Perusing the News: Col. Timothy J. Moynahan (1870-1935)

My family knows that I LOVE perusing through newspapers. OLD newspapers. The older the better!

Source: The Lehi Sun, Lehi, Utah June 9, 1921

Recently I have been perusing three (new to me) online treasures:

• Brooklyn Newstand: http://bklyn.newspapers.com/search/
• Historic American Newspapers: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
• Small Town Papers : http://www.smalltownpapers.com/index.php

Source: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1919

I came across Col. Timothy J. Moynahan ( 1870 Ireland -1935 Brooklyn NY) who was a World War 1 war hero and a prominent figure in Irish-American affairs. I learned that he:

• was one of the best known officers of the National Guard (*)
• was sent to France as part of a special detachment in the fall of 1917 (*)
• was wounded in the spring of 1918 (*)
• was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the fall of 1918 on the field of battle (*)
• received the Croix de Guerre four times from the French army (twice with the stars and twice with the palm) (*)
• received the Distinguished Service Cross from the American army (*)
• received the Legion of Honor from the French nation (*)
• won six medals and decorations for "extraordinary heroism under fire"
• served as a Major with the 69th Regt. at the border (*)

Though research at Family Search, I learned that his father was Michael Moynahan and his mother was Catherine Coughlin. (on the 1910 U.S. census, Timothy was living with his mother)

His brother Patrick A Moynahan was an Irish leader in Brooklyn as well (**)

Source: The Lehi Sun, Lehi, Utah June 9, 1921

I could not locate any informatiion about marriages and I believe Timothy was a bachelor. I love telling the stories of unmarried folks from the past because I belive their stories get lost over time with no descendants to search for them.

Source: FindAGrave
Holy Cross Cemetery Brooklyn, NY

As far as I know, there is no relation. He and his brother arrived in America from Cork, County Kerry, Ireland in the late 1800s (My ancestors arived in the 1820s through Pennsylvania)

I am posting these "Moynahan" stories here for the benefit of other "Moynahan" family historians that might be related. Also,given the history of the infamous 69th, I would like Col. Moynahan's name to be found.

Sources and Links

• (*) Craig Appoints Col. T. J. Moynahan (1920)
• Col T.J. Moynahan Urged For Sheriff (Aug 1923)
• (***) Military Honors Marks Rites For Col. Moynahan (March 1935)
• (**)Patrick Moynahan, Irish Leader, 73 (1938)
• (****)The Lehi Sun, Lehi, Utah June 9, 1921
• The 69th Infantry Regiment of NY
• Death Record; Family Search; "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WR3-DQJ : accessed 13 September 2015), Timothy J. Moynahan, 07 Mar 1935; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,079,486.
• 1910 Census; Family Search "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5W3-B15 : accessed 13 September 2015), Timothy Moynahan in household of Catherine Moynahan, Brooklyn Ward 20, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 82, sheet 3B, family 75, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,983. 

Google Book: The Shamrock Battalion in the Great War