Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 1993)
TWO - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 3, 1993 Mollahan family to reign over St. Patrick’s Day festivities The Mollahan family has been selected the honored family for the 1993 St. Patrick’s weekend. The descendants of Pat and Elsie will represent the family during the festivities. Following is a history of the Mollahan family. The immigration of Irish into Morrow County did not find Pat Mollahan and his brothers and sisters in the earliest vanguard. They traveled to this area over a period of about 10 years beginn ing shortly after the turn of the century. There were other Pat and Elsie Mollahan’s four children (L-R): Larry, John, Mary Mollahans. possibly unrelated, and Bob who came and left. from Heppner where he resided Eight boys and two girls were tion next door, Elsie found many the remainder of his life. Terry bom to the union of John and patients to nurse in Heppner. A Thompson is the present owner. Anne McNamee Mollahan, a far compassionate and energetic per Pat received citations for his ming family of Leganomer. son she began taking maternity service as a member of the Mor County Leitrim. They attended patients into her home. Of row County Civil Defense Coun church at Aghavas and school at Wedding photo of Pat and Elsie Mollahan taken in 1929 course, this was before the cil as well for serving as inspec Corduf. Pioneer Memorial hospital came tor for the local rationing board All of the seven who im Patrick Joseph, is a member of from a broken leg at St. An into existence. thony’s Hospital in Pendleton, he during World War II. migrated to this country resided the Ontario city council. Elsie had one minor shortcom Bernard, the youngest to make met his bride-to-be She was Elsie Pat returned to employment in Morrow or Umatilla County ing though, and that was in not with the city in 1945, and work for at least a short while. The the trek to this country, decided Owen, a registered nurse and one being able to say no to any pro ed for a time in the water depart three youngest, Joe, Frank and that the environs of New York of nine children bom to Fred and spective mother, regardless of ment. After about four years, he Pete, remained in Ireland. A City were preferable to eastern Ella Owen. Her mother’s father their financial straits. Sometimes returned to the city police force story related now in Ireland is that Oregon. He married a Sligo girl, was Thomas Connor, a Roscom there were as many as three pa Anna Kenny, worked for Con mon County man, who had been and became chief around 1949. Joe wanted to emigrate to the tients sharing the small house Edison, and reared three chilren conscripted into the British Navy After five years in that capacity, United States, also. But, his with Pat, Elsie, and their four who are also proud of their Irish and had jumped ship while it lay he chose to step down to the post mother saw things differently and children. in New York harbor. of relief officer. He performed intercepted the envelope contain heritage. In those days a maternity pa Pat and all of his brothers and Bom in South Dakota, Elsie’s this duty until his retirement in ing his traveling money sent by tient took more care and spent 10 an older brother who had already sisters are now deceased. Pete family wended its way from there days to two weeks mostly in bed. emigrated. She felt completely married Kitty Kilkenny and they to other farms in Saskatchewan, A few times Pat and son Bob sud justified in perpetrating the paid a visit to this country in Alberta, to near Spokane- denly found themselves spending larceny because of the loss of too 1978. Joseph married Bridget enduring some difficult times a night or two in a local hotel. many of her children to emigra Reynolds and remained in with many hardships. Elsie’s efforts along this line con Leitrim. Their eldest son, John, About 1927, Pat decided that tion already. Emigration, though tinued for a decade, or so, before considered necessary, was of Balbriggan is a respected his future was probably in she turned more to nursing at St. thought by those left at home, member of the Irish police, the railroading. While awaiting his Anthony’s Hospital and later at who sadly bid farewell, as being Garda. Last to pass away was transportation to LaGrande. he Pioneer Memorial in Heppner, as something of a "living death." Frank in 1989. He farmed the was approached by a Heppner well as for numerous private Many of the emigrees were not homeplace at Leganomer. His garage owner, Henry Cohn, who patients. heard from again, possibly son, John, and wife. Sheila, are offered Pat a job, an offer he Pat continued in the service sta because they found life in their dairy farm ers at nearby accepted. tion business in H eppner. Gertermone. Pat and Elsie were married in adopted country far from easy. However, he did manage a long Pat Mollahan arrived in Hepp the old St. Patrick's Church in Pat and his siblings who did awaited trip to Ireland in 1933, emigrate followed their relatives, ner about 1910, when he was 17 Heppner on April 27, 1929, by to visit his parents. His father, it friends and others from County or 18 years old. Like what his Father Thomas Brady. Bill and is told, did not recognize him. Leitrim in small groups. The brothers and many others did Cecilia Bucknum were their John thought that Pat was a tax eldest, Jim, tall and athletic- after arriving in Morrow Coun witnesses. collector. Pat was a young lad One of the family jokes later looking like his brothers, return ty, he found work on area ran when his father had last seen him ed to this country to work on ran ches. These ranches included was the haziness Pat displayed 22 years earlier. ches after serving in the US Ar those of the Kenny’s, John when it came to giving his age or Development of a skin malady year of birth. It is possible to my in Europe during World War Kilkenny and Dillard French. believed to be a reaction to his be Pat gladly renounced his come up with a variety of years* I, later married Loretta Modrell ing around gasoline too much of and they had one child, Colleen. allegiance