Her first husband was William M Townsend who died in the great Influenza Epidemic of 1918
Agnes Franey Townsend Gaughan
1894-1933
Shenandoah Socialite
Agnes Franey Gaughan was born in Shenandoah, Pa.on February 28,1894, the youngest daughter of James J Franey and Bridget Ferguson Franey.Born into merchant class wealth, her father owned a livery stable,hotel,funeral parlor,furniture store and a substantial amount of real estate in Ringtown as well as Shenandoah. She grew up in the Franey Mansion at 40 West Coal Street, complete with billiard room.ballroom, and servants and spent summers at the family summer home on Oriental Avenue in Alantic City.
Considered the most beautiful of her sisters, and without any doubt the most lively and rebellious. Agnes dreamed of an exciting life seyond Schylkill County and spent her youth in pursuit of this unfulfilled dream. Upon graduation from Merion Convent School outside of Philadelphia, she secretly traveled to New York City where she auditioned for the Ziegfeld Follies and was much to her delight chosen. Returning to Shenandoah with what she saw as good news, her parents balked.They forbade such a career, to them being a showgirl was no different than being a prostitute. Agnes frustration anger and disappointment was inconsolable, even when her father surprised her with a Stutz Bearcat, the most popular and expensive sports car of the era. Agnes, delighted with her new present, was anxious to learn how to drive it in order to fulfill her next attempt at life outside of Shenandoah. As soon as she was confortable behind the wheel, she drove straight down to the Philadelphia Naval Yard where she joined the U.S. Navy as a 'yoeman". A young girl joining the Navy would have been unacceptable even in peace time. With no chaperone, but with a war raging on , her parents insisted she return home. Back at home,Agnes was not any enthusiastic about defying her parents. This time she chose marriage as her instrument. When her mother Bridget, decided to redecorate the family mansion,Agnes chose a good looking young Protestant interior decorator, William M aka Billy Townsend, as her husband, without seeking any parential input. The fact that the young gentleman was an interior decorator was not the issue. The issue was his religion, marring a Protestant for her parents was the only thing worse than being a showgirl or joining the Navy during a World War. Unfortunately, the marriage was short lived as Billy succumbed to the Great Influenza Epidemic pf 1918. As Agnes entered her 20s, she became more popular than ever . The Shenandoah Herald described her as 'Exceedingly popular in social circles and a leader of the community's younger set".
In his autobiography 'The Doctor's Son" John O'Hara even mentions her:Agnes Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty and a wild one, who was the only girl Iknew whose slipper was actually used to drink champagne out of -at a Snow Dance in the early 1920s, Agnes didn't like me much either. She called me a Pottsville snob. Auctually, the Franeys did not approve of the O'Haras generally, as far back as 1864 whebever the first Mike married the first Franey.
By the 1920s, Agnes finally resigned herself to a proper marriage and pleased her parents by agreeing to a proper marriage with Attorney Joseph Gaughan. Her parents could not have been happier. Not only was he from one of the leading families of Shenandoah, but he was an attorney and a Catholic. Agnes, the Franey family's wild child had finally settled down.
Sadly, it was not to last long, while Agnes was pregant with her third child he husband abruptly passed away from a heart sttack. Two years later, at age 37 , on September 25, 1933, agnes followed her husband to Annunciation B.V.M. Cemetery. She was survived by her three sons: Joseph, Fergus and James.
Agnes Franey Townsend Gaughan
1894-1933
Shenandoah Socialite
Agnes Franey Gaughan was born in Shenandoah, Pa.on February 28,1894, the youngest daughter of James J Franey and Bridget Ferguson Franey.Born into merchant class wealth, her father owned a livery stable,hotel,funeral parlor,furniture store and a substantial amount of real estate in Ringtown as well as Shenandoah. She grew up in the Franey Mansion at 40 West Coal Street, complete with billiard room.ballroom, and servants and spent summers at the family summer home on Oriental Avenue in Alantic City.
