James and Anna (Sullivan) Gahagan Burial Location

I found Anna and James Gahagan on Find a Grave recently. Their pages were created by DESchuett who had photographed and posted from St. Mary's Parish Calvary Cemetery in West Chicago, DuPage County, Illinois.

Created by DESchuett; record added: Apr 04, 2015; Memorial #144588169

Created by DESchuett; record added April 04, 2015; Memorial #144588154

Thank you DESchuett for posting the image of the Gahagan's monument.

Sex Education Teacher - Fr. Charles Sullivan

Charles P. Sullivan, S. J., 1883-1957
9th child of Philip Sullivan and Ellen Connor

While attending a wake for another Sullivan relative this weekend, I met a man who had attended St. Ignatius High School in Chicago, graduating in 1951. St. Ignatius, while he was there, was an all-boys school. During the conversation I asked if he had known a Fr. Charles Sullivan who taught at St. Ignatius in the 1950s.

He got the biggest grin on his face. He said he would never forget Fr. Sullivan who was one of his Religious Education teachers. Evidently, Uncle Charlie was assigned the duty to have "THE" sex talk with each of the boys.

My story-teller said the boys would be given a specific time to go to see Fr. Sullivan in a room. They would sit down, Uncle Charlie would NOT look them in the eye, mumble a few words, and then tell them to go out and send in the next young man.

I remember Uncle Charlie as a kind but very prim and proper man. I can only imagine how uncomfortable he must have been with this particular assignment. Evidently, the young men he was "educating" didn't feel much different.

Source: Mr. Ruane, St. Ignatius High School, Class of 1951.

Mary Sullivan Hoy, Death Certificate

Mary Sullivan Hoy (1867-1932) died on April 28, 1932 in Oak Park Hospital, Oak Park, Illinois. She was the oldest child of Philip Sullivan (1840-1915) and Ellen Connor (1843-1919). Mary was born in Chicago.

At the time of her death, she lived at 4152 W. Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, with her husband Thomas.

For over two years she was afflicted with chronic myocarditis and bronchial asthma. The cause of her death is attributed to nephrolithiasis or kidney stones.

Mary was buried on April 30, 1932 in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois.

Source: Illinois Death Certificate, Family History Library MF# 1684330, accessed January 13, 2015.

Anna Sullivan Gahagan, Death Certificate 1925

Anna (Anastasia) Sullivan Gahagan (1869-1925), second daughter of Philip Sullivan (1840-1915) and Ellen Connor (1843-1919), died on December 23, 1925 in Community Hospital, Geneva, Illinois.

At the time of her death she and her husband, James Gahagan (c1868-1930), were living in West Chicago, DuPage County, Illinois. No exact address is given. Her death certificate provides her birth date as April 13, 1869 and notes her occupation as housewife.

Cause of death is reported as chronic myocarditis with aortic regurgitation which she had over a period of two years. She also had chronic infection of the teeth for 2-3 years.

She is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Aurora, Kane County, Illinois.

From other documents I have found, there is no mention of James and Anna having children.

Source: Illinois death certificate #44515, Family History Library microfilm: #1504132, accessed January 13, 2015.

Philip Sullivan c1885

In October 2014, I had the opportunity to visit my cousin Thomas D. Sullivan's home. As I was leaving he asked if I would like to look at some of the albums his mother, Margaret Carmody Sullivan (1910-1982), had put together. Of course, I said YES!  He suggested I take one home with me so I could give a closer look at the many photos included. The one I chose was titled "Prior to 1950."

The album includes many photos of Margaret and her husband, Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996), but there were also several photos of ancestors of both Margaret and Tom. One such photo of Philip Sullivan (1840-1915), grandfather of Thomas A. Sullivan, I had never seen before.  It is possibly the oldest of all the photos I have of direct ancestors.

The front of the photo, which is on hard card stock, shows Philip standing next to a Victorian-style tufted chair. He is dressed formally but his cloths look warn, especially his shoes. It is not known if there was a particular purpose for which the photo was taken.  On the verso of the photograph, is the name of the photography: J. Battersby, 62 North Clark St., Chicago. There is also a 2 cent cancelled postage stamp attached with the cancellation date of February 4, 1885.

If the photo were taken around 1885, Philip would have been about 45 years old which seems to be in keeping with the age he looks in the photo.  In 1885 he was still living in Chicago and probably still running the family grocery store. All but the last (Philip M. Sullivan 1885-1959) of his 10 children would have been born by this date.

Seeing this photo gives me hope that other "old" photos of the family may still yet be located.

Source: Photo album created by Margaret Carmody Sullivan currently, 2014,  held by Thomas D. Sullivan.

Charles P. Sullivan, Buried All Saints Cemetery

Father Charlie Sullivan, son of Philip and Ellen, is buried in All Saints Cemetery, DesPlaines, Illinois in a large plot with other Jesuits. His marker is inscribed with the name Carolus, the Latin for Charles. 

Carolus P. Sullivan, S. J., 1883-1957

This monument stands over hundreds of Jesuit graves

Note the GPS, lower center of the image, at the edge of Charlie's marker and the grave's proximity to the monument

He is buried in grave 9, lot 32, block 2, section 2.

The Rev. Charles P. Sullivan: Mass for the Rev. Charles P. Sullivan, 74, former faculty member for 29 years at St. Ignatius High school, will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Holy Family church, 1076 Roosevelt rd. He died Saturday in a Mariemont, O., hospital after a long illness.  Surviving are a brother, Philip M., and a niece, Mrs. Frank McGonigle.  Chicago Tribune, October 29, 1957, page A7.

For additional information on Charles P. Sullivan click here.

Photos: Elaine M. Beaudoin, March 31, 2013

Ellen Connor, birth record

Ellen Connor's birth date was believed to be August 15, 1848 as recorded in her son's Philip M. Sullivan's family bible. However, when the family bible of Ellen's parents, James Connor and Anastasia Colfour/Colfer was located, the birth date of August 24, 1843 was given.

The 1843 date is the more likely date as it was recorded in the late 1870s (closer to the actual birthday) and was "accepted" as the birth date by her Mother, Anastasia Colfour Connor. Also, the 1843 birth date would make her just 3 years younger than her husband, rather than 8 years younger, giving her a marriage age of 22 rather than 17.

Birth record in upper left hand corner.

James and Anastasia Connor Bible

Bible courtesy: Lori Reiss, great, great granddaughter-in-law of James and Anastasia Connor