John O'Connor

John O'Connor was born in June 1864 to Denis O'Connor and Katherine O'Regan. He was baptized on the 26th of June in Abbeyfeale Parish, Limerick County, Munster Province, Ireland. His father was from Doonekenna in Limerick, and his mother was from Kerry County.

In 1927, a newspaper article was published in Hackensack, New Jersey, where John described his life. He said, "I have been an orphan for so long, I never had anyone to keep track of my age." John boarded the "Queen" in Queenstown, Ireland, on April 5, 1881, and then boarded the City of Berlin in Liverpool on April 8, 1881. Although he thought he was 14, he was actually 16 years old at the time. He recounted his battle with seasickness and how people would fall out of hammocks and bunks during the trip. John slept on a pile of potatoes for the journey to stay safer. On April 17, 1881, the City of Berlin pulled into New York harbor at 5 PM, leaving a 16-year-old boy from Ireland to find his way.

John was so sharp that even at 63, he remembered the exact date of his marriage to Mary Bonus, and he was correct—their certificate is dated January 5, 1890. His wife Mary was also from Ireland, hailing from County Meath. They had seven children in total.

Their youngest son, Denis "Dennie," died young in 1921. Their daughter Johanna, also known as Josephine was nicknamed "Jossie," just like my grandmother (her niece). Their daughter known as Margaret on census records is Grace Margaret O'Connor she married John Peterson. Their son listed as Robert was "Robert Michael" and used O'Connors, rather than O'Connor. This was common in our family my Grandmother is documented as "Josephine" yet her birth name is Mary. A lot of the time we pick confirmation Saints etc. and use those names.

John worked as a teamster, delivering coal for Comfort-Coal Lumber Co. He drove a coal wagon pulled by two white horses and delivered coal to homes all over Bergen County. He was well-known for having his own personal Saint Patrick's Day parade each year, decorating his wagon and horses with shamrocks and adorning himself with a top hat and tailcoat jacket with brass buttons. John loved working and did not like it when the "O" was removed from his name, O'Connor.
His naturalization papers have his mark of x as John could not read or write but is quoted in the local newspapers as never liking to be idle. He worked for Comfort-Coal because he loved horses. 

 

Their regular Catholic Parish was Holy Trinity in Hackensack.

 

If you are researching John or Mary and would like more information, you can contact me at familyhistorygirl79@gmail.com.