Gertrude Connell: Lost Child of James Connell and Annie Cawley

 

Earlier Information

      Much of my earlier information on the James Connell and Annie Cawley family came from information provided by Helen Rose Connell Magner, the sister of Irene Connell Willig.

 

      This document names the 4 girls and 1 boy that survived: Irene Mary Connell Willig, Thomas Joseph Connell, Kathryn Rita Connell Frame, Helen Rose Connell Magner and Clara Mary Connell Maloney.

      It also mentions that James Connell and Annie Cawley had 4 girls and 1 boy that died in infancy, including 2 sets of twins, but no names were known.

      Furthermore, it states that James and Annie moved to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902.

      Although the 1902 date seemed reasonable, the documents that I could find showed that they lived with their 4 oldest surviving children in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1900. Annie stated that she had 4 children, 4 still living. Since they have only been married 7 years, it does seem reasonable that no children have yet died in infancy.

Ancestry; 1900 U.S. census; Scranton PA; James Connell.

Note that both of James' parents and Annie's father were all born in Ireland.

      The next record that I have for the family is in the 1910 census, in Hammond, Indiana. Clara has since been born, so all 5 living children are in the household. Annie now states that she had 10 children, 5 still living. So this means that all 5 infant births/deaths occurred between 1900 and 1910.

Ancestry; 1910 U.S. census; Hammond IN; James Connell.

Death Certificate for Gertrude

      While eating breakfast one morning, and of course doing genealogy, I stumbled across a death certificate for Gertude Connell in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. At first, I dismissed it, thinking that James Connell was a common name and what was he doing in Allegheny County. But as I looked more closely, I realized this had to be one of  their children that died as an infant.

Ancestry; Death Certificate; Allegheney County PA; 27 Apr 1906; Gertude Connell.

      Parents are given as James J. Connell, born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and Annie Cawly, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Since this is where 'our' James and Annie were born, this clinched it!

      So what were they doing in Allegheny County? The death certificate says that Gertrude died at 3027 Stayton Street, Allegheny (city), Allegheny (county), Pennsylvania. When I googled the address of 3027 Stayton, it was clear that it was located in Pittsburgh.

Google Maps; 3027 Stayton, Pittsburgh, PA.

3027 Stayton in Google Maps today.

Yellow is Allegheny City.

      

Evidently, Allegheny City, in yellow above, was where James Connell and his family lived. In 1907, about a year after Gertrude's death, Allegheny City was annexed by Pittsburgh.

      So why was James Connell living in the Pittsburgh area? Likely because his brother, Thomas Connell, lived there. Thomas Connell married his wife, Mamie Miller, on June 19, 1900. At the time, both were living on Home Street, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. In 1910, Thomas Connell was living at 2813 Becker Street in Pittsburgh.

Google maps; Pittsburgh addresses for James Connell and Thomas Connell.

      So what about Gertrude? She was born April 5, 1906, and died 22 days later on April 27, 1906, at 2:30am. Cause of death was inanition, with secondary cause being cardiac exhaustion. Inanition is severe malnutrition. It was listed with some frequency as a cause of death from about 1900-1914. Although sometimes listed as death from starvation, it includes deaths caused by a disorder of the digestive apparatus that prevents proper feeding. Other comments note that starvation probably occurred in the uterus, referred to as uterine growth retardation.

      According to the death certificate, Gertrude was buried the day after her death in Calvary Cemetery. The undertaker was Thomas Payton, 30 McClure Avenue, who lived a mile away from James Connell. There are multiple Calvary cemeteries in Pittsburgh, but it seems likely that she was buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. This is a huge cemetery and she is not yet listed in Find A Grave or Billion Graves.

      I attempted to find other Connell children that may have died in Pittsburgh, especially since Gertrude may have been a twin, but I have not been able to find such records.

Thomas Connell and Catherine Leahy: Tragic Death in Scranton

Introduction

      In the previous post, I traced James Joseph Connell and Annie Cawley from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Hammond, Indiana. James moved with his wife and 5 children to Hammond in 1902, about 4 years after his mother's death.

      In this post, I want to explore the family of Thomas Connell and Catherine Leahy, the parents of James Connell. Both Thomas and Catherine were born in County Tipperary, but the location of their marriage is not clear. Even though I had heard the story about Catherine's death, the newspaper articles added a lot more details to the tragedy!

Thomas Connell

      According to census data, Thomas was born in Ireland in about 1841. Helen R. Magner, a granddaughter of Thomas and Catherine, states that Thomas was born and raised in County Tipperary, Ireland. In addition, Francis John Connell, a grandson of Thomas Connell, had reported that both Thomas and Catherine were from County Tipperary. Finally, the death record of Patrick Connell, son of Thomas and Catherine, stated that both Thomas and Catherine were born in County Tipperary. Their eldest child, Mary Ann, was 16 years old in 1880, and born in Pennsylvania, so Thomas must have been in the United States by 1864.
  

Catherine Leahy

      According to census data and newspaper reports of her death, Catherine/Katherine was born between 1843 and 1845 in Ireland. According to the three different sources mentioned above, Catherine was born in County Tipperary. Again, based on the birth of her eldest child Mary Ann in Pennsylvania in 1864, Catherine must have been in the United States by 1864.   

   

Connell Family in Plymouth, Pennsylvania

      According to Helen Magner, Thomas and Catherine married in County Tipperary. However, I have not seen anything to substantiate this and it appears that all 8 of their children were born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. So one alternative is that they married in the Plymouth area. 