Considered the most beautiful of her sisters, and without any doubt the most lively and rebellious. Agnes dreamed of an exciting life seyond Schylkill County and spent her youth in pursuit of this unfulfilled dream. Upon graduation from Merion Convent School outside of Philadelphia, she secretly traveled to New York City where she auditioned for the Ziegfeld Follies and was much to her delight chosen. Returning to Shenandoah with what she saw as good news, her parents balked.They forbade such a career, to them being a showgirl was no different than being a prostitute. Agnes frustration anger and disappointment was inconsolable, even when her father surprised her with a Stutz Bearcat, the most popular and expensive sports car of the era. Agnes, delighted with her new present, was anxious to learn how to drive it in order to fulfill her next attempt at life outside of Shenandoah. As soon as she was confortable behind the wheel, she drove straight down to the Philadelphia Naval Yard where she joined the U.S. Navy as a 'yoeman". A young girl joining the Navy would have been unacceptable even in peace time. With no chaperone, but with a war raging on , her parents insisted she return home. Back at home,Agnes was not any enthusiastic about defying her parents. This time she chose marriage as her instrument. When her mother Bridget, decided to redecorate the family mansion,Agnes chose a good looking young Protestant interior decorator, William M aka Billy Townsend, as her husband, without seeking any parential input. The fact that the young gentleman was an interior decorator was not the issue. The issue was his religion, marring a Protestant for her parents was the only thing worse than being a showgirl or joining the Navy during a World War. Unfortunately, the marriage was short lived as Billy succumbed to the Great Influenza Epidemic pf 1918. As Agnes entered her 20s, she became more popular than ever . The Shenandoah Herald described her as 'Exceedingly popular in social circles and a leader of the community's younger set".
In his autobiography 'The Doctor's Son" John O'Hara even mentions her:Agnes Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty and a wild one, who was the only girl Iknew whose slipper was actually used to drink champagne out of -at a Snow Dance in the early 1920s, Agnes didn't like me much either. She called me a Pottsville snob. Auctually, the Franeys did not approve of the O'Haras generally, as far back as 1864 whebever the first Mike married the first Franey.
By the 1920s, Agnes finally resigned herself to a proper marriage and pleased her parents by agreeing to a proper marriage with Attorney Joseph Gaughan. Her parents could not have been happier. Not only was he from one of the leading families of Shenandoah, but he was an attorney and a Catholic. Agnes, the Franey family's wild child had finally settled down.
Sadly, it was not to last long, while Agnes was pregant with her third child he husband abruptly passed away from a heart sttack. Two years later, at age 37 , on September 25, 1933, agnes followed her husband to Annunciation B.V.M. Cemetery. She was survived by her three sons: Joseph, Fergus and James.
Her first husband was William M Townsend who died in the great Influenza Epidemic of 1918
Agnes Franey Townsend Gaughan
1894-1933
Shenandoah Socialite
Agnes Franey Gaughan was born in Shenandoah, Pa.on February 28,1894, the youngest daughter of James J Franey and Bridget Ferguson Franey.Born into merchant class wealth, her father owned a livery stable,hotel,funeral parlor,furniture store and a substantial amount of real estate in Ringtown as well as Shenandoah. She grew up in the Franey Mansion at 40 West Coal Street, complete with billiard room.ballroom, and servants and spent summers at the family summer home on Oriental Avenue in Alantic City.
Considered the most beautiful of her sisters, and without any doubt the most lively and rebellious. Agnes dreamed of an exciting life seyond Schylkill County and spent her youth in pursuit of this unfulfilled dream. Upon graduation from Merion Convent School outside of Philadelphia, she secretly traveled to New York City where she auditioned for the Ziegfeld Follies and was much to her delight chosen. Returning to Shenandoah with what she saw as good news, her parents balked.They forbade such a career, to them being a showgirl was no different than being a prostitute. Agnes frustration anger and disappointment was inconsolable, even when her father surprised her with a Stutz Bearcat, the most popular and expensive sports car of the era. Agnes, delighted with her new present, was anxious to learn how to drive it in order to fulfill her next attempt at life outside of Shenandoah. As soon as she was confortable behind the wheel, she drove straight down to the Philadelphia Naval Yard where she joined the U.S. Navy as a 'yoeman". A young girl joining the Navy would have been unacceptable even in peace time. With no chaperone, but with a war raging on , her parents insisted she return home. Back at home,Agnes was not any enthusiastic about defying her parents. This time she chose marriage as her instrument. When her mother Bridget, decided to redecorate the family mansion,Agnes chose a good looking young Protestant interior decorator, William M aka Billy Townsend, as her husband, without seeking any parential input. The fact that the young gentleman was an interior decorator was not the issue. The issue was his religion, marring a Protestant for her parents was the only thing worse than being a showgirl or joining the Navy during a World War. Unfortunately, the marriage was short lived as Billy succumbed to the Great Influenza Epidemic pf 1918. As Agnes entered her 20s, she became more popular than ever . The Shenandoah Herald described her as 'Exceedingly popular in social circles and a leader of the community's younger set".
