"This photo album of quilted squares depicting the story of the McColloughs from Ireland to Maine is dedicated to the my mother, Rita McCollough Blais, who died at age 94 yrs on December 30,1999. She was a courageous and steadfast as her ancestors, Bridget McColllough and Mary Marthy McCollor who came before her. All three left their homelands to follow their husbands and accepted their lots in life. They had a deep love of God and their Catholic faith in which they raised their children." ~ Yolanda Blais Hamel

"The first McColloughs were farmers around Plumbridge and Grotin, County Tyrone, Ireland in the 1770's. Edward McCollough married a young Irish girl with the family name of McBride. Their 1st born son, Edward, was born in 1780 and 2nd son Patrick was born in 1782."   "Patrick met and fell in love with Bridget Brennan, daughter of Barnard and Kate Machelon Brennan.  Bridget was born in 1796. Patrick and Bridget were married in 1812." "A son was born in September, 1813 and was named Barnard after his grandfather Brennan.   A daugther, Nancy was born March 1, 1815. While waiting for the birth of their daughter Patrick and Bridget had decided to leave Ireland and re-locate to Maine, in America."   "When Nancy was only 3 weeks old, they travelled (the McCollough family) to Derry Ireland, and obtained passage on a ship sailing to Quebec City, P2. Canada.  They set sail around March 22, 1815. The trip took 6 weeks and 3 days; landing in Quebec May 6, 1815." "After arriving in Quebec City, they started out for St. Georges, where Patrick and Bridget had relatives who could put them up." "They travelled by boat or canoe on the beautiful Chaudiere River. The distance about 70 miles, southeast of Quebec." "After 7 days of tramping and sleeping on the cold ground at night; suffering from cold, foot sore, weary, they made it to the Forks of the Kennebec River. Their supplies were running low." "As there was no bridge across the river, they had to wade through the icy river water. As Patrick had to help carry baby Nancy across, he tied his son to a tree, so he wouldn't try to follow his father across the river. After Bridget and baby Nancy were across, Patrick came back for a frightened and crying Barney, who thought he was being left behind." "They continued for 4 or 5 miles till they came to what was called the John Stewart place. There was a small clearing with a hut on it and a smoldering fire. They dug up some potatoes in the garden and roasted them in the fire. They rested there before going to Bingham, Maine, with only a few houses." "The town of Solon wasn't any larger. Their journey ended at a place called Captain Ben Thompson's Farm, above the Patterson Bridge in Madison, Maine." "Patrick started farming in Solon and Madison, Maine.   In Madison, 2 more sons were born; James, in 1822 and John in 1824.   Other children born in Madison were; Patrick 1826, Phineas 1838 and Thomas 1844." "In 1825, Patrick and Bridget moved back to St. Georges Canada. The reason for the move was so Barney and Nancy could go to Church School. Bridget, being a devout Catholic, insisted the children be raised Catholic.    While in St. Georges, their next child, Catherine was born, February 23, 1825. After a year, they moved back to Madison, Maine. Their 6th child was born October 23, 1826 and named Patrick.  In Solon, Edward was born January 25, 1828 and David also born in 1830 in Solon." "Barney the eldest of Patrick and Bridget's children, joined the U.S. Army and served in the U.S. - Mexican War of 1846 - 1848.  He died of injuries he recieved in battle.   The United States got into the war after many American Citizens were killed in the battle of the Alamo." "John McCollough became a "Riverman" on June 11th, 1850.   He worked on the Kennebec River and lived in the Skowhegan Hotel.   On November 16, 1852 John married Mary Margaret McCarthy at St. Georges Church in Canada. They made their home in St. Côme till 1862 when John joined the Army with 5 brothers to fight in the Civil War. He left his family in the care of his brother Edward in Solon, Maine." "Bridget passed away on Nov. 5, 1848 a the age of 52 years.   She was buried in an unmarked grave, located in the West side of the Cemetery, in back of the church in St. Georges, Canada.   