Anne Finnegan was born in the heartland of Illinois in the crisp autumn of 1856. However, the call of opportunity soon beckoned her family, and like many pioneers of their time, they ventured westward to the vast expanse of Big Stone County. Here, amidst the rolling hills and shimmering lakes, Anne’s parents, Michael Finnegan and Mary Goodman, sought to carve out a new life for their family.
Meanwhile, across the ocean, in the emerald green fields of Walshestown, County Limerick, another tale unfolded. Thomas Clifford entered the world in 1845 – the first year of what is now known as the “Great Famine“. Born to James Clifford & Johanna Fitzgerald, Thomas inherited a legacy of determination and fortitude from his Irish roots.
In the spring of 1865, when Thomas Clifford was just twenty years old, a shadow fell upon his world. His father, James Clifford, a pillar of strength in his life, passed away unexpectedly at the age of fifty. The loss left Thomas grappling with grief and the weight of newfound responsibilities being among the eldest of young family, but fate stuck another blow just a year later when his mother quietly slipped away.
In 1866 at the age of 21, Thomas made a daring decision that would alter the course of his life forever. Leaving behind the rolling green hills of Ireland and bidding farewell to the familiar comforts of home and family, he embarked on a voyage across the treacherous Atlantic Ocean. For a young man who had never before glimpsed the vast expanse of the sea, the journey must have been nothing short of awe-inspiring and daunting, as he braved the tumultuous waters to seek his fortune in the promising lands of America.
Arriving on American soil, Thomas was recorded as a farmer, a testament to his sturdy rural upbringing and his aspirations for a new beginning in the fertile landscapes of the United States.
A decade later, in the balmy summer of 1876, fate smiled upon Thomas Clifford once again, as he crossed paths with a young woman named Anne Finnegan. In the quaint town of Faribault, Minnesota, amidst blooming flowers and whispered promises, they fell in love. Despite an age gap of eleven years, love knows no bounds, and Thomas and Anne exchanged vows on a radiant day, pledging their lives to one another in a bond that transcended time and age.
Life moved in its quiet, persistent way, weaving its golden threads through the Clifford family.
- Clifford Thomas census 1880
In the spring of 1881, a new chapter opened when John Henry Clifford arrived, a sturdy little soul who would one day carry the family story forward. With Myrtle Beers at his side, John Henry built a life of steady love and family, blessing Thomas and Anne with nine grandchildren before laying down his own journey in 1970, aged 89 — a long life lived through changing times.
Two years later, in 1883, Annabelle Clifford’s laughter filled their home. I imagine her voice — light and teasing — lingering in the corners long after her footsteps quieted. She grew into a woman whose spirit brightened the years she touched, before she slipped peacefully away at 67.
The story of the Cliffords, like so many Irish emigrants at the time, was always one of mingled joy and sorrow. In 1887, James Clifford was born, but the bright promise of his life was cut short. At just 21, tubercular meningitis claimed him, and the family carried the ache of his absence quietly, like a stone tucked into the pocket of their hearts.
Still, hope had a way of returning. Kathryn A. Clifford entered their world in 1889, her presence a new light in the family home. She grew old among them, weathering life’s storms with grace, until she too found her rest at the age of 87.
In 1891, they welcomed another Margaret Clifford, her life a reflection of the enduring cycles of joy and loss. She stayed for 57 years, leaving behind memories wrapped in the quiet love of family.
George David Clifford‘s arrival in 1885 heralded a new chapter in their lives, marked by love and parenthood. This little boy grew up to marry Irene Aldrich and became a father to three sons. George faced health challenges but remained strong until he passed away at the age of 67, after undergoing surgery.
In the midst of their joys and sorrows, their family continued to grow. James Clifford, born in 1887, faced a tragic fate, passing away from tubercular meningitis at the tender age of 21 in 1908.
But amidst the darkness, there was light. Kathryn A Clifford arrived in 1889, a beacon of hope in their lives, her laughter echoing through the halls until she peacefully departed at the age of 87 in 1976.
The year 1891 brought another Margaret Clifford into their embrace, her presence a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, as she bid farewell at the age of 57 in 1948.
