Obituary: Caroline L. O'Neill (1887-1984)

Caroline Loretta O'Neill was the youngest daughter born to Michael O'Neill and his second wife Ellen M. Cunningham. Caroline was born 4 August 1887 in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Caroline was 5 years old when her father died.

The 1900 United States Federal Census records Caroline living with her mother and siblings on the family farm in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Caroline was attending school.

Family tradition maintains that in 1903 Caroline went to Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia. Her sister Winifred Agnes O'Neill was expecting her fifth child, Charles Eugene McDonald. Caroline stayed with the family and worked a teacher at the local one room school house. Caroline's niece Virginia McDonald Geary offered commentary on the family: "Ellen Cunningham, Winifred's mother used to send her daughters around to assist each other when they were expecting."

Caroline Loretta O'Neill most likely photographed between 1900 and 1910

The 1910 United States Federal Census records Caroline living with her sister Mary Lucinda O'Neill and her brother in-law Joe Ward in Leadsville, Randolph County, West Virginia. She was employed as a teacher working in a private school.

After living in West Virginia Caroline moved back to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County where she lived for the rest of her life. The 1920 United States Federal Census records Caroline living in the family home at 321 Meade Street. She was living with:

• her mother - Ellen Cunnigham
• her niece - Helen McDonald, daughter of Robert A. McDonald & Winifred A. O'Neill
• her sister - Eleanor Monica O'Neill 
• her niece - Bella Mullen, daughter of Eleanor Monica O'Neill

The 1930 and 1940 United States Federal Census record Caroline living with her sister Eleanor Monica O'Neill recorded as Eleanor Mullen at 321 Meade Street. Caroline was working as a Stenographer at an Electric Company - most likely Westinghouse. Later in her career she worked at Westinghouse Electric Corporation and was the secretary to the sales manager.

Caroline never married. She lived to be 97 years old. Caroline died on 13 November 1984 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She is buried at  Calvary Cemetery. She is buried with her sister Winifred Agnes O'Neill and her brother-in-law Robert Alphonsus McDonald. She was affectionately known as "Aunt Carrie", "Aunt Pokie" and "Aunt Honie" by the family.

A copy of the obituary for Caroline Loretta O'Neill. Caroline was affectionately known by her family as "Aunt Carrie" or "Aunt Honie". The newspaper printed her obituary as Karrie L. O'Neill. The name of the newspaper the obituary was printed in is unknown.

Caroline Loretta O'Neill
Obituary

This photograph of Caroline Loretta O'Neill is shared with permission. The original photograph is in the care of Ginny Geary Laskovics my 2nd cousin 2x. Ginny is a great niece of Caroline Loretta O'Neill. The photograph is orignally from the Virginia McDonald Geary Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky

The obituary originally originally belonged to Caroline's niece Virginia McDonald Geary. Virginia's daughter kindly sent the copy of the obituary to me to incorporate into the family archives.

Virginia McDonald Geary is my 1st cousins 3x removed. She is the daughter of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great uncle and Gertrude Anna O'Neill, my 2nd great aunt. My relationship with Virginia McDonald Geary  is unique in that we are double 1st cousins 3x removed. We share two sets of common ancestors. Our common McDonald grandparents are Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Our common O'Neill grandparents are Michael O'Neill and Ellen Cunningham.  Caroline Loretta O'Neill is my 2nd great aunt. She is the sister of 2nd Great Grandmother Winifred Agnes O'Neill. Robert Alphonsus McDonald is my 2nd Great Grandfather.

References:

1. 1900 United States Federal Census. Year: 1900; Census Place: Clarion, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1394; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0007; FHL microfilm: 1241394. Record for Ellen O'Neill. 
2. 1910 United States Federal Census. Year: 1910; Census Place: Leadsville, Randolph, West Virginia; Roll: T624_1696; Page: 21B; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1375709. Record for Carrie Oneel.
3. 1920 United States Federal Census. Year: 1920; Census Place: Wilkinsburg Ward 3, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1530; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 867; Image: 1003. Record for Ellen M O'Neill.
4. 1930 United States Federal Census. Year: 1930; Census Place: Wilkinsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1993; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0872; Image: 226.0; FHL microfilm: 2341727. Record for Eleanor Mullen. 
5. 1940 United States Federal Census. Year: 1940; Census Place: Wilkinsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3421; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 2-622. Record for E M Mullen.
6. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011. Record for Carrie Oneill. 
7. Find A Grave. Memorial Number 107591661.

