| By Linda Harney MacDonald | Issue 54 |
| NEW ADDRESS: 1269 Road 9, Powell, WY 82435 | Apr-Jun 2000 |
| NEW DISCOVERIES From Ireland to the American Gold Fields Earlier issues of this newsletter have included articles about the family of John Henry Harney, who was on the first wagon train into Dakota territory, in 1876, and was credited by some with discovery of the Homestake Gold Mine. New discoveries, both trace this family to its Irish origins, and provide conflicting views on whether it was really John Henry or another Harney who discovered that famous mine. According to local histories John Henry Harney operated a freight business, transporting goods from the railroads to various distribution points. He later contracted the mail run between Spearfish, South Dakota and Alzada, Montana. He and his sons homesteaded land in both South Dakota and Wyoming, rasing cattle and sheep. An article about him appears in "Pioneers of Crook County, Wyoming, 1876-1920", which was written by his grandson, Howard Harney. It is in this article that mention is made that he is the same person who, along with the Manuel brothers, discovered the Homestake Gold Mine. According to various local histories it was a year after the gold discovery, that John spent a long winter snowed in at the mine. Throughout the winter he worried the local Indians would slaughter his prize oxen. Come spring, when he saw an opportunity to get home to his wife and family, some histories say he traded his share of the gold mine for two barrels of flour and two kegs of whiskey. The "richest mine in history" was then bought by California investors, including then Governor Hearst. Family connections: John Henry Harney was born in Boston, Massachusetts, 8 March 1844, the son of James Harney and Hannah (Coin). According to Irish records Hannah’s full name is actually spelled Hanorah Cain. Hanorah married James Harney on 14 Nov 1839, at St. Peter’s, Drum parish, Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland. James was the son of Hugh Harney and his second wife, Ellen (Naghten), and James was christened at St. Peter’s on 16 Nov 1815. Previous to this time it was only known that James "went to America". |
Recently it was discovered that
James and Hannah had their first born son in Ireland, before immigrating to America. It
was through tracing this son, that the Irish connection to this family was found. The
births of their children trace their travels in this country. 8 Children of James
& Hannah (Cain) Harney We know that James and Hannah’s son, John Henry Harney spent some time in Columbus, Nebraska, and was married there to Mary Ann Many (also spelled Maney), the daughter of Michael Many and Nancy Donnelley. John Henry and Mary Ann Harney’s first child, John Jr., was born at Fort Laramie on 18 Jan 1876 (see the last issue for more about Fort Laramie). Their other children were born in that part of Dakota territory, which became South Dakota in 1889. (Refer to HU31 for details). Chart: ROHCL2.IRE (formerly WYJMM.WES)Conflicting claims. Wherever money (or in this case, gold) is involved, there seems to always be conflict as well. It follows then, that there is another Harney family who claims it was their relation, Henry Clay Harney (also spelled Horney), who discovered the famous Homestake Mine. In this case, it appears this may well be a valid claim. See page 2. |
| HENRY
CLAY HARNEY (1844-1907) Born 1 Jan 1844, Hancock county, IL, the son of William Horney and Louisa Ann (Haggard) (1820-1901). Henry Clay, later called Hank, served in the military during the Civil War, and it appears that is where the spelling of his surname was changed from Horney to Harney. Since the Illinois units were full, he traveled to Missouri to join the army, serving from 1862 to 1865. His company, the 10th Missouri, saw action at Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg and Chattanooga, he being wounded at the latter battle. After the war Henry Clay "Hank" Harney traveled west to what is now South Dakota and became a miner. The following account is from James W. Harney, his descendant. "He fell in with Fred and Moses Manuel and Alex Engh at Box Elder in the Black Hills. They went down Spruce Gulch to Whitewood and made camp. The excitement was running high and everybody was reporting rich diggings and new gold strikes. A little gulch named Bob Tail was struck and the four men got claims on it. Moses and Hank located a mine they called The Homestake on 9 April 1876. They dug a discovery shaft and found a piece of quartz weighing about 200 pounds, the