Margaret Rose Gallagher

     Margaret Rose Gallagher was born on 30 May 1908 at Stilson, Cherokee County, Kansas.¹ In between 1908 and 1921 Margaret Rose Gallagher lived at Stilson, Cherokee County, Kansas; Originally called Coal Field, it was later changed to Stilson, a small camp one mile south of Scammon.^2,3 The 1910 US Census listed Margaret Rose Gallagher along with William Edward Gallagher Sr in the household of James Gallagher in Mineral Twp, Cherokee County, Kansas.⁴ Margaret Rose Gallagher was educated between 1914 and 1921 at Skidmore School, 1 mi so of Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.³


Margaret recalled: I knew Joe Grady better than your Dad. Joe and Ella and Mary Jean and Billy lived with my folks for awhile. My Dad, Ed Jim and Florence and 2 boys left for Nevada in Sept, 1926 in a Model T Ford and it took them weeks to get there. Florence's husband was out there already. My Dad then came back and drove Ed's car Ella, Mary Jean, Billy and Joe Grady to Ruth, Nevada in August of 1927.⁵
Margaret Rose Gallagher married Joseph Thayer, son of Mary McCormick, on 20 March 1931 at Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas.⁵
The Scammon paper reported the following: Mr and Mrs Ed Hughes entertained the following on Xmas day: Mrs Joe S. Rice of Oklahoma City, Mr and Mrs Frank Davidson of Pittsburg, Mr. and Mrs Wm Barrett and daughter, Mary of Weir, Mr and Mrs Roy Bennett and family, Mr and Mrs Jas. Gallagher and family, Mr and Mrs Joe Thayer, Mrs Mary Gallagher, John Gallagher and son, Gordon and Mildred Gallagher.⁶ In between 1933 and 1945 Margaret Rose Gallagher lived at Gamerco, McKinley County, New Mexico; About four miles out of Gallup in a mining camp. Gamerco was was an acronym for the Gallup and American Mining Co. Marge and Joe Thayer lived in three different houses while they lived in Gamerco. The mines were all within walking distance of the house. When Ned was born in Gallup, William, 6 and a half years old spent the time in the car outside the hospital. Marge enjoyed her time here and was reluctant to leave as she had made many friends and enjoyed the life in New Mexico.^7,3


This incident happened in the late forty's. One Sunday afternoon 2 young men came to our door. They asked if I was Margaret Gallagher and I ask what they wanted of me. They said one of the young men was trying to find a sister that had been put up for adoption and they thought that Mary Jean was her. They had Ed and Ella's birthdate, where they were married and that they had adopted Mary Jean in Hutchinson, KS. I told them that Mary Jean was brought into this world by my Mother just 2 blocks from where I live. It upset me for awhile because they knew so much about Ed and Ella but I didn't here anything more from them. I guess funnier things have happened.⁵
Margaret recalled on another occasion: I was at the Post Office and saw two men in suits talking to the Postmaster. Abit later, after I got home, these same two men came knocking at my door. It was your Dad and Joe Grady.¹

Margaret Rose Gallagher died on 17 April 2001 at Beverly Care Center, Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas, at age 92.
An obituary was in The Morning Sun: Neodesha -- Margaret Rose Thayer, 92, of Neodesha, formerly of Scammon,died at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2001 at the Beverly Care Center at Neodesha. She was born May 30, 1908, at Scammon, to James and Margaret Jane Fitzjerld Gallagher. She graduated from Scammon High School in 1926. She married Joseph C. Thayer on March 20, 1931, at Arkansas. He preceded her in death March 4, 1965.
Mrs. Thayer was a homemaker, and after her husband died she worked for the Sandella Grocery Store at Scammon for 10 years.
She moved to New Mexico in 1933, and returned to Scammon in 1945. In 1999 she moved to Neodesha to be closer to her grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Bridget's Catholic Church and Altar Society, both at Scammon.
Survivors include a brother, Joseph Gallagher of Minneapolis; two grandsons; a granddaughter; two step-granddaughters; eight great-grand children; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Ed Gallagher and Jim Gallagher; three sisters, Mary Bennett, Florence Glover, and Grace Gallagher; and two sons, Edward James "Ned" Thayer and William Joseph "Bill" Thayer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Bridget's Catholic Church at Scammon, with Fr. Eugene Grabner as celebrant. Burial will follow at the St. Bridget's Catholic Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Weir, where the family will receive friends following the rosary. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Weir.⁸
Margaret Rose Gallagher was buried on 21 April 2001 at St Bridget's Cemetery, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas..