Kansas:   William and Anne Foy 

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William Foy and Ann Halligan
Children of William Foy and Ann Halligan
Grandchilden of William Foy and Ann Halligan

Michael Joseph Foye(1875 - 1962                                  Mary Ellen Rice Foy (1883 - 1962)
Irene Lucille Foye  Moloney (1907 - 1986)                      Framcis Patrick Moloney  (1896 - 1976)

Obituaries for  William Foy, Ann Halligan, John Berry,  Ellen Cramer, Margaret Riley

Vignettes                                                                            References

William Foy and Ann Halligan

William Foy((18 Oct 1840  -  Vine Creek  8 Dec 1922)  was born in lower Garryedmond and baptized in the Catholic church of Claremorris on 18 Oct 1840.  Sponsors were James and Ellen Costello, neighbors of the Foys.  Williams parents were Michael Foy and Margaret "Peggy" Moran.  His siblings were Patrick, Martin, Michael, Thomas and Mary.

 The Halligans lived in Kilcolman, an area along the Claremorris-Knock road.  Ann Halligan (Kilcolman 28 June 18454 - Vine Creek  5 Jan 1931) was probably baptized in the Catholic church in Knock.  Anne parents were John Halligan and Bridget Curry.

William Foy married Ann Halligan in the Claremorris Catholic church on    22 April 1866, with witnesses Michel Foye and Ann Conroy. The couple emigrted to Kansas in 1885, together with their children and Ann's mother Bridget.  They sailed on the liner City of Berlin together with the Martin and Bridget (Foy) Berry family and the Michael and Winifred (Cox) Foy family. (To see handwritten ship manifest, click on the image at left.  To see typed copy, click here.)  The families visited New York City for a few days (other Halligans had emigrated earlier to NYC  and operated a store there), then took the train to Kansas.  See Marilyn Moloney's essay for details of the trip.  Their child Ellen (1872 - 1872), Bridget's twin, died shortly after birth.

The Foye family first appears in the Kansas State Census for 1895.  They may have arrived too late for inclusion in the 1885 state census, and the federal census records for 1900 were destroyed by fire in Washington DC.    John Foy (Kilcolman 1867  -  Chicago 1920), the oldest son noted in the ship manifest, had left the group and traveled to Chicago, where he became a street car operator. 

They are listed in the 1900 census for Ottawa Township in Ottawa County.   They added the 'e' to their name to keep the mail separate from that of his nephew's family, Michael Foy.  Some of their children retained the 'e', others dropped it.

Children of William Foy and Ann Halligan

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John                                   Margaret  (Maggie)          Bridget   "Delia"       Ellen 1st    
Maria (Marie Gertrude)    Michael Joseph               Ellen 2nd                    Honoria  (Anna)

John Foye was baptized in the Claremorris Catholic Church on June 2, 1867 which matches his traditional day of birth given as June 1, 1867.  His sponsors at Baptism were Michael Foy and Bridget Conroy  He traveled to America with his family,  and is listed in the 1900 US Census with the family in Ottawa.  Sometime afterward, John went to Chicago, worked driving a streetcar, and died under uncertain circumstances on  March 9, 1920.  See Marilyn Maloney Walsyk's essay for further details on John.
 

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Margaret Foye was baptized in the Claremorris Catholic Church on March 23, 1870 according to the parish records. Her sponsors were Pat and Margaret Halligan.  She met and married Eany Kelly about the 1900 and a daughter, Katherine Kelly was born in Vine Creek on 5 February 1902.  Prior to their marriage, Eany is listed as a pedlar in the 1900 census for Ottowa County > Ottawa Township.  Eany stated he was born March 1862 and came to America in 1890. the nephew, Padrien or Patrick was born June 1884 and was in the country since April 1900.  Eany is listed in later census records as a Vine Creek merchant (1905 & 1915) who owns his store, as a village ???out with a small stable (1920) and a merchant for general merchandise (1930).  Maggie Foye Kelly died  10 February 1929.  The 1930 census is revealing—
 

John Riley and Katherine Kelly have been married since 1922 and probably living with the Kellys.   Maggie Foye Kelly died 10 February 1929.  John Riley's family operated the farm adjacent to that of Martin and Bridget Berry.  John's parents, Edward and Norah Riley came to the USA in 1882 and settled for a time in Georgia, where their first two children were born. The census records the couple have been married 17 years.  They had seven children, of whom six are still living.  As of 1910, their census record was

John Riley and Catherine Kelly had two children.  The first, Francis Eugene Riley was born in 1931, but was sickly all his life and died in December 1938.  The second, Margaret Lucille Riley was born in Salina KS in 1934.  She suffered from rheumatoid arthritis her entire life, lived in Salina KS but wintered in Tucson AZ, where she died March 29, 2008..

