Person Page - 1

     Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie , son of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney, was born at home on 11 February 1911 in Maitland, Huerfano Co., CO, a small mining town northwest of Walsenburg. No birth certificate was issued.¹ Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie was baptized on 6 March 1911 at St. Mary's Church, Walsenburg, Huerfano Co., CO. Sponsors: Thomas Haughney and Mary Tennant. He appeared on the census of 1 January 1920 in the household of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney at Berwind Coal Camp, Las Animas Co., CO; This was the census record shortly before the family became U.S. citizens. Note the name is MacBirnie. Tom McBirnie, Sr., recalled that his father taught him to spell the family name with an underscore under the c which means it was an abbreviated way to write MacBirnie.

1920 U.S. Census Las Animas Co., Colorado, T 31 R 65 Precinct 24 (Berwind Coal Camp crossed out from incorporated place) Supervisor's Dist. No. 3 Enumeration Dist. No. 126 sheet 12 A (177 stamped) (image 12 of 14 in Berwind)

     house number 261
     dwelling visited 223
     family visited 244
          MacBirnie, Alexander head renting male white age 48 married immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue English parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English fireboss in a coal mine wage worker;
          MacBirnie, Mary wife female white age 34 married immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Ireland mother tongue Irish mother born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Mary daughter female white age 13 single immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, William son male white age 11 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 able to read and write born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Thomas son male white age 8 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Alexander son male white age 6 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Agnes daughter female white age 3 years ? months single born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Catherine daughter female white age 1 year 7 months single born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          Haughney, Mary mother-in-law female white age 58 widowed immigrated 1907 ? able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch mother born in Ireland mother tongue Irish able to speak English no occupation;
          Haughney, Thomas brother-in-law male white age 33 single immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Ireland mother tongue Irish mother born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English miner in a coal mine wage worker;
          boarders:
               David Roberts
               David Stewart
               James Kelley
               Aim? Richards.²

At the naturalization of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney on 17 March 1921 at Trinidad, Las Animas Co., CO, Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie was listed as a child; A Certificate of Naturalization was issued which also listed the children as citizens (#1510586, Vol. 3, Number 576, Court of Las Animas County, Trinidad, CO). Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie was described as 40 years old, 5 ft. 8 inches tall, white with medium complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. In fact, he would have been 44 years old. The family was residing in Berwind, Colorado.³

Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie appeared on the census of 1 April 1930 in the household of Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney at Precinct 48, Trinidad, Las Animas Co., CO.⁴

Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie was noted in the 1930 U.S. Census working as a baggage man for the railroad. This was the Colorado and Southern Railway which was a narrow gage 3 ft (914 mm) railway.⁴

By the mid 1930's, Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie got a job selling butter on commission from a Trinidad Creamery truck.

Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie was owner of a "Store Door Delivery Service" called 1740 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ.

In 1954, Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie went into partnership with Joe and John Haddy, first in the Haddy Egg Co. then in 6414 S. 26th St., Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ.

Thomas Joseph 'Tom' McBirnie died on 13 April 1969 at Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ, at age 58.^5,1 He was buried on 16 April 1969 at 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ. (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.) (an unknown value.)

     Mary Magdalene McBirnie was born at home 11h 30m AM on 18 August 1906 at 48 Kirk Street, Motherwell, Dalziel Parish, Lanark, Scotland.¹ She accompanied Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney on 14 January 1907 as they immigrated to Ellis Island, New York, NY; from Liverpool, England on the RMS Carmania accompanied by their four and a half month old daughter, Mary. They were joined on the trip by their mother-in-law, Mary (Tennant) Haughney and her husband, Tom and their children, Tom, Jr., Jane, Ann and Elizabeth.

I found the family on a Passenger List of the S.S. Carmania which left Liverpool on 5 Jan 1907 and arrived at Ellis Island and the Port of New York on 13 Jan 1907.

