Thanks to my great-grandfather’s diary, his descendants can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day appreciating how our Irish forbearers made a new life in America.
The flags of the United States, Ireland and Illinois are carried in front of the bagpipers’ band on North Neola Avenue during the 20th Annual Northwest Side Irish Parade on March 12, 2023. Like so many others whose Irish roots run deep in the Chicago area, I’m looking forward to celebrating those roots on St. Patrick’s Day.
He writes on Sept. 1, 1894: “Payday. I got 70 cents for a car that stood in the shaft since April — gave 35 cents to my butty, Jack Ayres.” On Dec. 29, 1894, he writes: “In the year 1894, I made by work in the shaft $220.40.” On July 4, 1895, he simply states: “Ain’t got a cent.” It’s no wonder union activism was a major part of a miner’s life in Spring Valley, and my great-grandfather was a union man. On July 10, 1894, his diary records the arrival of a passenger train with “regular U.S. troops” on board. Martial law had been declared, and the troops opened fire on protesters resulting in two deaths. Over the next several years, his diary records weekly participation in local union meetings, rallies and negotiations, as well as union picnics in “Guenther’s Grove.
The church also kept a close eye on its parishioners. On Oct. 8, 1898, my great-grandfather reports: “I went over to the church and took a pledge from Father Power to abstain from all intoxicating drinks for twelve months.” There is no mention in later entries as to whether he fulfilled that promise.
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