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