     Name in Full: McBirnie, Alex
          Age: 28
          Sex: M
          Married or Single: M
          Calling or Occupation: Brakesman
          Able to Read: (checked)
          Able to Write: (checked)
          Nationality (Country of which citizen or subject: England
          Race or People: Scotch
          Last Permanent Residence (Country - City or Town): Scotland Motherwell
          Final Destination: Beaver Falls, Pa.
          Whether having a ticket to such final destination: check
          By Whom Passage Paid: (blank)
          Whether in possession or $50 and, if less, how much: $71 (for the family of three)
          Whether going to join a relative or friend, and if so, what relative or friend, his name and complete address: Hugh Tennant, Cinderhurst Col.
          Ever in prison, almshouse, institution for care of the insane or supported by charity? If so which?: check (no written at top of column)
          Whether a Polygamist: check (no written at top of column)
          Whether an Anarchist: check (no written at top of column)
          Whether coming with offer, promise, or agreement of labor: check (no written at top of column)
          Condition of Health: check (good written at top of column)
          Deformed of Crippled: check (no written at top of column)
          Height Feet/Inches: (can't read)
          Complexion: Fresh
          Color of Hair: Brown
          Color of Eyes: Gray
          Marks of Identification: Anchor Cross & Heart on right forearm
          Place of Birth Country/City (or town): Coatbridge

According to Arnold Kludas on p. 112 of Great Passenger Ships of the World Volume I: 1858-1912 the S.S. Carmania was the Cunard Line's first turbine-steamer. She was built at Clydebank Yard 366 and launched on 21 Feb 1905. She was completed on 16 Nov 1905 and her maiden voyage was 2 Dec 1905 from Liverpool, England to New York, New York. On 14 Aug 1914 the S.S. Carmania was converted to an auxiliary cruiser for World War I and on 15 Sep 1914:

     The Carmania surprised the German auxiliary cruiser Cap Trafalgar while the latter was bunkering off the Brazilian island of Trinidad. After two hours of fighting the German ship sank, the survivors being taken aboard the Eleonore Woermann. The badly damaged Carmania, which had lost nine men in the action, turned away on fire.

The damage was repaired and in May 1916, the S.S. Carmania began service as a troop transport. On 21 Dec 1918, she returned to passenger service, sailing from Liverpool to New York. In 1923, she was refitted as an oil-firing vessel and in 1924 ran a Liverpool to Montreal service and in 1926 ran a London to New York service. Finally, in 1931, the S.S. Carmania was "laid up" at Sheerness and in March 1932 was "sold for breaking-up" to Hughes, Bolckow & Co., Blyth.

According to the "Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry," it appears that, because of his health, Tom Haughney was held for a few days on Ellis Island until a bond could be posted showing that he would not be a burden on society. It appears that Tom Haughney was released on 18 Jan 1907. The other family members appear to have been released from Ellis Island on 14 Jan 1907.

According to Loretto Dennis Szucs on p. 3 of Ellis Island Gateway to America "During the peak years of immigration, from about 1900 to 1914, as many as five thousand people a day were processed at Ellis Island." Mary (Tennant) Haughney's father, Daniel Tennant, had immigrated more than 20 years before the McBirnie family.

According to the "List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival" of the S.S. Carmania, the McBirnie and Haughney families were supposed to go first to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and then on to join Hugh Tennant, at Cinderhurst, Colorado (place not found in USGS Geographic Names database). Hugh F. Tennant was noted in Pictou/Maitland in the 1900 U.S. Census and this is where Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie was next noted. Mary Magdalene McBirnie appeared on the census of 15 April 1910 in the household of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney at Maitland, Huerfano Co., CO;

