Endless Waves… Remembrances of Sayville Alumni. The Whalen family
The Whalen family of Sayville
Hal G. Brown
Class of 1972
with
Carolyn (Griffiths) Mioduski
Class of 1959
Here we are at the Whalen family plot, a peaceful section of Saint Lawrence Martyr Roman Catholic Cemetery, located at 401 Lakeland Avenue, Sayville, New York. Here in this melancholy plot, rest in peace, the remains of Patrick and Nora Whalen, and their three sons, Edward, John, William, who all tragically died young.
All five children Edward, John, William, Mary and Nora are Sayville alumni. Two of the sons fought in WWI.
Daughter Nora rests here, too. Nora lived to the age of 88 and we will, take a look at her life, too.
Daughter Mary is buried in Bay Shore, having died at her home at age 43, after an illness of only a few days.
Please join Carolyn and I, as we travel through time exploring the Whalen family of Sayville. The Whalen family page will offer you an introductory video, clippings, and snippets of history, highlighting the story of a wonderful Sayville family, ultimately torn-apart by the ravages of World War I, accidents, and illness.
Yet, there is a pleasant, surprising twist at the end, so please read all the way through. Thank you.
Photo courtesy of “Aislin”, findagrave ID 46535342
1. The surname Whalen.
Many variations of the name Whalen have evolved as scribes in the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. In Gaelic it appeared as O’Faoilain derived from the word “faol” meaning “wolf.”
The surname Whalen was first found in County Waterford, Province of Munster, on the south coast of Ireland.
Other variations occurred at immigration centers when immigrants had to leave the spelling of their names up to immigration officers. (1)
The Whalen name appears in two forms throughout historic references: Whalen and Whelan. Research determined that despite the two different spellings, all articles are accurately applicable to the same Sayville family.
2. The Journey to America
IRISH IMMIGRATION
Prior to 1846 many of the Irish immigrants to the United States were Protestant families who were English speaking with some monetary resources and skills. After 1846 most were Catholic individuals with limited or no English, no education, no money, and no skills. They were fleeing the hunger created by the Great Potato Famine, poverty, and oppression by the British Government. Some had relatives, who had come to the United States earlier, to take them in and others did not.
New York was the principal entry point to the United States throughout the 19th century and on 3rd August 1855, a Board of Commissioners of Immigration opened the city’s first immigrant reception station at Castle Garden at the southern end of Manhattan. Records show that New York received 483,000 Irish immigrants with 190,000 settling in New York City. More than eight million immigrants of all nationalities came through Castle Garden before it closed in 1890, For a while, immigration was handled by a temporary Barge Office until January of 1892 when the Ellis Island Reception Center opened.
The Irish immigrants worked long hours for minimal pay and often lived in abject poverty. Their labor was vital for the construction of canals, roads, bridges, and railroads. Women found positions as cooks, maids, textile workers, and nursemaids. In the mid-1850’s it became more difficult to find jobs because they were often seen as taking jobs from Americans. Discrimination against the Irish Catholics was common. Many of the male immigrants joined the Union Army during the Civil War. making up the majority of forty regiments. (2)
By 1900 there were still hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants living in poverty in urban areas. However, they were making gains in the workplace, getting involved in the trade union movement, police forces, and fire departments.
Eventually, they became a political force in many East Coast urban areas. Following generations of Irish-Americans became an integral part of mainstream America. Among the notable are President John F. Kennedy and his family, Sandra Day O’Conner, Walt Disney, Christa McAuliffe, Audie Murphy, Frank Baum, Henry Ford, Georgia O’Keefe, Matthew Brady to mention a just few. (2)
Castle Clinton National Monument (sketch above)
Upon arrival in the United States, Peter Wahlen and Nora Mary Maloney mode their way through Castle Garden. Between 1855 to 1890 more than 8 million immigrants arrived in the United States.
Today it is called Castle Clinton. It was also known as Fort Clinton and previously known as Castle Garden. It is a circular sandstone fort located in Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City, built between 1808 and 1811.
It served as the first American immigration station and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Patrick Whalen and Nora Maloney traveled to the United States aboard the SS City of Antwerp and the SS Adriatic, respectively, in the steerage compartments, the lowest and cheapest sections of the ships.
The journey often took six weeks in good weather, significantly longer in bad.. Patrick and Mary were fortunate to have had shorter trips than most. Traveling in steerage, however, was horrendous.
“For immigrants who voyaged early, life in steerage was a horrific. experience. The conditions were so crowded, dark, unsanitary and foul-smelling, that they were the single most important cause of America’s early immigration laws, specifically the United States Passenger Act of 1882.
These laws were unfortunately almost impossible to enforce and steerage conditions remained deplorable. At one time, the average passenger mortality rate was 10% per voyage.” (4)
“Steerage was enormously profitable for steamship companies. The average cost of a ticket was $30, and larger ships could hold from 1,500 to 2,000 immigrants, netting a profit of $45,000 to $60,000 for a single, one-way voyage. The cost to feed a single immigrant was only 60 cents a day.” (4) “Passengers in steerage survived on “lukewarm soups, black bread, boiled potatoes, herring or stringy beef,” (5)
From a 1911 report of the United States Immigration Commission:
“The open deck space reserved for steerage passengers is usually very limited, and situated in the worst part of the ship, subject to the most violent motion, to the dirt from the stacks and the odors from the hold and galleys… the only provisions for eating are frequently shelves or benches along the sides or in the passages of sleeping compartments.”