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Bridget Foye, called Delia most of her life is listed in the Claremorris Civil Register as being born June 10, 1871 with her home in Murneen, and in the Claremorris church register as being baptized June 12, 1871,.Her sponsors were Thomas Foye and Bridget McGreal.

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Ellen Foye  I  was Bridget Foye's twin sister.  She is listed in the Claremorris Civil Register as being born June 10, 1871 with her home in Murneen, and in the Claremorris church register as being baptized June 12, 1871.  Her sponsors were John Flemming and ? Halligan.   She died soon thereafter, and is buried in Claremorris.

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Maria Foye is listed in the Claremorris civil register as being born August 25, 1873, with her family living in Kilcolman .  She is not listed in the Claremorris Church baptismal register, so probably was baptized in the church of Knock.  Many family documents refer to Maria as Marie Gertrude.

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Michael Joseph Foye was not found in the Claremorris civil register nor in t he Claremorris Church baptismal register.  He probably was baptized in the church of Knock.

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Ellen Foye II, named after the first Ellen, was baptized in the Claremorris Church on August 24, 1879. Her sponsors were William and Rose Conroy.

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Honoria Foye called Anna Foye  was baptized Honoria in the Claremorris parish church on July 31, 1881.  Her sponsors were Martin and Mary Cox.

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 Grandchldren of William Foy and Ann Halligan

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Margaret Lucille Riley (great grandaughter of William and Ann Halligan Foy)

Margaret Lucille Riley, 73, of Salina, died March 29,  2008 in Tucson, AZ. She was born August 29, 1934, in Salina. She was a graduate of Marquette University and worked for Research Products in Kansas City. She taught school in Tucson for thirty-five years at Amphi High School and Pima County Adult Education. She was a volunteer for the Red Cross, Salpointe Library, Villa Maria Nursing Home and the Salvation Army in Tucson. She helped establish the Senior Resource Fund in Salina and funding for the handicapped through OCCK. She was member of St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Tucson, Friends of the University of Arizona Poetry Center, Friends of the Salina Public Library and The American Society of Poets.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John & Katherine Kelly Riley; and a brother, Francis. She is survived by many cousins.  Katherine Kelly was a granddaughter of William and Ann Halligan Foy.

Memorial services were held 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, Salina. She chose cremation with no visitation and a private interment in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Vine Creek, KS.

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MICHAEL JOSEPH FOY(E)
(1875-1962)

Michael Joseph Foy was the sixth of eight children born to Anne Halligan Foy and William J. Foy in County Mayo, Ireland. The date of his birth was September 12, 1875. The family came to this country when he was nine years old. After ten days on the ocean, they landed at Castle Garden, New York. The trip from there to Abilene, Kansas, on a train, took three nights and two days. They arrived on April 23, 1885. Other Irish families had come to the same area. They stayed with the Berry families, around Abilene, at first. Later, they lived on a farm north of Vine Creek. They added an e to their last name because there was another Foy family, whose members had some of the same given names and their mail was getting mixed up.

Mike became a farmer and cattleman. He married Mary Helen Rice in Salina, Kansas, on November 29th, 1905. Reverend Father John Maher performed the ceremony. Only one child was born to them, Irene Lucille Foye. The e was at the end of the name on her certificate of baptism. Mary and Mike built a home and other buildings on some land that Mary had inherited. They added to it by buying some tracts from her siblings who had also inherited them. It was located a few miles west of Vine Creek. Around 1917, they sold that property and moved to Strong City, Kansas, because the Flint Hills pastureland was where Mike wanted his cattle to graze.

According to a newspaper clipping, they purchased one of the best farms in the county. It was 312 acres on the Cottonwood River, about five miles east of Strong City, on the New Santa Fe Trail. It didn't have a house on it, so they purchased a home at the edge of Strong City, with a few adjoining acres. After a few years, bad economic times hit the entire country. Many men in his situation committed suicide but he was able to salvage enough to purchase a farm near Burdick. There, drought and grasshoppers plagued them. They then bought 42 acres at the edge of Junction City. The large stone home they moved into still stands, close to the municipal airport. Approximately fifteen years later, some of the farm was taken for the construction of the airport. He and Mary Helen lived the rest of their lives on the remainder of the place, which is now also city property. He served as a county commissioner for many years.

