Hanging from the Family Tree: January 2018

Saturday, January 27, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 4 - Dinner for 2

It is an intimate occasion. Dinner for two at the Lake Shore Athletic Club on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. I am on the rooftop deck of her club on a summer evening with my maternal aunt Kathy.

Kathleen Connery 1920s

Kathleen Connery was born 10 April 1895, the second of nine children born to M J and Alice Fleming Connery. Kathleen grew up in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois.

As a student Kathleen attended St Joseph Academy, in Adrian, Michigan as did her sisters Mary, Alice, Pauline, and Eleanor. Kathy graduated in June of 1913 having finished four years of high school.[i]

As an adult my aunt Kathy lived through two world wars, the 1918 influenza epidemic, the roaring 20s, the stock market crash, the beginning of air travel and even the very beginning of the computer age. I would love to speak to her about her experiences during these events.

Did any of her friends go to war? How did the “Roaring 20s” feature in her life? What can she tell me about the families left back in Ireland or even possibly of those rumored to have gone to Australia "one step ahead of the British"? That bit of family lore is true as I have DNA matches supporting that!

As a travel agent Kathleen often went to Europe both by air and steamship. She spent time with her Irish aunts, uncles, and cousins in Limerick, Ireland.

Kathleen with Mother and Sisters in audience with Pope Pius XII and Archbishop Bernard J Shiel
circa 1950s

Kathleen winning a contest shipboard.

There were also private audiences with the Pope Pius XII as Kathleen escorted tours to Rome with her mother, sisters and Archbishop Bernard J. Sheil, a family friend.

What glorious stories she would have to tell since her life encompassed most of the 20th century!

[i] Information received by e-mail from the archivist at the Adrian Dominican Motherhouse, Adrian, Michigan.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 3 Longevity

The prompt this week is “longevity” which brought my maternal grandfather to mind since he achieved the venerable age of 92 years before his death in 1953.

Michael Joseph Connery
about 1880

Michael Joseph Connery was born on 15 June, 1861 in Kilfinane, County Limerick, Ireland to Maurice Patrick Connery[i] and Mary Leahy. Michael was baptized on the 16^th of June 1861 in the parish of Kilfinane with his mother’s brother and sister, Michael and Helena, as his sponsors.[ii]

Figure 2 Baptism record of Maurice Patrick Connery

Michael grew up as the fifth of ten children on his father’s farm in Kilfinane, County Limerick, Ireland. Michael received an excellent education, even finishing high school which was unusual for the time.[iii] In 1880[iv], Michael Connery was told by his father to take a cow to market and sell the cow. The money from the sale of the cow was to be used to pay for an apprenticeship in butchering. Michael, who had previously thrown his clothes out the window, picked up the clothes and cow, sold the cow, and bought a ticket to America.

It appears that he went directly to Chicago, although so far it has not been proven that he had any connections there. Michael found work in the city where he proceeded to settle. By 1891 Michael was a saloon keeper in the city of Chicago, an occupation he would follow until at least 1906.[v]

According to family oral tradition, Michael returned to Ireland some time around 1890 to return to his father the money from the sale of the cow that had financed his voyage to the United States. Reportedly wearing a “fine suit” and sporting a “gold headed cane”, Michael caught the eye of a young lass names Alice who determined then and there that they would marry.

Michael married Alice Fleming on 28 June 1893 in the Port Huron home of her sister, Mary Walsh. Michael and Alice settled in Chicago where they raised their family of nine children on the west side. By 1910 Michael had left the saloon industry and was employed in building construction.[vi] By 1913, Michael was involved with Real Estate and eventually opened his own company “M J Connery & Sons, Inc. Beginning as a Real Estate company serving the Garfield Park area of Chicago, M J Connery & Sons eventually added insurance and travel services. Over the years, in addition to his sons and daughters, several of Michael’s grandchildren worked for the company.

Speaking of her father, my mom related the fact that during the depression, my grandfather walked to and from work every day with only a nickel in his pocket. He went home for lunch daily and during the depression, sold half of his real estate holdings to pay off the loans on others. Other stories, so far undocumented, include Michael leading the Chicago St Patrick’s Day parade on a white stallion.

Michael was a staunch Catholic and pioneer member of St Mel Parish in Chicago where he and Alice donated a stained-glass window in memory of their son Leo, who died days short of his eighth birthday.[vii]

Michael Joseph Connery died 16 March 1953 in Chicago and is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Cook, Illinois.

[i] Catholic Church Records (Bulgaden Parish, Limerick, Ireland), Diocese of Limerick Baptisms, p55, Baptism of Maurice Connery; Microfilm 02428-01, National Library of Ireland, Dublin Ireland.

[ii] Footnote: Catholic Church Records (Kilfinane, Limerick, Ireland), Diocese of Limerick Baptisms, page 31, Baptism of Michael Connery; Microfilm 02429 / 05, National Library of Ireland, Dublin Ireland.

[iii] 1940 US census, Cook County, Illinois, Population schedule, Ward 30, ED 6, 9B, 721, Michael J Connery.

[iv] 1900 US Census Chicago Ward 28, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 279; Page: 12A; ED 0851; FHL microfilm: 1240279

[v] Chicago City Directories 1891 and 1906, online images viewed at fold3.com

[vi] 1910 U S Census, Cook County, Illinois, population Schedule, Ward 34, ED ED 1459, Sheet 11B, , occupation of Michael Connery.

[vii] Leo Connery entry, Cook County Deaths, source reference 1375, record number 82, FHL film 1,239,714.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

#52 Ancestors - The Horse's Name is Dolly

This is a picture of my grandmother Alice Fleming Connery taken at St. Joseph’s Academy in Adrian, Michigan circa 1900. It appears that she is standing on a bridge. The time frame can be determined by the fact that Alice’s brother Michael was then a priest, of the Detroit diocese, serving at St Joseph Academy.[i] On the same census image also appears the name of six-year old Mary Connery, Alice’s oldest daughter.

