My Grandfather, James Norman Ball

I was in St. Pete, FL with my husband visiting our great long-time friends, Paul and Paula. Paula drove me to the Bay Pines National Cemetery not far from her home, where we found my grandfather's grave stone. He died at the VA Hospital in 1940.

When I returned home, I did some research (and thought of many more unanswered questions), and found the following, which I will eventually add to the blog:

o       1890 Nov. 29, Born, College Point, Queens, NY, to father James Ball from England (32 yrs) and mother Margaretha Kohlus Ball from Germany (35 yrs)

      

      My grandfather was left with "cousins" when her mother became sick and then died. Apparently he was placed in an the orphanage, but not sure when. Haven't found where his mother died or buried.

o       1900 Census: Lived in the Paterson Orphan Asylum. (DOB Mar 1890)

o       1910 Census: Lived in Patterson, New Jersey, with William E. Speer (65 yrs) and Sarah A. Speer (58 yrs), and Joseph B Sipp (39 yrs) and Katharine Sipp (39 yrs), daughter of Speers

      The Speers took in or "adopted" my grandfather. Mr. Speer was a photographer and grandfather was his helper. Mr. Sipp was married to the Speer daughter, Katherine.

o       4/13/1918 – 1/4/1919: Drafted in WWI as a Sgt. in the Army Air Corps, Aerial Photo School, A.S.

      My grandfather's WWI Registration Card indicates he was married.

1   1920 Census: Lived in Jacksonville, FL with his wife, my grandmother, Irene O’Hagan Ball, along with her sister Edith O’Hagan (who died at Chatahoochee) and her brother Joseph O’Hagan

    

      My dad was born in 1924 in Jacksonville.

     1935 Census: He was working as a court reporter & living in Sebring, Florida (my dad was in 7th grade)

         1940 Census: He was a patient at the VA Hospital in Pinellas, Florida

o  

         May 22, 1940: He died at the VA Hospital and buried at Bay Pines National Cemetary

New Info on O'Hagan Family Members

I heard from cousin Beverly Rogers McMahan asking how Agnes O'Hagan died as she was quite young which drove me to do some research and update this blog.

Agnes was 20 years old when she died on Sept. 30, 1918. The story I have heard is that she died of a shotgun wound. There were no witnesses but they believe that she was throwing garbage down the hill toward Egan's Creek when she saw a rattlesnake and then went to the house for a shotgun to kill it. They found her body on the ground with the shotgun nearby and one of her shoes off her foot with the heel broken off. They came pretty quickly when they hear the gunshot.

I also looked some other members of the family:

William died on June 7, 1915 of lockjaw. He was 14 years old.

Edith was admitted to the Florida Mental Hospital at Chattahoochee, FL between 1920 and 1930. Census records for 1920 list Edith as part of my grandmother Irene and her husband James Ball's household along with her brother Joe O'Hagan. She is listed in the 1930, 1940 and 1945 Census at Chattahoochee. She died there on Sep. 27, 1982, and I believe she is buried there. Cousin Jimmy said that Papa visited Edith and would come back feeling very sad and that Papa wanted her to be buried next to her twin brother William in the family plot at Bosque Bello Cemetary in Fernandina.

I thought John J. O'Hagan, Papa's brother drowned at Sullivan's Island, but I found that he actually drowned at Georgetown in 1909:

O’Hagan, John J. who for 30 years was lighthouse keeper for Charleston Harbor fell into the water at Sullivan’s Island and drowned. Newberry (SC) Observer 10/1/1909, page 1.

Robert Edward O'Hagan

From Gail O'Hagan Saur:

Just thought I'd pass on a bit of humor about my dad. When he was born he was to be named Thomas John. His father's name was Robert Edward. The hospital personnel put all the names on his birth certificate. Daddy's legal name was Thomas John Robert Edward O'Hagan. Mother said he took the name Joseph as his conformation name so he became Thomas John Robert Edward Joseph O'Hagan. I remember smiling whenever I was asked as a child to fill in the father's full name.....there was never enough room to write it!

New Family Member: Sofya

My sister Rachel Zahn's son Robert and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of Sofya.

Sofya Marie Zahn was born at 8:45PM, March 30th, and weighed 6 lbs 6.5 ounces and was 19 inches tall.

