5. The Dr. McNamara and Family Gift Window.
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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'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.
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This Photo and Banner Photo R. Brogan
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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. It was that month that Dr. McNamara was appointed as a member of the Osage Mission board of pension examiners in place of Dr. Moles Worth, who resigned. Later in December Dr. Johnson of St. Louis, was in the City to see Dr. Brogan. He is one of the physicians who attended Dr. Brogan [1] at St. Louis and came here to see if he could assist him in his relapse. Dr. Johnson was also an old friend of Dr. McNamara.
During their time in Leona, the McNamara's had invested in the town with some property purchases. Settling into St. Paul the sold the Leona property and bought property here. In May of 1896 he bought lots on the northeast corner of Main and Central, once occupied by the Southern Hotel, where he build a nice residence. On July 8, 1898, the O'Bryan brothers sold Dr. McNamara five lots in Mission Township for $60.
On August 9, 1906, the Neosho County Commission voted on the county's tax levy. This allowed Dr. McNamara to be appointed to the pauper practice of Mission Township to succeed Dr. Roland on the same terms as his predecessor, and Dr. W. C. Cecil was awarded the pauper practice of Grant Township for another year. In January of 1909 he was elected to the board of directors of the new Mission State Bank or St. Paul.
The McNamara's seemed to settle fairly prosperously in St. Paul, until late 1913 when fortunes seemed to turn. On November 1st, 1913, A damage suit was brought by a man named Calvin Harbin, living at Pittsburg, against Dr. J. J. McNamara of St. Paul. Mr. Harbin had been struck by a car operated by Dr. McNamara on a Pittsburg Street. The Jury found for Harbin, but for substantially less than the $5000 asked. In March of 1917 The doctor was arrested for disturbing the peace when he caused a disturbance, involving gunfire and erratic behavior, at his home. At the time the doctor was involved in another lawsuit.
It was then that the couple began to plan a move from St. Paul — then tragedy struck. On October 17th, 1918, the McNamara's only daughter, 34 year old Savillia, died from pneumonia, as a complication from Influenza. The couple left St. Paul, shortly after their daughter's death and relocated to Fort Dodge where James mustered in as an Officer at the Home for Disable Volunteer Soldiers, and as a surgeon at Fort Dodge.
In 1924, the McNamara's pulled up stakes again and relocated to Oakland, California where Jack entered private practice. This was their final move. On March 16, 1938 Mary passed and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland. By 1940 Jack had retired and relocated to #8 Ivy Street in San Diego, California. There he is listed with a new spouse named Mable. Within two short years, the good doctor passed and was interred at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego.
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. It was that month that Dr. McNamara was appointed as a member of the Osage Mission board of pension examiners in place of Dr. Moles Worth, who resigned. Later in December Dr. Johnson of St. Louis, was in the City to see Dr. Brogan. He is one of the physicians who attended Dr. Brogan [1] at St. Louis and came here to see if he could assist him in his relapse. Dr. Johnson was also an old friend of Dr. McNamara.
During their time in Leona, the McNamara's had invested in the town with some property purchases. Settling into St. Paul the sold the Leona property and bought property here. In May of 1896 he bought lots on the northeast corner of Main and Central, once occupied by the Southern Hotel, where he build a nice residence. On July 8, 1898, the O'Bryan brothers sold Dr. McNamara five lots in Mission Township for $60.
On August 9, 1906, the Neosho County Commission voted on the county's tax levy. This allowed Dr. McNamara to be appointed to the pauper practice of Mission Township to succeed Dr. Roland on the same terms as his predecessor, and Dr. W. C. Cecil was awarded the pauper practice of Grant Township for another year. In January of 1909 he was elected to the board of directors of the new Mission State Bank or St. Paul.
The McNamara's seemed to settle fairly prosperously in St. Paul, until late 1913 when fortunes seemed to turn. On November 1st, 1913, A damage suit was brought by a man named Calvin Harbin, living at Pittsburg, against Dr. J. J. McNamara of St. Paul. Mr. Harbin had been struck by a car operated by Dr. McNamara on a Pittsburg Street. The Jury found for Harbin, but for substantially less than the $5000 asked. In March of 1917 The doctor was arrested for disturbing the peace when he caused a disturbance, involving gunfire and erratic behavior, at his home. At the time the doctor was involved in another lawsuit.
It was then that the couple began to plan a move from St. Paul — then tragedy struck. On October 17th, 1918, the McNamara's only daughter, 34 year old Savillia, died from pneumonia, as a complication from Influenza. The couple left St. Paul, shortly after their daughter's death and relocated to Fort Dodge where James mustered in as an Officer at the Home for Disable Volunteer Soldiers, and as a surgeon at Fort Dodge.
In 1924, the McNamara's pulled up stakes again and relocated to Oakland, California where Jack entered private practice. This was their final move. On March 16, 1938 Mary passed and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland. By 1940 Jack had retired and relocated to #8 Ivy Street in San Diego, California. There he is listed with a new spouse named Mable. Within two short years, the good doctor passed and was interred at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in San Diego.
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Some Reference Information.
1. Doctor R.A. Brogan underwent a surgical procedure in St. Louis, during September, then returned to St. Paul. He passed away on December 7, 1896. 2. As with the other donor profiles, this is just a snapshot of the McNamara Story. The manuscript of Who's Behind the Window contained ten pages of information when summarized on this page; and it was still in process. Moreover, the McNamara name appears frequently throughout the book. They were prominent people and appear to have been active in church, businesses and various lodges and other organizations. |
The Dr. McNamara & family stained glass is crowned with a Zoomorph in the form of
a White Swan and its cygnets.
The Swan is a symbol of purity and marital fidelity.
Yet there was the "Order of the Swan." A pious confraternity, indulgenced by the pope, to pay special honor to the Blessed Virgin. (Photo R. Brogan)
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