Person:Morris Kane (2)

BIRTH: L'erable Records, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BIRTH MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS, 1856-1879. (FHL 977.364/K2m.)

   "#785, 1 July 1867, baptism at Watseka of John Kane by Fr. Pernin. 6 April 1867 born to Maurice Kane and Marie Ann Hudson. Godparents: John Kane and Katy Roash (Roache?)"
   In the above entry in 1867, Morris' wife is Marie Ann Hudson and this is the christening of their second child (as demonstrated in the 1870 census.)

1870_CENSUS:Concord, Iroquois, Illinois, p. 19. (FHL# 545,730)

   Morris Kane, 27 years, male, white, farmer, real estate value $15, 000 [wow!], personal property value $3,500, born in Ireland, father and mother foreign born, eligible to vote [i.e. naturalized.]
   Mary Kane, 22 years, female, white, born in Illinois.
   Ellen Kane, 6 years, female, white, born in Illinois.
   John Kane, 3 years, male, white, born in Illinois.
   Wilmium [???] Kane, 8/12 years [8 months], female, white, born in Illinois.

   Next, we find a marriage of Morris Kane to a Catherine Riley. His first wife died, and he is remarrying.

Iroquois County marriage records, p. 85. (FHL# )

  "August 7, 1874 License # 1650 was issued to MORRIS KANE of Concord, Iroquois Co., Ill, age 31 years and Catherine Reilley of Summer Township, Kankakee Co., Illinois, age 17 years, consent of father Thomas Reilly. The marriage was performed August 9, 1874 by P. Beaudry, catholic Priest, and they were married at St George, Ga-----, Kankakee, Ill."

1880_CENSUS:Concord, Iroquois, Illinois, ED# 126, Sheet 30, page 132B. (FHL) #224/231

    Morris Kane, white, male, 40 years, married, farmer, born in Canada, father and mother born in Ireland.
   Cassie Kane, white, male, 25 years, wife, married, keeping house, born in Pennsylvania, father and mother born in Ireland.
   John Kane, male, white, 13 years, son, single, works on farm, attended school, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Illinois.
   Ellen Kane, female, white, 15 years, dau, single, at home, attended school, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Illinois.
   Morris D. Kane, male, white, 5 years, son, single, at home, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Pennsylvania.
   Rosa Kane, female, white, 3 years, dau, single, at home, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Pennsylvania.
   Mabel Kane, female, white, 2 years, dau, single, at home, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Pennsylvania.
   William T. Kane, male, white, 4/12 years [or 4 months], born in Feb, son, single, at home, born in Illinois, father born in Canada, mother born in Penn.
   Rosa Riley, white, female, 18 years, sister-in-law, born in Illinois, father and mother born in Ireland.
      (On the same page of the census, and 5 houses away from Morris and his family, are John and Mary Kane, his parents.) From the census information, it is obvious that Morris' first wife died, and that he has remarried. The first 2 children listed here are the same two that we see in the 1870 census with Mary. (Their daughter, Wilimina, has died.) The census taker has also correctly noted the different birth places of the mothers of the 2 sets of children. Notice also the birthplace of Morris. If this is accurate, then it is a valuable clue for the immigration pattern, and the dating of the Kane family's immigration from Ireland to the United States. Perhaps this is the family that immigrated to the U.S. in the 1840's with the Potato Famine, as per Mabel (Sullivan) Erickson's information, rather than the Sullivan's migration date that appears to have been in the mid to late 1850's.

  MORRIS KANE helped build the foundation on the Prairie Dell Church in 1870, where Honora (Kane) Sullivan was buried in 1878. Morris and his first and second wife are also buried there, along with a deceased daughter.  John Kane and Mary (Flynn) Kane, the parents of Morris, are also buried right there.
    Iroquois County Historical Society; Prairie Dell Cemetery Transcription; received through correspondance from the society.
   It appears that the stones are recorded in the order that they lie in the cemetery.
24S1 [Row 24, stone 1???]  Cassie Riley Kane; Oct. 17, 1858-June 6, 1933.
24S2 Morris Kane; Father; Died Apr. 23, 1890: Aged 48 years, 1 month, 23 days; "At Rest"
24S3 Mary Kane; wife of Morris Kane; Died Mar 1873.
24S4 Wilehelmina Kane; Dau. of Morris and Nell Kane; Died May 18, 1873; Age 4 years, 7 months, and 22 days.

DEATH:Iroquois, Illinois; County Courthouse; reseach done by Verna Drake, Iroquois County Genealogical Society Research chairman, correspondance in possession of SMW, 1996.

   "I searched a voluninous file for Morris Kane who died 23 Apr 1890. The reason for the volume was the numerous liabilities he had at the time of his death. In terms of wealth he had a luxurious home and "everything" on the farm, according to the appraisal lists, at least six pages, the most I have ever seen. However, his estate fell $4,000 short of paying his obligations. His wife was Cassa, and his children were John M. Kane, Ella Murphy, wife of William. of Wisner, Nebraska, Morris, age 14, Rosa, age 13, Mabel, age 11, and Willie, age 10. 
   The 1884 atlas shows a commodious farmstead one mile east of Prairie Dell church and the plat map shows hundreds of acres in his possession. His widow lists 735 acres in the petition to administer his estate. However, the inventory seems to list a mere 120 acres. Apperently he had lost it to creditors... Another interesting paper has to do with his [Morris's?] mother relinquishing her share of her husband's estate to her son's estate!!! (Box 43)"