Notes for: Margaret Callaghan

Margaret Callahan Coogan, wife of James Francis Coogan, and lived at Motherwell SCOT. While the names of her parents are known it is unclear at this time as to when the original Callahan or Coogan(s) came to SCOT, supposedly from IRE. Margaret married James F. July 19, 1899 St. St. Patrick's church in Motherwell. James came to this country in the company of his father and possibly another brother in 1903,settling in Fayette City, PA to work as laborers in the mines. Margaret came over in 1905 with John P. and Francis J. aboard the Furnessiain 1905. John P. often quoted his mother: one of these remarks was, "Aye son, now you will be a wee Yankee" as they entered the NY harbor for Ellis Is. Another comment was, "James, I'm not going to be a miner's widow, we are getting out of the mines." This remark was prompted by the hard working conditions faced by the miners, frequent work stoppages, deaths, etc. At this time they moved to 1022 Oak St. Turtle Creek, PA where the men found work either with the railroads in Pitcairn and/or at the Westinghouse Co., a large manufacturing plant.

Mrs. Coogan was always loyal to her Scottish roots, could sing their songs, recite poems from Robert Burns, and naturally spoke with a heavy Scottish accent. The family probably lived in with the senior Coogans (John and Margaret) but with the death of John in 1914 senior Mrs. Coogan went to live with her son Thomas first in Cannonsburg, Pa. and later in Detroit where she died. Margaret herself died November 11, 1927 at the Pittsburgh Hospital probably from gall bladder trouble.

In pictureMargaret is standing next to husband, center, back row, shot likely taken in about 1920