5. The Dr. McNamara and Family Gift Window.
|
The McNamara and Family Window is on the east side of the church between Stations of the Cross 10 and 11. The window is 70 inches wide and 18 feet tall. Dr. James J. McNamara was a well-known physician and a second-generation Irishman. He, and his family, were here for almost 23 years before moving on. During his time in St. Paul, he was very active in his medical practice, businesses, the church and lodges. The McNamara family name appears in several of the other window donor stories.
Our James J. McNamara was the son of 30 year-old Irishman James M. McNamara (1818-1901) who left Liverpool, England, arriving in New York City, arriving on November 30th, 1848. After New York, James M.'s journey led him to Detroit, Michigan and and then on to South Bend County, Indiana in 1852. It was there that James M. married Bridget Ryan, at Notre Dame, on October 5th, 1856.
|
|
In Indiana, the senior McNamara's were engaged in farming and raising six children: James J., Margaret A., Thomas F., Daniel W., John P., and Catherine. Two of James M. and Bridget's children became doctors with Dr. Daniel being a coroner. All of the children, with the exception of Dr. James J., are interred at Cedar Grove Cemetery, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana with their parents.
Both James and Daniel left Indiana for medical school. Daniel graduated from St. Louis Medical School in 1894; and he practiced in St. Joseph County for 35 years. Dr. James "Jack" McNamara's first known medical practice was in the small Kansas town of Leona, Doniphan County, in April of 1896. Leona is located about 33 miles west of St. Joseph, Missouri. At about that time, on Wednesday morning, April 29th, 1896, the Rev. Father Christopher Linnenkam, at the Immaculate Conception Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, married Dr. James J. McNamara and the widow, Mary J. Bottigan.
After their marriage, the McNamara's relocated to Topeka for a very short time. Then, by September of 1896, Jack and Mary found themselves in St. Paul, only months after our town was renamed from Osage Mission.
Both James and Daniel left Indiana for medical school. Daniel graduated from St. Louis Medical School in 1894; and he practiced in St. Joseph County for 35 years. Dr. James "Jack" McNamara's first known medical practice was in the small Kansas town of Leona, Doniphan County, in April of 1896. Leona is located about 33 miles west of St. Joseph, Missouri. At about that time, on Wednesday morning, April 29th, 1896, the Rev. Father Christopher Linnenkam, at the Immaculate Conception Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, married Dr. James J. McNamara and the widow, Mary J. Bottigan.
After their marriage, the McNamara's relocated to Topeka for a very short time. Then, by September of 1896, Jack and Mary found themselves in St. Paul, only months after our town was renamed from Osage Mission.
