Brick Wall Ancestor #2
“Jas. A. McHugh, a well-known railroad man on the L. and N. [Louisville & Nashville] road, was killed early yesterday morning near Lebanon Junction, by falling from a rapidly moving freight train. About 5 o’clock McHugh, who was brakeman, was running from one car to another, when his foot slipped on the wet boards, and he fell down across the bumpers and between the rails. The wheels ran across his legs and mashed them nearly off. Three deep cuts were made on the head, which probably caused his death. He was placed on a train coming to this city [Louisville] and brought to Wyatt & Cralle’s undertaking establishment. Death was not instantaneous, and he lived until within a few miles of this place.” [1]
That tragic accident ended the short life of my 37-year-old 2x great-grandfather, James McHugh on 25 September 1890.
Interviewing Relatives
When I was in middle school and was still new to my genealogical pursuits, we attended an Eisenbeis family reunion in Kentucky. Instead of driving like everyone else, I had the exciting opportunity to take my first airplane ride with my grandfather James Irvin Eisenbeis (1915-2006). We went early and spent a couple of days in Louisville before heading to the reunion at Herrington Lake. During our time in Louisville, we got the chance to meet my great-grandfather’s brother, Joseph J. Eisenbeis (1890-1984), known affectionately as “Uncle Joe.” He and I had been corresponding for a years or more about our shared Eisenbeis ancestry and he knew a lot about his immediate forebearers. Uncle Joe’s grandparents were all immigrants from what became Germany in 1871, and he was old enough to have known three of them well. Despite his wealth of knowledge, I later discovered that he had kept some secrets, like how his grandfather was once arrested as an accessory to murder following a barfight. But that is a story for another day!
We also visited my great grandmother Irvie (McHugh) Eisenbeis (1890-1978), who we called “Tiny Mama” [2] and her sister Aunt Annie (McHugh) Fust (1887-1984). Unlike Uncle Joe, neither Aunt Annie or Tiny Mama had any knowledge of their father or their McHugh ancestry. They could only share that their father was born in Pennsylvania. I asked Aunt Annie and Tiny Mama if they ever wondered about their father’s family. They both said they really had not ever thought about it. As a budding genealogist, you can imagine by surprise at their lack of curiosity. Looking back, they were kind to indulge an excited kid pestering them with questions. Each of the ladies gifted me an identical whiskey decanter with a McHugh family crest on it, which I still treasure. Through my grandfather, I received James and Jennie (Hamilton) McHugh’s 1883 wedding photo and her rocking chair. See my earlier post: A Christmas Present to Remember: https://asonofvirginia.blog/2022/12/19/a-christmas-present-to-remember/
James Irvin & Jane “Jennie” (Hamilton) McHugh 1883 wedding photo
McHugh considered one of its best men
The newpaper article about James McHugh’s death reported that “McHugh was one of the best known road men in the employ of the L. and N. For more than fifteen years he was engineer on one of the fast trains running South. Some time ago he gave up his position on his own accord to accept one on another road. He did not like it, however, and determined to come back to his old position. There was no vacancy at the time, and having a family to support he accepted a temporary position as brakeman, until he could regain his position as engineer. The company considered him one of its best men.“
A fine tribute to be sure, but that was it. He slipped on wet boards and less than 24 hours later lay dead in a cemetery. Railroad work was very dangerous work. Incredibly, 70 percent of all train crews could expect injury within five years. Deaths were not uncommon. Things like workers’ compensation insurance, safety laws, job security, and seniority had not been developed yet.[3] Incredibly, the reporter neglected to mentioned his pregnant widow with two young daugthers. They didn’t even get his name right.
