![]() Born 29 Oct 1862 Wakefield Twsp, Gatineau Co, Quebec, Can, died 14 Nov 1938 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, 76 years, buried 16 Nov 1938 Padua, Stearns Co, MN William was born in Canada and moved to Minneapolis, with his parents, when he was three years old. They lived there three years, and then moved to Raymond township where they homesteaded 160 acres located about 2 1/2 mile southwest of Padua. Their original farm machinery consisted of a breaking plow and a cradle. William continued to live there for the next 70 years until his death, at age 76 years. From a wilderness of hazel brush and oak trees, the Rooney's, in two generations had built one of the nicest and most modern farm homes in the township. During the first years, Will Rooney, walked from his home to St Cloud, a distance of at least fifty miles, for supplies such as flour, sugar, coffee and salt. For almost half a century, he served as chairman of the school board in District 7 and was also a director of the creamery board at Padua. Cause of death: Cerebral thrombosis (Paralysis of right side and muscles of respiration on right); with contributory causes of congestive bronchitis (due to the right sided respiratory paralysis). Scrotal hernia, left side, for 20 years. Ambrose Gaffaney attended his funeral. ROONEY, WILL Will Rooney was born October 29, 1863 at Ottawa Canada. His parents were John Rooney and Mary (McCool) Rooney. John and Mary (McCool) Rooney were born in Ireland. They were the parents of the following children: Michael; James; John; Hugh; Patrick; Tom; Will; Mary Anna; Catherine; Sarah; and Lisa. John and Mary (McCool) Rooney came to Minnesota in 1866 and homesteaded 160 acres of land in Raymond Township, which is now occupied by Will Rooney. His farm machinery consisted of a breaking plow and cradle. Will Rooney was married to Helene Riedel on April 5, 1889. Her parents were Peter and Mathilda (Schultz) Riedel. Helen Riedel was born in Germany June 7, 1877. There were married in St. Anthony's Catholic Church at Padua by Father Welp. To this union were born twelve children who are: Edmund J., born March 4, 1900; Joseph D., born October 12, 1901; Felix J. born October 16, 1902; Walter E., born July 29, 1904; Mary Helena, born May 3, 1906; Agnes Mathilda, born September 2, 1908; Emmet W., born June 18, 1910 ; Leo A., born May 10, 1912; Robert G., born August 22, 1914; Howard A., born August 13, 1916; Leonard J., born March 19, 1918; Catherine Marvel, born April 29, 1920. There are thirteen grandchildren. The boys are all farming in Raymond township except Emmet who is a bookkeeper . Will Rooney has been a member of the school board for forty-five years . From a wilderness of hazel brush and oak trees the Rooneys, in two generations, have built one of the nicest and most modern farm homes in the township. During the first years Will Rooney walked from his home to St. Cloud, a distance of at least fifty miles, for supplies such as flour, sugar, coffee and salt. The Rooney family is of the Catholic faith. Interviewed: Will RooneyDate: September 15, 1936 By: Dorothy Hansmann Married 5 Apr 1899 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN; St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Padua (39 years married) to: ![]() Born 7 Jun 1877 Germany, died 6 Feb 1962 Sauk Centre, Stearns Co, MN, 84 years, buried 8 Feb 1962 Padua, Stearns Co, MN Children: 1. ![]() Born 4 Mar 1900 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, baptised 11 Mar 1900 Padua, Stearns Co, MN, died 27 Apr 1952 Sauk Centre, Stearns Co, MN, 52 years, buried 30 Apr 1952 Padua, Stearns Co, MN Cause of death: Sarcoma of bladder. 2. ![]() Born 12 Oct 1901 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 22 Nov 1957 Pasco, WA, 56 years, buried Pasco, WA He left on a train and went west and the kids never saw him again, according to Clara Rooney at the Padua Pub (2017). 3. ![]() Born 16 Oct 1902 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 7 Aug 1955 Portland, Multnomah Co, OR, 52 years, buried 11 Aug 1955 Portland, Multnomah Co, OR Edmond Egan (1924-1950) is a hired man with the Felix Rooney family in 1940 in Raymond Township, Stearns County. Edmond is Felix's first cousin once-removed. 4. ![]() Born 29 Jul 1904 Raymond Twp, Stearns Co, MN, died 21 Dec 1987 Belgrade, Stearns, Minnesota, USA, 83 years, buried 23 Dec 1987 Brooten, Stearns, Minnesota, USA After Walter married, he farmed north of Brooten for many years until retiring and moving to Brooten in 1969. He was a member of of the Holy Name Society of Padua and served on the creamery boards of Padua and Brooten. He also served on the Raymond Township Board. 5. ![]() Born 3 May 1906 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 31 Jul 1996 St Cloud, Sherburne Co, MN, 90 years, buried 3 Aug 1996 St Cloud, Stearns Co, MN 6. ![]() Born 2 sep 1908 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 23 sep 1999 St. Cloud, Benton Co, MN, 91 years, buried 27 sep 1999 Sauk Centre, Stearns Co, MN 7. ![]() Born 18 Jun 1910 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 7 Nov 1984 Salem, Marion Co, OR, 74 years, buried 10 Nov 1984 Salem, Marion Co, OR. Occupations: , 8. ![]() Born 10 May 1912 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 23 Feb 1985 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, 72 years, buried 27 Feb 1985 Padua, Stearns Co, MN Leo never married. He lived and worked on the same farm in Raymond Township all his life. He died at the age 75 while cutting wood in a grove on the farm that his grandparents settled on May 1, 1868 and later homesteaded, two miles south of Padua. 9. ![]() Born 22 Aug 1914 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 26 Jun 1980 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, 65 years, buried 30 Jun 1980 Sauk Centre, Stearns Co, MN Catherine Rooney's husband, Andrew Anthony Majerus, was a sibling to the wife (Elizabeth Majerus) of her own brother, Robert George Rooney. Robert Rooney and his wife Elizabeth Majerus farmed in rural Padua for 38 years before moving to Sauk Centre in 1976. Robert died at the home of his brother, Leo, near Padua, MN. 10. ![]() Born 13 Aug 1916 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 9 Dec 1982 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, 66 years, buried 13 Dec 1982 Padua, Stearns Co, MN Howard never married. He lived and worked on the same farm in Raymond Township all his life. He was knowledgeable of the family history. He died at age 66 of heart attack while in field harvesting corn. 11. ![]() Born 19 Mar 1918 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 13 Mar 1997 Glenwood, Pope, Minnesota, USA, 78 years, buried 17 Mar 1997 Sedan, Pope, MN Leonard was born in Raymond township in Stearns county, baptized and confirmed in Padua, MN, attended grade school in Padua and high school in Brooten, MN and married Viola in Sedan, MN in 1945. They moved to Portland, OR in 1952, where Leonard worked in the ESCO Foundry Plant. They moved back to MN in 1955, farming until retiring in 1992. They lived in an apartment inBrooten, MN and later moved to Sedan, MN. Leonard was the Bangor township treasurer, a church trustee for many years and sang in the choir. 12. ![]() Born 29 Apr 1920 Raymond Twsp, Stearns Co, MN, died 6 May 1987 Clackamas, Clackamas, Oregon, USA, 67 years, buried 9 May 1987 Clackamas, Clackamas, Oregon, USA Catherine Rooney's husband, Andrew Anthony Majerus, was a sibling to the wife (Elizabeth Majerus) of her own brother, Robert George Rooney. |