Daniel McCallum, VII & Mary Steveley Woods

** Some of the following is based on research that Roberta & Andy Barrett-Bettcher have done in Ireland. **


Daniel McCallum, VII was born September 16, 1853 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland (today known as Northern Ireland), son of Daniel, VI and Eliza McCallum, and was baptized on October 9, 1853 at the Methodist Church in Omagh, Ireland. He attended Queen’s College (now Queen’s University) in Belfast from 1873-1875, first taking engineering and then switching to law. His solicitor’s application was entered on November 5, 1880, and he took his exam in October, 1882. From 1891-1894, and again from 1894 -1897, he was the Bangor Town Commissioner. In 1892 he was the Worshipful Master of the Bangor Union Masonic Lodge, for 1 year. Daniel, VII and his wife were members of the Bangor Parish Church.

Daniel McCallum, VII and Mary Woods were married on July 21, 1885 at the Dundela Presbyterian Church in Holywood, County Down, Ireland.

Mary Steveley Woods was born June 30, 1860 in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland, the daughter of Dr. William Woods and Elizabeth McAlpine, and was baptized on August 29, 1860 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Bangor. She attended Trinity College in Dublin for about 2 years, majoring in health studies and particularly nutrition.

Children of Daniel McCallum, VII & Mary Woods:
Mary McCallum, born February 12, 1888, Bryansburn House, Bangor
Helen McCallum, born August 19, 1891, Bryansburn House, Bangor; Baptized September 20, 1891
Daniel Octavius Herbert McCallum (VIII), born February 11 or 12, 1890, Bryansburn House, Bangor
Kathleen Maude McCallum, born April, 1895, Bangor
Elsie McCallum, born about February, 1886, County Down

All the children were baptized in the Bangor Abbey, Church of Ireland.

Elsie died at around 9 years of age, on September 4, 1895, and Kathleen died (age 6 months) shortly after her sister Elsie, on October 14, 1895. Both died at their home, Oriel House, on the Kinnegar in Bangor.

From 1888 through 1895, the family was living in the Bryansburn House in Strickland’s Glen, located on Primrose Lane in Bangor, Down, Ireland.

It’s known that in 1895 through 1897 they lived in the Oriel House, on the Kinnegar, Bangor, County Down, Ireland.

It’s unknown where they were living from 1897-1900 and 1902-1905, possibly in Ireland or possibly in London, based on the history of Daniel, VII’s law practice.

In 1901, Daniel, VII was boarding with the Allen McCracken family at Salisbury Street, Windsor Ward, South Belfast/Shankill, while his wife and children were living at Creadlin Avenue, East Belfast, Pottinger, Holywood, Down.

In 1903 through 1904 Daniel, VII lived on Beersbridge Road in Belfast, Ireland.

A postcard, dated January 1905, shows that their children Daniel, VIII and Helen, were staying in Saintfield with relatives, while Mary and her daughter Mary were in Belfast, presumably preparing to move to the U.S.A.

Daniel VII, a solicitor/lawyer, maintained his offices in Belfast, Ireland:
1887-1896: 60 Donegall Street
1898-1900: 51 Chichester Street
1903-1905: 75 High Street
After 1905 his offices were at 2 different locations on Carlisle Street in Belfast.

Mary Woods McCallum, leaving her husband, took their 3 children and immigrated to America, departing aboard a ship from Liverpool, England on January 26, 1905. The ship's manifest listed that they were going to America, as well as, who they were joining in America, and where they lived. There are two different manifests. One manifest says they were joining cousin Edward Sheppard in Fairgrove, Michigan, and the other says they were joining a cousin, Mrs. Ed Sheppard, in Fairgrove, Tuscola County, Michigan.

Research has found that there WAS a Francis Edward Sheppard, and his wife Lena, living in Fairgrove, Michigan. It’s also shown that Francis Edward was born in 1872 Ohio, as well as his parents, and that Lena Sheppard was born in Ireland, as well as her parents. It appears that Lena probably WAS a cousin of Mary Steveley Woods McCallum. According to Lena’s death certificate and burial records, she was born Magdalene McClurg/McClury on May 6, 1866 in Ireland, the daughter of Thomas McClurg/McClury, with only a surname listed for her mother of Woods. This would probably mean that her mother was the sister of Dr. William Woods, MRSCE, who was the father of Mary Steveley Woods McCallum.

