Andrew John McNeely
(October 12, 1882–July 5, 1982)

STORY ON JOHN MCNEELY FOR EAST NEIGHBOR newspaper, Austin, TX, OCTOBER 8, 1981 by Pat Oakes

John McNeely's Irish eyes are smiling more than usual these days. He is looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday on Columbus Day, October 12th, which is next Monday. John was born October 12, 1881 in Dunkineely, Ireland, a tiny coastal town in northwest Ireland. (Note of Interest: John thought his birthday was 1881, however after his death Pat Oakes discovered that he was actually born in 1882. John died in July following this interview. We are fortunate that he was confused and Pat got the interview before he moved to Iowa and passed away.)

John is blessed with a keen memory and a gift for telling how it was when he was a boy. One of his earliest memories is his father taking him with a number of his brothers and sisters to a hill overlooking Inver Bay. They all sat in the horse-drawn cart and took turns looking through a spyglass to see the sailors scrambling up and down the rigging of the British man-'o-wars which were anchored in the bay.

He recalls his mother singing songs from America and wonders how she learned the words--there were no radios or TVs, of course. One song she sang was about the Tombigbee River--he thought it was a nonsense word. Many years later, on his way to Austin, he drove across a bridge which went over the Tombigbee River in Alabama.

His father ran a dray (freight) business with horse-drawn carts. One day, when John was seven years old, his father did not come home. There was a period of five or six weeks when no one knew where he was. Finally, a letter arrived with a New York postmark. It was a letter from his father to his mother telling her that he had found a job in America and that she should sell the family property and pack everything and come on over.

His dauntless mother, Phoebe, did so. It was no easy task for there were, at that time, nine children, the youngest still a baby. They took a wagon ride to the nearest town where there was a railroad. John's first train ride was from Donegal to Londonderry where they caught the Furnessia, a combination steam and sailing ship, which took them on a two-week journey across the Atlantic Ocean of 1889 (John was not correct, they came in September 1890.)

John vividly remembers sailing into New York Harbor at the age of seven, viewing the beckoning Statue of Liberty with the polyglot of people on the ship. The family rode in steerage with Russians, Scots, Irish and many other nationalities. It is interesting to note that the Statue of Liberty was formally dedicated in 1886.

The family settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey where they all had to work very hard. Two more children were born in the United States. They attended school as much as they could. John had to drop out when he was 17. His older brother, Bill, left a good job at a delicatessen to go fight in the Spanish American War (1898), so John took over the job to help make ends meet. In a variation of the 9-5 theme, John worked from 5:00 AM until 9:00 PM, five days a week and from 5:00 AM until midnight on Saturdays with Sundays off!

In his "free" time, John studied stenography which eventually became his full-time occupation. He married his first wife, Hannah, in 1909. Sadly, she died of endocarditis, a condition that can be treated today, when their son, Bob, was just six months old. John married his second wife, Mabel, in 1914, and was married to her for 60 years until her death several years ago.

John's first visit to Austin was in the winter of 1949-50. By that time, Bob had grown up, attended the University of Texas, and had become a well-known and much loved dentist here in town. John and Mabel wintered in Austin for several years and finally moved here for good in 1957 to be close to Bob and his wife, Frances.

He and Mabel bought a house on 31st Street where they lived for a number of years. Last year, at age 99, John sold the house "because it just got to be too much to take care of." He rents a room from his landlady on 30th Street and is still quite active. He enjoys an occasional round of golf, keeps up a respectable garden, watches TV and keeps informed on current events.

Andrew John McNeely Biography

Andrew John McNeely was born to Robert Campbell and Phoebe Jane Walker McNeely on October 14, 1882, in Dunkineely, Ireland. He was one of eleven children. John married Annie in 1909. (The 1910 Census says her name was Annie. John told Pat Oakes her name was Hannah). Annie was born in 1888, in New Jersey.) and they had a son Bob. John worked as a stenographer at a soap factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Annie died six months later from endocarditis. He next married Mabel Claire Barrett (1884–1977) on August 14, 1913, in Buffalo, New York. Mabel was the daughter of Clarence A. and Angie Wheeler of Oak Park, IL.She was born in Chicago on November 13, 1884. In 1918, John and Mabel were living in Erie, New York, where John worked as a machine operator for the American Car and Foundry Company. In 1942, he and Mabel were living in High View, NY where he worked as an inspector for the NY O & W Railroad. in Middletown, Orange, NY. John and Hannah's son, Theodore Robert "Bob" McNeely, born September 4, 1910, was married to Frances McNeely. Bob was a dentist in Austin, TX. He had lived in the Congregational Church basement during some of his time at the University of Texas. He and Frances were active members. John attended also and was an especially good friend of Rev. John Towery who helped him greatly as the years piled up. Upon his death, John left a legacy to the church. Bob died November 10, 1978. His mother's name on the death certificate was listed as "Annie Doe." She was John's first wife. This was likely a result of Frances' memory issues at the time of his death. She was the informant on the certificate. John's wife Mabel died in Austin on May 25, 1977. They were living at 109 E. 31 Street. John eventually moved to Clarinda, Page, Iowa, to live out his years with friends. He died there on July 5, 1882.

