Charles C. McGovern was born in December, 1872, the first born son of John McGovern and Catherine Moore Trainor. 

The family lived on the farm in Wilmore Boro, Cambria County, Pa. There were ten children born into this family, but several did not survive childhood.

At some point before 1900, Charles moved to Derry, Westmoreland County, Pa., where he worked as a locomotive engineer for the railroad.

After his father died, Charles' mother, Catherine McGovern moved in with him.  The first census that I find them living together was the 1900 census.  It listed:

Charles McGovern, age 27, single, head of house, railroad engineer

Catherine McGovern, age 64, mother

Bertha McGovern, age 23, sister (I had never heard before that John had a sister named Bertha)

Cornelious McGovern, age 8, nephew

Catherine McGovern, age 4, niece

Irene Roberts, age 27, servant

The 1910 census told a completely different story:

Charles McGovern, age 38, married, head of house, locomotive engine man

Irene V. McGovern, age 31, wife (if this is the same Irene as above, she shaved a few years off her age!)

Bertha McGovern, age 5 daughter

Cornelius P McGovern, age 18, boarder (in 1900, he was listed as a nephew)

Francis K. McGovern, age 15, boarder

Catherine McGovern, age 72, mother

 

The 1920 census listed:

Charles McGovern, age 49, head of house, married, locomotive engineer

Irene McGovern, age 46 (this would have been in line with the age listed on the 1900 census), wife

Bertha L. McGovern, age 14, daughter

Catherine McGovern, age 87, mother

 

The 1930 census listed:

Charles McGovern, age 59, head of house, married, locomotive engineer

Irene McGovern, age 56, wife

Mary McGovern, age 7, daughter (that must have been a bit of a surprise!)

 

All of the above census documents are posted in the McGovern Documents sections of this site.

Catherine McGovern died on April 23, 1928, and is buried in Derry, Pennsylvania.

I do not have any further information on this family.  If you descend from this line, please contact me through the link on the toolbar.

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