richest ever taken out. The next day they ran an open cut and found a large deposit of rich grade ore. They then built a road to Whitewood and brought an ox team and wagon, [and] built an arrastra [mill to pulverize the ore]. That winter they took out $5,000 [in gold]." The Homestake was later sold for $70,000 to Senator George Hearst. ". . . Hank’s portion of the sale bought him a thoroughbred race horse ranch near Eureka, Kansas. He turned out not to be a good rancher and ended up selling the ranch and living the rest of his days in Chicago. My grandfather who provided much of my information was born on the ranch and lived to be 89. I have pictures of Hank, accounts of the discovery of the mine and old pictures of the mine taken in the 1930's by Hank’s daughter who swears the miners were swindled by Senator George Hearst’s representative, a man named Kellogg." Ref: "Forty Eight Years in the West" by Moses Manuel; "A Soldier’s Life During the Civil War" by John Henry Horney, and "Hancock Co. IL Biographical Review". - Research by J.W. Harney. For additional information on the HORNEY family, see James W. Harney’s web
site: |
Family connections: Henry
Clay "Hank" Harney married Matilda Caroline Foss, 31 Oct 1880, at Chicago, Cook,
IL. Matilda, who was born in Norway, is the daughter of Peter A. Foss and Catherine Kaia
Dorthea (Engh). Henry Clay and Matilda and the following children are found on the 1900
Kansas Census, at Eureka, Greenwood County: William (1881-1970); Samuel (1883-1945); Philip (1886-1963); Dorothy (1888-1970); Mary Louise (b.1891); and Pheobe (1894-1962). Henry Clay "Hank" Harney died 20 Nov 1907, in Chicago, and his wife and
children are listed on that census without him. In addition to the children listed on the
1880 census, they also had a son named, Clay Delbert Harney (1902-1941). In the 1920 IL
Census, Matilda is listed as head of household, and her son William is living with them,
as well as William’s young children, Ruth (1907-1944) and William Foss Harney
(1910-1982). However in 1920, Samuel, Dorothy and Mary Louise are no longer living in this
household, as they had married. Samuel Harney married Emily Vytlacil; Dorothy married
Walter Frederick Holtz; and Mary Louise married Alfred B. Cunard. Photo by J.W. Harney.
Editor’s Note: Looking at the evidence as to which Harney was the "Hank" Harney who discovered the Homestake Gold Mine, I have to say it now appears to me to be Henry Clay Harney. Henry Clay Harney was the cousin of Alex Engh, who was also a partner in the mining operations. While John Henry Harney likely dabbled in mining at the time, he was basically a teamster and rancher, and I could find no connection between him and Mr. Engh. It is interesting to note, however, that old family letters in John Henry Harney’s line, also mention relations who went west to the gold rush. And I have located some of his relations in California during the gold rush in that state. |
| HARNEYS FOUND IN MOVIE CREDITS . . . Michele Harney, of Toronto, Canada, is credited with costume design in the movie
"Canadian Bacon". This feature was the l Michelle is related to the Harneys on my Chart: QUJMP.CAN.
. . . AND THE THEATER ‘AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
|
HARNEY MEMORABILIA - ON THE NET If you collect Harney memorabilia, check the ebay.com auction page. They occasionally get some interesting items. The following items were among those offered for sale in February 2000. Caution: To avoid the Corinna Harney Playboy photos type the search field as follows: Original Hand Written Poem
Imperfectus I wonder if ever a song was sung I wonder if ever a rose was found James C. Harney Editor’s Note: JAMES CLIFTON HARNEY was born on 29 May 1850, in Nicholas county, Kentucky, the son of Willoughby Harney and Mahala (Herrington). James Clifton married on 13 Aug 1868, in Harrison co, to Mary Elizabeth Tailor/Taylor (b.1853 KY), and they had six children: Levira (b.1870); Charles N.(b.1873); Pearl (b.1881); |
| (continued from previous page) Carl C. (1887-1965); Stella L. (b.1892) and Edna A. Harney (b.1897). Mary
Elizabeth, the daughter of William and Julia (Marsh) Taylor, died 31 March 1921. James
Clifton Harney’s death date is not known at this time. He is thought to be the poet
who penned "Imperfectus" in the late 1890s. Chart reference: MDTEG5P.SOU. Portrait on porcelain Title: "275-223 Studio of J. Sajunsabia". Sold on ebay (Feb 2000).
I ordered a copy of this poster and hope to find more information about this Harney. I’ve learned that Sarasota, FL, had a circus "season".
