The Goldens in San Francisco, Part 2

Uncle Con Murphy, Aunt Marg Murphy, my grandfather Bob Golden, my great-grandmother Anna Murphy Golden, Dan Murphy

Last time we left off with Aunt Marg Murphy's 2 years of living in San Francisco, the first of the family to do so.  But we're supposed to be talking about Goldens in San Francisco.  During the time Aunt Marg was living there, at 846 Bush St. and later 305 23rd Ave., family lore has it that Marg's older sister Anna Murphy Golden had a spat with her husband and left Butte with the younger children.  This is confirmed by an entry in the 1928 San Francisco City Directory which lists "Golden, John H (Anna) h305 23d av" Here is what it looks like now.

And here is another bit of evidence: a photo of my grandfather, Robert E. Golden. On the back is written "May pageant, 1928. Alamo School, Robert E. Golden."  And where is Alamo School? 250 23rd Ave., San Francisco, CA  Just a 2 minute walk 305 23rd!
Bob was 10, his younger sister Margie was 7, and his brother Paul was 13.  I don't have anything to show that Paul was in San Francisco, but I assume Margie probably was, just because she was younger. How long did they stay? Not sure. The family story is that Grandpa John Henry drove out and picked up his wife and children. In the 1929 San Francisco directory, Aunt Marg is still listed as living at 305 23rd and working for Mack Truck, but there isn't a listing as clear as the 1928 one for Anna.  There are a couple of A. Goldens, and a Mrs. Annie Golden, but not at a familiar or nearby address.
By 1930 the census has everyone back in Butte, including Aunt Marg.  Well, except for John Henry, Jr., known as Jack.  He was in Washington, DC, attending Georgetown Medical school.  He boarded at 1431 Clifton St. NW which still looks like a pretty nice place to live.

This is his entry in the 1930 Domesday Book, the Georgetown yearbook.

Jack met his wife Julia Clements in Washington, DC where her father was a physician as well. Jack and Julia were married in San Francisco at St. Cecelia's Church on June 29, 1931.  So, why did they get married in San Francisco when her family was in Washington, DC?  Presumably he had starting working and she came out to join him. I think I need to do some more research before I continue with the story.

The Goldens in San Francisco

I wanted to try and determine what originally brought the Goldens to San Francisco as it is quite important to our family history.  My grandparents, Bob and Betty, met in San Francisco, so really, the connection to the city is key to my existence!  I also wonder how Mame Towey figures in all of this, as she ended up in San Francisco as well, and the question is, did the Goldens already know her, or did they meet there.
So, let's meet all the players and develop a timeline.
We are talking about the family of John Henry Golden, Sr.(1873-1949) and Anna Honora Murphy Golden (1883-1958).  These are my great-grandparents.  John Henry was born in Ireland and came to the U.S. in 1889, first to Helena, Montana and then to Anaconda and eventually Butte, where he and Anna were married in 1904.  Mary Agnes "Mame" "Yonovera" Towey was a cousin/family friend/patient whose connection to the family hasn't been quite determined, but her family, the Toweys and the Goldens came from the same area of Ireland-Ballaghadereen, County Mayo (now Roscommon).

The first record I have of any of the family connection to San Francisco is actually not Mame or any Golden, it is a Murphy.  Margaret Murphy (Aunt Marg) was Anna's younger sister and in the 1920 census, she is living with John Henry and Anna in Butte at 1101 W. Broadway.  From the stories I have heard, she was a great baker.  She made the family Christmas fruitcake (a tradition still on-going) and my Mom and her cousins and siblings have memories of amazing Parker House Rolls.  Anna and Marg's sister Ellen died in 1919 at the age of 28, and their father, Michael Murphy died in April 1920.  The 1918 Butte City Directory lists Murphy, Margaret clk Heilbronner r 1101 W Bway and the 1923 directory has her there still.  But, in 1926, we find her in the San Francisco City Directory, the listing being "Murphy, Mrgt clk Mack Internatl Motor Truck Corp r46 Bush". How do we know this is the same person? Aunt Marg's obituary has details:

That just ties all the details together, doesn't it?  Her last San Francisco directory listing is in 1929, and in the 1930 census record she is back in Butte.  There is more to this story that needs uncovering though.  Family lore tells of a suitor she was not allowed to marry, and there are whisperings of a romance in San Francisco and certainly the Stock Market Crash of October 24, 1929 must have had a part in her return to Butte.  But sadly, no verifiable facts. Now, Anna and Marg's sister Christine died in Yakima, Washington in September 1929, but that doesn't seem like a reason she would return to Butte.  I also have questions on why she went to San Francisco in the first place.  It seems so far away, and I wondered what travelling there was like in 1926.
So, besides being the sister of Anna Golden, what does Aunt Marg's excursion to San Francisco have to do with the Goldens' connection to that city? Stay tuned for The Goldens in San Francisco, Part 2, coming soon!

Margaret Murphy

Here is a picture of Cornelius "Con" Murphy, Margaret "Aunt Marg" Murphy, Bob Golden, Anna Golden and Dan Murphy. Anna Golden and the Murphys are siblings.

Here is Aunt Marg's obituary from the Montana Standard-Post dated Monday, March 11, 1963.

John P. Murphy (1878-1950)

John P. Murphy was the older brother of my great-grandmother Anna (Murphy) Golden. This obituary was published in the Montana Standard on November 24, 1950.

Here is the text of the above article: John P. Murphy Dies Suddenly. John P. Murphy, 71, operator in the electrical department of the Anaconda Copper Mining company in Great Falls, died suddenly Thursday afternoon while at work. Cause of his death was attributed to a heart attack. Mr. Murphy was a former resident of Anaconda. Surviving relatives include four brothers, Henry, Tom and Con Murphy of Anaconda and Will Murphy of Seattle, Wash; two daughters, Mrs. John Bogdden of Great Falls and Mrs. Ray Campbell of Anaconda; three sisters, Mrs. John Golden and Miss Margaret Murphy of Butte, and Mrs. Mary Weist of Anaconda, and nine grandchildren. Funeral services and burial will be Monday in Great Falls.