“Miss Mary Huggins, of Harper’s Ferry, Miss Gussie McCorkmick, of Brunswick, Md., and Miss Mamie Kaldenback, of Washington, D. C., visited Mrs. Thomas B. Walsh at Bakerton the past week.
Miss Mamie Kaldenback, of Washington, D. C., who has been visiting her cousin, Mrs. Nora Moore, at Bakeron, the past three weeks, has returned to her home.”
This article is significant because it directly identifies Mamie’s relationship to her hostess. Also significant are the other two ladies visiting Thomas’ and Maggie’s home. If Mamie was of relation to the Walsh family, it would make sense for other relatives to visit at the same time.
As kindly pointed out by Mr. Dave Hetzel, there is another “Nora Moore” in the Bakerton area. However, the Nora identified by this article is termed “Mrs.”, which means that she was identified by her married name. The other Nora Moore, hailing from Samples Manor, would have been identified as “Miss”. This argument is strengthened by the documented visit by Mamie to Nora’s brother, Thomas B. Walsh and his wife, Maggie.
Mamie E. Kaldenback was born in Washington D.C. October 26, 1882, and was the youngest child of her parents. Her birth record states that her father, Chas. E. Kaldenback, was born in Prince George County, Maryland, while her mother, Ella C. Dunn, was born in Great Falls, Maryland.
The 1900 United States Census for enumeration district 67, Washington D.C. shows a 28-year-old Mamie E. Kaldenback in the household of her parents, Chas. Kaldenback and Ella C. Kaldenback.
Charles is listed as 45 years old, born in December of 1854 in Maryland. He also lists his parents as Maryland born. He states that he had been married 24 years, is a shoemaker by occupation , and can read, write and speak English. The family rents their home.
Ella C., his wife, is listed as being born September 1856 and is 43 years old. She notes that she is the mother of 4 children, three of which are living. Ella is enumerated as having been born in Maryland, with both parents born of Ireland. She is also literate.
Their children are enumerated as follows:
Alongside the family, three “lodgers” are enumerated:
* Note on Frank A. Walker
Ella’s child that she lists as “deceased” was Charles A. Kaldenback, who was born in 1875 in Washington D.C. He died on July 30, 1875 and was buried in the Methodist Cemetery on August 1, 1875. Charles was the first child born to the couple.
On June 14th, 1880, parents Charles and Ella Kaldenback were enumerated in Washington D.C. Charles, listed as 26 years old, was a shoe fitter. Ella, his wife, is listed as being 23 years old. The couple and their parents are noted as being born in Maryland. Alongside the couple is their four-year-old son, Edward, who was born in the District of Columbia. The couple is living beside the family of 42-year-old Fred Carpenter, who is a shoemaker. His wife, Mrs. Nellie Carpenter, works as a seamstress.
Charles Edward Kaldenback died on April 14, 1910 in Washington D.C. His death record lists his occupation as a merchant. The informant states that Charles was born in Maryland, with both of his parents having been born in Pennsylvania. He was buried on April 16, 1910 in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington D.C.
In 1910, newly widowed Ella C. Kaldenback was enumerated in her Washington D.C. home with her 28 year-old daughter, Mamie, and 29 year-old son-in-law A. G. Homer. She lists her age as 51, and notes that she was born in Washington D.C., while both of her parents were born in Ireland. “Eng” is written after each notation of Ireland on the entire census page. She rents her home. A. G. Homer works for the “Transfer Co.” Her daughter and son-in-law have been married for two years.
By 1920, 64-year-old Ella C. Kaldenback was enumerated in 38-year-old Arthur G. Homer’s household in Detroit, Michigan. Arthur rents his home. He notes that he was born in Washington D.C. and that both of his parents were born in New York. He is employed as an inspector at the automotive factory. His 38-year-old wife, Mary “Mamie” E., is employed as a bookkeeper for a stockbroker.
Mamie’s mother, Ella C. Kaldenback, died on January 3, 1930 in Detroit. Her death certificate lists her parents as Dennis Dunn and Mary Welsh, with a birthplace of Washington D.C.
According to Boyd’s 1871 Directory of Georgetown, Mary Dunn, widow of Dennis Dunn, resided at 1000 10th se near the naval yard. This appears to be an area that was heavily populated by the Irish.
