Memories ... March 15

In Remembrance

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

Today is the anniversary of the passing of my maternal Great Grandfather, Owen McCane (Muckian).

I've told Owen's story before, with as many facts that I was able to discover from records and information from extended family.  If you're interested, you can read more about Owen by following this link:  

The Story of Owen McCane (Muckian)

Owen McCane - all photos taken in the early 1920s

Up until three years ago I had never sighted a photo of  my great grandfather.  I then had the fortuitous  experience of receiving an email from a distant relative who thought I might like to have copies of some old family photos.

Finally I had the privilege of seeing the face of this person I'd been researching for around 10 years.  It's a heartwarming experience, putting a face to a name that had not been known to you until you are halfway through your own lifetime!

All three photos I now have of Owen show, what I think, is a gentle countenance.  He was, I believe, a man who worked hard all his life to support his family and greatly valued his family life. 

A few facts to remember about Owen on this important day of remembrance:

• He was born in Ireland and his family name was Muckian.

• He was born in the townland of Ballintemple (Baile an Teampuill), in the Parish of Killevy / Killeavy, in the county of Armagh.

• Muckian was the surname recorded on his birth record

• He was the middle child of five siblings.

• Upon leaving his family and home in Ireland, he still stayed in contact and remained close to his youngest sister Anne (known as Nancy).

Owen's sister Anne (Nancy) Barry nee Muckian
remained in Ireland

• Owen's surname was recorded as McCane upon his emigration to Australia, and his descendants were all registered upon birth with the surname of McCane.

• He worked as a miner and a railway construction worker in the first few years after arriving in Queensland, Australia

• Owen married an immigrant English girl, in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, when he was 32 years old.

Owen's wife, Margaret McCane nee Farrell

• They went on to have seven children, although their boy Edward William died when he was a young boy.

Owen's family

• After his marriage, Owen took on employment as a 'fireman' working at the Burdekin River Pumping Station, helping to keep the steam engines that powered the pumping machinery working.

• He worked at the Pumping Station for around 20 years, and he and his family lived for many years in a cottage close by, on the banks of the Burdekin River.

• Owen and his family moved from Charters Towers to property near Molongle Creek, in the Gumlu area, establishing a family farm known as 'El Rita' where he grew sugar cane, pineapples and bananas.

• Owen had the family house from Charters Towers railed to the site.

• Owen paid for his grand nieces' passage to Australia (daughters of his younger sister Anne / Nancy) in the early 1920s, and they both stayed on the family farm for a while before they both married.

Owen's sister Anne Barry nee Muckian, her husband Patrick Barry and family
Owen's nieces Rose (back row left) and Bridget (back row right) came and stayed on Owen's farm

• Owen worked the family farm for over 15 years and his sons Jack and Jim stayed and worked the farm as well.

• Owen passed away at the age of 70, in 1930.

• The remains of the ancestral family farm back in Ireland can still be seen today, as well as the church where the family members were baptised.

I am resolved to get there one day and walk around the area my great grandfather left over 130 years ago!  There are still many distant relatives living close by and I would love to hear their stories and learn even more about this side of my family.