Terrence and Mary Ellen Tracy

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Terrence and Mary Ellen (De Wane) Tracy
(Left to right:  Terrence, Roland, Mary Ellen, Alice De Wane, Cy)

For three weeks, banns and the intentions of Terrence Ambrose Tracy and Mary Ellen De Wane to wed were announced at St. James Catholic Church in Cooperstown, Wisconsin.  The year was 1895.  The union being uncontested, the son of Martin and Elizabeth (O'Brien) Tracy and the daughter of Timothy and Bridget Ellen (Cook) DeWane were married on Tuesday, September 10 of that year.  From all accounts, their marriage was the kind that lasts a lifetime.  This couple were my great-grandparents, the parents of my grandfather Roland Martin Tracy.

Terrence, who was born July 25, 1866 in Franklin, Wisconsin, had grown up on the family farm there and had moved to the Wisconsin northwoods to log.  He came back to his home town to marry the neighbor girl, one of the daughters of the prolific De Wane clan.

Mary Ellen, born January 9, 1873 in Franklin, was a well-known school teacher in Kewaunee County at the time.  Following their marriage, they moved to Wausaukee, Wisconsin.

On census day in 1900, the Tracy family household consisted of Terrence, Mary Ellen, son Cyril James "Cy", who, like Terrence, was born July 25 (in 1896) and daughter, Alice Elizabeth, born October 8, 1897.  Mary Ellen's sister Alice also lived with them at that time. 

Odessa "Dess" Mary was born July 29, 1902 followed by Roland Martin on September 25, 1904 and Ethel Bridget on January 14, 1908. 

Terrence, a lumberman, held the positions of woods foreman, barn boss and teamster.  A teamster is a person in charge of driving the horses and wagon that hauls the logs.  Later, after logging, the family established a farm.  They bought about 360 acres on the outskirts of Wausaukee.  There they hosted family gatherings and great meals.  

At the farm, Terrence had a huge team of horses named "Dan" and "Daisy" which were, in addition to being their farm animals, entered in horse pulling contests at the Marinette County fairs.  He also bought a pony that the grandchildren often rode and had a dog named "Shep" who, at milking time, brought the cows to the barn. 

Great-Grandpa Tracy was described as a very big man--tall and big-boned, and straight as an arrow in posture.  Great-Grandma Tracy was remembered for her devotion to her Catholic faith.  She was a devout Christian woman who insisted on all those around her practicing their faith, saying their prayers and attending mass.  She was described as an exceptional teacher, who, after her marriage to Terrence, became a great cook in the logging camps and the bookkeeper for the camps in Northern Wisconsin where Terrence was foreman.  She was very popular for her delicious meals, great homemade breads, rolls, pies and cakes, and ice cream.  Terrence loved good food and Mary Ellen could cook a great meal.  It was a match made in heaven!

Mary Ellen and Terrence Tracy

Mary tended her flower and vegetable gardens while Terrence tended the fields and the cattle.  She was strictly in charge of "Her Creamery."  Terrence and his helpers were allowed to milk the cows and carry the pails to her but only to hand them to her at the door.  She kept the place immaculate and no one was allowed inside with "barn boots."  She churned butter and they derived income from selling milk, vegetables, eggs and apples from a large orchard on the farm.

Cooking on a wood stove with no temperature gauge, Mary baked loaves of bread, cloverleaf rolls, apple and cherry pies, donuts and cream puffs and they always turned out perfectly.  So say her devout fans. 

On the same old stove, she would place four different irons at a time to heat them and then take them, one at time with a handle, and iron the clothes. 

Mary Ellen Tracy loved her God, her family and her life.  Everyone, I'm told, loved her and respected her.  She had no other place to go but to heaven when she died at age 70 on August 19, 1943.  When she passed away, Terrence might as well have gone also because he was never the same after her death.

After Mary died, Terrence lived with his daughter Ethel, her husband Carrol Schmidt, and their children in Green Bay.  Terrence died on November 1, 1957 in Green Bay at age 91 after a short illness of pneumonia and a compression fracture.  He lies buried next to Mary in the cemetery in Wausaukee.