Biography of Owen J. Gallagher of Gillespie, Illinois

	Wayne's World of History and Genealogy

Family History

Owen Joseph Gallagher
Coal Miner
By : James Hendry Photo of Owen Joseph Gallagher

Owen Joseph Gallagher
Son of James and Mary Sarah ( nee Quinn) Gallagher

Born : April 3, 1883
at 50 James St., Carlton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland,

Married : Bridget "Delia" Gallagher on February 2, 1914

He worked as a Coal Loader & Miner for Superior Coal Company

Died : June 20,1949, in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

Burial : Gillespie Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

He emigrated to the United States in 1909, landing in New York, ( unable to find him on 1910 Census )
He settled in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois; as as indicated on the 1920 & 1930 census's for him here.
I also have his 1914 Declaration of Intent Naturalization is recorded in Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois.
His 1917 Petition for Naturalization¹ in 1917 is recorded in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois.

He states on the 1920 census "age 34", this would make the 'Year Of Birth' 1886,
Year Of Birth' is also 1885-6 on NaturalizationPapers; but I have his Birth Certificate for 1883.

       Immigrated to Elizabeth [? Port Elizabeth ?], New Jersey first, then moved to Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois, United States of America in 1910.
       Before sailing he stayed in Mullaghdubh, sometimes spelled as Mullaghduff, across the bay from Kincasslagh in Donegal, he then sailed from Londonderry, Ireland on the "S.S. Furnessia" on the 7th May of 1910 and arrived New York.
       His naturalization paper's gives a false age (e.g. born 1885 instead of 1883), also states he was married to Bridget/Delia, who was born Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland, her age 28 but Date of Birth is circa1886.

       Owen married Bridget Gallagher on February 2, 1914 in Gillespie at S. S. Simon & Jude RC Church, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois
Owens's wife was Bridget, why the Delia I don't know, but she was born Bridget, maiden name also Gallagher,
                     She was born June 11, 1886, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland (Near to Letterkenny)
                     She died May 15, 1930 in St Francis Hospital, Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois.
Owen & Bridget "Delia" (nee Gallagher) Gallagher had a son, James. P. Gallagher, born on June 27, 1915
I have their son James's Baptismal Certificate for September 18, 1915, this also performed at S. S. Simon & Jude RC Church, Gillespie, See : Gallagher Photograph Album

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List or Manifest of Alien Passengers For the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival
S. S. "Furnessia" sailing from Londonerry , 7^th May , 1910
Arriving at port of New York ; 16 May , 1910

passenger list

Page 1, Line 14 :
14; Gallagher, Owen; 27; V; M; M; Gen Lab; Yes; Yes; British; Irish; Ireland; Kincasslagh;
                  Wife Mrs. Gallagher / Mullagtaph, Kincasslagh; N J; Elizabeth
Page 2, Line 14 :
14; NY; brother-in-law; yes; 12; no; -; -; brother-in-law, Matt Rogers / 757 Brunswick Ave, Elizabeth;
                  no; no; no; no; good; no; 5; 9; fair; grey; none, Ireland; Kincasslagh

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Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry
HGS S. 3 S. "California" (Anchor) arrived April 11, 1910 , 190    , M , from

detention certificate

Lines 16 & 17 :
55f; Gallagher, Bridget, + son; 60 8/9; 2; LPC; Med Cert. -; 2.55; Sullivn; -; -; -; -; -; -; 4/11 24; Lod; ____
24m, Owen

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Declaration Of Intention to become a citizen of the United States of America February 10, 1914

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Marriage Register S. S. Simon & Jude Church Gillespie, Illinois February 23, 1914 Owen Gallagher, of Gillespie Son of James Gallagher & Marie Quinn & Bridget Gallagher, of Gillespie Daughter of Denis Gallagher & Mary Ferry Witness : John Campbell & others By : John Crosson

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1920 US Census
Gillespie, Macoupin Co., IL.

Gallagher, Owen J age 34

Gallagher, Delia Fr age 30

Gallagher, James P age 4 1/2

       Address:
              Chestnut Street, Gillespie, IL.

1930 US Census
Gillespie, Macoupin Co., IL.

Gallagher, Owen J., age 44, b. abt 1886 Scotland, Imm. 1909

           , Delia, age 40, wife, b.abt 1890 Ireland, Imm. 1909

           , James, age 14, son, b. abt 1915 IL

           ,James A., age 38, Brother, b. abt 1892 Scotland, Imm. 1920.

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Owen J. Gallagher,
Dies in Hospital

      Owen Joseph Gallagher, a resident of Gillespie for many years and employed in the mines here, died in an Alton hospital Monday morning at 1 o'clock. he resided at 307 West Walnut street, Gillespie.
      Mr. Gallagher was 62 years of old last April 3. He was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, son of James and Mary Sarah Quinn Gallagher, and came to this country as a young man. His wife, Bridget, preceeded him in death on May 15, 1930 at Gillespie.
      A son, James and a brother, James A. Gallagher, both of Gillespie, survive. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Margaret Henry [Hendry] , in Scotland.
      The body was removed to the Union Funeral home, this city and services were held Wednesday morning at 9:30 o'clock with a regimen mass in SS. Simon & Jude church. Rev. George Hobbs, pastor officiated and burial was in Holy Cross cemetery.
      Pallbearers were nephews, Denis, James and Daniel McGrady; James and Dennis Feeley all of Gillespie and James Murray of chicago.

GALLAGHER

Delia 1888 - 1930		Owen J. 1883 - 1949

Bridget "Delia" (nee Gallagher) Gallagher
By : James Hendry

Bridget "Delia" Gallagher
Daughter of Denis & Mary ( nee Ferry ) Gallagher

Born : June 11, 1886, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland (Near to Letterkenny)

Married : Owen Joseph Gallagher on February 2, 1914
in Gillespie at S. S. Simon & Jude Church, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois.

Died : May 15, 1930 in St Francis Hospital, Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois.

Burial : Gillespie Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

Obituaries

The Gillespie News
Gillespie, Illinois
May 1930
DIED AT HOSPITAL
      Mrs. Delia Gallagher, 41, wife of Owen Gallagher, of this city, passed away at the St. Francis hospital in Litchfield, at 11:40 a. m. Thursday, May 15th, after a lingering illness for a number of weeks from heart trouble and complications.
      Surviving besides her husband is one son, James, age 12 years. she was one of a family of thirteen children. her parents resdided in Ireland, and three sisters who reside in this vicinity : Mrs. Hannah McGrady and Mrs Mary Seeley [Feeley] of Gillespie and Mrs. James Murray, of West Frankfort. A number of brothrs and sisters reside in New York.
      The remains were brought to the home in this city on West Walnut street and the funeral was held from the SS. Simon and Jude's Catholic church, Sunday, May 18th, at 2:30 p. m. Interment was at the Holy Cross cemetery.

Litchfield News-Herald
Litchfield, Illinois
May 15, 1930 Mrs. Delia Gallagher
Of Gillespie Dies
At Hospital Here

      Mrs. Delia Gallagher, 40, wife of Owen Gallagher of Gillespie, and well known resident of that city, died at St. Francis hospital, here this morning at 11:40 o'clock. Death followed an extended illness from heart trouble and complications. She had been a patient at the local hospital for the last five weeks.
      Surviving besides the husbandis one son, James, aged 12 years. Mrs. Gallagher was one of a family of thirteen children. Her parents are residing in Ireland, and three sisters are living in this vicinity, Mrs. Hannah McGrady and Mrs. Mary Seeley [Feeley] of Gillespie, and Mrs. James Murray of West Frankfort. A number of brothers and sisters live in New York.
      The body was removed to the Union Undertaking parlors in Gillespie and will later be taken to the home on West Walnut street. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Services will be held at the St. Simon and Jude's Catholic church.

James A. Gallagher
By : James Hendry

James A. Gallagher
Son of James and Mary Sarah ( nee Quinn) Gallagher

Born : October 9, 1886
at 56 Green St, Carlton, Glasgow., Lanarkshire, Scotland

Occupation : Coal Miner

Died : May 21, 1953², possibly in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

Burial : Gillespie Holy Cross Cemetery,
       Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

       Emigrated to United States of America in 1920, I guess to same place as his brother, Owen Gallagher, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois
       He sailed from Liverpool on the "SS Minnedossa" in 1920, arrived Buffalo, New York on the 6th of September 1920, It gives false year of birth on naturalization papers, (e.g. 1888, correct Date of Birth is 1886), states unmarried at the time on these papers.
       I guess he worked for the same company as Owen, but can't confirm it though.
       Family Legend has it he was voted "the Best Dressed Man in Tow" as recorded in the local paper, but unable to confirm this, or even when.

See : Gallagher Photograph Album - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Declaration Of Intention to become a citizen of the United States of America May 14, 1923

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James A. GALLAGHER photo

James A. GALLAGHER
1886 † 1953

See : Gallagher Photograph Album

James P. Gallagher
By : James Hendry James P. Gallagher

Born : June 27, 1915 in Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois
The son of Owen & Bridget "Delia" (nee Gallagher) Gallagher
Baptized : July 1, 1915 by Rev. J. Crosson
       at S. S. Simon & Jude Church, Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois
       Sponsors : Cornelius McGrady, Hannah McGrady
Military : Served in United States Army during World War II as Staff Sergeant.
       It seems as though James P. Gallagher shaved about 2 years off his birthday -- not uncommon.
       It also appears that James P. Gallagher was single when he served in WW II.
Died : March 9, 1977³

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Copy of Certificate of Baptism Church of S. S. Simon & Jude Church Gillespie, Illinois June 27, 1915 James Gallagher Child of Onie Gallagher & Bridget Gallagher Baptized on the 18th day of July, 1915 by the Rev. J. Crosson Sponsors : Cornelius McGrady & Hannh McGrady 04 - 27 - 06 [ April 27, 2006 ] Lawrence Auda, Pastor

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James P. GALLAGHER
"Wootsie"
1915 † 1977

James P. GALLAGHER
S Sgt US Army
World War II
Jun. 27, 1915 Mar. 9, 1977

See : Gallagher Photograph Album

Owen Joseph Gallagher	left side : Unknown right side : James P. Gallagher Son of Owen & Bridget "Delia" Gallagher
Gallagher Photograph Album circa 1915 - 1930 By : James Hendry
Owen J. Gallagher - James A. Gallagher	Owen J. Gallagher - James A. Gallagher

Sources :

¹ 1917 Petition for Naturalization, courtesy of Gloria from Macoupin County Genealogical Society

² Date of Death courtesy of Jarid Ott.

³ Social Security Death Index, Social Security Administration.

Certificates :
¹⁹¹⁰ 1910 Passenger Manifest
¹⁹¹⁰ 1910 Alien Detention List
¹⁹¹⁴ 1914 Owen J.. Gallagher's Naturalization Intention Declaration
¹⁹¹⁴ Owen & Bridget "Delia" (nee Gallagher) Gallagher Marriage Certificate in 1914.
¹⁹¹⁵ James P. Gallagher's 1915 Baptismal Certificate
¹⁹¹⁷ 1917 Owen J.. Gallagher's Petition for Naturalization
¹⁹¹⁷ Owen Joseph Gallagher's Draft Registration 1917-18
¹⁹²⁰ 1920 United States Census Returns.
¹⁹²³ 1923 James A. Gallagher's Naturalization Intention Declaration
¹⁹³⁰ 1930 United States Census Returns.
¹⁹³⁰ Bridget "Delia"'s 1930 Obituary from the Gillespie News,
¹⁹³⁰ Bridget "Delia"'s 1930 2nd Obituary from the, Litchfield News-Herald.
¹⁹⁴⁹ Owen Joseph Gallagher's 1949 Obituary

Additional GALLAGHER burial at :
Holy Cross Cemetery,
Gillespie, Macoupin County, Illinois

GALLAGHER

Leonard 1917 - 1936		Mary A. 1874 - 1954		Frank 1876 - 1946