Greetings from Streator, In terms of migration trails, Streator and Virden are next door neighbors. Jackson County, Minnesota is another such neighbor. Many early obituaries have the notice "arrangements incomplete until relatives arrive from Virden (or Thayer)." Immaculate Conception is the "Irish" church in town, Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Eagle Township church) is the other Irish church. There was also St. Mary's in Kangley. Many miners lived in Kangley, but considered Streator their home town. The Guild in Ottawa has the records for the Eagle Church and St. Mary's. The Immaculate Conception church and rectory, commonly called St. Mary's, is at 404 North Park Street. I don't have Redfarin's, but do have a few Redfern's on my FTM. What are the first names and dates that you are looking for. Joanie Amine Chaar wrote: > > Could someone please tell me if there was a Catholic Church in Streator > that most of the Irish Catholics went to? > I have found many discrepancies in my records. My Courtney/Redfarin's > of whom I thought were from Marion County, Illinois > appear to have been born in Streator circa 1890's. William Redfairn & > Mary Courtney were married in Salem, Marion County in 1889. I have found > them in Virden, Macoupin County Federal Census in 1900. But on an obit. > it states that before moving to Virden they were from Streator. On > death cert it states that some of these Redfairn/Courtney children were > born in Streator. > Of course there is not 1890 census to check and I have not been able to > find most birth records, so I figured I'd check the churches. > Both Redfairn & Courtney families were coal miners. I did find Mary > Courtney's family in Colorado working in a coal mine on the 1880 > census. The Courtney's were Irish Immigrates. > Thanks, Gwen > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237