The Names We Share

Recently I have been fleshing out my SULLIVAN/HUFERD family trees to print copies for the upcoming SULLIVAN Family Reunion. In doing so, I have been making some fun little discoveries, like the fact that my Grandpa SULLIVAN's 1st cousin, Margaret SULLIVAN, was married to a U.S. Representative. Pictured above: Portrait from the wedding of Margaret SULLIVAN and Neil LINEHAN, June 30, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois.   Pictured above: Neil J. LINEHAN Neil J. LINEHAN was elected as a Democrat to the 81st congress from 1949 to 1951, losing his reelection bid in 1950. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's third district. This district has been home to a significant Irish-American population for over 150 years. Numerous generations of my ancestors from different branches have lived in this district, including me. This district includes the Bridgeport neighborhood on the south side of Chicago.

My Grandma Sally was cherished dearly by my family. She was the step-mother of my paternal grandfather, Kenneth Dale BLUE. After the death of my great-grandfather, my grandparents visited her frequently, took care of her, and looked out for her. My father kept us in regular contact with her through phone calls and recorded messages on tape cassette. We visited her at her home in Florida in the summer of 1986. While I wish I had been able to know my Great-Grandma Hazel BLUE, Sally was our great-grandmother in every meaningful way and a very loved member of our family.    Saloma Barbara BROWN was born in Buffalo, New York, on September 27, 1906, to Wesley Whitfield BROWN and Ida Catherine (SNYDER) BROWN. Both her parents were born in Walpole, Ontario, Canada, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1904. Wesley was a carpenter and Ida was a homemaker. Sally, as the BLUE family knows her, grew up in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1925 with academic honors. A...

Below is the immediate family and descendancy of Walter Clarence BLUE (1883-1950), my 2nd great-grandfather. Living people are not listed for privacy. I have only included information I have personally verified through documents like census, birth, marriage, and death records. The photograph above is from the back of a law enforcement ID that belonged to Walter. He was 58 years old in this photo. That would mean the year was 1940 or 1941. This was shared with me by the great-great-grandson of Lestina ARCHER, Walter's wife at the time of this photo. Parents Father: Henry BLUE (1855-1927) Mother: Mary J DILLMAN (1861-1943) Siblings Delbert BLUE (1879-?) Ernest BLUE (1881-1951) Ada E BLUE (1888-?) Clare Celeste BLUE (1891-1953) Edith BLUE (1893-1968) Viola Mae BLUE (1897-1981) Spouses & Descendants Walter Clarence BLUE (1883-1950), m. Mabel Adelia WALKER (1886-1936), m. Lestina ARCHER (1886-1974) Kenneth W BLUE (1908-1977), m. Hazel HELENIUS (1910-1965), m. Saloma BROWN (1906-1994...

Over the years, I had been told my Grandpa Kenneth D. BLUE was born in Los Angeles, California, because his parents moved there so my Great-Grandpa Kenneth W. BLUE could go work for his dad who owned a funeral home. Stories like these are fascinating, but they are just stories until you find proof. Recently, I did a deep dive into the life of Walter Clarence BLUE, my 2nd great-grandfather. And I found proof that lends to the validity of that family story I had been told. When the census came around to Walter in January of 1920, he lived in Los Angeles and listed his occupation as undertaker at a mortuary. This verified the part of the story claiming Walter worked at a funeral home.  Walter Blue's 1920 U.S. Census record To lend to the part of the story that he was still working in this field when my grandpa was born in Los Angeles, his occupation on the 1930 U.S. Census was a funeral director. Also, he still lived in Los Angeles. Walter Blue's 1930 U.S. Census Record And about ...