      Thomas and Catherine had 8 children together. The children are Mary Ann (1864), Patrick Francis (1866), James Joseph (1868), Catherine (1871), Thomas Francis (1873), Bridget (1877), Anna (1879) and Sarah/Sadie (1885).

      I scanned the entire 1870 census for Plymouth, Pennsylvania, but failed to find Thomas Connell! This is very strange, indeed, especially if 8 children were born in Plymouth between 1864 and 1885.

      I did find Thomas, wife Katherine and his 7 oldest children in Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in 1880. Thomas worked as a miner and was unemployed for 6 months during the census year. (The census year was June 1879 - May 1880.) Patrick, age 14, worked as a laborer and was unemployed for 3 months. James, age 11, worked as a slate picker and was unemployed for 3 months... The only person above the age of 10 who was listed as able to read and write was Mary Ann, although later census data indicates that James could indeed read and write. The only child listed as attending school was Katherine, age 9.  Mary Ann, age 16, was not attending school, so was probably helping her mother with housekeeping.

Connell Family in Scranton, Pennsylvania

     Since there is no census again until 1900, one has to rely on city directories for Scranton to try to piece together residence patterns! I attempted to scrutinize middle initials, occupations, residence patterns and other family members at the same residence. Still, it was challenging!
     Although there are several entries in early Scranton city directories for a Thomas Connell, it is very ambiguous as to whether this is our Thomas!
     But sometime between about 1885, when their youngest child Sadie was born in Plymouth, and 1893, when James Connell married in Scranton, the family moved from Plymouth to Scranton.
     In 1898, though, which was probably partially assembled in 1897, Catherine Connell, widow of Thomas, is listed as having a home at 849 Capouse Avenue. Her sons, Patrick F. and James, are listed as miners residing at 852 Capouse Avenue. Based on information in the obituary, her son Thomas, and several of her daughters, must have been living with her.

Death of Thomas Connell 

      Thomas Connell died April 19, 1895, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was residing at 809 Capouse avenue. His remains were taken to Plymouth, Pennsylvania, for interment, on the Monday train at 1:30pm.
 

The Scranton Tribune; April 22, 1895; page 5. 

Death of Catherine Connell

      Catherine (Leahy) Connell died on July 20, 1898, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at her home on 851 Capouse Avenue. She was 55 years old and weighed 170-180 pounds.  She lived in the upstairs of the building, the ground floor being used as a grocery store. About 1 - 2 p.m, she had rested from her household duties. When she rested her elbows on the porch railing, which was about four feet from the floor, she fell head first to the pavement that was 10-20 feet below.  She had not noticed that the railing had been weakened and a piece of the railing, 12 feet in length, fell with her. Her skull was fractured and her neck was broken. She lived for only a few moments after the fall and did not regain consciousness. 

      Catherine was survived by a family of seven. Since her husband was deceased, this must represent her 7 surviving children. So one of the children must have died young. All 7 surviving children, except for one married daughter, lived in Scranton. Of the 6 children living in Scranton, Thomas, Ann and Sarah resided with her.

The Scranton Republican, 21 Jul 1898, Page 5.

The Scranton Tribune, 21 Jul 1898, page 5. 

Connell Child #2: Patrick Francis Connell

     Patrick Francis Connell was born April 8, 1866, in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. (Social Security states that he was born in Scranton, but this seems unlikely.  The informant's name was not even provided. Since his wife and any possible children were deceased, the informant could have been anybody.)

     In 1880, he was 14 years old, and living with his parents and 6 siblings in Plymouth Township. He worked as a laborer and had been unemployed for 3 months during the preceding census year.

     Patrick's marital situation is somewhat murky. According to the 1910 census, Patrick and Mary had been married for 17 years, implying an 1893 marriage date. They appear to have had 4 children, although none lived. On the other hand, the marriage record for Patrick Connell and Mary Ann Dougher states that they were married on April 26, 1923. This seems very unusual for an Irish, and probably Catholic, family. Either they were not married for the vast majority of their life together, or there was a second marriage for some reason.

Ancestry.com, "Cook County, Illinois Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942".

     In 1895, Patrick was working as a laborer and living at 854 Capouse Avenue, probably near other family members. In 1896, he is also working as a laborer, but living at 851 Capouse Avenue. In 1898, he is working as a miner and residing with his brother James at 852 Capouse Avenue. There is a Patrick listed in the 1900 and 1901 Scranton city directories, but no middle initial is given and the addresses are very different. So I question whether these are really our Patrick!

     In 1910, Patrick was renting a home in Hammond, Indiana, at 278 State Street. His brother James lived nearby at 266 State Street! He was living with his wife Mary and they were both 43 years of age. It appears that they had had 4 children, but that none were living! Both were able to read and write. Patrick was a laborer at a sewer works and was NOT out of work. There were 4 single men who were boarding with them and working in the steel or car industry. (His brother James was a steam fitter for Standard Steel.)

Ancestry.com; "1910 United States Federal Census"; Hammond Ward 8, Lake, Indiana; Page 3A; Pat Connell.

     In 1920, Patrick and Mary were renting at 6341 Langley Avenue in Chicago. Their nephew, Thomas Connell, son of Patrick's brother James, was also living with them. (Thomas had just finished serving in the army during World War I.) In addition, there was a Mirillees family from Scotland that was renting at the same address. Patrick was working as a steamfitter for a house contractor. His nephew Thomas was a cashier at a cigar factory.

