PARKS George / HUGHES Catherine; Middletown,ARM,NIR > Chicago,IL,USA > Omaha,NE,USA; 1825-1882 I would very much like to get in contact with any of the family/descendents of the following George PARKS or Catherine HUGHES families still living in (Northern) Ireland. Or living elsewhere in the world. My great-grandfather George PARKS, was born about 1826 (abt.1826-1871), and his wife, Catherine (nee HUGHES), was born about 1828 (abt.1828-1911). At the time of their marriage, George lived in Feduff (sp?) and Catherine lived in Knockbawn (sp?). They were married May 2, 1856, in Middletown, in the Church of Middletown, in accordance with the "Rites and Ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland." According to a search of the birth registers 1864 - April 1880, of the Registration District of Tynan, George's trade is listed as either "Farmer" or "Brick Maker" at the dates of birth of three of his children - John M. (4/8/1865), Robert J. (8/4/1867) and my grandfather, James Johnston (7/18/1869-1935). Robert J. and James Johnston are subsequently listed as having been baptised in a Roman Catholic Church in Co. Armagh - both baptisms on the same day, November 7, 1871 - according to the Roman Catholic Parish of Tynan records. George and Catherine had four other children - George Parks and 3 sisters (Kate, Anna and Mary). They were also possibly baptised Roman Catholic. George later became a flax buyer. He died July 17, 1871, at age 45, in Middletown, Co. Armagh, Ireland. His son, George Jr., the oldest of the seven children, was born March 15,1858, in Middletown, Co. Armagh, and attended Irish "public schools" where he learned the spinning and weaving trade and was first employed by the firm of William Kirk & Sons (1870, Keady, Co. Armagh?). George then went to Dundalk, Co. Louth, to work in the spinning and weaving mills there. About 1871 he began an apprenticeship in the bricklayer and mason trade. In 1877 he immigrated to the USA, settling first in Chicago, IL In 1881 George (Jr.) sent for his by then widowed mother, Catherine HUGHES PARKS, who came from Ireland to Chicago with her other 6 children: George's younger siblings - Robert J., my grandfather James J., John M. and the 3 sisters - Kate, Ann and Mary. In 1888 the Mother and the 3 sons eventually followed the eldest son, George (Jr.), to Omaha, NE, where he had moved earlier in 1888. The 3 daughters remained in Chicago. My grandfather, James J. Parks, married my grandmother, Mary Jane Kenny (b. 1873, Co. Cork; d. 1943) in Omaha, NE, January 19, 1892, in St. Agnes Church (Roman Catholic). Catherine HUGHES PARKS died in Omaha, NE, in 1911. Her son George (Jr.) died May 2, 1930, in Omaha, NE. Anything further on PARKS or HUGHES families' ancestors in Co. Armagh or elsewhere in Ireland - or being pointed in a more specific direction for sources where I might write (e-mail or regular) or telephone - would be greatly appreciated. E-Mail is preferable but whatever is most convenient for you or the resource. Thank you for whatever help you can provide.