So today I’ve been doing a little research about the McDonough clan. Clan’s a good word for it; these folks took the Catholic Church teaching on accepting children as a gift from God seriously.
Bartley was born on February 2, 1890 in Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon, Ireland. His father’s name was Thomas, and it gets a little confusing because it appears that his father spelled his name McDonagh. The problem with this is that there was another Thomas McDonagh with a son named Bartley in Roscommon at the same time. So there’s some detail on this family that may be inter-mingled with the other McDonagh family. I think I worked through it, but take some of this info with a grain of salt. I’ll get to those guys in a minute; first more about Bartley.
So this part is a little confusing; he definitely sailed on the SS Carmania, which left Queenstown on April 20, 1913. This is almost exactly a year after the Titanic, so I can imagine they spent a lot of time watching for icebergs… What’s confusing is that he’s also listed on a manifest from 2 years earlier, with Michael (he did have a brother named Michael) on the SS Mauretania. I suppose it’s possible that he and Michael came over for a while, he may have gone back and then come over again? Seems odd, since he did not bring anyone back with him in 1913. It’s also possible that this is the other Bartley McDonough in his early 20’s with a brother named Michael. I’m still digging there, but the records aren’t great.
But for the rest of his life, on draft cards, naturalization papers, etc, he listed his arrival as April 1913 on the Carmania. So let’s go with that. The Carmania was one of the largest ships in the Cunard line, ultimately saw action in WWI and was scrapped in the early 1930’s. Queenstown, his port of embarkation, is now known as Cobh, in County Cork, Ireland. It was the usual spot for Irish Immigrants to embark to head to New York. The ship likely left Liverpool first, and then picked up hundreds of immigrants in Queenstown before sailing to New York. The journey from Roscommon to Queenstown would not have been easy in its own right; likely a train to Galway, then down through Limerick to Cork. You have to picture Bartley leaving his mother and father, knowing that he’d never see them again. How hard must life have been in Ireland to decide to do that at age 23 or 24?
On June 5, 1917 ( so 30 years before his first Grandson was born…) he completed his World War I draft card. He is listed as single, living at 3100 W Polk in Chicago, his occupation as a Street Car Conductor out of the Kedzie Ave Barn. On November 11, 1919 (another pretty important date in world history – Armistice Day ending World War I, now Veterans Day), he received his Naturalization Certificate making him a US Citizen. He now lists his address as 3215 W. Polk in Chicago. 3215 Polk appears to be a parking lot now.
I don’t have a wedding date for Bartley and Mary, but I do have detail on her. Mary Ann Gallagher was born in County Mayo, Ireland on September 20, 1894. Her mother was Bridget, age 24, her father was Michael, age 40! They had at least 9, possibly 10 children over an 18 year span. Michael died in 1915, Bridget died in 1926, both still in Ireland.
It appears that she arrived in 1914 on the SS Baltic, arriving in New York on July 16, 1914. She seems to have traveled alone; there are no other people listed as traveling with her, but if she was with anyone other than a sibling, there’s no reason they would have been listed together. Perhaps she came with a friend or a cousin?
The oldest of her siblings was John, born in 1885. It seems as though John never left Ireland, but it also seems as though the rest of the children eventually did. William was the oldest of the Gallagher’s to go to Chicago, and was the first one to arrive. William emigrated in 1905 from Queensland, and became a Chicago police officer. William was shot and killed on September 26, 1929, in the line of duty, while investigating a kidnapping. https://www.odmp.org/officer/5231-patrolman-william-gallagher
Perhaps Bill McDonough was named after him a few years later?
In the 1930 census, the McDonough’s are listed as living at 4864 Concord Place in Chicago, with their daughters Mary, age 6 and Eileen, age 4. Also living with them was Teresa Gallagher, age 31. By the 1940 census, they’re at the same address, Bill and Loretta have arrived, and they are now living with Nellie Gallagher, age 42. The birth records show a Bridget Theresa Gallagher who would fit the age of Teresa / Nellie – I suppose that must be her?
4864 Concord Place is a bungalow essentially at North and Cicero; from the picture on Google Maps, I think we can assume it’s the same house.
As we all know Mary Gallagher McDonough died on December 23, 1944; Bartley (by now an insurance agent), died on January 27, 1946.
Going back to Ireland; Mary Ann Gallagher’s parents were Michael Gallagher, 1854-1915, and Bridget Gallagher, 1869-1926. Yes, her maiden name was Gallagher. Maybe we’re inbred? Bridget’s parents were Eneas Gallagher and Mary Fadian. Eneas lived from 1844-1923, always in Achill, County Mayo, Ireland. Mary Fadian was born in 1843, her death date is unknown, and her parents were Peter Fadian and “Bridget” (no maiden name available). Peter lived from about 1813 to April, 1888. Bridget is listed as 1818-1888, though again no real detail on her.
On the Michael Gallagher side, Michael was born in 1854 in Carrowvaneen, County Mayo. He died in Knockmore, County Mayo in 1915. His parents were Michael Gallagher and Bridget Ormsby, both born around 1818, but no other detail available on them.
Bartley’s father, Thomas, as mentioned above, was born August 28, 1857 in Roscommon. His parents were Thomas and Margaret, but nothing is known about either of them. Bartley’s mother was Mary Lowry, born 1861 in Roscommon, died June 21, 1918 in Roscommon. Her parents were John and Ellen Lowry. No detail on them other than that John was born in 1821 in Roscommon.
Overall, not surprising that there’s not as many generations on the Irish side. The Irish didn’t do a great job of keeping records; the literacy rate in Ireland was about the lowest in the Western Hemisphere until the late 1800’s, so unless the priest came to record a birth in the family bible, it usually didn’t happen. Still, some cool stuff there. I’m most intrigued by William Gallagher, the murdered police officer. You can google around on him; there’s a few sites dedicated to the memory of fallen officers. There’s a link above.
OK enjoy!
Tropp Family History 