“The ventilation is almost always inadequate, and the air soon becomes foul. The unattended vomit of the seasick, the odors of not too clean bodies, the reek of food and the awful stench of the nearby toilet rooms make the atmosphere of steerage such that it is a marvel that human flesh can endure it…” (4)
An example of what the voyage as steerage passengers may have looked like; an artist’s sketch depicts immigrants suffering from ‘Ship Fever,’ during the Atlantic crossing of the ship “James Foster” from Liverpool to New York in 1869.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/steerage-passengers-suffering-from-ship-everett.html
Despite the terrible conditions in which they traveled, they had hope. America lay ahead, the land of promise, the land of a future infinitely better than what they had left behind.
Sources:
1. HOUSEOFNAMES.COM
2. IRISH-GENEALOGY-TOOLKIT.COM
3. CAYUGA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART.COM
4. WHITESTAR.FANDOM.COM
5. SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
6. OCEANLINERSBLOG.WORDPRESS.COM THE STEERAGE EXPERIENCE
Footnote:
SS Adriatic was sold for scrap in 1899
SS City of Antwerp 1890
Interesting article on steerage:
https://oceanlinersblog.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/the-steerage-experience/
PATRICK WHALEN 19 Apr 1870 – 3 May 1870
“Passenger lists of vessels arriving at New York, 1820-1897; index to passenger lists of vessels arriving in New York, 1820-1846
This is very likely Patrick Whelan, listed as a laborer.
The “S/S City of Antwerp”, was built for the Inman Line in 1866, Glasgow Scotland, by the Shipyard Tod & McGregor. Her length was 332ft with a width of 39.4ft. In November 1890, disappeared and it is assumed sunk and lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after collision with iceberg. 43 lives were lost. To learn more about the Inman Line, please visit to www.norwayheritage.com
NORA MARY MALONEY 24 Jun 1882 – 18 Jul 1882
This is likely (Nora) Mary Maloney. Passenger lists 24 Jun 1882-18 Jul 1882 (NARA Series M237, Roll 454)
Nora Mary Maloney also endured a long journey involving travel by sea across the Atlantic on the White Star Line steamship ‘Adriatic’, depicted below. The bottom right photograph depicts a painting of the passenger steamship ‘Adriatic’ sailing out of Liverpool, accompanied by a tug and a small sailing boat on the far right. Other ships can be seen alongside in the distance and the buildings of Liverpool are visible. The painting is signed ‘P. Greenwood 1889’.
The ‘Adriatic’ was built in 1872 at Belfast by Harland and Wolff. She traveled between Liverpool and New York 1872-1899, had four masts, and her hull, framework, masts, yards, decks, and the whole ship, except the floors and furniture, were made of iron. The ship could accommodate 1150 passengers and was fitted for gas, generated by oil, in place of candles and oil lamps. She was broken up in 1899. Photo and text courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
3. Patrick Whalen, family patriarch: A Success Story
Arriving in the United States as a twenty-one-year-old Irish immigrant laborer in 1870, Patrick Whalen applied for naturalization. Naturalization is the legal process including the submission of determined paperwork, by which a non-citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship or nationality of another country.
Patrick became a successful greenhouse owner and a participant in local government.
In the 1900 US census, we find the Patrick and Nora Whalen family residing at 152 Main St., in Sayville. Prior to that, they had lived in Bayport and New York City.
While numbers and even street names have changed over time, we know exactly where that was; three houses east of the S. Main St and Foster Ave intersection.
If you haven’t watched the introductory video, please do for a more thorough explanation of how we determined the exact location.
Click photo right to enlarge census report full-screen.
A Point of clarification; “Islip Town or Township of Islip”.
The Whalen’s lived, worked, went to school and church in Sayville. Some records, refer to the people of Sayville as living in Islip. That is confusing. This does not mean the small town of Islip. Rather, it refers to the “township of Islip”, of which Sayville is a part.
Here is why; on November 29, 1683, William Nicoll became the first patentee of Islip when he purchased land from Sachem (Chief) Winnequaheagh of Connetquot. He named his 50,000- acre plantation Islip Grange, in honor of the town from which he emigrated: Islip, England. The original settlement encompassed;
Bayport
Bohemia
Brentwood
Central Islip
East Islip
Great River
Hauppauge
Holbrook
Holtsville
Islip Terrace
Oakdale
Sayville
West Sayville
part of Ronkonkoma.
Source: https://islipny.gov/community-and-services/explore-islip/islip-history
Every Sayville alumni have something to thank Patrick Whalen for… your school books were free.
We envision the Irish Immigrant Patrick Whalen likely had a commanding presence, a man who demanded to be heard.
