That Sweetheart of a God Mother Part II

As I mentioned in my previous post, I don’t recall meeting my God Mother. After revisiting information about my Uncle Dick Dollen, I decided to search for my her. I was in possession of two facts. Her given name was Marilou and that she was my Uncle Dick’s high school sweetheart.

As I cleaned our coat closet, I pulled out a large blue suitcase that I thought housed my Mother’s accordion. I had quite a surprise when I opened the alleged accordion case for in place of my Mom’s accordion were baby books. My cleaning ground to a halt as I stopped to enjoy the three baby books page by page. My interest in genealogy seems to be predestined for my baby book held a family tree that shed new light on a great, great grandfather and revealed the surname of my God Mother!

Curious about her life and armed with a given and surname, I began searching for her on ancestry.com. I located a Mary Louise who was born in the same city and about the same time of my Uncle Dick’s birth. I decided to test the find by messaging the owner of the tree. Could Mary Louise be my Dick Dollen’s high school sweetheart? I asked the tree owner just that.

The owner replied that yes Mary Louise did date Dick Dollen and a series of messages followed eventually leading to a phone call.

Good News! My Sweetheart of a God Mother is well. She has been blessed with five children, four living children. She is also a grandmother and enjoys her family very much. Marilou remembers her first love.

It was homecoming at Luther Institute when Marilou felt a tap on her shoulder. It happened over and over until she finally caught her admirer. Dick asked her to go steady and Marilou agreed. The girls thought Marilou was lucky to be going steady with such a handsome guy. Dates consisted of riding and going places. Dick would take her out to meet his family. They planned on marrying and raising a family consisting of “a girl just like her and a boy just like Dick.” Marilou and Dick were a match made in heaven!

Marilou and Dick Dollen; a gift from Marilou

Chicago Ancestors.org

 

Chicago Ancestors is an informative website run by the Newberry Library that is packed full of information about Chicago. I had discovered it years ago and finally decided to take a peak at what it offered. Street Guides and City Directories are available for search online and are organized by year. I decided to experiment and see what I could find.

William Dooley: 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census records report a Chicago residence.

Page 228 of the 1870 Chicago City Directory shows:

“Dooley, William, expressman, r. 23 E. Hinsdale”

Then he is on page 354 of the 1880 Chicago City Directory:

“Dooley, William, express, house 31 Henry”

The earliest Chicago City directory available on the website is 1866.  This directory reports two William Dooley’s living in Chicago. Could one of these men be my William? While I cannot say yes with any degree of certainty, I would guess that William, the sailor, may be my guy as both the1866 and 1870 William Dooley live on E. Hinsdale.  I just need to remember that by 1866, William had two sons both who report an Illinois birth.

“Dooley, William, porter, J.H. Reed & Co.”

“Dooley, William, sailor, 19 E. Hinsdale”

William Dooley, The Expressman

William was employed as a driver of express wagons. Could I possibly find the names of Chicago Express Businesses? If so, perhaps one of these businesses employed my William.

1870 Express Businesses in Chicago

Adams Express Co.

American Merchants’ Union Express

United States Express

1880 Express Businesses in Chicago

Adams Express Co.,

American Express Co.

Baltimore & Ohio Express Co. United States Express Co.

United States Express Co.

Western Express Co.

Well, this has been a fun Friday night exploring ChicagoAncestors.org and learning a little more about Chicago resources and William.

Linda

Lot S26, Block 45, Section S

The above location marks the final resting place of William and Ellen Dooley. This couple is the patriarch and matriarch of the large Dooley Clan of Chicago, Illinois and beyond.

Having studied this couple’s three census records (1870, 1880 and 1900) and their death certificates for months, I wondered could William and Ellen be “THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS?” Dare I go out on the limb and declare them so?

Today’s research took me to Calvary Cemetery situated along the shore of Lake Michigan. Established in 1859, Calvary Cemetery is the final resting place for many Dooley ancestors. You may visit William Dooley, Ellen Dooley, Elizabeth Dooley, David Dooley and Stephen C. Dooley at Lot S26, Block 45, Section S.The gravestone reports the death dates of William, Ellen, Elizabeth and David that match their respective death certificates. Stephen C. Dooley was interred in the same location but without a headstone. I neglected to look for Stephen’s wife, Anna; which means another trip on another day.