     On December 4, 1926, Patrick's wife Mary died and was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery near Worth, Illinois. According to Aunt Bea (Willig) Spatz, Mary smoked a pipe!

Ancestry.com; "Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947"; Mary Connell.

     In 1930, Patrick owned his home at 6313 Champlain Avenue, valued at $6,000. He also owned a radio set. He worked as a steam fitter for a Plumbing Company. He was NOT a veteran. His sister Sadie, who had never married, lived with him. (Since Patrick had just lost his wife, the arrangement was no doubt mutually beneficial.) In addition, his brother-in-law, John F. Dougher, also widowed, lived with him and worked as an elevator man in a packing house. Finally, there was a German woman and her brother, who lived with Patrick and rented for $40 per month.

     In 1940, Patrick owned his home at 6245 Langley Avenue, worth $5,000. Patrick was 73 years old and was no longer working. His sister Sara was still living with him and doing the housework. In addition, it appears that she did housework outside the home for an annual income of $208. Patrick's brother-in-law, John Dougher, had died 5 years before, in 1935. Patrick was renting part of the house to a family of 5 for $40 per month. Per this census, Patrick had completed 3 grades of school and Sara had completed 4 grades.

     Patrick died on April 29, 1942, in Chicago. He was buried 3 days later in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, presumably next to his wife. His brother James is buried in the same cemetery.

Connell Child #3: James Joseph Connell

      See earlier blog on 'James Connell and Annie Cawley: Scranton to Chicago'.
      He went to Hammond, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, like his brother Patrick.

Connell Child #5: Thomas Francis Connell

 
     Thomas Francis Connell was born December 26, 1873, in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He completed about 8 grades of school. He moved with his family to Scranton in the late 1880's or early 1890's, where he worked as a miner and laborer. At the time of his mother's death on July 20, 1898, he lived with his mother, as did his sisters Anna and Sarah. No doubt, he provided support for his mother after his father's death in 1895. In the 1900 Scranton city directory, which was probably assembled in 1899, he was still living at the same address, and working as a laborer.

     On June 19, 1900, Thomas married Mary M. Miller in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in a religious ceremony. It appears that they married in Pittsburgh, but they may have married in Allegheny City, where Mary was born. This was the first marriage for both of them. Mary's father was born in  German-speaking Austria and her mother was born in Bavaria, Germany. I know that this is the Thomas that is the son of Thomas and Catherine Connell based on information from the wife of an adopted descendant  of this Thomas! At the time of his marriage, Thomas was working as a machinist in Pittsburgh.

Thomas and Mary Connell, 50th Wedding Anniversary; Ancestry.com; Judy Connell.

     
     In 1910, Thomas was renting at 2813 Becker Street in Pittsburgh. He worked as a laborer at a mill, but was out of work for 25 weeks in 1909. He was living with his wife Mary, son Thomas (8), daughter Martha (7), son Patrick (5), daughter Marcella (4) and son Vincent (2). Thomas Jr. and Martha were both attending school.

      In 1918, when he registered for the World War I draft, he was a machinist at American Locomotive Works on Beaver Avenue in Pittsburgh and lived at 2335 Atmore Street. According to his physical description, he was of medium height and build, with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Although he registered for service, he never actually served in the military.

      In 1920, Thomas was renting at 2335 Atmore Street. He was working as a machine helper at a steel mill. He was living with wife Mary, son Thomas (19), daughter Martha (17), son Patrick (16), daughter Marcella (13), son Regis (9), son Francis (7), daughter Ruth (4) and son Bernard (2). His son Vincent had died of diphtheria in 1913, at age 6. The 3 oldest children were working, Thomas as an order clerk for a garter company, Martha as a brush maker for a brush company and Patrick as an errand boy for an electric company. Marcella, Regis and Francis were attending school.

      In 1930, Thomas was still renting at 2335 Atmore Street, paying $32 per month for rent. He was working as a machine hand at a steel manufacturing company. He was living with his wife Mary, daughter Martha (27), daughter Marcella (24), son Regis (19), son Francis (17), daughter Ruth (15), son Bernard (13) and daughter Edith (9). Son Thomas Cyril Connell had married Rose Knestaut and was living in Mt. Oliver in the Pittsburgh area. I am not sure what happened to his son Patrick, although there is some evidence that he married, served in the military and moved to Chicago. The three youngest children all attended school, but the others were all working. Martha worked as a forelady at a wearing apparel company, Marcella was a telephone operator and Regis and Francis both worked as elevator operators at hotels.

      In 1940, Thomas was still renting at 2335 Atmore Street, but now just paying $25 per month for rent. He was working as a machinist helper at a steel mill. He worked 30 hours in the week prior to the census and worked 26 weeks in 1939. His annual income was just $480. Two years before, in 1938, he made a claim with Social Security, so his ability to work may have been limited. Thomas was living with his wife Mary, daughter Marcella (34), son Regis (29), daughter Ruth (25) and son Bernard (23). Marcella was fully employed as a telephone operator and had an annual income of $1300. Regis was a salesman, but was seeking work and reported an annual income of $0. Ruth worked as a seamstress at a garter factory and had an annual income of $560. Bernard was working as a pipe cutter, but had not worked in 1939 at all... Two of his children had married in the meantime. Martha married Albert Knestaut, possibly a brother of her brother's wife. Francis had married Sybilla Unsworth. His youngest child, Edith, was a student nurse at Saint Francis Hospital and later served in the WAC's during World War II.

      His son Bernard also served in the military during World War II, in the Air Corps. He subsequently moved to Chicago where he worked as a mechanic for American Airlines.