Mary Loretta Ramsey Obituary from July 25, 2009

Taken from the her Obituary in the Post and Courier.

Mary Loretta Croghan Ramsay, an influential live-long resident of Charleston, died on July 25, 2009. She was owner and manager of Croghan's Jewel Box, an historic landmark in Charleston opened by her father, William Joseph Croghan, the store in 1919 on King Street in Charleston.

Mary Loretta was born on Dec. 28, 1921, in Charleston, the daughter of William Joseph Croghan and Loretta O'Hagan Croghan. She married George P. Ramsay in 1950. Her husband died in 1985.

She is survived by her four children, Dr. Alex Ramsay, Mariana Ramsay Hay, George Ramsay and Rhett Ramsay Outten; and eight grandchildren, Mary, Alex and George Ramsay, Kathleen, Mariana and Mikell Hay, and Anna and Caroline Outten.

News from Cousins

Gail O'Hagan Sauer visited and gave me some information to correct about her father Thomas John O'Hagan (b. 1923). I have updated the O'Hagan page with the information Gail sent me.

Stories of My Father from Cousin Jimbo

I am so pleased when I hear from a relative who found this blog and sends me information to share!

I recently received these stories about my father from my first cousin Jimbo Ball, son of my father's younger brother, Uncle Jimmy. Thank you, Jimbo!!

"We were talking about the war and Iwo Jima when I was a little boy. He casually mentioned that he was standing by the group of marines in the famous flag raising photograph. If I remember correctly, he said he was just outside and below the lower left corner of the picture's frame, doing something else. I was awed that he was only a few steps away from being in the history books! He shrugged and said 'I was just doing my job.'"

"Donna (Jimbo's wife) and I went to Jacksonville to spend Christmas with Aunt Irene before she sold the house. The last Christmas. Uncle Billy came over for Christmas dinner and we were sitting round the table talking when the subject of hair came up. I was getting pretty thin on top about that time of my life and said he lost his hair during the war from rancid food. The food was not fit to eat and every body knew it but it was all they had. You either ate it, or went hungry. A lot of the men chose to go hungry but your daddy was hungry enough he decided to eat it any way. He got sick, his hair fell out and never grew back."

George Schuppe/Shoop enlistment in Army 1862

Found George Shoop's enlistment record from the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors web site:
He enlisted in the 27th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery on Dec. 8, 1862.

The info below is from their web site

27th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery
Organized at Buffalo, N. Y., and mustered in December 17, 1862. Left State for Washington, D. C., December 22, 1862. Attached to Defences of Washington, D. C., and 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to July, 1863. Philadelphia, Pa., Dept. of the Susquehanna, to January, 1864. Camp Barry, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, D. C., to April, 1864. Artillery Reserve, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomae, to May 16, 1864. Defences of Washington, D. C., 22nd Army Corps, to June 5, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 9th Army Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.-Duty at Artillery Camp of Instruction and in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till July, 1863. At Philadelphia, Pa., till January, 1864. At Washington, D. C., till April, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spotsylvania Court House May 12-16. At Washington, D. C., till June 5. Before Petersburg, Va., June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Fort Stedman March 25, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Moved to Washington, D. C., April 21-27. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 22, 1865.

Battery lost during service 2 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 17 Enlisted men by disease. Total 19.

Found: 1850 Marriage Record of Denis and Maria

OMG, I found Denis and Maria's marriage record from Ireland!!
Ireland Marriages, 1619-1898

Groom’s Name: Denis Ohagan
Bride’s Name: Maria Corr
Marriage Date: 15 Jan 1850
Marriage Place: Tullaniskin, Tyrone, IRE
Groom’s Father’s Name: John Ohagan
Bride’s Father’s Name: John Corr
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M70202-5
System Origin: Ireland-VR
Source Film Number: 101316
Reference Number: 2:3PCJ2X1

Newmills in Northern Ireland

Here's a link to the town of Newmills in Northern Ireland where Denis O'Hagan lived with his parents John and Rose O'Hagan. Newmills is located near Dungannon.

