the elder Gainor died.
After the death of the father the family moved to Norwich township later to Woodstock and remained in Canada until October 1849. After the mother had married Phillip Greening, a blacksmith, Thomas Hays, an uncle of the Gainors who was a builder of locks on the Fox river, invited the family to come to the Fox river valley. The Gainors set out by boat from Canada for Green Bay. Greening got work shoeing horses for the government and the family lived in Green Bay until 1851.
Later the family located on a wild tract near Chilton in February 1857. There were no trees cut on the land and no buildings when the family arrived to take possession.
After clearing and improving the farm, in 1863, when the war of the rebellion was on, the family sold out and shipped the household goods and located on a farm near Prairie du Chien. In 1868 the Iowa farm was disposed of and the family moved to Fond du Lac, settling on a farm of 120 acres four miles southeast of the city.
The family remained on the latter farm five years when a sale was again made and another farm of 260 acres was bought at Seven Mile Creek. Later the family again sold out and returned to Chilton.
When Mr. Gainor, subject of this sketch, returned to Chilton he worked at the carpenter trade several years before starting for Mackville. He was married in Chilton and the newly wedded pair naturally gravitated toward their relatives, the Barrys in Mackville.
Mr. Gainor was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1836, was married to Johanna Barry in Chilton in 1876. Mrs. Gainor died in 1895 and he was married again in 1895 to Helen Holsknecht, still living. The children are, Mrs. Paul Schroeder, Appleton; George, Oregon; Joseph, Mackville, Mrs. Wyenberg[Weyenberg], Apppleton; Mrs. Edward Verkeuhlen, North Dakota; Mrs. Louis Hartl, Seymour; Victor, living with his parents.
Source: Appleton Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, Sat. Evening 8 Oct 1923, p. 7, col. 2-4
--Mackville Pioneer Hale And Hearty After Long And Active Life --
By W. F. Winsey
After working in the garden all morning, Michael Gainor, 87 year old Mackville, complained to the writer a few days ago, that he was getting a trifle weaker day by day and less able to stand physical exertion than when he was young.
"Are you not in good health", inquired the writer.
"Yes," was the prompt reply, "I have a good appetite, sleep soundly and was never ill a day in my life."
"If that is the case and if you would go easy on that work in the garden, you might hold your own and even notice some improvements." suggested the writer. "You are no spring chicken and you should not try to keep pace with the young birds."
After the introductory dialogue was completed in the Gainor home, Mr. Gainor for the entertainment of his guest sang a good old Irish song. Stimulated by the words and the music, weariness was displaced by animation. At this point, Mr. Gainor declared that he had sung Irish songs and played the violin in his home and at parties and dances for the last fifty years.
In October, 1877, soon after he was married to Johanna Barry while working for the Barrys near Mackville, Mr. Gainor bought a stock of goods in Chicago and opened up a general store and saloon in Mackville.
2 FAMILIES IN VILLAGE
At the time Mr. Gainor started in business, he had, as competitors in the saloon business, Geo. Rabb and Edward McGillan. There were only two families living in the village and David Barry who cut down the first tree in the town of Center was living to the north of the village. Barry settled in the town of Center in 1848. A log church, built by Peter Hephner, who settled in Mackville in 1849 and who donated the land for a new church and the cemetery, was standing when Gainor opened up his doors for business, but the frame of the new church had been put up.
Mr. Gainor was a large contributor to the building of the new church and new sisters' house and helped to build them. As soon as he could, he bought the old house, formerly occupied by the sisters, moved it to an acre of ground and is now living in the house and working the land.
After enjoying a very prosperous business for a long term of years, and setting aside a snug little fortune, Gainor rented his store to Philip Barry in 1893, bought five houses in Appleton and retired from business. His store burned to the ground in 1898.
To rebuild he sold his five houses in Appleton, moved back again to Mackville and when the new building was ready for occupancy, opened up a new general store and saloon. He continued in business till nine years ago when he sold out to his son Joseph and retired for the second time.
In 1847, when the famine in Ireland drove a number of emigrants to America, the Gainor family and a party of relatives and friends started from the city of Limerick for Quebec. In the Gainor family were father and mother, Mrs. Patrick Patten, Appleton, and Mrs. John Barry. They went to Canada to join an uncle who had been writing and inviting them to come. The party landed at Montreal, stayed there a few weeks and proceeded by team and boat to Branford, Canada, where the elder Gainor died.
After the death of the father the family moved to Norwich township later to Woodstock and remained in Canada until October 1849. After the mother had married Phillip Greening, a blacksmith, Thomas Hays, an uncle of the Gainors who was a builder of locks on the Fox river, invited the family to come to the Fox river valley. The Gainors set out by boat from Canada for Green Bay. Greening got work shoeing horses for the government and the family lived in Green Bay until 1851.
Later the family located on a wild tract near Chilton in February 1857. There were no trees cut on the land and no buildings when the family arrived to take possession.
After clearing and improving the farm, in 1863, when the war of the rebellion was on, the family sold out and shipped the household goods and located on a farm near Prairie du Chien. In 1868 the Iowa farm was disposed of and the family moved to Fond du Lac, settling on a farm of 120 acres four miles southeast of the city.
The family remained on the latter farm five years when a sale was again made and another farm of 260 acres was bought at Seven Mile Creek. Later the family again sold out and returned to Chilton.
When Mr. Gainor, subject of this sketch, returned to Chilton he worked at the carpenter trade several years before starting for Mackville. He was married in Chilton and the newly wedded pair naturally gravitated toward their relatives, the Barrys in Mackville.
Mr. Gainor was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1836, was married to Johanna Barry in Chilton in 1876. Mrs. Gainor died in 1895 and he was married again in 1895 to Helen Holsknecht, still living. The children are, Mrs. Paul Schroeder, Appleton; George, Oregon; Joseph, Mackville, Mrs. Wyenberg[Weyenberg], Apppleton; Mrs. Edward Verkeuhlen, North Dakota; Mrs. Louis Hartl, Seymour; Victor, living with his parents.
Source: Appleton Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, Sat. Evening 8 Oct 1923, p. 7, col. 2-4
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