Annie O'Meara

We don't know much about Annie as our branch of the family lost touch with everyone after Martin Francis O'Meara died in 1906. She looks very stylish in this photograph and look at that tiny waist. Apparently Annie is the one I can thank for my tiny waist (before kids) and big hips.

Modern Day

When my eldest son, Jonathan, was in the first grade he took part in a Flat Stanley project. We sent Stanley off to visit our cousins Lisa, Alexander and Tristan and they sent us a wonderful letter all about the adventure they took Stanley on.

1906 - The Black Hole

After Martin Francis O'Meara died in 1906 all contact was lost with his family. While Martin could read and write his wife Rebecca Ross could not.  Apparently not many people in Mississippi and Alabama could at that time. So sadly they never knew what happened to Martin just that he stopped writing. After his death Rebecca packed up their kids and moved backed to her parents until she married Mr. Gibson so the O'Meara's no longer had her address either.

A lot can be gleaned from a census in 1911 Margaret was still alive  (age 83) but had retired from Farming. Her son James Joseph (and he used both names here so I think he was probably the one giving the information as he went by Joe) was listed as the Head of the Household and married age 44. His wife is listed as Catherine and they had 3 children James O'Meara (age 4) Martin O'Meara (age 3) and Catherine O'Meara (age 1 1/2) so we can surmise he had been married around 5 years. Also of note Annie is no longer living with them. Since the family lost contact with them after Martin's death we have no way of knowing if she married or died, the only thing we do know is that in 1911 she was no longer living in the family home with her Mother and Brother as she was in 1901.

Today when the large majority of people can read and write and those who can't can still make phone calls it's hard to imagine completely losing touch with your family. But sadly in the 1900's this occurred all to frequently. Not only did they lose touch with Martin Frances' family that stayed in Ireland they lost touch with his brothers that Immigrated to America with him. For the O'Meara's it was like a black hole opened up and swallowed Martin Francis and his wife and children up. And for Rebecca Ross with no way to contact them and no way to read letters that were sent to her it was like they ceased to exist.