and fidelity to any of birth from the ages shown on the time resulted in Pat looking foreign rulers, particularly "the his naturalization and marriage Mathew returned to his around for another way to make King of Great Britain and certificates. His baptisimal infor Leganomer home where he died a living. Around 1938, he pur Ireland,” in 1916. On November mation in Ireland showed that he at the age of 19 from an illness chased the grocery delivery 11, 1918, he became a proud was baptized a year before the which followed an injury incur business for the north-end of citizen of the United States of date he had led his family here to red in Oregon. H eppner. Ralph Beamer America. Coincidentally, another believe he was born. It might Next was Pat who came to Pat Mollahan, possibly his delivered in the south-end of have been the case that birthdays Morrow County and stayed. town. Pat was also at the railroad cousin, also became a citizen the were not considered very impor Bridget, or Bea, married John same day. The confusion led our depot early each morning to pick Kenny and they parented seven Pat in later days to use the initials tant by at least one Irishman. up American Express parcels for Pat purchased a service station chilren on their Sandhollow-area P. A. even though he had no mid delivery. on the northwest comer of Main ranch that son Bill presently dle name. An opening on the Heppner and Baltimore where Farra’s farms. police force prompted Pat to app Pat’s main aim in life was to be Shoe Repair shop was later Her sister, Mary Ann, married an American—if possible, a good ly for it. He was accepted and John Keegan. They raised nine one. He worked diligently at try located. He and Elsie set up became the night policeman in housekeeping next door, across children in the Ontario area. 1940. His working day began at ing to leave his Irish brogue and from the present Heppner Their brother John returned to ways behind, but fortunately, he 6 a.m. and didn’t end until about Oregon after marrying Katherine didn't completely succeed at museum and library. 1 a.m. From 1942 until about the This little house became a Fitzpatrick in New York. After either. To him this country meant end of the war, he served as leaving Heppner they raised real freedom and the closest thing much busier place than it was deputy sheriff. He gave up the even for raising their four seven handsome children also to Utopia that there was. delivery business and decided in children. Bob, Mary, John and near Ontario. Their eldest, 1943, to purchase the Henry In 1926, while recuperating Larry were born and raised Blahm place down Willow Creek within its slightly enlarged walls. As Pat operated his service sta "W ildflow ers of Eastern District VII director will welcome Oregon", a slide by Oregon State the participants. Lois Enstrom. University Extension agent Don Hillsboro, state president of Rydrych, will be a highlight of OAFCE will address the Brenda Ratcliff. Molalla, nar her. She had awakened to check the OAFCE District VII meeting members on local responsibilities rowly escaped her burning home on her puppies when she on Thursday, March 11 in for hosting the October ‘93 state in the early morning hours of discovered the fire. Her husband, Pendleton. The meeting for meeting in Umatilla. John, was burned on his face and Feb. 26. members of Morrow, Umatilla. Meeting participants will be hand. Ratcliff is the daughter of Wallowa and Union county study able to purchase lunch from the George and AnnaMae Steagall. The fire, caused by electrical group members will be held at the restaurant buffet prior to the Heppner. wiring, burned the mobile home King’s Table restaurant on SW noontime wildflower presenta to the ground. The Ratcliffs, who Ratcliff was burned on her 17th Street beginning with coffee tion. For additional information back when debris from the ceil didn't hear their smoke alarm, at 10 a.m. contact Isabelle Jones 922-4934. ing of her mobile home fell on lost everything in the fire. Isabelle Jones of Irrigon, Meeting on wildflowers set Woman narrowly escapes fire Quality Howard Miller Clocks as low as Zeta Nu Chapter has new member Morrow County Grain Growers Cenex Drum Sale Cheryl Costello, Boardman. has been accepted as a new member of Zeta Nu, Boardman chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Costello has lived in Boardman since 1985 with her husband Clair. They have two children Carly and Caitlin. Costello works in the lunch program for River side High and Sam Boardman Elementary. CENLX ’ LAND O LAKES 518-30 weight 55 gal. 201.95 518- 15/40 55 gal. 214.95 Universal Hydraulic Fluid 55 gal. 214.95 Sweatshirts Price Morrow County Grain Growers 1-800-452-7396 Lexington, Oregon 350 Mam 989-8221 I Country/RoSg^fÙ cue* " LAND O LAHtS V Heppner 233 N. 4 ^ ^ ---------------- --- ------------- X H ow ard Miller J a c k s o n • Cherry Bordeaux finished grandfather clock features graceful swan neck pediment. • Full-length beveled glass locking door. • Cable-driven, Westminster chime movement. • Free engraved brass plate. 77” tall. Jrw*»(rrs of A m erica. Inc Peterson's Heppner 1965. Dean Gilman, Heppner’s chief of police at the time of Pat’s retir- ment, said of this respected man, "He is just one of the very finest. After Pat was bom, I think they broke the mold.” Pat passed away in 1965 and Elsie in 1979. Both are interred in Olney Cemetery, Pendleton. Their eldest son, Bob, is presently retired from the US Air Force and the Oregon Dept, of Motor Vehicles, and lives with his wife Barbara, in Roseburg, They have three sons, Pat, Mike, and Chris, and four gandchildren. Mary and her husband, Don M cClure, are retired from teaching and reside in Seattle. They have four children, Kathy, Teri, David and Doug, and five grandchildren. John works for B & C Repair in lone and has two children Jackie and Joe, and four grand children. He and his wife, Chris, live in Lexington. Larry continues to serve as a deputy on the M ultnomah Sheriff s Department, Portland, and was the parent of four children, Patricia, Mary, John, and Brent who is deceased. Larry and his wife. Sue, reside near Estacada.
