Preface
Beulah "Billie" Pearl Shanahan Murrie, the daughter of Dennis Potter and Ellen (Wilkerson) Shanahan was keenly interested in her family's history. She was told many stories of her Grandfather Michael William Shanahan, by her father Dennis "Denny" Potter Shanahan. In order to learn as much as possible about her grandfather, Billie requested that her Aunt Nora (Nora Mildred Shanahan Phillips) put down in writing what she knew of her family. Nora did so and mailed this document to Billie, who then typed it up and inserted a few notes of her own. To read an online transcription of this letter, click View Nora's Letter.
One of the notes which Billie inserted into this document was a little story that her father, Dennis P. Shanahan had relayed to her regarding Michael W. Shanahan's "adventure" when he stowed away on board a ship to come to America. This story mentions that after Michael was discovered to be a stowaway that he was forced to work to pay off his passage. The story also mentions that Michael had "never done much physical work" but that he had been taught the "art of manly defense" and "This art of defense was to be used to good advantage later in his Mississippi school teaching years".
In addition to asking her Aunt Nora to write down what she knew of her family, Billie made the same requst of her Aunt Sallie (Sallie Moina Shanahan Freeze, yougest daughter of Michael W. Shanahan). Aunt Sallie complied with this request and again when Billie received this letter, she typed copies of it and inserted a few notes of her own. To read an online transcription of this letter, click View Sallie's Letter.
One of the notes which Billie inserted into this letter says, "I know some marvelous things that Dad [Dennis Potter Shanahan] told us about our grandfater, Michael William Shanahan, that I'll be glad to share with you, if you care to hear them. At least one thing occurred at the school where Grandpa was the Principal and did a lot of teaching, that Dad [Dennis P. Shanahan], a 12 year old lad witnessed is so inspiring that am sure would be an inspiration to you if you knew it."
After reading all these "hints" of this marvelous tale, I determined to find out if Billie had ever written it down or related it to any other family members, and I was fortunate to find a family member who remembered this story and who graciously recounted it for me. I've transcribed it here for everyone in the family to enjoy:
The Schoolmaster's Tale
In Mississippi at that time, (and I don't know exact places or dates) schooling was repugnant to big, strong, teenaged, farm boys. It was common practice, very routine, to run school teachers out of the county and therefore eliminate the confines of school--no teacher, no school, no rules. With this purpose in mind, a band of ruffians lay in wait to ambush Grandfather Shanahan as he rode his horse to school. When he passed their way there was a violent surprise attack on him from all sides. He reacted with lightening speed. He took them on individually and as a group and, with his fists and raw strength, beat the boys soundly. In submission, with bruised egos and battered bodies, Grandfather marched the boys to school and presented them to the class. This began his teaching career. The boys overcame their humiliation, learned respect and went on to become attentive students.
Notes:
Dennis Potter Shanahan was born in 1873, which means that if he witnessed this event when he was 12 years old it would have taken place circa 1885. Michael W. Shanahan died in 1887, so the events which took place in this story would have been only two years before his death. We know from Nora's letter that her father was in failing health near to the end of his life and that his wife, Sallie Margaret Potter Shanahan, who had a college education, either took over his duties as schoolteacher (or assisted him in teaching). So, whether or not Dennis Potter Shanahan actually "witnessed" these events is questionable; but regardless of whether he was an actual eyewitness or whether it was a tale told to him by his own father, the basic facts of the story "ring true" and are most likely a good representation of what rural schoolteachers of that era had to endure when it came to the behavior of their students.
This was not the beginning of his teaching carreer, for we have a letter written in July 1868 [4 months prior to his wedding when he was living in Senatobia, MS] in Michael's own hand which tells of his own teaching experiences. To read a transcription of this letter, click View Michael's Letter.
Transcribed 23 September 2000 by Kathy L. Rhodes. This family story was written down for me by a family member who wishes to remain anonymous.Return to Shanahan Family Genealogy Home Page