Despite his previous motion that school books for Sayville students be paid by the school district having been tabled, he took up the charge again in August 1896, renewing his motion.
There were those opposed and those in support.
Patrick Whalen’s advocacy was successful as his motion passed. This made headlines!
At the same meeting, although nominated as a trustee (school board), he was not chosen.
Patrich Whalen’s work was highly regarded. His landscaping at the Suffolk County News earns high praise in the newspaper (article above).
Often, the work of Patrick Whalen was reported in the paper. Listed here, are just a few examples;
December 06, 1901 – Hon. Regis H. Post. Transplanting good-sized maple and elm trees.
August 25, 1905 – Mrs. George Q. Laidlaw. Grading and planting two acres of lawn.
October 20, 1905 – Mr. Oscar Smith. Grading property on the north side of Main Street.
November 19, 1909 – Mrs. Kreitch. Setting in a hedge in front of the house on S. Main Street.
September 30, 1910 – Mr. Mace. Put grounds around the cottage on Snedecor Ave. in good condition.
January 02, 1914 – Mrs. Carroll. Transplanting a hedge and other improvements at her house on Snedecor Ave.
May 04, 1923 – William Smith. Laying out the grounds of his property in Bayport.
Vintage Postcard shows Whalen Greenhouse on right
Modern view of Middle Country Road, three houses east of Foster Ave.,
with a vintage postcard of Patrick Whalen’s greenhouse superimposed.
2019 Google Earth view of what was once the Patrick and Nora Whalen residence. At some point, the massive Greenhouse was removed and that area now serves as a lengthy driveway.
A 1908 comical article from the South Side Signal. You, the reader, will have to decide what to make of it.
March 17, 1911. Comical news clipping; Patrick Whalen states “I could just as soon lay an egg as lay aloft”.
March 17, 1911. Comical news clipping; Patrick Whalen states “I could just as soon lay an egg as lay aloft”.
February 8, 1924.
Sadness in the Whalen family as Patrick Whalen succumbs to blood poisoning even after emergency measures to save him, including amputation.
4. Nora Mary (Maloney) Whalen, family matriarch: A Life Well-lived
Beyond what you have already read, we don’t know very much about it Nora.
She is described as “a quiet, unassuming woman, beloved by all who knew her.”
We do know she was quite ill in April 1910 and underwent treatment at the French Hospital, established 1881, which was located in the then-called “French Section” at 450 West 34th St in Manhattan, NYC as well as other buildings. French Hospital had various expansions and consisted of several buildings on several streets, before closing in 1977.
For fans of “The Godfather”, by Mario Puzo, Vito Corleone’s gunshot wounds are treated at the French Hospital. For baseball fans, Babe Ruth was treated for nasopharyngeal cancer in 1946-47 at French Hospital.
It also appears Nora was a deeply religious woman. She was a loyal member of St. Lawrence’s Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Rosary Society. Likely, the family was raised accordingly.
This beautiful church in which she worshipped was built in 1896 on the southeast corner of Handsome Avenue and Main Street. It was 120-foot by 40-foot.
Can you visualize Nora, Peter, and the five children walking through the doors of St. Lawrence?
Sadly, this Sayville landmark was completely destroyed by a fire on April 25, 1967.
Nora died at age 61, and had reportedly had been a patient at the Ross sanitarium in Brentwood for five weeks, following a nervous collapse. Her obituary states “death came suddenly as the result of pneumonia and heart complications”.
We don’t exactly know what is meant by nervous collapse, however, Nora passed away 2 years, 6 months, and 8 days after the death of her son, Edward. It’s often stated that “No one will ever feel a bigger grief than a mother who lost her son, too soon”.
March 27, 1917.
Tragedy struck as mother Nora died at age 63.
As researched by “Aislin”, we learn that Nora, was the wife of Patrick Whalen, and the mother of John “Jack” Lawrence, William Henry, Edward Joseph, Mary F. (married Joseph Bernard Lennon), and Nora Whalen. She was predeceased by her son Edward in 1914.
In 1900, Nora M. Whelan, aged 45, was living on South Main Street, Islip (township), New York, with her husband, Patrick Whelan, aged 51, and children, John Whelan, aged 13, Edward Whelan, aged 16, Mary F. Whelan, aged 15 ,Willie Whelan, aged 9, and Nora H. Whelan, aged 8. Her husband was shown to be a gardener.
In 1910, Nora Whalen, aged 55, was living on Main Street, Islip, New York, with her husband, Patrick Whalen, aged 61, and children, John Whalen, aged 22, William Whalen, aged 20, and Nora Whalen, aged 18. Mary Whalen, aged 24. Her husband was shown to be a florist/gardener.
In 1915, Nora Whalen, aged 59, was living on South Country Road in Islip, New York, with her husband, Patrick Whalen, aged 66, and children, John L. Whalen, aged 26, a mason, William Whalen, aged 24, a grocery clerk, and Nora Whalen, aged 22, a telephone clerk. Her husband was shown to be a florist.
