St. Mary's Church History, 1900

On December 8, 1900, an article on St. Mary's Church History was published in the Evanston Index.  The newspaper article mentions the Connor family several times.

• Mr. and Mrs. James C. Connor, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Connor, Mr. and Mrs. John Connor...all settled in Evanston in the early 50s or before.
• The fine memorial windows were given by .... Mrs. J. C. Connor in memory of Mr. J. C. Connor....and Father Donahue, who gave a window in memory of Mrs. Margaret Connor, who owned the house adjoining the church and devoted a greater part of her time to acts of piety.

These mentions are highlighted with red arrows above.  To enlarge, click on newspaper image.

Source: Clipping from Evanston History Center, viewed February 17, 2012.

Tablet with Founders of St. Mary's Church

This newspaper article about the plaque hung in St. Mary's Church, Evanston, appeared in the Evanston Index on June 24, 1939.

Additional information on the plaque can be viewed on this blog at: Plaque Rubbing and Plaque Transcription.  To enlarge newspaper clipping, click on image.


Source: Evanston History Center files, accessed February 17, 2012

Townlands of Taghmon Parish

Information on the townland of the civil parish of Taghmon, c1853, can be found at this site.

Old Cemetery in Taghmon, Co. Wexford

When we were in Taghmon in August, 2011, we went to the main Catholic Cemetery, but realized it was too new, i.e., started in the 1950s or so.  We asked some individuals who were in the cemetery if they knew where the older one was.  They directed us to a cemetery behind St. Munn's.  St. Munn's is a Church of Ireland, but this section of the cemetery was supposed to be the Catholic section.

It was almost impossible to read any of the stones in the cemetery.

The factory near the church in the video is the Irish Pride Bakery.




Video: Elaine Beaudoin, August 1, 2011

St. Fintan's Church, Taghmon Town

The Connors are supposed to be from Taghmon, Co. Wexford.  This has not been proven.  If true, However, it is not known if it was the town of Taghmon or the Civil Parish.

The church in Taghmon Town, originally opened in 1872, was totally restored in 2010.  It's name is St. Fintan and it is on the main street of Taghmon town.

St. Fintan's Church, Taghmon

Plaque on the wall of church

As can be seen from the commemorative plaque, there was a Catholic church fund raising effort as early as possibly the 1850s.  During this time period, I believe the Connors were still in Ireland.

 
Photos: Elaine M. Beaudoin, August 1, 2011

Evanston City Directory, 1884

Members of the Connor family are listed in the Evanston, Illinois city directories.  In the next several posts, I have included pages from directories covering 1884-1937.  Since J. C. and Thomas Connor were business people in the community, in some of the directories their advertisements appear and have been included.  Also, in 1900 and 1937, a history of the town, as reported in the directory, is provided.

Connor entries from the 1884 Evanston, Illinois city directory.

To enlarge images, just double click on each.
Source: Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois

Evanston City Directory, 1892

Connor entries from the 1892 Evanston City Directory.

Double click on images to enlarge.
Sources: Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois