The Ancestors of Jerome Michael Larkin

Irish Immigrants - James Larkin and Julia Hogan

This is the history of the family that originated from the marriage of James Larkin and Julia Hogan. Based primarily on "The Family of James and Julia Hogan Larkin" by Ann Elizabeth Kelley, 1977. Both came from Nenagh, County Tipperary, though they did not know each other until they met in Chicago

James Larkin

James was born in April, 1834. James’s father, Michael Larkin, died when he was young. His mother, Margaret Stretch Larkin, remarried later to a Michael Higgins. She saw that her two sons, James and Patrick, got what early education was possible and encouraged them to emigrate to America. James, the older, came over in 1851 when he was seventeen. With difficulty Margaret saved butter and egg money to get him a new suit as a parting gift. A shipboard acquaintance, borrowing it for a "last night at sea" dance, made off with it the next morning at the dock. James landed in New York, as he often told his children, with but 10 cents in his pocket. After working in New York for two years, he came west, spending six months in Cincinnati, then moving on to Pontiac, perhaps being attracted to farm country. He secured work west of Lexington IL with a Mr. Peter Hefner. Hefner and his wife, took a liking to James and became true friends, helping him to rent land around 1857, and then purchase land of his own in Money Creek Township, of McLean County, IL.

Note 4/3/2002:  James and Julia Larkin are listed together (without children) in the 1860 Federal Census.  Their stated ages on the census (25 and 23 respectively) led me to revise the estimated year of their birth.

The 1900 Federal Census indicates that the years of their immigration were 1853 and 1840 respectively.  This information conflicts with the family history written in the 1970s.

Julia Hogan

Julia was born in June of 1837.  In 1857, the brother of James, Patrick Larkin, set out for Lexington, IL, and met Julia Hogan (21 years old) on board ship. Julia was born about 1836 as the daughter of James and Mary Kennedy Hogan.

As a result of her shipboard acquaintance with Patrick Larkin, James and Patrick visited the girls at the Purcells. In time, James and Julia became engaged and were married at St. Columkille's Church, Chicago, on September 18, 1859. Patrick and Bridget were witnesses. 

Patrick R. Larkin, who became a widower, later married Julia's sister, Mary. A record of their marriage on 2/25/1873 can be found at http://www.ilsos.net/cgi-bin/archives/marriage.s. (James and Julia's wedding predates the records at this archive.)

James and Julia's Family Life

The young couple of James and Julia Larkin planned to live on a farm in Section 25 of Money Creek Township rented from the Hefners. They first spent several weeks in the Hefners' home while Mrs. Hefner helped the young wife prepare for the domestic needs of linen and larder (which were created by hand). James and Julia always held the Hefners in the highest esteem and affection. Their children many years later would recall special summer dinners with "Uncle Peter" and "Aunt Betsy" invited. After these dinners, Mr. Hefner would often rise, stand behind his chair, and relate the courageous struggles of the Larkin's to their children.

On August 23, 1860 (1862?), the Larkin's first child, Mary, was born, followed by nine other children, three of whom died in infancy. The children of James and Julia Larkin were: 

• Mary Agnes, b. Aug 1862 
• James Michael, b. April 17, 1864
• John Dennis, b. Sept 1868
• Margaret Emma (married a Kinsella), 
• Sarah Ellen  (married a Quinn), 
• William Bernard (Willie),  b. Oct 1875
• Julia Elizabeth (Bessie) b. Nov 1879 (married a Carmody). 

Living far from school, the family moved to Lexington, IL in 1874. The younger children later recalled their father's often carrying them across the street to primary school one snowy winter, while the older children trudged to another school nearby. The Lexington residence ended after two years, having proved unsatisfactory for the care of the farm (out in the country) so the Larkins moved the farmhouse to a 160 acre tract just south of it, purchased in 1875 from a Mr. Hatch. There was a family joke about this house. Additions were made gradually until to enter most of the downstairs rooms, one had to go outside.

In 1888 the Larkin's built a new home on this site, the present (1977) home of William Larkin. From here the children attended the Phoenix School. Later the three sons attended the notable St. Viator's College, Bourbonnais, IL. John and Michael went into farming. William went into teaching and eventually became a civil engineer. Maggie, Sallie, and Bessie attended boarding schools in Bloomington, Bourbonnais, and Sinsinaw, WI. Mary, the eldest, did not receive this special schooling, but she was intelligent, alert, and capable.

James Larkin died on January 5, 1906, suffering from what was called yellow jaundice. Julia then moved with her daughter Mary to 1208 N. East Street, Bloomington. Her son John and his family moved into the homestead farm. Julia died November 25, 1907. James and Julia Hogan Larkin are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Merna and in the same square lie James's only brother, Patrick and his wife Mary (Julia's only sister) as well as Julia's brother, Rodger.

