Patrick Connor Gravesite, Calvary Cemetery, Death notices

This is one of several multi-grave Connor gravesites in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois. It was purchased by Margaret Welsch Connor, Patrick's wife, on April 28, 1880 which is the date of Patrick Connor's burial. Patrick is the brother of James Connor. It has eight graves and is 160 square feet in size. There are eleven bodies buried in this plot. I have listed the names as they are typed on the grave card, which accounts for the various spellings of the last name. Where I know who they are, I have identified them in relationship to Patrick Connor (c1803-1880).  I have also listed the burials in chronological order. The site of the grave is Lot 44, Block 11, Section N.



-  Patrick Connor, buried April 28, 1880, self
-  Catherine Connors, 29 years old, removed from Rosehill Cemetery and buried at Calvary May 5, 1880, unknown relationship
-  Mary Connors, 6 months, removed from Rosehill Cemetery and buried at Calvary Mary 5, 1880, unknown relationship
-  Theresa Cosgrove, buried March 27, 1886, unknown relationship
-  Daniel Connor, August 25, 1888, 1 day old, unknown relationship
-  Thomas Connor, buried September 9, 1888, Patrick's brother
-  Margaret Connor, 66 years old, buried September 22, 1890, Patrick's wife
-  Catherine Connor, 90 years old, buried May 3, 1897, Patrick's sister
-  Bridget M. Connor, buried February 6, 1901, Patrick and Margaret's daughter
-  Edward Connor, buried June 23, 1923, Patrick and Margaret's son
-  James Connor, 68 years old, buried February 21, 1925, Patrick and Margaret's son

On three sides of the monument names and dates are etched.

Patrick Connor

Died

Mar 28, 1880

Aged 56 Years

Requium in Pacem

Thomas Connor

Died

Sept 28, 1888

Aged 84 Years

Miss Catherine

Connor

Died

May 1, 1897

Aged 94 Years

Death Notice Patrick Connor:
DIED
CONNOR -  At his residence on Lake St. on Sunday, March 27, 1880, Patrick Connor, aged 56 years, 3 months.
Evanston Index, April 10, 1880, page 2


Death Notice for Margaret Welsch Connor and Newspaper Article
Mrs. Margaret Connor
The remains of Mrs. Margaret Connor, who was killed by a train last Saturday were laid to rest at Calvary Monday morning.  Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Church, Fathers Donahue, Conway and Tonissi officiating.  Father Conway spoke feelingly of the loss sustained, not alone by the church, but by the entire community, in the death of Mrs. Connor. She had, he said, been one of the pillars of the church since its inception, thirty-seven years ago. At service last Sunday morning he had remarked the fact that her place was empty for the first time within his recollection.  She had been a hard working woman, burdened with the care of a family, her husband having been an invalid for ten years prior his death.  She had been faithful over a few things and had now gone to be made ruler over many things.
The church was filled with those gathered to pay respect to her memory and many beautiful floral pieces were presented.  The body was carried from the church by Messrs. Mathew Larkin, P. O'Neil, George Kearney, William Currey, Mathew O'Connor, and William Devine.  It was taken to its last resting place in Calvary Cemetery.
Evanston Index, September 29, 1890, page 2

A Shocking Accident
At 8:30 this morning, Mrs. Margaret Connor, well know to all old Evanstonians, was struck and instantly killed by a train on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Grove street and Benson avenue.   Mrs. Connor had just left St. Mary's Church, where she had been attending mass.  Going down Maple avenue to Grove street she started over town.  At the Benson avenue crossing she found the railroad guard gates down, but as a Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul train going south had just passed, she supposed the gates had been lowered for that, and that the gateman had been slow in raising them.  She walked around the guard and started across the Northwestern tracks, not noticing a train coming at full speed from the north.  The gateman saw her peril and rang his alarmbell as loudly as possible, but before she could get across the train was upon her.  The cow-catcher struck her, throwing her forty or fifty feet, breaking her neck and arm, bruising her in a shocking manner, and killing her instantly.  In an incredibly short space of time a crowd had gathered, and loving hands bore all that was mortal of the poor woman to Hebblethwaite's undertaking establishment.  The coroner was immediately notified, and an inquest will probably be held this afternoon.  No fault can be attached to the gateman for the accident, as his gates were down and his warning bell sounding.

Mrs. Margaret Connor was the widow of Patrick Connor.  She was born in County Wexford, Ireland, sixty-five years ago.  For the past thirty-five years her home has been in Evanston, where she had lived, loved and respected by all with whom she came in contact.  She leaves four children, James, John L., Edward F., and Bridget, all of whom are grown.

Mrs. Connor was a faithful and conscientious christian woman, indefatigable in her attendance on divine service,  true alike to her God and her church.  In speaking of her this morning Father Conway said: "Too much cannot be said of her christian character.  She was one of the founders of our church and has been untiring in her efforts to keep up its standard.  Unflagging in her devotion, she was a constant attendant on all services and was at mass but ten minutes before her sad death.  She was scrupulously honest and outspoken, disdaining subterfuge, but always kindly spoken and thoughtful of the feelings of others."

High mass will be celebrated by Fathers Conway and Donahue at St. Mary's Church Monday morning at 10 o'clock, after which the remains will be taken to Calvary Cemetery for interment by carriage.
The Evanston Review, September 20, 1890, page 5

Monument photographed August 4, 2009 by Elaine Beaudoin