52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #11 - Edward Donnelly

or: How many tries does it take for an Irish Bartender to get his American Citizenship?

In Chicago, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day by dying
a river green. Since Chicago was where Edward chose
to move, I thought it a fitting picture.

 This is #11 in a Genealogy Blog Challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow over on her blog "No Story Too Small." The challenge is to write 52 blog posts on 52 ancestors throughout 2014.

The timing couldn't be better. My family is preparing to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and our Irish heritage this week. Why not spend some time with an Irish ancestor?

Edward Michael Donnelly was born on the 27th of April, 1882 just outside the town of Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His birth certificate specifically says Sluggan, which isn't a town, but a road. (Click here for a street-view) His mother was Ann O'Neill (profiled here) and his father was Daniel Donnelly.

The Cymric

In 1903, at the age of 21, Edward immigrated from Ireland to the United States. He traveled on the ship Cymric and landed in New York on August 24, 1903. On the ship's passenger list, Edward's occupation is listed as "Student."  He is also supposedly traveling to Chicago to visit his "Cousin Michael Montague: 360 S. Clarke St., Chicago."  Who is Michael Montague? 

Fast forward 7 years, and Edward is living as a lodger at the
home of a family named Schneider at 729 E. 40th street, in Chicago. At the time of the 1910 census, Edward was listed as being a bartender. Unfortunately, he had been "out of work" for 8 weeks. What does an out of work bartender do?

Edward and Mae's Marriage License

In 1914, Edward married Mae Hazel Follett (profiled here). They were married on the 31st of January, 1914 at the Church of the Holy Angels in Chicago, just a block from where Edward was living. For those interested, the church is still at 615 E. Oakwood Blvd, Chicago, IL. (Google Streetview here - though the building looks decidedly newer.) 

Edward and Mae quickly started building their family with their sons Edward, Gordon and Francis being born before the 1920 census.  By 1920, Edward and family were living at 7843 Constance Avenue on the city's south side.  Edward was the proprietor of a "Buffet." However family stories say that Edward was still practicing the craft of Bar-tending, just with a more Prohibition friendly job description.

Edward made his first attempt at Naturalization, filing petition # 43255 on October 14, 1920 in the Circuit Court of Illinois. In with some old family papers we found a transcript of the proceedings. His occupation in October of 1920 was listed as "Shoe Dealer."  His petition was denied.

ORDER OF COURT DENYING PETITION

 Upon consideration of the petition of Edward Michael Donnelly and the motion of Mackay for the United States in Open Court January 21, 1921 it appearing that he violated the law as to selling liquors.

 -H. Sterling Pomeroy

Judge

Edward took his petition to the Illinois Superior Court of Cook County. It was denied for the same reason: He could not "prove good moral character."

In 1925, Edward and Mae had a daughter, Dorothy, and by 1930 were living at 7948 Oglesby Avenue in Chicago.  According to the census, Edward had apparently given up the trade of Buffet Proprietor / Bartender and had moved on to a much more respectable job as a Real Estate Broker - a job which apparently didn't last very long.

Edward Michael Donnelly
October 1937
Picture from his Certificate of Citizenship

In 1936, Edward's wife, Mae, filed for citizenship. According to her documentation, the family was living at 7822 Constance Ave. Though a natural born citizen, by a quirk in the law, she lost her U.S. Citizenship upon marrying Edward. Her petition was granted. 

The next year, Edward tried again for his citizenship. His petition, dated February 3, 1937, states that he's Irish and a bartender. It lists his wife and four children, indicates when he immigrated, and also details his previous applications and failures. "I was unable to prove good moral character."


On October 6, 1937, the Irish Bartender, who had previously been denied citizenship because he was plying the trade that came naturally to him, was finally granted citizenship. His citizenship certificate remained in the family's possession, obviously a very important piece of paper to him. 

In 1937, the family was living at 7924 S. Escanaba Ave, in Chicago, but by the 1940 census, they had moved to 8035 Bennett Ave, Chicago. Edward was working as a Bartender in a Tavern. By this time, are we surprised?

Edward died on the 31st of October, 1951 of a sudden Coronary Occlusion. At the time of his death, he was still working as a bartender. Edward was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, IL.  .

Edward Michael Donnelly was my great-grandfather on my mother's side.