M. (1) 15 Jun 1818 in Rathangan, Ireland
Wife: Ellen Radford
M. (2) 27 Aug 1828 in Rathangan, Ireland
Wife: Mary Butler
D. 28 Jul 1889 in Pine Bend, Minnesota
To uproot your family at a time of famine, and move them across the globe to a strange new place, took a sort of courage. And to make a successful life in your new home was perhaps a reflection on the type of person you were.
Martin Furlong was one of the thousands who left Ireland during the Great Potato Famine in order to find a better life in America. He was born in County Wexford, Ireland on November 12, 1797. The Furlongs were a large clan in the area and it’s likely his family spent generations there. Nothing is known about his parents or whether or not he had siblings.
Although most records in Ireland were destroyed in a 20th century fire, a few documents survived in Wexford County that give some details of Martin’s life. On June 15, 1818, he married Ellen Radford in Rathangan Parish. The baptisms of many of his children are also listed there, so presumably he lived on a farm nearby. Rathangan was close to the southern coastline of Ireland, so the family lived within a mile or two of the ocean.
Although most records in Ireland were destroyed in a 20th century fire, a few documents survived in Wexford County that give some details of Martin’s life. On June 15, 1818, he married Ellen Radford in Rathangan Parish. The baptisms of many of his children are also listed there, so presumably he lived on a farm nearby. Rathangan was close to the southern coastline of Ireland, so the family lived within a mile or two of the ocean.
Where Martin lived in County Wexford, Ireland.
Martin and Ellen had at least five children between 1819 and 1825, three boys and two girls. Sometime between 1825 and 1827, Ellen died, and Patrick married Mary Butler (their marriage is not amongst the Rathangan Parish records). They had nine daughters and one son born between 1827 and 1848.
When the potato famine struck in the late 1840s, it must have taken a toll on the Furlong family, and by 1851, the decision was made to leave Ireland. The entire family sailed together on the ship Essex, but sadly, Martin’s 13-year-old son John died on the trip. Some details of the voyage survive in the form of a memoir written by a Mormon convert named George Godard who was on the same ship. Godard told of a day on which he tried to preach to the other passengers, but since most of them were Irish Catholics, they had a strong objection. He said that, “…some of the passengers manifested a good deal of ill-feeling towards me, and I was secretly informed of a plot the Catholics had concocted to throw me overboard.” Whether or not the plotters included Martin isn’t known, but he must have been present at Godard’s speech because everyone onboard was said to have attended.
Martin and his family arrived at the port of New Orleans on December 13th. They didn’t spend very long in New Orleans. In 1852, they boarded a steamship up the Mississippi to West St. Paul, Minnesota, an immigrant community in Dakota County. The Furlongs were among the first families in the area, and one of Martin’s daughters was noted as the first death in the town. A story was handed down that the soil was so rocky on their land, that they couldn't dig a well, and that “water had to be carried for blocks.” Martin was listed in West St. Paul as a farmer in the 1860 and 1870 censuses, with a farm worth $2,000, but in about 1878, he moved to the town of Rosemount.
After a very long life, Martin died on July 28, 1889 at the age of 91 in Pine Bend, Minnesota. A small obituary in the local newspaper stated that “he was highly esteemed,” and that he left behind many friends. His funeral took place at the Catholic church in Inver Grove and he was buried at St. Patrick Cemetery. Martin left behind 62 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and his wife Mary survived him.
After a very long life, Martin died on July 28, 1889 at the age of 91 in Pine Bend, Minnesota. A small obituary in the local newspaper stated that “he was highly esteemed,” and that he left behind many friends. His funeral took place at the Catholic church in Inver Grove and he was buried at St. Patrick Cemetery. Martin left behind 62 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and his wife Mary survived him.
Martin's death was remembered in a newspaper 50 years later.
