Johanna Larkins McClain

Johanna Larkins was born about 1842, the youngest daughter of Daniel and Johanna (Skehan) Larkins. Originally from County Tipperary, Ireland, Daniel Larkins and his family settled on farmland in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio prior to the younger Johanna's birth. The family was Irish Catholic, and Johanna had several older brothers and sisters.

By 1880, Johanna Larkins had become married to Thomas McClain of Bellevue, Ohio. Thomas was a widower with two young daughters, Nora and Bridget.  Thomas and Johanna would have another daughter to add to the family, Mary McClain, born about 1877, according to U.S. Census records.

Thomas McClain died on January 10, 1891. He was buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Bellevue, Ohio. In the early 1900s, Johanna Larkins McClain moved to Cleveland, where she resided with her daughter Mary.
Joanna died on May 9, 1909. She was laid to rest beside her husband Thomas at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Bellevue, Ohio. How I would have enjoyed talking with her, and asking her about the early years of her life! She was the baby sister of my three times great grandfather Patrick Larkins.

My great grandmother, Irene Larkins, always carried on the family tradition of hospitality, offering coffee and cake to visitors. I am sure Johanna shared that same tradition. Another tradition in the Larkins family was to visit the graves of loved ones often, and remember them by placing flowers on  their tombstones.