In his autobiography 'The Doctor's Son" John O'Hara even mentions her:Agnes Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty and a wild one, who was the only girl Iknew whose slipper was actually used to drink champagne out of -at a Snow Dance in the early 1920s, Agnes didn't like me much either. She called me a Pottsville snob. Auctually, the Franeys did not approve of the O'Haras generally, as far back as 1864 whebever the first Mike married the first Franey.
By the 1920s, Agnes finally resigned herself to a proper marriage and pleased her parents by agreeing to a proper marriage with Attorney Joseph Gaughan. Her parents could not have been happier. Not only was he from one of the leading families of Shenandoah, but he was an attorney and a Catholic. Agnes, the Franey family's wild child had finally settled down.
Sadly, it was not to last long, while Agnes was pregant with her third child he husband abruptly passed away from a heart sttack. Two years later, at age 37 , on September 25, 1933, agnes followed her husband to Annunciation B.V.M. Cemetery. She was survived by her three sons: Joseph, Fergus and James.
Agnes Franey Townsend Gaughan
1894-1933
Shenandoah Socialite
Agnes Franey Gaughan was born in Shenandoah, Pa.on February 28,1894, the youngest daughter of James J Franey and Bridget Ferguson Franey.Born into merchant class wealth, her father owned a livery stable,hotel,funeral parlor,furniture store and a substantial amount of real estate in Ringtown as well as Shenandoah. She grew up in the Franey Mansion at 40 West Coal Street, complete with billiard room.ballroom, and servants and spent summers at the family summer home on Oriental Avenue in Alantic City.
Considered the most beautiful of her sisters, and without any doubt the most lively and rebellious. Agnes dreamed of an exciting life seyond Schylkill County and spent her youth in pursuit of this unfulfilled dream. Upon graduation from Merion Convent School outside of Philadelphia, she secretly traveled to New York City where she auditioned for the Ziegfeld Follies and was much to her delight chosen. Returning to Shenandoah with what she saw as good news, her parents balked.They forbade such a career, to them being a showgirl was no different than being a prostitute. Agnes frustration anger and disappointment was inconsolable, even when her father surprised her with a Stutz Bearcat, the most popular and expensive sports car of the era. Agnes, delighted with her new present, was anxious to learn how to drive it in order to fulfill her next attempt at life outside of Shenandoah. As soon as she was confortable behind the wheel, she drove straight down to the Philadelphia Naval Yard where she joined the U.S. Navy as a 'yoeman". A young girl joining the Navy would have been unacceptable even in peace time. With no chaperone, but with a war raging on , her parents insisted she return home. Back at home,Agnes was not any enthusiastic about defying her parents. This time she chose marriage as her instrument. When her mother Bridget, decided to redecorate the family mansion,Agnes chose a good looking young Protestant interior decorator, William M aka Billy Townsend, as her husband, without seeking any parential input. The fact that the young gentleman was an interior decorator was not the issue. The issue was his religion, marring a Protestant for her parents was the only thing worse than being a showgirl or joining the Navy during a World War. Unfortunately, the marriage was short lived as Billy succumbed to the Great Influenza Epidemic pf 1918. As Agnes entered her 20s, she became more popular than ever . The Shenandoah Herald described her as 'Exceedingly popular in social circles and a leader of the community's younger set".
In his autobiography 'The Doctor's Son" John O'Hara even mentions her:Agnes Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty and a wild one, who was the only girl Iknew whose slipper was actually used to drink champagne out of -at a Snow Dance in the early 1920s, Agnes didn't like me much either. She called me a Pottsville snob. Auctually, the Franeys did not approve of the O'Haras generally, as far back as 1864 whebever the first Mike married the first Franey.
By the 1920s, Agnes finally resigned herself to a proper marriage and pleased her parents by agreeing to a proper marriage with Attorney Joseph Gaughan. Her parents could not have been happier. Not only was he from one of the leading families of Shenandoah, but he was an attorney and a Catholic. Agnes, the Franey family's wild child had finally settled down.
Sadly, it was not to last long, while Agnes was pregant with her third child he husband abruptly passed away from a heart sttack. Two years later, at age 37 , on September 25, 1933, agnes followed her husband to Annunciation B.V.M. Cemetery. She was survived by her three sons: Joseph, Fergus and James.
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