Children by Ellen Radford:
1. James S. Furlong — B. before 24 Apr 1819, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 31 Aug 1875, Minnesota; M. Catherine (1835-1909)
2. Mary Furlong — B. before 3 Aug 1820, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
3. Ann Furlong — B. before 17 Feb 1822, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
4. Anthony Furlong — B. before 13 Nov 1823, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
5. Patrick Furlong — B. 1 Jul 1825, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 16 Mar 1917, Rosemount, Minnesota; M. Catherine Fox (1837-1902), 14 Jan 1862, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Children by Mary Butler:
1. Margaret Furlong — B. before 26 May 1829, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 24 Nov 1889, Dakota County, Minnesota
2. Eliza Furlong — B. 18 Sep 1830, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 3 Feb 1912, Maple Lake, Minnesota; M. Francis Labree (1828-1909), 23 Jan 1854, St. Paul, Minnesota
3. Frances Furlong – B. before 30 Aug 1832, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. (probably) young
4. Mary Furlong – B. before 21 Sep 1834, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
5. Ellen Furlong – B. before 14 Jul 1836, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 24 Apr 1921, St. Paul, Minnesota; M. Michael Kennedy (~1830-1895)
6. John Furlong – B. about 18398, (probably) County Wexford, Ireland, D. before 13 Dec 1851, at sea
7. Catherine Furlong – B. 26 Jul 1841, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 21 Jun 1923, Le Sueur County, Minnesota; M. Thomas Furlong (1828-1908), 21 Jan 1869, St. Paul, Minnesota
8. Alice Furlong – B. before 19 Dec 1843, Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland; D. (probably) young
9. Bridget Furlong – B. about 1848, Ireland; M. William Maher, 2 Jan 1873, Ramsey County, Minnesota
10. Jennie Furlong – B. 10 Jan 1849, County Wexford, Ireland; D. 30 May 1935, Kilkenny, Minnesota
Sources:
Marriage and baptismal records of Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
Passenger list of ship Essex, Liverpool to New Orleans, December 1851
History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Rev. Edward D. Neill and Fletcher Williams, 1881
Letters from Hazel Swenson, 1977-1978
1857 and 1875 Minnesota State Census
1860, 1870, and 1880 U.S. Census, Minnesota
Obituary of Martin Furlong reprinted 50 years later in the Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 10 Aug 1939
Obituary of Margaret Furlong, Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 30 Nov 1889
Tombstone inscriptions of St. Patrick's Cemetery, Inver Grove, Minnesota
Obituary of Patrick Furlong, Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 17 Mar 1917
Marriage record of Patrick Furlong and Catherine Fox, 14 Jan 1862, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Death certificate of Eliza Labree, 14 Mar 1912, Maple Lake, Minnesota
Death certificate of Francis Labree, 28 Dec 1909, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Marriage certificate of Francis Labree and Eliza Furlong, 23 Jan 1854, St. Paul, Minnesota
Birth record of François Labree, 15 Jan 1828, Quebec, Canada
Minnesota death certificate index
Death certificate of Catherine Furlong, June 1923, Kilkenny, Minnesota
Death certificate of Thomas Furlong, 1 Aug 1908, Kilkenny, Minnesota
"Pioneer Woman Buried Monday," Montgomery Messenger, Montgomery, Minnesota, 29 Jun 1923
Death certificate of Jennie Furlong, 31 May 1935, Kilkenny, Minnesota
“Review of an Active Life,” Juvenile Instructor, 17:4, George Goddard, 15 Feb 1882
Marriage and baptismal records of Rathangan Parish, County Wexford, Ireland
Passenger list of ship Essex, Liverpool to New Orleans, December 1851
History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, Rev. Edward D. Neill and Fletcher Williams, 1881
Letters from Hazel Swenson, 1977-1978
1857 and 1875 Minnesota State Census
1860, 1870, and 1880 U.S. Census, Minnesota
Obituary of Martin Furlong reprinted 50 years later in the Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 10 Aug 1939
Obituary of Margaret Furlong, Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 30 Nov 1889
Tombstone inscriptions of St. Patrick's Cemetery, Inver Grove, Minnesota
Obituary of Patrick Furlong, Hastings Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota, 17 Mar 1917
Marriage record of Patrick Furlong and Catherine Fox, 14 Jan 1862, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Death certificate of Eliza Labree, 14 Mar 1912, Maple Lake, Minnesota
Death certificate of Francis Labree, 28 Dec 1909, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Marriage certificate of Francis Labree and Eliza Furlong, 23 Jan 1854, St. Paul, Minnesota
Birth record of François Labree, 15 Jan 1828, Quebec, Canada
Minnesota death certificate index
Death certificate of Catherine Furlong, June 1923, Kilkenny, Minnesota
Death certificate of Thomas Furlong, 1 Aug 1908, Kilkenny, Minnesota
"Pioneer Woman Buried Monday," Montgomery Messenger, Montgomery, Minnesota, 29 Jun 1923
Death certificate of Jennie Furlong, 31 May 1935, Kilkenny, Minnesota
