JOHN J. 'BLACKIE" O'CONNELL
Eldest son of Michael and Elizabeth. Married 3 times and had 10 children. First marriage 1886 in Joliet IL and had 2 kids. Second 1891 in Ohio (and Missouri?) and Joliet and had 6 girls. Third 1913 in Ottawa or Chicago IL area and had 2 boys. Then moved to Denver where his brother Michael "Harry" lived.
Photos show a short, heavyset man, built like a fire plug, but sometimes dressed quite dapper.
It is unknown whether or not he had contact with or provided financial support to his ex-wives or children.
Middle name shown as Francis on death record. But, he used and signed his name with middle initial J on divorce petition from Anna Goss. Also shown as J. on 1913 marriage license to Ada and on son Francis Joseph's birth certificate. Probably stands for Joseph since he used that name in 3 of his children's names.
Family Rumor and Legend
Earned nickname "Blackie" because he worked as a stove repairman during the coal-buring era.
Known History
Nov 12, 1863 or 1864, born but location uncertain. Could be Memphis although most records show IL. The only known location is US, not Ireland, although his death record shows Ireland. This is based on all other records showing U.S. and his mother's obituary stating she was in the US or IL since ~1855.
July ~1866 Memphis TN, brother Wm James born
1870-1880 Joliet IL, Source: Federal Censuses
Jul 16, 1886 Chicago IL, marriage license with Lizzie Gleason. Source: Cook County records. His age shown as 23. Her's as 21.
Jul 19, 1886 Chicago IL, married Lizzie Gleason. Source: petition for divorce
Mar 5, 1888 Joliet IL, daughter Josephine Elizabeth born. Source: Josephine's IL Death record
Dec 1888 Chicago. Source: Mother's obituary
1889-1890, 412 Ward Ave Joliet IL, occupation "wire drawer". Source: Joliet City Directory (no copy)
Oct 12, 1889 Joliet IL, son William Frances born. Source: Wm F's WWI draft registration and baptism record.
Dec 30, 1890 Joliet IL, after 4 years of marriage, "deserted" Lizzie Gleason and moved outside of IL. She claimed he was cruel, physically violent, habitually drunk and didn't provide financial support. Source: Will County IL Petition for divorce and alimony
Nov 25, 1891 Dayton OH, married widow Anna Lauer Goss, who had 2 children, Alma Mabel and Clifford Richard. Sources: Montgomery Co OH marriage license, Will County IL petition for divorce, FamilySearch for Alma, FamilySearch for Clifford.
Sep 1892 Joliet IL, divorce granted to Lizzie Gleason. Source: Will County IL Divorce decree.
Feb 1893 Ohio or Missouri, daughter Alice born. Source: 1900, 1920 & 1930 Federal Censuses.
Jun 1894, Ohio or Illinois, daughter Kathryn (or Katharine "Katie") born. Source: 1900 & 1910 Federal Censuses.
Feb 1896 or Apr 5 1897, Dayton OH, daughter Irene Grewenig born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
April 1898 or 1899, OH or IL, daughter Mary Clara "Mamie" Feeney born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
May 1900, IL, daughter Ida Movitz born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
Jun 1900 Joliet IL, occupation "wire drawer", unemployed 2 months and owned his home but address not shown. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
1903 or 1904 Joliet IL, daughter Willetta Elizabeth Ruffing born. Source: 1920 Federal Census.
1908, 654 Cass St, Joliet IL, occupation "stove repairer". Source: Joliet City Directory (no copy)
Mar 16, 1909 Joliet, IL, left Anna Goss. Source: Will Co petition for divorce
May 1909 Joliet IL, after 18 years of marriage, he petitioned for divorce from Anna claiming she was habitually drunk the previous two years and he requested custody of their six children, all girls. Their children ranged in age from 16 to 6 yrs. He must not have been given custody because the girls remained with Anna and her son Clifford moved in. Source: Petition for divorce, Will County.
1913 Adams ( La Salle County) IL, Married Ada "Addie" M. Reed Andrews Burns. Source: IL County Marriages 1810-1934.
Sep 3, 1914 son Joseph E born (used the last name of Burns, died 2000, lived in Ottawa and Marseilles IL, buried in Marseilles IL). Source: 1940 Federal Census and Ancestry.com
Apr 10, 1916 Ottawa IL, son Francis "Frank" Joseph born but residence is shown as Chicago (Frank used last name of Burns). Source: Birth certificate and 1930 and 1940 Federal Censuses.
Sometime before 1920, leaves Adie and 2 sons. Source: 1920 Federal Census
Date unknown, moves to Denver, where his brother Harry Michael lived with his wife Anna Daley.
~Mar 1928 returns to Joliet. Source: Death notice Joliet Evening Herald News. Does not mention Adie or their 2 boys in Ottawa. Reads: "left this city 15 years ago to make his home in Denver, Colorado. He returned to Joliet 8 months ago."
Oct 12,1928 Joliet IL, dies of "paralytic stroke suffered 3 days ago" at St. Joseph's Hospital. Source: Death notice Joliet Evening Herald News
Oct 16, 1928 Joliet IL, buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery. According to a family member, the tombstone was paid for by his oldest daughter, Alice, but is now broken and laying on the ground, possibly face down.
Jul 19, 1886 Chicago IL, married Lizzie Gleason. Source: petition for divorce
Mar 5, 1888 Joliet IL, daughter Josephine Elizabeth born. Source: Josephine's IL Death record
Dec 1888 Chicago. Source: Mother's obituary
1889-1890, 412 Ward Ave Joliet IL, occupation "wire drawer". Source: Joliet City Directory (no copy)
Oct 12, 1889 Joliet IL, son William Frances born. Source: Wm F's WWI draft registration and baptism record.
Dec 30, 1890 Joliet IL, after 4 years of marriage, "deserted" Lizzie Gleason and moved outside of IL. She claimed he was cruel, physically violent, habitually drunk and didn't provide financial support. Source: Will County IL Petition for divorce and alimony
Nov 25, 1891 Dayton OH, married widow Anna Lauer Goss, who had 2 children, Alma Mabel and Clifford Richard. Sources: Montgomery Co OH marriage license, Will County IL petition for divorce, FamilySearch for Alma, FamilySearch for Clifford.
Sep 1892 Joliet IL, divorce granted to Lizzie Gleason. Source: Will County IL Divorce decree.
Feb 1893 Ohio or Missouri, daughter Alice born. Source: 1900, 1920 & 1930 Federal Censuses.
Jun 1894, Ohio or Illinois, daughter Kathryn (or Katharine "Katie") born. Source: 1900 & 1910 Federal Censuses.
Feb 1896 or Apr 5 1897, Dayton OH, daughter Irene Grewenig born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
April 1898 or 1899, OH or IL, daughter Mary Clara "Mamie" Feeney born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
May 1900, IL, daughter Ida Movitz born. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
Jun 1900 Joliet IL, occupation "wire drawer", unemployed 2 months and owned his home but address not shown. Source: 1900 Federal Census.
1903 or 1904 Joliet IL, daughter Willetta Elizabeth Ruffing born. Source: 1920 Federal Census.
1908, 654 Cass St, Joliet IL, occupation "stove repairer". Source: Joliet City Directory (no copy)
Mar 16, 1909 Joliet, IL, left Anna Goss. Source: Will Co petition for divorce
May 1909 Joliet IL, after 18 years of marriage, he petitioned for divorce from Anna claiming she was habitually drunk the previous two years and he requested custody of their six children, all girls. Their children ranged in age from 16 to 6 yrs. He must not have been given custody because the girls remained with Anna and her son Clifford moved in. Source: Petition for divorce, Will County.
1913 Adams ( La Salle County) IL, Married Ada "Addie" M. Reed Andrews Burns. Source: IL County Marriages 1810-1934.
Sep 3, 1914 son Joseph E born (used the last name of Burns, died 2000, lived in Ottawa and Marseilles IL, buried in Marseilles IL). Source: 1940 Federal Census and Ancestry.com
Apr 10, 1916 Ottawa IL, son Francis "Frank" Joseph born but residence is shown as Chicago (Frank used last name of Burns). Source: Birth certificate and 1930 and 1940 Federal Censuses.
Sometime before 1920, leaves Adie and 2 sons. Source: 1920 Federal Census
Date unknown, moves to Denver, where his brother Harry Michael lived with his wife Anna Daley.
~Mar 1928 returns to Joliet. Source: Death notice Joliet Evening Herald News. Does not mention Adie or their 2 boys in Ottawa. Reads: "left this city 15 years ago to make his home in Denver, Colorado. He returned to Joliet 8 months ago."
Oct 12,1928 Joliet IL, dies of "paralytic stroke suffered 3 days ago" at St. Joseph's Hospital. Source: Death notice Joliet Evening Herald News
Oct 16, 1928 Joliet IL, buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery. According to a family member, the tombstone was paid for by his oldest daughter, Alice, but is now broken and laying on the ground, possibly face down.
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