The McInerneys had come to Denison from Alton, Illinois, a Mississippi River town about fifteen miles north of St. Louis. James J. "Jim" McInerney(1853–1909) had been owner and editor of the Alton Sentinel-Democrat for thirty years, until his death in 1909. At that time his newspaper boasted the largest circulation of any paper in Southern Illinois. His wife was Alice Susan Mullen. Two daughters, Mary Veronica "Vernie" McInerney and Lucy Monica McInerney (1893–1980), were still in Alton at the time of the 1910 Census but would spend their adult lives in Denison. The sisters' formal education (four years of high school) was likely completed before they moved to Denison around 1911.

The following two obituaries shed much light on the circumstances that brought the mother and daughters to Denison.

McInerney, Austin J. [Brother of Vernie M. Lindsay]
BURIAL

Young Reporter/Editor Dies
[Source: Alton IL Evening Telegraph, March 15, 1909]

Austin J. McInerney died at 5 o'clock Monday morning at San Antonio, Texas, where he had been staying for some time for the benefit of his health. His father was with him at the time of his death and sent a message saying that he expected to be home Wednesday morning.

"Austie" McInerney was born November 8, 1883, in Alton, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James J. McInerney. He was connected with the Sentinel-Democrat, of which his father is president and managing editor. He was first a reporter on the paper and afterward took charge of the city news end of the work, and was for a time in the post of acting managing editor during the absence of his father from the office. He remained in active charge of the paper until ill-health, due to close confinement in the office, caused him to give up his work.

He was advised to make a trip to Texas in the hope of benefiting his health, and remained for a long time at Denison, Texas, with his uncle, afterward going to San Antonio, where his father stayed with him when he began to show signs of a complete collapse.

He was possessed of much ability as a news gatherer and writer, and was a hard worker when at his post of duty. Too continuous confinement at his desk is believed to have been responsible for his breakdown. He had a vein of humor in his writings which was very pleasing, and had his health and life been spared he would doubtless have accomplished much in the newspaper work. For eight years he served as city editor of the Sentinel-Democrat.

He had a very large circle of friends and much solicitude has been manifested by them for his welfare during the time since his health began to fail. His death caused deep sorrow both in his family and among his friends. He was the oldest son and the mainstay in his health of his parents, with whom the sympathy of the entire community will be in their heavy affliction.

The funeral may be held Wednesday morning from the Saint Peter & Paul's Cathedral, directly after the arrival of the body from San Antonio, but announcement of the funeral plans will be made later.

Editor's Note: Austin J. McInerney is buried in St. Patrick Cemetery, Godfrey, Madison Co., Illinois (FAG Memorial #108621768)

McInerney, James J. [Father of Vernie M. Lindsay]
BURIAL

Managing Editor and Proprietor of "Alton [Illinois] Sentinel Democrat" Dies
[Source: Alton IL Evening Telegraph, November 4, 1909]

James J. McInerney, managing editor and proprietor of the Alton Sentinel Democrat, died this morning at 1:30 o'clock at his residence on Common Street, after an illness that began nearly three years ago. His friends had long ago given up any hope that he would recover. The great vitality he showed even when it was considered impossible for him to get well was the wonder of those who attended him.

Mr. McInerney's illness was undoubtedly due to the bitter cup of sorrows he was compelled to drink during the last three years of his life. To those who were intimately acquainted with him, it was known that he had been bowed down by grief from which he could not recover. The death of his son and chief assistant, Austin J. McInerney, was the most bitter dreg in the cup. He forgot his own condition when his son became ill and endeavored to do everything he could to save his son's life. He brought his son home from the South after hope had proved in vain, to be buried in Greenwood Cemetery. When death was nearest to the father during the last day, when his mind was no longer conscious, he called continually for Austin and seemed to feel that his son was near him.

In 1906 he was the Democratic nominee for congressman and was defeated by Congressman [William August] Rodenberg. The following spring he was a candidate for the office of Mayor of Alton, and was defeated by Mayor [Edmund] Beall. These two elections were a heavy strain upon him, and afterward he was able to be out but little. He was never able from that time on to undertake any ordinary tasks that would be incident to the management of his paper. His paper was the object of his greatest interest outside of his family, and it was a great sorrow to him that he was unable to direct it.

