Ellen Connor Sullivan Will, 1916

Ellen Connor Sullivan had a will drawn up on April 5, 1916.  The year after her husband, Philip J. died.  The will reads:


IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN

I, ELLEN SULLIVAN, of the City of Evanston, in the County of cook and State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament:
FIRST: I order an direct that my Executor herinafter named pay all my just debts and funeral expernses as soon after my dcease as conveniently may be.
SECOND: After the payment of such funeral expernses and debts, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved children, MARY HOY, ANNIE GAHAGAN, JAMES P. SULLIVAN, FRANK J. SULLIVAN, PETER I. SULLIVAN, ALENXANDER A. SULLIVAN, CHARLES P. SULLIVAN, and PHILIP M. SULLIVAN, all my property, real, personal or mixed, of whatesover kind an description, and wheresoever situated, of which I may die seized and possessed of, share and share alike.
LASTLY, I make, constitued and appoint THOMAS H. HOY to be Executor of this, my last Will and Testament, and I further direct that he may or shall not be required to give any bond or security for the porper discharge of his duty, herby revoking all former Wills by me made.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have herunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the 5th day of April in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and sixteen (1916).
Signed by Ellen Sullivan
This instrument was on the day of the date thereof singed, published an declared by the said Testatrix, ELLEN SULLIVAN, to be her Last Will and Testament, in the poresence of us who at her request have subscribed our names thereto as witnesses, in her presence, and in the presence of each other.
Signed:
Charles J. Connor 1220 Maple Ave
Wm T. Connor 1220 Maple Ave.
Mary L. Connor 1220 Maple Ave
(All three signers are the children of James C. Connor and Hannah Doyle, i.e., her nephews and niece)

Tom Sullivan Remembers his Sullivan Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles

Excerpt from "Note About Things I Remember" by Thomas A. Sullivan, March 4, 1996.

Sullivan Grand Parents

"My paternal grandfather died when I was about three, c1911, and grandmother Sullivan when I was about eight, c1916.  They came from Ireland and had a grocery store on Shalto [Sholto] St. in Chicago, where the children were born.  Then they retired to a large old home in Evanston where I knew them.  Grandfather had a white goatee and we had little in common, however, grandmother [Ellen Connor Sullivan] would serve me mashed potatoes with catsup which I loved, but of which my Mother took a dim view and wouldn't serve at home.  When she died I wanted very much to go to her funeral, but for some reason I was not allowed."

The home in Evanston that Tom remembers was located at 833 Madison St.

Sullivan Aunt and Uncles

• Ann, the oldest child married a man who lived in West Chicago, so I only met her once.  [Ann married James Gahagan.  She was the second oldest child after Mary.]
• Mary, a lovely lady, was the matriarch who kept the boys together.   She visited us frequently as her son, Charles, was my age and we went to school together.  He was a good baseball player and got an appointment to West Point, was wounded in Patton's Army and ended up a major general.  [Mary married Thomas Hoy; Charles Hoy would be the person who went to West Point.]
• Jay, the oldest of my Father's brothers, had a bad leg and I only saw him at funerals. [Jay married Viola Ericson.]
• Frank was a plumber.  He had a wife, Maggie, who was deeply involved in the church ladies auxiliary.  He was fairly close to my Father. [Frank married Margaret "Maggie" Sweeney]
• Peter married a semi-wealthy woman whose father owned a grain storage business (Dickinson?).  He moved in more sophisticated business circles, didn't see him much.  Rumor had it that his business profiteered somehow during WWII. [Peter married Anne Stange]
• Alex [Tom's Father] went to St. Ignatius College for two years and quit to become a steamfitter and get married.  He was a journeyman later a foreman, then a superintendent. The company gave him a car to go among jobs to supervise progress and expedite material.  Proficient with blueprints and estimating costs.  The 1931-34 depression bankrupted his company.  He ended up working for the city.  Heavy smoking affected his heart, brought on retirement and death. [Alex married Ellen "Nell" Madigan]
• Michael died in infancy [Michael was 21 in 1902 when he died. He never married]
• Charles was a Jesuit priest, assigned to Resurrection parish every Sunday.  He would come to our home for Sunday dinner and we became quite close.  After Margaret and I married we had him over a few times.
• Phil, the youngest, worked on LaSalle Street in the commodity market.  When the parents died the family gave him their inheritance, about $50,000 to buy a membership in the Chicago Board of Trade.  Everyone was going to get rich. Unfortunately, he needed additional cash to hold commodity futures positions temporarily.  The cost of financing ate up any earnings and he went bankrupt. [Phil married Nonie Mahoney.]