     Precinct No. 23, Maitland, Huerfano County, Colorado,
     Supervisor's District No. 3, Enumeration District No. 86,
     sheet 1 A, p. 128
     (Series: T624, Roll: 120, Book: 2, Page: 128A) (image 1 of 8)
          dwelling visited 8
          family visited 8
          McBirnie, Alex
               head
               male
               white
               age 34
               married once for 5 years
               born in Scotland
               English mother tongue
               parents born Scotland
               English mother tongue
               immigrated to the United States in 1907
               an alien
               speaks English
               miner in a coal mine
               wage worker not out of work
               able to read and write
               renting a house;
          McBirnie, Mary
               wife
               female
               white
               age 29
               married once for 5 years
               had 2 children both still living
               born in Scotland
               English mother tongue
               parents born Scotland
               English mother tongue
               immigrated to the United States in 1907
               speaks English
               no occupation
               able to read and write;
          McBirnie, Mary
               daughter
               female
               white
               age 3
               single
               born in Colorado (sic)
               parents born Scotland
               English mother tongue
               no occupation

Although Uncle Bill was born 18 Dec 1908 in Colorado, he was not listed in this census. The other odd thing is that Aunt Mary was listed as having been born in Colorado. Since Uncle Bill has not been noted elsewhere in the census, it is possible that the census taker conflated Aunt Mary's and Uncle Bill's information into one record.² Mary Magdalene McBirnie appeared on the census of 1 January 1920 in the household of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney at Berwind Coal Camp, Las Animas Co., CO; This was the census record shortly before the family became U.S. citizens. Note the name is MacBirnie. Tom McBirnie, Sr., recalled that his father taught him to spell the family name with an underscore under the c which means it was an abbreviated way to write MacBirnie.

1920 U.S. Census Las Animas Co., Colorado, T 31 R 65 Precinct 24 (Berwind Coal Camp crossed out from incorporated place) Supervisor's Dist. No. 3 Enumeration Dist. No. 126 sheet 12 A (177 stamped) (image 12 of 14 in Berwind)

     house number 261
     dwelling visited 223
     family visited 244
          MacBirnie, Alexander head renting male white age 48 married immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue English parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English fireboss in a coal mine wage worker;
          MacBirnie, Mary wife female white age 34 married immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Ireland mother tongue Irish mother born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Mary daughter female white age 13 single immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, William son male white age 11 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 able to read and write born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Thomas son male white age 8 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Alexander son male white age 6 single attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Agnes daughter female white age 3 years ? months single born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          MacBirnie, Catherine daughter female white age 1 year 7 months single born in Colorado parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch no occupation;
          Haughney, Mary mother-in-law female white age 58 widowed immigrated 1907 ? able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch mother born in Ireland mother tongue Irish able to speak English no occupation;
          Haughney, Thomas brother-in-law male white age 33 single immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch father born in Ireland mother tongue Irish mother born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English miner in a coal mine wage worker;
          boarders:
               David Roberts
               David Stewart
               James Kelley
               Aim? Richards.³

At the naturalization of Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney on 17 March 1921 at Trinidad, Las Animas Co., CO, Mary Magdalene McBirnie was listed as a child; A Certificate of Naturalization was issued which also listed the children as citizens (#1510586, Vol. 3, Number 576, Court of Las Animas County, Trinidad, CO). Alexander 'Alex' McBirnie was described as 40 years old, 5 ft. 8 inches tall, white with medium complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. In fact, he would have been 44 years old. The family was residing in Berwind, Colorado.⁴

Mary Magdalene McBirnie graduated on 12 June 1927 from Immaculate Conception Cathedral High School, Denver, Denver Co., CO. She was an elementary school teacher first at District No. 69 at Brodhead, Las Animas Co., CO and then with District No. 67 at Suffield, Las Animas Co., CO.

Mary Magdalene McBirnie appeared as Head of Household on the census of 13 April 1940 at 228 W. First Street, Trinidad, Las Animas Co., CO.⁵

On 27 November 1942, Mary Magdalene McBirnie, at age 36, married Charlie Bryan Turner at Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY.⁶ Her married name was Turner.

Between 1944 and 1949, Mary Magdalene McBirnie was employed as a teacher of First and Second Grades and three of the five years as principal by Park School, District No. 5, Pueblo, Pueblo Co., CO.

Mary Magdalene McBirnie died on 12 May 1984 at Humana Hospital, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ, at age 77. She was buried on 15 May 1984 at 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., AZ.


