John J. Cavanaugh was born on May 1, 1866, the son of James Cavanaugh and Ellen Murphy Cavanaugh, in the town of Ballyglass in Mayo County Ireland.
His father was a soldier in the English army, and was wounded in battle and granted a pension by the English government.
John Cavanaugh was baptized in the Catholic Church of Burriscarra, May County, Diocese of Tuam, by the Rev. James Browne, R.P., on May 5, 1866. His baptismal sponsors were James Murphy and Bridget Brogan. Signing his birth certificate was the Rev. John Langan, assistant pastor.
On Nov 22, 1937, J.J. Cavanaugh wrote to the church to obtain a copy of his birth certificate to certify his age under the railroad retirement act of the United States (he had stated in the letter that his birthdate was May 1, 1868). A copy of the birth certificate, indicating the actual birthdate was May 1, 1866, was forwarded from Cannacon, Ballyglass, Claremorris on Jan. 15, 1938, by the parish clerk Joseph Fitzgerald.
John's mother died when he was two years of age, and he was sent to live with his uncles James and Richard Murphy, and his aunt, Ann Murphy at Catford, Claughlynch, in Mayo County, Ireland. There is an indication that John's father, James Cavanaugh, married twice more - to a teacher and a magistrate. John apparently still spent his early years with his aunt and uncles.
John had one sister, Mary Ellen Cavanaugh (two years older), who later married John J. Dolan. They had seven children - Teresa Ann, William, James, John, Harriet, Leo and Ann.
John completed the 8th grade in public school. He married Ann O'Malley, apparently in County Mayo, and came with her by ship from Ballina, Ireland through Liverpool, England, to the United States. Ann had been born on July 10, 1871 at County Mayo.
The Cavanaughs settled in the area around Kingston, PA., where his sister also moved, and he went to work in the coal mines. He then was employed for three years, starting in 1886, as a machinist apprentice, by the Delaware, Louisville & Western (DL&W) Railroad at Kingston.
John and Ann's first child, a son, James P., was born at Scranton, Pa., June 3, 1889, and they then headed southwest to Palestine, Texas, where he went to work for the Indian & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad.
Four other Cavanaugh children were born in Palestine while John was working for the I&GN... Theresa Agnes was born Oct. 6, 1894; Josephine in 1897, Frank C. on Aug. 10, 1899, and Marcella later on.
A railroad strike forced him to leave the I&GN on May 1, 1902, and he departed with his growing family for Shreveport, La., where he worked for three months as a machinist on the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railroad.
He secured a job with the Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in San Antonio, and began to work there on Oct. 11, 1902, as a machinist. His family joined him in June 1903.
Two years later he was named roadhouse foreman. After 12 years in that position, he was promoted to general foreman of the railroad's machine shops in San Antonio.
John miraculously escaped serious injury when the boiler of a locomotive at the SP roundhouse, where he was working, exploded on March 18, 1912, killing 30 men. This was one of the worst disasters in San Antonio history.
The Cavanaugh's sixth child, a son, Fred J., was born in San Antonio on Sept. 11, 1906. They lived in a rent house when they first moved to the city, but later moved to a permanent residence at 825 Broadway, a main traffic artery near downtown San Antonio.
John's hobby, and supplemental source of income, was the acquisition of rental property. He acquired about ten apartment houses and residences which he rented out.
In later years, John and Ann separated, and he resided at one of his apartment houses at 602 Van Ness St., in the vicinity of St. Patrick's Church in San Antonio.
The six Cavanaugh children remained in San Antonio the rest of their lives. The oldest, James, who saw action in France in World War I did not marry. He died Dec. 27, 1957.
Theresa married Harry W. Nixon and had two children, Harry W. Nixon and Ethel Frances (Krause). She died Feb. 12, 1975. Josephine married Edward F. Oelkers and had a son, William John. She passed away in 1945.
Frank was wed to Charlotte M. (Lottie) Peters and they had a son, Charles F. He died Feb. 28, 1961. Fred and his wife Maude, had no children. He succumbed Aug. 29, 1948. Frank, Fred, James and Charles all worked for the SP Railroad.
Marcella lived in San Antonio. She married Elmer T. Miller and had a son, Donald E.
J.J. Cavanaugh had worked for the Southern Pacific Lines for more than 35 years, and was preparing to retire, when he suffered a stroke and died on Jan. 27, 1938, at the age of 71. A year-and-a-half later, on Aug. 27, 1939, his wife, Ann, passed on at 68 years of age. Both are buried at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, on the same plot with five of their children.