Origin of Sullivan and Connor Names

Sullivan

The great and illustrious Irish family of (O) Sullivan descend from Eoghan Mor, father of the famous Olioll Olum, 3rd Century King of Munster. The Mac Carthy's, O'Keeffes and O'Callaghans were the other leading families of the Munster Eoghanacht i.e., descended from the above mentioned Eoghan, but (O)Sullivan remains the most widespread surname in Munster. The surname is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Suileabhan". The Gaelic prefix "O" indicates "male descendant of", plus the personal byname Suileabhan, variously interpreted as "hawk-eyed" or "one-eyed". Several members of the clan were lords of the territory near Cahir, (Co. Tipperary), prior to the Anglo-Norman invasion. From 1200 on, they spread to Counties Cork and Kerry dividing into two main septs - O'Sullivan Mor and O'Sullivan Beare. The senior chieftain of the former sept had his stronghold at Kenmare Bay, Co. Kerry, and the latter chieftain was lord of Beare and Bantry. Owen Rua O'Suileabhan (1748-1784), was a great lyric poet, and Sir Arthur Sullivan, (1842-1900), of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, was of Irish descent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Donal O'Sullivan Beare, which was dated 1560-1618, hero of the Siege of Dunboy, recorded in "Records of Dunboy, Bantry Bay", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603.

Connor

This interesting surname, with variant spellings Con, Cone, Connell, Connelly, Connor, Couroy and Conne, widespread in the Auchry area of Aberdeenshire, and in the Province of Ulster, is an Anglicized form of the old Scots Gaelic "Siol Cuin" or "Con", literally meaning "the seed or race of Con", a byname from the Gaelic "con", hound. Bearers of this name proudly claim to be a branch of the great Clan Donald, through descent from a 13th Century William Con, "lauchfull sonne to Donald of the Iles and Kyntyr, chief of the Mackdonald". Members of this clan came to Ireland in the 13th Century and established themselves as gallowglasses in Ulster. However, in this Province, Conn may also derive from MacConn, itself, an Anglicized form of the rare County Down patronymic Mac Mhiolchon, "son of the hound-like one". George Con was the Pope's agent at the court of Charles 1's queen (1636 - 1639); Agnes, daughter of Robert Conn, was christened in Drumbo Presbyterian, County Down, on August 1st 1707, and on April 9th 1847 Catherine Conn was a famine emigrant to New York City. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Conn, witness to the laird of Balfour's bond, which was dated 1552, "Records of Aberdeenshire", Scotland, during the reign of Queen Mary, known as "Mary Queen of Scots", 1542 - 1567. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. 

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

Ellen Connor Sullivan, Appl. for Letters Testamentary, 1919

An application for Letters Testamentary was filed on December 3, 1919. The value of Ellen Sullivan's estate was established to be $10,500 which included the property at 833 Madison, Evanston and a $3,000 promissory note payable from Alice E. Byrnes and John F. Byrnes. (I do not know who these people are).
The document identifies her children that survived her and as her only heirs at law including:
May Hoy, daughter, 3917 Gladys Ave. Chicago
Annie Gahagan, daughter, West Chicago, Illinois
James P. Sullivan, son, 2411 Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Frank J. Sullivan, son, 6342 Glenwood Ave., Chicago
Peter I. Sullivan, son, 663 Wellington Ave., Chicago
Alexander A. Sullivan, son, 18 N. Latrobe Ave., Chicago
Charles P. Sullivan, son, St. Louis University, St. Louis
Philip M. Sullivan, son, 2031 Pratt Ave., Evanston, Ill.

Children of Philip and Ellen Sullivan - Obituaries

Philip and Ellen had 10 children.  Obituaries, as located, are included in this post:

Mary Sullivan Hoy (1866-1932)

HOY - Mary Sullivan Hoy, beloved wife of Thomas H. Hoy, mother of Mrs. Marguerite Brankin, Capt. T. Aloysius, Evelyn, Philip, Lieut. Charles and the late Marie and Edward Hoy, sister of the Rev. Charles P. Sullivan, S.J.; Peter, Frank, Alex and Philip; Funeral Saturday at 9:45 a.m., from residence 4152 Washington blvd., to St. Mel's church; interment Calvary.

