This drawing by Kathy Koebel of the second Byrne's mill building was on the cover of the Fall, 1988 edition of "Reflections." (An earlier structure was replaced by this one some time before 1888.) In that edition Della Lang authored this article:
THE BYRNES OF BYRNE'S MILL
Patrick C. Byrne (1820-1891), and his father, James, from County Meath, Ireland, landed in America in 1849. After spending a year in Wilmington, Deleware, the pioneers made the decision to move west.
The two men lived in St. louis for a while, where Patrick met and married Miss Catherine Campbell. Catherine died during their first year of marriage. Several years later, Patrick married Rosa (1838-1914), with whom he had eleven children.
James purchased some farmland near House Springs. What made the Byrnes decide to settle in Jefferson County has never been clear, but one old friend of the family believes that it may have had something to do with Patrick's job. He said that Patrick was then employed by the government as a land buyer.
In partnership with his cousin, Patrick Dunegan, Byrne opened a store on Big River in 1859. Six years later, he purchased a grist mill at another location on the river.
The Byrnes Mill Road, which now passes by the entrance to lake Montowese, began as little more than a path leading from the mill to the old Gravois Road. It may have been a well-beaten Indian trail, but with the heavy traffic to and from the mill, the trail soon became a road.
Byrne is given credit for receiving the first bonds ever issued for road building in Jefferson County. An early history book states that he built the first mile of macadamized road ever built in the county, but it is not clear if the road in question was Gravois or Byrnes Mill Road.
Patrick Byrne served as district assessor, as a Justice of the Peace, and was elected Associate Judge of the County Court from the first district 1882-1884. He died seven years later, leaving an estate valued at more than $100,00. (That was a whopping sum in those days.)
Patrick and Rosa were the parents of James, Thomas, Patrick, Christopher, John T., Mary Jane, Annie, and Margaret (Ella). Three children died young.
Thomas (born 1858) was married to Katherine (Kitty) Dwyer, the daughter of John and Marguerite (Reilly) Dwyer of Scheve. Thomas and Kitty had one daughter, Alice, who never married.
After the death of Thomas in 1890, Kitty married James P. Dougherty who was a prominent educator in Jefferson County. After their marriage, Dougherty enrolled in medical school and became a physician.
Patrick (born 1860), was married to Eleanor Sale. They were the parents of ten children: Frank who married Stella Heist; Joseph, who married Elizabeth Kendrick; Margaret, who married William Giblin; William, who married Emily McKenna; Cletus, who first married Bess Kiernan, and then Theresa Fitzpatrick; Thomas, who married Emma Hopkins; Loretta, who became Sister Leo Christopher; and leo who became a Catholic Bishop. Two children died in infancy.
John T. (1863-1933), was in the commission business, in St. Louis, in his younger years. He was over 50 years old when he married Mary Ellen O'Leary, better known to her friends and relatives as "Aunt Polly." John T. raised his family in a lovely old home on Byrnesville Road, which is still in the hands of descendants. The couple had five children; Chris, John, Dorothy (Stratil), Maurice, a Catholic priest; and Mary Rose, who died in infancy.
Mary Jane (born 1865), never married. In later years, she went to live with her brother in Galveston, Texas.
Christopher (born 1867), became a Catholic priest. He was eventually appointed as the Bishop of Galveston, Texas.
Annie (born 1869), joined a religious order and became Sister Rosina.
Margaret (Ella) (born 1871) never married. She, too, moved to Texas to live with her brother.
James (1856-1941), was the first born son, and the one who inherited the family business. James took over the operation of the Byrne's Mill, and rebuilt it before 1888. The picture on our cover (above, here) was the second mill to be erected on the same site. (There is a poor reproduction of the first mill with this article as published . . . ed)
One day the old grist mill water wheel (turbine? . . . ed) stopped turning for no apparent reason, according to a story once told by John Byrne. John, who was the son of the mill owner, said he set the gate down and diverted the water so he could get in and take a closer look. He wa astonished to find a huge catfish (estimated to weigh 95 lbs.) caught in the water wheel. (Probably the turbine . . . ed) They removed the fish and the Byrne family ate a lot of catfish for awhile - and the old mill wheel went right on turning, until the building burned in 1935. (There are stories of the turbine turning long after the fire . . . ed.)
The Byrne family also operated a large farm near the mill property, and a summer resort area which began as a fishing resort as early as 1900. In later years, a picnic area, swimming area and refreshment stand were added.
The Byrnes were very successful, but hard-working people. However they did occasionally take time out to enjoy some of the simpler things in life.
James Byrne once owned a pet crow, with a split tongue. When the farm workers were doing the planting, the crow would swoop down on them and steal their seed. The trained crow would then fly away and perch on a nearby fence, laughing, "Ha! Ha!, Ha! Ha!" To the farm workers this bird was nothing but a pest, but the resort guests loved the antics of the strange little talking crow.
Jame was married to Nellie (Dwyer), who was a sister to Kitty Byrne. The couple wee the parents of John, Patrick, Margaret, Gertrude, Rose B., Adele R., Lila (Dettenwanger), Nellie, and Agnes (Brenecke).
The Byrne home, located across from the old mill property, was recently sold. It was the third home built on the same site. The first two houses were destroyed by fire. But much of the original Byrne property, including the site of the old mill, is still owned by the descendants of Patrick Byrne, the pioneer for whom the new city of Byrnes Mill is named. (The site of the mill and much of the land surrounding it is now (2008) owned by the City of Brrnes Mill as Byrnes Mill City Park . . . ed)
-=D. Lang=-
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