St. Lawrence The Martyr RC Church – Sayville, New York
Nora Mary (Maloney) Whalen was hospitalized and died here, at the Ross Health Resort in Brentwood, Suffolk County, New York on March 27, 1917
Obituary – Mrs. Nora Whalen, wife of former Assessor Patrick Whelan, of Sayville, died at the Ross Health Resort in Brentwood at two o’clock on Tuesday morning.
Mrs. Whalen had been a patient in the sanitarium for five weeks, following a nervous collapse and her death came suddenly as the result of pneumonia and heart complications.
Mrs. Whalen was born 63 years ago in Ireland but had lived for more than 40 years In America, 32 of which she had spent in Bayport and Sayville, for the most part in Sayville.
She was a loyal member of St. Lawrence’s Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Rosary Society.
She was a quiet, unassuming woman, beloved by all who knew her. Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Joseph Lennon, of Islip, and Miss Nora, of Sayville and two sons, John and William, also of Sayville.
Funeral services were held at 9.30 o’clock this morning from St Lawrence’s Church, the Rev. Martin A Fitzpatrick officiating. Interment was in St. Lawrence’s Cemetery, north of this village.
(1900, 1910 US Federal Census; 1915 New York State Census; Nora Whalen in the New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956, Certificate Number: 22494; The Suffolk County news., March 30, 1917, Page 4; Catholic Cemeteries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre Inc. Burial Database)
5. The Whalen Children: Education in Sayville Schools
These are the Whalen children and their dates of birth;
Edward Joseph “Ned” Whalen was born March 6, 1884, in Manhattan, NYC.
Mary Frances Whalen was born July 3, 1885, in Bayport.
John Lawrence “Jack” Whalen was born October 29, 1886, in Bayport.
William Henry “Willie” Whalen was born July 31, 1889, in Sayville.
Nora H. Whalan was born March 25, 1892, in Sayville.
All five attended school in Sayville with great success.
The Sayville School at that time was “Old 88”, which opened its doors on January 1, 1889 with five teachers and 375 students.
Going back in time to May 15, 1896, page one of The Suffolk County News reports that little Mary Whalen of “Room 5” recites “All things beautiful” for the Sayville Union School’s Arbor Day festivities.
For those interested in Sayville’s history, this article is quite significant, as it contains the names of 1896 Sayville students.
January 22, 1897 A “lively case of Scarlet Fever” spreads through Sayville and in the Whalen family, “one little son being considered dangerously sick”.
As a precautionary measure, School Union School is closed for a full week. Sunday schools are also closed.
On February 2, 1900 we find John Whalen is listed as one of Sayville’s bright, successful pupils in passing New York State Regents examinations.
On May 17, 1901 we find brothers Edward and John Whalen competing in a Suffolk County “school boys athletics event” in Southampton. The competition drew student athletes from across the county.
Edward competed in the one-mile bicycle race and pole vault. John competed in the sack race.
January 10, 1902. Edward Whalen and his classmates for the Sayville High class of 1902, will be receiving diamond-shaped “Class Pins”.
June 27, 1902. John and Edward Whalen are both recognized for passing New York State Regents examinations. Look at these names! What amazing Sayville history.
In June 1902, Edward J. Whalen is graduating Sayville High. Commencement exercises are held at the Sayville Opera House.
In an article dated June 27, 1902, we find Edward involved in a commencement exercise short play — playing the role of a pupil answering questions, as classmate George Bason plays the teacher asking a series of questions concerning their class associates in a way to “provoke much merriment”.
Principal Noll also makes the following statement;
“The high school is the people’s college, and the high school of today is better than the college of Jefferson’s day. Remember that Sayville is the best town on earth! Be loyal to your town, your home, and your school. Above all live up to your highest ideals.”
June 27, 1902. Edward J. Whalen has graduated from Sayville High and hopes to attend Columbia Law School.
6. Edward Joseph "Ned" Whalen, the Eldest Son
As noted previously, Edward was athletic, did well academically, acted in a play for the senior commencement exercise, and had intentions to study law at Columbia University.
Post-Sayville High, he was noted as being “a bright young man” and afforded an opportunity, perhaps an internship with Judge Walter Jaycox in Patchogue (article right).
Sadly, we don’t know what became of the opportunity with Judge Jaycox or his intentions to enter Columbia Law School. Illness make have interrupted all plans, as Edward died young while a patient at Bellevue Hospital.
On September 9, 1914, tragically at the age of 30, Edward Joseph Whalen passed away.
He had employment as a chauffeur where he likely came into contact with many people. Perhaps a disease rampant in 1914? Car accident? We have sent for the death certificate. Perhaps that will shed some light.
Edward’s obituary was published in the South Side Signal., October 02, 1914, Page 8.
From the extracted Death Index, 1862-1948, Certificate Number: 27616; New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 we find;
Edward Whalen, aged 30, of 345 E. 37th St., New York, New York, a chauffeur, born 1884 in the U.S., the son of Patrick Whalen and Mary Mahoney, both of Ireland, died at the Bellevue Hospital on September 19, 1914 in Manhattan, New York
Photo courtesy of “Aislin”, findagrave ID 46535342
7. William Whalen: The Youngest Son at War
June 5, 1917 draft registration card shows William living on Greeley Ave. and working as a clerk for Francis Gerber. William is 28 years of age, having been born July 31, 1889 in Sayville. He is described as tall and slender with brown hair and blue eyes. He is not married.
