Michael "Late and Early" Dalton

Michael Dalton was born in February 1839 to James Dalton and Mary Brennan’ He was baptized Catholic in Windgap, Kilkenny on 22 Feb 1839. He married Bridget Shehan on 4 Feb 1869 at Warrenstown, Kilkenny. Michael was a farmer in Johnstown, Kilkenny who had acquired the nick, by those who knew him, of “Late and Early” Dalton. He was always seen in his fields late at night and early in the morning. He was a very stern and serious man. James and Bridget brought into this world seven children: James T. (1869-1945), Bridget (1871-1872), John (1873-?), Mary (1877-1945), Thomas (1878-?), Patrick Joseph (1882-1981), and Michael (1883-1956). James T., Mary, and Patrick Joseph all immigrated to America and took up residence in Chicago. My great-grandfather, James T. Dalton came to Chicago in 1887 and married Elizabeth Kearns from Piercetown, County Wexford in Chicago on 27 July 1890. James worked in the Chicago Stockyards. Elizabeth gave birth to four children before her early death from Tuberculosis on 3 April 1901: Anne Elizabeth (1892-1963), James Joseph (1893-1973), Ellen “Nell” Mary (1895-1980), and Mary (1899-1900). James never remarried. He worked in the stockyards his whole life raising his children with the help of Patrick Shanahan a saloon keeper near the yards. Patrick Shanahan’s daughter, Margaret, would later marry his son James – my grandparents' Following his death at the end of WW2, his daughter Nell dedicated this poem to his honor. DEDICATED TO JAMES DALTON MY FATHER WHO DIED DECEMBER 25, 1945 ***************MY OWN GALLANT DAD**************** No medals of valor did he ever win, nor was he on dress parade, His uniform was an old work shirt, thin, and his over-coat often was frayed, But to me no hero in battle garb clad, had done more in life than - MY OWN GALLANT DAD. He was just a young boy when from Erin he came, and the world must have seemed bright and fair, When he stood at God's altar and gave her his name, my wonderful mother up there, But God in His wisdom other plans had, and took her to Him from - MY OWN GALLANT DAD. With three small babies, how life to face? His job was to feed them and help take her place, No toil was too irksome - no hours too long - his only diversion an old Irish song. His hands they were calloused but schooling we had, that's what he wanted MY OWN GALLANT DAD. For fifty long years, winter, summer, he went, at last he was feeble, weary and bent. He went without pleasure that other men had, that we might have plenty - MY OWN GALLANT DAD. At Christmas God called him, we miss him each day. In fancy I see him in splendid array. St. Joseph beside him now all clothed in light, these heroes and work men who fought for the right. And God and my mother surely were glad to welcome to heaven - MY OWN GALLANT DAD. Decoration Day - 1946 Nell Dalton