Mary Emma Cardinal was born May 22, 1874 in Knox County, Indiana to Franklin Cardinal and Mary Henrietta White.  She had three older siblings: William J, Eliza, and Charles.  Her family lived in Johnson Township near Decker where they worked the family farm.  It is believed that she went by her middle name Emma.

On August 18, 1892, Emma married Henry McGaughey across the river in Lawrence County, Illinois.  They made their home in Johnson Township were Henry farmed the land.  They had at least five children, four of which have been identified:  Jeremiah, Levi, Florence, and Lorene.

In 1904, typhoid fever was nearing epidemic levels in cities such as New York City.  Rural areas, such as Knox County, were not immune to the bacterial infection.  There were regular reports in the local paper of citizens, both old and young, who succumbed to the disease.  Unfortunately, the McGaughey family was hard hit by the bacteria in 1904.  Young Florence at the tender age of seven, died in September.  Emma fell victim on November 2, 1904 and eleven year old Jeremiah followed five days later.  All three are buried in the City Cemetery.

Mary Emma Cardinal was my 2nd cousin, 4 times removed on my mom’s side.

REFERENCES

• United States Census: 1880, 1900
• Indiana Death Certificates
• Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
• Find A Grave website