Patrick Madigan, Gravesite, Calvary Cemetery

When I started genealogy more than 20 years ago I knew nothing more than my great grandparents' names - Patrick and Bridget Madigan.  I remember the day I learned the parents of my Mother's Mother were buried a little over a mile from where I live.  It was a Saturday and I was all alone in the house without a car.  So, I called a taxi and took it to Calvary Cemetery in Evanston. (This is how genealogists respond when they NEED to follow up on information.) It was probably the late 1990s.

I arrived at the Sexton's office and asked for the grave location of Patrick and Bridget Madigan.  I was surprised to learn that my great grandmother, Bridget Thompson Madigan, was buried with three of her sons, Thomas, James and Harry, but not her husband, Patrick. A separate location was given for him.  I thought it strange but assumed when I took off on foot to find the graves they would be close to each other. They were not!

After finding Bridget Thompson Madigan's grave, I nearly walked across the entire cemetery to an area that had very few markers.  With much traipsing back and forth over bumpy ground I still was unable to locate his grave so I went back to the Sexton's office.  He provided me with the name of an individual who was also buried in the same large plot and who had a military grave marker. Back I went and found the plot of land with the military stone but no other markers.  However, the Sexton had now provided me with was a copy of all the individuals who were buried with my great grandfather. Nine additional names. I thought "Wow" these must all be cousins or some other relations I don't know about. 

Over time I researched these individuals, many of whom were infants or very young children.  I found little information beyond date of death and no link to my Patrick Madigan.

I always felt sad my great grandfather had no marker on his grave. This past summer when my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday I said, "a gravestone for Patrick Madigan."  He had heard me speak of my great grandfather and the absence of a marker so it wasn't that much of a surprise.  He also does family genealogy and he truly understood why I even asked for such a gift.

On my birthday we went to Gast Monuments and picked out and designed the stone.  It was installed last week.  When I went to visit the grave this weekend it gave me such a warm feeling to know, after 123 years, Patrick Madigan's gravesite was now identified, but even more importantly, he was not forgotten.

And, what about all those others who were buried with him?  Well, while working with the cemetery and the monument company to install the marker, I was told Patrick's grave was a charity grave and  all the individuals buried with Patrick Madigan, like him, were individuals whose families could not afford to purchase a grave for their loved ones.  At the time of Patrick's death of pneumonia he was 39 with six children and one on the way. I'm sure his family had no money either.

At least now I know why Patrick is buried in a different location than his wife and children. I wish we had the money, I would have bought a huge monument and had all ten names inscribed.  But, I am happy my great grandfather has his stone.  Perhaps family members of the other interred individuals will someday put a stone on their relative's grave.  I know it would make them feel "real good" inside.

Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois, Gravecard, Front and Back

Photo and images: Elaine M. Beaudoin

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).