The Widow and Daughters
His widow, Jane “Jennie” (Hamilton) McHugh emigrated from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland to New York in 1878.[4] She made her way to Louisville, Kentucky where on 20 December 1883, she and James McHugh were married at Christ Church Cathedral.[5] Seven years later she found herself a 29 year old pregnant widow with young daughters aged 5 and 3. On 14 December 1890, less than three months after her husband’s death, Jennie (Hamilton) McHugh gave birth to her third child – my great grandmother whom Jennie named James Irvin McHugh, Jr. Yes – you read that correctly. She went by the name “Irvie” and signed things as J. Irvie Eisenbeis.
Conflicting Information about James Irvin McHugh
Where was he born?
The 1880 US Census for Louisville lists him living in a hotel at 334 Broadway. He is listed as Jas McHugh, 25, RR Engineer, born Ireland, father born Ireland, mother born Ireland.[6] In reality, this could mean Ireland, or it could mean Northern Ireland as census takers did not necessarily differentiate. Problematically, his wife and daughters listed his birthplace as Pennsylvania in the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records.[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12]
It was the single thing Aunt Annie and Tiny Mama could tell me about their father.
What was his name?
His gravestone says James I. McHugh and his widow named my great grandmother James Irvin McHugh, Jr. When Irvie grew up and married John Eisenbeis they named my grandfather James Irvin Eisenbeis, so I am pretty sure that he was James Irvin McHugh. Strangely, aside from the 1890 article about his death that called him James A. McHugh, both his 1883 marriage license and certificate also list him as J. A. McHugh.[13] Unfortunately, I have found no record with his signature to clarify this.
Here’s a thought: Could my James I McHugh have had an accent that made it difficult to distinguish between his I’s and A’s? Try it and see – say “IRVIN” then “ARVIN” a couple of times. Now try it with your best Irish accent! Something to think about (clearly, I am desperate).
Louisville City Directories
In 1880, the Louisville city directory lists James A. McHugh, Engineer, L&N railroad boarding at the Broadway Hotel.[14] This and the 1880 census listing him as living in a hotel at 334 Broadway gave me confidence this was my James McHugh. I reviewed extant city directories from 1875-1892 for the surnames McHugh and McCue to see if I could track him over time. Turns out James McHugh was not an uncommon name in Louisville during the period. Some – probably most- were renters and frequently moved within the city and others are inconsistently listed. Believe it or not there is actually another James McHugh – also sometimes listed as James A. McHugh – who was also a railroad engineer! His family I can track, but he’s not mine. My James McHugh’s widow Jennie McHugh is listed in Louisville city directory consistently as – widow of J.I. McHugh – but just as often he is listed as just James. Twice he is “J.E.” and once he was “J.A” just to keep it interesting.
How long had he been in Louisville?
The 1890 article about his death says he had been employed with L&N for more than 15 years on the fast trains running south. This suggests he was in the Louisville area by 1875 when James I. McHugh would have been about 23 years old.
Who was his mother?
The 1890 article stated that he was taken to the “residence of the dead man’s mother, 125 West Jacob Street” who was “housekeeper at Miss Nold’s school.” The 1890 Louisville City Directory includes numerous McHugh and McCue households – none of which were at 125 West Jacob Street – or anywhere on W. Jacob Street at all. Unfortunately, his mother’s name is not provided and I have been unable to identify her. Was his father already dead and his mother remarried? Aunt Annie and Tiny Mama didn’t mention their grandmother. Did she die before they were old enough to remember her? Or did the reporter just make an error?
Miss Nold’s School
Miss Nold’s school was called the Louisville Female Seminary. A description of the organization from 1895 reads as follows: “The Louisville Female Seminary, for young ladies and children, founded in 1851 by the Late Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Nold. The present principal, Miss Annie F. Nold, has had charge of the school for the past 15 years. The original plan of work has been continued as far as possible, and the reputation of the school maintained. The school is divided into primary, intermediate and seminary departments. The course of study is comprehensive. The faculty is composed of specialists. The number of boarding pupils is limited. The school is situated in the most desirable residence part of the city near Central Park.”[15]
As a young widow with three young daughters, Jennie went to work. In 1900, she was working as a housekeeper according to the census. My grandfather told me that she worked at Miss Nold’s School, which closed in 1897. Did James McHugh’s mother and wife both work at Miss Nold’s School? Or did the reporter confuse James McHugh’s wife and mother in his rush to meet a deadline?