      On January 11, 1959, Thomas died in Suburban Hospital in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, of arterosclerotic heart disease. He was buried 4 days later in North Side Catholic Cemetery. His wife Mary died September 4, 1961, at her home on 1407 Lake Street in Pittsburgh, of cerebral thrombosis. She was also buried at North Side Catholic Cemetery.

Connell Daughters

      Unfortunately, daughters are so much more difficult to track! Thomas and Catherine had 5 daughters: Mary Ann (1864), Catherine (1871), Bridget (1877), Anna (1879) and Sarah/Sadie (1885).

      We know the most about Sadie because she moved to Chicago... She was born February 24, 1885, in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. She was living with her mother at 851 Capouse Avenue, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the time of her tragic death in 1898. She evidently only completed 4 grades of school... We then just lose track of her!! Although, it seems likeliest that she may have moved to Chicago when her older brothers moved or may have lived with one of her sisters for a while. By  1930, after her brother Patrick was widowed in 1926, she moved in with him and probably did  housekeeping for him. In addition, she may have taken care of Patrick's brother-in-law, who was living with them. In 1940, she is still living with her brother Patrick, but also does some housework outside the home for pay... When Patrick died in 1942, she may have continued to live in his home, which he had owned and was worth $5,000. She later lived at 2648 E. 78th Street, per the address book of her niece, Irene Connell Willig. She died October 9, 1968, at this same address, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, probably near her brother Patrick... Sadie never married. According to her great-great-niece Judy, Sadie was engaged 3 times, but all 3 fiances died. Judy also mentioned that Sadie was psychic!

      Anna was born about 1879 in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. At least, she is listed as 1 year old in the 1880 Plymouth census! Like Sadie, she was living with her mother in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the time of her tragic death in 1898. But then, the trail dies out. She may have married someone in Scranton, PA, or may have moved to Pittsburgh or Chicago with her brothers. 

      That leaves 3 sisters, Mary Ann and Catherine and Bridget! Based on their mother's obituary, one of them must have been deceased and one of them must have been married and living outside Scranton in 1898. Since the Connell family moved from Plymouth to Scranton between 1885 and 1893, it seems likeliest that the eldest daughter might have married and remained in Plymouth. 

Summary

1. We obtained additional confirmation that Thomas and Catherine were both born in County Tipperary, Ireland, but still do not have a more specific location!
2. Thomas and Catherine (Leahy) Connell lived in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, for at least 20 years, based on information from Helen Magner, granddaughter of Thomas and Catherine. Thomas worked as a miner most of this time. We know that Thomas was buried in Plymouth in 1895, even though he was living in Scranton at the time. We suspect that one of their daughters may have been living in Plymouth at the time of Catherine's death in 1898. We know that there were lots of Connells in Plymouth and suspect that some of them were relatives!  
3. The Connell family moved to Scranton some time between 1885 (when the youngest child was born in Plymouth) and 1893 (when son James married in Scranton). 
4. Catherine died tragically in 1898 when a railing on her second floor apartment gave way and she landed head first on the cement below. This event was reported the next day in two of the main Scranton newspapers.   
5. In about 1900, their youngest son, Thomas Francis Connell, moved to the Pittsburgh area, where he married and raised his family. 
6. At about the same time, the two older sons, Patrick Francis and James Joseph Connell, moved to Hammond, Indiana, and then to Chicago, Illinois. By at least 1930, daughter Sadie Connell moved in with her widowed brother Patrick Francis Connell. Later, at least one of Thomas Francis Connell's sons (Bernard) moved to the Chicago area. 
7. Patrick Connell appears to have had four children, all of whom had died by at least 1910. Patrick may have had a common-law marriage, but it is not clear!
8. The Connell men changed from mining to manufacturing jobs as they moved west. Patrick's jobs included a laborer at sewer works and a steamfitter. Thomas worked as a machinist and then held several jobs at a steel mill. The next generation worked for garter and wearing apparel companies, made brushes, worked as telephone operators, cut pipes and worked as salesmen. 
9. Thomas Connell Jr. rented throughout his life, but his brother Patrick, who had no children, was able to own his own home!
10. Daughter Sadie was engaged 3 times, but all of her fiances died. According to family stories, Sadie had psychic abilities!  

Next Steps

      My next, and third post for the Connell family will attempt to track them back to a specific parish in Ireland. I am hoping to utilize a couple of DNA matches to facilitate that process. This will probably be a difficult endeavor, so it will probably end up on the back burner!

   

Sources

"Cook County, Illinois Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 
www.Ancestry.com : 2011.
- Patrick Connell and Mary Dougher.

Find A Grave. www.findagrave.com.
- Mary Ann Dougher Connell, #178144760. 

"Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994." Database. FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org.
- Sadie Connell.

"Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.Ancestry.com : 2011.
- Patrick Connell, Mary Connell.

Illinois. Cook. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com: 2008.
- Patrick F. Connell.

Illinois. Cook. 1930 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com: 2008.
- Patrick F. Connell, Sadie Connell.

Illinois. Cook. 1940 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com : 2012.
- Patrick F. Connell, Sadie Connell.

Indiana. Lake County. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com. www.ancestry.com.
- Pat Connell, James Connell.

Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. Digital Images of Death Certificates. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., www.ancestry.com : 2014.
- Thomas F. Connell.

Pennsylvania. County Marriage Records, 1845-1963. Digital images. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg. www.Ancestry.com : 2016.
- Thomas F. Connell and Mary Miller.

Pennsylvania . Allegheny. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2006.
- Thomas F. Connell Family.

Pennsylvania. Allegheny. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Thomas F. Connell Family.

Pennsylvania. Allegheny. 1930 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2002.
- Thomas F. Connell Family.

Pennsylvania. Allegheny. 1940 U.S. census, population schedule. www.ancestry.com : 2012.
- Thomas F. Connell Family.

Pennsylvania. Luzerne. 1880 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2010.
- Thomas Connell Sr. family.

Pennsylvania. Scranton. The Scranton Republican.
- 21 July 1898, page 5, "An Awful Plunge".

Pennsylvania. Scranton. The Scranton Tribune.
- 22 April 1895, page 5, "Connell". 
- 21 July 1898, page 5, "Killed by a Fall".

Personal knowledge, Judy Connell.
-Thomas F. Connell.

Personal knowledge, Helen Rose (Connell) Magner, granddaughter of Thomas COnnell Sr. and Catherine Leahy. 
- "History of the Connell and Cawley Families".

Personal knowledge, Judy Plys, great-granddaughter of James Joseph Connell.
- Sadie Connell.

Personal knowledge, Beatrice (Willlig) Spatz, granddaughter of James and Annie Connell.
- Notes on family of Thomas Connell and Catherine Leahy.
- Irene (Connell) Willlig Bible.

Personal knowledge, Irene (Connell) Willig, granddaughter of Thomas Connell Sr. and Catherine Leahy. 
- Personal address book. 

Social Security Administration. "Social Security Death Index." Database. Ancestry.com. 2008.
- Sadie Connell, 1968.

Social Security Administration. "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007." Database. www.Ancestry.com : 2015.
- Patrick Francis Connell, 1942 (death).
- Thomas Francis Connell, 1938.

U. S. City Directories, 1821-1989. Digital images. www.ancestry.com : 2011.
- Scranton, 1895: Patrick Connell, Thomas F. Connell.
- Scranton, 1896: Catherine Connell, Patrick Connell, Thomas F. Connell.
- Scranton, 1898: Catherine Connell, Patrick Connell.
- Scranton, 1899: Thomas F. Connell.
- Scranton, 1900: Thomas F. Connell.
- Scranton, 1901: None.

"World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1919." Database and images. www.ancestry.com.
- Thomas Francis Connell.

James Connell and Annie Cawley: Scranton to Chicago

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/slate-pickers-anthracite-coal-mining.html

Slate Pickers in Anthracite Coal Mine

Introduction

      I began to focus my attention on the Connell family when I received an Ancestry notification from a DNA match, who appeared to be matching on the Connells. Since Carl Willig married Irene Mary Connell, it made sense to focus on the Connell family after working on the Willig family. Plus, the Connell family has a different flavor than the Willig family. They are Irish, rather than German, and spent time in Pennsylvania before coming to Chicago.

      The purpose of this post is to explore the family of James Joseph Connell. My next post will explore the family of Thomas Connell, the immigrant from County Tipperary in Ireland. My third post will explore roots in Ireland, based on Irish records and information from DNA matches on Connell.

James Joseph Connell

      James Joseph Connell was born August 16, 1868, in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County. He was the son of Thomas Connell and Catherine Leahy, both born in Ireland. He was the third child of 8 children. His siblings were: Mary Ann (about 1864), Patrick Francis (1866), Catherine (abt 1871), Thomas Francis (1873), Bridget (abt 1877), Anna (abt 1879) and Sarah (1883). 

      In 1880, the Connell family was living in Plymouth Township, East District, Third Division in Luzerne County. This was a mining area, rich in anthracite coal, and life here was filled with dangers. On September 6, 1869, a mine fire killed 110 people in Avondale, an unincorporated community in Plymouth Township.  

      

      In 1880, when he was 11 years old, James was working as a slate picker and had been unemployed for 3 months in the preceding year. When coal was crushed for use in homes, there were a lot of rocks and other non-combustible debris that was mixed in with the coal. Slate was one of the common non-combustible products. Slate pickers or breaker boys, typically children or elderly miners, stood along conveyor belts carrying the cracked coal and picked out the debris. 

Ancestry, 1880 U. S. census, Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Thomas Connell.

      It seems likely that he may have gone to school during the 3 months that he was not working. Even though the 1880 census states that he cannot read or write, later census data indicates that he completed 8 grades of school and could read and write. 

      Later, when James got older, he worked as a coal miner in Scranton, and possibly in Plymouth. 

Anna Cawley

      Annie Cawley was born October, 31 1866, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of John Cawley and Maria Clark. John was born in Ireland, but Maria was born in Massachusetts. Annie was the eldest of 6 children. Her siblings were: James (abt 1869), Hanora (abt 1871), Anthony Joseph (1873), William (abt 1876) and John A. (1879).

      In 1880, Annie, age 14, was attending school, as is her brother James. Her father John was working as a miner.  

Family Search, 1880 U. S. census, Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. John Cawley.

      In both 1870 and 1880, Annie's family was living in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in Ward 7.  In 1880, they lived on New Street. Originally, Scranton was in Luzerne County. But in 1878, Lackawanna County was created and Scranton became the county seat of Lackawanna County.

Connell Family in Pennsylvania

      In 1893, James Joseph Connell married Anna Cawley in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  

      James and Annie had 10 children together. Four girls and 1 boy lived. Four girls and 1 boy died. The names of the children who died are not known, but they included 2 sets of twins that died in infancy. The surviving children are Irene Mary (1893), Thomas Joseph (1895), Kathryn Rita (1896), Helen Rose (1899) and Clara Mary (1901).

      James and Annie were both musically inclined. James was a musician and taught ballroom dancing for many years. Annie played the accordion. She had a beautiful voice and won first prize singing "Annie Laurie" when it first came out. Both of them played for weddings and dances while they lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

      In 1900, James and Annie and their 4 oldest children rented a home at 841 Capouse Avenue in Scranton. James was working as a day laborer, probably in the mines. He was unemployed 0 months in the preceding year. Irene, the eldest daughter, attended school for 6 months during the year.

Ancestry, 1900 U. S. census, Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. James Connell.

Connell Family in Hammond and Chicago

      In 1902, the Connell family moved to Hammond, Indiana, in Lake County.

      In 1910, the family rented their home at 266 State Street in Hammond. James worked as a steamfitter for Standard Steel and was fully employed in 1909. As a steamfitter, he installed and repaired pipes that carried gases (or liquids) within the factory. Thomas, Kathryn and Helen attended school, but Irene (age 17) and Clara (age 8) did not attend school.

      On January 4, 1913, Anna Cawley died in St. Margaret's Hospital, in Hammond, from tuberculosis of the throat and lungs. She had been ill for one year. She was buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery in Hammond.

Ancestry.com, Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Anna G. Connell 

      On May 30, 1919, James married Mary Hyland in Chicago. James was 50 years old and Mary was 38 years old. Mary died in 1921, possibly during childbirth.

      In 1920, the family rented a home at 6413 St. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago, Ward 7. James was working as a laborer in wire works. He was living with Mary, wife #2. Helen and Clara were still living at home and both were working. Helen was a sorter for a wholesale manufacturer. Clara was a packer for a department store. In addition, there was a young woman of German extraction boarding with them, who worked as a machine operator for a can company.

Ancestry, 1920 U. S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. James J. Connell.

      On December 18, 1921, James married Lucinda E. Turner, wife #3, in Cook County. James was 53 years old and Lucinda was 47 years old. Lucinda was born in English-speaking Canada, immigrated in 1893 and was naturalized.

      In 1930, James was living with wife Lucinda (aka Sinda) and daughter Helen.  He was renting a home at 6042 Ingleside for $30/month and the family owned a radio set. James worked as a laborer in the iron industry. Neither Sinda nor Helen were working.

Ancestry, 1930 U. S. census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. James Connell.

      In 1940, James was renting 6021 South Rhodes Avenue in Chicago for $10/month. He was 71 years old and Lucinda was 65 years old. James worked as a peddler of vegetables.

      On September 16, 1942, James Joseph Connell died in Chicago.  Cause of death was listed as cancer and his great-grandson James Willig, said cause of death was black lung as a result of working as a coal miner. James was buried in Holy Sepulchre cemetery.

Ancestry, Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947, James Connell.

Connell Child #1: Irene Mary Connell

       Irene Mary Connell was born October 13, 1893, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

      Irene moved with her parents to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902. She completed 5 grades of school. She married her husband, Carl Louis Willig on May 14, 1911, in Crown Point, Indiana. They had 12 children together and adopted a 13th child. Their children were Herbert Patrick (1912), Helen Rose (1914), James Vernon (1916),  Sadie Marie (1918), Anna May (1920), Irene Mary (1922), Bernice Teresa (1924), Carl John (1926), Wilhelmina Clara (1928), Donald Eugene (1930), Thomas John (1932) and Shirley May (1935). In addition, they adopted Irene Vincent, aka Ginger Willig, who was born about 1936. She was the niece of Helen Rose Willig's husband, Gil Vincent.

      In 1920, Carl and Irene were renting at 6074 Drexel Avenue in Chicago, Ward 7. Carl worked as a machinist in a car shop. They had 4 children at this time.

    In 1930, they were renting 6454 Grove Avenue in Chicago for $25/month and the family owned a radio set. Carl worked as a mechanic for tool makers. They had 9 children at this time. Herbert, age 17, worked as a helper in the metal container industry. All the children 6-15 attended school.

      In 1940, Carl was renting 5612 S. Wells Street in Chicago, for $25/month. Carl worked as a machinist for a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures. His income was $1800.  They had 10 children living with them at the time, including their adopted daughter.  Son James (23) was looking for work. Daughter Anna (20) worked as a sewing machine operator in the metal polishing industry.  Daughter Irene (17) worked as a solderer for a manufacturer of electrical fixtures.

Ancestry, 1940 U. S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.  Carl Willig.

      According to the 1947 city directory, Carl and Irene were living at 5632 Halsted, along with her son James.

      Carl was an alcoholic and his marriage with Irene was troubled. At one point, Irene moved to her daughter Bea's home and Carl did not move. Irene began collecting Social Security in 1960.

Irene Willig, family photo.

      Irene Mary Connell Willig died August 31, 1968, in Chicago. She is buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois. According to her obituary, she was a member of the Sacred Heart sodality of St. John the Baptist. She was also in the Ladies Auxiliary for the V. F. W.

      Her ex-husband, Carl Willig died June 3, 1970, and was buried in Hammond.

      According to her grandchildren, Irene was short, about 5 feet tall. After she had a stroke, she went from 300# to 150#. She loved sweets and frequented the bakery on Halsted Street... She went to Visitation Parish, where she also played bingo .She was very religious and would go through her prayer/novena cards and rosary with her tea every morning... Irene always wore full aprons. When kids acted up at the table, she would fling spoons at them... Irene was stubborn and sometimes not forgiving... She would give her son Tommy refuge when he went AWOL and would give him extra cash when she could... She was especially close with her sister Kathryn.