1933 Indian Chewing Gum card of General W. S. Harney. Sold on ebay for $5.50 (Mar 2000). On the back is a short biography about the General. This was one of a set of cards featuring pioneer heros and noted Indian Chiefs. |
OVERSEAS TALES OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL "In that year we were taught by Brother Harney in a class of 54 pupils. We were arranged in three long rows of double desks, the top pupils seated at the front left. To help concentrate resources some of the boys were encouraged to help tidy up around the school or do other jobs. We were rather envious of their freedom to roam round the grounds free of the pain and toil of the classroom. In later years we realized the Brothers saw these pupils as no-hopers who weren’t worth spending time on. Brother Harney’s prescription for success was simple: beat it into them. . . . "We had a limited educational diet, but plenty of it: we practiced the tests day in and day out. If you got one of the easier questions wrong, you went out in the line. When the line was long enough, the teacher would hit everyone perhaps four times on the hands with his leather strap. We would all sit down and the same procedure would start again. Whether Brother Harney thought you stupid or careless, you normally got slapped several times a day." Editor’s Note: I attended a co-ed Catholic primary school here in the states, and I must say, it was very different. The nuns were nice, and they never hit any of us! My memories are much more pleasant. OPENING OF IRISH TECH CENTER IN BOSTON Harney is also Ireland’s minister for enterprise, trade, and employment. "We want to become the e-commerce hub for Europe," she said when explaining the role Ireland will play in Global Crossing Ltd.’s new trans-Atlantic fiber-optic cable to Europe. She also promoted U.S. investment in the "border counties" next to Northern Ireland, where decades of violence has thwarted growth. - from a Boston Globe article by Jerry Ackerman, provided by Bill Mackinnon, Braintree, MA |
| SPECIAL THANKS Donations have been received from the following individuals to pay for the
copy fees and postage of this issue of the newsletter: Thank you for continuing to support the Harney research project, and quarterly family newsletter. HARNEY MANSION Stephanie Light, of the Friends of General Harney House, Inc., has provided us with photos of the Mansion "before" restoration, and the first step - roof stabilization. Below are just two of those photos. See the web site for more: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harney2/General/mansion.htm
Left: North and east view, before roof stabilization. Reminder: It will take a lot of donations to complete this project. If you can help, please contact The Friends of General Harney House, Inc., P.O. Box 398, Sullivan, MO 63080. [corrected address]. BITS & PIECES General William S. Harney, a Southerner by birth, was commander of the Department of the Columbia, headquartered in Vancouver, from 1858-60. Not wishing to live in the drafty log cabins at the Post, Harney built a spacious two-story house with French windows, green shutters and a fireplace in every room. The house nestled on the ridge of what is now Harney Hill in Vancouver. When he was abruptly transferred to Missouri in 1860, Harney notified the post adjutant of his intent to deed the house to his black servant, a freed slave. The adjutant advised the general |
that the man had departed for
British Columbia. The house was then sold to Vancouverite Wirt Nye. Source: The
Columbian, 7 Feb 1999.
Currier & Ives print. General Harney at Cerro Gordo, Mexico. For sale on ebay for $7.99. William S. Harney has been called the "hero of the battle of Cerro Gordo", and as such is depicted in this Currier & Ives print. William was commander of the Second Dragoons during the Vera Cruz expedition of 1847 (Mexican War). At this time he served in the same location as his older brother, Benjamin F. Harney, who was General Winfield Scott’s Medical Director. Benjamin was wounded by a rifle ball that struck his leg just above the ankle, causing him to relinquish his responsibilities as medical director for less arduous duties, however he did remain on duty in Mexico during the campaign. - Research from Bernard M. Brown.Camp Harney, located on the Comite River, east of Baton Rouge, LA, was named for Benjamin F. Harney, Major, and U.S. Army surgeon, who was stationed at the Baton Rouge Barracks. In the summer months the men of the First Infantry Regiment would move to the summer camp in order to prevent illness associated with enclosed buildings and the heat. - Research by Bernard M. Brown.
HUMOR IRISHMAN IN A PUB The Irishman thought for a while and finally agreed, partly because of the peer pressure. The Australian smashed the first bottle on the Irishman’s head, then the second and so on, but he stopped after smashing nine bottles. "When are you going to smash the tenth bottle?" asked the Irishman. "I am not a total idiot," the Australian replied, "then I would have to give you that $200." |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS Tennessee Walking Horse Annual Celebration MARRIAGE Jack is president of American Property Tax Company and is a partner in American Property Management. Lisa is vice president and CFO of Credit Union Mortgage. Jack’s first cousin, Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie, was best man.
