Continued from Charles and Margaret (O'Rourke) McNally, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Michael Rourke and Alice Cunningham of Killowen, County Down, Ireland, had at least seven children. Three of their daughters emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio. Let's discuss them first, since we have referred to them earlier in this series of articles.
Annie O'Rourke was baptized in Kilbroney in October 1849. The sponsors at her baptism were John and Sarah O'Rorke.1 By 1880 she was married to Thomas Feran, a teamster, who had been in Cleveland by 1874 and was living on Everett Street.2,3 Thomas died in 1890.4 Annie remained at 24 Everett until at least 1904.3 In 1910 she was living with her sister Margaret McNally at 1759 East 33rd.5 She died there in November of that year and is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery.6 She had no children.
Elizabeth "Bessie" O'Rourke was baptized in Kilbroney on Oct 30, 1851. The sponsors were James and Ellen Feran.1 She was living with the McNallys in 19207 She died Jan 30, 1924, at the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, but her listed residence was the McNally's. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery.8 She never married.
Margaret O'Rourke is not mentioned in the baptismal records of Rourkes in Kilbroney, but her death record states that she was born 18 Aug 1863, the daughter of Michael O'Rourke and Alice Cunningham. Since she is so closely associated with Annie, Bessie, and Michael J. O'Rourke, we can say that this is her family. Margaret died at home on April 26, 1927, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery.9 Margaret's family was discussed in the previous article in this series, referred to above.
Another child of Michael Rourke and Alice Cunningham, a son, Francis, settled in Peoria, Illinois. This is why the Peoria papers were asked to copy the death notice of Michael J. O'Rourke in 1919. See the first article, Michael O'Rourke, Killowen to Cleveland.
Francis was baptized August 5, 1843, in Kilbroney. The sponsors at his baptism were William Rorke and Ann Cunningham.1 By 1880 Francis was married and living in Peoria.10 His wife was Margaret Mary McDonough, born in County Mayo, the daughter of James Mcdonough and Ellen Day.11 There were four children listed on their censuses: Frank, William, Mary, and James. Francis died in Peoria on May 7, 1924.12
Michael Rourke and Alice Cunningham had a son William who apparently didn't emigrate. We will discuss him and his children next, as we find the ‘Chicago connection.'
Continued in Christina O'Rourke, Killowen to Chicago.