MICHAEL "HARRY M" O'CONNELL JR
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| Left to Right: John with Harry and Annie in front of their Lunch Room, Denver CO, date unknown |
OVERVIEW
Harry lived in Denver ~ 22 years from ~1907 to his death in 1929. Source: death certificate.
He was married to Anna "Annie" Frances Daley. She was born in Columbus OH in 1876. Source: death certificate
They married in ~1906. These dates are rough so it is possible they were married before moving to Denver.
It is not known where or how they met or where they married. There is no record of them having any children. In 1880 she lived in Missouri with her family. By 1900 she had moved out but her large family moved to Michigan then back to Missouri. She had at least 11 siblings. Many of her siblings never married nor had children. Source: 1880, 1900 Federal censuses
Around 1910, Anna ran a restaurant in Denver, named O"Connell's Lunch Room. There is a photo (date unknown) of them in front with Harry's brother John, who also lived in Denver from (1916 or 1920?) to 1928. It is unknown if he worked at the restaurant with them. Source: photo
Harry was a real estate agent but later worked as a "custodian" and "refiner" at the U.S. Mint. Although in 1917, he was ill and living with Annie in Eskdale CO. In 1918 he was still in Eskdale but listed his occupation as farming for himself. They eventually returned to Denver.
In 1920, Harry worked as a "refiner" for the U.S. Mint but Annie showed no occupation. He died in 1929. She remained in Denver through at least 1940. She moved to Missouri and died in Jackson in 1947 but had her body shipped to Denver to be buried with Harry. Source: mortuary record
TIMELINE
Sept 27, ~1873 Joliet IL, Michael was born. (The 1880 census shows him as 4 years younger than sister Kate and 2 years older than brother Dennis. Kate was born in August 1869. Dennis was born in April 1875.) Source: 1880 Census for year and death certificate for month and day
1889-1890, 722 S Joliet St, Joliet IL, occupation "printer" and living next door to his widower father. Source: Joliet City Directory (no copy)
~1906, location unknown, marries Anna Daley.
1910 - 4650 Sheridan Blvd, Denver CO. His occupation is Real Estate Agent and she is Proprietor of a Lunch Room. This is the first marriage for both and Annie had no children. They own their home. His age shown as 36 and hers as 34. Source: photo and 1910 Federal Census
1915 Denver CO. He works in "custodian service" for the U.S. Mint. Salary is $600/yr. His birth year is listed as 1883 but that is not correct. He is required to sign an Oath of Office to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States". Source: 1915 US Mint records
May 18 1917 Eskale CO, Harry sends letter to Mint stating he is ill and will be living in Eskdale CO "c/o Wendelen" where his wife will care for him. Source: 1917 Mint Records and letter
Sept 12 1918 registered for WWI draft from Eskdale CO, "Adams County". Eskdale was in SE Morgan County. It does not appear to exist anymore as a postal address. The stamp on the draft card shows Morgan County. (Denver is in Adams County.) Occupation shown as "farming" for "himself". Birthdate is shown as Sept 27 1876 and age 42. This birth year and age do not agree with other records. Source: draft record
Dec 12, 1918 Denver CO Harry is re-hired as a "helper" at the Mint at a salary of $4/day. He signs another "Oath". Source: 1918 Mint records
1920 - 4650 Sheridan, Denver CO Harry's occupation is "refiner" at Denver Mint. Annie's occupation is "none". Source: Federal census
May 31, 1929 Denver CO Harry dies. Family legend is that he contracted pnueumonia while shoveling snow. But it is not clear if that was the cause of his 1917 illness or his death. Cause of death is difficult to read on his death certificate but appears to be "epilepsy". It is unknown if he suffered from this during his life. His birth year is shown as Sept 1875 but this is not possible because his brother Dennis was born and baptized in April and May 1875. Source: Harry's death record and Dennis's baptism records.
June 3, 1929 Denver CO He is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Harry's death record and FindaGrave
1930 - 4696 Tennyson St Denver CO, Annie's occupation is "cashier" at dry goods store. She owns the house but is renting out part of it to a married couple. Source: Federal census
193? Denver CO. Two of Annie's widowed sisters, Florence Daley Strauss and Maude C. Daley Messmer move to Denver and share a house in 1940. Florence and Maude were both widowed at young ages and lived with Florence's mother-in-law in Toledo OH in 1930. These sisters did not appear to have any children. I cannot locate any later information on them. Source: 1930 and 1940 Federal censuses
1940 - 4650 Sheridan Blvd, Denver CO, Annie's occupation is "seamstress" at a "sewing project". She owns the home. Source: Federal census
194? Annie moves to Jackson MO, where four unmarried siblings lived together. It is not known if she lived with the siblings. Source: 1940 Federal census
1947 Jackson city, Cape Girardeau County MO, Annie dies but has her body shipped back to Denver and buried next to Harry. Source: death record and FindaGrave
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