By Richard B. Robertson
(Mounted May 25, 2000)
As a genealogist, I have often encountered especially difficult situations when attempting to find a particular family line. For many of us
there are a variety of obstacles associated with researching our ethnic roots. Fortunately, when all the hours at a microfilm reader,
writing to the National Archives, and trips on rainy days to the cemetery fail, there are other unique sources which offer the researcher
valuable information. One of these unique sources can be found in funeral home records. As a manuscript processor, specialist in
genealogical collections in the Western Reserve Historical Society Library, in Cleveland, Ohio, I feel privileged to be able to share with
you one such discovery - the McGorray Brothers Funeral Home Records (MS 4805).
The story of Mark McGorray (1829-1891), the founder of the McGorray Funeral Home, is a prime example of an Irish immigrant's
success. Mark McGorray was born in 1829 and came to America in 1844 at the age of fifteen. He chose Rochester, New York, as his
first home. As a young man, he traveled to California and, like so many others of that time, sought out his fortune. He ultimately
returned to Rochester and, with his family, arrived in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1864. In Cleveland, he struggled as a cooper smith, a livery
stable proprietor, and a furniture store owner. His first business location was located at 3040 Lorain Avenue. It was common practice
in the nineteenth century for furniture makers to double as undertakers. The McGorrays struggled in this particular profession, but finally
succeeded. He was nominated by the Democratic Party for several political elections, but never elected to public office. After Mark
McGorray's death in the winter of 1891, his two sons, James W. McGorray (d. 1919) and Joseph (d. 1910) took over the reins of the
family business. It then became known as the McGorray Brothers Funeral Home. The family continues to operate the business today.
There is further specific family genealogical information contained within the manuscript register to the McGorray collection.
The key to unlocking family tree secrets is often linked to one significant discovery, and there are many such opportunities to be found
here. It is often difficult to consult Catholic diocese records, and it is equally difficult to find specific information that provides details
about an elusive ancestor. These funeral home records hold a fountain of information for genealogical researchers.
These records are predominantly the funeral accounts of Irish - Americans. There are also other ethnic backgrounds represented,
including British, Italian, German, and Eastern European. The majority of these records are Roman Catholic/Irish - American. There
are approximately 14,000 funerals recorded between the years 1876 and 1934, which are represented in the collection's twenty-eight
chronologically - arranged volumes. A typical funeral record contains the name of the deceased, to whom the account is billed (in many
cases this is a next of kin), date of death. residence at the time of death, age, sex, the cause of death, the date and location of the
burial, and the attending physician and his address. There are also further clues contained within these records in the form of death
certificates, receipts, and burial permits. Records from the turn of the twentieth century provide the greatest details for the researcher.
The funeral home records in this collection are easy to research. The majority are also indexed alphabetically for quick genealogical
reference. It is hoped that this unique genealogical source will inspire the researcher to indulge their creative side and seek out further
unusual collections. Some of these will be explored in future reviews. Best wishes in your searches! Erin Go Bragh!!
This article was originally published by the Western Reserve Historical Society and is reprinted here with their
permission.
Richard Barclay Robertson, M.Div., is a Manuscript Processor, Specialist in Genealogical Collections, for the Western
Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been a genealogist for over a decade and is in pursuit of his
certification. In addition, his educational goals include furthering his studies in history at The University of Akron and
obtaining a Master of Library and Information Science with a specialization in archives and record management at the
University of Pittsburgh. He contributed this essay to the Public History Resource Center while he was serving as an associate editor.
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