While I have yet to locate the immigration records for William and Ellen, I believe I can say with a degree of certainty that William and Ellen Dooley were this family’s “Irish Immigrants.” William and Ellen do indeed belong to this Dooley Clan of Chicago and beyond. They rest in eternity along side two of their sons, David and Stephen, whose lives are chronicled even today by living descendants.

Please review the census. I cannot post death records as Family Search licenses them, but census and death records combined with the family plot in Calvary Cemetery make the familial connection.

William’s death certificate reports his birthplace as Ireland. He passed away 12 May 1900 at the age of 71. The certificate also reports the number of years lived in Illinois to be 30, however, that number is difficult to read and is my best guess.

Ellen Dooley’s death certificate reports her birthplace as Ireland as well. She passed away 29 Oct 1905 at the age of 62, Her death certificate clearly states that she lived in Illinois 54 years; which means she immigrated at the young age of eight years.

Now to find the immigration records. I am getting close to “jumping the pond” and searching for William and Ellen’s Irish origins.

As you will see in 1870, William and Ellen had a son, Mike. Sadly, little Mike did not make it to the 1880 census. In reviewing Dooley interments of Calvary Cemetery, I was not able to locate a Michael Dooley whose dates fit for this little boy.

You may click on the images for a large view.

My Brilliant Idea

The Dooley Family research is moving along at a nice pace. Internet research has yielded some baptismal records for the children of William Dooley and Mary Egan. Family Search has digitized the records; which are quite easy to view and eliminate much legwork . The Dooley children were baptized at Holy Family Church located at 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago.  I don’t read Latin, but I believe the church records were written in Latin. This deduction comes, of course, from my wild guess.

Here is Stephen Arthur Clement Dooley’s baptismal record found in Holy Family Church’s record book. I do not know where the original record book is located, but it is fun to see a copy of the actual record itself.

Please click on the record for a larger view and use out your magnifying glass to read the record that is located towards the bottom of the page. You will see that Steven was baptized Arthur. The church made an added note about his marriage to Elizabeth Marino at St. Viator’s Church.

“Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1928,” Holy Family (Chicago) images, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Aug 2012), Dooley, Stephen baptism and marriage.

Today, as I was walking my dog, I came up with a brilliant idea of having the Dooley Family attend Mass at Holy Family Church. It would be a memorable way for the descendants to go back to their familial and religious roots.

A Piece of History

Last weekend the German community of Chicago celebrated Maifest. The arrival of springtime means maypole dances, music, food and big crowds.

My German ancestors beckoned me to attend and so we did. Lincoln Square is the heart of the German community and was the location of Maifest Chicago 2012. We missed the crowning of the May Queen but had a great time nonetheless.

City parking is always a challenge. Once the parking space was secured we headed off to Maifest. Our route took us past the Western Avenue El stop. There we found a piece of the Berlin Wall!

Prost!

Linda

What Do I Know

James Lawrence Adams was born between the years 1869-1872 to Dr. James William Adams and Mary I. Cox. He lived in the Des Moines area from birth through 1900 and was the younger of two children.  His older sister, Katie, was born in Michigan. Their father attended medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

In 1900 James married Edna J. Brass in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The newlyweds lived with his parents in Prairie City, Des Moines Township. The young couple had one son, James Lyman Adams, who was born on 4 March 1905 is Des Moines, Iowa. Sometime between 1905 and 1910 the young family moved west to Long Beach, California.

In 1910, James Lawrence Adams and family resided at 1132 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach, California. James worked as an accident insurance agent. Just for fun, I performed a Google search and found the home. This multi-family residence built in 1923 is located in downtown Long Beach.

Details of James Lawrence's life during the years from 1910- 1926 remain a mystery. During that time, his marriage to Edna Brass failed. James Lyman graduated with a law degree from Stanford University and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1929. In 1930 James Lyman, lived with his paternal grandmother, Mary Adams nee Cox. Mary is eighty-two years of age and James is twenty-five. Grandmother Mary Adams nee Cox passed away in 1931 and in 1933 James Lyman Adams wed Helene M. Rapp. Where is James Lawrence Adams for all of this?

At some point James Lawrence made his way to Chicago. It is here he met Charlotte Ludiger. This was a first marriage for Charlotte Ludiger. The 1930 census records report she was married at the age of 24; which suggests a marriage year of 1924. Charlotte Jane Adams was born in 1926.

From this point on, James lived at 5550 Kenmore Avenue in Chicago. His occupation is reported to a salesman of stocks and a racetrack employee. Charlotte Jane reports that her father gambled. He was known to bet on racehorses at all the Chicago area racetracks.

