Eugene
William Sullivan born near Reen Townland, Parish of Templenoe, Kenmare, Co.
Kerry abt 1838 died Monroe, Green Co., WI 1886 &
Mary O'Sullivan born Reen Townland, Parish of Templenoe, Kenmare, Co.
Kerry before 3 Apr 1839 died Chicago 1893
 One account says that Eugene William Sullivan
(pictured at right) left Ireland
at the age of 19 (other accounts say 16). He worked first as a section hand on the railroad, later in a saloon, as a tax collector and as a notions and linen merchant traveling a route from Belvidere to Janesville,
WI in a fancy wagon. Eugene died 1 Aug 1886 at the age of 49 (per his grave marker) and is buried in St. James Cemetery, Belvidere with his wife Mary who died 23 May
1893 (age 54), son Maurice (1868-1879) and dtr Kate (1863-1899).  Birth and Baptismal Certificate (rec'd by HSMcK dated 23 Sept
1983) "Diocese of Kerry, Parish of Kenmare, on examination of the Register of Baptisms of above Parish, I certify that according to it Mary Sullivan
(pictured at left) was born on
__ day of _____, and was baptised according to the Rites of the Catholic Church on 3rd of April, 1839 in the Church of Kenmare, Co Kerry by the Rev. D. Hely, Parents Roger Sullivan, Reen, Kenmare, Co Kerry; Catherine Foley; Sponsors John Coffey, Mary Foley; signed Daniel Long, P.P., Kenmare, given this 23rd day of Sept, 1983 at Kenmare."
Extract from the Marriage Register Parish of Kenmare, Diocese of Kerry, Co. Kerry,
Ireland shows that Roger Sullivan and Catherine Foley, Killowen, were married in the Church of Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland according to the Rite of the Catholic Church, on the 26th day of January, 1837. The Witnesses were Timothy Sullivan and Daniel Sullivan.
Witnesses were often the fathers or brothers of the bride and groom.
1893 May 27, Chgo Trib - Those Who Have Passed Away, Mrs. Mary Sullivan's
Funeral - The funeral services of Mrs. Mary Sullivan were held at St. Malachi's
Church yesterday morning at 8 o'clock, interment being at Belvidere, Illinois.
Mrs. Sullivan was 54 years old and was the widow of Eugene Sullivan and the
mother of Roger C. Sullivan, Clerk of the Cook County Probate Court; Boetious H.
Sullivan, Surveyor-General of South Dakota; and Mark L. Sullivan of this city.
1893 May 31,
Belvidere Standard - The remains of Mrs. Mary Sullivan, widow of Eugene
Sullivan, were brought here from Chicago Friday afternoon for burial in the
Catholic cemetery (St. James). The three sons, Roger and Mark of Chicago, and
Boetius of S. Dakota, with a large concourse of friends, accompanied the remains
here. Many handsome floral pieces were presented by the sorrowing friends.
Roger Sullivan who enlisted in the RIC in 1832 (see the
following record) is the right
age to be Mary's father. The original record should be looked at to learn
more: Ireland, The Royal Irish Constabulary 1816-1921, Name: SULLIVAN, ROGER,
Birth Date/Age: 24, Birthplace: Kerry, Marriage or Comments: Y, Enlisted: 1832, Film: 856057, Page: 119
Griffith's Valuation, which took place in Co. Kerry, Barony of
Dunkerron South, in 1851-1852, shows the following which I interpret to mean
that Roger Sullivan held land as a tenant of Edward Langford and sublet some of
it to Thomas Husband, Thomas McCarthy and John McCarthy. The Roger
Sullivan listed was either Mary's father or brother.