Aunt Mary was born at home. Dad had told us that his side of the family was half Scottish and half Irish. When Aunt Mary moved in with us she said, "I don't know what you are but I'm Scottish and I can prove it." This is her birth record:

Extract of an Entry in a Register of Births kept under the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965:

     No. 1184
     Name: Mary McBIRNIE
     When and Where Born: August Eighteenth 11h 30m AM 48 Kirk Street Motherwell
     Sex: F
     Father: Alexander McBirnie Brakesman
     Mother: Mary McBirnie m.s. Haughney
     Marriage: 1905 January 26th Larkhall
     Signature of Informant: Mary McBirnie Mother
     When and Where Registered: 1906 September 7th at Dalziel Geo. T. Sneddon Int. Registrar
     Extracted from the Register of Births for the Parish of Dalziel in the County of Lanark.

Her parents, Alexander McBirnie and Mary Veronica Richmond Tennant/Haughney, were married 26 Jan 1905. When they didn't have a baby nine months later, Aunt Mary said they thought they could not have children and so they went to Lourdes <http://www.lourdes-france.org> to pray to have a baby. Aunt Mary's parent's prayers were apparently answered since she was born. However, according to Aunt Mary, after she was born, her mother looked at her and became very upset. Apparently there was something about Aunt Mary's ears that made her mother think she had given birth to a monkey. Aunt Mary would always say that she had little monkey ears.

It's interesting that she was named Mary. According to Scottish naming conventions, she should have been named Catherine. Maybe she was named Mary because she was born after her parent's trip to Lourdes.

Aunt Mary would have been a little more that four months old when her parents left Motherwell, Scotland to immigrate to the Unites States of America.

She was noted as "May" with her parents on the List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival on the S.S. Carmania arriving at the Port of New York on 13 Jan 1907.

The family then went via Pennsylvania to Colorado. Since Mary's younger brothers were all born in Maitland, northwest of Walsenburg, Huerfano Co., CO, this is apparently where the family lived, at least until 1913. Aunt Mary was noted with her parents in the 1910 U.S. Census but with the wrong place of birth. Since her younger brother, William, was not noted in the record, it is possible that the census taker conflated the information about the two children.

According to Mom, Aunt Mary's grandmother, Mary (Tennant) Haughney, ran a boarding house and, as a young girl, Aunt Mary was put on a stool so that she could reach the kitchen counter to fill the pies with sliced apples for her "granny" to bake.

Aunt Mary would have been six years old at the time of the Ludlow Massacre. The family was probably living in a nearby mining town and tensions were high. Mom said the story she heard was that one morning, Alexander McBirnie left the house and told his wife to stay under the bed with the kids until he got back. The family stayed there all day until late afternoon when they started getting thirsty because they had run out of water. So Mary (Richmond Tennant/Haughney) McBirnie sent Aunt Mary down the mountain with a bucket to get water. Alexander McBirnie was furious when he came back and found out and asked his wife what she could have been thinking. She said she didn't think that anyone would shoot a little girl.

It was probably around this time when the photograph was taken of Aunt Mary and her three younger brothers. Aunt Mary said she looked mad in the picture because she didn't like how her hair was done.

Aunt Mary was noted with her parents in the 1920 U.S. Census Las Animas Co., Colorado, T 31 R 65 Precinct 24 (Berwind Coal Camp crossed out from incorporated place) Supervisor's Dist. No. 3 Enumeration Dist. No. 126 sheet 12 A (177 stamped) (image 12 of 14 in Berwind)

     MacBirnie, Mary daughter female white age 13 single immigrated 1907 Pennsylvania attended school since Sept. 1, 1919 able to read and write born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch parents born in Scotland mother tongue Scotch able to speak English no occupation....

