Edmund English - part I

In December 1920 The Progress, North End Newspaper, St. Paul, Minnesota reported

"The funeral of Edmund English,99 Litchfield Street, who died at St. Joseph's Hospital at 2:20 a.m. Thursday, December 23, 1920, following an operation on the Tuesday previous, occurred from the family residence on Monday morning with solemn serviced at St. Patrick's Church.  The funeral was largely attended, and the floral tributes were many and very beautiful.  The remains were laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery.

Edmund English was born in Gullane, Co. Kerry, Ireland, sixty years ago and came to America when a lad of eighteen, coming to Rochester, Minn.  About 36 years ago he came to St. Paul and entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad, and has been with this institution since.  Hes work was that of switchtender, and he was active in this to within a few days of his death.  On October 10, 1889, at Rochester, Mr. English was united in holy matrimony with Miss Anna Baier of that city.  Together they then made their home in St. Paul and have resided in this district for about 25 years.  Ten children were given them all of whom survive and together with their mother mourn the loss from their circle of a most loving and devoted soul.  The children are: John, William (at Anchorage, Alaska), Frank (of Seattle, Wash.), Mary (Mrs P.F. Carroll, Mark, Cecelia, Loretta, Leo, Paul and Edmund.  With the exception of William, the entire family was at his bedside at the hospital when he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.

"Although not in the best of health for some time, Mr. English was always at his post with the exception of two months this fall, which he and Mrs. English spent together on the West Coast.  He was a man who possessed many sterling traits of character and had staunch friends wherever he was known.  He was considered much of a home man, but this never deterred from him performing his duties and more, toward his neighbors and fellowman.  He was a member of the GN Ry Veterans, the ancient Order of Hibernians, the B.of A. Yeoman, and the Telegraphers Union.

"In the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. English the North End lost one of it's finest and most beloved citizens and his pleasant smile will be greatly missed among a large circle of neighbors who join The Progress in extending to the bereaved ones deep sympathy and profound condolance in this their time of affliction, sorrow and temperal solitude."

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Like so many obituaries this one contains a few vital mistakes.

Edmund English was christened at Doon Church on 26 Jan 1857.  Throughout the years his age and day of birth changed according to the record.  Every record with a month gives October with the date being either the 12 or the 16. While the obit above and other records would put his birth in 1861, the reality is he couldn't have been christened four years before he was born.  Therefore, it seems likely his birth was in October 1856.

Edmund's father died when he was about four and his mother Mary Lawler married John Carmody in April of 1864.  Little is known of his childhood in Gullane. He had three older brothers and two known sisters.

SS Abyssinia

According to family stories, Edmund left home when one of his parents remarried, traveling with his sister Kate. The date of his mother's marriage gives the lie to the story. He was only seven at the time.  There is also no evidence that he sailed with Kate who according to a later letter settled in Saint Louis.

In fact a ship passenger list dated 11 Jun 1879 in New York harbor, states the S S Abyssinia had sailed from Liverpool with Edward English, age 18 a laborer from Ireland on board.  Directly above him on the list is James Carmody age 22. Is this the James Carmody born in Gullane in 1854?  This may not be the right record but we know that Edmund was in Stockton, Winona County in 1880. He is living with his cousin Edward, the son of Jeremiah English.  His age is given as 20.

Edmond filed a Declaration to become a citizen in Rochester that same year.

In 1885 Edmund is living with this cousin Mary, a daughter of Jeremiah, in Viola, Olmsted County.

By 1889 Edmund had moved to St. Paul where he worked as a switchman for the Great Northern Railway.

On 10 Oct 1889 he returned to Rochester to marry Anna Marie Baier

"One of the social events of the season was the marriage of Mr. Edward English of St. Paul, formerly of this county and Miss Ann Buyers of Haverhill, at St. John's church, on the 11th inst., Rev. Father Riordon officiating.  the groom is in the employ of one of the railroad companies of St. Paul, and the bride is well known in this county.  the best wishes of a host of friends accompany the newly wedded pair to their future home in St. Paul." Rochester Record and Union 18 Oct 1889 p3c4

Edmund  is listed in the city directories for 1890 and 1891 at 123 Viola St in Saint Paul.