Allen McDonell was born in the parish of Bunoich, Invernesshire, Scotland in 1824 or 1825. The date of 1 Oct. is either his birthdate or christening date. He was the son of Ranald McDonell and Anne McIntosh, "spinster" as listed by his birth certificate. Anne was the daughter of Duncan McIntosh. Ranald McDonell never married but acknowledged Allen as his son in his will which was filed in Inverness after his death in 1869. Ranald had a second son by Ellen Nunns of Liverpool, Eng. in 1845. The son, Richard Nunns, was acknowledged in Ranald's will only as "a friend of Alan", however, he lived with members of the McDonell family until he came to America in 1866. Allen married Mary Taylor,born 21 Jan 1827, in Shropshire, England, daughter of William Taylor, in Peoria County Illinois in 1849. They lived there until 1867 when they moved to LaSalle County. They had the following six children whose names are listed below and a seventh that apparently died in infancy. DONALD McDonell b. 1852, d. 21 Nov 1835, age 83 never married LaSalle Co. DUNCAN McDonell b. ca 1855 d 10 or 12 Dec 1913 or 14 unmarried LaSalle Co SARAH McDonell b. ca 1854 d 9 Feb 1933 md Frank BRENNAN in 1884 in Wenona, LaSalle Co., Il RANALD (RONALD) b 26 Mr 1858, Peoria, IL, d 25 Aug 1935, Ord, Valley Co., NE, buried Neligh, Antelope Co., NE md. Mary Ann BRENNAN 24 Feb 1879 in Il JOHN McDonell b. 22 Feb 1860 d. 3 Jan 1905, Geneva, Fillmore Co. NE, buried in LaSalle Co. MARY AGNES b ca 1868-1875, d. after 1958, St. Mary's Hospital, Streator, IL, buried St. Mary's Cemetery, Wenona unmarried Mary Ann Brennan McDonell was born in 1858 and died in 1948 and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Tilden, NE Ranald/Ronald and Mary Ann had the following children: ALLEN b abt 1880 in IL, died by 1963, lived in Chicago ALEX JAMES b 6 Mar 1881, Wenona, Il, d. 4 May 1965, Grand Island, NE, buried Kimball, NE Wife: Viola AUSTIN P. b. abt 1885 MARY J. b. 24 Aug 1890, d. Dec. 1974 m. 8 Nov 1919 to Warren C. DONALD (2nd mge) in Neligh, Antelope Co., NE IRVIN J. b. Mar 1883, d. Jan 1964 in Missouri WILLIAM M. b. abt 1889, d. 1970 , buried in Tilden, NE BESSIE b. 1 Aug 1893, d. 20 Nov 1942, buried Laurel Hill Cemetery, Neligh NE SARAH McDonnel and Frank (or Francis) Brennan were in Kearney County NE by 1885. Frank died 1 July 1919 at Heartwell, Kearney Co., NE, Sarah died 24 Jan 1933, at Heartwell. She was 87. Children of Sarah and Frank Brennan: FRANCIS b. 1885 d. ca 1886 Heartwell, NE MARY F. b. 5 Jan 1891, Heartwell, NE d. 24 Apr 1988, Kenesaw, NE bur: Parkview Cemetry, Hastings, Adams Co. NE Ranald/Ronald and Sarah were the only childred on Allan and Mary McDonell to marry. Carol Vejraska Geneva, NE __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com