On 17 Mar 1921, when she was 14 years old, Aunt Mary became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Aunt Mary would have been 17 years old when her father was killed in a mining accident. She stayed with her Uncle and Aunt, Dan and Kathryn (Tennant) Harrington while she attended high school in Denver. This apparently made a great impression on her. It is definitely where she learned to like anything red. Apparently Margaret "Molly" Brown helped raise money for the building of the cathedral connected to the high school that Aunt Mary attended and, when Mom and I took her to see The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Aunt Mary thought that the movie showed Denver at a time very near when she would have been there. Mom thought that some of the people in Denver near this time would have been Diamond Jim Brady, Diamond Lil and Texas Guinan.

The Molly Brown House Museum site <http://mollybrown.org/immaculateconception.asp> has the following information about:

     The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
          1530 Logan Street
          Architecture: French Gothic Revival
          Architect: Leon Coquard; Aaron Gove and Thomas F. Walsh
          Built: 1902-1912
          Cost: $500,000

     In 1880, eighteen years after Denver's first Catholic parish was established, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Association was formed. The Association chose Detroit architect Leon Coquard, who began work on the plans in 1900. Denver architects Aaron Gove and Thomas F. Walsh completed the architectural work after Coquard became ill. Eight lots at the corner of Colfax and Logan were donated for the building by four leading Catholic businessmen -- J.J. Brown, John F. Campion, J.K. Mullen, and Dennis Sheedy. Margaret Brown raised money for the new church. Unfortunately, most of this money was lost when the Association made poor investments. The groundbreaking ceremony occurred in 1902, but the first cornerstone could not be laid until 1906. Construction of the Cathedral was completed in 1912.

     Denver's high society attended the 11:00 am Sunday Mass. Margaret and J.J. Brown rented pew 6 for 25 cents per adult and 10 cents per child. Each Sunday morning, worshipers could see Margaret walk up the center aisle with her huge walking staff decorated with flowers and ribbons.

     In 1979 Pope John Paul II named the cathedral a minor basilica -- only one of twenty-nine in this country. The term is used only for very important churches outside of Rome whose history, architecture, activities, and community service are central to the functioning of the Catholic Church. The cathedral was also honored when Pope John Paul II said Mass there in 1993....

The 1927 Denver City Directory lists:

     Harrington Dennis M (Cath V) mgr Cedar Hill Coal & Coke Co h 6 1317 Ogden

In earlier directories and in the 1928 Denver City Directory, Dennis M. Harrington was noted as President of Cedar Hill Coal & Coke Co. It is interesting to note that in the 1919 Denver City Directory, Dennis M. Harrington was noted renting 6 1317 Ogden and was the general manager of the Verner Z. Reed Estate. According to Wikipedia, Verner Z. Reed died 20 Apr 1919 leaving his wife "an estate valued at approximately $20 million."

The address where Aunt Mary was staying was only a few blocks from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Molly Brown House and the Colorado State Capitol.

This is Aunt Mary's High School diploma:

     Immaculate Conception Cathedral High School
     Denver, Colorado

          This Certifies that Mary M. McBirnie has honorably completed the Course of Study as prescribed by this Institution and is awarded this Diploma

          In Witness Whereof our signatures are hereunto affixed this twelfth day of June nineteen hundred and twenty-seven

               Sister Francis Regina Smith, Superior
               Hugh ?, Superintendent.

Bob McBirnie asked Aunt Mary about people she remembered from this period and Aunt Mary said the Woods family owned the mine [?]. Kenneth Woods was a son. The mine manager was Mr. Cook. Aunt Mary also remembered a butcher named Kino Treader, a Nick Treader who did deliveries, a store owner named Joe Moreaski, an office boss named Hoover, and a marshall that she thinks was named Tex. I couldn't find the Woods or Treader families but, the 1920 Federal Census of Broadhead Precinct No. 31, Las Animas Co., CO, ED 117, sheet 9B lists:

     J. Milrum Hoover, a mine clerk for a coal company
     Joe Morosky, a store manager, general merchandise

In 1927, Aunt Mary taught first and second grade students at the Brodhead Public School. Brodhead was a mining town and Aunt Mary stayed with her Uncle Alex and Aunt Elizabeth (Haughney) Shields. Mrs. Shirley (Burns) Morris (Bob McBirnie's mother-in-law) attended the school at about this time but was not in any of Aunt Mary's classes. Florence Bauchman taught the third and fourth grade class, Mary McEnerney taught the fifth and sixth grade class and Bernard McEnerney taught the seventh and eighth grade class. Aunt Mary taught at the school for about 10 years.

