Arundel Elias Disney

Arundel Elias Disney and Marie Swan Disney are the direct Disney family link to Ireland, something Walt Disney often would refer to to when he was discussing his family lineage!

Arundel Elias Disney was the great grandfather of Walt Disney through son Kepple Elias Disney and grandson Elias Charles Disney.

The Disney family hails from Ireland and they are descended from a Norman named Robert d'Isigny who arrived in England in 1066 with William the Conqueror. A branch of the family traveled in 1834 from County Kilkenny, Ireland to Liverpool, England where they sailed on the ship "New Jersey". They landed October 3, 1834 in New York City. After a few years they moved to Goderich Township, Huron County, in southwestern Upper Canada (Ontario).

Arundel Elias Disney married Marie Swan on September 1, 1832 in Gowran, in the County of Kilkenny in Ireland.

Arundel Elias Disney and Maria Swan Disney had eight children:

Kepple Disney b. 2 Nov 1832 in Clone, Kilkenny, Ireland, d. 24 May 1891 in Ellis, Ellis, KS. He married Mary Richardson, Mar 18 1858 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON, b. 30 Mar 1838 in Aghaboe Parish, Queens County, Ireland (daughter of Robert Richardson and Ruth Lark), d. 10 Mar 1909 in Ellis, KS.

Mary Disney, b. 6 Aug 1839 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. She married Israel E. Forsyth, b. 1840 in Dumfries Township, Middlesex County, ON (son of George Forsyth and Estacia), d. 1900 in New York, USA

Elias Disney, b. 4 Apr 1843 in Strathroy, ON, d. 3 Mar 1913 in Hutchinson, Reno, KS

Charlotte Disney, b. 1850 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

Thomas Disney, b. 1851 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

James Disney, b. 1853 in Ontario, Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

Harriet Disney, b. 1856 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. d. 10 Jul 1881 in Ellis, Ellis, Kansas, USA. She married Walter White Martin, 28 Apr 1875 in Chicago, Cook County, IL, b. 28 Mar 1850 in Cincinnati, Madison, OH, d. 14 Dec 1927 in Denver, Adams, CO.

Arundel Robert Disney, b. 1858 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. d. 1910.

Arundel and Marie were the parents of Kepple Elias Disney. They were the great-grandparents of of Walter Elias Disney, Roy Oliver Disney, Herbert Arthur Disney, Raymond Arnold Disney, and Ruth Flora Disney.

In 1832 Arundel married Maria Swan and gave birth 2 November of that year to Kepple Disney. They would have a total of 16 children, including Kepple.

In 1834 Arundel and his brother Robert left Liverpool with their families intending to settle in the United States. They reached this destination on 3 October after spending a month crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Once on American soil, the two brothers separated, with Robert settling on a farm in the Midwest while Arundel proceeded to Goderich Township in Ontario, Canada. Arundel built a windmill near the Maitland River, and made his living selling corn and wood. But his fortune was temporary and he was soon in debt.

In 1858, Kepple married Mary Richardson (20 March 1838-10 March 1909) who was an Irish immigrant.

In 1859, after settling in Bluevale, Ontario, Elias was the first of their 11 children. Kepple attempted various jobs such as work drilling oil or mining salt.

In 1878, Kepple and his two sons, Elias and Robert, soon joined the rest of the family and settled in Ellis, Kansas where they purchased 80 hectares of land from the Union Pacific Railroad. They did not have the means to buy wood, so the family built a cob house before embarking on a career that would allow them to build a stone house. During this time, the Disneys farmed cattle and corn.

Kepple Disney died in 1891 at the age of 59

Arundel Elias Disney and Marie Swan Disney are the direct Disney family link to Ireland, something Walt Disney, (Walter Elias Disney) often would refer to to when he was discussing his family lineage!

Arundel Elias Disney was the great grandfather of Walt Disney, (Walter Elias Disney). Walt Disney through son Kepple Elias Disney and grandson. Walt's father was Elias Charles Disney and his mother was Flora Call Disney.

The Disney family hails from Ireland and they are descended from a Norman named Robert d'Isigny who arrived in England in 1066 with William the Conqueror. A branch of the family traveled in 1834 from County Kilkenny, Ireland to Liverpool, England where they sailed on the ship "New Jersey". They landed October 3, 1834 in New York City. After a few years they moved to Goderich Township, Huron County, in southwestern Upper Canada (Ontario).

Arundel Elias Disney married Marie Swan on September 1, 1832 in Gowran, in the County of Kilkenny in Ireland.

Arundel Elias Disney and Maria Swan Disney had eight children including:

+ Kepple Disney b. 2 Nov 1832 in Clone, Kilkenny, Ireland, d. 24 May 1891 in Ellis, Ellis, KS. He married Mary Richardson, Mar 18 1858 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON, b. 30 Mar 1838 in Aghaboe Parish, Queens County, Ireland (daughter of Robert Richardson and Ruth Lark), d. 10 Mar 1909 in Ellis, KS.

+ Mary Disney, b. 6 Aug 1839 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. She married Israel E. Forsyth, b. 1840 in Dumfries Township, Middlesex County, ON (son of George Forsyth and Estacia), d. 1900 in New York, USA

+ Elias Disney, b. 4 Apr 1843 in Strathroy, ON, d. 3 Mar 1913 in Hutchinson, Reno, KS

+ Charlotte Disney, b. 1850 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

+ Thomas Disney, b. 1851 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

+ James Disney, b. 1853 in Ontario, Goderich Township, Huron County, ON.

+ Harriet Disney, b. 1856 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. d. 10 Jul 1881 in Ellis, Ellis, Kansas, USA. She married Walter White Martin, 28 Apr 1875 in Chicago, Cook County, IL, b. 28 Mar 1850 in Cincinnati, Madison, OH, d. 14 Dec 1927 in Denver, Adams, CO.

+ Arundel Robert Disney, b. 1858 in Goderich Township, Huron County, ON. d. 1910.

Arundel and Marie were the parents of Kepple Elias Disney. They were the great-grandparents of Walt Disney, (Walter Elias Disney), Roy Oliver Disney, Herbert Arthur Disney, Raymond Arnold Disney, and Ruth Flora Disney.

(More bio information will be forthcoming from Charles Elias Disney, Arundel Elias Disney's great-great grandson).