The 1870 Georgetown census sheds a little more light on Ella’s life before her marriage. On June 14, 1870, 13-year-old Ella was enumerated with her mother, brother, and a Welsh boy in an Irish section of town. The family was living in the household of 28-year-old Daniel Kearnum, an Irish born common laborer, and his 23-year-old wife, Margaret.
The census notes that Ella was born in the District of Columbia and that both of her parents are foreign born. Although she is attending school, she is illiterate at that point. Also in the household is her 18-year-old brother, Michael. Michael is currently working as a common laborer. He was born in the District of Columbia and cannot read nor write.
Michael and Ella’s mother, Mary Dunn is enumerated as a 53-year-old born in Ireland. She also cannot read or write. Finally, we find 12-year-old James Welsh, born in Missouri. While James is also attending school, he is illiterate. Both of his parents are listed as being of foreign birth. Also noted beside James is “one of family”, implying that he is somehow related to Mary and her family.
In 1860, Ella's father was alive and well. The family of Dennis and Mary Dunn were visited on June 9, 1860 at their home in Ward 4, Washington D.C. Their post office is listed as Tennellytown. Dennis notes that he is a 35-year-old Irish laborer and that his wife, Mary, is 34 years old. The couple lists their personal property value at $550.00 and valued their real estate holdings at $75.00. Neither party can read or write.
We also find more of Ella's siblings. 11-year-old Margaret, born in Ireland, is attending school with her 9-year-old brother Michael, also born in Ireland. The family lists 4-year-old Ellen as having been born in Maryland, and 10-month-old William as born in D.C.
Living in Dennis' household are three borders, 37-year-old Bridget Milliff, an Irish born cook, 28-year-old John Milliff, an Irish laborer, and little 5-month-old George Milliff, who was born in Washington D.C.
Two households over from the family of Dennis Dunn, 30-year-old Irishman John Dunn, a laborer, and his new wife, Margaret, of England are enumerated. The couple notes that they were married earlier in the year.
Enumerated in Mary Walsh Dunn's household in the 1870 Federal Census is James Walsh, whom she identified as "one-of-family". Because Mary’s maiden name is Welsh, we assume James is most likely related through Ella’s maternal line -- meaning that this James is likely part of the Harpers Ferry clan. If we believe the age recorded on the 1870 census, James would have been born in 1858.
A search of Missouri record sets turns up a James Walsh, born August 4, 1858 to William and Anne Burke Walsh in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. James was baptized on August 8, 1858 by the Roman Catholic Church. His sponsors are listed as James Burke and Rose Short.
From there, we turned up a marriage record for William Walsh and Anne Burke. The couple were married in St. Joseph, Missouri on July 26, 1857.
In 1860, the couple was enumerated in the 1st ward of the city of St. Joseph, Missouri. William is recorded as a 24-year-old dragman for the railroad. He lists the value of his personal property at $2.00. He states that he was born in Ireland and that he is unable to read or write.
Alongside William is his wife, Ann. She states that she is 22 years old and was born in Ireland. Their son, presumably James, is recorded as 2-year-old "J Welch", born in Missouri. Also living in the household is a 20-year-old Irish-born laborer by the name of "J. Burke", likely a brother of Ann.
A search of Missouri birth records uncovers two more children of William and Anne. Sarah, christened January 13, 1862 and Mary, February 22, 1863, both in St. Joseph.
Although an 1870 enumeration has yet to be found for William and Anne, a search of the 1880 census turns up the household of 36-year-old widow "Anna Welch", currently working as a dressmaker.
Also in her home is:
Knowing this information, we can make some interesting deductions.
It is extremely likely that Mary Walsh-Dunn is the daughter of Patrick and Honora Walsh, who emigrated from Ireland to the Harpers Ferry area about 1830. The youngest child of the couple, Thomas Buchanan Walsh, was born in Virginia (likely Harpers Ferry) in 1834. In many accounts, Thomas' sons have repeatedly stated that he was both the youngest child of the couple and the only child to be born in the United States.
Patrick, Mary's likely father, passed shortly after their arrival in America. His wife, Honora, died before 1860, and did not remarry.