Aunt Mary went on to attend the University of Denver to get permanent teacher certification. According to the 1940 census, Mary had completed three years of college. According to Tom McBirnie, Jr., Ray Tennant, in a 23 Oct 2003 phone conversation, mentioned having "met my Aunt Mary in Denver when she was attending summer school. She was a teacher at that time. He also saw her when his family visited Trinidad."

Aunt Mary remembered her early life as a struggle. She remembered having to support her family after she got out of school and she lived on cans of soup during the Depression. In 1937, she got a cosmetology license. She had learned how to cut hair, curl and dye it, and put on makeup. It was a knowledge she was to put to good use for the rest of her life. She continued teaching off and on for 23 years. Mom says that Aunt Mary was a principal for the last three years of her teaching career. This is Aunt Mary's contract for employment for 1939:

TEACHER'S CONTRACT
Trinidad, Colorado May 12, 1938

Name Miss Mary McBirnie

     You are hereby notified that you have been appointed Teacher in District No. 67, for the year beginning Sept 6 1938 and closing May 1939, at the salary of Seventy Five dollars, payable in nine monthly installments.

     This contract to be binding must be accepted by Mr. Preston

     The conditions of your employment are:

          1. You must hold a legal certificate in accordance with the laws of Colorado, which certificate shall be in full force for the full duration of this contract.
          2. You must faithfully observe and carry out all rules and regulations already adopted, or hereinafter adopted by your board of education, for the government and operation of the school district in which you are teaching.
          3. You must protect all school property in your district at all times.
          4. You must make promptly and accurately all reports that may be required by your Board of Education, or by the County Superintendent of Schools.
          5. The last month's salary will not be paid by the Board of Education until all required reports and records are filed in the Office of the County Superintendent of Schools.
          6. Your "Oath of Allegiance" as required by law, shall be on file with the County Superintendent of Schools, before the first salary warrant is issued.
          7. You must not engage in any remunerative employment, temporary or otherwise, during the time the schools are in session, without approval of the Board of Education.
          8. You will procure a health certificate on a blank furnished by the Board of Education and executed by a local physician at any time the Board of Education, or County Superintendent of Schools may require. If this health certificate shows that you are not qualified to be in the school room on account of poor health the Board of Education, or the County Superintendent of Schools has the right to demand your resignation.
          9. You are subject to dismissal for misconduct or incompetency. You will not be dismissed without thirty (30) days' notice or without hearing before the Board, or County Superintendent.
          10. You must give at least one month's notice of intended resignation to the Board of Education. If such notice is not given, or cause for resignation is not satisfactory to the Board of Education, any salary then unpaid shall be forfeited.
          11. If absent for any cause other than your own illness, or the death of a member of your immediate family, you shall not receive pay for lost time. Deductions shall be made on the basis of one-twentieth (1/20) of your monthly salary for each day's absence. It is understood that you will not employ anyone to take your place without the knowledge and consent of the Board of Education. All substitute teachers, whether employed by the Board or secured by the teacher, shall possess all legal qualification of a teacher.
          12. You will become a member of the National Education Association, the Colorado Education Association, and the Las Animas County Teachers' Association.
          13. You will be given the following holidays: Labor Day, Columbus Day, Armistice Day, Thanksgiving Day, (and Friday after), one day for the County Education Association, Christmas and New Years Day, two days for the Colorado Education Association Convention, (providing you attend), Washington's Birthday, (one-half day), Lincoln's Birthday, (one-half day), Decoration day, and Good Friday, if the Board of Education is willing.
          14. It is expressly understood and agreed that in the event this school is closed for any reason whatsoever, the within contract shall become null, void, and of no effect, and that no further payments under this contract shall thereafter be due. It is also further expressly understood that the Board of Education has a right to close the school for just cause, in which event your salary shall be terminated at the time of the closing of school.