DEATHS Carolyn M. HARNEY, 71, of Maple Avenue, Waterford, New York, died Friday last, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Source: Times Union, 18 May 1998, NY. Rose M. HARNEY, 85, a homemaker, died Friday. Survivors include three sons, Ben of Independence; Phil of Williamstown; Mike of Las Vegas; two daughters, Sonia FINNELL of Kenton County; Shirley ROBINSON of Lawrenceburg, IN; two sisters, June RILEY of Cincinnati; Joann HAMILTON of Covington; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Her husband, Ben G. HARNEY, died in 1981. Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 June 1998. |
Audrey Lillian (BOWEN) JUDKINS, sister of our columnist, John M. Bowen, and wife of Stewart Judkins of Franklinville, NY, died Wednesday, 27 Oct 1999, after a short illness. She was the daughter of the late Edgar Abel Bowen and Lillian Loretta (McDonnell) Bowen, and a descendant of Thomas Harney and Margaret (O’Brien) Harney, the immigrant ancestors. She is survived by daughters, Susanne W. Judkins; Mary Lynn Button; Patti Ann Hibsch; and a son Stewart Mark Judkins; and several grandchildren. - From John D. Bowen. Mary A. (HARNEY) TORPEY, 95, of Worcester [MA], a longtime telephone operator and Girl Scout volunteer, and ardent sportswoman, died yesterday in Providence Care Center. Source: Telegram & Gazette, 12 May 1998. SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX CANADA - Marriage records 1837, 11 May - HARNEY, David, to Sara LOGAN, Notre Dame, Quebec. 1874, 24 Nov - HARNEY, Thomas, son of Patrick Harney & Ellen Trihey, widower of late Ellen Carbery, to Mary FOLEY, dau of Martin Foley & Ann Murphy, widow of Andrew Murphy (2nd both), at St. Patrick’s. 1876, 27 Nov - HARNEY, James, son of the late Patrick Harney & Ellen Trihey, to Mary POWER, dau of John Power and (unknown) Mimnock, at St. Patrick’s, Que. 1876, 27 Nov - HARNEY, William, son of the late William Paul Harney and Sarah Berryman to Susan GALLAGHER, dau of Denis Gallagher, and late Ellen McDermott, at St. Patrick’s, Quebec. 1882, 08 May - HARNEY, James, 20 yrs, of Port Arthur, son of the late James Harney and Julia O’Brien of Welford, NB, and Maria LEE, of the same place, aged 19 yrs, dau of James Lee and Mary Bennet of said Fort William. Ontario. |
ate comedian John Candy’s final film. In it
he plays a sheriff who’s given a ridiculous mission to invade Canada. It is a satire
on the Cold War mentality. In addition to John Candy, other comics include Dan Aykroyd,
Rhea Perlman, Kevin Pollak, Bill Nunn, Rip Torn, Steven Wright, Alan Alda, and James
Belushi. The video includes a trailer with a retrospective of John Candy’s other
works.
| MORE WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATIONS: (continued from last issue) Name Year, Month, Day Place Enlisted or Inducted Harney, Anthony b. 1893 MS, Issaquena Harney, George Francis b. 1886 0225 MA, Worcester Harney, Herbert Francis b. 1894 0507 MA, Worcester Harney, Louis b. 1895 0304 FL, DeSoto Harney, Robert E . b. unknown MI, Flint, Genessee County Harney, Thomas Francis Jr b. 1892 0721 MA, Worcester |
| IRISH GLEANINGS: (page8) WASHINGTON DC - ST PATRICK’S PARADE: This years parade pictures can be found on the Internet at . It was a sunny but blustery day but there was a fine crowd and about 120 marching units. The World War II Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge were the highlight of the parade and won the Best Overall Marching Unit trophy. (Now they will have to practice after 55 years). The Grand Marshal was "Touched by an Angel" star, Roma Downey, and Gael of the Year was Frank J. Herbert. These following Gleanings are from an outstanding Irish web page by Anna A. Kasper named Lady Anna’s Pages at http://members.tripod.com/~pg4anna/. We thank her for her generosity. The information is used with permission. CURRENT GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND:
[Also see the following web site for an Irish Atlas and Townlands Database: http:www.seanruad.com/]
IRISH HISTORY: Ireland is only about the size of West Virginia. Wherever you happen to stop for a pint, you’ll never be farther than 50 miles from the sea, and yet this tiny island land has one of the richest histories in the Western World. IMPORTANT DATES IN IRISH HISTORY: c.7000 BC - Irish history began after the last ice age ended. Wandering bands of hunters and gatherers (Mesolithic i.e. … Middle Stone age peoples) moved to Ireland by way of Northern Britain. This way of life lasted a long time, and the culture has close affinities with those of British and Continental forest and coastal dwellers. c.4000-2000 BC Gradually, groups of Neolithic immigrants arrived. They came from the general direction of France and Spain. They erected the monuments of Newgrange and Knowth in County Meath and Carrowkeel and Creevykeel in County Sligo. The Mesolithic people seem to have survived and mingled with the new comers.
End of Harney Update, Issue 54
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