July 20, 1917, The Suffolk County News headlines include;
FIND YOUR NUMBER
Today it may decide your destiny
Eligibles for the draft.
As previously stated, Edward is deceased. Patrick and Nora Whalen have two remaining sons, John and William. Just as the Suffolk County News predicted, this day will ultimately decide both their destinies as both sons both learn their draft numbers. John is 1308. William is 1305.
May 3, 1918 William, a soldier with the American Expeditionary Forces arrives safely overseas.
One of the first actions of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) under General John J. Pershing was the Battle of Château-Thierry, fought on 31 May 1918, initially prompted by a German Spring Offensive.
The AEF (American Expeditionary Force), consisted of troops from both the United States Army and Marine Corps units. These were the newest troops on the front in France, just barely out of training.
“From the arrival of the first American troops in France, General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, had refused to hand over his divisions to either British or French commanders, insisting on keeping them together as one army. Regular Army Buffalo Soldiers, African American (“colored”) troops led by mainly white officers, of the four regiments of the 92nd and the 93rd infantry divisions, fought only under French command for the duration of the war, although experienced Black non-commissioned officers(NCOs) were often provided to other segregated volunteer units under American command – such as the 317th Engineer Battalion.
Although he was determined to keep American troops under American command, in the face of the success of the German onslaught, Pershing relented and sent a portion of his army to assist the French in blocking the German advance in May 1918″.
Source: David Bonk (2007). Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood 1918: America’s baptism of fire on the Marne. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-034-5.
U. S. Field Artillery in Chateau-Thierry. U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph.
For a second time, William is separated from his command.
On August 26, 1918 while engaged on the Chateau Thierry front, William, with a number of other men were carrying a wounded comrade to the rear, using an old door for a stretcher, when they were captured by a detachment of German troops, and for a long time his whereabouts were unknown
William was confined in Camp Rastadt, a German prison camp from which he was released on Dec. 9. 1918, a short time after the Armistice.
This photograph and article about American prisoners in the POW camp at Rastat, Germany comes from a very interesting website titled Old Magazine Articles.
A former American prisoner of war recalled the American flag that he and his fellow prisoners had fashioned from Bull Durham and Lucky Strike bags the day they heard that the Germans had quit.
WW1 POW CAMP IN RASTATT GERMANY 1918 – Magazine Article –
http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/article-summary/rastatt-germany-WW1-prison-camp#.YSJCP3ySlPZ
Upon repatriation to the United States, William entered through Hoboken, NJ, and then to Camp Albert L. Mills (Camp Mills), a military installation on Long Island, New York. It was located about ten miles from the eastern boundary of New York City on the Hempstead Plains within what is now the village of Garden City. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Mills
From there, William mustered out and returned to civilian life in Sayville.
8. William Henry Whalen: The Years After WW I
Upon discharge from the Army, William returned to his job as a grocery store manager and his leisure activities. In 1925 tragedy struck the family again with William’s death in an automobile accident.
February 17, 1922.
The Invincibles!
Here we find William Whalen and his good friend Justin Steigerwald as part of a winning bowling team. In March 1917, William is in a tournament in Brooklyn with several local Sayville men. Those are some very fine scores William bowled.
A double-fatal accident occurred in the early morning of September 6, 1925. William Whelan and Justin Steigerwald were southbound on Greene Ave. in a station wagon.
Gerald Cruise (of NYC and summered in Sayville) and five companions were eastbound on Main St. in a Lincoln. The accident occurred at the intersection.
Seat belts and few other safety features existed as factory options in 1925.
It wasn’t until 1949 that “Nash”, an American car manufacturer offered seat belts as a factory option.
This 1985 Google Earth photo shows the intersection, albeit many years later.
Back in 1925, tragic news traveled fairly quickly through the small community of Sayville primarily by word of mouth.
Yet, on September 11th, a date later to become anchored in infamy (9/11, terrorist attacks upon the United States), the Suffolk County News headlines published the tragic death of William Whalen and Justin Steigerwald. The greater Sayville and surrounding communities were stunned.
Quoting from The Suffolk County news., September 11, 1925, Page 1
Wm. Whalen and Justin Steigerwald Killed in an Automobile Accident
Lives of Two of Our Best Beloved Young Men. Who Rendered Valiant Service Overseas in the Great War. Snuffed Out in a Collision On Main Street in the Early Hours of Sunday Morning.
About 240 motorcars, undoubtedly the greatest number ever seen at a funeral here, gathered at the church as the two processions approached from opposite directions, the Steigerwald funeral party proceeding from the home of his father Lorenz Steigerwald at Bayport. and that of Whalen from the home of his sister, Mrs. Joseph Lennon, at Islip.
Many of those who overflowed from the vestibule of the church stood in groups on the lawn and across the street on the opposite sidewalk, speaking in hushed tones of the double tragedy.
From, the church came the clear, subdued notes of a soloist. John Valentine. The church services over, the double cortege began to make the slow journey to the graves, where the last rites were performed by Father Gardiner, and the mournful tunes of “Taps,” the military farewell, sounded by a bugler, Albert Malverty, of the American Legion pf Patchogue.
Quoting from The Suffolk County news., September 11, 1925, Page 7;
Both Men Had Good War Records.
Both of the young men served overseas and had exceptionally creditable war records.
William Whalen entered the service on September 19, 1917, when he went to Camp Upton.
He sailed for France on April 8th of the following year. He was a Corporal in Company F, 306th Infantry, 77th Division.
On August 20, 1918, while engaged on the Chateau Thierry front, he with a number of other men were carrying a wounded comrade to the rear, using an old door for a stretcher, when they were captured by a detachment of German troops, and for a long time his whereabouts were unknown
He was confined in Camp Rastadt, a German prison camp from which he was released on Dec. 9. 1918, a short time after the Armistice.
He was mustered out of the service on May 15. 1919.
Corporal Justin Steigerwald was a member of Company F, 307th Supply Train. He went to Camp Upton on October 8. 1917 and sailed for France on June 28, 1918.
He saw service in the Toule sector, July 17 to August 18, and was in action in the Marbache Sector and in the St. Mihiel offensive 1 August 18 to September 25th, and his discharge papers give him credit for having served In the Meuse-Argonne offensive September 26 to October 31, 1918.
He arrived in this country on May 6, 1919, and shortly thereafter was mustered out of the service.
Read full-screen news account – click the pages below.
Photo courtesy of “Aislin”, findagrave ID 46535342
9. John Lawrence “Jack” Whalen, the Middle Son
May 29, 1910. John Lawrence Whalen is serving on am entertainment and dance committee. His brother William is also on the committee.
John Whalen served in the United States Army during World War I. As a result of his injuries, John spent the years after the war in ill health until his death in 1926.
Our initial focus of this “Endless Waves” story pertained to an August 17, 2021 posting; “A Sayville Alumni Veteran Remembrance quiz”. It was;
It is very important to remember the amazing sacrifices of our Alumni veterans. I am hoping today’s posting will prompt some discussion, even if you don’t know the answer. Very few people even know about this young hero.
What Sayville High Graduate:
1. Spent nearly all of his life in Sayville
2. Served in the US Army infantry
3. Suffered four major wounds during a major battle in WWI in France
4. Spent six months partially recovering in France before being sent home
5. Spent much of the remainder of his life suffering from his war wounds.
6. Died in a veterans hospital from war wound complications, about 7 years after the war.
7. Had a brother who also fought in WWI and was taken prisoner while helping to evacuate an injured fellow soldier.
8. Was survived by two sisters.
—————————————
The answer is;
John Lawrence “Jack” Whalen
Born 29 Oct 1886, Bayport, Suffolk County, New York.
Died 30 Mar 1926 (aged 39), Castle Point, Dutchess County, New York, USA
Burial; Saint Lawrence Martyr Roman Catholic Cemetery, Sayville, Suffolk County, New York.
John Lawrence Whalen’s WWI Registration Card.
Age: 30
Occupation: Mason
Employer: Shaunesy & Son, Islip, NY
Description: Tall, Slender, Black hair, Brown eyes.
Signature of John Lawrence Whalen
John Lawrence Whalen trained at Fort Dix, located south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Fort Dix was established in 1917. Source; “Fort Dix Census Designated Place”. Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
Photo courtesy of “Aislin”, findagrave ID 46535342
10. Special Commentary on the Battle of St. Mihiel
Brigadier General (retired) Richard K. Sele
SHS Class of 1979.
Brigadier General (retired) Richard K. Sele, Sayville High class of 1979
Placing this event into historical context, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought September 12 to 16th, 1918. Our American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops fought under the command of General John J. Pershing.
Our own Brigadier General (retired) Richard K. Sele, Sayville High class of 1979 has kindly offered some commentary on this battle….
The Battle of St Mihiel, 12-16 Sep 1918, is notable on a few levels. In one sense, WWI and particularly this battle were a catalyst in shaping our Army as we know it today. The offensive took place on a key salient (a salient is a bulge in battlefield geometry) that allied forces had wanted to engage since Germany created it in 1914. It also introduced several key figures that would later have leadership roles in WWII and the post-war period.
When WWI broke out in 1914, the US military was little more than a constabulary force for its possessions in the Caribbean and Pacific. The largest standing ground formation at the time was only a brigade size element. The US kept a distance from the initial years of the war and limited its actions to guarding its shores. Congress authorized the Army to expand in 1916. Even so, when the President finally declared war on Germany a year later the force structure was still only at 133,000 soldiers. The President ordered ~400,000 National Guardsmen to federal service and another 24 million registered for the selective service. The Army grew to 4 million by end of 1918. The force structure evolved at this time to divisions, corps, and field armies. The Air Service, Tank Corps, and Chemical Warfare Service established a combined arms construct.
