Page 10 - June 2024 News On 7 (new style)

HAZZARD HISTORY NOTES

by Grant Ketcheson
A FAMILY TRAGEDY IN MADOC TOWNSHIP

The late John Murphy, long-serving principal of Madoc Public School, along with his niece Jane Murphy-Thomas, compiled
a Murphy family history. In their research, they unveiled details of a horrific tale of family tragedy, centring on their Irish-
immigrant ancestors. Thanks, Jane, for sharing this family story.

We are taking the liberty of leaving Hazzard's Corners briefly, as we focus on another bit of area history. The family
involved did not live in the Hazzard's community, nor are they buried there.

In 1873, Theophilus (Tim) Mahoney and his wife Bridget, immigrants from County Cork in Ireland, were well-settled on
their farm. Along with their 10 children, ages 1 to 20, they had homesteaded on 200 acres on Concession 10, Lot 33 at the
very north end of Madoc Township. Theirs was the last farm before the “Island” in Tudor Township.

Tim Mahoney was probably looking forward to home and fireside on that day in early October, 1873, as he made his way
northward, passing by the old cemetery at Hazzard's Corners. There was plenty of time to think as his horse and wagon
trundled along the winding dirt track that ran from Madoc Village to his farm, a full half-day journey. We have no idea what
transpired but his horse bolted, throwing Tim from the wagon, to his death on a pile of rocks!

Widow Bridget, along with the help of her children, carried on the farm. Three years later, tragedy again struck the family.
An outbreak of “black diphtheria” swept through the community. In a space of one month, eight of the Mahoney children
succumbed to the plague. Only 23 -year- old Cornelius (Con) and eleven-year-old Roderick (Roger) survived. The story is
told of pine coffins being left in their lane, because of the quarantine, and the bodies being picked up and transported to
the old Sacred Heart burying ground in the village of Madoc.

We should be thankful that vaccinations long ago ended such tragedies in Canada. Also, we can take pride in the fact that
the vaccine that banished diphtheria was developed and first used in Canada. Take a walk through the Old Sacred Heart
Cemetery or any other cemetery in the area and view the number of child graves. This will bring a jolt of reality if you were
longing for the “good old days.”