Born in Ireland, Augustin was left behind when his parents first came to North America, because they were concerned he was too young for the voyage. He joined his parents in 1859, when his aunt, Elleanor Doherty, brought him across the ocean. We don't know what happened to Elleanor. No further trace of her has been found.
It's not clear when Augustin decided to leave Mara Township, or why, but he made his way to Cincinnati, and on 12 Jul 1868 at All Saints Catholic Church, married Margaret Gleason, who was also born in Ireland. They were both about 23 years old when they married. Subsequent censuses all report Augustin's occupation in Cincinnati as laborer. Was he called Gus for short? His namesake son was.
Was he drawn to Cincinnati because he knew he had family there? Specifically, his 1st Dougherty cousins once removed? Or did they meet by chance once he was living in Cincinnati? Those cousins were my three 2nd great uncles and two 2nd great aunts who made their way to Cincinnati starting in the 1840s from Quebec's Eastern Townships: James, Thomas, Catharine, Mary Louisa and Joseph M., who I write about here and elsewhere in this blog in several posts. They used the Dougherty spelling.
Augustin and Margaret had at least 11 children:
- Sarah (or Sally or Sadie) abt 1868-1959
- James 1871
- Thomas 1873-1901
- James J. 1874-1901
- Joseph Patrick 1878-1953
- Edward 1879-1887
- John 1880-1881
- Mary 1884-1919
- Michael 1885-1917
- Charles 1888-1964
- Catharine 1890-1891
- Augustin F. 1892-1966
Three died in infancy. One died aged 8, and two died in their 20s. Of those who survived, three married and had families. Charles and Augustin adopted the spelling McCorkle. All lived all their lives in the Cincinnati area.
Did Augustin ever return to Mara Township after making his way to Cincinnati? He had family members there. Did he stay in touch with his siblings, some of whom settled in the United States?
And did he know his Dougherty first cousins in Cincinnati?
The never ending story continues....
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