In fact, a marriage record has been found, dated January 13, 1849 Ballygowan Presbyterian Church, for Thomas McClurg, son of John McClurg and Ann Woods, daughter of John Woods, farmer at Ravara, Killinchy, County Down. This fits with William Woods’ marriage record that states his father was John Woods, farmer. It also gives us a clue where to dig further on the Woods family – Killinchy Parish, County Down.

Lena immigrated to America around 1889 and married Francis Edward Sheppard around 1896. They were living in Fairgrove, MI in 1900. Her death record also shows that she passed away due to a broken neck, having committed suicide by hanging, on March 23, 1905 in Fairgrove, MI. It was stated in a newspaper article that she had received a letter from “her old home across the sea” that day, and apparently hung herself after reading it. (Although the letter was not found.) This would have happened shortly after the time the McCallum family should have gone to Fairgrove and been with them. She was buried at the Brookside, Fairgrove Cemetery. (She had no children.)

The McCallum family arrived at the port in Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada and then went on to St. John’s in New Brunswick, Canada, in February, 1905. (Aboard 2 different ships.) It appears they entered America through the port in Michigan.

Daniel McCallum, VII passed away at the Belfast City Hospital in Belfast, Antrim, Ireland, on May 23, 1910.

In April, 1910 we find Mary Woods McCallum was living in Detroit, Michigan at 396-17th Street, working as a demonstrator in a store.

By January, 1920 Mary Woods McCallum was living in Detroit at 407 Hancock, with her daughter Mary who is listed as a bookkeeper for the railway depot.

Mary Woods McCallum continued living with her daughter, who by 1925 was married. All 3 can be found in April, 1930, living in Detroit at 4230 Courtland. This census also states that both Mary Woods McCallum and her daughter Mary McCallum Potter were naturalized as American Citizens.

It appears that Mary Woods McCallum and her daughter Mary McCallum were naturalized as US citizens on November 26, 1921 Michigan. (NOTE: The entry for Mary Steveley Woods McCallum, on her naturalization, shows her birth year as 1861.)

Helen McCallum received a Certificate of Derivative Citizenship due to the act passed in 1922. She became a US citizen on June 22, 1944.

Daniel McCallum, VIII became a US citizen upon his serving in WW1.

Mary Steveley Woods McCallum passed away on October 2, 1946 at home (1015 Bedford Road) in Grosse Pointe Park, MI. She was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, MI.

Their daughter Helen McCallum:
Helen met a man who was working for the rail road, by the name of Benjamin P. Vise, born January 29, 1886 in Arkansas. They were married on June 16, 1917 in Chico, CA. Benjamin passed away on June 4, 1930. Helen Vise passed away on August 24, 1989 in Sacramento, CA. She and her husband are buried at the Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento, CA. Helen and Benjamin had 3 children, all born in California.

Their daughter Mary McCallum:
Mary was married on November 21, 1925 to Albert Thayer Potter. Albert was born on August 5, 1886 in Rhode Island. He was an Engineer for the Automobile Association. Albert Potter passed away on February 1, 1951 in Michigan. Mary Potter passed away on October 27, 1964 in Michigan. Both she and her husband are buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Mary and Albert had no children.

Their son Daniel McCallum, VIII:
Daniel joined the armed forces during WW1, enlisting in Michigan, and was transferred to serve with the 864th Aero Squadron Signal Corps, US Army, in St. Paul, from 10/7/1918 through 1/3/1919. He was married to Anna Burns on August 25, 1919 in St. Paul, Minnesota. They resided in Pontiac, MI., until about 1921, when they moved back to Anna’s home state of Minnesota. Daniel passed away on September 21, 1941 in Minnesota. Daniel’s wife, Anna, passed away on May 19, 1965 in Minnesota. They are both buried at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Daniel and Anna had 5 children, one born in Michigan and the rest born in Minnesota.