Leopold Guth Obituary

Leopold Guth was my third great-grandfather. A volunteer graciously saved a copy of his obituary to his Find A Grave page. The obituary is from the local newspaper, The Clarion Democrat and was transcribed by Sally Jordan Reed.

GUTH Leopold - June 15, 1905

Leopold Guth, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Clarion, died very suddenly Tuesday evening, June 13, 1905, at 10:30 p.m., of heart failure, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Valentine Huefner, on South Seventh Avenue. Mr. Guth was born in Simonswald, Baden, Germany, November 14, 1830. When but a young man he came to this country, and lived for several years at Shippenville and Callensburg. On January 20, 1853, he was united in marriage with Teresa Loll, who died September 4, 1904. In 1855 he moved to Clarion. January 20, 1903, he and his wife celebrated the golden jubilee of their marriage at the Catholic Church in this place.

Mr. Guth is survived by the following children; Leopold, Ridway; Anthony C., East Brady; Mrs. Edwin Buhl and Mrs. Frank Gatesman, of Myersdale; Mrs. Valentine Huefner, Mrs. J.W. Selker and Frank, of Clarion; and Joseph, John and George, of New Castle. One child, named Teresa, died in 1871. The funeral services will be conducted Friday morning at 9 o'clock, in the church of Immaculate Conception, by Rev. Father Deckenbrock, and interment will be made in the Catholic Cemetery.

Mr. Guth was one of the first settlers of Clarion and was well known throughout the entire county. He followed the watchmaker's and jeweler's trade during his entire life, having learned the trade in Germany. During the many years he was in business he became acquainted with and made friends of a great many people who will regret to learn of his sudden death.

Leopold Guth

Leopold Guth is my 3rd great-grandfather.  He is the father of Frances Philomena Guth. The line extends to her daughter Frances Philomena Selker, to my paternal grandmother Mary Eugenia McDonald. 

References:

1. Find-A-Grave. Find A Grave Memorial# 84821479 

Michael McDonald Obituary

Michael McDonald is my 3rd great grandfather. His obituary was published in the Clarion Democrat on October 11, 1923. Virginia McDonald Geary gave me a copy of this obituary copied from microfilm.

Michael McDonald

Last Monday evening, October 8, 1923, at 5 o'clock P.M. Michael McDonald, one of the most notable citizens of Farmington township, as well as one of the oldest, departed this life, after a brief illness.

Born June 19, 1834, at McDonald's Corners, now Vowinckel station and post office, the son of David and Bridget McDonald, the deceased has passed through a most interesting period of activity in this section. He has seen the rise, development and the end of the lumber business which wiped out our forests; he had seen the oil and gas come and practically go, and he has seen the development of the county along many lines.

Mr. McDonald always lived at McDonald's Corners, and spent his long and useful life as a citizen in helping to develop his section of the county. He was married in 1862 to Miss Anna Haggerty, of the same township (Farmington) who now survives after a union extending over sixty-one years. He is also survived by the following children: John of Crown, Robt. A., Clarion [my 2nd great grandfather]; Jerome, Sheffield; A. A., of Pittsburgh; Benjamin and Bert, Jamestown, N.Y.; Patrick, Mrs. Clara Fitzgerald, and Mrs. Mary Dodson, Vowinckel; Sister Alfrieda, Erie and Mrs. Peter Brisley, Cincinnati, O. There also survive 31 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and one brother, Peter McDonald of Vowinckel.

Mr. McDonald was a man of great physical strength, developed in the lumber woods and on the farm. For about twenty years he was prominently engaged in lumbering and was one of the best pilots of the Clarion River. On one occasion he was swept from his raft on the river by the slush ice and for two hours battled with the current before reaching shore. His clothing froze on him but his rugged constitution carried him thru. He was always an active and leading business man of his section and had the confidence of the entire community in his integrity.

He was a lifelong member of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Crown where his funeral was held Thursday morning at 9:30, Requiem High Mass being celebrated by Rev. Fr. M. Fitzgerald, and the body was laid to rest in the Crown Cemetery.