Mrs Lillian Mae Minahan

Who was Lillian Mae Minahan?

Mrs Lillian Mae Minahan was a 37 (thirty-seven) year old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on February 7, 1875, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Lillian survived the tragic sinking of the ship on April 15, 1912. Her remarkable life story spans from her early days in the Midwest to her final years in California, with the Titanic disaster serving as a pivotal moment in her journey.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Lillian’s upbringing like?

Lillian Mae Thorpe was born into a working-class family in Indiana. Her parents were:

• Father: Sylvanus Thorpe (born 1852), a farmer and later a railroad conductor
• Mother: Mahala Babb (born 1851), originally from Shelby, Indiana

Lillian grew up with six siblings:

• Ellis Ottis (born 1878)
• Alva (born 1880)
• Nellie (born 1883, later Mrs Alomzo Holt)
• Fred (born 1887)
• Lottie (born 1892)
• Dorothy (born 1893)

The family moved frequently during Lillian’s childhood, appearing in the 1880 census in Buck, Illinois, and later settling in Arkansas City, Kansas, by 1900.

Lillian’s Early Marriages

Before her fateful Titanic journey, Lillian had already experienced both love and loss:

1. First marriage to Paul Lawrence, a portrait artist (date unknown)
2. Second marriage to Dr William Edward Minahan in 1903

Lillian’s first husband, Paul Lawrence, was said to have used her as his muse. However, this marriage was short-lived, as Lawrence is believed to have died early in their union.

The Titanic Journey

How did Lillian come to be on the Titanic?

In early 1912, Lillian embarked on a trip to ancestral Ireland with her husband Dr William Edward Minahan and her sister-in-law Ida Daisy Minahan. The trio boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as the only first-class passengers to embark at this port. Their journey details were as follows:

What was Lillian’s experience on the night of the sinking?

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, the Minahans’ evening unfolded as follows:

1. Spent time in the Café Parisien
2. Enjoyed the company of notable passengers including Major Archibald Butt, the Wideners, the Thayers, and Captain Smith
3. Retired to bed around 9:30 PM
4. Awakened by the sound of a woman crying in the companionway after the collision
5. Quickly dressed and headed to the portside boat deck
6. Directed to lifeboat 14

Dr Minahan’s last words to Lillian and Daisy were reportedly, “Be brave.”

Survival and Aftermath

How did Lillian survive the Titanic disaster?

Lillian and her sister-in-law Daisy were among the fortunate survivors of the Titanic sinking. Their rescue occurred in two stages:

1. Initially saved in lifeboat 14
2. Later transferred to collapsible D during the night

Upon arriving in New York, Lillian and Daisy were taken in by fellow survivors Charles and Annie Stengel of Newark, New Jersey. They stayed there until Lillian’s brother-in-law, Robert Minahan, came from Green Bay to retrieve them.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Lillian’s later life?

Following the tragedy, Lillian’s life took several turns:

• Moved to California
• Remarried on March 28, 1914, to Dr Lee Perry Kaull in Riverside, California
• Settled in Jerome, Arizona, where Dr Kaull became chief surgeon at the United Verde Mining Corporation
• Widowed again in 1923 when Dr Kaull passed away
• Returned to California, living in Hollywood
• Married C. D. Danielson (date unknown)
• Lived on Catalina Island during World War II
• Settled in Laguna Beach in 1947

What was Lillian’s legacy?

Lillian Danielson, née Thorpe, formerly Minahan, lived a long life marked by resilience and adaptability. She passed away on January 13, 1962, at the age of 86 (eighty-six). Her final resting place is in Melrose Abbey Memorial Park, Anaheim, California.

Lillian’s story serves as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome tragedy and find new beginnings, even in the face of one of history’s most infamous disasters.