Family of George Edward Ahern and Lena Josephine Mannix

George Edward Ahern, was born to Dennis Ahern and Ellen Fitzpatrick on Tuesday, 1 July 1873 in Arlington, baptized 5 July at St. Malachy's (sponsors: John Roche and Ellen Mahoney). Died due to cerebral hemorrhage and vascular disease on Saturday, 23 August 1947 on North Road on Bearskin Neck in Rockport, Essex County Massachusetts, buried on Wednesday, 27 August 1947 in Mt. Pleasant cemetery in Arlington.

He graduated from Arlington High School in 1894, and in 1898 worked with his brother Dennis in a barber shop at 491 Massachusetts Ave. in Arlington. After graduating from Tufts College in 1898 he went to work as a civil engineer for the Town of Arlington until his retirement in 1939. George was elected Financial Secretary of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Court St. Agnes on 7 July 1902.

He married Lena Josephine Mannix on Sunday, 8 October 1905 at St. Agnes (witnesses: Charles G. Barry and Eva F. Hamall) in Arlington. She was born in Massachusetts about May 1877 the daughter of John Mannix and Catherine Golden, died in Arlington 1938. In 1900 she was working as a candy dipper and living at 22 Cottage St. with her sister and brother-in-law, James Hamall.

They had the following child:

• Margaret Catherine Ahern, born 3 January 1910 in Arlington, baptized 23 January at St. Agnes (godparents: Charles G. Barry and Eva F. Hamall), died on Thursday, 6 May 1976, buried on Saturday, 8 May 1976 in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington.
  
  Margaret married Frederick James Marchant (aged 21) on Sunday, 29 June 1941 in Arlington. Fred was the son of Colin Marchand of Arichat, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Kathyrn Mullen, and was related to the Delorey ancestors of Mary Elizabeth (Higgins) Ahern. In 1915, a Collin Marchant, apprentice, was boarding at 100 Prospect St. in Somerville. Also listed at that address was a Frederick Marchant, furniture worker, Charles A. Marchant, cabinitemaker, Peter A. Marchant, brushmaker and a John B. Marchant. One of Fred's uncles was a bootlegger during prohibition and once made the mistake of leaving Fred in charge, whereupon he proceeded to water down the stock.
  
  They had the following children:
  1. Frederick James Marchant, Jr., born 22 March 1942 at Cambridge City Hospital.
  2. Helene Margaret Marchant, born 12 January 1946 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton.
  3. George Colin Marchant, born 2 October 1947 at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.
  4. Denise Anne Marchant, born 29 June 1953 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

Mention of George Ahern's Family in the News

Arlington Advocate - 7 January 1898

An Arlington school boy has been honored by the assignment of a special part in the program of the graduating class of '98, of Tufts College, at the commencement exercises next June. He is by name, Geo. A. [sic] Ahern, and has won the honor by his application to the college work and the excellent scholarship to which he has attained. His Arlington friends and teachers offer their congratulations in the honor which their interest in him causes them to appreciate and share.

Arlington Advocate - 29 April 1898

The George Ahern, whose arrest was tabulated last week should not be confounded with Geo. E. Ahern, a graduate of Arlington High and a student at Tufts College in the graduating class of '98. The names are similar, but that is the only way, apparently, in which the two men resemble each other.

Arlington Advocate - 17 June 1898

Mr. Geo. Ahern, a well known and respected young man of this town, graduated at Tufts College, last Friday, June 10, in the Civil Engineer course, taking first rank in his class, which is very gratifying to his friends.

Arlington Advocate - 18 August 1906

Assistant engineer George E. Ahern, in the employ of the town departments, returns to his duties on Monday next, after a two weeks' leave of absence. He has enjoyed his vacation at Centre Harbor, N.H.

Arlington Advocate - 21 October 1921

. . . This is the first rally of the scouts since last spring and the council wishes to make it the most successful rally ever held in Arlington. The committee in charge, Charles H. Stevens, chairman; James H. Jones and George E. Ahern, have worked hard and boys arranged a program that is sure to provide most interesting.

Arlington Advocate - 2 December 1921

Gangs of men were hustled out of bed Sunday night to try and cope with the storm, but their best effort availed little. The men, under Tree Warden Daniel M. Daley, Town Engineer George E. Ahern, and Wire Superintendant Mason, worked hard and well but their work in many cases went for naught on Monday night when the wind freshened materially, prostrating many more poles and trees and undoing a large part of the work accomplished during the day. Many orchards were ruined, by the trees being split. Shade trees as well as ornamental bushes suffered heavily and in many instances were ruined.

Arlington Advocate - July 1941

A recently announced marriage is that of Miss Margaret Catherine Ahern, the daughter of George E. Ahern of 104 Medford street, former town engineer and superintendent of streets, to Frederick James Marchant, the grandson of Mrs. Eliza Marchant of 100 Prospect street, Somerville. The wedding took place in St. Agnes church on the afternoon of June 29th with the pastor, Rev. Matthew J. Flaherty, performing the double ring ceremony. At the organ was Harold Coles of Scituate, a friend of the bride.
Miss Katherine Tobin of Cambridge, a college classmate of the bride, acted as maid of honor. The best man was Frank Galgay of Cambridge and the ushers, Paul Smith of Revere and Bernard Lane of Somerville. With her white satin gown the bride wore a veil of Chantilly lace caught with orange blossoms and carried a bouquet of gardenias and baby's breath. The maid of honor's gown was of turquoise organza and her picture hat was trimmed with old rose. She carried a bouquet of talisman roses and baby's breath.
After a reception at the Hotel Commander, Cambridge, the couple left for a trip to New York, Canada, and Ohio. The bride, who was a teacher in the Hardy School, attended Emmanuel College and Boston University. The groom is a graduate of the Somerville schools and Rindge Technical School. They will live in Arlington.

Arlington Advocate - 28 August 1947

George Edward Ahern of 104 Medford street, for many years town engineer and superintendent of public works, passed away last Saturday night in his summer home in Rockport, at the age of 74. Born in Arlington, he had lived here all his life. In 1898, he was graduated from Tufts College and entered the employ of the town shortly afterward. Until his retirement eight years ago, he was connected with the engineering department a total of nearly 40 years.
He was a former president of St. Agnes' Holy Name Society, and was also a member of the Arlington Rotary Club, Arlington Lodge of Elks and Arlington Council, Knights of Columbus. He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Frederick J. Marchant, and two grandchildren, Frederick J. Marchant, Jr., and Miss Helen [sic] M. Marchant, all of Arlington. The funeral was held yesterday morning from his home with a solemn high mass of requiem in St. Agnes' Church.

Arlington Advocate - 13 May 1976

Margaret C. (Ahern) Marchant of 104 Medford st. died May 6 at the age of 66. Mrs. Marchant had worked as a special education teacher at Bedford Jr. High School and was a 1931 graduate of Emmanuel College.
The wife of Frederick J. Marchant, she was the mother of Frederick J. Marchant Jr. of Plaistow, N.H., George C. Marchant and Denise A. Marchant of Arlington and Helen M. Butler of Melrose. She is also survived by seven grandchildren. A Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday at St. Agnes' Church with burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Symmes Hospital Building Fund or the American Cancer Society, 247 Commonwealth ave., Boston.

This page copyright © 1999 by Dennis Ahern.

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