Very little is recorded about the seventeen years between 1873 when John and Julia were married and 1890 when John died. There were six living children (two died as infants) from Michael sixteen to Peter eighteen months. The family now lived in the second log house while Mary and Michael Sr. had retired to the cabin which had been moved to the corner of the farm.

It would appear that John continued to work on the farm since Michael's will, dated 1879, leaves the entire farm to his "only son John, with provisions for his mother and sister."

Four years later (1894) John's son Michael died, leaving Julia alone to run the farm and raise her family. Mary Catherine was now the eldest at sixteen and she took over the work of the house.

Pictures of John show a handsome, intelligent, but somewhat delicate looking man. His first ten years in Ireland were probably very difficult and certainly early life in Canada must have been full of hardship. He was known to be a good worker, was well-liked and very sociable. He loved music and was a good dancer. He was popular at parties as he could tell a great story. He loved a "drop of the creature" and Julia told one story of meeting him coming home late at night when he was being followed by a bear. Julia's lantern scared off the bear to John's everlasting gratitude!

They are a handsome couple in the wedding picture (John is thirty-three and Julia almost ten years younger). Julia, tall with a very erect carriage, retained her looks almost to her death at age seventy-five. She loved nice clothes and wore them well. The Healy pew was about the centre of the middle isle in St. Bridget's and when Julia walked up the centre isle with a new hat, heads turned!

There is no record of Healy relatives in Logan after John's death. Maria, the youngest sister lived in Kinkora as Mrs. Michael Crowley. The families were close and there was frequent visiting. John's other sisters apparently moved to the States and there was infrequent contact.

Julia did have help and support from her own family. Her brother Patrick Kehoe lived on the next farm, her sister Bridget, married to Peter Longeway, lived in Logan also. No doubt both families were good to the young widow. Julia's brother Martin Kehoe lived in St. Mary's and two others, Myles and Jim, went to U.S. Uncle Jim was the only one born in Canada and kept in touch with the family while he lived.

The loss of her eldest son only four years after the death of her husband must have been a terrible blow to Julia. Ny mother (Mary Catherine) told of driving to Mitchell with Julia to talk to the Doctor. Mike was young and very bitter about his illness. He refused to talk about it and he was not getting better. The Doctor could give Julia no hope and Julia cried all the long ride home in the buggy. At some point she made a pilgrimage to see a priest who had a reputation for miracles. She went alone and on foot. She had to borrow fresh clothing for the journey. She was gone almost a week. When she returned she was very quiet for a long time. There was no miracle.

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