Michael Toomay and the clan-Irish people who came to Northwest Missouri
"Death Claims Michael Toomay"
The life of a pioneer whose name is inseparably linked with the development of Ray,Caldwell,and Carroll counties,ended at 4 a.m. Friday May 1,1914,when Michael Toomay succumbed to a complication of diseases and infirmity of age. He was in his 83rd year,and so rugged had been his constitution that even at that advanced age he made a brave fight against the grim reaper and was able to be about that house until two days before his death occurred.
Although he recognized that his long life was near a close,he was cheerful and uncomplaining and remarked to relatives that not many men were permitted to live so long.
Mr. Toomay came to America from Ireland without funds and by hard work and wise business judgment had amassed a great fortune,being at the time of his death Ray County's wealthiest citizen. Though a rich man,it can be truthfully said of him that every dollar was gotten honestly.
Coming to this locality with his three brothers,Tim,David and Edward, in 1856 he saw the raw prairie become a region of thickly peopled farms,and the value of land go from 12 1/2 cents an acre to 100 times that amount.
Funeral services were held at Black Oak Saturday at 11 a.m. and attended by hundreds of people. All the banks in Braymer were closed during the forenoon and the bankers and many other friends from the city were present at the services.
Michael Toomay's father's tombstone
1880 Grape Grove Census
Household 222
Toomay, Michael W M 45 Farmer Born in Ireland
Martha J. W F 41 wf Keeping House Mo Born in Ireland
Mary A. W F 21 dau Mo Ireland
Margaret E. W F 16 dau Mo Ireland
Fanny W F 15 dau Mo Ireland
Michael W M 13 son Mo Ireland
Jane W F 11 dau Mo Ireland
Henry J. W M 10 son Mo Ireland
Dora W F 8 dau Mo Ireland
James W M 6 son Mo Ireland
Eliza J. W F 4 dau Mo Ireland
Front Page News from The Chillicothe Constitution
Friday, June 5, 1914
Gave Away $200,000 at Dinner
Michael Toomay, who died recently near Braymer, Mo, at the age of 83
years,
was one of the many remarkable characters of North Missouri. He was a
farmer
and had lived 58 years upon the same land. A stowaway boy in an
emigrant
ship sailing from County Cork, Ireland, he became very wealthy for a
man who
devoted his efforts absolutely to farm activities. A few months before
he
died, he invited his eight children to a family dinner at his country
home
in Ray county. After the frugal meal he gave away property worth a
quarter
of a million dollars, this being not by any means all of his wealth.
Four of
his children are old maids who have devoted their lives to the farming
interests of their father.
From The Hall of Names
The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname
Twomey
The Irish are famous for their
poets,scholars,playwrights,authors,artists and
statesmen,and evidence of the age of Irish culture is
exemplified by the oldest standing building in the
world,and the many pieces of fine jewelery predating
biblical times.
Researchers have compiled this history of the name
Twomey using books by O'Hart,McLysaght and O'Brien and
Woulfe,baptismals,parish records,and ancient land
grants,and historians have concluded that the family
name Twomey was first found in county Cork where they
had een seated from very ancient times. This ancient
family name was descended from Twaim Snama,an eighth
century King of Osraigi,and were presumably of
Dalcassian origin. They were descended through
Mathghamhain,the brother of Brian Boro. Although this
tribe of Toomey were seated in Cork in the 14th
century,they are believed to be descended from the Dal
Cais to the north.
You name,Twomey,occurred in many references,and from
