Elizabeth Irvine

  General Notes:

Obituary:

Miss Elizabeth Irvine was born in County Fermangah, Ireland, June 4, 1830. At the age of ten years her parents moved to Peterborough, Canada, where in 1850 she was married to James Welsh. For twenty years their home remained in Canada, when they came to Howard county, Neb., where Mr. Welsh died in 1880 and lies buried in the cemetery near Elba. In 1881, she was married to James McCracken, who died a few years ago. Since then she has made her home with her children. For two years Mother McCracken has been in poor health, at times, suffering intensely, but patiently enduring and awaiting the summons of her Heavenly Father to come. And on last Tuesday morning, April 16, 1907, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Frain, the message came and she was ready. Grandma McCracken, as she was called, was the mother of nine children, the fruit of her first marriage, six of whom have reached mature years and survive the mother. W. J. Welsh, who lives five miles west of St. Paul, Mrs. Lizzie Tolliver of Monarch, Mont., J. H. Welsh of Mystic, S.D. and Mrs. Carrie Frain of St. Paul. Mrs. McCracken was a member of the Methodist church in Canada and coming to this country she united with the Methodist church at Warsaw. Mrs. McCracken approached the end of this life with increasing faith and love in and for her Saviour. I always found her expecting death to bring unto her relief and victory. And such should be our confidence for it is the promise of the Father.

"Lo, I am with you always," are His words,
And through every scenen of life and death,
This promise is our trust;
And this shall be our children's song,
When we are cold as dust."
W.H. Underwood ¹⁵

  Noted events in her life were:

• immigrated to Canada, 1837, Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada. Both Elizabeth's and James' families came from Ireland to Canada on the same boat.

• Naturalization, 1845. 1900 Census,Hhoward Co., Nebraska shows immigration date as 1833 and natualization date 1845

• Residence, 23 Jan-10 Dec 1860, Morris Twp, Huron Co., Ontario, Canada. From Early Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register, Huron Co., Vol. 1, p. 15 birth of son, Wiliam John Jan 23rd and subsequent baptism on 10 Dec 1860 both in Morris Twp.

• Residence, 16 Feb 1872, Speaker, Sanilac, Michigan. ¹²⁷ From daughter, Margaret Ann's death certificate

• Census Record, 1880, Kelso Precinct, Howard County, Nebraska.

• Residence, 15 Jun 1900, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. 1900 Census shows Elizabeth Welsh, mother, living with John & Edith Welsh and family

• Census, 1851, Otonabee Twp., Peterborough Co., Canada West (Ontario). ¹²⁵ James Walsh, cooper, Ireland, [religion] E, 20, male
Mrs. J. Walsh, Ireland, E, 23, female
Wm. irvin Walsh, CW, E, 1, male

Elizabeth married James Welsh Jr., son of James Welsh and Elizabeth Gibson, on 18 Oct 1850 in Peterborough, Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada. (James Welsh Jr. was born on 6 Jun 1830 in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, Ireland,⁸⁷ died on 1 May 1880 in Howard County, Nebraska ⁸⁷ and was buried on 3 May 1880 in Elba, Howard, Nebraska, USA.)

Elizabeth next married James McCracken, son of William McCracken and Susannah Thompson, on 17 Aug 1881 in Warsaw, Howard County, Nebraska. (James McCracken was born on 7 Oct 1818 in Ireland, died on 21 May 1895 in Howard County, Nebraska and was buried in Warsaw Cemetary, Howard County, Nebraska.)

  Marriage Notes:

Marriage License, 8 AUG 1881, Howard County, Nebraska
Witnessed by John W Welsh and James Welsh of Warsaw, Nebraska. Elizabeth Irwin had previously been married to James Welsh and as his widow, the marriage certificate states her name as 'Mrs. Elizabeth Welsh'. Performed by A G Bartholomew, Pastor ME Church, St Paul, Nebraska.