Clann Mhór

 

Denis Shanahan

Blue Ridge Railroad Civil Engineer

Clann Mhor has recently been in contact with descendants of Denis Shanahan who have been most gracious in sharing their family history. We would like to thank them for much of the following information. Denis Shanahan came to America with his mother Bridget Dempsey Shanahan, sister Mary, and brother Michael in 1849. They sailed from the Cove of Cork where they were detained by stormy weather for six to seven weeks. The Shanahans left Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland after Denis’ father,Cornelius, died in 1848. Baltimore, Maryland was their destination. After arriving, Denis was hired by Detwold, Kelly, and Larguey as a bookkeeper. The company was working from Sykesville to Marriotsville, Maryland building the B & O Railroad. Denis Shanahan has not been located in Virginia on the 1850 census so the exact time of his arrival here has not been determined. When John Kelly secured the work in Virginia which included the Brooksville and Greenwood tunnels, Shanahan was on site at the Blue Ridge Railroad. He offered valuable assistance in overcoming a very serious obstacle in the Brooksville Tunnel. There was a slide on the western end which extended many feet below the grade line of the road bed. His assistance was noted by the Chief Engineer, Claudius Crozet, and he was asked to join the engineering forces. Shanahan was assigned as engineer to the Blue Ridge Tunnel and remained working there until its completion is 1857. It was at this time that Denis met and married Anne Marie Larguey, the daughter of Johanna Larguey, wife of John Larguey. John Larguey and John Kelly were partners in the Kelly & Larguey Company and worked as contractors on the Blue Ridge Railroad. Shanahan continued to work for the railroad until he began a contracting business with his sons in Louisville, Kentucky. Eventually he moved back to Covington, Virginia where he died in 1913. He is buried in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia next to his wife. http://www.google.com/

Anne Marie Larguey Shanahan

Cornelius and Baby Ignatius

In 1860, Dennis and Anne Marie Shanahan were living in the house with Johanna Larguey in Staunton, Virginia.  Their son, Cornelius, who was born in Augusta County is listed also. 

1900 census Louisville, KY

1870 census Alleghany County, VA

1910 census Alleghany County, VA

After the Civil War, Major Denis Shanahan acquired this house from the Rocke family in Covington, Virginia.

Additional information on Denis Shanahan has been posted by the family at this site:

http://earthletters.org/family/content/bs-home.html

Burial site of Denis and Anne Marie Shanahan in Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Virginia.

D. Shanahan, about  1900, age 80                   

D. Shanahan, age 50?