Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Francis Dickson Mooney was born near Lake Killyleagh County Down Ireland in 1840. The mother was born in Scotland and came into Ireland when a maiden representing the John Knox faith of the Presbyterian Church. Her ancestry were zealous in the doctrine, many being Prefects in the church. The father, Hugh Mooney, being a kinsman of Daniel O'Mooney, the clan chieftain.
The father lost his life by a falling rock ledge when Frank D. was quite young. The mother with this son and a daughter came to America in 1856, joining another daughter already in the United States for residence near Wilmington, Ohio.
The voyage was most perilous in the sailing ship because of storms and high seas. It was a six week's voyage -- most of the crew and passengers were very ill, and many were buried at sea. The bodies were made secure to a burial plank with stones attached for weight and with religious rites the body was lowered by rope into the briny deep. The rope unfastened and withdrawn, was used again for a like ceremony.
It was not earth to earth and dust to dust, but an eternal rest in the mighty blue waters of the deep and with the inhabitants thereof.
F.D. Mooney joined Company B, 40th Ohio Regiment at the beginning of the Civil War. He served nearly four years. He was with General Hooker at Lookout Mountain -- Chattanooga -- Missionary Ridge -- Chickamauga and other equally severe and hard battles. He was captured and made a prisoner of war for nine months by the Confederate Army. He, with two fellow prisoners, made their escape by tunneling with their hands at night thru the prison vault. This tunnel was under camouflage by daytime. The three prisoners now escaped were retaken by a squad of General Early's men. They were tried unsuccessfully as spies. Frank D. Mooney pleading their innocence as charged while speaking from a tree stump. The prisoners were sent then to Danville, Virginia and later released by exchange.
Following the Civil War and a return to civilian life at his home in Ohio, Mr. Mooney decided to come to Illinois for a future house.
Francis Dickson Mooney and Eliza Jane Murrell were married near Wilmington, Ohio in February 1868. They came the next day to Vincennes, Indiana by train -- there by boat to Bristol Landing east of Palestine -- then the port of the Wabash River.
He with his wife soon acquired a large acreage of land near by, where Duncanville is now located.
Mrs. Mooney was born in 1845 near Wilmington, Ohio. Her ancestry were Virginia English, many of them devout Quakers. Others of the family ancestry were allied with the Ministry or College Instructors. She was a graduate of Granville Ohio Seminary -- then a Baptist Institution. Her diploma was given from here on the day of President Lincoln's assassination. As a student, Mrs. Mooney was a vocalist and a pen artist.
Mr. and Mrs. Mooney were ambitious, industrious, thrifty and hospitable. Both were active in community affairs. Mr. Mooney was one of the promoters of Swearingen Chapel, an honored member of the Palestine G.A.R. and a trusted member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, Robinson. He was affiliated with the G.O.P. and had served the County and Township officially -- being a Township Commissioner when taken fatally ill. His Party had him cited for the State Representative campaign the coming election -- of the year of his death.
Mr. Mooney passed away in 1888. Mrs. Mooney passed away in 1926. Both passed away at the first and only family house. They were parents of six children:
- Jennie M. Smith
- Ella J. Marbry
- Rodney E. (deceased)
- Anna E. Midgett (deceased)
- Dora E. Pierce (deceased)
- C. Thaddeus
Jennie Mooney Smith was a teacher of note in the Public Schools of the County. She was capable and became active in many of the local and county organizations. She married Dr. J.H. Smith (deceased) of Indianapolis, Indiana. One child, Dainty Geraldine Smith, with a Master's Degree in Primary Education from Columbia University, New York, has had several citations for excellent and efficient work in her profession.
Ella Mooney Marbry was a teacher for several years in the schools of Crawford County. She was reckoned to be a good instructor by both pupils and the school officials. She was married to John H. Marbry, (deceased), who for many years was connected with the Robinson Post Office. For over one-half century they lived together in their original home in Robinson and were rated among the substantial citizens.
Anna Mooney Midgett (deceased), was a teacher in the Crawford County schools. She had an excellent rating in he school room as a teacher. For several years she taught music in her community. She married Albert T. Midgett (deceased), also a teacher in the County schools. They owned and operated the Midgett Pharmacy in Robinson. They shared their capabilities, talents and goodwill with their townspeople in church, civil and social affairs. Their one child, Albert Gray (sp?), passed away in early infancy.
Dora Mooney Pierce, (deceased), a graduate of the Indianapolis Business College, served for a number of years on the Business Staff of the Grain Dealers Association of that city. For sometime previous to her passing away, she held a fine position in the office of Governor Mount of Indiana. She married Claude C. Pierce, (deceased), of that city -- a real estate promoter there for many years. They had no family.
Rodney Ellsworth, (deceased), and C. Thaddeus Mooney were born and raised on the parents' homestead. They were successfully engaged in agriculture and stock raising for many years. Rodney E. married Lula Highsmith, a teacher of talent in the Crawford County schools. They were the parents of Francis Keith and Mary Mooney Strunk of Evansville, Indiana, Francis being manager of a fruit company and Mary a community builder.
Hugh is affiliated with a construction company near Grand Junction, Colorado as supervisor at a lucrative salary.
C. Thaddeus Mooney married Mrs. Alta McGrew Dudley, a businesswoman of Robinson. They have one child, Charles A., who has held a position with the Ohio Oil Company for several years.