James Lawrence made friends with celebrities and would bring home personalized autographs of famous people for his little girl. Her collection includes autographs from Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante and Uncle Al Jolson just to name a few. A Chicago Tribune sports writer wrote about James Lawrence Adams saying “Old Doc Adams” just sits around mumbling. I have not yet found the newspaper article.

During those World War II years, James Lawrence Adams would invite servicemen home for dinner.

James Lawrence came from a highly educated family. He was a stickler about school and good grades. He wanted Charlotte Jane to be well educated. Charlotte Jane desired to attend Northwestern University and become a doctor. Of course, she wanted to live on campus and James Lawrence told her no. She could get her education but had to come home at night.

He then suggested that nice Catholic College down the road. It was supposed to be a good school for girls. Charlotte Jane Adams enrolled in Mundelein College just a bus ride down from their apartment. Mundelein College later became Loyola University located along Lake Michigan’s shore in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Charlotte Jane Adams never met her paternal grandparents. She recalls her father telling her that his father passed away from throat cancer. He told her he grew up in a small town in Iowa and that he had a sister. He never spoke about his mother. He also told her about his son Jimmy. During the war, Jimmy had an important job with the government. When Jimmy passed through Union Station in Chicago, he would go meet him.

James Lawrence’s life was in Chicago. He was an aging man with a young family. He gave the following advice to his daughter, Charlotte Jane. Be Good. Be Kind. Stay with your mother and her family. He was thinking of her future.

On July 4^th, 1945, James Lawrence Adams did not wake up from his night rest. His passing was a shock to the family. His wife ran across the street and fetched the doctor. This seemingly active and healthy man was pronounced dead at home.

Women made their condolences to the family. No men attended his funeral as they were away serving in World War II. His death certificate reports his burial on 6 July 1945 in Graceland Cemetery, but his final resting place is at Memorial Gardens, Skokie, Illinois.

My Only Early Chicagoan

Chicago will be celebrating its 175^th Birthday this year. Such a grand milestone made me wonder if any of my family tree members were present for the actual incorporation. In fact, there was one Chicagoan whose his name was Silas Bowman Cobb and I am his third great grand niece.
 

Silas Bowman Cobb was born in Montpelier, Vermont on January 23, 1812.  His father was a prosperous businessman whose partner introduced young Silas Bowman to the idea of going west. Oliver Goss had just returned from the small town of Chicago and was organizing a group to go west and to create a settlement. Silas Bowman’s imagination was sparked.

Silas Bowman decided to go west against his father’s wishes, joined the Oliver Goss party and traveled to Albany, New York via wagon. In Albany Silas Bowman parted with Oliver Goss and traveled onward via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, New York. Along the way, a thief stole much of his money leaving him with a mere seven dollars. He explained his situation to the captain of the schooner, “Atlanta,” who then agreed to take him to Chicago for a fee of four dollars. He bought food for the journey with his remaining funds. As things would go, the journey took longer than expected and young Silas Bowman ran up a small bill.

The “Atlanta” reached Chicago on May 29, 1833. There was no harbor so passengers disembarked and were rowed to shore. Silas Bowman was held aboard ship due to his debt of three dollars.  A kind person took pity on the young man and paid his bill allowing Silas Bowman to disembark. On June 1, 1833, Silas Bowman Cobb finally set foot in Chicago.

What did Chicago look like in 1833?  It is reported that there were not more than 50 white inhabitants and only a few soldiers in Fort Dearborn. The Kinzies, pioneer settlers, lived in a log home north of the river along with huts of Indians and half-breeds. The town clung to the river and no one lived near Madison Street for it was the prairie.                                                   

___________________________________

Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed, “Silas Bowman Cobb,” The University of Chicago Biographical Sketches, (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1922), 145-170.

Happy 175th Birthday, Chicago!

Today the great City of Chicago celebrated its 175^th birthday. The Chicago History Museum and the DuSable Museum honored this day with actors dressed as famous Chicagoans.

So what has happened in the past 175 years? Here are a few highlights that come to mind:

1866            Cook County Hospital Opens 

                     Tunnels are built to draw “pure water” from the lake.

1868            Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes a pair of swans.

1869            The Chicago Water Tower was built.

1870            St. Ignatius University opens its doors. Today it is known as Loyola University.

1871            The Great Chicago Fire

1876            A baseball team wins the National League title. 

                     That team will be eventually named The Chicago Cubs.

