MJ Connery circa 1888
My maternal grandfather, Michael Joseph Connery was born 15
June 1861( or 1862 or 1864 in various records) in Moorestown, Kilfinnane, Co Limerick, Ireland. He was the sixth of eleven children born to
Patrick Connery and Mary Leahy. I believe
that they were tenant farmers although there is no sure evidence of that. Michael completed the fourth year of high
school before immigrating to the United States. [i]
Legend tells us that he was sent to town to sell a pig but instead he threw his
clothes out the window and ran away with the money. He boarded a ship and
sailed to America arriving at Castle Garden in 1880.[ii] Traveling to Chicago, Illinois, he began his
new life. He became a naturalized
citizen of the United States in 1886 and voted on 16 Oct 1888. [iii]
During his lifetime, MJ, as he was usually called, had
several careers from grocer, to saloonkeeper, and owner of several bowling
alleys.[iv] He ultimately settled on a career as a
Realtor opening his own business about 1912 on the south side of Chicago moving
to the west side of the city by 1916.[v] MJ returned to Ireland frequently to visit
family which is when he caught the eye of Alice Fleming who was destined to
become his wife.
Family stories relate that MJ led the St Patrick’s Day
parade down State Street on a white horse and while I did find his name listed
in the parade roster, there is no mention of a white horse. As a realtor MJ made wise investments and
during the depression he sold many of his properties to clear the mortgages on
others. My mother also told me that he
walked to work every day with only a nickel in his pocket for a phone
call. He also went home for lunch daily
to save money but all of his children were very well educated. He was a devoted catholic and generous donor
to his church. On the death of his son
Leo, he donated a stained glass window to St Mel Church.
His children called him Papa Dear which was later refined to
Popsy by his grandchildren. MJ had a large
family of which two daughters became religious sisters. I remember him as a tall man with silver
white hair who used a walking stick shaped like a tree branch with a silver
handle.
MJ died 16 Mar 1953.
I was only 10 at the time but I still remember him vividly.
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This is lovely, Donna. The photo and your memories make him come alive, too. Happy February 1st!
ReplyDeleteThanks Celia!
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