     Attest: Mrs. Stewart Conners, President
Mildred Wagstaff Secretary

     I hereby accept the above employment upon the conditions stated:

               Mary McBirnie, Teacher

Aunt Mary was noted in the 1940 United States Federal Census:

     Name: Mary McBirnie
     Respondent: Yes
     Age: 33
     Gender: Female
     Race: White
     Birthplace: Scotland
     Marital Status: Single
     Relation to Head of House: Head
     Home in 1940: Trinidad, Las Animas, Colorado
     Street: West 1st Street
     House Number: 228
     Farm: No
     Residence in 1935: Trinidad, Las Animas, Colorado
     Citizenship: Naturalized
     Sheet Number: 10B
     Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 185
     Occupation: Teacher
     House Owned or Rented: Rented
     Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 12
     Attended School or College: No
     Highest Grade Completed: College, 3rd year
     Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 30
     Occupation: Teacher
     Industry: Public School
     Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
     Weeks Worked in 1939: 39
     Income: $765
     Income Other Sources: No
     Household Members: Jean Shields 22 cousin

Aunt Mary would have been 35 years old when her mother died. At that point, she felt it was time to break free of the family.

Aunt Mary mentioned someone named MacGregor who was apparently a friend of the family during this period and Charlie Turner was apparently a neighbor of the McBirnie's in Trinidad. He was a pharmacistwho was separated from his wife and later divorced. He had a deaf daughter named Charlene. According to Mom, Aunt Mary and Dad taught Charlene how to talk and lip read. Charlene went to a School for the Deaf and got a good education. Aunt Mary's family apparently didn't want her to marry Charlie which was all the motivation Aunt Mary needed. Aunt Mary and Charlie went to Cheyenne, Wyoming and got married accompanied by Charlene:

     State of Wyoming
     Department of Health
     Bureau of Vital Statistics

     Certificate of Marriage

     File No. 1942
     Certif. No. 3326

     I F. A. Stennett a Justice of the Peace Officiating in the County of Laramie and State of Wyoming, do hereby certify that I did
          on the 27th day of November A.D. 1942 in Cheyenne County of Laramie, State of Wyoming, unite in marriage

               Charlie B. Turner, of Denver, County of Denver State of Colorado and

               Mary McBirnie, of Trinidad, County of Las Animas State of Colorado

          the parties named in the within license, in said County and State according to the laws of the State of Wyoming.

          Cheyenne, Wyoming Residence
               Verda Voeller Witness
          Cheyenne, Wyoming Residence
               Elizabeth Paulsen Witness

          (Signature of person officiating and P.O. address)
               F.A. Stennett
               Cheyenne, Wyoming

     Groom
          Full Name Charlie B. Turner
          Residence Denver, Colorado
          Age 42
          Color or Race White
          Single, Widowed or Divorced Divorced
          Occupation Druggist
          Birthplace Missouri
          Name of Father William W. Turner
          Birthplace of Father Missouri
          Maiden Name of Mother Margaret Breadlove
          Birthplace of Mother Missouri

     Bride
          Full Name Mary McBirnie
          Residence Trinidad, Colorado
          Age 36
          Color or Race White
          Single, Widowed or Divorced Single
          Maiden Name if Previously Married No.
          Birthplace Scotland
          Name of Father Alex McBirnie
          Birthplace of Father Scotland
          Maiden Name of Mother Mary Haughney
          Birthplace of Mother Scotland

     Date received by County Clerk 11-30-42
     Recorded by Clerk on page 133 Book 41

     Signature [can't read] County Clerk
     Date received by State Registrar DEC 10 1942.

