Person:Daniel Courtney (3)

Buried in St. Lawrence Cemetery, Otter Creek, Jackson County

Courtney

The name Courtney in Ireland is often of Norman origin being derived form the name de Courtenai. The native Gaelic O'Curnain Sept of County Kerry also sometimes adopted Courtney as the anglicized form of their name as well as the more usual Curnane or Cournane.

 CHAPTER VII 

The Settlement of the Courtneys in America

The Daniel Courtney family first settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. The parents and the older children worked in a mill until they had earned enough money to move West. Their relatives, the Currans and Doyles, had settled in the rural community near Garryowen, Iowa, which was about 20 miles southwest of Dubuque, the most prosperous town in Eastern Iowa. By 1851 we have been able to verify that the Daniel Courtney family was there, too. This verification was made through the court house at Maquoketa, Iowa, the county seat for Jackson County, Iowa. At the clerk of court office there, it was found that on December 22, 1851, was filed the notification of purchase by Daniel and Mary Courtney of the SE'/4, SEC.29 from Davis S. Wilson. The purchase price was $180.00. We have not been able to gather very much family history about our grandfather's relatives.

He is listed in the 1852 Jackson County IA Census.

We have learned that Daniel Courtney had three brothers - Michael, Tom and James, who settled in Chicago. We also have been told that when "uncle Mike" came to visit his relatives in Garryowen, he wore a silk hat, called the "stovepipe." It caused much comment among the kinfolk. The former State's attorney in Chicago, Tom Courtney, is a descendant of one of Daniel Courtney's brothers.

Our maternal great grandmother, Mary Savage Courtney, was a woman of high principle and wisdom. She had two daughters - Margaret (Sister Mary Sebastian, BVM) and Mary (Mrs. McGann). Her youngest son, brother of Dennis, was named John. From Mrs. McGann's daughter, Mrs. Catherine Shay, Belle Fourche, S.D. (in 1938), the following information was received, "my grandparents lived on a farm until their children grew up and married - except John. He inherited what all the children paid for... He sold the farm, moved to LeMars and opened a store." From another granddaughter - daughter of John - Teresa Courtney Burke, the following was received: "Grandmother Courtney was educated in a convent but I do not know where. Mother always talked kindly of her. When she married father they went to live with his parents (Daniel and Mary Courtney); everything mother did pleased grandmother but grandfather was not so just - they both passed away with them; then we moved to Lemars."

After John Courtney moved to Lemars he became ill and died there in about 1883. His mother Mary had died in Garryowen about 1874 and his father in 1876. They were both buried in Garryowen, but the marker on the lot has been destroyed.

There were other records in the Court in Maquoketa which might also be of interest. They are as follows:

To John Courtney son of Dan and Mary filed 11-23-53 and shown in Book 1, page 123, NW1/4 of SW1/4 Lec. 29-86-1- 40 acres -$100

To Dennis and Bridget Courtney from Daniel and Mary Courtney, dated 11-19-53 and filed 11-23-53- recorded in Book 1, page 124, S1/2 of SW1/4 - 29-86-1- $300.00

Dennis Courtney bought from Mrs. Driscoll on 4-1181 Book 45 Page 474 E1/2 SW1/4 NW1/4 Sec. 28-86-1 also SW1/4 SE1/4 3-85-1 160 acres $1900.00

Dennis Courtney to Dan Riordan March 8, 1883 SW1/4 29-86-1-1 Also 32-86-1 Also NE1/4 31-86-1 280 acres $2200.00

In Book C of Wills on Page 85 under date of January 26, 1876 To John by Will from Daniel my household furniture, horses, wagons and harness, cattle, sheep, hogs, pigs, and poultry, farming implements. To the parish priest $50.00

I. After this chapter was completed, it was possible for me to have an interview with Mrs. John Hart, 3718 Bryant Ave. S., Minneapolis. She had been married to John Courtney before her marriage to Mr. Hart. Mr. Courtney's first wife, Mary Rogers, was her girlhood friend. Mrs. Hart gave me the following additional information about the Courtney family:

The name "Cournane" which was on the birth certificate of Margaret Courtney (Sister Mary Sebastian) was another spelling for the family. It was her understanding that the two names referred to the same family. Their early ancestors migrated from France.

John Courtney's father was Michael, and Dennis Courtney's father was Daniel. They, therefore, were first cousins. The Courtney family owned two farms near Castlegregory. Their father's name was James. He moved his family to Tralee and the sons migrated to America from there. It was Mrs. Hart's understanding that the children were born when they were living near Castlegregory.

The sons of James Courtney attended a Brother's school and were considered well educated for those times. They were fond of reading, and were especially fond of poetry. They would memorize poems and recite them for friends. It was customary in Ireland to assist the "poor scholars" by taking them into their homes and having them tutor their children. The Courtneys had one of these young men in their home. They usually were outstanding young men of the community who had gone away to school, but on their return home had no way to make a living. Hence the name "poor scholar."

When the Courtneys arrived in America, they first went to Lowell, Mass., where they had relatives living. This verifies the information I had received from Daniel Courtney's daughter, Mary. From there the Michael Courtney family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where a sister, Mrs. Anna Lyons, was living. This fact partly explains why the Daniel Courtneys moved West. Another reason, no doubt, was the settlement of Mrs. Daniel Courtney's sisters, Mrs. Curran and Mrs. Doyle, in the rural community of Garryowen near Dubuque.

Mrs. Hart had heard of Michael Courtney's fondness for fine clothes. He did wear cut away coats and a silk hat on special occasions. He took part in the activities on St. Patrick's Day. He was a most genial and dignified Irishman. He was the grandfather of Tom Courtney, the former state's attorney of Illinois.

Mrs. Hart was unable to give information about the name of James Courtney's second wife, or the maiden name of Michael Courtney's wife. She could not supply any of the missing information on the Courtney Family Tree which is in the Four Manuscripts of this history. She did remember that a Nancy Hoare was married to one of the Courtneys. She was a descendant of Gregory Hoare who owned the Castle in Castlegregory (see page 11). She also said her husband John Courtney was related to a John Courtney who lived in Minneapolis in 1909 or 1910. He moved to Los Angeles and his sons are now prominent attorneys there. She also knew of a Miss Courtney who was an Administrator of a hospital in Lowell, Mass., and was part of our branch of this family. Mrs. Hart sees the Tom Courtney family in Chicago often and will secure more facts on the Courtney family.