Miles McGonigle

The 1881 Leadville Register showed three McGonnigle men living at 121 East 6th Street:  Frank, John and Miles. All three were laborers, probably  teamsters, hauling
goods for miners in the area.  Frank McGonigle is the Smith siblings’ great grandfather.  Our own grandmother, Adelaide (Bridget) McGonigle, was born in Leadville
probably in the same location.  John McGonigle seems to have lived with Frank and family until at least 1886.  By 1887 no McGonigles were listed in the Leadville
register.  Miles’ name appears in both the 1881 and 1882 Leadville register, but by 1883 his name no longer appears.  

One of Miles McGonigle‘s descendants wrote this about her ancestor:  “My great-grandfather, Miles McGonigle, came from County Donegal. He grew up near a
little town named Towney.  He stowed away on a ship to get here...when he was 13 yrs old. he was an orphan. He went to Colorado first...ended up in Kansas City,
Kansas.”  Miles married Ellen Erskine.

McGonigle Tombstones in Mount Calvary, Kansas City

Kilcar Parish, Donegal, Ireland

Displayed below is the lower portion of Kilcar Civil Parish, County Donegal. Miles McGonigle indicated he lived in Towney (or Tawny) townland (48).   In 1857 a Stephen McGonigle lived in Derrylahan townland (40) and a James McGonigle lived in Roxborough Glebe (18).  In 1834 the Tithe Applotment Record shows a Francis McGonigle lived in Largy More townland (30) and Mary McGonigle lived in Roxborough Glebe (18).