Chicago Daily News, April 28, 1932, p. 30

Anastasia Sullivan Gahagan (1869-1925)

Have not located obituary

James “Jay” Patrick  Sullivan (1874-1929)

Sullivan, James P. Sullivan late of 2411 Lincoln St.  Father of Gladys and James.  Brother of Mrs. Mary Hoy, Frank J., Peter L., Alexander A., Rev. Charles P. Sullivan, SJ, Philip M. and the late Anna Gahagan and Michael.  Remains at chapel 935 N. Wells St., Funeral Monday at 9:30 a.m. to St. Clement's, interment Calvary. 

Chicago Daily News, March 30, 1929, page 36.

Unnamed Male Sullivan (1875)

A child was born to Philip and Ellen on September 17, 1875 per Cook County Clerk’s Office.  No further information is known about the child.

Francis “Frank” Joseph Sullivan (1876- 1939)

SULLIVAN - Frank J. Sullivan, late of 6342 Glenwood av., beloved husband of Margaret, fond father Edward, brother of Rev. Charles P. Sullivan, SJ; Alex, Philip and the late Mrs. Thomas Hoy, Mrs. James Gahagen, James, Peter and Michael, son of the late Ellen and Philip.  Funeral Monday 9:30 a.m. from chapel 929 Belmont av., to St. Gertrude church.  Interment All Saints.  Member of McMullen Court No. 7, C.O.F. and Chicago Journeymen Plumbers, Local 130.
Chicago Daily News, August 12, 1939, page 27.

Peter Ignatius Sullivan (1878-1937)

Peter I. Sullivan, suddenly, April 3, 1937; beloved husband of Annie, nee Stange, fond father of George P., brother of Frank, Alex, Philip and the Rev. Charles Sullivan, S.J., and the late Mrs. Thomas Hoy, Mrs. James Gahagen (sic) and James Sullivan.  Funeral from late residence, 662 Wellington avenue, Wednesday, April 7, at 9:30 a.m., to Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.

Chicago Tribune, April 6, 1937, page 14.

Alexander Aloysius Sullivan (1880-1956)

Alexander A. Sullivan, beloved husband of Nell Madigan Sullivan; fond father of Thomas and Helen McIntyre; grandfather of Thomas Sullivan, Larry and Elaine McIntyre; brother of the Rev. Charles, S.J., and Philip Sullivan.  Funeral Monday, 9:30 a.m. from chapel, 5911 W. Madison street, to St. Thomas Aquinas church.  Interment Queen of Heaven.  Member of Pipe Fitters union, local No. 597, and Damen council, No. 650, K. of C. EStebrook 8-7500.

Chicago Daily Tribune, January 28, 1956, page 10.

Michael Andrew Sullivan (1881-1902)

Michael Sullivan.  Feb 8.  Beloved son of Philip and Ellen Sullivan (nee Connor) - Brother of Mrs. T. H. Hoy, Mrs. J. Gaghan and James, Frank, Peter, Alexander, Charley and Philip Sullivan.  Age 20 years at Sholto St.  Funeral notice to tomorrow's papers.

Chicago Daily News, February 8, 1902.

Charles P. Sullivan (1883-1957)

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.

Philip Michael Sullivan (1885-1959)

Philip M. Sullivan of 2115 Birchwood Avenue, Chicago, husband of Nonie Mahoney (sp?) Sullivan. Father of  Sister Mary Ellen, D. C., Agnes Sullivan, Rita Ann De Marco, Thomas L., Philip M. and Joseph C; Also nine grandchildren.  Funeral Monday 9:30 a.m. from Funeral home, 1517 Maple Avenue, Evanston, to St. Margaret Mary Church.  Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery.  University 4-0251. 

Chicago Tribune, June 21, 1959, Part 2, Page 13.

Philip M. Sullivan, 73, of Chicago, a former resident of Evanston for 25 years, died Saturday at St. Francis Hospital after a sudden illness.

Mrs. Sullivan, who survives her husband, was the former Nonie Mahoney, who was born in Evanston and lived here 50 years.

A former postoffice employee, Mr. Sullivan was born in Chicago and worked in the Chicago American mailing department following his postoffice retirement.  He attended St. Mary's College in Kansas.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Sullivan is survived by six children, Mary Ellen of Normandy, Mo.; Agnes of San Francisco, Rita Ann DeMarco of Davenport, Ia.,; Philip  M. of Des Moines,; and Thomas L. and Joseph C. of Chicago, and nine grandchildren.

Prayer services were conducted Monday at the Fitzgerald and Karsten Chapel and mass was sung at St. Margaret Mary's Church Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.