Source: Harry W. Nixon, Jr.
(grandson of J.J. Cavanaugh)
His father was a soldier in the English army, and was wounded in battle and granted a pension by the English government.
John Cavanaugh was baptized in the Catholic Church of Burriscarra, May County, Diocese of Tuam, by the Rev. James Browne, R.P., on May 5, 1866. His baptismal sponsors were James Murphy and Bridget Brogan. Signing his birth certificate was the Rev. John Langan, assistant pastor.
On Nov 22, 1937, J.J. Cavanaugh wrote to the church to obtain a copy of his birth certificate to certify his age under the railroad retirement act of the United States (he had stated in the letter that his birthdate was May 1, 1868). A copy of the birth certificate, indicating the actual birthdate was May 1, 1866, was forwarded from Cannacon, Ballyglass, Claremorris on Jan. 15, 1938, by the parish clerk Joseph Fitzgerald.
John's mother died when he was two years of age, and he was sent to live with his uncles James and Richard Murphy, and his aunt, Ann Murphy at Catford, Claughlynch, in Mayo County, Ireland. There is an indication that John's father, James Cavanaugh, married twice more - to a teacher and a magistrate. John apparently still spent his early years with his aunt and uncles.
John had one sister, Mary Ellen Cavanaugh (two years older), who later married John J. Dolan. They had seven children - Teresa Ann, William, James, John, Harriet, Leo and Ann.
John completed the 8th grade in public school. He married Ann O'Malley, apparently in County Mayo, and came with her by ship from Ballina, Ireland through Liverpool, England, to the United States. Ann had been born on July 10, 1871 at County Mayo.
The Cavanaughs settled in the area around Kingston, PA., where his sister also moved, and he went to work in the coal mines. He then was employed for three years, starting in 1886, as a machinist apprentice, by the Delaware, Louisville & Western (DL&W) Railroad at Kingston.
John and Ann's first child, a son, James P., was born at Scranton, Pa., June 3, 1889, and they then headed southwest to Palestine, Texas, where he went to work for the Indian & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad.
Four other Cavanaugh children were born in Palestine while John was working for the I&GN... Theresa Agnes was born Oct. 6, 1894; Josephine in 1897, Frank C. on Aug. 10, 1899, and Marcella later on.
A railroad strike forced him to leave the I&GN on May 1, 1902, and he departed with his growing family for Shreveport, La., where he worked for three months as a machinist on the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railroad.
He secured a job with the Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in San Antonio, and began to work there on Oct. 11, 1902, as a machinist. His family joined him in June 1903.
Two years later he was named roadhouse foreman. After 12 years in that position, he was promoted to general foreman of the railroad's machine shops in San Antonio.
John miraculously escaped serious injury when the boiler of a locomotive at the SP roundhouse, where he was working, exploded on March 18, 1912, killing 30 men. This was one of the worst disasters in San Antonio history.
The Cavanaugh's sixth child, a son, Fred J., was born in San Antonio on Sept. 11, 1906. They lived in a rent house when they first moved to the city, but later moved to a permanent residence at 825 Broadway, a main traffic artery near downtown San Antonio.
John's hobby, and supplemental source of income, was the acquisition of rental property. He acquired about ten apartment houses and residences which he rented out.
In later years, John and Ann separated, and he resided at one of his apartment houses at 602 Van Ness St., in the vicinity of St. Patrick's Church in San Antonio.
The six Cavanaugh children remained in San Antonio the rest of their lives. The oldest, James, who saw action in France in World War I did not marry. He died Dec. 27, 1957.
Theresa married Harry W. Nixon and had two children, Harry W. Nixon and Ethel Frances (Krause). She died Feb. 12, 1975. Josephine married Edward F. Oelkers and had a son, William John. She passed away in 1945.
Frank was wed to Charlotte M. (Lottie) Peters and they had a son, Charles F. He died Feb. 28, 1961. Fred and his wife Maude, had no children. He succumbed Aug. 29, 1948. Frank, Fred, James and Charles all worked for the SP Railroad.
Marcella lived in San Antonio. She married Elmer T. Miller and had a son, Donald E.
J.J. Cavanaugh had worked for the Southern Pacific Lines for more than 35 years, and was preparing to retire, when he suffered a stroke and died on Jan. 27, 1938, at the age of 71. A year-and-a-half later, on Aug. 27, 1939, his wife, Ann, passed on at 68 years of age. Both are buried at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, on the same plot with five of their children.
Source: Harry W. Nixon, Jr.
