52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Dennis O’Connell
This week we move from my father’s maternal line, to his paternal side of the family.
Dennis O’Connell was born on 6 Sep 1883 to John O’Connell and Bridget Curran. He was baptized in Middle Granville, NY on 16 Sep 1883 his sponsors were Edward and Mary Leonard. Though Dennis was not the first born child, he was the first born son and was appropriately named after his paternal grandfather Denis Connell. If you have Irish ancestors, I am certain that you have come across a confusing family or two based on the naming pattern.
Dennis was one of 7 children born to this family. Two years after his youngest sister was born, he lost his mother. Dennis’ father did not remarry until all the children were grown.
Dennis married Rosa May Springer on 27 Feb 1905 in Berlin, Coos, New Hampshire.
Dennis had a few different jobs while in New York; he worked for the quarry in Hudson Falls, and he was a papermaker at the Hudson Falls Paper Company.
Dennis and Rose raised their family in various towns in New York, although their first born was born in New Hampshire. In 1917, Dennis left the family and moved to Canada for reasons unknown (at least I do not know). The children continued to reside with Rose in New York while Dennis forged a new life in Thorold, Ontario, Canada.
After moving to Canada, Dennis started working for the Canadian Paper Company where he worked for the rest of his life. Though he left the family while they were young, photo’s show that his children came to see him. Ambrose actually lived there for some time (he had a son born there and his second marriage was there).
Dennis died Nov. 1950 and his body was shipped back home to Hudson Falls, where he is buried along side his father, step mother and a few siblings.
