William H. McCartney

Bill's daughter Betty told me that Bill tried to join the Army in WWI, joining some group that was going to try and join the army I guess en masse (unless she is talking about a group that tried to go over before we joined? Dont think so but dunno). In any case Bill was too young and could not join. His brother, James, did join and wound up being gassed during the war.

Later Bill would proudly show the family, on more than one occasion, the statue outside a VFW named for a cousin of his who was a hero, I think from WWII. Looking online its the James W. McCartney Post 6765 in Wanaque, NJ. I called this VFW at one point and the brother of the guy the post was named for was still a member but I did not get to talk to him. I think it was Harry or Hugh maybe (pretty sure Harry) and has also served.

Bob Justin remembers "The most notable are just general impressions. He would come down and we would go for one of Pop's riding tours. Bill would always tell Pop to stop at a tavern cause he had to make a call, take a leak or any other excuse. Of course he would go in and have a shot or a beer. He would sit in the front seat leaning out to yell at the girls; "hey Chickie" causing Pop to complain that he was going get Pop arrested. He was a genuine character for sure. every one loved him. His brother Eddie looked a lot like him" He used to go out with Pop on St Patty's Day touring all the Irish bars on a grand tour. He knew who was serving corn beef and cabbage and all the traditional Irish fare. He was a real pistol.

Anyway, William Henry McCartney was born to James Francis McCartney and Annie McKee around 1898 in West Orange NJ. He was blonde and blue eyed and they say he looked like James Cagney. He ran away from St Johns Catholic school when waiting for a priest to come paddle him for some infraction, shimming down the pipe outside the second or third floor window to do so. Didn't go back. Was not much educated as a result. Was a pipefitter plumber but not licensed or union. He was also a 40 miler, a guy who would come out to work at carnivals that were close to his home, using his skills to help build the rides etc and then working the stands. Met his wife to be when she went to a carnival to meet a date and was waiting for said date near Bill's booth. Date was late. He hit on her and the rest is history. There was some problem and he was caught for being unlicensed and he was banned from being a plumber somehow. He was injured when he fell carrying a bronze radiator up the stairs of some building they were installing it in. Crippled. This put them behind the 8 ball for money. They would get relief, food etc. Worked for the Work Projects Authority painting the lines down the middle of roads during the depression. At one point he tried to open a speak easy as his Dad was doing. But unlike his Dad he did not bribe the local cops and did it out of town where he was unknown and not connected, Montclair maybe? The cops raided the place and shut them down on opening night. He liked horse races as did the family. They would sit around Jim and Annie McCartney (his parents) kitchen table and read racing forms picking their bets. And they all sang songs around the piano, show tunes of the day etc. Remarried after his wife Helen Vincent our grandma died to a Dorothy Virdell 10/10/1953. Not a popular move with Mom and I think the family over all. Typical. He moved north with her, again like Montclair or someplace up that way. Hes buried up there somewhere. Died shortly before I was born, late 50s or 60 - 61. There are three pics of him on my FB. One holding up Mom in a garden, another half face image at Bills wedding, and one with the 2nd wife at a table much older. Oh and he would say that Mom was so lazy she would crap (shit?) in the bed and kick it out with her feet rather than go to the bathroom. Also was the one that sang to her Lazy Betty Wont You Get Up Wont You Get Up Wont You Get Up Early In The Morning. Mom sang that to me too. Liked my Dad alot.

Per Judy his granddaughter "the place in Newark that grandpa and Dorothy lived was 14th ave near 10th street"

William Henry McCartney “Bill”, Betty’s Dad, Annie’s Son, my Grandpa (Bill his son is Jr though never heard him called that)
Later after Helen died he would drive around with my Dad Jim and Uncle Julie and Bill Jr and stop at bars, he would say pull over I gotta go to the bathroom, then go in and have a drink. They would also go out in the Fall to try the Bock Beers (October Fest a thing then apparently) Think he was the one that told joke that Dad told me about American Beer like bleeping in a canoe, Crocodile Dundee didn’t come up with that one Would yell “Hey Chickee” out the car window at pretty girls during the drives above causing Pop (Dad) to complain that he was going get Pop arrested. This from Bob (my brother). Ran away from St Johns school by climbing down a drain pipe from upper floor while waiting for Sister to get a Brother to paddle him for something. 8th Grade was as far as he got Was a 40 miler, working with the carnivals that came near to West Orange, fitting the rides (pipefitter) and working the booths. Met his wife Helen Vincent at Crystal Lake when she was waiting for a blind date near his booth. Date didn’t show, he asked her out. Wanted to fight in WWI, marched in some group, went to enlist to go over (this before we were in) but was sent home, too young. Was working as a plumber without a license but was charged for that, barred from being a plumber afterwards. Went into working installing steam heating systems. Fell down a flight of stairs carrying a big radiator up on his back. Injured his back, was unable to work after that. Family fell on hard times as a result of this and Helen’s illness. He and Helen received assistance from the Salvation Army, later Betty always gave them money in thanks. Me too. Got WPA work pushing the cart painting lines down middle of road Was funny, happy. Blue Eyes, Red Hair, Mom said everyone said he looked like Jimmy Cagney, she thought so too Died in Sleep after feeling poorly after walk in Snow. Remarried, was buried up North Jersey by 2nd wife’s family He was a genuine character for sure. every one loved him. His brother Eddie looked a lot like him" He used to go out with Pop on St Patty's Day touring all the Irish bars on a grand tour. He knew who was serving corn beef and cabbage and all the traditional Irish fare. He was a real pistol.