Michael “Buddy” Tearance KEARNS was born 19 Jan 1865 or 1856 or 1860, even as early as 1853 according to the 1900 census, though the 1870 census gives him as born 1855 and the 1860 census gives him as born about 1856. He was born at Toulminville, Mobile Co. AL to John KEARNS and Catherine McNULTY, both from Ireland. He was the second son of 4 known children.
Michael married Mary MCANDREWS b. Jan. 1862, possible daughter of Thomas MCANDREWS. According to the 1900 census they had been married 13 years so were married about 1887 when Mary was about 25 and Michael was probably about 32.
Michael and Mary had 2 children who lived to adulthood:
- Rhett Goode KEARNS b. 16 June 1888, married Susan Elizabeth CRABTREE. He married second Carmie Cordila GILMORE.
- Claude Martin KEARNS b. 24 Sep 1894, died June 7 1978 at about 84 years of age. He married Inez M. born 25 May 1899 and died Feb. 1983 at about 84 in Alabama. They had no children. (Source: SSDI gives the above birthdate for Claude, and death as June 1978, his SS# issued in Alabama. C. Pollman gives Claude as having been born 1895 and also provides the death date. SSDI gives the above dates for Inez; C. Pollman provided she was born 1899 and died 1983.)
The family is found in the 1900 Alabama Mobile census nestled amongst several other Irish families. Catherine KEARNS, Michael’s mother, is seen living with the REYNOLDS, her daughter’s family. Thomas McANDREWS, probable father of Michael’s wife, is also seen on the census. I only give here pertinent individuals with some of the surrounding families:
1900 Alabama Mobile Co. Kester District, Enumeration District 88
pg. 21 ancestry.com
REYNOLDS Peter b. 1849 50 married 37 years b. Ireland parents b. Ireland immigrated 1865 gardener
Eliza Oct. 1853 47 6 children 5 surviving b. AL parents b. Ireland
Mary Sept. 1882 18 b. AL
John Jan. 1883 17 b. AL apprentice machinist
Cozine Jan. 1885 15 b. AL
Charles Jan. 1889 11 b. AL
Edward Nov. 1894 5 b. AL
KERNS Catherine mother-in-law April 1823 76 widowed b. Ireland parents b. Ireland
pg. 24 ancestry.com
MCANDREW Martin July 1835 65 married 30 years b. Ireland parents b. Ireland immigrated 1852 Gardener
Maria May 1840 60 b. Ireland parents b. Ireland
MCANDREWS Thomas Jan. 1864 35 married 12 years b. AL parents b. Ireland Gardener
Mary Dec. 1867 32 3 children 2 surviving b. AL parents b. Germany
Ellen? Dec. 1888 11 b. AL
Barbara July 1895 5 b. AL
pg. 28 ancestry.com
271/277
WALKER Sarah (b) 1840 60 wd. b. AL parents b. AL servant
? WIlliam son Nov 1878 22 b. AL brick master
WARD Octavia daughter 1865 35 b.AL
REYNOLDS Eddie son in law Oct. 1887 13 b. AL
272/278
Kelly James July 1861 39 married 18 years b. AL parents b. Ireland gardener owns home
Mary b. April 1865 34 b. AL parents b. Ireland
James August? 1883 17 b. AL apprentice blacksmith
Minnie March 1885 15 b. AL
Annie March 1887 13 b. AL
Joseph April 1890 10 b. AL
William July 1891 8 b. AL
273/279
CAMINA? or BAMINA? Joseph Feb. 1845 55 b. Italy parents b. Italy immigrated 1869 gardener
274/280
HARRIS John Feb. 1842 58 married 27 years b. AL parents b. AL bookkeeper
Elizabeth b. 1852 47 (4 children shown in census)
ROBINSON Edward servant (b) April 1885 14 b. AL parents b. AL
Edna servant (b) April 1885 14 b. AL
25/281
HARRIS William b. 1873 and Georgia and family
276/282
MCANDREWS (can’t read name) head female April 1848 52 wd. b. Ireland parents b. Ireland
Martin son Jan. 1873 27 s. b. AL parents b. Ireland
Annie daughter Jan. 1875 25 s. b. AL 276/283
MCANDREWS James Aug. 1860 40 married 17 y. b. AL gardener
Katie nov. 1861 39 3 children 3 surviving b. AL father b. PA mother b. AL
Leo March 1884 16 b. AL grocery clerk
May August 1886 14 b. AL
Allen March 1891 9 b. AL
census pg. 15; pg. 29 ancestry.com
280/288
TUITS? Elizabeth Aug 1840 60, wd. b. Ireland parents b. Ireland immigrated 1852, in U.S. 48 years, owns home
John son June 1869 31 s. b. AL parents b. Ireland teamster
BYONES? James brother May 1843 57 s. b. Ireland parents b. Ireland immigrated 1852, in U.S. 48 years, NA under naturalization
280/289
TUITS Frank June 1870 30 married 3 years b. AL parents b. Ireland, teamster
Sadie Feb. 1877 22 2 children with 2 surviving b. AL parents b. Ireland
John H. Sept. 1898 2 b. LA
Catherine V. April 1899 1 b. LA
281/289
KERNS Michael Jan. 1853 47 married 13 years, b. AL parents b. Ireland, foreman
Mary A. Jan. 1862 38 3 children 2 surviving b. AL parents b. Ireland
Rhett G. June 1888 12 b. AL
Claude Sept. 1895 5 b.AL
282/290
DOODY James 1870 30 married 5 years b. AL parents b. Ireland vegetable dealer
Mary Dec 1871 28 2 children, 2 surviving b. AL father b. AL mother b. NJ
James H. Jan. 1896 4 b. AL
Edmond C. May 1897 3 b. AL
(I only explored pages 8 to 30 of 30 of the census.)
C. Pollman has located Michael on the 1910 census, which gives him as 50 and married 33 years. He was a foreman; a chemical worker. Mary was 44. Her parents are given as born in Ireland. Rhett Goode was 21 and Claude Martin was 15. They were both living at home. Rhett was an electrical worker.
Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Kosters, Mobile, Alabama; Roll: T624_26; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 70; Image: 351.
488/500 REYNOLDS Edward black 20
Hattie
BELL Carrie mother-inl0aw
489/501 PALMER Charles R. and Augusta
490/502 KERNS Michael T. Head 50 md 33 years b. AL parents Iri-English
Mary wife 45 3 children 2 surviving b. AL parents b. Iri-English
Rhett Goode son 21 b. AL parents b. AL
Claude Martin son 15
491/503 GUSS Thomas mulatto
492/504 HALL Walter and Mary black
1920 AL, MOBILE CO., MOBILE, PRECINCT 30
pg. 7A (15 at ancestry.com)
St. Michael St.
405/168/200 KEARNS Rhett G. 31 b. AL parents b. AL electrician
Susie E. 26 b. AL parents b. AL
Rhett Jr. 2 and 1//12 b. AL parents b. AL
Mary 1 and 6/12
Dorothy 0/12
James 0/12
201 KEARNS Michael T. 60 b. AL parents b. Ireland foreman at Chemical plant?
Mary F. 50 b. AL parents b. Ireland
Claude M. 23 b. AL salesman at a wholesale grocery
1930 AL, MOBILE CO., MOBILE, WARD 4
Conti Street
pg. 18B
918/298/364 KEARNS Rhett G. rent $30 41 (gives 28 when first married) electrician at the dry docks
Susan E. 35 (gives 22 when first married)
Rhett G. Jr. 13
Mary R. 11
Dorothy E. 10
James D. 10
Seldon S. 4 and 2/12
Michael T. father 70 27 age at first married Gives father here as born England and mother as born in Northern Ireland night watchman at the city wharf
Mary T. mother 65 22 age at first married gives both parents as born Northern Ireland
Michael’s death certificate gives his date of birth as January 19, 1865. It states that he was living at 105. N. Franklin St. in Mobile at the time of his death, 21 Oct. 1932, at the age of 67, and had been living there 23 years. He died a month after his sister Eliza. He was working as a Night Superintendent at the Municipal Docks, and had been at this occupation 5 years. The informant was Mrs. M. F. Kearns, who C. Pollman gives as probably being his wife with a wrong middle initial.
Michael is given as having lost his arm in an accident.
It is likely that Michael was born about 1855, in accordance with the earliest census data, and so was 72 at the time of his death.
Michael was buried at Catholic Cemetery in Mobile. Sec. D, Lot 29.
Michael’s death certificate.
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