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MICHAEL & MAEY MULCONNERY
AMERICA AT LAST Oh! to reach America, the land of gold paved streets, the land of the free. Such was the dream of a small Irish boy whose thoughts were always of the land across the sea, where the persecutions by the British were easily forgotten and people made a success of their lives by doing great deeds. Weren't all the people talking of this great country that had defied England and won her freedom? The boy dreamer, Michael Mulconnery, was an honest, trustworthy Irish lad always striving to do his best, which might some day help him reach America. During his earlier boyhood he was a kind and ambitious boy - hard-working and considerate. He was a lover of machinery and fostered the ambition that when his dreams in America were realized he might become an engineer and pilot engines, At the age of 14 Michael and his older brother bid goodbye to Ireland and departed for America. The trip across the water was quite a novelty to the young boy who had spent the early part of his life in County Tipperary, his birth place and dwelling place for 14 years. In 1851 the mode of travel was not as swift and comfortable as it is today. The United States was rapidly approaching a great war to be fought between the North and the South to settle the question of slavery. Michael and his brother made their way across the country as far west as Decatur, Illinois, a small village in a central location. They did not remain here long however, and soon made their way southward to the settlement of Belleville. When 21 years of age, Michael, who had found a position with the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad, married Mary Carey, a St. Louis girl who inspired her husband on to higher things. Gradually climbing higher and higher on the ladder of achievement, Michael was promoted to the esteemed position of engineer in March 1853. It was his duty to see that the train be piloted between Litchfield and Belleville reached its destination on time. His dream was realized at last, but he felt he would do something to distinguish himself. While living in Belleville the Mulconnery family increased until there were 12 children in all; five sons and seven daughters. The children were brought up according to the strict standards that Mike, as he was always called, had been forced to live up to in Ireland. The girls helped their mother at home while the boys, fired by their father's ambition, followed in his footsteps by starting in the railroad shops as apprentices to machinists. The boys served their time as apprentices, later became machinists and finally were made engineers like their dad, who by this time was one of the oldest engineers on the railroad. All the time that the family lived in Belleville, going about their everyday tasks, St. Louis, then a neighboring town, was rapidly growing into a city of considerable size. The Mississippi River still separated St. Louisans from direct contact with the land lying toward the east of the Father of Waters. James Eads, a young engineer at the time, planned a bridge spanning the Mississippi from St. Louis to East St. Louis. It was not however until 1873 that bridge was completed and opened for use. Many hardships had to be conquered to make its building possible. Soon the superintendent of the old Cairo Shortline announced that the engineer who presented the best decorated engine, would have the privilege of being the first person to run that train over the newly made bridge at St. Louis, that was called after its maker - James B. Eads.
Sure enough Engine Number Eleven was chosen to make the trip with Mike Mulconnery as its engineer. The Irish father's joy knew no bounds. This was to be his first really important mission and perhaps his last for he was growing old and felt he could not hold his position very much longer.
Mike was to receive one more distinction before retired from active service and that one was the honor piloting the train that carried President Diaz of Mexico from Du Quoin to St. Louis. This event took place in 1887. On this trip a record was made in completing the trip in one hour and fifty minutes which was considered speed in those days. IRELAND AND RETIREMENT Michael's children were now grown and his though often wandered back to the land of his childhood. He wondered if it had undergone many changes since as boy in 1851 he had left it to come to America. Probably all the people he knew had forgotten him and some would be dead. These thoughts used to haunt him oft until he finally decided to return to Ireland just for a little while to satisfy his whims. He knew it would be the last time he would ever see it again. He made the voyage in 1888 but returned soon however to resume his work a while. Shortly after his return from Ireland he retired spend the rest of his life in ease until he would be called by his Maker. Mary and Michael lived the remaining part of their lives in peace and contentment watching their children and their children's children grow to be men and women in an age far different from the one they recalled in the old country. Michael died in 1912 and Mary joined him the following year.
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