McNeely Children, 1901-02

Back Row: Elsie McNeely (1885–), Nathaniel "Ben" Benjamin McNeely (1889–1971), Frances (Fanny) Ingram McNeely (1876–), William "Bill" Ralph McNeely (Jan 1879-1950), Andrew John McNeely (Oct. 1882–1982), Phoebe McNeely (1883–1934)

Front Row: Beatrice "Bea" Mary McNeely (August 16, 1889–1981), Reverend Dr. George Peabody McNeely (Feb 1878–1970), Elizabeth "Bess" Jane McNeely, (1875–), Robert Campbell McNeely Jr. (1894–1984),

Child at Front: Isabelle "Belle" Margaret McNeely (1898-1995)

(Identifications by Andrew John McNeely)

Parents: Robert Campbell McNeely, (May 1854 or 1852–1902) and Phoebe Jane Walker McNeely (Aug 1851 or 1853–1901),

Children by age: Elizabeth "Bess" Jane McNeely, (May 1877 or 1875–), Frances (Fanny) Ingram McNeely (Aug 1878 or 1876–), Reverend Dr. George Peabody McNeely (Feb. 1878–1970), William "Bill" Ralph McNeely (Jan 1879-1950), Andrew John McNeely (Oct 1882–1982), Phoebe McNeely (May 1883 or 1884–1934), Elsie (Essie McNeely (Nov. 1885–), Beatrice "Bea" Mary McNeely (1889–1981), Nathaniel "Ben" Benjamin McNeely (Dec 1889–1971), Robert Campbell McNeely (Feb. 1894–1984) and Isabelle "Belle" Margaret McNeely (January 1898- Mar 11, 1995)

Assume picture was 1902 year of Senior Robert Campbell McNeely's death

Elizabeth J, 26, Fanny 25, George 24, Bill 23, John 20, Phoebe 19, Bessie 17, Bea 13, Ben 13, Robert 8, Isabelle 4

(John McNeely thought the pictures was from ca. 1907, however Isabelle sets the date around 1901-02.)

Acknowledgement: Many of the older family photos and other information used here are from Janeal Hepner's family tree located on Ancestry. com. I greatly appreciated her posting this material.

McNeely Passage to US 1890

Phoebe McNeely and her children arrived New York on September 2, 1890. The name on the ship's manifest is Mcneilly. Her husband had come 6 weeks earlier. Pat Oakes spent many hours in 1980s trying to find when the McNeely's came. This was before the Internet so many letters were written and much help from inter-library loan to get microfilm of ship's manifest. Ted Gommi, her relative was most helpful. John McNeely recalled the ship's name, the Furnessia, however, he thought they came in 1889.The Furnessia made six voyages in 1890 from Glasgow. After several years searching, Pat found the manifest in 1983, after John had died. The manifest is below with information about the voyage. James Wilson of The Steamship Historical Society of America provided information about the Furnessia: The ship was built in 1889 and owned by the Anchor Line (British). She was built by the Barrow Ship Building Co. Barrow-in-Furness, England. tonnage: 5,495. Dimensions: 445' by 44'. Single screw, 14 knots. Compound engines. Two masts and two funnels. Iron hull. Maiden voyage: Glasgow-New York, January 27, 1881. Converted to single funnel in 1891, r-engined with triple expansion type. Made her final voyage to New York in 1911. Broken up by British ship breakers in 1912.

Photo below is two-funnel version that John came over on.

Furnessia manifest entry from September 2, 1890 voyage.

Interview of John McNeely by Pat Oakes

There was a major blizzard in 1888 in Ireland, John remembers it well.

