THE HISTORY OF THE MC VEY CLAN

By the McVey Clan
posted October 12, 2014

The History of the McVey Clan

Our founding father, Owen McVay (no, this is not a typo, this is how it was spelled at that time) was born in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, 1840. He immigrated to the United States, leaving all of his family and friends behind at age 16. He married Eliza Graham at a young age and she died shortly after. He then married Ellen Dolan in 1868. They had 11 children, all born in Neoga, IL.

Owen was known to be an outstanding citizen. All of his children were educated to the best of the school's capabilities and 7 of the 11 obtained teaching certificates. He helped to build the first railroads, school houses and churches. He died August 6, 1905 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Ryan of Arthur, IL. In his last days he was surrounded by all l0 of his surviving children. He had a large wake at the home of his son Tim in Mattoon, IL. He is buried next to Ellen in Trowbridge Cemetary, west of Neoga.

Ellen and Owen's children, in order of their birth, were Molly, Margaret, Hugh, Timothy, Elizabeth, Daniel, John, Jane, Charles, James and Gertrude. Their mother died at age 38 of the measles when the oldest was 20 and the youngest was only a year old. The baby also died that year. So that the older children could continue their education, some of the younger children were fostered by the Coulter family in Matoon, IL, of Immaculate Conception Parish. Many of the descendants of Owen remain in that area.

When the eldest son, Hugh was a young man, he went to the city of St. Louis to seek his fortune. He and his wife Sabina Brady settled in what is now affectionately known as "Dogtown". They had 6 children, all educated at St. James the Greater grade school. Their names were: Owen, (named for his grandfather), Adele, Hugh, (named for an uncle) Ella, Charles, (named for an uncle) and Howard (Red). Sabina died in childbirth of the youngest child and Hugh later married her sister, Mary Ann Brady, who helped to raise the children.

Owen, the oldest, was an actor who moved to New York and was never heard from again. He has no known descendants. The remaining 5 produced 20 first cousins who grew up together in Dogtown, surviving the depression in the "Claddagh" spirit of undying love, loyalty and friendship. The close ties they felt as children have continued on to the present day.

This history is what we honor when we march down Tamm Avenue in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, waving the "Descendants of the Dogtown McVeys" banner.