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.