Nell Madigan Sullivan's 140th Birthday

Nell Madigan, c1900

Ellen “Nell” Madigan Sullivan was born in Chicago, Illinois 140 years ago today on May 29, 1880. The second oldest of seven children of Irish immigrants, Patrick Madigan (c1850-1890) and Bridget “Bessie” Thompson/Thomas (1852-1935) both from County Limerick, she grew up on the west side of Chicago. When she lost her Dad of pneumonia at only 10 years of age, her Mom was pregnant with her sixth sibling. It must have been a most difficult time for the family.  She would eventually meet the love of her life, John J. Burke 

John J. Burke, 1900

and get engaged, 

Engagement ring, three opals in a gold setting

but sadly before they married, he also died of pneumonia. Life went on and she then met her future husband, Alexander Aloysius Sullivan (1880-1956) 

Cropped from a photo with Claude Cooley c1907 on Filmore Street, Chicago

and married on 20 August 1907 at St. Agatha Church in Chicago. She had two children, Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996)

Thomas A. Sullivan c1909

 and Helen May Sullivan (1914-2008). 

Helen M. Sullivan c1916

Around 1918, Al and Nell bought a two flat home further west in Chicago at 18 N. Latrobe Avenue where they lived the rest of their lives. 

18 N. Latrobe, c1933

Her daughter and family moved into the first floor flat in 1949 and lived there until 1967 with Al dying in 1956 and Nell passing away in 1966. Nell Madigan Sullivan lived a happy life in adulthood involved in her church at St. Thomas Aquinas, her bridge club and watching after her family. I had the pleasure of living with my grandparents for most of my childhood, moving into my grandmother’s apartment when her husband died. Rest in Peace, Nellie, your are still much loved.

Sources: Information collected by Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin in her genealogy research. www.McIntyreGenealogy.com. Photos: In the collection of Elaine M. Beaudoin.

How did Al and Nell Sullivan Meet?

From The Story of a Lifetime: The Personal Memoirs of Helen Sullivan McIntyre:

How did your mother and father meet?  How long did they know each other before getting married?  What do you know about their courtship and wedding?

(My parents met) At St. Ignatius Hall across the street from Holy Family Church (in Chicago).  My Father went there every weekend.  They had dances and he loved to dance.  My Mother was engaged to John Burke.  He became sick and was in the hospital, so one Saturday night she went to St. Ignatius Hall with a friend of hers and her friend's boyfriend.  My Father saw her from across the room and thought she was the most beautiful girl in the place.  He asked her to dance, she did and he fell in love with her.  He wanted to date her but she told him she was engaged and wouldn't go out with him.

He kept pestering her to date him.  She said he was a pain in the neck! Then sadly John Burke died and she eventually dated my Father and she fell in love too.  They went to dances and saw all the good plays in town.  They had fun and were married about a year or so later.

John J. Burke, 1900

Nell Madigan was engaged once before she married Alex Sullivan. Her first fiance was John J. Burke who died c 1905. Her engagement ring was configured with three jade stones. It has been passed down through the family. John was a good looking young man as can be seen in the photo.  The back of the photo reads: "John J. Burke, February 14, 1900."  I have been unable to determine anymore about John Burke as there are a number of individuals in Chicago with the same name and approximate age.

Nell Madigan's engagement ring

The opal engagement ring was given by John J. Burke to Nell Madigan over a hundred years ago.