I think this is Aunt Mary and Uncle Charlie noted near the end of World War II. Uncle Charlie does not appear to be working as a pharmacist, possibly he was doing something related to the War:

     1945 Pueblo, Colorado City Directory:

          Turner Charlie B (Mary) dept mgr Colo Sup Div CF&I r YMCA (Steel Works)

     1946 Pueblo, Colorado City Directory:

          Turner Chas B (Mary) dept mgr CF&I h[ome] 601 Veta

But by 1948, Charlie was again noted working as a pharmacist:

     1948 Pueblo, Colorado City Directory:

          Turner Charley B (Mary) pharm[acist] Parks Auditorium Drug Store h[ome] 111 Broadway apt 27

I wasn't able to find them in listings after this. Possibly they moved out of state.

I found a draft of a letter that Aunt Mary wrote in April 1967 when she was applying for a teaching job in Pueblo, CO:

     I am a former teacher in Park School District #5, Pueblo. I am interested in returning to the teaching profession.

     I hold a Lifetime Teacher's Certificate from the State of Colorado, which is on file in your Pueblo office.

     I left the Teaching assignment at Park School, Pueblo, when my husband was transferred out of State. I left in good standing. I am now a widow and would like to return to teaching.

     I have taught in District #69 at Brodhead, and District #67 at Suffield, prior to my teaching at Park School in Pueblo.

     I taught five years at Park School, District #5 Pueblo. I taught First and Second Grades. Three of the five years I was the Principal.

     I have written to Mr. Harry A. White, RR1, Box 423, Pueblo. He was the Secretary of the School District #5 at the time I was teaching there on my last teaching assignment in 1949....

I haven't been able to locate Aunt Mary and Uncle Charlie between 1950-1956.

According to his obituary, Uncle Charlie had lived in Tulsa, OK since 1957. Aunt Mary got a job as a sales clerk at Brown & Duncan in Tulsa. That is where she learned that she could make extra money by pushing certain items (she called it PM's for Push Money). It was a lesson that she never forgot. When Charlie died, it turned out that he had never changed his insurance or his will after their marriage and everything that he had went to Charlene who was married by then.

Dad invited Aunt Mary to live with our family after Uncle Charlie died but she thought that she would be a burden. Dad said that she had taken care of them after their father had been killed and that she was welcome to live with us. Dad arranged to have Uncle Charlie buried in the McBirnie family plot, helped Aunt Mary settle her affairs in Tulsa and paid to have her stuff moved to Phoenix. Initially, she looked like a little old lady. She wore black dresses and old fashioned black shoes and used a cane. She was very depressed and thought she would not live long. But gradually, as she settled in, she became literally a little old lady in tennis shoes.

Aunt Mary was a revelation to us. To us, Dad was the law. To Aunt Mary, Dad was her little brother. Before Aunt Mary moved in, Mom ran the house on a schedule, everything happened at a certain time and in a certain way, simple and efficient. After Aunt Mary, life became a little bit wilder.

When Dad got sick, Aunt Mary got a job in a drugstore selling cosmetics. She would collect the PM stickers off of the things that she sold because she could make "Push Money" from the manufacturers for selling certain products. Eventually she got a job at the Rexall Drug Store at 32nd Street and McDowell and settled in. She made friends with the druggist, Mr. Shievly, and with Clara, a clerk at the Bayless store next door. She knew all the clerks in the other shopping center shops. She would bring home everything that was being thrown out, display racks, promotional items, testers. Mom gave up trying to talk her out of it. Aunt Mary was a sucker for anything on sale in her drugstore or in her little corner shopping center. The only thing that seemed to limit her was how much she could carry.

After Dad died and Mom was working during the day and going to school at night, Aunt Mary would cook supper for the two of them and her territory expanded to the kitchen. Every inch of counter space was filled with cans, bottles or bags of whatever she had found.

Aunt Mary hated to spend money to get her hair cut so whenever I would come home from college or on a Christmas visit, she would ask me to cut her hair. Never having been trained to cut hair, my attempts were not always successful and I did not always leave enough hair for her to salvage after I left. She would go off fuming and making remarks about how I was trying to scalp her but the next time she would ask me to do it again.

Aunt Mary kept working until her car was hit from behind and she suffered whiplash. After that, her neck and arm hurt too much to work. She never missed her favorite soaps or a Perry Mason episode that was on at any hour of the day or night.