16 THOMAS HUSBAND, Lessor ROGER SULLIVAN, REEN Townland, TEMPLENOE
Parish, Co. Kerry
17 THO. M'CARTHY (BORES), Lessor ROGER SULLIVAN, REEN Townland, TEMPLENOE Kerry
18 JOHN M'CARTHY (KELLY), Lessor ROGER SULLIVAN, REEN Townland, TEMPLENOE
Parish, Kerry
19 ROGER SULLIVAN, Lessor EDWARD LANGFORD, REEN Townland, TEMPLENOE
Parish, Kerry
Because the surname Sullivan is so common in Ireland, Mary's family was called
the Sullivan Rogers to distinguish them from the others.
Roger Sullivan and Kitty Foley had children in addition to
Mary. Family tradition says that Mary visited a brother in Chicago when
she came to the U.S. His name may have been Mark (don't know what happened
to him, other than that he was said to have been originally buried in Lincoln
Park cemetery). Mary also had a brother Cornelius (known as "Connie
Roger", who remained in Reen. We rediscovered his descendants there
about 1968. She also had a brother Roger whose will left her
$1,000
Click here for Clare Sullivan's (a grand-daughter of
Eugene and Mary) letter about the Sullivans.
Bessie Sullivan, Belvidere historian, showed HSMcK city waterworks corner of Whitney and Meadow and Locust and said first Sullivan (Eugene's) home was here
(pictured at right, we think). Bessie Sullivan had a clipping for the Republican Northwestern (weekly edition of Republican for the farm community) for 19 Aug 1913 which said Roger C. was born on South State St.
(Belvidere).
14 Apr 1925 news article said Roger C. Sullivan was born in a home standing on the "present site of Tim's Confectionary Store on South State street."
Bessie told HSMcK that Kiley says that RCS was born where the present waterworks are (Whitney & Meadow). Emmett Sullivan (Bessie's brother, only a very distant relative to us through James Dailey's mother, a Sullivan, says Rockford Gene) says Boetious from Plankinton, SD (Eugene William's oldest son) paid the taxes on a lot with a building on it on State St. and that the location was later the Harnish McCarton bldg and now (1979) houses a knitting shop. Bessie and Emmett also said that their impression was that the Sullivans had a sort of tavern or pub and the family ran it themselves and lived above it.
Timeline:
1860 - Eugene shows up in both (listed with wife Mary and son Botius) Milton, Rock County, WI census 28 June 1860 and Belvidere, Boone County, IL census listed next to Cornelius Sullivan and his wife Mary Cornell Sullivan
1870 - Can't find Eugene in 1870 census yet
1880 - Eugene and family living in Belvidere. Roger & Boetious are listed at home in Belvidere in 1880 census, but also they are in Chicago and South Dakota, respectively, so they had probably already left home.
1881 & 1882 - wholesale liquor bills confirm Sullivans are running a tavern.
1883 - Boetious pays taxes on Belvidere property.
1886 - Eugene dies in Monroe, Greene County, WI; one notice mentions 790 Fulton St., Chicago as home address
1893 - Mary dies in Chicago, 512 Walnut St. duplex
Photo (left) is Mary O'Sullivan Sullivan (1839-1893)
Photo (left) is Mary's three oldest children (of nine). Left to right:
Boetious Henry (1859-1910), Roger Charles (1861-1920) and John J. (1862-1941)
Info Wish List -
- Need to find ships which brought Eugene & Mary to U.S. in mid-1850s;
perhaps they emig. through Canada which may make them even harder to find
- For some reason, two death certs were issued for Eugene. Need to
check them both out.
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One account says that Eugene William Sullivan
(pictured at right) left Ireland
at the age of 19 (other accounts say 16). He worked first as a section hand on the railroad, later in a saloon, as a tax collector and as a notions and linen merchant traveling a route from Belvidere to Janesville,
WI in a fancy wagon. Eugene died 1 Aug 1886 at the age of 49 (per his grave marker) and is buried in St. James Cemetery, Belvidere with his wife Mary who died 23 May
1893 (age 54), son Maurice (1868-1879) and dtr Kate (1863-1899). 
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