-----Original Message----- From: Gerry and Nancy Walsh <gmwalsh@gte.net> To: ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com <ILFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, June 26, 1999 7:41 PM Subject: [ILFORD-L] Conley family >While in the Chicago area we drove to Kankakee, to find the birth record of my grandfather. Their records only go back to 1878, so I wonder if there is any other way of finding out the information I am seeking, namely his parents name. >His name is Cornelius J. Conley, was born in Chebanse Nov. 30, 1868. >We did drive to Chebanse and found St.Mary and St. Joseph Church, but no one was around. I don't know how long he lived there, he did go to Chicago, and worked for the Commonwealth Edison Co. While searching the Kankakee records we did find some Conley names that were changed from Conolly. >Would like some information of where to search next. >Thank you Nancy Conley Walsh St Petersburg Fl. > Petersburg Fl. > Hi Nancy– If you'll pardon another Floridian from making some suggestions, I'd like to make a few comments. Chebanse is on the county line between Kankakee and Iroquois counties. If I remember correctly, the church is in Iroquois County. Your Conleys may have lived in either county. The church of St. Mary and Joseph was established at about the same time as the birth noted. The History of Iroquois County (1880) says it was established in 1867 or 1868 [p.340 pt.II] Prior to that it was a mission of the L'Erable church. I reviewed the old records [1856-1879] of St. John the Baptist Church of L'Erable and there is a very interesting marriage noted on 3 Dec 1867. There is an entry that date of a marriage of Joseph Kenaly (Conley?Connoly?) To Amy Applebee (Appleby?). by Fr. Pernin. (No witness given) [Fr. Pernin was in charge of the mission at Chebanse.] [As to the spelling, remember we have french priests writing Irish names in Latin and phonetically and the condition of the records and the writing are exceedingly difficult to decipher.] The 1870 census for Kankakee County has a Thomas Conley in Pilot township which is west and north of Chebanse. The southeast corner of Pilot township is about five miles directly west of Chebanse. His wife's name is Mary and there are six children listed from 1/12, to 10 years of age, in order from oldest to youngest: John, Thomas, William, Harriet, Katie, and Patrick. The 1870 census for Iroquois County lists two Conleys: Dennis Conley on page 60 of Chebanse township, family #455; and a Patrick Conley on p. 59 of Douglas township, which is the third township south from Chebanse, as family # 432. There is also a Michael Connah in Chebanse township and a Hiram Connel in Middleport township which is quite a distance away. The only Conley that I note in the 1880 Iroquois county census is John W. Conley in Danforth township which is the second township south of Chebanse township. Others are Hugh and James C. Connell from south Iroquois County; Edward, Patrick and Mary L. Connelly, also from Sheldon and Loda townships in the more southerly parts of the county. There is a James Cooney from Chebanse. I found no births listed in Iroquois county at the right time period. There is a child born to John W. Conley and Mary Grey in 1884 and a boy to Eli Conley and Nellie White in 1910. In 1878, there is a child born to William Connell and Birdget Bradley. Also in 1880, a child to Edward Connely and Kate Omelia. The History of the Early Settlement of Chebanse Township did not list any Conleys, only two Conways. There are other references in the L'Erable book which may be of interest. John Connoly and Julie Sashville were the Godparents at the 11 Jan 1869 baptism of Catharine Costagan (Costigan) by Fr. Clement; 26 Dec 1868 born to Daniel Costagan (Costigan) and Maria Sullivan of Chebanse Also–17 Jul 1860 baptism of Maria Callon by Fr. VandePoel; 17 Jun 1860 born to John Callon and Anne Comley. Godparents: Patrick Nonne and Cathrine Vendre. Also–29 Sep 1867 baptism at Loda of Mary Hellen (Helen) Callahan by Fr. Pernin; 21 Sep 1867 born to John Callahan and Ann Coneley (Conley?). Godparents: Charles McLaughlin and Ann Wilson. [the spelling and ?? are from the text of the translation.] Have you tried Commonwealth Edison personnel records? This was a quick skim of my books so I could have missed some of the applicable names but maybe something in the above will give you an idea. Byron Wallace in Lehigh Acres (Ft Myers)