Sarah E. Dempsay was the daughter of "Doc" Arthur Dempsay and Mary Ann Smith of Washington County, Illinois, both Irish immigrants from the Dublin area. Sarah and husband, William M. Williams, lost either five or six children to drowning while her family was living in Texas in 1888. The children were skating with friends on Sand Lake at the Faulkner farm, 10 miles east of Ennis, Texas. Newspaper articles gave differing accounts of the dead. In total, seven people drowned. The Williams' oldest son, Rufus, ran from his farm a quarter mile away, but also drowned while trying to save the struggling children. Sarah tried to save her children, but two of her young daughters eventually pulled her to the bank with a rope. One of those who drowned did manage to save one small child of Sarah's by throwing him or her onto the ice. Location of their graves is unknown. This information was provided by Jack Hanham, a Dempsay descendant, who acquired newspaper articles from Ellis County, Texas. Sarah stated on the 1900 U.S. Census that she'd given birth to 9 children, with only 2 surviving at that time. The children were: Rufus and Mary (most likely twins) about 1870 in Illinois, Anna about 1872 in Illinois, Lilly about 1873 in Missouri, Etta about 1876 in Missouri, Otta about 1878 in Kansas, Robert in March of 1880 in Missouri, Perry in July of 1882 in Texas. A ninth child is unknown. Otta and Perry are known to have lived, each married and had children, and were living back in Illinois, in Jefferson County, near their parents who'd relocated there.
Sarah E. Dempsay was the daughter of "Doc" Arthur Dempsay and Mary Ann Smith of Washington County, Illinois, both Irish immigrants from the Dublin area. Sarah and husband, William M. Williams, lost either five or six children to drowning while her family was living in Texas in 1888. The children were skating with friends on Sand Lake at the Faulkner farm, 10 miles east of Ennis, Texas. Newspaper articles gave differing accounts of the dead. In total, seven people drowned. The Williams' oldest son, Rufus, ran from his farm a quarter mile away, but also drowned while trying to save the struggling children. Sarah tried to save her children, but two of her young daughters eventually pulled her to the bank with a rope. One of those who drowned did manage to save one small child of Sarah's by throwing him or her onto the ice. Location of their graves is unknown. This information was provided by Jack Hanham, a Dempsay descendant, who acquired newspaper articles from Ellis County, Texas. Sarah stated on the 1900 U.S. Census that she'd given birth to 9 children, with only 2 surviving at that time. The children were: Rufus and Mary (most likely twins) about 1870 in Illinois, Anna about 1872 in Illinois, Lilly about 1873 in Missouri, Etta about 1876 in Missouri, Otta about 1878 in Kansas, Robert in March of 1880 in Missouri, Perry in July of 1882 in Texas. A ninth child is unknown. Otta and Perry are known to have lived, each married and had children, and were living back in Illinois, in Jefferson County, near their parents who'd relocated there.
Family Members
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Mary Jane Dempsey Cheek
1829–1911
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Mary Ann Dempsay Todd
1833–1906
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Arthur "Art" Dempsay Jr
1834–1933
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David H. Dempsey
1837–1919
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Isabella "Belle" Dempsey Hubler
1843–1909
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Rachel D. Dempsey
1847–1847
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William John "Billy" Dempsey
1849–1929
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Esther Dempsey
1852–1855
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Robert J Dempsay
1855–1917
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Margaret G. Dempsey
1859–1861
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