MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
AGNES BRIDGET BEWS - 1865-1941
Agnes Bridget Clancy was born June 16, 1865
When Agnes and Jim were first married they lived
In 1912 they purchased the Sullivan Creek Ranch.
They had three children. Jim died in Rochester, Minn.
Both are buried in the Highwood Cemetery, High River.
in Templetenny, County, Tipperary, Ireland. Before
completing her dressmaking course she married
James O'Donaghue and they immigrated to Kansas
City, Missouri. Here her son John was born and
a year later her husband died; a victim of typhoid
fever. Agnes and her son came west from Kansas
City in 1901 with a friend and bride, Mrs. James
Rooney. She remained in the Rooney home and
was eligible to file on a homestead because she
had a son. Again she was faced with a test of
courage; the loss of her handsome, curly-haired
little boy.
in the Frank Watt house while theirs was under
construction on Agnes' homestead. Here they
carried on farming and ranching successfully and
strove for the betterment of their home, family
and community. Agnes' kind nature and cheerfulness
coupled with Jim's musical ability and exciting tales
of pioneering, were contributing factors in making
their home a haven of hospitality for neighbors
and passersby. Many dances, meeting and church
services were held in the home. This meant extra
work for Agnes but she enjoyed doing it and
always seemed prepared. They were promoters
of the many community projects such as the building
of the Big Hill School in 1906. He was one of the
early Trustees. In July 1910 when a picnic was in
full swing, the Mounties arrived looking for recruits
to fight a forest fire west of Longview. Jim, as did
many others, volunteered to go. He was a great
asset for he was familiar with the area. Agnes,
along with many other women in the District, baked
hundreds of loaves of bread, large roasts and other
foods for the hungry fire fighters.
The Ranch was their pride and joy. Here Jim spent
most of the summer caring for his stock and fishing;
his favorite sport. The ranch was a stopping place for
travellers up the Highwood River and he extended the
privilege of his property to campers. Jim was most
charitable; liked people, and the genuine social
atmosphere of pioneer days. Agnes devoted her life to
her home, family, church and community.
on Nov. 23, 1936, where he had undergone an operation.
Agnes died June 29,1941 at home.
Return Individual Histories