Captain Michael Dempsey - Jena, Louisiana (1822-1906)

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Captain Michael Dempsey, was born in Lea, Portnehinch, Queens County, Ireland, on September 29, 1822, not far from the ruins of historic Lea Castle, which played an important role in Irish history. The small settlement of Lea is located two miles (3km) east of the city of Portarlington, on the road to Monasterevin, and just south of the River Barrow. He is seen here with his wife, the former Eveline B. Cockerham (1832-1911), on the occassion of their 50th wedding anniversary on July 20, 1902.

Captain Dempsey was a direct descendant of the O'Dempseys of Clanmalier, an aristocratic Gaelic nobility who can trace their line back to the High King of Ireland in the 2nd century A.D. Captain Dempsey's ancestors lived for many generations in the vicinity of Lea Castle, one of the ancestral homes of the Dempsey clan from the early 1300's to the mid 17th. century when the castle was severely damaged by the forces of Oliver Cromwell and the family was dispossessed.

While still a teenager, Captain Dempsey immigrated to the United States sometime late in the 1830s. After living for several years with relatives in New York and Rhode Island, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 21, 1840, at Providence, Rhode Island, and was assigned to Co. "B" 7th Regiment of US Infantry and after training travelled south to fight the Seminole Indians in Florida, who at that time were at war with the United States. War Department records show he served a total of 750 days during the Seminole Indian War.

After his discharge at Fort Pike, Louisiana, on July 21, 1845, Captain Dempsey lived one year in Missouri, and went from there to the Mexican War of 1846, serving in Texas as a civilian to the Quartermasters Department. After returning from the Mexican War, he finally settled in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, around 1847-48. There he raised a large family and became a well-known farmer and planter. The local Masonic hall, Michael Dempsey Lodge No. 327, F & A. M. No. 327 in Jena, Louisiana, was named in his honor sometime in the late 19th century. Captain Dempsey was also a member of the first Board of Directors of the Jena Seminary which he helped organize and charter in 1890.

Click here to read an Autobiographical Letter witten by Captain Dempsey in October 1874 to his cousin James Dempsey, who was still living in Ireland. In closing his letter, he asks James to remember him to "all that is left of Martin Dempsey's family, John White's family, Edward Banans" and all his friends. It seems likely that Martin Dempsey was either Captain Dempsey's father or grandfather, but at this time we cannot be certain.

Click here to read a 1929 newspaper article from the local Jena newspaper concerning Captain Dempsey's long-time Masonic affiliation and political opinions. Click here to begin browsing the Dempsey Family Tree.

Captain Michael Dempsey died August 20, 1906, at his home near Jena, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, and is buried with his wife, several children, and numerous other relatives and descendents in the Dempsey family cemetery, which today is located on private property not far from Jena, Louisiana. May God bless him and his hundreds of descendents.

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