He attempted a number of times to assert his physical strength, but failed. About a year ago he was stricken with what appeared to be a paralytic stroke, while he was downtown. Afterward he had several other strokes, the last coming a short time before his death. During the last week Mr. McInerney was unconscious most of the time, and members of his family were almost constantly in attendance.

James J. McInerney was born in Alton November 23, 1853. His parents were natives of County Clare, Ireland, and came to Alton in 1852. He completed his course of study in the Cathedral schools at the age of 13, and began working as an apprentice at the printer's trade in the office of the Cumberland Presbyterian, afterward working on the Alton Telegraph until he was 17 years of age.

In the spring of 1876 he entered upon his first newspaper venture, starting the Morning News, which proved short lived. In 1879 he opened a job printing office, and in October of that year began the publication of the Alton Sentinel, a weekly paper. A few years later he started the Morning Sentinel, which was later merged with the Alton Democrat, then owned by Perrin and Smith. Subsequently Mr. McInerney purchased the interest of Perrin and Smith and became the controlling factor of his paper. The death of Ralph Green, 1st reporterd and acting editor of The Sentinel-Democrat...closes a series of fatalities inthe one newspaper office.  Throught an employee in th eplace, the tuberculosis germ was introduced in the office, but it attacked one after another.  Ed Rice, Austin McInerney and then Ralph Green were the victims.  Editor J.J. McInerney's death resulted not from tuberculosis, but from shock due to the death of his son, Austin.  Finally the newspaper itself died.  ("One by One, Tuberculosis Takes the Employees of the Sentinel-Democrat Newspaper.  Alton Evening News, March 18, 1912)

He was always Democratic in politics and was the central figure in many stern factional fights in the party. He was always outspoken with his views, and at one time he was fined for contempt of court for speaking his opinions on matters arising from political factional fights. However much they may have differed in life, the approach of death hushed all, and when the great silence fell upon Mr. McInerney, his one time political opponents are perhaps in a better position to weigh his real worth to the community. A man with as positive convictions as he had made many enemies, and he also made many good friends who have rallied to him and his enemies have in a great measure forgotten. They regret that the declining days of a man who attempted as much for his own city should be filled with so much sorrow.

They recognize that for many years he advocated many big enterprises and saw some of them become successful, to the everlasting benefit of the city. He was one of the advocates of building associations of the early day, and always claimed to have been the first man who advocated the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition held at St. Louis in 1904. 

Mr. McInerney was married to Alice Mullen, daughter of John Mullen, in Alton in 1881. He leaves beside his widow, five daughters and one son. Mr. McInerney leaves one son, Felix, and five daughters, Sister Aurelia [O.S.U.], who is in a convent at Dallas Texas; Misses Katibel, Vernie, Lucy, and Loretto. He leaves also three brothers, Thomas, Matthew, and Austin J. McInerney, all of Alton. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 9 o'clock from Saints Peter and Paul's Cathedral.

Editor's Note: James J. McInerney buried in St. Patrick Cemetery, Godfrey, Madison Co., Illinois (FAG Memorial #108621863)

After so much loss, it makes sense that the McInerney women would seek refuge far from Alton. Perhaps they also looked to that unidentified uncle in Denison for aid and protection. Almost certainly he was Patrick J. Mullen, grocery store owner.

The 1911 Denison City Directory listed Alice S. McInerney (widow of James), Catherine I. McInerney (bookkeeper), Lucia McInerney (no occupation), and Mary Veronica McInerney (printer at the Denison Herald) living together at 519 North Austin Avenue. Alice was head of the household. It seems likely that Vernie had learned her skills as a printer in her father's newspaper business back in Alton.

Soon the McInerneys moved to a home recently built or acquired by Patrick J. Mullen at 411 West Sears Street. The 1913 Denison City Directory showed him living there, along with Alice M. (widow of James J.); Bernie; Catherine I. (bookkeeper at P. J. Mullen); Loretto; Lucia; and M. Veronica (now bookkeeper at B. J. Lindsay). Loretto, Lucia, and Veronica were daughters of Alice. Patrick the grocer almost surely was Alice's brother.

For unknown reasons, soon after that (certainly by 1946), Vernie sold the Woodard Street house to Franz Kohfeldt and his wife Irma, and acquired a fine Prairie Style red brick home in a less fashionable area, at 514 East Main Street. 

With its tile roof and porte-cochere at one side, the house bore a notable resemblance to the home of John W. Madden and his wife Lilla, located at 1101 West Morton Street at Tone Avenue.