THE FAMILY OF
JAMES DREW & THERESA CUSICK DREW

James Drew  1833 - 1890

Theresa Cusick Drew  1843 - 1892

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ORIGINS AND BACKGROUND OF JAMES DREW

Fully researched websites are on line and contain much information regarding the history of the Drew family and their origins in Ireland, and James' family of origin.  James Father brought at least 5 children from Ireland to the U.S.A. in 1847.  To review these websites, use the following URL's.

HISTORY OF THE DREW FAMILY:  http://www.wildirishroots.com/DREW/DrewHistory.html

THE FAMILY OF JOHN DREW & ROSE REILLY:  http://www.wildirishroots.com/DREW/1806JohnDrew/1806JohnDrew.html

THE FAMILY'S PLACE OF ORIGIN IN IRELAND:  http://www.wildirishroots.com/DREW/LAKENSTOWN/Lakenstown-1.html

 

 
 
 

James and Theresa had a total of at least eight children... only 4 of whom survived.
The youngest of the surviving children was our grandfather, James H. Drew

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ORIGINS AND BACKGROUND OF THERESA CUSACK

Theresa was born in 1843.  Her place of birth is consistently listed in the Census reports and other records as "New York."  [NOT necessarily New York City.]  We know that she was the daughter of Irish immigrants; but, by 1860 she must have been living in Daviess County, Indiana, where she met James Drew (age 26) when she was about 16.

There is nothing but scanty "tradition" to inform us about Theresa's parents.  I remember hearing her grandsons (the sons of "Harry" Drew) discussing her origins.  The grandsons were in agreement that Theresa's father worked for the fire department; but they disagreed as to whether it was the Baltimore or the Philadelphia Fire Department.

One "clue" would be that in the year of her marriage to James Drew, James's brother, John, left Indiana and joined a New York Regiment [NY 71st Infantry] preparing to fight in the Civil War.  Even though John Deserted (July 4, 1861) this story might hold a "clue" in that it suggests that the Drew and Cusack families might have had ties that went back to Ireland and that John's presence in New York was connected with the Cusack family.  [The idea that the families were related, however, seems ruled out since Theresa and James married, and the Catholic clergy of those times was very strict regarding the consanguinity rules.]  Beyond this, I am not aware of any additional information or clues... and... THIS RESEARCH IS STALLED!

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JAMES  MOVES  TO  INDIANA BUYS 120 ACRE FARM IN DAVIESS COUNTY

Upon their arrival in the U.S.A. in 1847, James and his family spent about 10 or 11 years in Kentucky.  Records are scarce but seem to confirm the tradition that they settled in the Lexington area... and there is also a tradition and some evidence that they may have lived for a time in Louisville.  Research is ongoing on this matter.

Probably about 1858 or thereafter, James moved to Daviess county, Indiana.  He was definitely there in 1860 and in May of that year, shortly after the death of their father, John Drew, Sr., James filed for and received legal guardianship of his younger brother John Jr. aged 17 at that time.
 

THE MARRIAGE OF JAMES DREW & THERESA CUSACK

No document has been found; though we know that the family bible lists the date of the marriage as December __, 1861, just a few months following the purchase of the farm.  Their first born, Catherine, was born almost exactly a year later.
 

THE 1860's: CHILDREN, HEARTACHE, & HARD WORK

 

THE 1870 CENSUS LISTING FOR THE FAMILY OF JAMES & THERESA (CUSICK) DREW
[NOTE: The actual 1870 census document has not been located or studied as of 11/18/01.  The data below is a projection]

Name	Age	Relationship	Occupation	Birthplace	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
Drew, James	36	Husband	farmer	Ireland	Ireland	Ireland
Drew, Theresa	26	Wife	keeping house	New York	Ireland	Ireland
Drew, Catherine	7	Daughter	at home	Indiana	Ireland	New York
Drew, John E.	3	Son	at home	Indiana	Ireland	New York
Drew, Mary	1	Daughter	x	Indiana	Ireland	New York
Drew, George B.	?	Son	x	Indiana	Ireland	New York

 

THE 1870'S: MORE CHILDREN & "TROUBLE ON THE FARM"

 
 

A SNAPSHOT OF THE FAMILY IN IT'S PRIME 1 8 7 8

With the birth of Rose ["Rosie Jane"] in 1872, the family consisted of 5 children.  As far as we know, all of them were healthy and thriving as the photos below seem to confirm.   In 1878, Rosie would have begun school, and her eldest sister would have attained the age of 16.  With all 5 children now schooling, Theresa would have attained the age of 35; and James, 45.  There had been no more children born for 6 years.

All the photos below seem to have been taken within the time span 1878-1881 and serve as a nice visual "snapshot of the family"

The photo at lower right however, my grandfather at age 1, serves as confirmation that Theresa and James's family was not complete yet.  In fact, still another son, William Leo, (Named for the sitting Pope?) was born in 1885; but lived only a few months.

Click on the photo to see it full size The photo above is believed to beCatherine Drew, the eldest child of this family at about age 16.  The photo is an old "tin type"

Click on the photo to see it full size We believe this to be a photo of John E. Drew (1866-1892) who was the second born (after Catherine) and eldest son of James Drew and Theresa Cusack.

Click on the photo to see it full size We believe this to be a photo of George B. Drew, (b.1870) who is mentioned in James Drew's will as inheriting a horse "provided he will stay at home and care for his mother."  The picture would be from about 1878.

Click on the photo to see it full size We are certain that this a picture of our grandfather, James H. ("Harry") Drew (1880-1937.)  Although James and Theresa (Cusick) Drew had one more child (William) in 1882, William died in infancy; so our granfather was the youngest surviving child or "baby" of the family.

 

SUMMARY OF THE CHILDREN OF JAMES & THERESA DREW

Catherine Drew [Beckett],  b. December 4, 1862  ~~  d. March 25, 1931  [Her great grandson, Herb Beckett is in touch.]
Mary Drew,  b. May 20, 1864  ~~ d. (the same day) May 20, 1864
John Edward Drew,  b. August 12, 1866  ~~  d. October 25, 1892   [We have lost touch with his decendants]
Mary ("Mollie") Drew,  b. August 18, 1868  ~~  d. July 12, 1880
George Bernard Drew,  b. March 6, 1870  ~~  d. [many decendants]
Rosey Jane Drew,  b. December 11, 1872  ~~  d. April 25, 1881
James Henry ("Harry") Drew,  b. April 6, 1880  ~~  d. December 12, 1937  [many decendants]
William Leo Drew,  b. June 20, 1885  ~~  d. October 10, 1885.

NOTE:  This family kept a bible with birth, marriage and death records.  My uncle Bill wrote down and sent me all the entries from that bible in 1969 and I have used them for the following summary.  I believe Bill said the bible was in the custody of his brother, Richard F. Drew.  To anticipate and clarify some possible confusion, the Irish "nickname" for Mary is "Molly."   Even though James and Theresa named the child born May 20, 1864 "Mary," this child died the same day it was born.  The child born 4 year later, on August 18, 1868, was also named "Mary" and was referred to as "Mollie" in most documents.

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THE 1880's MORE HEARTACHE AND A BITTER END James "Harry" Drew is orphaned