In 1893, on a September day, twins Raymond Bernard Clifford and Clara Clifford entered their world, their lives intertwined in a delicate dance of joy and sorrow. While Raymond lived a long life, passing away at the age of 91 in 1984, Clara’s time on this earth was brief, a mere two weeks, a poignant reminder of life’s fragile beauty.
Sadness darkened their doorstep in 1895 as Anne mourned the loss of her mother, while Thomas received news of his 45 year old sister Margaret’s passing in Ireland, a reminder of the ties that bound them across oceans and continents.
In 1896, Edna Clifford’s arrival brought a fleeting glimpse of joy, only to be followed by sorrow as she departed this world at the tender age of one year and ten months in 1897.
By 1900, the Cliffords had made their way to Harmon, Roberts, Minnesota. The census that year noted something Thomas must have been proud of — he owned their home now, a small but sturdy place built with years of toil.
But sadness found its way in again. Thomas’s sister Catherine passed in 1902 at 52, Anne’s father died in 1904 at 86
The heaviest blow of all came in 1908, when young James, just 21, was lost to illness. His death pressed another hollow into the family’s tapestry, one that even time could not fully mend.
In 1910, Thomas and Anne, now 60 and 50, faced yet another new beginning as they decided to pull up their roots once more and moved to the busy streets of Duluth, Minnesota.
Thomas, ever the provider, rented a house, no. 222, on West 2nd Street, transforming it into a boarding house that echoed with the laughter and chatter of its occupants. According to the census records of that year, Thomas assumed the role of “keeper” of the house, overseeing its daily operations with a steady hand. The house buzzed with activity, accommodating not only Thomas and Anne’s own family but also fourteen boarders who found refuge within its walls.
Their daughters, Annabelle, Kathryn, and Margaret, seamlessly joined the family enterprise, each assuming a vital role in the running of the establishment. Annabelle, with her keen eye for detail, took on the mantle of housekeeper, ensuring that every corner of the house gleamed with warmth and hospitality. Kathryn, with her gentle demeanor, served as a waitress, her smile brightening the days of patrons who crossed the threshold. And Margaret, with her culinary prowess, presided over the kitchen as the cook, her creations tantalizing the taste buds of all who dined under their roof.
Among the staff was a young woman named Myrtle Beers, whose presence brought an added spark to the household. Little did they know then that Myrtle’s path would intertwine with theirs in unexpected ways, as she would later marry their son, John Henry. Myrtle’s brother, a printer by trade, also found a home within their midst, his hands weaving words and stories in the print shop.
As the household bustled with activity, their sons, George, John F., and Ray, pursued their own endeavors in the city. George and John F. found employment as steamfitters in a bustling shop, their hands adept at shaping metal and crafting dreams. Ray, with his easy charm and quick wit, embarked on a career as a grocery salesman, his words weaving tales of abundance and sustenance for those he served.
In the year 1929, the somber toll of death once again echoed through the Clifford family, claiming Thomas’s brother, Jeremiah, at the age of 72. However, we should remember that the average age of death for men in the United States in the 1900s was 45. So, all in all many of the Clifford men lived to a ripe old age.
By 1930, Thomas and Anne found themselves navigating the quiet streets of Duluth, their steps guided by the passage of time and the memories they held dear. At the age of 80, Thomas, with Anne by his side at the age of 70, settled into a new residence at house 220 on Fifth St.
As the years marched on, time proved to be both friend and foe, shaping their lives in ways they could never have imagined. In the twilight years of their journey together, Thomas bid farewell to this world, his spirit finding peace of a life well lived at the age of 87 in 1932. Anne, resilient in the face of loss, continued to tread the path of life, her spirit undaunted by the passage of time. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26432051/thomas-francis-clifford
In 1944, as the autumn leaves whispered their final goodbyes, Anne’s journey reached its conclusion, her spirit finding rest in the comforting embrace of their son Raymond, at 407 East 5th St., Duluth, St. Louis, MN. And though their physical presence may have faded from this world, the legacy of Thomas and Anne Clifford lives on, woven into the fabric of their family’s history. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26432066/anna_clifford
Both Thomas and Anne are buried at Calvary Cemetery, Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA