Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan

Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan
Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan in backyard of 18 N. Latrobe, Chicago, Illinois c1937

About Alex Sullivan and Nell Madigan

About Alex Sullivan and Nell Madigan

Alexander Aloysius Sullivan was born on March 24, 1880 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the seventh of ten children born to Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) and Ellen Connor (1848-1919). Ellen "Nell" Theresa Madigan was also born in Chicago, the second of seven children born to Patrick Madigan (c1850-1890) and Bridget "Bessie" Thompson (1855-1935). They married at St. Agatha's Catholic Church on August 20, 1907. They raised two children, Thomas Aloysius born July 7, 1908 (See also Sullivan/Carmody Blog) and Helen Mae born March 11, 1914 (See also McIntyre/Sullivan Blog), on the west side of Chicago. Alex, or "Al" as Nell called him, was a steamfitter his whole life. Al worked for Mehring and Hanson located at Jefferson and Randolph in Chicago. Mehring and Hanson eventually became Hill Mechanical which is still in business in Chicago today. Nell raised the two children and was a homemaker her entire life. Al was almost six feet tall, which for his time was quite tall. Nell, on the other hand, was only about five-feet-two inches and in her older years much shorter than that! Al and Nell both died at their home located at 18 North Latrobe in Chicago, Al on January 26, 1956 and Nell, ten years later, on January 21, 1966.

Friday, May 29, 2020

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.