Starting in June 1917, the US deployed an Army division to the European theater that eventually expanded to become a 2-million-man American Expeditionary Force. Despite this large number the Americans were fighting in a force no larger than a corps and always under foreign command and control. This changed with the Battle of St Mihiel. General John Pershing established First Army and its mission in Sep 1918 was to launch an offensive on the St Mihiel salient. This would be the first time that the US went on the offensive as an independent force under the command of an American officer (note that there were also French formations under US command and control in this operation).
An offensive on St Mihiel salient nested well with the overall allied objective at the time, which was to reduce a number of salients along the western front. Pershing also believed that by attacking there, he could push through to the city of Metz and disrupt German railway operations and coal mines feeding their war production. The Germans occupied the high ground in the salient and were heavily dug in with a trench network, machine gun nests, and razor wire. As the larger allied plans evolved Pershing was forced to reduce the objectives of the St Mihiel operation by not driving on to Metz.
Instead, he would limit the battle, reconstitute First Army, and participate in a larger offensive under French control 2 weeks later. The key in this agreement was that Pershing would continue to lead the St Mihiel offensive. Of note, the key planner in Pershing’s staff was Lieutenant Colonel George C. Marshall. Marshall would later become General Marshall, author of the Marshall Plan, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of State.
The inclusion of an enormous amount of artillery support and the assignment of a tank brigade under Lieutenant Colonel George S. Patton, Jr. to First Army added significant firepower to the order of battle. St Mihiel also became the largest concentration of air power in a single operation with the addition of American, French, Italian, and British air assets. It was the first time in history for coordinated air-ground combat. Brigadier General Billy Mitchell commanded the air component for St Mihiel. Mitchell is considered the “father of the United States Air Force.”
At 0100 on 12 Sep, First Army opened fire with a massive simultaneous barrage with 3000 artillery pieces. As the operation proceeded American infantry units advanced. The Germans had previously begun to withdraw some of their forces prior to the offensive but miscommunication resulted in at least one German element remaining in place without artillery support. Another notable figure in the advance was the commander of the 1st Battalion/165th Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel William “Wild Bill” Donovan. Donovan would later become Major General Donovan, head of the Office of Strategic Services, father of the CIA, and Medal of Honor recipient. Another key leader in the offensive was Brigadier General Douglas MacArthur, commander of 84th Infantry Brigade.
Of course MacArthur would go on to become a General, recipient of the Medal of Honor, and key leader in WWII and Korea.
The American offensive liberated scores of French civilians from German occupation. The allies suffered 7000 casualties, 4500 killed and 2500 wounded. The Germans suffered 2300 killed or wounded and 16000 POWs. The strategic impact of the battle was significant. The Germans previously viewed the Americans as an amateur force. This battle proved otherwise and forced the Germans to factor the threat into future engagements.
The Americans learned valuable tactical lessons on air and ground combat. Finally, the battle demonstrated that the Americans were a credible force and earned them a seat at the table when it came time to negotiate Germany’s surrender. Commentary courtesy of Richard K. Sele
11. Mary Frances "Mamie" (Whelan) Lennon: The Eldest Daughter
Mary Frances “Mamie (Whalen) Lennon was born July 3, 1885 in Bayport, New York. Her father, Patrick, was 30, and her mother, Nora, was 30.
She married Joseph Bernard Lennon on May 3, 1914, in East Islip, New York.
Shortly thereafter the marriage, Joseph had a health crisis, from which he successfully recovered.
They had three daughters during their marriage.
The daughters of Mamie and Joseph were;
Anne Alice Lennon was born on April 20, 1915, in Islip, New York. Her father, Joseph, was 49, and her mother, Mamie, was 29.
Marion Frances Lennon was born on June 7, 1918, in Islip, New York. Her father, Joseph, was 52, and her mother, Mary, was 32.
Regina Rose Lennon was born on August 13, 1921, in Islip, New York. Her father, Joseph, was 55, and her mother, Mary, was 36.
The news clippings (right) announce the birth of daughters; Anne Alice and Regina Rose.
There was a terrible scare on Thursday, October 17, 1918, Mary “Mamie” Whalen was driving a Hudson in 1918 and had a very bad accident, hitting a telegraph pole in Amityville.
Mamie was very badly “shaken up and bruised”.
By some miracle, two of Mamie’s little girls, Marion and Anne were reportedly unhurt.
Photo right is a 1918 Hudson, representative of the vehicle Mamie was driving.
Mamie passed away at the young age of forty-three in 1929, another Whalen tragedy. Her death was followed by her husband Joseph’s death just seven months later.
March 1, 1929.
Mrs. Mary F. Lennon, aged 43 years, died at her home in Islip last Friday after an illness of only a few days. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Lennon, and three daughters, Anna, Marion, and Regina, and by a sister, Miss Nora Whalen, of Rockville Centre.
Mrs. Lennon was born in Bayport, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Whalen, but lived for the greater part of her girlhood in Sayville. She was a member of St. Mary’s R. C. Church in East Islip, and of Coar? Victory, Catholic Daughters of America, of Bay Shore. Funeral services were held on Monday morning from St. Mary’s Church, and interment was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Bay Shore.
