Michael Francis McManus
- Kevin McManus
- United states
- May 11, 2022
Table of Contents
Michael was born on the 2nd of January, 1892 in New York City.
His parents, Thomas McManus a first generation American (born in NYC in August 1859 - died Feb 22, 1922 in NYC ) and Delia (nee Reid) McManus (born in Galway ? Ireland in 1859 and died on Nov. 3, 1925 in NYC)
Sixth Child of Eleven
He was the sixth child of a total of eleven known children born to Thomas and Delia.
- Robert McManus (b. 1880 - d. Feb 06, 1901)
- Ellen G. McManus (b. Jan 26. 1885- d. May1964)
- Mary McManus (b. May 12, 1886 - d.?)
- Cecilia Clare McManus (b. Feb 19, 1888 - d. June 30, 1954)
- Harry Joseph McManus (b. Dec 25, 1889 - d. Nov 11, 1955)
- Michael Francis McManus (b Jan 02, 1892 - d. May 11, 1972)
- Annie McManus (b. 1893 - d.1994)
- John McManus (b. Mar 21, 1895 - d. Dec 20, 1895)
- Edward McManus (b. Mar 21, 1895 - d. Dec 31, 1895)
- Thomas McManus (b. Jul 11, 1897 - d. Jun 07, 1910)
- Patrick J. McManus (b. Jul 09, 1901 - d. Aug 25, 1959)
Railroad Apartments
This family of 13 lived in a a very cramped apartment known as a Railroad Arpartment in NYC.See more about NYC Tenement at the Tenement Museum
The name for Railroad apartments comes from the layout’s similarity to that of a typical (mid-20th century or earlier) passenger train car
Railroad apartments first made an appearance in New York City in the mid-19th century, and were designed to provide a solution to urban overcrowding.
Many early railroad apartments were extremely narrow, and most buildings were five or six stories high.
Few early buildings had internal sanitation, and bathrooms emptied raw sewage into the back yard.
In some cases, one family would take up residence in each room, with the exterior hallway providing communal space.
WW1
Michael was a WW1 Veteran, assigned to CO H 51 Pioneer Infantry. The Pioneer Infantry were similar to regular army troops in that they were trained in infantry tactics, but they were also trained in combat engineering.
Moved Upstate
After the war, Michael left NYC and moved away from the hustle and bustle to the quiet of upstate NY
Married
He Married Kate Delaney on March 24, 1924 in Monticello, NY
Mike and Kate moved from NYC to upstate New York in the town of Monticello, located in Sullivan County.
Postal Worker
Mike retired in 1950 where he worked as postal worker for the United States Postal Service for 25 years.
Kate Passed in 172
Kate passed at home on March 31, 1972.
Mike passed shortly after Kate
Michael was taken to the hospital shortly after her death, being unable to care for himself.
He died in hospital on the 11th of May, 1972 in Honesdale, Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Mike in his WW1 Uniform
CO H 51 Pioneer Infantry
WW1 Draft Card
WW1 Military Service
1917 Registered for Draft WW1
1918 9 Aug - Enlisted in US Army Serial #3190160
1918 9 Aug Went Overseas from 9 Aug 1918 until 6 Jul 1919 CO H 51 Pioneer Infantry
1919 15 Jul Honorable Discharge Camp Upton Suffolk County, NY
CO H 51 Pioneer Infantry
Michael was a pioneer, who was a soldier employed to perform engineering and construction tasks. The term is in principle similar to sapper or combat engineer.
Pioneers were originally part of the artillery branch of European armies. Subsequently, they formed part of the engineering branch, the logistic branch, part of the infantry, or even comprised a branch in their own right.
Historically, the primary role of pioneer units was to assist other arms in tasks such as the construction of field fortifications, military camps, bridges and roads.
Prior to and during the First World War, pioneers were often engaged in the construction and repair of military railways
Draft Card
Monticello woman’s death unreported by husband
Kate McManus (nee Delaney) passed at home on March 31, 1972.
The body of a 68 year-old Monticello woman, whose death at least 24 hours earlier was unreported by her “incoherant’ 80- year-old husband, was found Wednesday lying on a blood- stained mattress in a doorway of the couple’s dishevelled home.
According to a coroners report, Mrs. Katherine McManus, reportedly a crippled epileptic, died from natural causes 24-hours earlier. Her ailing husband, Michael, was taken to Community General Hospital.
The body was found about noon by Abe Goldstein lying on a foam mattress between the kitchen and living room. Goldstein had gone to the Woodcliff Avenue McManus home on business. An electric heater was still trained on the body providing warmth, Goldstein said.
Two weeks ago, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department attempted to remove the McManus couple from their home to a hospital on a request by the social services department.
Authorities said at the time there was little heat in the building. Howard Grant, director of County Social Services, said Wednesday he had suggested the couple be moved and since he had no other information assumed they were now in a hospital.
At that time, sheriff’s deputies and Monticello volunteer ambulance personnel attempted to move McManus, a retired postal worker, and his wife. But they refused to leave their home.
“I’ve lived here 25 vears and, I’ll die here” McManus was reported to have told sheriffs officers.
McManus claimed he could care for himself and his wife despite ulcers on his legs.
Michael, age 83, Died May 11, 1972
Sad Ending, only 3 People at his Funeral
Eighty-three-year-old Michael F. McManus, a retired postal worker, was buried Monday in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Monticello, following a Mass in St. Peter’s R.C. Church.
There were only two nephews and a neighbor at the service, each standing stolidly silent as the flag-draped casket was borne from the church.
“Why some of the veterans or postal workers didn’t attend the service is beyond me,”
said Mrs.Daniel Foster, a neighbor and only non-relative to attend the service.
Mrs. Foster said she had visited McManus about two weeks ago in Wayne County Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pa., where he died Friday. “He was a very nice old man,” said Mrs. Foster.
McManus died after he refused to allow an infected leg to be amputated. Physicians had urged the amputation, but McManus said he would prefer not to have it done.
McManus’ wife, Katherine, 68, was found dead in their Woodcliff Avenue, Monticello, home March 29. Dr. Ralph S. Breakey, Sullivan County coroner said she had been dead for several hours, “possibly as long as three days.”
McManus was still in the house, and according to Sullivan County Sheriff Joseph Wasser, must have stepped over his wife’s body to enter the kitchen of their small bungalow.
Two weeks before Mrs. McManus was found dead, sheriff’s deputies and ambulance corpsmen attempted to remove the elderly couple from their home to a local hospital.
But Mrs. McManus, whose bed was a foam rubber mattress on the floor, refused to leave her husband. McManus told authorities he could take care of things, adding:
“I’ve lived here 25 years and I’ll die here.
A retired U.S. postal worker and veteran of World War I, McManus was removed frorn his home, after his wife’s death at the urging of a nephew, Monticello Ptl. Edward McManus.
He was later transferred to the Honesdale hospital. Mrs. Foster, who said she and her husband often visited McManus, was critical of other neighbors for not attending the funeral Mass.
But she said McManus’ nephew, Edward has been “good to the old gentleman” after he was taken to the hospital.
“Eddie put his heart and soul into taking care of him,” she said.