Maud McHugh
James and Jennie’s eldest daughter Maud died sometime before 1900 as she is not listed in the census that year. My grandfather said he had never heard of this sister and neither my great-grandmother nor Aunt Annie mentioned her. My grandfather also told me that he understood that James I. McHugh had a sister named Maud who was schoolteacher in Altoona, Pennsylvania. I have never found any record of her. Was James and Jennie’s eldest daughter named for a paternal aunt?
Pennsylvania Census records
If James I. McHugh was born in Pennsylvania [or perhaps born in Ireland and immigrated to PA], he should be in the 1860 and/or 1870 census records. At 37 years old on 25 September 1890, he was born between 26 Sept 1852 – 24 Sept 1853 so he should be listed as 7-8 and 17-18, respectively. But cenus records are known for age inaccuracies.
The 1860 U.S. Census for Pennsylvania lists six James McHugh’s born between 1849-1858 (1853 +/- 5 yrs):
In 1870, there were nine James McHugh’s born in Pennsylvania between 1849-1858 (1853 +/- 5 yrs):
James I. McHugh supposedly had a sister named Maud in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Altoona is in Blair County, created in 1846 out of portions of Huntington and Bedford counties. I have had no success narrowing these candidates except for a few. For example, my James McHugh was probably not a dental student in 1870. The search continues . . .
James Irvin McHugh, Sr., b.c. 1853, Pennsylvania or Ireland?, d. 25 September 1890, Louisville, Kentucky, m. 20 December 1883, Louisville, Kentucky, Jane “Jennie” Hamilton (1860-1945), issue:
Anyone out there missing a James McHugh? How about a Maud McHugh (married name unknown) that was a school teacher in Altoona, PA?
[1] The Courier-Journal (Louisville), Friday, 26 September, 1890, p. 8; newspapers.com
[2] My maternal grandparents were short. My grandfather James Irvin Eisenbeis was 5’1” and my grandmother Rebecca Blanton (Morris) Eisenbeis was 4’11” My grandfather’s parents were all also short, while my diminutive grandmother’s parent’s were both tall. Thus they received the grandparental monikers Tiny Mama/Tiny Papa and Big Mama/Big Papa. I knew both Tiny Mama (d. 1978) and Big Mama (d. 1977), although the latter suffered from dementia so sadly we had no opportunity to know one another.
[3] U.S. Railroad & Rail Worker History during the 1800’s, Railroads & Railroad Workers Blog; https://railroadunion.blogspot.com/2014/12/us-railroad-rail-worker-history-during.html
[4] 1900 United States Census: Louisville Ward 6, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: T623_530; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 57; http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1900usfedcen&h=5236092&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
[5] Kentucky, County Marriages, 1783-1965, Ancestry.com, 2016; Ancestry.com
[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4241174-00855?pId=42130677
[7] 1900 census https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4118918_00540?pId=5236092
[8] 1910 census https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4329945-00076?pId=183746051
[9] 1920 Irvie https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4300927_01075?pId=86407059
[10] 1920 Annie https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4300924_00911?pId=86242286
[11] 1930 Irvie https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4584837_01280?pId=81510035
[12] 1930 Annie https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4584837_00221?pId=81451467
[13] Kentucky, County Marriages, 1783-1965, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
[14] 1880 Louisville, KY City Directory, p. 442; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-G3YP-69MF-8?i=238&cat=299885
[15] Kentucky Monthly, 2 June 2021, Kentucky Explorer, Souvenir Program Shines Spotlight on Schools in Louisville in 1895; http://www.kentuckymonthly.com/magazine/kentucky-explorer/souvenir-program-shines-spotlight-on-schools-in-louisville-i/
A Son of Virginia 