1878            A Chicago firehouse invented the first fire pole.

1882            The cable cars begin operation.

1893            The Columbian Exposition

1958            Our Lady of Angels Grade School Fire

1967            Chicago is hit with a blizzard that dumped 23 inches of snow on Chicago.

1968            Chicago Democratic Convention

1976            Mayor Richard J. Daley died.

1979            American Airlines Flight 191 crashes at O’Hare.

1981            Jane Byrne is elected mayor.

1983            Harold Washington is Chicago’s first black mayor.

1986            Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX.

2005            White Sox win the World Series.

2010            Black Hawks win the Stanley Cup!

Pure Genealogical Joy

 

My story began with this athletic patch that ultimately made me desire confirmation of oral family stories. The patch belonged to Uncle Dick Dollen who I affectionately call “My Unknown Uncle” for he passed before I was born. His patch was stored in an old cardboard box that belonged to my Grandmother.

 On 9 February 2012 I wrote about his baseball patch and shared what little I knew of Dick’s high school experience at The Luther Institute of Chicago. That post spurred me to dig deeper for there were missing pieces - questions unanswered. So I took a chance and contacted the athletic director of Luther North High School who forwarded my email to the school’s Development Director.

I would like to introduce you to Lori Wright, the Development Director of Luther North High School. Lori was able to locate the 1947 and 1950 yearbooks; which were his freshman and senior yearbooks. It was in her office that I learned much, much more about this unknown uncle of mine. Thank you to Lori!

 

My Uncle Dick was an athlete! As you can see he was a letterman in his Junior and Senior years. He played four sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. 

 

His football jersey was number 57; which means he was a linebacker. 

 In my February 9^th  post,  I wondered about the position he played on that championship team. I now know that he was a pitcher and his team was called, “The Wood-Choppers.” Baseball fans all know how important pitchers for a winning season.

I am sharing the photographs I took this morning just because I am thrilled. What I learned today makes my uncle’s story a richer and more meaningful one.  His high school story is accurate and I am now in possession of the evidence.

Asking questions and looking for the answers by digging deeper is the foundation for good genealogical research. The 1950 Luther Institute yearbook gives primary evidence to the fact that Uncle Dick Dollen attended Luther Institute, was in the Class of 1950, played four sports and was a pitcher on the championship team of 1950. It also directly links his P.S.L. Baseball Athletic Patch of 1950 by referring the to Private School League team. Mystery solved!

Happy Hunting!

Linda

Trouble Averted

The suggestion that Stephen Clement Dooley, Orphan and World War I veteran, associated with members of the Touhy gang came from a mother/son conversation held many years ago. The source of the story is Stephen Dooley’s son who just happens to be named Stephen! Names do have a tendency to be repeated in this Dooley clan!

The younger Stephen recalls his mother sharing the story that elder Stephen used to hang out in the streets and associated with the Touhy gang. The elder Stephen was well known for street fighting in his younger days. She explained that “The Touhy Gang went one way and his father went another.” After reading about the Touhy gang, I can state with complete certainty that Stephen Clement Dooley made a very smart decision!

Birth, census, court and death records give genealogists a structure in researching a person’s life. Some stories are just not found in these traditional resources such as this one.

And now for the Touhy gang!

The Touhy family lived in the near west side of Chicago. James and Mary Touhy had six sons and two daughters. Mr. Touhy provided for his family by working as a police officer.

Tragedy struck when the children were young. Mother Mary died in a home fire. James had difficulty raising this large family. The boys took to the street and eventually five sons organized and became The Touhy Gang.

Son Roger Touhy became an Irish-American mob boss in Chicago. Prohibition provided the perfect opportunity for this bootlegger. He distributed alcohol to the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He also ran gambling establishments and was a loan shark.  The successful gang caught the eye of Al Capone and trouble brewed. Small skirmishes grew into an all out gang war between Al Capone and the Touhy gang.

I used the following three websites to learn about the Touhy gang.There is much to read!

1.     Wikipedia:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Touhy

2.     The FBI at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/roger-the-terrible-touhy/

3.     The Roger Touhy, Gangster blog at

http://rogertouhygangsters.blogspot.com/2010/10/baby-face-nelson-and-touhy-gang.html.

I believe that trouble was averted for our young Stephen. At that time the Near West Side neighborhood was tough and his association with the Touhys may have related to friendship or survival. While no formal records have been found linking the two, Stephen’s future life is proof that he did indeed choose a different path.

Stephen Clement Dooley was universally known as a gentle, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother.