Tom Sullivan Remembers his Madigan Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles

Excerpts from "Notes About Things I Remember" by Thomas A. Sullivan, March 4, 1996.

Grandparents

I never knew my maternal grandfather. [He died in 1890.]  My maternal grandmother [Bessie Thompson Madigan] ran a grocery store to raise her children.  When I came on the scene she had retired and owned the two-flat on Fillmore St.  When we moved she sold it and bought a two flat on Congress St.  There she fell down the basement stairs and broke her hip, being confined to a wheel chair for the rest of her life.  The congress highway came through so she sold out and bought a three-flat.  Aunt May (Mary) and Mother took turns cleaning and attending her home.  John and Harry lived with her.  There was another girl, Nan, who lived in Denver.

Madigan Aunts and Uncles

• Mary (Aunt May) was very close to Mother.  She lived on Flournoy St. with her husband, George Cooley, a post office executive, and his mother.  Claude died a lingering death from "blood poisoning", before antibiotics.  Burdette Harbison, a nephew of Mrs. Cooley, used to visit the sick [Claude] and after Claude died continued to visit.  He and Aunt May eventually married and he moved in.
• Nellie (Mother) worked at Donnelly Bindery alongside of Laura (Margaret's Mother-to-be) before their marriages.  I can't remember all her stories about my Father's courtship.
• Nanette (Aunt Nanny) Ruth's Mother married George Rooney, a Santa Fe executive who had an artistic flair.  He was stationed in Denver and later in San Francisco.  Ruth attended the Art Institute School in Chicago and when she graduated got a job there.  When George died, Nan moved out from San Francisco to stay with Ruth whose roommate [Margaret Larsen]  moved out and got married.  Nan was a sweet and gracious lady.
• Harry (Patrick) was a steamfitter who went into the contracting business and lost his shirt in the great 1930 depression.  He also was in the saloon business before and after the contracting business.  The first saloon I remember was at 4700 W. Harrison.  He had a number of politician and political hanger-ons as customers and was rumored to be involved with the prohibition rum-runners, etc.  Later he had a saloon out in Cicero and an assistant states Attorney from Chicago was shot-down coming out of it.  No executioners found.  After this he started a family-type saloon on Madison Street just east of Crawford, and prospered.  Had a second floor for private parties.  His brother John worked days and Harry worked nights.  The employees were very friendly but rumor had it they "stole him blind" particularly after he and John had a quarrel and John quit.  As a result he failed, which along with the failure of his construction business earlier, left him broke and he went to work as a bartender in a Chicago suburb.  Meanwhile Margaret Saunders' husband died, she was involved in a train crossing accident, lost a leg and she and Harry married.  She got him out of the saloon business and he worked for the sanitary district as a steamfitter.  He lived with her about 10 years.  She was confined to a wheelchair.  He told me he felt he was doing penance for his early life as a saloon keeper and his early relationship with Margaret.  He was a man of substance and many of the important friends he had made through the years attended his funeral.
• John, the youngest, was without ambition.  When he was drafted in WWI he managed to get into the entertainment side of the army and spent his time in Europe boxing to entertain the troupes.  After the war he set up pins in a bowling alley, drove a truck for Uncle Harry's contracting business, and was a bartender at Harry's Madison Street saloon.  He felt he was sort of assistant manager and built up quite a clientele at the bar in the afternoon, with free drinks.  This could have caused the break up with Harry, but after he left the stealing started.  He worked at a local saloon for a while then married Mary, Harry's cook and went to a place she had in Hayward, Wisconsin, where they lived on his army pension.  When he was about 95 Johnny and I visited him, but that's another story.   He died a couple of years later.

Ellen Madigan, Birth Certificate, 1880

Ellen Madigan was born on May 29, 1880. She was the second child of Bridget Thompson and Patrick Madigan. She was born at home at 3644 Dashield and delivered by mid-wife, Anna Hay. Perhaps, given the midwife was named "Anna," it is the reason Ellen/Nell was "named" Anna on her birth certificate.