In 1852 John McCollough weds Mary McCarthy in St. Georges Church in Canada. They made their home in St. Côme, Quebec. They farmed and raised 5 sons; Charles, William, John, Joseph and James." "Patrick and Bridget had 6 sons and two grandsons in the Grand Army of the Republic. When enlisting, the Recruiting Officer spelled their name McCollor instead of McCollough, and to avoid complications in recieving compensation pay, after the War, the spelling was left unchanged except for John McCollough who returned to Canada with his family.   A grandson, Michael died in the War in 1863." "John McCollough was discharged from the Grand Army of the Republic in 1863. He picked up his family in Solon, Maine and headed for St. Côme, Quebec.   They returned to farming and Mary gave birth to her 5th son in 1864 and named him James." "The John McCollough Farm was built on acreage given by the Canadian Government to the Settlers for their help in building a good road from St. Georges, Quebec to the United States Border and Maine." "Charles McCollough, John and Mary's eldest son, married Adèle Poulin (10 years his junior) in 1881 at St. Côme Church in St. Côme, P.2.   John gave his eldest son a few acres to start him off; while his brothers built the newly married couple, a house and barn with lumber from his land.   As each son married, John gave each an equal amount of land as he had for Charles." "Charles and Adèle McCollough had 10 children but only 5 reached maturity, Marianna, Ernest, Ephrem, Irene and Rita.   Rita was born August 15, 1905 in St. Côme and lived on a farm with her parents until her father's death in 1927. After Charles death, Adèle sold the farm and moved to a small house in the village. In 1929 Adèle McCollough married a distant cousin, Ernest Poulin, and moved to Jackman, Maine, U.S.A. along with her daughter, Rita McCollough." "Rita met and married Leo Blais on Aug. 4, 1930, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Jackman, Maine.   A son Yvon Aimé (Leo) was born August 21, 1931 and a daughter Yolande Ange Aimée on June 9, 1933.  After the birth of their second child, Leonard and Rita moved to the Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine, where a 3rd child, Trey Conrad was born August 14, 1938.   Adèle McCollough Poulin moved in with Leo and Rita to help through the difficult pregnancy and stayed with the family till her death in 1942." "Rita found employment, just a month before her mother's death, at the Androscoggin Mill a division of Bates Mills.   It was during World War II, so the fact that she didn't speak English was waived. She worked till 1957 and earned a gold 15 yr. pin for her good service to her employer.   Rita was very close to her family and helped them whenever she could, including baby-sitting her Grand-kids Susan, Stephen and Penny Ann Hamel." "Yvon Aimé (Leo) Blais  8/21/1931   From the age of 7 yrs, Rita's eldest son was raised in Jackman, Maine by his paternal Grandparents, John and Rose Blais. He attended St. Joseph's Academy and Jackman High School. He enlisted in Korea and Viet-Nam. He also did a 2 year tour of Embassy Service 1 year in Saudi Arabia, 1 year in Israel where he met and married his wife, the former Suzanne Levy. They have three children, Colette, David and Francoise." "Guy Conrad Blais"    "Born Aug 14, 1938 in Lewiston, ME. He attended St. Louis School in Auburn and graduated from the 8th grade; he then attended St. Dominic's H.S. in Lewiston. In his summers he worked in local produce markets.   Starting in his teens he became an avid skier and that's where he met his future wife, at a Ski Club. Carolyn Cushman and Guy married in 1960. They settled in So. Paris and raised 4 girls, Sherry, Susan, Becky and Jennifer. Guy worked for the A.C. Lawrence Tannery till it's closure  then worked for the South Paris School Dept." 22)    "Yolande Ange-Aimée Blais"   "Born in Jackman, ME, June 1933. Married Emilien (Roy) Hamel, June 30,1951; had 3 children, Susan, Stephen and Penny Ann.  Alumni of Edward Little H.S. class of '52. Worked in a sheet factory, a Semi-Conductor Plant; but found her lifelong career in the Custom Drapery field. She and her husband went into their own business as R&T Custom Draperies from 1976 until 1996. In later years Yolande's passion became quilting and still continues. With her husband she enjoyed travelling, including England, France, Italy, Spain and 'specially the British Isles in 1991."