Trying to locate Patrick Michael Donnellan's relatives--

My name is John Joseph Donnellan and I am  trying to find my GGF Patrick Michael Donnellan's extended Family still living in Ireland. I had originally contacted  Father Mac of the Parochial House in Tullamore on March 4, 1983. Then, on May 24, 1983 I received a very nice letter from Jacqueline Lowbridge telling me that she had a group of young people researching the parish registers in an area of 20 miles radius of Tullamore, in the Catholic Diocese of Meath. I am in the hope that someone is able to get me in touch with my Irish relatives at this time, as we are now planning another Donnellan Family Reunion and would like nothing better than to introduce our relatives in Ireland to our extended Donnellan Family here in America. Patrick Michael’s information, after leaving Ireland, is as follows:

PM was born in 1828 & raised in and around Tullamore, Ireland. PM’s obituary, in the Chicago Newspapers, shows that he died on 2/7/1902 and indicates that he was from Tullamore, Ireland. The problem is, there are four Tullamore’s listed in Ireland. They are listed in the following Parish’s and Counties: Killaspudionane Parish, County Clare; Galey Parish, County Kerry; Monsea Parish, County Tipperary and Kilbride Parish, County Offaly. Now, we come to the verified fact that, in the 1900 census report, PM immigrated to America in 1840.This would mean that PM was 12 years old at the time of his sailing from Ireland to America and probably indicates that he sailed with his family, because of his young age. The 1880 census shows that PM had an older Brother James staying in his household and that his Brother James was 55 years old in1880. This would mean that James was born in 1825 and the older brother of PM by three years. PM also had a younger Brother William who was born in 1832.

More than likely the Donnellan Family landed in New York. The earliest that PM appears in Chicago is when he gets married to Mary Kenealy on April 5,1856 at the Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 21 East Van Buren Street, Chicago. The 1858 Directory of Chicago shows PM  working and living at the Sherman House Hotel, 54 Sherman Street, Chicago. I am assuming that PM’s wife Mary was also living there with him. This same directory shows that PM’s Brother William is also living at the same hotel. Probably PM’s Brother James was there also.

Our next record for PM appears in the Merchants Chicago Census Report for the year 1870. This report shows that PM is now the owner of the United States Hotel, 156 Van Buren, 2nd Ward, Chicago and that PM was also the alderman for this Ward. His Brother William is also shown in the same report as an Engineer at the Court House and living on North LaSalle, near Superior, in the 20th Ward, Chicago. The next records of PM and Family appear after the GREAT CHICAGO FIRE of 1871.The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 3.3 square miles (9 km2) in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S. disasters of the 19th century, the rebuilding that began immediately afterwards helped develop Chicago into one of the most populous and economically important American cities.

I do have a record of PM owning a farm outside of Huntley, Illinois and this is probably where PM and Family retreated when the fire burned them out in Chicago. I also have a record of PM selling this farm and moving back to Chicago and living at 581 Hubbard Street, Chicago. This same City Directory shows PM working as a City Tax Collector for the City of Chicago. PM’s Brother William also appears in this same Directory, working for the Chicago City Hall as an Engineer and now living at 287 North Franklin Street, Chicago.

I have a copy of the 1880 Census which now shows that PM and Family were then living in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan. This Census misspelled our last name. It had Donelan instead of Donnellan, but all of the other facts were correct, and also indicated that PM’s Brother James was also living with them at this time. A federal census was taken in the United States in 1890, but a large percentage of the records were destroyed by a January, 1921 fire at the Commerce Building in Washington, DC. Many organizations, including the National Genealogical Society and Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned that the remaining damaged and waterlogged volumes be preserved. Despite this public outcry, however, thirteen years later the Census Bureau destroyed the remaining 1890 Census Records. The 1900 Census Record shows PM and Family now living at 1409 Harrison Street, Chicago. The Record shows only PM, Wife Mary, Daughter Catherine and Son Joseph are living in the household as of this report.

The next record that I find is that of PM’s Obituary in the Chicago newspapers, showing that PM died on 2/7/1902, in his home at 1409 Harrison Street, Chicago and was to be buried in Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor, Michigan. PM’s Wife, Mary Kenealy Donnellan died on 12/14/1909, showing a residence of 4115 North Hermitage Ave., Chicago. Mary was buried beside PM at the Donnellan Family burial plot in Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Names of Patrick’s children, in order of birth are---Edward Born-1/1860*Patrick Born-11/1863*WILLIAM Born-6/15/1864*Mary Born-3/25/1866**Margaret Born-6/1870*John Born-8/26/1971 *Catherine Born-1/1872*Joseph Born-2/11/1876* All of PM's children were born In the Chicago, Illinois area.

Sons 
1st son was named after the father's father 
2nd son was named after the mother's father 
3rd son was named after the father 
4th son was named after the father's eldest brother 
5th son was named after the mother's eldest brother

Daughters 
1st daughter was named after the mother's mother 
2nd daughter was named after the father's mother 
3rd daughter was named after the mother 
4th daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister
5th daughter was named after the father's eldest sister

Irish 1800's 

EDWARD         BORN  1/1860            PM’S FATHER WAS EDWARD

PATRICK          BORN  11/1863         MOTHER’S FATHER WAS PATRICK

WILLIAM         BORN  6/15/1864    PROBABLY THIS IS PM’S ELDEST BROTHER’S FIRST NAME ( since the first name of Patrick was already given )

MARY               BORN  3/25/1866    MOTHER MARY’S MOTHER

MARGARET   BORN  6/1870           NAMED AFTER PM’S MOTHER

JOHN               BORN  8/26/1871    NAMED AFTER MOTHER MARY’S ELDEST BROTHER

CATHERINE   BORN  1/1872           NAMED AFTER MOTHER MARY’S MIDDLE NAME

JOSEPH          BORN  2/11/1876    PROBABLY NAMED AFTER PM’S 2ND ELDEST BROTHER

John Joseph Donnellan

jjdonnellan@gmail.com