John J. Madigan Letter, 1972

John J. Madigan, son of Patrick Madigan and Bridget Thompson, wrote a letter to his nephew, Thomas A. Sullivan, on December 18, 1972.  In the letter, John responds to a request from Thomas' grandson, John Sullivan, who had requested some genealogical information on John Madigan's parents.

I have reproduced the letter, from a copy received from John Sullivan, in its entirety. I received the copy sometime in the early 1990s.  Twenty years later, John Madigan's memories have all been verified!

Note that two of the children of John Thomas and Bridget Reidy are not listed: Patrick (1857-b1866) and Marian/Mary (1865-b1866).  It is believed they died in Ireland as young children and would not have been known to John Madigan, the letter's author.  This letter also is posted on the Thompson/Reidy Genealogy Blog.

The Origin of the Thompson and Madigan Names

There is so much information today on the web.  I found, what appears to be some good history on both Thompson and Madigan names.  Similar content was also located in The Dictionary of Irish Family Names by Ida Grehan.

Thompson

This famous name is one of the patronymic forms of the name Thom or Tom, diminutives of the male personal name Thomas. The given name is of Biblical origin, being an Aramaic byname meaning "twin", borne by one of Christ's disciples; in England the name Thomas was found only as the name of a priest before the Norman Conquest of 1066, but thereafter became one of the most popular male personal names, generating a wide variety of surnames. The patronymic forms from diminutives, such as Thomson (the Scottish form) and Thompson, found mainly in England and Northern Ireland, appear in the 14th Century, the first recording being from Scotland. The intrusive "p" of the English and Irish forms was for easier pronunciation, although there are two old wives tales that the 'p' meant 'prisoner', or in Ireland 'Protestant', both are incorrect. Examles of early recordings include John Thompson in the Charters of the Abbey of Whitby, Yorkshire, in 1349, and Thomas Tomson, who married Elizabeth Harris at the church of St Jon the Evangelist, Dublin, on December 12th 1631. The earliest Coat of Arms is probably the following granted in Yorkshire in 1559. Per fess silver and black, with a fesse embattled between three falcons counterchanged, belled, beaked and jessed in gold. The crest is an arm holding a gold truncheon . One of the very earliest settlers in the New World, was William Thompson recorded as 'living at Elizabeth Cittie, Virginea', before February 16th 1623. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Thomson, which was dated 1318, in the "Annals of Scotland", during the reign of King Robert 1 of Scotland, known as "The Bruce", 1306 - 1329. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax.

Madigan

This is a famous Irish clan surname recorded as Madden, Madigan, and MacAvaddy. It derives from the pre-10th century Olde Gaelic O'Madain, translating as 'The descendant of the son of the hound'. Most Irish surnames originate from a chief's nickname, O'Kennedy, for instance means 'The descendant of the ugly headed one!' The O'Madain's originated from lands on the River Shannon in County Galway, at one time holding over 25,000 acres. Even today nameholders are still numerous in that part of Ireland. The Madigan branch of the clan are regarded as almost exclusively a Clare-Limerick family, although a branch are to be found in Counties Antrim and Derry in Ulster. Early surname holders included the Rev. Samuel Madden (1680 - 1760), a famed philanthropist, whilst Richard Madden, (1798 - 1886) was the author of the book 'The United Irishman'. During the infamous 'Potato Famine' of 1846, many name holders emigrated to both England and America. Amongst these were Walter Madden and his wife Mary, and their children Richard aged five and Alice, a baby. They sailed from Galway, bound for New York on the ship 'Junius ' on May 1st 1846. Another recording is that of Hannah Madigan aged twenty two, who left Belfast on the ship 'Howard' for New York, on July 23rd 1846. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Dermot O'Madadhain, which was dated circa 1100. He was chief of the Ui Maine, Connacht, during the reign of King Henry I st of England, known as 'The Just", 1100 - 1135. 

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Source The Internet Surname Database accessed June 5, 2010

Calvary Cemetery Past and Present

Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois was consecrated in 1859.  It is located at the northern boundary of Chicago and Lake Michigan.  Many individuals who had been interred in the Catholic section of the City Cemetery in Chicago were reinterred here when the City Cemetery, located at North and Clark, was closed.

Initially, Calvary had a lagoon, which can be seen in the first photo above.  Eventually, this was filled in to create a shrine section.  Also, the main road which runs from Sheridan Road to Chicago Avenue, was flanked with Elm trees which were planted when the Cemetery opened.  A hundred years later, in the 1960s, when Dutch Elm disease struck, they were cut down.  A view of the original tree lined lane is seen above.

Patrick and Bessie (Thompson) Madigan are buried here as are three of their children, James, Thomas and Harry (Patrick).  Also buried her are many members of the Sullivan and Connor families.   For information on these families see Connor/Colfour Genealogy and Sullivan/Connor Genealogy blogs.


Today's main entrance of Calvary Cemetery is off of Chicago Avenue.  Currently there are no new graves available.

Old photos courtesy Calvary Cemetery.   Front gate photo, Elaine Beaudoin, 2010.

Bessie Madigan gravesite, Calvary Cemetery

Bessie Thompson Madigan and three of her children are buried in lot N15, block 6, section Z of Calvary Cemetery.

On March 15, 1899, Bessie Madigan purchased this gravesite which measures 8 X 10 feet.  It was purchased so she could bury her 15 year old son, Thomas Madigan.  On November 2, 1964, someone, possibly Nell Madigan Sullivan, Bessie's daughter, paid $50.00 which was the initial installment so the grave would have "income care."  It was paid in full in August, 1965.

Interred:
Thomas Madigan, 15 years, 2 mos., buried March 15, 1899, son of Bessie and Patrick Madigan
James Madigan, aged 20, buried January 26, 1909, son of Bessie and Patrick Madigan
Bessie Madigan, buried January 4, 1936, self
Harry Madigan, buried December 1, 1956, son of Bessie and Patrick Madigan

When I first viewed the gravesite ten years ago, the stone was partially covered with soil and years of grass growth.  It appeared to be broken off.  What was visible was:  "DIGAN".  On April 20, 2010, the cemetery was again visited and many of the grave stones had been cleaned, this one included.  It was now possible to read it:   "P. MADIGAN".

Thomas Madigan, 1883-1898

Thomas Madigan, born September 27, 1883, was the fourth child of Patrick and Bridget Madigan. He was born at home at 3644 Dashield Street in Chicago. At the age of 15 he was working as a clerk. Thomas had a pulmonary hemorrhage and died on December 12, 1898 at 93 Sibley Street in Chicago, possibly his place of employment. Because he died in the winter, his body was held in the cemetery vault awaiting the spring thaw. Bridget Thompson Madigan purchased an 8 x 10 gravesite, Lot 15, block 6, section Z, in Calvary Cemtery, Evanston, Illinois on March 15, 1899 so Thomas could be laid to rest. Along with Thomas in the gravesite is his Mom, Bridget Thompson Madigan, and brothers James and Harry (Patrick).

Nanette Madigan (1881-1963), First Holy Communion 1894

Nanette Madigan, the third child of Patrick and Bessie, made her First Holy Communion in 1894. She would have been 13 years old.

On Nanette's birth certificate (November 23, 1881), she is named Anna but called Nanette in her later years.  Nan married George Rooney on August 2, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois.  George worked for the railroad and his job took them to Colorado and California to live.  Their only child, Ruth M. Rooney, was born October 6, 1905.

ROONEY --Nanette Rooney, beloved wife of the late George W. Rooney, fond mother of Ruth; dear sister of Nell Sullivan and John Madigan, the late Mae Harbison and Harry Madigan.  Funeral Saturday, 9 a.m., from Hursen Chapel, 929 Belmont avenue, to Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.  Mass 9:30 a.m.. Internment All Saints.
Chicago Tribune, May 3, 1963

G. W. Rooney Rites Tuesday -- Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning for George W. Rooney, 58, for more than a decade San Francisco general agent of the Denver, Rio Grande and Western Railroad, who died here Friday, following a short illness.
Mr. Rooney, a native of Michigan and a railroad man most of his life, had been in San Francisco for eleven years.  His wife, Mrs. Nanette Rooney, a daughter Miss Ruth Rooney of Chicago, and a brother, John W. Rooney of Oxnard, survive.  The family home is at 411 Fifteenth Avenue.
Tuesday's services will begin at 9 a.m., at the McAvoy-O'Hara Chapel, Geary Boulevard and Ninth Avenue, with a requiem mass at Start of the Sea Church at 9:30.  Interment will be in Chicago.  The San Francisco Examiner, March 24, 1940.

Fillmore Avenue, c1915

Sitting in the dining room at 3511 W. Fillmore, Chicago are Nell Madigan Sullivan, Mae Madigan Cooley and their Mom, Bessie Thompson Madigan. Nell lived with her family, Al, Tom and Helen on the second floor and Bessie, with two of her sons, John and Harry, lived on the first floor of the two flat she owned. The Sullivans lived at this address until about 1917 when they moved to 18 N. Latrobe, Chicago.

Parteen-Meelick-Coonagh Parish

Patrick Madigan was, as were his siblings, baptized at Parteen-Meelick Parish in Ireland.  As reported on the Parteen-Meelick-Coonagh Parish Diocesan Heritage Project site at Limerick Diocese Heritage, the parish is situated mostly in County Clare, with the exception of Coonagh, which is in County Limerick.  Patrick's siblings, excluding James who is identified as being from Meelick Gate, all lived in Coonagh when they were baptized. 

"There are presently two churches in use in the parish, one in the village of Parteen, and the other in Meelick village.... Parteen church is dedicated to St. Patrick and was built between 1831 and 1835.... Meelick church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and was built in the early 1830s."  So both churches were in existence when the Madigan children were born and baptized.

"The name Parteen is derived from the Irish An Póirtin meaning the little port or landing place.  Meelick is from the Irish Miliuc, which in turn is derived from Máighe Fhliuch, or the low marshy land.  The Irish for Coonagh is Cuanach, a place indented with bays and harbors."

The Limerick portion of the Parteen-Meelick Parish is in the civil Parish of Killeely which borders the water.

Madigan-Thompson Marriage License, 1878

Patrick Madigan and Bridget Thompson were married by Fr. John Waldoon at St. John's church on February 24, 1878. James Grimes and Margaret Conway were witnesses. A Helena Grimes was Patrick Madigan's baptismal sponsor. Several other Grimes were baptismal sponsors for Patrick Madigan's siblings. I have not come across the name Grimes as a family name yet.

Bessie Madigan, Death Certificate, 1935

Bessie Madigan was living at 4826 W. Quincy in Chicago when she died on December 31, 1935. Her son, Harry, was the informant on the death certificate. She died at home, one that she owned. He lists her father as John Thomas. Somewhere near the end of the 19th century, the Thompsons changed their last name to Thomas. When her father died in 1904 he is listed as John Thomas on his death certificate.  Her mother is listed as Meg La Rue on Bessie's death certificate.  However, on her siblings' death certificates her mother is listed as Margaret Reidy/Ready.  There is a story in the family told by both Helen McIntyre and Ruth Rooney that we had in the family a "crazy aunt" who was French. I have not been able to determine who that is, perhaps the name La Rue is a clue.   Harry also states that Bessie was born in Chicago, but we know from earlier censuses, she was born in Ireland.  All this just goes to prove you can't believe everything you read on a death certificate.

Patrick Madigan, Death Certificate, 1890

Patrick Madigan was only 39 years old when he died on January 15, 1890 after a one-week bout with pneumonia.  He left his wife pregnant and with six other children under the age of 11. He died at 2853 Emerald Avenue per his death certificate.  He was buried in Calvary Cemetery initially on January 17, 1890 at Lot 272, Block 11, section T, but ultimately interred on April 29, 1901 in Lot 2, block 26, section P.  Also buried in the lot are Catherine Hennessy, Richard McCabe, Francis Hennessy, George E. Hennessy, Lizzie Monroe, Thomas Rowan, John Hennessey, and Catherine Driscoll, many of them young children.  Patrick's relationship to them is unknown. On the gravesite is a flat marker for Richard McCabe which reads: "Pray for the Soul of Our beloved brother, Richard McCabe, Sept. 20. 1853, Jan. 20, 1916, R. I. P."

At the Beach, c1930

Bessie Thompson Madigan with her son-in-law Alex Sullivan and granddaughter Helen Sullivan at the beach.

Bessie Thompson Madigan 1855-1936

Bridget "Bessie" Thompson Madigan was born October 8, 1855 in County Limerick, Ireland. She immigrated to the U.S. with her parents and siblings c1860. I have not been able to locate passenger list papers proving this date. When her husband Patrick died, she had seven children under 12 years old which she cared for and operated a grocery story on Chicago's southside. Eventually, she purchased a home on Chicago's west side located at 3511 W. Fillmore, then 5227 W. Congress and eventually 4826 W. Quincy. Her daughter, Ellen (Nell) and family lived on the top floor of her two flat on Fillmore for several years before moving to 18 N. Latrobe. Bessie was very energetic, says her granddaughter Helen McIntyre. Bessie had Thanksgiving every year and the whole family would come. She broke her leg when she fell down the stairs at her home and she never fully recovered. Bessie died of mycarditis on New Year's Eve, 1935 at the age of 80. She is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston.

MADIGAN -- Bessie Thomas Madigan beloved wife of the late Patrick, devoted mother of May Harbison, Nell Sullivan, Nan Rooney of San Francisco, Cal., Harry and John Madigan.  Funeral Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from late residence, 4826 W. Quincey st., to Resurrection church.  Interment Calvary, Mansfield 2119.  Chicago Daily News, January 2, 1936, page 32.

May Madigan, 1879 -1955

May Madigan, oldest child of Patrick and Bessie was born April 17, 1879 in Chicago. She married Claude Cooley at St. Agatha's Church in Chicago on February 11, 1907. Unfortunately, Claude cut his leg on a railroad car and died from septicemia, an infection. Claude was an extremely good looking gentleman. They had no children. May lived with her mother-in-law, May Sherwood for a number of years, marrying Burdette Harbison on May 30, 1934. May died from coronary thrombosis due to arteriosclerotic heart disease in September 29, 1955. She is buried with Burdette in St. Joseph cemetery in River Grove, Illinois.

This photo of Burdette, Elaine McIntyre and May was taken c1953. May was an excellent seamstress and she made Elaine's tap dance costume she is wearing.

HARBISON -- May Madigan Harbison, beloved wife of Burdette, fond sister of Nell Sullivan, Nan Rooney, Harry and John Madigan.  Funeral Monday, 9 a.m., from chapel, 5911 W. Madison street, to St. Matthew's church.  Interment St. Joseph's. EStebrook 8-7500.  Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1955

COOLEY -- Claude Alva Cooley, beloved husband of Mrs. Mae Madigan Cooley and son of Mrs. M. S. Cooley and the late William H. Cooley, at his residence, 2918 Flornoy st. Member of Siloam lodge, St. Cecilia chapter, and St. Cecilia commandery, Knights Templar.  Templar service, Friday, Jan. 25, at 1 o'clock, at West Side Masonic Temple. Chicago Tribune, January 25, 1918.

HARBISON -- Burdette W. Harbison, beloved husband of the late May Madigan Harbison, fond brother of Lela Eddy and late Frances McCullough. Funeral Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. from chapel, 5911 W. Madison street, to St. Bernadine's church, Forest park.  Interment St. Joseph's. ES 8-7500.  Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1959.

Harry Madigan, 1885-1956

Harry Madigan has a colorful past. A tavern owner up to and through prohibition he was involved in several incidents related to Chicago mafia corruption. Although never convicted, some of the stories seem to convey  possible connection with Al Capone, et. al. For a short summary of one of the incidents view Homicide in Chicago, 1870 - 1930.

During the investigation into the murder of Assistant State's Attorney of Cook County, William McSwiggin, in front of Harry Madigan's tavern, Harry is quoted in the book Capone: The Life and World of Al Capone by John Kobler saying: "When I wanted to start a saloon in Cicero more than a year ago, Capone wouldn't let me," Madigan told Chief of Detectives Schoemaker.  "I finally obtained strong political pressure and was able to open.  Then Capone came to me and said I would have to buy his beer, so I did. A few months ago Doherty and Myles O'Donnell came to me and said they cold sell me better beer than Capone beer, which was then needled.  They did and it cost fifty dollars a barrel, where Capone charged me sixty.  I changed, and upon my recommendation so did several other Cicero saloonkeepers."

Patrick Harry Madigan was born March 8, 1885 at 3644 Dashield, the fifth child of Patrick and Bessie Madigan.  Harry married late in life to Margaret Saunders, nee McHugh.  They married at Chicago's Mount Carmel Church on February 25, 1945 when Harry was 59 years old.  Harry died on November 27, 1956 of arteriosclerotic heart disease.  He is buried at Calvary Cemetery with his mother Bessie and two single brothers James and Thomas in Lot 15, block 6, section Z.

MADIGAN
--Harry P. Madigan of 221 S. Central Park avenue, beloved husband of Margaret Saunders Madigan, nee McHugh; brother of Nell Sullivan, Nan Rooney, John J., and the late Mayme Harvison (sic). At funeral home, 17 Madison street, Oak Park. Funeral Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m., to Our Lady of Sorrows church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment Calvary. Member of Pipe Fitters union, local No. 597.
Chicago Tribune, November 30, 1956

Ellen Madigan c1900

Ellen Theresa Madigan was born May 29, 1880. She was the second daughter and child of Patrick and Bessie. On her birth certificate her name is listed as Anna. Ellen married Alexander Sullivan on August 17, 1907 at Old St. John's Church.  For more information on Ellen Madigan see Sullivan/Madigan Genealogy.

James Madigan, 1890-1898

James Madigan, the youngest son, was born in September, 1890 nearly 9 months after the death of his Father. In 1909, he had an operation for a gangrenous obstruction in his bowel at St. Anthony's Hospital and died on January 23, 1909. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery with his mother, Bessie, and his brother Thomas who preceded him in death on December 12, 1898.

Harry Madigan WWI Registration Card, 1918

Harry Patrick Madigan in 1918 was the owner of a saloon located at 4701 W. Harrison in Chicago. He was living with his mother at 3511 W. Fillmore Avenue, Chicago.

1900 U.S. Census

 

The 1900 US Census shows Bessie Madigan a widow with her children: Mary, Nellie, Annie (Nanette), Harry, John and James. They lived at 364 Loomis in Chicago in a rented apartment.  The three oldest children were working in a book bindery.

John J. Madigan, 1887-1983

Their son, John J. Madigan served in WWI. This photo c1917 shows John (to the far right) somewhere in France. His niece, Helen Sullivan McIntyre, said he used to speak French to her and eat pig tails which he would wave at her and scare her. 

John was born April 17, 1887 at home at 3644 Dashield Street.  He applied for a Social Security Account on December 30, 1937.  At the time he states he was working for Harry P. Madigan whose establishment was located at 3936 W. Madison Street in Chicago.  John lived with his mother Bessie and brother Harry for many years. He was a steamfitter and plumber. He worked with his brother Harry at several of Harry's taverns. He eventually married, Mary (last name unknown) c 1938, around the age of 50. Helen remembered that Mary also worked at one of the taverns. He and Mary moved to Hayward, Wisconsin where he eventually died in April of 1983.

Photo from the collection of Helen M. McIntyre.