 Irene had met and married Francis Moloney, who lived only three miles away. They had four children: Marilyn, Foye, James, and Therese. Their lives were entwined with Mike and Mary's.

 Mike was the only "boy" in his family, after his brother, John, died in 1920, consequently, his sisters and their children made a "fuss" over him! There was a tradition of spending Christmas Day and Easter Monday with them, in addition to other visits. He enjoyed teasing children! He hooked their legs with his cane, played buzz-nab with a teaspoon, etc. When his grandchildren would help him with little chores around the yard, he was very exacting, when showing them how he wanted them done! He was sometimes sarcastic. When they got television, he enjoyed the show, "The Verdict is Yours". He also enjoyed the Euchre card games that he and Mary played with neighbors and friends.

— by Marilyn Moloney Wayslk

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MARY HELEN RICE FOY(E)
(1883-1962)

Mary Helen was the seventh of nine children born to Mary M. Holmes Rice and Myron H. Rice. She was born in Ottawa County. Kansas, on December 28. 1883. Before moving to Kansas from Illinois. Myron had served in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, during the Civil War.

 The family lived in Ottawa County, where Mary Helen grew to adulthood.  She converted to Catholicism and married Michael Joseph Foy on November 29th. 1905. in Salina.   Irene Lucille was born to this union on June 7. 1907.  She was their only child.  Mary and Mike built a home and other buildings on some land that Mary inherited and they added to, by buying some tracts from her siblings. It was located a few miles west of Vine Creek.  Mary was an excellent housekeeper. Their little daughter was not allowed in the parlor unless there was company or she was practicing her piano lessons. Because her mother had been a piano teacher. it is believed that Mary played and gave Irene her start. She sang the Protestant hymns that she had grown up with. When Irene was about 10 years old. they. sold their place. to move to Strong City. Mike wanted his cattle to graze in the superior Flint Hills Pastures.

Mary was the first woman in Strong City, Kansas. where they had moved. to bob her hair. She also smoked cigarettes, which was unusual for a woman in that time and place. She was an exceptionally small woman. all of her life, who admired large women! She had "spunk", which made up for what she lacked in size.

 From Strong City. they moved to a farm near Burdick and in another few years. on to a small farm just outside of Junction City, into a large stone home, which still stands near the municipal airport. Here. Irene met and married Francis Moloney. They had four children: Marilyn, Foye. James and Therese. They lived only about three miles away, so their lives were closely entwined.

 In her later years, Mary played solitaire and worked crossword puzzles. She had an extensive vocabulary. She and Mike regularly played the card game, Euchre, with neighbors. When television first came out, she enjoyed the movies very much! She had always liked movies and to have them in their own home was the “ultimate”!

— by Marilyn Moloney Wayslk

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IRENE LUCILLE FOYE MOLONEY
 (1907-1986)

Irene was the only child born to Mary Helen Rice Foy and Michael Joseph Foy. Her birth was on June 7, 1907, in Ottawa County, Kansas. Her parents built a home and other buildings, a few miles west of Vine Creek. They lived there until she was about ten years old, when they moved to Strong City, Kansas. She had a good piano teacher and became accomplished enough to play at the silent movie theater. She was very flattered when a woman said that the only reason she went to the movies was to hear her play! It was "popular" music, then; now some of it is classified as "jazz". She enjoyed the dances in nearby Cottonwood Falls.

After a few years, there was a country-wide economic crisis. Her dad, Mike, was able to salvage enough to buy a farm near Burdick. They moved there, during her high school years. She graduated from Diamond Valley High School and attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas.

 Drought and grasshoppers plagued the farmers. From Burdick, they moved to a farm near Junction City. The large stone home still stands, near the airport. She worked at the Duckwall Store. It was at a church supper at St. Xavier's Catholic parish that she met Francis Moloney. They married and lived where Francis had been living, with his invalid father and unmarried sister, on their farm, in their fourteen year old farm house. It was only about three miles from where Irene had been living, with her parents. They had four children: Marilyn, Foye, James and Therese, in that order.