Connell Child #2: Thomas Joseph Connell

       Thomas Joseph Connell was born May 14, 1895, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was christened 5 days later.

      Thomas moved with his parents to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902.  He completed 6 grades of school. He enlisted in the army on May 5, 1917, and was released July 26, 1919. At the time of the 1920 census, he was living with his uncle Patrick Frances Connell and his aunt Mary. at 6341 Langley Avenue. Thomas was working as a cashier at a cigar factory. His uncle Patrick was working as a steamfitter in the house contracting industry.

Ancestry, 1920 U. S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Patrick Connell.

      Thomas married his wife, Louise Sylvia Wolf, on April 28, 1920, in Chicago. They had 2 children together: Thomas Joseph (1921) and John Joseph (1923).

      In 1930, Thomas and his wife and 2 sons were living at 7605 Paxton Avenue, in Ward 7 of Chicago, in the home owned by Bertha Wolf, his mother-in-law.  The home was valued at $5,000. Bertha was born in Oberhessen, Germany, immigrated in 1890 and was naturalized. Thomas was working as a motorman for the railroad. His 2 sons were attending school. The family owned a radio set!

      In 1940, Thomas and his family were living at the same address, but now owned the home, Bertha having died in 1939. Thomas worked as a motorman for street cars. His annual income was $1400. His 2 sons were attending school and the elder son appeared to have worked as a clerk in retail sales.

      When Thomas registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was living at the same address and was working for Chicago Surface Lines. Chicago Surface Lines operated the street railway system of Chicago from 1913-1947 and was a predecessor of today's Chicago Transit Authority.

Photo of Louise taken in the late 1950's or early 1960's. Photo by 'cattylou' in Ancestry. 

      Louise Sylvia Wolf Connell died January 1, 1963, in Cook County.    

      Thomas Joseph Connell died on January 26, 1975, in New Port Richey, Florida, in Pasco County.

      According to his World War II registration, Thomas was 5' 7 1/2" and weighed 135 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.

Connell Child #3: Kathryn Rita Connell

       Kathryn Rita Connell was born December 17, 1896, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

      Kathryn moved with her parents to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902.  She completed 6 grades of school.

      In December, 1917, Kathryn married Melvin Leo Frame Sr., in Houston, Texas. Since Melvin served in WWI from 1917-1919, he was probably stationed in Texas at the time. They had 7 children together: Melvina Gertrude (1918), Patrick Thomas (1920), William Joseph (1921), Melvin Leo Jr. (1923), Eleanor Rose (1925), Earl Vernon (1927) and Robert Leroy (1931).

      In 1920, Melvin and Kathryn Frame rented a home at 9739 Essanaba Avenue. They lived there with Melvina, their eldest child. Melvin worked as a switchman at the railroad yards.

      In 1930, they rented a home at 8040 Colfax Avenue for $10/month. The family owned a radio set! Melvin and Kathryn lived there with their 5 children. Their son Patrick  had died as an infant. Melvin worked as a conductor in the steam railroad industry.

      In 1940, they rented a home at 7208 S. Langley Avenue, paying $35 per month for rent. Melvin and Kathryn lived there with their 6 surviving children. Melvin worked as a switchman for the steam railroad industry.  His annual income was $2639! His eldest daughter Melvina worked as a typist for a mail order company. The other children were attending school.

Ancestry, 1940 U. S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Melvin L. Frame.

      Kathryn Rita Connell Frame died June 21, 1968, in Chicago.

      Melvin Leo Frame Sr. died June 24, 1975.    
 

Connell Child #4: Helen Rose Connell

       Helen Rose Connell was born March 1, 1899, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

      Helen moved with her parents to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902.  She certainly attended school, but it is not clear how many grades she completed. She continued to live with her parents and in 1920, at age 21, she worked as a sorter in wholesale manufacturing. In 1930, however, she was unemployed, per the census.

      On  July 10, 1937, Helen Rose Connell married Edward James Magner in Lake County, Indiana. They did not have any children together. Edward worked as a mechanic.

      I have been unable to locate Edward and Helen in the 1940 census!

      Edward James Magner died March 2, 1965, in Chicago and was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.

      Helen Rose Connell died April 6, 1997, in Bridgeview, Illinois, a community within Chicago.

      In September, 1982, Helen wrote a 3-page document detailing the history of the Connell and Cawley Families.
   

Connell Child #5: Clara Mary Connell

       Clara Mary Connell was born August 3, 1901, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

      Clara moved with her parents to Hammond, Indiana, in 1902.  She completed 8 grades of school. In 1920, at age 18, she worked as a packer in a department store.

      On  April 20, 1921, Clara married George Thomas Maloney in Cook County, Illinois. They had 2 children together: George V. (1922) and Margaret Angeline (1924).

      In 1930, the Maloney family rented the home at 2941 Bonfield Street in Chicago, for $23/month. The family owned a radio set. George worked as a cooper at a barrel factory.

      In 1940, the family rented the home at 2030 Peoria for $13/month. George worked as a laborer in the building construction industry. His annual income was $1456. George (18) and Margaret (15) both attended school.

Ancestry, 1940 U. S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.  George Maloney.

      George Maloney died in December, 1968, in Chicago.

      Clara Connell Maloney died in December, 1990.

