Thomas and Sarah had a wonderful wedding on the 19 th in the cold, snowy month of January 1875. Their first baby was a boy, Gilbert Valentine Byrnes (1876-1935). The children following Gilbert were John Amandus Byrnes (1878-1935), Herman James Byrnes (1881-1911), Mary Jane Elizabeth Byrnes (1881-1881), Marcellus Augustine Byrnes (1884-1955), Emma S. Byrnes (1887-1974), Margaret Viola Byrnes (1891-1972), Edward Raymond Byrnes (1893-1966), William Henry Byrnes (1895-1983), and the baby Ella Mae Byrnes (1900-1984).

Thomas and Sarah each had Irish and German blood, they had been married just about one month shy of 44 years when Sarah died in 1918. From all accounts Thomas and Sarah were great parents and grandparents. Sarah was said to be a caring mother and Thomas J. was a wonderful (along with strict and stern) father.

The following is from William R."Dick" Byrnes of his grandfather Thomas J. Byrnes: Good father but very strict. He was a big man. Required children to attend catechism on Saturdays and Sunday School on Sunday at Holy Cross Church in Spangler. Thomas J. Byrnes donated a stained glass window that is still in Holy Cross church with his name on it. He raised 9 children and had no hobbies.

My grandmother, Pauline Elizabeth Schrot Byrnes (1894-1972), with my grandfather raised 5 boys in the home pictured here. The house is on James Street in Byrnesville, in Susquehanna Township, Cambria County Pennsylvania.

The first born boy came in 1926 so Pauline and Ed raised the boys right through the Depression.