MARGARET LEDDIN
Margaret
Leddin was born in 1841 in Emly, County Tipperary,
Ireland. Her parents were John Leddin and Mary Morrissy. She was christened
in the parish church of Emly on March 8, 1841. She had one brother, Michael,
who was three years younger. The Leddins were from Galbally, and are thought
to have come to Emly when the railroad arrived there. The land on which
Michael Leddin lived was next to the railroad station, making it probable
that he worked for the railroad. This land, in the townland of Coolbea,
was rented to them by Mary Bourke, whose descendants still live there.
Emly is both a parish and a village next to the border between counties
Tipperary and Limerick. About ten miles to the east is the town of Tipperary.
An important church was founded here anciently by a contemporary of St.
Patrick, St. Ailbhe. Ailbhe's Well is still visited in the neighborhood
and an ancient cross in the graveyard beside the Roman Catholic church
is supposed to mark the saint's burial place. The church in which Margaret
was baptized is now used as a town hall, and a new church has been built
next to the cemetery.
The parish register at Emly, showing Margaret's baptism
Margaret
came to America in 1868 when she was 27 years old, and settled in Chicago.
She married Maurice Hickey in 1872, and they had four children. Margaret's
younger brother, Michael, also came to Chicago and married Bridget Cosgrove.
A
daughter, Ellen (Nell) was born in Chicago in 1873. She was named for Maurice's
mother, Ellen. Maurice's work on the railroad took him to Pueblo, Colorado
to build a spur line. They were saddened when their four-year old daughter,
Nell, died there. Their daughter, Mary was born there in 1878. They returned
to Chicago, and a daughter, Mary Ellen, was born there in 1880. She was
named for Margaret's mother, Mary, and Maurice's mother, Ellen, but they
called her Margaret. Their last child, Joseph Patrick, was born in Chicago
in 1883. Maurice died in 1914, and the widowed Margaret kept a boarding
house to meet expenses. Though they were poor, the family was proud that
they could give their coffee grounds to the nuns.
1920 census, Chicago
Margaret
died at the home of her daughter, Margaret at 6243 Glenwood Avenue in Chicago,
on July 19, 1925. She was buried at
Calvary
Cemetery.
Margaret Leddin Hickey
and her daughter Margaret Hickey Hayes