The Hayes Family History Site

With the help of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness Volunteer Jack Stanton, I was able to discover a treasure-trove of information about several Sheehan and Hayes relatives who are interned at the Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bedford, NH. (see “Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness” – A Must For The Genealogy Toolbox!).

I had contacted Jack by email and asked him to photograph the grave stone of two Great, Great Aunts who I knew were buried there; Margaret Simpson and Hanorah Sheehan. What I got was a picture full of surprises and the location of internment for some others I had been looking for, for some time.

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James T. Tierney, son of Sarah and James F. Tierney,  was killed on December 12, 1931 when the “hired automobile” he was driving went out of control on Edgecombe Avenue, 25 feet south of the Middle Bridge Viaduct.  The car  plunged 100 feet into Colonial Park, landing upright. Rescuers found him still sitting in the drivers seat, but accoding to his Death Certificate, he had suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries.

James was just 37 years old when the crash took his life.  He served with the American Expeditionary Force in Word War I and was  living in the Bronx at 2500 Webb Avenue.  According to his Death Certificate, he was a salesman for an unknown company and appears to have been married to a Mary L. Tierney.

James was born in Manhattan, New York on June 6, 1894 to James F. Tierney and Sarah Beattie Tierney. He died on December 12, 1931 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.

At the turn of the Century, Thomas F. Lewis (b. 1858, d. 1924), president of the Brooklyn City Building & Loan Association Co-operative found himself in the middle of a major power struggle with other members of the board.

The Association was organized on March 2, 1887 in the old hall at Third Avenue and 24th Street in South Brooklyn.  It opened with 15 charter members.  Within the first year, it had accumulated over $80,000 of assets.  By 1890, the association’s assets had grown to $250,000. When the “great Panic of 1893″ occurred, the association not only survived, but actually increased it’s assets.  In 1895, the association moved its offices to 91 Court Street.  It also had a branch office at 76 39th Street.  In 1897, the assets had grown to a whopping $465,000.

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Walter M. Wowk, 83, of Liena Rose Way, Coventry, formerly of North Smithfield, died March 3 at Kent Hospital in Warwick. He was the beloved husband of Jane E. (McNeill) Wowk; they had been married for 60 years. Born in Woonsocket, a son of the late Wasyl and Frances (Serafin) Wowk, he had lived in North Smithfield before moving to Coventry 10 years ago. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He worked in shipping and receiving at Uniroyal in Woonsocket from 1942-1971 and then in maintenance for the state of Rhode Island at the Davies Vocational School in Lincoln for 17 years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Fairmount American Legion Post 85 in Woonsocket and faithfully attended the USS Leedstown reunions. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Jane A. Goldberg of Coventry, Judith C. Lamoureux of Pascoag and Joan F. Blanchard of North Smithfield; a sister, Anne Hulse of Seattle, Wash.; and six grandchildren. He was the father of the late James W. Wowk and brother of the late Mary Caron and Michael, Thomas and John Wowk.

I know there are many relatives who served our country that are not yet on this list. By next year, I hope that I can find you and add you to our little tribute.

From Philip Sr., Colleen, Philip Jr. and Kevin…. THANK YOU!

On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration. Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years; In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory. Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share. No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave up normal lives, For duties mundane and gory. Let every veteran be honored; Don’t let politics get in the way. Without them, freedom would have died; What they did, we can’t repay. We owe so much to them, Who kept us safe from terror, So when we see a uniform, Let’s say “thank you” to every wearer. By Joanna Fuchs

Private Ralph Yerks b. 1894 d.1918 World War I, US Army, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division Killed in Action and is buried in Thiaucourt, France at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle Second Lieutenant Harry W. Lewis b.1892 d.1972 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Served on the United States Expeditionary Force in France. Stay an extra year after the Armistice was signed and played tennis for the AEF team assigned to rebuild relations in war torn Europe. Genealogy Note: My Grandfather James Tierney b. 1894 d.1931 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Company M, 307 Infantry James served in France and saw many friends die in Europe. We have a letter from him, to his brother Frank, while in France. Genealogy Note: My Great Uncle Lloyd Lewis b.1928  d. 2000 Korean War Conflict Served in a “secondary” MASH unit in Japan.� Genealogy Note: My Uncle Colonel Robert E. Dunn, US Army b. 1892 d. 1974 Served in both World War I and World War II. In WWII Colonel Dunn lead a black Division of Engineers on Okinawa. Genealogy Note: Husband to Grace Elinor Tierney, my Great Aunt. James Leroy Yerks III b. 1938 Non-Wartime Served in the U.S. Navy Genealogy Note: Colleen’s Father. William B. Yerks b. 1891 d. 1960 World War I William fought in World War I and survived a Mustard Gas attack, only to die of complications of it some years later. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle and brother of Private Ralph Yerks. Jonathan J. Foley b. 1896 d. 967 Genealogy Note: Husband of Agnes Beattie, my Great Aunt. Brian Hogan Gulf War 1990 -1991 Genealogy Note: Husband to my cousin, Patty Brady Hogan. John W. Dunn b. 1930 d. 2000 USAF Active Duty 1948-1953 Korea 1950-1952 USAF AIR Guard – Berlin Wall Conflict 1961-1962 Retired USCG reserves 1979 Genealogy Note: Son of Edna V. Hone, a distant cousin to Colleen. John E Dunn 1985-1990, USAF Active Duty Genealogy Note: Another distant cousin to Colleen. William Sheehan Fred Barnes George Condos Nick Condos

Jeanne T. Lewis started to play the piano at age 7 in 1932. The base of what she learned and what she continues to pass on today to her students, comes from her first music teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Brush. Mrs. Brush had a little studio in a house located on Larchmont Avenue in Larchmont, New York, where she would go to for regular lessons right up to the time she entered high school. She then picked up lessons with Mrs. Elizabeth Read of New Rochelle. Mrs. Read taught her for several years and helped prepare her for her College. She also experienced “duo” piano playing with Mrs. Brush’s daughter, Virginia under Mrs. Read’s tutorage.

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