Roman Catholic Churches near New Mills around 1850

I found 2 Roman Catholic Churches near New Mills where the O'Hagan family lived in the 1850s: Coalisland and Stewartstown (Armagh diocese) or Donaghenry and Ballyclog (Coalisland) (Armagh diocese).

This is from An Irish Geneological  Source - A Guide to Church Records published by PRONI (Public Records of Northern Ireland) that also includes dates of records kept.
(p. 171-173):R.C. Coalisland and Stewartstown (Armagh diocese)
Baptisms, 1861-80; marriages, 1862-79; deaths, 1861-8. MIC1D/34


R.C. Donaghenry and Ballyclog (Coalisland) (Armagh diocese)
Baptisms, 1822-40 and 1849-81; marriages, 1822-41 and 1853-80; deaths, 1822-39 and 1854-69. MIC1D/8, 34

John J. O'Hagan

I found this link that decribes a newspaper article in Newberry Observer about John J. O'Hagan . I had heard that he drowned at the Georgetown, Lighthouse, but he drowned at Sullivan's Island.

"O’Hagan, John J. who for 30 years was lighthouse keeper for Charleston Harbor fell into the water at Sullivan’s Island and drowned, Observer 10/1/1909, page 1"

Photos of my dad, William Edward Ball

My dad was in the Marines and fought at Iwo Jima. He joined the Army and was in Tokyo, Japan during the Occupation when he met and married my mom. He was also in Korea. He retired after 27 years in the Army to Fernandina Beach where he lived until he died.


William Ball, USMC



Dad with his cousins.
Mary Catherine Bruni Bennett, William Ball,
Gloria Bruni Bradley and Joe Bruni

He's wearing a Coca Cola shirt as he was working for his Uncle Joe Bruni at the Coca Cola plant in Fernandina Beach.

William Ball about 5 years old, Jacksonville, FL



William Ball about 2 years old, Jacksonville, FL









Photos of Irene, Lottie and Janie O'Hagan circa 1905

Here are photos of my grandmother Irene O'Hagan Ball with her sisters Lottie and Janie. These were taken around 1905, the year the family moved to the Amelia Island Lighthouse, FL from Ponce Inlet, FL.

My sister Rachel gave me a bunch of old photos, some of which I'll post here. If any cousins out there have old photos to share, please join my blog and post them here. Or send them to me to post.

Irene Elizabeth O'Hagan, Lottie (Charlotte) O'Hagan Freeborn and Janie (Mary Jane) O'Hagan
circa 1905

Irene Elizabeth O'Hagan, Lottie (Charlotte) O'Hagan Freeborn and Janie (Mary Jane) O'Hagan
Fernandina Beach, FL circa 1906

Irene Elizabeth O'Hagan Ball
Fernandina Beach, FL circa 1906



dad's military service records

I received another letter from the National Archives and Records Admin. today that included dad's separation reports for 2 of his enlistments.

One is from the Marines for service from Dec. 16, 1941 to Dec. 24, 1945. His "principal military duty" was "Shore party man-729." This must describe being at Iwo Jima.

The other is from the Army for service from Sept. 11, 1946 to June 29, 1949.

As dad was in the Army through the early 1960s, more records are not available due to fire damage to the records facility on St. Louis in 1973.

Obituary of James "Jimmy" Lawrence O'Hagan, Jr.

It is with great sadness that I post the obituary of my cousin Jimmy O'Hagan who passed away on October 16. Jimmy inspired me to learn more about our shared ancestors from Ireland, the O'Hagans and Corrs, which eventually led to this blog. He was a wonderful man who will be missed very much by many.

James Lawrence O’Hagan Jr. (Jimmy), 78, beloved husband of Rebecca Fiveash O’Hagan (Becky) departed this world Saturday, October 16 at his home in Fernandina Beach, Florida  surrounded by his family.  

A native and long time resident of Fernandina Beach, he was born March 5, 1932 to James Lawrence O’Hagan Sr. and Elizabeth Sturges O’Hagan.  Jimmy was their only child. He attended St. Michaels Academy in Fernandina, Bolles School in Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach HS.

Jimmy married Denyse Titcomb O’Hagan in 1951 (Their marriage was tragically short as Denyse died of a terminal illness in 1958).  He served in the United States Air Force.  He was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base where he played football for the “Tyndall Tigers” of which he was most proud.  Jimmy graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry in 1959.  He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Xi Sigma Pi. Following college Jimmy worked for Rayonier Timber Division as a registered Forester. 