 Irene truly enjoyed being a devoted mother and teacher. She incorporated Montessori principles into the upbringing of their children. Ten deep breaths were a part of their morning routine. In addition to her other students (one later played on the local radio station and gave her credit, on the air, for giving him his start), she gave piano lessons to all of her children and some of her grandchildren, who lived close. That basic music has helped them in singing in school and church, and in dancing. Another outstanding thing she did was to teach art appreciation and some Latin and Spanish phrases, as well as to encourage reading! This gave her children a good start toward being good students, as well as being self-disciplined. Teachers enjoyed the fact that they would sit still and listen to them, probably because "silence lessons" were part of the home training. They resembled the current "time out" except that they were not used as a punishment. They were simply a part of their education.

 She was very religious. The family rosary was said often. There were other "devotions", such as communion on the First Saturday of each month. The nuns didn't even know about that one! One of them asked why she saw the family at Mass and Communion on the first Saturday. Of course, it was connected with Fatima. Even though her mother was not raised as a Catholic, Irene's faith in Catholicism was very strong!

 After her children were raised, she enjoyed working as a sales clerk in a ladies' ready-to- wear store, for the same manager that had the Duckwall Store, when they first moved to Junction City. Later, she worked at a PX retail store on Custer Hill at nearby Ft. Riley. When she no longer worked, she played bridge, regularly, with three friends and with family members. She also enjoyed going to the many school activities that her older grandchildren participated in. Before her death, she had seventeen grandchildren.

— by Marilyn Moloney Wayslk

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 FRANCIS PATRICK MOLONEY
(1896-1976)

Francis, "Tony", was the sixth of eight children born to Mary Hoey Moloney and James Moloney. James had come from Ireland when he was only nineteen years old and worked on the railroads in several states before he went back to Ireland, married seventeen year old Mary and brought her to Kansas. They lived on various farms in Geary and Riley counties. Tony was born near Ogden, on December 27, 1896. Mary died while giving birth to the eighth child. "Tony" grew up doing chores, field work and learning how to "break" mules. We have a letter that he wrote, when he was nineteen years old, to his brother, in which he described the process, step by step! Like so many farm boys, in those days, his formal education ended early because of farm work that they needed to do, but he read a lot, all of his life. One of the recreational activities in the community was to present plays in the local school. In one of them, he played a character named "Tony", which explains his nickname.   He liked it better than Francis.

 He met Irene Foye at a church supper at St. Xavier's Catholic Church, in Junction City.   (There is a stained glass window in that church, with his father's name on it). Francis and Irene married and had four children: Marilyn, Foye, James and Therese. This farm boy had a dream of becoming an auctioneer and she encouraged him to pursue it. He went to Decatur, Indiana, to the Reppert School of Auctioneering.  He was over forty years old, at that time.  He became the main auctioneer in the Junction City area for many years. "Colonel" is an honorary title given to auctioneers, so he had yet another alias!  In addition to the weekly sale at the Livestock Sales Co. in Junction City, he had many farm sales and furniture sales in town.  He always wore a Stetson hat, suede jacket (if it was cool) and he loved cowboy boots.  In later years, he bought cowboy boots for all his grandchildren!  The family always had several horses to ride. Some of them were Shetland ponies.

Tony always encouraged his children "to go the extra mile" and was very proud of their academic achievements. He believed that they should work hard at chores and field work to build character.

  — by Marilyn Moloney Wayslk

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Vignettes

Dates:  The Irish were famously nonchalant about exact dates.  Thus the different census records are contradictory about age, date of birth, date of immigration to the US, etc.  The dates we have chosen are firstly the dates in the Claremorris Baptismal register, and secondly the traditional dates used by the family.

Names:  Delia was a variant of Bridget.  I have yet to find a family with a Delia and a Bridget among the children.  However, in later years the names Delia Bridget and Bridget Delia came into use.

Anna is usually a corruption of the more common names Honora or Honoria.  Pronounce Honor  like a Cockney and it sounds like Anna.  William and Ann Foye's daughter was christened Honora, but has always been known as Anna.  Perhaps Ann Halligan is also derived from Honora,

Marie Gertrude Foye is listed as Mary in the ship manifest and age given as 2!  I suspect that whoever gave the registrar the data  forgot to name Marie in the proper age order, and when it was remembered, the recorder assigned an age consistent with age order.  Just a guess … 

Duplicate names:  William and Ann Foye had two children named Ellen.  They followed a traditional pattern of giving a later child the same name as a child who died young.  This pattern held for boys as well as girls.

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Obituaries taken from local Kansas Newspapers

References

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