John J. McGinnis

Immigrated to the US in 1873. Originally came to Dubuque to work at the Melleray Trappist Abbey for the monks. They has purchased land in the White Cloud Township in Mills County just north of present day Imogene. John was sent to the Randolph/Malvern area to buy cattle. His first trip took 6 weeks by covered wagon because of heavy rains.

He liked the area and decided to settle there.

[Notes added by Joani McGinnis]

In reviewing documents related to John McGinnis it should be noted that his last name is spelled a variety of ways:

1853 John's baptismal record in Ireland and on his Father's marriage records his last name is spelled Macgennis or Magennis.

1873 on entry into the US John spelled his name McGinnes

1880 US Census for Fremont County, Monroe Township, John's last name is spelled McGinnis.

1881 John and Catherine's marriage record Mendham New Jersey, John's last name is spelled McGuinness.

1882 John's Declaration of Intent papers his name is spelled McGinnis.

1888 Naturalization paper, John's last name is spelled McGinnis.

While John was spelling his last name "McGinnis" as early as 1880, it appears the spelling was not officially changed until he filed for citizenship. It looks like John was using both spellings interchangeably. It may be that John did not change the spelling of his last name when he entered the country. It is a common belief that immigrates to the US changed the spelling of their name upon entering the country or the immigration officials changed people's names. The facts are the ship manifest was created at the port the immigrant DEPARTED from and NOT at the entry port. Information on the manifest was provided by the individual to the shipping lines most of the time verbally. No documents were required to enter the US until 1922. Most likely, the person who was completing the ship manifest DID NOT ask how to spell the last name and used the spelling they were familiar with.

BAPTISM: Witnesses for John's baptism were Thomas Gormally and Anne Quinn. Thomas Gormally could be a brother to John's mother Mary Gormley. Anne Quinn was a neighbor at the time. She later married Michael Doyle an uncle of Mary Lynch who married John's son Edward McGinnis. She may have been related in some way, but that has not been determined.

IMMIGRATION: John entered the United States on 12 May 1873 thru Castle Garden at the Port of New York as John McGinnes. Research has not revealed why John McGinnis initially settle in New Jersey. However, most people immigrated to locations where other relatives resided or friends from their home country. There were probably relatives, as yet unrevealed living, in New Jersey.

John's moving to Dubuque Iowa was probably not happenstance. Family lore says his priest in Ireland told him about New Melleray, but it is more likely he went because there were other people from Coolgreany and Castlewarren, County Kilkenny Ireland that he would have known living in the area including his godmother Anna Quinn Doyle, wife of Michael Doyle. Laughlins, Mahers and Brennans living in the area were from Castlewarren, Coolgrange and Coolgreany as well as other immigrant familys.

John was granted his naturalization petition in Glenwood Iowa in 1888. Catherine Bergan McGinnis also became a citizen on the same day. The federal law of the day automatically granted citizenship to the wife of a citizen.

BURIAL: Requim Mass was held at 9:00 a.m. on August 6th, 1941 at St. Patrick's Church in Imogene. Rev. Father Francis Doyle officiated. Ushers were Arthur Leahy and Eugene O'Brien. Casket Bearers were Grandsons Edward, John, Louis and Arthur McGinnis, and nephews Thomas McDonald and John Laughlin. Servers were James McDonald, Vincent Leahy, and Joseph Dorsey. Perryman Funeral Chapel in Red Oak, Iowa was in charge of the services.