Jimmy married Becky Fiveash in 1959.  In 1965 he went to work for International Minerals and Chemical, Inc. and rose to the position of Southeastern Area Sales Manager.  

Jimmy moved home to Fernandina in 1987 and became interested in genealogy.  He was one of the grandchildren of Amelia Island Lighthouse keeper Thomas Patrick O'Hagan and had a desire to learn more about his Irish ancestors.   Following extensive research on the family, Jimmy and Becky made several trips to Ireland making many friends and united family members in Ireland and the United States.  

Jimmy was a member of St. Michaels Parish, a contributor to University of Georgia Athletics and a loyal “Bulldog”.   Above all he enjoyed spending quality time with his family who he so dearly loved.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rebecca Fiveash O’Hagan, sons James Lawrence O’Hagan III, Michael Keith O’Hagan and daughter Dana O’Hagan McCoy (Kevin), eight grandchildren and one great grandson.  

A memorial service will be held in St. Michaels Catholic Church at 11:00 AM, October 24, Father Brian Eburn will officiate.  A reception will follow immediately at the home of Dana and Kevin McCoy.  Interment at Bosca Bella Cemetery will be held at a later date.  Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to The Salvation Army ARC in Jacksonville, FL.

No results from Military Service for Schuppe

There were no records found, so my cc will not be charged. I'll try again and include more information. I'm still waiting for the results of dad's search.

Today I downloaded a new software called Legacy and have begun transferring my info into it. I heard about it from a friend who has a group on facebook with his cousins. I think I'll try that.

Military Service Records requested for Dad and Schuppe

I ordered my dad's military service records from the National Archives, which was free. It may take up to 90 days before I should expect a response. I also requested the military records of George Schuppe, which was not free, but I hope to find out something I don't know already about both of them.

Dad was a Marine who survived in Iwo Jima, came home and then enlisted in the Army near the end of the war. He was in Japan during the occupation, where he met my mother. He worked in the motor pool, and she worked at a US Army base. He also served in the Korean War.

I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and both of my sisters were born at Fort Dix, NJ. I went to nursery school at Fort Dix, NJ, kindergarten in Pacific Grove, CA, first grade in Fernandina Beach, FL, second grade in Yokohama, Japan, third, fourth and fifth grades at Grant Heights in Tokyo. We moved to Fernandina Beach when I started sixth grade and graduated from Fernandina Beach High School. Sometime before first grade, I think we lived in Maryland for a short time. I hope dad's military records will tell me when that was.

George Schuppe in Covington, KY 1865

Here's a link to Harper's Weekly article about Fort Mitchell near Covington, KY in 1865 about the time George Schuppe was stationed there. 2 of his 3 children were born to Charlotte in Kentucky..  

George born in Kentucky in 1865
Julia (my great grandmother) born in Smithville, NC (Fort Caswell) in 1866
Mary born in Kentucky in 1867

"Located on a hill overlooking Lexington Pike (US 25), Fort Mitchell was named for Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell ... The fort was occupied by Union army soldiers and local Home Guard in response to the Confederate invasion of Kentucky in the late summer of 1862. In September of that year advance troops of Confederates skirmished with Union forces near the fort before withdrawing to Lexington. "

Charleston Earthquake 1886

The Earthquake of 1886 occurred just six months after Thomas and Julia were married. I remember hearing stories from Granny Ball that she must have heard from her parents and uncles. She told of people running out of their houses into the streets in their nightgowns, underwear or with only towels wrapped around themselves since the quake hit at 9:50 p.m. on a Sunday night when most were asleep or retiring for the evening.

"The seismic history of the southeastern United States is dominated by the 1886 earthquake that occurred in the Coastal Plain near Charleston, South Carolina. It was one of the largest historic earthquakes in eastern North America, and by far the largest earthquake in the southeastern United States. A major shock, occurred August 31, 1886 at approximately 9:50 p.m. and lasted less than one minute, but resulted in about sixty deaths and extensive damage to the city of Charleston."

South Carolina Seismic Network,  University of South Carolina