By Sue Sylvester
For this series, I have selected the Haverty family. I decided to choose this family for a couple of reasons. After researching the Holmberg family, I realized two Holmbergs married into the Haverty family. Second, the Maple Lake Library had research done by Mary Haverty Stumpf, Jim Dahlseid, and G.W. (Bill) Haverty. I found their research a delight, one I wanted to share with Messenger readers. The research was done back in 1989 but it was not typical research. It contains many stories about life back in the good old days that might add a smile or make you appreciate the hardships our forefathers endured. This story begins with the first Haverty’s who settled in Wright County, Thomas and Mary Haverty. I will rely on Mary Haverty Stumpf’s history and plat, census, birth, death, and marriage records to tell this story.
Thomas and Mary (Lyons) Haverty
Straight from Mary Haverty Stumpfs research, “Thomas Haverty was born on 5-27-1827 in County Galway, Ireland to John and Mary (Flaherty) Haverty. Thomas Haverty was employed by the John and Mary (Shocking) Lyons family as their coachman. The Lyons family was considered upper class in Ireland. They had a beautiful young daughter Mary who was born in July of 1838 in County Galway, Ireland. Growing up she had all the comforts of the wealthy class.” Just like the Downton Abbey story, the young coachman caught Mary’s eye. Much to the consternation of her parents, Mary and Thomas got married.
“The young couple lived in Ireland for about 7 years where daughters Ellen and Annie were born. In 1864 with two young daughters and another child expected, Tom and Mary left Ireland from Belfast headed to America. The journey via sailboat took six weeks and they arrived in Newark, New Jersey. Son John (Jack) was born 8-1-1865 in Newark. He often said “’He was made in Ireland and born in America.”’ The family stayed in New Jersey for a little over a year.”
The Haverty family headed west to Minnesota in 1866. There destination was Marysville, Wright County, Minnesota. Today, this homestead is no longer there but a 1879 plat map of Marysville Township shows the property in Section 6 N1/2 NW1/4. Thomas owned 76.76 acres abutting CR 35 and just west of CR 8. Thomas also owned acreage across the road in Chatham Township Section 31 SW1/4 SE1/4 40 acres of land. The homestead was in Marysville but the Chatham property also had a small home. “Tom walked to Grove City, Minnesota to file a claim on his land. There was a small cabin on the property but after a time a new log cabin was built. A formidable task lay ahead for the young family as the land was virgin deciduous timber except for one portion which was know as the clearing. At this period of history, the family lived in fear of hostile Indians. Tom protected his family by placing an axe by the door at night before retiring. Tom was remembered as a man of medium height, heavy set, round shoulders and a long beard. Mary was about 5’2” tall.” The Downton Abbey story did not last. Tom was prone to drink and for some time they were separated. Stumpf said that before Mary died they were living together again. She felt her great-grandparents were courageous people and took pride in her wonderful ancestors.