Summary

1.  The Connells and Cawleys are Irish. Both of James Connell's parents were born in Ireland in County Tipperary. Annie Cawley's father was born in Ireland, probably in County Mayo. Even though Annie's mother was born in Massachusetts, both of her mother's parents were born in Ireland. 
2. James Connell was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania. But in the 1880's or early 1890's, his family moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he met and married Annie Cawley who was from Scranton. In 1902, the James Connell family moved to Hammond, where Annie died. Shortly after Annie's death, James and some of the children moved to Chicago. 
3. Work was very physical and often dangerous. In Pennsylvania, James worked as a slate picker in the mines and later as a miner. In Hammond, he worked as a steamfitter of Standard Steel. In Chicago, he was a laborer in the wire works and iron industry. As an old man, he peddled vegetables.  
4. The Connell family did go to school and they could read and write. They tended to complete between 5 and 8 grades of school. Even when they attended school, it seems likely that they would just attend for several months during the year. It appears that schooling was worked in between the demands of work and home.
5. For the time period covered, through about 1940, the Connells rented, rather than owned, their home. The only exception was Thomas Connell, whose mother-in-law left them her home. All of the families reviewed owned a radio set in 1930, which was probably fairly standard in the Chicago area.    
6. Life spans were often truncated. Only 5 of the 10 children of James and Annie reached early childhood. Annie died at age 46 of tuberculosis. James' second wife died when she was about 40 years old. Amazingly, James lived to age 74, in spite of eventually dying of black lung disease. 

  

Next Steps

      My next post will be on the parents  and siblings of James Connell. Although I already know the basics, I want to do more digging into city directories and newspapers. I have already found 2 articles on the tragic death of Catherine Connell, James' mother.

      My third post will focus on tracking the Connell family back to Ireland. I am hoping to use DNA matches to help determine their likely parish of origin.

Sources

Ancestry.com Operations Inc. "Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003." Database and images. Ancestry. Ancestry.com : 2006.

- Irene M. Willig (Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep 1968).

"Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry. www.Ancestry.com : 2011.

- George Maloney (b. 1922), Malvina Gertrude Framo.

"Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry. www.Ancestry.com : 2011.

- Thomas Joseph Cornell [Connell], b. 1921.

- Thomas Connell and Louisa Sylvia Wolf.

"Cook County, Illinois, Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry . www.Ancestry.com : 2011.

- James J Connell and Lucinda E Turner.

- James J Connell and Mary Hyland.

- George T Maloney and Clara M Connell.

Find A Grave. www.findagrave.com.

- Irene Mary Connell Willig (1893-1968). 

Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998." Database. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. www.Ancestry.com : 2004.

- Thomas Joseph Connell.

"Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994." Database.  FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org.

- Edward James Magner.

"Illinois, Death Index, 1908-1988". Database. www.Ancestry.com: 2008.

- Kathryn Frame. 

"Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947." Database. www.Ancestry.com : 2011.

- James Connell, Patrick Connell.

Illinois. Cook. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com. search.ancestry.com : 2008.

- James J. Connell, Carl Willig, Patrick F. Connell, Melvin Frame.

Illinois. Cook. 1930 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry.com. search.ancestry.com : 2008.

- James Connell, Carl J. Willlig, Bertha Wolfe, Melvin L. Frame, George Maloney.

Illinois. Cook County. 1940 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry, www.Ancestry.com : 2012.

- James Connell, Carl Willig, Thomas Connell, Melvin L. Frame, George Maloney.

Indiana. Lake County. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule. Ancestry, www.ancestry.com : n.d.

- James Connell.

Indiana. Marriages 1810-2001. Original data from FamilySearch.  Digital images. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.  www.ancestry.com : 2013-2014.

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Indiana. State Board of Health. Digital Images of Death Certificates. Ancestry. Ancestry.com : 2015.

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Magner, Helen Rose Connell. Personal Knowledge (daughter of James and Annie). "History of the Connell and Cawley Families".

"Pennsylvania, Births and Christenings, 1709-1950." Database. www.familysearch.org.

- Mary Irene Connell, Thomas Connell.

Pennsylvania. Lackawanna. 1880 U.S. census, population schedule. www.familysearch.org : n.d.

- Thomas Connell.

Pennsylvania. Lackawanna. 1900 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2004.

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Pennsylvania. Luzerne. 1870 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2009.

- John Cawley.

Pennsylvania. Luzerne. 1880 U.S. census, population schedule. www.Ancestry.com : 2010.

- John Cawley, Anthony Clark.

Plys, Judy (Vincent). Personal Knowledge (great-granddaughter of James and Annie). Memories of Irene.

Social Security Administration. "Social Security Death Index." Database. Ancestry.com. 2008.

- Thomas Connell, Kathryn Frame, Helen R. Magner, Clara M Maloney.

Social Security Administration. "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007." Database. www.Ancestry.com : 2015. 

- Irene M Willig

Spatz, Beatrice Willig. Personal Knowledge (granddaughter of James and Annie). Notes on family of Thomas Connell  and Catherine Leahy. Irene Willig's Bible.

U. S. City Directories, 1821-1989. Digital images. Ancestry. www.Ancestry.com : 2011.

- Carl Willig, Chicago, 1947.

"U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942." Database and images. Ancestry. www.Ancestry.com.

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"U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 ." Database. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry. Ancestry.com : 2011.

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Willig, James. Personal Knowledge (great-grandson of James and Annie).  Notes on Connell and Cawley.