Mary Frances Mellon was born October 2, 1863, in New York, New York. Her father’s name was James Mellon and her mother’s maiden name was Burke. Both her parents were from Ireland.
Mary appears to have had three siblings: a brother named Patrick, a sister named Katherine and perhaps a step-brother or half-brother named George Cummings.
When Mary was 23 years old, she gave birth to a daughter, Phyllis, on October 22, 1886, in Cleveland, OH. Andrew Richter, from Germany, is listed as the father on Phyllis’ death certificate.
Mary had another daughter named Katherine, there is some debate on whether Katherine was born in 1884, 1887 or 1888 in Pittsburgh, PA.
On November 15, 1894, Mary married Thomas Richardson in Cuyahoga County, OH. She was 31 years old.
In June 1900, she lived in a rented home located at 2020 Booth in Cleveland OH, with her husband, Thomas, and her daughters Katherine and Phyllis (listed on the census as Philomena). At the time of the 1900 census, Mary was 36 years old. The census mentions Mary bore three children but only 2 were living. She is listed as unable to read and write but she could speak English. There is no occupation listed for Mary (her husband, Thomas, was a bricklayer).
In April 1910, she lived in a rented home located at 8005 Tangney Avenue in Cleveland OH, with Thomas, her husband, Phyllis, her daughter (listed on the census as Philomela), and her grandson, Thomas O’Neil (her daughter Katherine’s son). Mary was 46 years old in April of 1910. The census indicated she could read and write. It also states Mary gave birth to three children but only two lived. Her occupation is listed as none.
In February 1916, her husband of over 20 years, Thomas Richardson, passed away at their residence located at 7911 Finney Avenue in Cleveland OH. Mary became a widow at age 52.
The following year her daughter Phyllis married William Reese in Cleveland, OH, on July 19, 1917. On March 16, 1918, Phyllis and William gave Mary a granddaughter named Phyllis Reese.
In December 1920, Mary’s daughter, Phyllis, passed away from complications during childbirth. The child also passed away. Mary was 57 when her 34 year old daughter and grandson, Baby Reese, passed away.
In April 1930, Mary lived with her daughter Katherine and her daughter’s husband, Peter Belz, in their rented home located at 1701 Denison in Cleveland, OH. Mary was 67 years old. This census asked “age at first marriage” the answer is listed as 21. It is believed Mary’s first marriage age refers to her marriage with Andrew Richter. This census also states that she never attended school but she was able to read and write.
At some point after April 3, 1930 and April 3, 1940, Mary moved into a home located at 3860 W. 23rd Street in Cleveland, as a lodger. This move most likely took place because her daughter Katherine and her daughter’s husband moved to Parma, OH.
The 1940 census listed Mary residing at the same W. 23rd street home in Cleveland as a lodger. She was 76 years old. The home was also occupied by another lodger, named Susanna Kinkel. Susanne was a 42 year old, Yugoslavian divorcee. Mary was employed for pay as a housekeeper for a private family. The census states she work 60 hours the week prior to the date of the document and had clocked 52 work weeks in 1939. Her income was listed as 520. This census says Mary did not attend school, but then in contrast to itself it states the highest grade she completed was 8.
Mary passed away on May 17, 1948, in Cleveland OH. She was 84 years old when she passed away from Pneumonia. Her obituary on the Find a Grave website states: sister of Corp. Patrick Mellon (deceased), Mrs. Katherine Runions of Sunland, Cal., and the late George Cummings of Elmhurst, Long Island; grandmother of Mrs. Phyllis Duetemeyer and Thomas O’Neill, sr.; great-grandmother of Thomas O’Neill, jr., Robert O’Neill and Paul Duetemeyer; Monday, May 17, late residence, 3860 W. 23d St.; age 84 years. Friends may call at the C.L. Kaufmann & Sons Funeral Home, 3305 W. 25th St., where services will be held on Thursday, May 20, at 2 p.m. Interment Harvard Grove Cemetery.
Uncovered details on Mary’s siblings;
– Brother named Corp. Patrick Mellon who deceased prior to 1948
– Sister named Katherine Mellon, whom is believed to have been born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 1, 1873. Died from Asthma at age 77 on December 13, 1950 in Los Angeles. Went by the name of Kittie as well as Kate. Married George Elder(Orneldo) Runions on October 25, 1893
– Somehow related to the late George Cummings of Elmhurst, Long Island (possibly a step or half brother)
Questions:
1. Did Mary have a relationship with my grandmother, Phyllis Reese Duetemeyer? My uncle paul would have alive for five years prior to her death. He does not remember meeting her or hearing his mother speak of Mary.
2. Did Mary visit Phyllis when she was a child until the time Phyllis moved to Detroit?
3. Why didn’t Mary live with Katherine when she was older (1940)