Hi Cindi, You've got a real problem with the name Michael TOOMEY and Joliet. There are TWO Michael TOOMEY's of exactly the same age in the 1920 census One in Chicago age 55 b. Ire wife Anne,Michael naturalized 1891 the other Michael TOOMEY,Joliet,age 55,b. Ire wife Delia(nee Fahey married Will county 21 Apr 1891-just 4 yrs after the one you got). Joliet Michael came in 1890,naturalized in 1895. Then there's this Joliet City Directories 1884-1892 There appears to be two Michael Toomey's here also. 1887 first entry res. 1008 Collins,laborer 1888 res., 915 Columbia-laborer 1889-1890,res. 915 Columbia,teamster 1891=res. 915 Columbia,works for Lambert & Bishop Wire Fence Co. AND 1891-res. 411 Elwood,works for IL Steel Co. not to mention 1870 census chicago index lists THREE Michael TOOMEYs Might be hard to sort them out. You might have to get some death certs. or use other sources to pin point yours. The Irish in Joliet WHY? Joliet-earliest reason-1830's I&M canal built-they were cheap labor. ALSO WOOLEN MILLS same for RAILROADS(LATE 1840+) Coal Fileds near Joliet Steel Mills WHY-leave Ireland-biggest reason-poor country-then the potato famine. WHERE= from,any place in Ireland-companies used to advertise in Irish newspapers to get them to come here.Mainly in early 1800's-northern ireland-mid 1800's potato famine mainly southern ireland. HOW-early by walking across from Canada through WI or MI,by boat across great lakes from Canada or eastern states,,mid 1800's-by train,wagon,great lakes-any way they could. Hope this helps, If you have more specific info, I could try and help more. Good Hunting, Kathy >I am new to this list, and fairly new to IL research. > >I have just obtained the marriage cert of my Jane Donovan who married Michael >TOOMEY on 9-15-1887 in Joliette, IL. > >I have a suspicion my families lived here before they moved into Chicago >where I found them in 1900. > >Does anyone on list have census or directory data for families of these two >people? > >I believe Michael's father's name was James TOOMEY and he may have had a >sister Kathryn TOOMEY who married an Edward WHITE. > >I expect that Jane Donovan lived with her sister, Esther Donovan, who married >John Sullivan in Wales and had two daughters there. > >I am hoping to learn something about the Irish in Joliet--and where/how/why >they settleds there. > >Regards, and hopeful for shared expertise--- > >Candi in California > > >==== ILWILL Mailing List ==== >Will Co, IL website address is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwill/ >Email listowner @ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwill/my-email.htm >