James and Julia's Personalities

James Larkin was a forceful and vigorous man. Hardworking and successful, he was a man whose advice was sought by others. He was always among the first approached when subscription drives were on for Church, hospital, or the like, for he set sights high. he was generous at home too. His daughters recalled that as each girl neared her eighteenth birthday, he would declare to her mother that it was time to take her to town for a gold watch. [Watches were very prized possessions during this age.]

Because of his keen judgment and practical ability, James' will provided 160 acres of McLean County land for each of his five older children with 120 acres and the equivalent in cash of 40 acres for the remaining two -- all this with the help of his faithful wife. It was in the Irish tradition then that a father's will would stipulate that an unmarried daughter's share would go to the other heirs at her death, but he put no such restrictions on Mary. She received the farm where she was born with no strings attached.

Julia was gentle and unassuming, known for her kindness. A vignette from one of her daughter's reminiscences:

James and Julia Larkin began married life in mid-America when coal oil lamps had not yet replaced home made candles. Clothes could not be made with sewing machines or bought ready-to-wear. Time consuming sewing was done by hand. Obtaining fuel was commonly a matter of the men and boys going to woodlot or timber -- sawing, chopping, loading, and hauling wood -- occasional, all day ventures. The advent of hard coal burners brought a new warmth and cheer to the "sitting room" winter nights. Two large fruit orchards provided this family with apples aplenty from fall to spring and for months the kitchen hummed with the work of preserving some of these as well as the wealth from currant and berry bushes and from the vegetable garden, that, no matter how pressing other work might be, the father never failed to "put in." The tenant houses of a later period were unknown, so the extra "help" for farming and for ditching and tiling were taken care of in the house.

Hogan Family

The Larkin-Hogan history indicates that James Hogan's father was named Dennis Hogan. Although little else is directly known through family sources about this man, one Hogan researcher I contacted through the Internet indicated that these Hogans likely lived in a township of Nenagh called Fawnlough on the well known estate of William D. Ferrar.

Julia was travelling to America with her cousin, Bridget Purcell, and was enroute to a Purcell home in Chicago. Julia and Mary's brother Rodger, came to America some years after Julia. In time Rodger made his home at St. Joseph's Hospital, Bloomington. A horse lover, he cared for the team and carriage there, driving the Sisters about as needed. Another of Julia Hogan's brothers, John, did not leave Ireland. A third brother, Dennis, remained in Ireland, became a Christian Brother, and taught for many years in Dublin as Brother Augustine.

Kennedy Family

Julia Hogan’s mother was born Mary Kennedy and one source indicates that her paternal grandmother was named Brigid Kennedy. Kennedy is common name in County Tipperary, however, a near relation to former President Kennedy's family is unlikely as JFK’s people were from County Wexford.

Bolan Family

Margaret Bolan was born in Ireland in Mar, 1834. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1848.  She married Patrick Kinsella as detailed in the Kinsella Family section in 1856.  Little else is known about her.

James Michael Larkin & Margaret Lucy Kinsella

He married Margaret Lucy Kinsella (see Kinsella Family) who was born April 9, 1872 near Merna. The couple were married 10/17/1894 in St. Patrick's Church, Merna with Rev. Dan O'Dwyer as celebrant and William Kinsella and Sara Larkin Quinn as attendants. The wedding had a large write up in the local press.  They can also be found in the 1900 Census for Money Creek Township on page 12.

The couple took up residence on a farm just north of James Larkin's family home (which they later owned themselves) in a house costing $ 3,000 given them by James. Their children were: 

• Julia Catherine, b. Sept 1895
• Anna Vernatius, b. May 1897
• James Bernard, b. Nov 1898
• Joseph Ambrose, 
• Margaret Mary, 
• Michael Jerome, b. Aug 1, 1906 
• Martha Lucile,
• Ethelreda Margaret.

Michael and Margaret were prosperous farmers for most of their adult life. However, the great farm crises of falling prices and easy credit during the 1920's finally caught up with them and they lost their farm to foreclosure and moved to Bloomington in about 1931. (Over 80% of the farmers in Illinois were bankrupted during this period.)

Michael died Jul 16, 1937 and Margaret Lucy died April 27, 1948, both in Bloomington. At Michael's funeral a beautiful sermon was given by Father Maguire, C.S.V., President of St. Viator's College. Both he and his wife are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Merna, IL. One child, Margaret Mary, preceded them in death and is buried with them.

A vignette from a niece's reminiscences of her aunt and uncle

Self-effacing Uncle Mike, with his mild, kind ways, had special rapport with little ones. And as we treasured visits in his and Aunt Lucy's home . .

Very little else is known about Michael and Margaret. We must gather that he was a very quiet man. Uncle Larry does have a rememberance of him, patiently waiting out moles, then pouncing on them when they emerged from their burrows. Michael and Margaret always hosted very large family gatherings during Thanksgiving which included many Larkins and Kinsellas. Margaret was also very religious and attended church regularly with other Kinsellas.