John's comments on the passage. It was a full ship and required about 15 days to cross. There was a burial at sea of a passenger. They came in steerage. There were wooden partitions and bunks. They were served food. The first class passengers got a lot better service. "plum duff?" Before leaving a tinker made his mom a lot of cups to put food in. A Scots girl stole their grapes.

John Walker, Phoebe's brother preferred the name Phoebe. He was a farmer. Rohan? He had 3 children , Ruby was a school teacher.

Arthur Walker, also a farmer, Lizavaddie (maybe Limavaddy). He had 4 boys and 4 girls. Arthur and his family came to US after McNeely's and lived across the street in Elizabeth. Some of the children moved to Newark and others to New York City. Godrey took over the farm, (Maybe this is the Walker farm in Ireland. Phoebe's mother died quite young in April 1862.

Phoebe recalls being taken outside to see Halley's comet in 1886. Phoebe's older sister, Fanny came first to the US and had a long life. She had 3 children who all died quite young.

Jenny (Janey), a cousin planned to come to the US. She was in their prayers every night. Her mother must have been a widow of a McNeely. they went to Minnesota.

Dr. Sleeper, Episcopal rector baptized John's son, Bob.

When they arrived, his brother, George Peabody, got a job at Singer paying $3 per week. Beer was 7 cents for a pint which provided a 3 cent profit. There was a pie wagon, 1 cent/slice and 5 cents/pie.

John and George attended #3 School, George in room 9 and John in room 11.

George courted Agnes, who was a Baptist. The preacher asked George to preach a sermon. He was ordained a Lion's Farm–Waverly. He preached in Newark and Elizabeth, NJ for 50 years.

Their mother, Phoebe Jane Walker McNeely was about 47 when she died in 1901 giving a birthdate about 1853-54. Phoebe had arranged to come to the U. S. much earlier and was at the harbor when friends convinced her to stay and marry Robert Campbell McNelly Sr.

Robert Sr. worked as a "casting dresser". (Casting Dresser. Removes cores, gates, and risers from castings and cleans castings with a brush: breaks and removes cores from castings). He applied for U. S. Citizenship. Fanny, second oldest, took charge of keeping records. She was a trained nurse and earned $8/month. Sadly she suffered from arthritis. She never married. In fact, only Beatrice married. She and her husband, Henry Wilhelms Jr. (1887–) were married October 20, 1914, had three children, son, Henry III (1918–1928 or 1929), Margaret R. (Ely) (1926–2001)and Beatrice Phoebe Wilhelms (1919–2013). Henry Junior was in the building trade in Elizabeth, NJ. She lost her husband and their son died young. Beatrice was also a nurse.

In the 1920 Census, Isabelle McNeely is living with Henry and Bea. In the 1930 US Census, Bea is widowed and her sisters, Elizabeth, age 50 and Frances, age 49, are living with her.

Phoebe was a school teacher. Elsie was a nurse. Isabelle was born in their new house, near the chapel. Her father had it built. They first lived in a flat owned by an Irishman. Bill and John slept in one bed. Pound on the wall? They had a big house in Ireland.

George Peabody married Agnes Gardner and lived in Newark, NJ. Like the other children, George was born in the Irish Free State. He was the Minister of Elizabeth Avenue Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, from 1909–1940

Isabelle married Edward Dilks,

Obituary for Beatrice Phoebe Wilhelm, John's niece:

Beatrice Wilhelms Hanle went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. She is survived by, Robert Arthur Hanle, her husband of almost 67 years. She was born Beatrice Phoebe Wilhelms on November 3, 1919, in Elizabeth, NJ, the second of three children born to Beatrice McNeely Wilhelms and Henry Wilhelms, Jr. She was pre-deceased by both her siblings, Henry Wilhelms, Jr. and Margaret Wilhelms Ely.

Beatrice graduated from Battin High School in Elizabeth, NJ and went on to graduate from secretarial school in NYC. Soon after the end of World War II, she and Robert were married in the Third Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, NJ. During their marriage, they lived in Somerville, NJ, Westfield, NJ, Bernardsville, NJ, South Lyndeboro, NH, and finally moved to Lebanon, PA, in 1988. She was a hospice volunteer for many years after moving to Lebanon. She also was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd in Lebanon.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, R. Mark Hanle, husband of Marcia Dobbs Hanle of Lebanon and her three grandchildren, Allison, David and Sarah, who were the light of her life. There will be a private burial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 5:30 pm at the United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Road, Lebanon, PA, with a sit-down dinner provided afterwards. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd for the Homeless Coalition. 

McNeely Photos

Modern McNeely Photos