Suffolk County News
8 Mar 1929
Photo courtesy of “SLJ” FIND A GRAVE ID 48244337
Mary’s husband Joseph Bernard Lennon was not one to be taken advantage of, as indicated in this 1923 damages suit, a case he won.
Joseph Bernard Lennon died a few months after her passing. He provided for their three young daughters in his will.
12. Nora H. Whalen: The Youngest Daughter
The only one to survive the tragedies of her family’s early deaths, Nora Whalen outlived her entire family by fifty-one years.
We learned from the Suffolk County News, that Nora was a traveler with trips to New York City, the Poconos, Catskill Mountains, and Ocean City, NJ.
Nora was a leader in “Court St. Rita, Catholic Daughters of America”, serving as Grand Regent. She was patriotic and purchased War Bonds.
Nora cared deeply for her brothers and during WWI, frequently informed the Suffolk County news of their situations overseas.
Nora has a love for music and played the piano.
From one news article (right), we know that Nora suffered from neuritis (inflammation of the peripheral nervous system).
Educated in Sayville Schools with post-high school advanced training was not content to stay home. She worked in the telephone business where she received promotions. As her father aged, we see evidence of her handling business affairs for the family, including renting a large garden lot.
“Aislin”, findagrave ID 46535342 is a local lady who has over 20 years of volunteer work for findagrave.com. Aislin researched Nora and much of the text below is based upon what she found. References to the Suffolk County News were added.
Daughter of Patrick Whalen and Nora Mary Maloney.
In 1900, Nora H. Whelan, aged 8, was living on South Main Street, Islip, New York, with her parents, Patrick Whelan, aged 45, and Nora M. Whelan, aged 45, with siblings, John Whelan, aged 13, Edward Whelan, aged 16, Mary F. Whelan, aged 4, and Willie Whelan, aged 9. Her father was shown to be a gardener.
In 1910, Nora Whalen, aged 18, was living on Main Street, Sayville, Islip Township, New York, with her parents, Patrick Whalen, aged 60, and Nora Whalen, aged 55, and siblings, John Whalen, aged 22, and William Whalen, aged 20. Her father was shown to be a florist/gardener.
In 1915, Norah Whalan, aged 22, was living on South Country Road in Sayville, Islip Township, New York, with her parents, Patrick Whalan, aged 60, and Norah Whalan, aged 54, with siblings, John L. Whalan, aged 26, a mason, and William Whalan, aged 24, a grocery clerk. Her father was shown to be a florist.
The Suffolk County News lists local residents, including Nora Whalen, who have purchased War Bonds. We found four examples, two of which were on May 03, 1918, Page 7 and October 18, 1918, Page 8.
In 1920, Nora Whelan, aged 27, single, a chief operator for the telephone company, was living on Greene Avenue, Islip, Suffolk, New York, a boarder in the boarding home of the widow, Cornelia Bogert, aged 68, with other boarders, Kate Heidtman, aged 30, a saleswoman for a drug store, Frances M. Hodnett, aged 25, chief operator for the telephone company, Bessie L. Homan, aged 26, a teacher in a public school, Alexander Murdock, aged 51, a janitor at a public school, William Whelan, aged 30, the manage of a grocery store, and John L. Guernsey, aged 57, the principal of a public school.
In April of 1923, Court St. Rita, Catholic Daughters of America, had been installed in Sayville with 84 charter members. The Grand Regent was Miss Nora Whalen.
March 1, 1929, per her sister Mary’s obituary, Nora is now living in Rockville Center.
On January 12, 1934, Page 12, The Suffolk County news reports Miss Nora Whalen is again Grand Regent of the “Court St. Rita, Catholic Daughters of America”.
In 1940, Nora Whalen, aged 48, single, was living at 55 Grand Avenue, Hempstead, Nassau, New York. She was shown to be a clerk and she lived alone.
Nora died on December 17, 1980, at age 88. There is no evidence she ever married or had children. With her parents, all three brothers, and one sister tragically deceased at early ages, what was her life like… another Whalen tragedy? Perhaps Nora’s faith carried her through.
(Nora H Whelan in the New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942, Certificate Number: 12164; 1900, 1910, 1920, 1940 US Federal Census; 1915 New York State Census; United States Social Security Death Index; Catholic Cemeteries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre Inc. Burial Database)
13. The Whalen Family Continues!
Initially, it appeared there were no descendants of Patrick and Nora Whalen. Then we learned a surprising twist; tracing of kinship through the female line presented with multiple descendants!
After the deaths of both their parents in 1929, the three young daughters of Mary and Joseph Lennon (Anna, Marion, and Regina) went to live with their cousin Leroy Lennon.
Two of the Lennon Sisters, Marion, and Anne, married and bore children.
Marion Lennon Haines (1918-2009) had a son and daughter.
Anne Lennon Lawrence (1915-2005) had four sons and a daughter.
Regina Lennon Quirk (1921-2003)
Unlike their ancestors, all three women lived long lives with Anna passing at age 90, Marion at age 90, and Regina at age 82.
Our melancholy story closes for now on a happy note, as the family saga continues into its fifth generation.
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