Rooney Family Tree

The family is in the 1870 census of Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota.

Originally published February 16, 1912, The Brooten Review

James Egan

James Egan passed away Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1912, at the farm home five miles west of Brooten, aged 87 years. He was a sufferer for years with rheumatism and with his advanced age his death was not unexpected.

He was born in Ireland and emigrated to America and was one of the earliest settlers in this locality. He was well known and was honored and respected by all.

He leaves to mourn his death, three sons and three daughters, namely John Egan and Joe Egan, of Brooten, James Egan, of Donnybrook, N. Dak., Mrs. M. O. Batterbury, of New London, Mrs. James Chisom and Mrs. Ed Callahan, of Seattle, Wash.

Funeral services were held at Padua, Friday Feb. 9. The pallbearers were Hugh Rooney, Martin Gannon, Robert Haug, Frank Landwhier, Carl N. Nelson and Mr. Daniels.

The sympathy of the people of this community is extended the bereaved relatives.

Originally published August 1998, Padua Cemetery, by Ginny Walz Borgerding

James Egan was born about 1826, probably in County Mayo, Ireland, since that was where his father was from. He was the second son, born to Thomas Egan and Mary Ann Welsh, both of whom are buried in Farrellton, Quebec, Canada.

Mary Rooney was born May 28, 1837, in Canada, to Patrick and Ellen (Tracy) Rooney. She was the oldest of nine children.

James Egan married Mary Rooney on June 18, 1860, in Canada. They had four children while living in Canada. The youngest, Mary Ann, died as an infant in January of 1867. Probably later that year they made their way to Minnesota with their other three children: Ellen, Edmond, and John Thomas. When they moved to Minnesota, it was probably to join others in the Rooney Settlement (Padua). In Padua, they had five more children: Juliana, Mary Louise, Elizabeth Agnes, James G., and Joseph Michael.

James was known by the children in the area as "The Candy Man", since he could always dig in his pocket and find a piece of candy. He died on February 6, 1912. Mary died on May 26, 1905, in Bangor Township, Pope County. James and Mary's children, Edmond and Juliana Ann Flahavin, are buried in Padua. James' brother Patrick, and Mary's mother Elenor Rooney, sister Elinor, and brother Thomas are buried in Padua.