Evanston Review, June 25, 1959 p. 97

Holy Famly Church - Parish Pew Rental - 1896 and Parishioners

Pews and Pewholders

"After a lapse of thirty-three years it is interesting again to study briefly the pew situation, and call to mind, not only the location and schedule of rentals, which we are enabled to do through a diagram prepared under the direction of the pastor, but also again to take note of the principal parishioners represented in the pewholders. This diagram, made accessible through publication in the church Calendar and Sodality Bulletin, illustrates graphically the capacity of the church, the location of the aisles and pillars, and various vacant spaces, Rev. M. P. Dowling, S. J., had the diagram prepared and directed its publication in March, 1896.... Father Dowling estimated that there was only one pew rented to every two hundred of the members of the parish.... At the time this diagram was made, the pew rents ranged from $52.00 a year, for the best pews in the middle aisle, down to $8.00 for the least desirable.
"On the diagram, the schedule of prices marked sets forth the charge made for one sitting for three months.
"At this time the pewholders and the pews occupied by them were as follows:
PEW HOLDERS IN THE HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, 1896."
On page 193, it notes that Philip Sullivan occupied pew #243 in section 7. On the chart it says "243, $2.50, Taken."  Pages 189-193.

Elsewhere in the book on the Holy Family Church are several entries that mention the Sullivan Family:

"Rev. Charles P. Sullivan, S. J., was born October 22, 1883, and entered the Society of Jesus, February 3, 1905.  At present Father Sullivan is doing very proficient work as a professor in Rockhurst College, Kansas City, Mo."  Page 407.

"Peter A. Sullivan of Sholto Street served as usher for a few years from 1904 to 1906.  His people moved out to Evanston, which obliged him to follow.  There were five brothers of this family at one time altar boys, namely: Perter, the usher; Alexander, Michael, Charles, now Rev. Charles Sullivan, S. J., and Phillip."  Pages 660-661.

"Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sullivan, 90 Sholto street, kept a store from 1871 to 1900. Mr. Sullivan's store was very popular in the neighborhood owing to the kindness and charity of the family.  Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were very much attached to the Church and contributed, as far as their means would permit, to all and every necessity of the church and parish.  There was a large family, five of the boys were at one time serving as Acolytes, one of them Our Lord selected to follow Him as a priest in the Society of Jesus, the Rev. Charles Sullivan, S. J.  This store was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan, who ran it for several years."  Page 736-737.

In one section of the book the author names parishioners, by street which provides a look at the Sullivan neighbors at the turn of the last century:

"On Sholto street lived William Murphy at the corner of Eleventh street, opposite the Planing Mill.  Theresa Murphy was identified with W. C. O. F.  Her brother, James E., was an exceptional artist as an expert wood engraver.  William was a letter carrier, and Elizabeth Goodbody is a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.  The following also lived on Sholto: Daniel Short, John Ward, Thomas Kenneally, John Kelly, Frank Gibson, Owen Rooney, Patrick Martin,... Phil Sullivan, Patrick Burke, John Callahan, Thomas Kennedy." Page 948.

Mulkerins, Bro. Thomas M., Holy Family Parish: Priest and People 1857-1923, Chicago, 1923.

Sullivan Tombstone, Calvary Cemetery

 Buried at the Sullivan headstone in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois are a number of Sullivan family members. Located at Lot 37, Block 16, Section N, the gravesite was purchased by James Sullivan, nephew of Philip J. Sullivan, on September 18, 1881. The name of the person interred, date of burial and relationship are noted:

- Andrew Sullivan, September 14, 1881, brother of Philip J.
- James P. Sullivan, July 23, 1887, son of Andrew and Margaret (McCaffery)
- Thomas A. Sullivan, April 24, 1895, son of Andrew and Margaret (McCaffery)
- Peter Sullivan, May 26, 1895, son of Andrew and Margaret (McCaffery)
- Michael A. Sullivan, February 10, 1902, son of Philip J. and Ellen
- Philip J. Sullivan, May 28, 1915
- Ellen Connor Sullivan, December 6, 1919, wife of Philip J.
- Jennie Duggan Sullivan, August 1, 1927, second wife of Andrew
- Catherine Sullivan, April 2, 1919, granddaughter of Philip J. and Ellen, daughter of Philip M.
- James Sullivan, April 1, 1929, son of Philip J. and Ellen
- Catherine Sullivan, March 28, 1952, daughter of Andrew and Margaret (McCaffery)
- Philip M. Sullivan, June 22, 1959, son of Philip J. and Ellen
- Nonie Mahony Sullivan, June 8, 1971, wife of Philip M. Sullivan
- Thomas L. Sullivan, March 12, 1990, son of Philip M. and Nonie

In Lot 42, Block 16, Section N (the backside of the stone) are buried Andrew and Philip's brother, Patrick.

Philip J. Sullivan, Will 1909

The handwritten will reads:
This is the last will and testament of one Philip Sullivan made this eighth day of December A. D. 1909 in Evanston, County of Cook, and State of Illinois. As follows.
I bequeath all my property real estate and personal whatsoever and whensoever to my Wife Ellen Sullivan and appoint my said wife executrix of this my will and thereby revoke all other wills.
In witness where of I here unto set my hand and seal, the day and year above mentioned. Signed: Philip Sullivan
The wills in 1909 were short and to the point!
The two witnesses to the will, Charles J. Connor and William Connor, are sons of James C. Connor, the brother of Ellen.

Philip J. Sullivan, Application for Letters Testamentary

This document, an Application for Letters Testamentary, is from the estate file of Philip J. Sullivan. It nominates Ellen Connor Sullivan as executrix of his will. Of significance is the listing of who survives Philip. The list includes his wife and all of his living children along with their addresses in 1915.

Sullivan Evanston Home

The Evanston Historical Society (Evanston History Center) holds building permit #152 issued to Mr. P. Sullivan to erect a 2 story and basement flat of 12 rooms, 30 feet front: 52 feet deep by 36 feet from ground level to highest point. The architect is listed as S. A. Jennings and the builder is given as Connor & McCann. Cost of the building was $4,500. It was approved for habitation on September 14, 1893. Address: 833-35 Madison. Photo from 1973, Evanston Historical Society.

Ellen Connor Sullivan, Death Certificate

Ellen Connor Sullivan died on December 3, 1919, just four years after her husband, Philip. While she was ill, she was staying with her daughter, Mary Sullivan Hoy who lived at 3917 Gladys Avenue in Chicago where she died. Ellen was 71 at the time of her death. Similar to her husband, she also died of heart trouble. Her death certificate states she died of cardiac exhaustion with pulmonary edema, e.g., fluid accumulation in the lungs. A contributing factor was arteriosclerosis. She is buried with her husband in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston.

Philip Sullivan, Death Certificate

Philip J. Sullivan died at age 75 in Evanston, Illinois on May 25, 1915. For most of his life in Illinois, he was a grocery merchant. His death certificate states he worked at this occupation from 1860 to 1909. Prior to living in Evanston, he lived at 90 Sholto Street in Chicago. Sholto Street is now called Union Avenue. His death certificate states that his mother's maiden name was McCabe, but on other documents it is listed as either Leddy or Corcoran. Since the informant of the death certificate, his son Philip M., did not know the first name of either parent, I have less confidence in McCabe being the maiden name of Philip J. Sullivan's mother. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage complicated by arteriosclerosis. Philip is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston.

Three generations of Sullivans

Possibly taken in Evanston, Illinois, shows three generations of Sullivans. Standing: son, Frank Sullivan (1876-1943); Dad, Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915); son Philip M. Sullivan (1908-1959) and kneeling: son, Alexander A. Sullivan (1880-1956) with his son, Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996) about 9 months old.

Charles P. Sullivan

Photo courtesy: Dan Schattnik

Charlie, ninth child of Philip and Ellen, entered the Society of Jesus on September 3, 1905, was ordained on June 27, 1920 and died October 27, 1957 in Ohio. As a Jesuit, he taught at Campion High School, Rockhurst College and St. Ignatius High School in Chicago. 

This clipping is from an unknown, probably Chicago, newspaper, c1945.

Charlie sent the above note to the McIntyres
following his Jubilee celebrating his 50 years since entering the Jesuits

 

Sullivan Family Bible, Pages 1-2

The Sullivan Family bible is held by Sandy Sullivan, wife of the late Joseph Sullivan, son of Philip M. Sullivan.  In January, 2011, Sandy Sullivan was killed in a light-rail accident in Portland, Oregon.   The location of the Sullivan Family Bible is not now known.

Sullivan Family Bible Pages 3-4

Philip M. Sullivan, youngest son of Philip J. and Ellen Sullivan had a family bible in which is recorded much of the next generations' births, marriages and deaths of the family.  See previous posting.