As I look at this picture, I wonder what Alice’s thoughts were that day. Was she enjoying the beauty of the day, or was she looking back and wondering how she came to this place in her life?

It had been less than 10 years since Alice had traveled to the United States with her brother Michael, leaving her elderly parents behind in Ballylanders, County Limerick, Ireland. Michael took the young Alice to the home of their older sister Mary Walsh who lived in Port Huron, Michifan, where Mary’s daughters often mocked her old country ways and manner of dress. Alice must have longed for the freedom of her life in Ireland and the adventures she shared with her cousin Molly Hogan, but as the youngest child in the family it was determined that she should travel to the United States where her siblings could impose more supervision than their parents. Since Alice had nine siblings living in the United States, there was more than one place she could stay. As Alice traveled between her sister Mary’s home and the homes of her three brothers in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she often stopped in Chicago and that is where she reconnected with Michael Connery, the young man who had captured her heart in Ireland.

On 28 June 1893, Alice, aged 21 years, became the Bride of Michael Connery at the Port Huron home of her sister Mary Walsh. The service was performed by the same brother, Michael, who had brought Alice to the United States.[ii]

Michael and Alice moved to Chicago, Illinois where they lived for the rest of their lives. By the time this picture happened Alice was the mother of four children, Mary, Kathleen, Alice, and Leo. This picture is taken either in the fall, when the young Mary first went to St Joseph’s or in June of 1900 when it was time to return home for the summer. So much had happened in the past ten years!

Or was Alice trying to see what the future might hold? The only thing we know for sure is that the horse is named “Dolly”.[iii]

[i] Year: 1900; Census Place: Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: 725; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0039; FHL microfilm: 1240725. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[ii] Marriage of Michael Connery and Alice Fleming; 27 June 1893; FHL film 2,342,497. Item 4 page 213; Michigan Marriages 1868-1925: ; Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Lansing, Michigan.

[iii] Sister Mary Phillip Ryan O.P., Amid the Alien Corn, paperback (Jones Wood Press: St Charles. Illinois, 1967), page 144.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 1: Adolf Johannes Waldemar Hansen

It really began “In the Year 2000”. That’s when I posted on a Norway message board looking for my Adolf Hansen. In my genealogy newness and knowing that the Norwegians used the Patronymic naming system, I was looking for a Hans who fathered Adolf Hansen. He was not to be found, but I did connect with a Norwegian author who was writing a biography of my Adolf Hansen in honor of his 150^th Birthday. The book was to be published in 2002 in conjunction with a concert of his music. The author, Egil Gunderson and I corresponded for the next two years as I tried to find the parents of Adolf Hansen, Norwegian Composer and Music Instructor. I didn’t find all the answers in time for the publication of the book, but I have finally pieced his story together.

Adolf Hansen was born Johannes Adolf Waldemar Hansen on 11 October 1852 and christened at Aker, Akershus, Oslo, Norway on 26 December 1852.[i] He was the illegitimate son of Johanne Sophie Johannessen and Martin Hansen. Martin was in the military, but I haven’t yet determined Johanne Sophie’s occupation. Sponsors at the christening were Johanne Marie Johannessen, Martha Marie Andersdatter, Adolf Anderssen and Julius Johns.

Martin never married Sophie (as she was called) and she raised her son on her own. The 1865 Norwegian census shows Sophie Johannesdatter living with Adolf in a house with 47 other people at Grønslanderet 2. She was born in 1829 and her occupation indicated she was a peddler of vegetables. Adolf was 13 years old.

In 1867, an impoverished Adolph joined the 2^nd Brigade Band as a drummer, and at the same time, he also joined the Mollergadens Theater Orchestra as a clarinetist. Both were under the direction of Paolo Sperati. One day in 1868, Adolph showed Sperati 2 pieces he had composed. One was a march and the other was a galop. Sperati had both pieces performed and they were a hit.[ii]

From 1875, Adolph was employed by the Kristiania Theater Orchestra under the direction of Johan Edvard Hennum. He remained there for ten years and was known for his performing abilities.

The 1875 census shows Sophie Hansen, now 46, an unmarried seller of newspapers living at Grønslanderet 4 with Adolph who is listed as a musician. Band. As his talent became more evident, he was sent to Paris for additional studies and training. Adolph’s primary instrument was the clarinet, but he was also a proficient pianist as can be attested to by his many compositions.

On 12 Dec 1877, Adolf married Dorette Christensen in Grønland Parish[iii] and the couple moved into the military Garrison in Oslo where Adolf continued his work with the Norwegian Army Band. Dorette bore seven children, five of whom survived infancy, before her death on July 4, 1887.[iv]

Adolph was the conductor and director of the orchestra at the Tivoli, an amusement park, in Christiania from 1885 until he and his new family moved to Bergen in 1892.

Adolph joined the Brigade Band in Bergen and continued with his work composing musical pieces. Some of his music was used in theatrical performances featuring Nathalie. While their careers soared, the family grew with the addition of five children born to Adolph and Nathalie. Of the children born to Dorette and Adolph, four, Dagny, Artur, Adolph, and Sigurd, immigrated to the United States and one, Thorolf remained in Norway. Of the five children born to Nathalie and Adolph one, Lili came to the United States while Eilif, Elvind, Edit, Adolph remained in Norway.

It is known that Adolph visited the United States in of 1909 as there is a photo of him with his children Dagny and Adolph and their spouses.

Adolph died in Bergen, Norway on 24 Jan 1911 and was buried there on 31 Jan 1911.