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Page 14
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The M. J. Conry House on Townline Road is now owned by Jack Conry.
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The railroad from Cleveland to Toledo was built between 1850 and
1855. Nearly all the original Irish immigrants that founded St. Mary's Parish came from Connaught, County Galway or County Clare, Ireland. |
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The first Irish settler to venture this way was Thomas Conry followed
by Patrick Cashman from Vermont. Some following suit were the Ford families, the Donahoes, and the Murrays. They spent their first winter in a railroad box car and later built shanties or cabins along the track clearning. This are is now known as Green Street, Butler Road, Townline Road, better known as "Little Dublin", Fitchville River Road, then known as Canfield Road. Many branched into farming as clearing the forests progressed; building fine homes, and barns, setting out orchards, rearing families that any parent was proud to possess. Gardens flourished with potatoes, cabbage, parships, corn, etc. |
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The religious needs of this little settlement were served by Father Healy
from Elyria, Ohio beginning in 1852. Mass was offered in the cabins of settlers with people using a hand car or walking the railroad tracks to attend prayer services. |
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In 1860, the parishioners became members of the Norwalk, Ohio
Mission area. In 1870, the first building for St. Mary's Catholic Church was built. The first structure was a wood building 30 X 42 feet. In 1892 a 22 foot addition with bell tower was built. The first couple married in the new building was Michael Connolly and Mary Collins. Other names of first families forming this Parish unit were Murray, Dunn, Ford, Conry, Cashman, Ward, Burke, Mockler, Nestor, Moroney, Hogan, Brennam, Dugan, Raferty, Rooney, Fahey, Kelly, Logan, Cutherie, and Daugherty. |
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Property for a cemetery was purchased in 1874 and laid out on one acre
east of the church. Most of the families mentioned above will be found buried in this cemetery. Many families lost children during the harsh cold winters and women died in childbirth. Those who survived raised large families and built lovely farm houses, many of which are still in use today. Some of the farmsteads today are the homes of fourth and fifth generations. |
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Many educated their children to be leaders such as priests, teachers,
nurses, bankers, lawyers, nuns, policemen and excellent farmers. The Fay brothers and Dunn family settled on farms east of the village. There they bred and raised Holstein cattle worthy of becoming an important part of the foundations of the Holstein Friesian Association of present times. |
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These settlers were a solid, hard working stock of people. Many came
to America with little formal education and only a small chest of personal belongings. They had very little money but they possessed a great faith in God and in themselves. Determined to keep their faith in God, they preyed and worked together and hoped for the day they would have their own church building in which to sing and pray. |
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Names and dates of early pioneers based on History of the Firelands by W. W.
Williams 1879. Other sources are: Firelands Pioneer, Volumes I & II, 1858-1878; History of Wakeman Township, Dr. F. E. Weeks after 1917; History of Huron County, Ohio, Volume II-A.J. Baughman, 1909. |