Maurice Donovan Family

MAURICE DONOVAN is the son of Richard Donovan and Honora O’Brien Flanigan Donovan. When he was born on July 12, 1849, in Garryowen, Iowa, his father, Richard, was 34, and his mother, Honora, was 40.

Maurice married Mary Ellen Shanahan (1860-1943) on June 6, 1882.

Census image, lines 11-20, show Richard and Honora Donovan's family

1860 Census image, lines 11-20,
Note Richard and Honora’s family with “Morris” age 11.

They had nine children in sixteen years:

Maurice died on February 7, 1922, in Butler, Iowa, at the age of 72. Mary Ellen died on May 21, 1943, in Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 83. They are buried in the cemetery at St. Patrick Church, Garryowen, Iowa.


From The Cascade Pioneer, February 9, 1922, page 1, column 6 (transcribed by Joseph Cahill):

Death of Maurice Donovan

Death came to Maurice Donovan, lifelong resident of Butler township, Jackson county, Tuesday, February 7th at 2 o’clock a.m. after a brief illness.

Maurice Donovan, who was a son of the late Richard Donovan, was born on the old homestead in Butler township, July 4, 1849, and passed his entire lifetime in the vicinity of his birthplace. He was married to Mary Ellen Shannahan {sic], who survives him with the following children: Mrs. John Barrett, of Dubuque; Mrs. Louis Finn, of Temple Hill, Jones county; Richard, John, Maurice, Martin, and Cornelius, at home. Two daughters preceded him in death.

Mr. Donovan was a man of most excellent character, a true type of Christian citizen and devout member of the Catholic church, and his death is sincerely mourned by his family and many friends.

The funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Church, Garryowen, at 10 o’clock this (Thursday) morning, Rev. P. J. Coffey officiating.

* Additional information:
Mrs. John Barrett = Rose Donovan Barrett
Mrs. Louis Finn = Josephine Donovan Finn

Photo of Maurice Donovan, Sr. (1849-1922)

Maurice Donovan, Sr. (1849-1922)


Photo of Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan with daughter and daughters-in-law. From left: Frances Weaver Donovan (Martin's wife), Loretta Carew Donovan (John's wife), Josephine Donovan Finn, Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan, Blanche Johnson Donovan (Richard's wife), and Rachel Shannon Donovan (Maurice's wife).

1924 – Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan with daughter and daughters-in-law
From left: Frances Weaver Donovan (Martin’s wife), Loretta Carew Donovan (John’s wife), Josephine Donovan Finn, Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan, Blanche Johnson Donovan (Richard’s wife), and Rachel Shannon Donovan (Maurice’s wife)


Gravesite of Maurice and Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan, St. Patrick Cemetery, Garryowen, Iowa

Gravesite of Maurice and Mary Ellen Shanahan Donovan, St. Patrick Cemetery, Garryowen, Iowa

2 thoughts on “Maurice Donovan Family

  1. Thanks Francis. We are just getting started with this website. I hope to add a number of family photos and memories as we find them. We began the website out of necessity as a Facebook group for the family became too unruly.

    As far as I know the photo of your grandpa is one of a kind. A cousin, Mark Holoweiko (grandson of Martin, gr-great grandson of Maurice) provided it.

    Is your sister Lois? She has been active on the Facebook page and her son posted a wonderful story there today that he transcribed from his Grandma Blanche.

    I will be adding some of these stories as they come in, along with photos, family tree reports, etc.

    ~Angie

  2. Maurice Donovan Sr. was my grandfather who I never knew or even had seen a photo of. My thanks to whomever is responsible for posting it.

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