If William Walsh and Anne Burke are truly the parents of the James related to Mary Welsh-Dunn, and if this 1880 enumeration is the household of Anne Burke-Walsh, then her late-husband, William, is not likely to be Mary Walsh-Dunn's brother.
According to the 1870 census, Mary Walsh-Dunn was born about 1817. This would place the age gap of Mary Walsh and William Walsh at 19 years (William having been born circa 1836). If William was born in 1836 and a child of Patrick and Honora, William would have been the youngest child of the couple and could not have been born in Ireland.
Anne Burke-Walsh's brother-in-law's birthdate is estimated 1842. Honora, born about 1790, would have been 52 years old at the time of his birth. It is also unlikely the couple would have had two surviving sons given the same name. Thomas, the known son of Patrick and Honora Walsh, remained in Harpers Ferry for his lifetime and was married in 1859.
It is most probable that William was the nephew of Patrick and Honora Walsh. This could explain why Mary Walsh-Dunn stated that James was "one-of-family". She couldn't quite call him her nephew, or a cousin, and he wasn't her son -- but he was simply, "one-of-family".
However, in order to prove this theory, more research on both Dennis Dunn and William and Anne need to be completed.
No "Huggins" family has been found in Harpers Ferry, however the Higgins family does. Miss Mary Higgins, born March 1876, was the daughter of Edward and Catherine (Kate) Higgins. Edward, born in County Louth, was the son of Edward Higgins and Catherine Keirnan.
BORN: 1855
OCCUPATION: Merchant, Shoemaker
MARRIED: Ellen “Ella” C. Dunn; August 16, 1875, Washington D.C.
DIED: April 14, 1910; Washington D.C.
BURIAL: April 16, 1910; Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington D.C.
BORN: September 14, 1856; Washington D.C.
PARENTS: Dennis Dunn & Mary Welsh
MARRIED: Charles Edward Kaldenback; August 16, 1875, Washington D.C.
DIED: January 3, 1930; Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
BURIAL: January 1930; Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington D.C.
BORN: 1875, Washington D.C.
DIED: July 30, 1875, Washington D.C.
BURIAL: August 1, 1875 in Methodist Cemetery
BORN: April 13, 1876; Washington D.C.
MARRIED: Estella
DIED: April 22, 1930; Washington D.C.
BURIAL: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington D.C.
BORN: March 11, 1881; Washington D.C.
MARRIED: Henry T. Sinclair, August 22, 1919; Franklin R. Dulin
DIED: February 21, 1940; Arlington, Virginia
BURIAL: February 21, 1940; Oak Hill Cemtery, Washington D.C.
BORN: October 26, 1882; Washington D.C.
MARRIED: Arthur Garfield Homer; March 2, 1908, St. Patrick’s Church, Washington D.C.
DIED: March 28, 1949; Ypsilanti, Michigan
BURIAL: ?
BORN: Ireland
OCCUPATION:
MARRIED:
DIED: Before 1870
BURIAL:
BORN: abt. 1817, Ireland
PARENTS: Patrick and Honora Walsh (likely)
MARRIED:
DIED:
BORN: 1849, Ireland
DIED:
BURIAL:
BORN: January 1851, Washington D.C.
DIED: Aft. 1905
BURIAL:
BORN: September 14, 1856; Washington D.C.
MARRIED: Charles Edward Kaldenback; August 16, 1875, Washington D.C.
DIED: January 3, 1930; Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
BURIAL: January 1930; Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington D.C.
BORN: 1859, Washington D.C.
DIED:
BURIAL:
BORN: abt. 1836, Ireland
OCCUPATION: Dragman
MARRIED: Anne Burke; 26 July 1857, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
DIED:
BURIAL:
BORN: abt. 1838, Ireland
MARRIED: William Welsh; 26 July 1857, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
DIED:
BURIAL:
FAMILY: Thomas Welsh, brother-in-law; J. Burke (b. ~1840, Ireland), Brother
BORN: 4 Aug 1858, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
CHRISTENED: 8 Aug 1858, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
OCCUPATION:
DIED:
BURIAL:
BORN: 1861, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
CHRISTENED: 13 Jan 1861, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
MARRIED: William G. Brown? 29 Mar 1882
DIED:
BURIAL:
BORN: 1863, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
CHRISTENED: 22 Feb 1863, St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri
MARRIED:
DIED:
BURIAL:
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