Hugh and Mary married at St Mary's Church in DeKalb Illinois, January 29, 1885. Their first farm, as tenants was in Cortland, called the "Bates" place. They also farmed in Mayfield township. The farm outside of Sycamore was bought in 1902. It was about 140 acres, a dairy farm with some acreage cultivated for produce and cattle feed. For a time all three properties were under tillage.

Seven children were born, four boys, three girls. There was another child born after the first five. Hugh Jr., long th ought to be number six had a doctor at his delivery so a birth record was filed. It noted that his birth was number seven for this other. There was never any mention of this in the family Bible. Perhaps number six's birth could have benefited from a docto r's hand and that is why Hugh and Mary took on the expense for baby Hugh.

None of the girls married. It was not because they were unattractive; rather mother Mary was a somewhat of a tyrant, expecting them to fulfill care taking roles. This prescript life possibly contributed to the tragic suicide of the youngest, Kate

Second to the youngest son Hugh, bought the Sycamore farm from his father. It is now totally out of McMenamin ownership; part of it is a subdivision. A grammar school sits on what was the most northwest corner of the property, its land donated to the local school board by Hugh Jr.. Hugh Sr could neither read nor write. The contract legalizing the sale of the property from Hugh Sr to Hugh Jr bears his "X" mark. The spelling of his name on the 1885 marriage license appears as McNamanan, the church has McManaman, one wonders how his offspring came to the present day spelling.

One of his grandchildren, Mary McMenamin Kane, recalls him allowing her not to eat her potatoes if she didn't want t o. He wore a mustache and had sandy colored hair. Grandson Dr Hugh remembers seeing Grandma Mary reading the local newspaper, so she acquired the skill along the way. He also remembers going to their golden wedding celebration in 1935. Hugh Sr died sho rtly after that. They are both buried in Mt Carmel Cemetery along with their three daughters.