In the process of doing genealogy over the years many documents, stories, photos and artifacts have been collected. Blogs are a good way to share all of this. Thirteen family group blogs have been included which represent eleven of my family groupings and two of the Batke family, ancestors of my nephew-in-law. In addition, there is a blog which highlights my days in grammar school at St. Thomas Aquinas, especially the class of 1960. Representing the other end of my life, there is a blog for the DePaul Emeritus Society at DePaul University, where I spent 38 years as an employee. I hope you enjoy "flipping" through the blog posts. Please feel free to add your comments, suggest new information or just enjoy the images and stories. Note that all the family group blog URLs also have been embedded within the information for specific individuals identified on this website.
  • Lawrence F. McIntyre and Helen M. Sullivan Lawrence (1913-1995) was born and died in Chicago. He met Helen (1914-2008), also a Chicagoan, in the early 1930s and they married in Chicago in 1937. This blog covers their lives as well as the lives of their siblings. Helen and Larry are buried in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
  • Thomas J. McIntyre and Ellen Agnes Walsh Thomas (1878-1939) and Ellen (1881-1941) were both born in County Sligo, Ireland. He in Lislea and she in Knockahoney, townlands which were less than a mile apart. They immigrated separately, marrying in Chicago, Illinois in 1910, the year Thomas became a citizen. They spent the rest of their lives in Chicago raising five children. They are both buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
  • Alexander A. Sullivan and Ellen T. Madigan Born in Chicago, Alexander (1880-1956) and Ellen "Nellie" (1880-1966) lived their entire lives in the City. They married in 1907, raising two children. They are both buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
  • Lawrence McIntyre and Mary Ginty Lawrence (1854-c1931), born on the McIntyre farm in Lislea, County Sligo, married Mary (1850-c1930) from Carrowbeg, County Mayo in 1877. They lived in Lislea on the McIntyre farm raising three daughters and a son. It is believed both are buried in Ireland.
  • Patrick McIntyre and Bridget Stevens Patrick (c1831-1901) was born in Lislea, County Sligo, He married Bridget Stevens (1833-1908) from the same area in Ireland in 1851. They immigrated to the United States in 1863 settling first in San Francisco and eventually homesteading in Oregon. They died in Oregon and are buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
  • John Walsh and Bridget Cawley John (c1830-b1901) and Bridget (c1840-1919) were both born in County Sligo, Ireland where they lived their entire lives. Both were from the townland of Knockahoney and their family farms bordered each other. They raised nine children in Ireland.
  • Philip J. Sullivan and Ellen Connor Philip (1840-1915) was born in Dennbawn, County Cavan and Ellen (1843-1919) was born in County Wexford, Ireland, most likely in the townland of Tottenhamgreen. The Connor family bible, held by Charles and Lori Reiss, notes Ellen was from "Tottem Green" in County Wexford. Since there is no townland with that name, it is belived she was from Tottenhamgreen. From what can be determined, the Sullivan name was spelled Soraghan while in Ireland. They both immigrated with respective family members in the mid-1850s and married in 1865, in Chicago, Illinois. After living in Chicago, they moved to Evanston c1909 where they lived the remainder of their lives. They had 10 children, one dying in infancy. Philip and Ellen are buried in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois.
  • Patrick Soraghan and Rose Corcoran Patrick (c1794-bet1874/1915) was born in Dennbawn, County Cavan, Ireland. Rose (c1805-1874) was born in Drumbarry, County Cavan, just a couple of miles from Dennbawn. Although Rose's last name is recorded variously as Leddy, McCabe and Corcoran, it is believed her last name was Corcoran. In Dennbawn, the name Sullivan is spelled Soraghan, but when each of the Soraghan boys came to the US, they used the Sullivan spelling. Patrick and Rose had 10 known children with most of them coming to the US. Rose died in Ireland and it is believed Patrick did also.
  • James Connor and Anastasia Colfour James (1818-1897) and Anna (1821-1884) were both born in County Wexford. It is believed Anna's last name was likely spelled Colfer, but the only record found in the US shows the Colfour spelling. They married in Ireland in1842, and immigrated to the US in the mid-1850s. They raised 8 known children, with the first four born in Ireland. They spent the rest of their lives in the US living in Evanston, Illinois and are buried in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston.
  • Patrick Madigan and Bridget Thompson Patrick (c1850-1890) was most likely born in Coonagh, County Limerick, Ireland and Bridget (1852-1935) was born in Limerick City, County Limerick. They met in the US and married in Chicago in 1878. They had seven known children, with two dying as teenagers. They lived in various parts of Chicago and are both buried in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois.
  • John Thompson and Bridget Reidy John (c1831-1904) and Bridget (c1831-1900) were both born in County Limerick, Ireland, -- most likely in or near the City of Limerick. They married there c1851 with John immigrating c1865 and Bridget following with several of the children in 1866. They had 8 known children, with six living to adulthood. The last two children were born in Chicago where the family lived the remainder of their lives. John used the last name Thompson and Thomas interchangeably, but in his later years used Thomas exclusively. John and Bridget are buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, on the southside of Chicago. The graves have no headstones.
  • Thomas A. Sullivan and Margaret M. Carmody Thomas (1908-1996) was born in Chicago, Illinois and died in Venice, Florida. He married Margaret in 1929 in Chicago. Margaret (1910-1982) was born in Chicago and died in Oak Brook, Illinois. Thomas married two more times to Dorothy M. Sprafka Cutrera (1914-1992) and Lorraine Cooper Rankin (1913-2007). Thomas is the brother of Helen Sullivan McIntyre and the uncle of the owner of this website.
  • Henry Batke and Katherine Reck Henry (1877-1949) and Katherine (1890-1979) are great-grandparents of my nephew-in-law but through research are treated as part of the family. Though of German heritage, they were born in Chortitza, Ukraine, Russia, married in Russia in 1910 and immigrated to Canada in 1912. They homesteaded in Saskatchewan, Canada before traveling to Alabama and eventually settled in St. Joseph, Michigan. They raised eight children and are buried in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph, Michigan.
  • Martin Batke and Anna Lock Little is known of Martin (c1948-c1912) who appears to have died in Russia before his son Henry immigrated. Anna (c1848-1939) traveled with her children to Canada and it is believed she died in Canada. They had five known children. Although this family is not related to me by blood, they represent the great, great-grandparents of my nephew-in-law and have been included in the family tree.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas Grammar School This site started out to include photos and memories from my eight years as a student at St. Thomas Aquinas grammar school and was created in preparation of our 50th school reunion in 2010. Since then, two reunions have occured and information from other classes has been incorporated. The parish is now called St. Martin de Porres and encompasses several of the parishes on the west side of Chicago.
  • DePaul Emeritus Society When I retired, after 38 years of service to DePaul University, I became involved with the various retiree groups. In 2008, the DePaul Emeritus Society was created encompassing both faculty and staff retirees. To honor those who have served the university, this blog was created. It also includes event news and items of interest to current DePaul retirees.
  • Alaskan Trip 2012 Planning and sharing the Alaskan cruise with extended family members was a grand experience. As one of the grand nieces wrote on her Facebook page when she returned home - "It was the best trip of my life!" To that I say ditto.