(grandson of J.J. Cavanaugh)
John J. Cavanaugh was born on May 1, 1866, the son of James Cavanaugh and Ellen Murphy Cavanaugh, in the town of Ballyglass in Mayo County Ireland.
His father was a soldier in the English army, and was wounded in battle and granted a pension by the English government.
John Cavanaugh was baptized in the Catholic Church of Burriscarra, May County, Diocese of Tuam, by the Rev. James Browne, R.P., on May 5, 1866. His baptismal sponsors were James Murphy and Bridget Brogan. Signing his birth certificate was the Rev. John Langan, assistant pastor.
On Nov 22, 1937, J.J. Cavanaugh wrote to the church to obtain a copy of his birth certificate to certify his age under the railroad retirement act of the United States (he had stated in the letter that his birthdate was May 1, 1868). A copy of the birth certificate, indicating the actual birthdate was May 1, 1866, was forwarded from Cannacon, Ballyglass, Claremorris on Jan. 15, 1938, by the parish clerk Joseph Fitzgerald.
John's mother died when he was two years of age, and he was sent to live with his uncles James and Richard Murphy, and his aunt, Ann Murphy at Catford, Claughlynch, in Mayo County, Ireland. There is an indication that John's father, James Cavanaugh, married twice more - to a teacher and a magistrate. John apparently still spent his early years with his aunt and uncles.
John had one sister, Mary Ellen Cavanaugh (two years older), who later married John J. Dolan. They had seven children - Teresa Ann, William, James, John, Harriet, Leo and Ann.
John completed the 8th grade in public school. He married Ann O'Malley, apparently in County Mayo, and came with her by ship from Ballina, Ireland through Liverpool, England, to the United States. Ann had been born on July 10, 1871 at County Mayo.
The Cavanaughs settled in the area around Kingston, PA., where his sister also moved, and he went to work in the coal mines. He then was employed for three years, starting in 1886, as a machinist apprentice, by the Delaware, Louisville & Western (DL&W) Railroad at Kingston.
John and Ann's first child, a son, James P., was born at Scranton, Pa., June 3, 1889, and they then headed southwest to Palestine, Texas, where he went to work for the Indian & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad.
Four other Cavanaugh children were born in Palestine while John was working for the I&GN... Theresa Agnes was born Oct. 6, 1894; Josephine in 1897, Frank C. on Aug. 10, 1899, and Marcella later on.
A railroad strike forced him to leave the I&GN on May 1, 1902, and he departed with his growing family for Shreveport, La., where he worked for three months as a machinist on the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railroad.
He secured a job with the Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in San Antonio, and began to work there on Oct. 11, 1902, as a machinist. His family joined him in June 1903.
Two years later he was named roadhouse foreman. After 12 years in that position, he was promoted to general foreman of the railroad's machine shops in San Antonio.
John miraculously escaped serious injury when the boiler of a locomotive at the SP roundhouse, where he was working, exploded on March 18, 1912, killing 30 men. This was one of the worst disasters in San Antonio history.
The Cavanaugh's sixth child, a son, Fred J., was born in San Antonio on Sept. 11, 1906. They lived in a rent house when they first moved to the city, but later moved to a permanent residence at 825 Broadway, a main traffic artery near downtown San Antonio.
John's hobby, and supplemental source of income, was the acquisition of rental property. He acquired about ten apartment houses and residences which he rented out.
In later years, John and Ann separated, and he resided at one of his apartment houses at 602 Van Ness St., in the vicinity of St. Patrick's Church in San Antonio.
The six Cavanaugh children remained in San Antonio the rest of their lives. The oldest, James, who saw action in France in World War I did not marry. He died Dec. 27, 1957.
Theresa married Harry W. Nixon and had two children, Harry W. Nixon and Ethel Frances (Krause). She died Feb. 12, 1975. Josephine married Edward F. Oelkers and had a son, William John. She passed away in 1945.
Frank was wed to Charlotte M. (Lottie) Peters and they had a son, Charles F. He died Feb. 28, 1961. Fred and his wife Maude, had no children. He succumbed Aug. 29, 1948. Frank, Fred, James and Charles all worked for the SP Railroad.
Marcella lived in San Antonio. She married Elmer T. Miller and had a son, Donald E.
J.J. Cavanaugh had worked for the Southern Pacific Lines for more than 35 years, and was preparing to retire, when he suffered a stroke and died on Jan. 27, 1938, at the age of 71. A year-and-a-half later, on Aug. 27, 1939, his wife, Ann, passed on at 68 years of age. Both are buried at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, on the same plot with five of their children.
Source: Harry W. Nixon, Jr.
(grandson of J.J. Cavanaugh)
His father was a soldier in the English army, and was wounded in battle and granted a pension by the English government.
John Cavanaugh was baptized in the Catholic Church of Burriscarra, May County, Diocese of Tuam, by the Rev. James Browne, R.P., on May 5, 1866. His baptismal sponsors were James Murphy and Bridget Brogan. Signing his birth certificate was the Rev. John Langan, assistant pastor.
On Nov 22, 1937, J.J. Cavanaugh wrote to the church to obtain a copy of his birth certificate to certify his age under the railroad retirement act of the United States (he had stated in the letter that his birthdate was May 1, 1868). A copy of the birth certificate, indicating the actual birthdate was May 1, 1866, was forwarded from Cannacon, Ballyglass, Claremorris on Jan. 15, 1938, by the parish clerk Joseph Fitzgerald.
John's mother died when he was two years of age, and he was sent to live with his uncles James and Richard Murphy, and his aunt, Ann Murphy at Catford, Claughlynch, in Mayo County, Ireland. There is an indication that John's father, James Cavanaugh, married twice more - to a teacher and a magistrate. John apparently still spent his early years with his aunt and uncles.
John had one sister, Mary Ellen Cavanaugh (two years older), who later married John J. Dolan. They had seven children - Teresa Ann, William, James, John, Harriet, Leo and Ann.
John completed the 8th grade in public school. He married Ann O'Malley, apparently in County Mayo, and came with her by ship from Ballina, Ireland through Liverpool, England, to the United States. Ann had been born on July 10, 1871 at County Mayo.
The Cavanaughs settled in the area around Kingston, PA., where his sister also moved, and he went to work in the coal mines. He then was employed for three years, starting in 1886, as a machinist apprentice, by the Delaware, Louisville & Western (DL&W) Railroad at Kingston.
John and Ann's first child, a son, James P., was born at Scranton, Pa., June 3, 1889, and they then headed southwest to Palestine, Texas, where he went to work for the Indian & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad.
Four other Cavanaugh children were born in Palestine while John was working for the I&GN... Theresa Agnes was born Oct. 6, 1894; Josephine in 1897, Frank C. on Aug. 10, 1899, and Marcella later on.
A railroad strike forced him to leave the I&GN on May 1, 1902, and he departed with his growing family for Shreveport, La., where he worked for three months as a machinist on the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railroad.
He secured a job with the Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in San Antonio, and began to work there on Oct. 11, 1902, as a machinist. His family joined him in June 1903.
Two years later he was named roadhouse foreman. After 12 years in that position, he was promoted to general foreman of the railroad's machine shops in San Antonio.
John miraculously escaped serious injury when the boiler of a locomotive at the SP roundhouse, where he was working, exploded on March 18, 1912, killing 30 men. This was one of the worst disasters in San Antonio history.
The Cavanaugh's sixth child, a son, Fred J., was born in San Antonio on Sept. 11, 1906. They lived in a rent house when they first moved to the city, but later moved to a permanent residence at 825 Broadway, a main traffic artery near downtown San Antonio.
John's hobby, and supplemental source of income, was the acquisition of rental property. He acquired about ten apartment houses and residences which he rented out.
In later years, John and Ann separated, and he resided at one of his apartment houses at 602 Van Ness St., in the vicinity of St. Patrick's Church in San Antonio.
The six Cavanaugh children remained in San Antonio the rest of their lives. The oldest, James, who saw action in France in World War I did not marry. He died Dec. 27, 1957.
Theresa married Harry W. Nixon and had two children, Harry W. Nixon and Ethel Frances (Krause). She died Feb. 12, 1975. Josephine married Edward F. Oelkers and had a son, William John. She passed away in 1945.
Frank was wed to Charlotte M. (Lottie) Peters and they had a son, Charles F. He died Feb. 28, 1961. Fred and his wife Maude, had no children. He succumbed Aug. 29, 1948. Frank, Fred, James and Charles all worked for the SP Railroad.
Marcella lived in San Antonio. She married Elmer T. Miller and had a son, Donald E.
J.J. Cavanaugh had worked for the Southern Pacific Lines for more than 35 years, and was preparing to retire, when he suffered a stroke and died on Jan. 27, 1938, at the age of 71. A year-and-a-half later, on Aug. 27, 1939, his wife, Ann, passed on at 68 years of age. Both are buried at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, on the same plot with five of their children.
Source: Harry W. Nixon, Jr.
(grandson of J.J. Cavanaugh)
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