Rooney Family Tree

Anna Murphy, the second wife of Thomas T. Rooney, was the sister of Helen Felling's mother. The 1930 census said she arrived in the U.S. in 1887. She lived in Duluth initially and had no children. She is in the 1895 Minnesota census of Duluth with her sister Bridget Lynott and family and her brother William. She is also in the Duluth city directory living with the Lynott's at 2118 West 4th Street in these years, under the name Hannah, Annie or Anna, and as a dressmaker or seamstress: 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1897 and 1901.

So the gap years for Anna (or Hannah, as she is most often listed in the Duluth directories) are 1887 - 1890. Anna was not found in the 1900 federal or 1905 Minnesota state censuses, although (as noted above) she is in the 1901 Duluth city directory.

She married Thomas T. Rooney, a widower, in 1907, according to the 1910 census. Thomas is in the 1905 Minnesota state census with only his three children. Anna is also in the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Brooten, Stearns County, Minnesota.

Anna passed away at the St. Cloud hospital on Wednesday, Dec 29th, following an attack of the flu. She was recovering from the flu when she fell and broke her hip and pneumonia set in. She was 85 years of age.

Obituary originally published 6 Jan 1944, St. Cloud Times:

MRS. ANNA ROONEY

Mrs. Anna Rooney of Brooten died December 29. She was born in Ottawa, Canada, February 17, 1858, daughter of the deceased Bernard and Honora Murphy. She has been a resident of St. Joseph's home in St. Cloud for the past six years.

Funeral services were held at St. Anthonys church in Padua with Rev. William Murpy of Minneapolis, a nephew officiating. Rev. W. Kleinschmidt and Rev. Roman Voigt of Sauk Centre also attended. Burial was made in the family lot in St. Anthony's cemetery. Pallbearers were four nephews, James D. Rooney, Walter Rooney, Arthur Rooney, and Bert Rooney, and Claude Gannon, and Jake Ebensteiner.

She is survived by a brother, John T. Murphy of Ottawa, Canada, and a sister, Mrs. Margaret Rooney of Padua. Also two step daughters, Mrs. Frank Cowan of Milwaukee, Wis., and Mrs. Henry Murphy of Burtrum, and an adopted son, William of Duluth.

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

Anna Murphy was probably born in Ottawa Canada, the daughter of Bernard and Honora Murphy. There were eight children in the family.

Anna Murphy married Thomas T. Rooney in 1903, they had no children of their own. Thomas' first wife had died, and he had five children.

After the death of Thomas T., Anna went to live with her sister Margaret Murphy Rooney, wife of Michael Ward Rooney, by Padua.

Anna died at the St. Cloud Hospital from complications related to a broken hip. Anna's husband Thomas R. is buried by his first wife. Anna's sister Margaret Rooney is also buried in Padua.