McLaughlin's Go West - Part 2

When I review information that I have about my McLaughlin's, I find lots of names, dates, and locations.  I also find some obituaries and a few newspaper articles.  While there has been a lot of research completed on my McLaughlin's, I wonder if anyone has letters.  I have a brief reference to a letter or two in that 34 page document.  Maybe the McLaughlin's weren't big on corresponding.  I hope to find some information that tells me what my relatives were like.

Back in Austin, Nevada, in the 1890s, things kind of fell apart for Thomas' brother James.

‘People’s Advocate’, Austin, NV.; Wednesday, January 7, 1891. - “ DIED. – McLAUGHLIN – In Austin, January 5, 1891, Mrs. Julia McLaughlin, aged 36 years, a native of New York. Mrs. McLaughlin, who died at her home in Austin on the 5th. inst., leaves a husband and five children to mourn her death; also a host of relatives and friends. We extend the sympathy of the entire community.”

“Not withstanding the very cold day, a large number of people attended Mrs. McLaughlin’s funeral yesterday.”

“Patrick Martin and family, and Patrick Walsh and family attended Mrs. McLaughlin’s funeral yesterday.”

I can't imagine how James McLaughlin felt when his wife died leaving five young children behind.  Thomas and Ellen McLaughlin had moved to Napa in 1886 which was far from a decent road to traverse through the Sierra Nevada.  I'm thinking they did not come back to or ever visit Austin, Nevada again once they moved away.

James had a tough decision on his hands.  He owned land in Nevada that he needed to manage but had children to raise.  James returned to Newport, New York with his five children in tow.  James settled his children among family households in the Newport Area.  Apparently, son James (who was a toddler) went to live with his father's sister-in-law, Katherine (Mahoney) Biche, in Bigelow, Jefferson County, New York.  He was known as Jay Biche until he married.  The Biche's never did formally adopt Jay.  Frank, George, Mary Etta, and Frederick were left with his brother Michael and wife Mary (Murphy) McLaughlin who did not have children of their own.   They lived on the old family farm in Newport.

The following reference found by researcher Mr. Capes, appeared in the 'Boonville, NY, Herald':

"Thursday, 29 Jan 1891, pg.8, col.1: “ News from Newport – James McLaughlin returned to his old home on the hills a few miles from here recently with five small children. McLaughlin, with his wife, left here 14 years ago.  Her death about two weeks ago left him with this large family of young children to care for and in his distress his thoughts naturally turned to his old home, where his motherless ones could be better cared for than in the far west, away from relatives or friends.”

James returned to Austin, Nevada, to manage his land and property.  He died sometime after 1910.  That, however, does not end the story of the McLaughlin's in the Austin, Nevada.

To be continued.........