Some Notes on the Hessions
In 1927 at age 25, my dad's Aunt Maggie came to the US and worked on Portland Place for the St Louis dowager Minnie Johnson. In 1934, she married a fellow émigré Bill Hession. Here is a little about the Hessions.
William Hession
Bill Hession emigrated to the US on the SS American, arriving 21 July 1929. According to the ship's records, he was born in 1906 in Ballyglunin, not far from his future wife's place of birth. More from the ship's record:
The 23-year-old was a farmer who could read and write in English. He got his visa #24368 from Dublin on 26 Mar 1929. His last residence in Ireland was his home town of Ballyglunin.
He was reported to be 5'7" with "fresh" complexion, fair hair, and hazel eyes, of good health with no deformities or disabilities. He attested that he had never been in prison or an almshouse, that he was not a polygamist, that he was not an anarchist, that he did not believe in the violent overthrow of the US government, that he was not paid as part of some kind of labor contract to emigrate, and that he had never before been deported from the US. He stated his intentions to become a citizen.
He stated that his nearest relative from where he came was his father (I presume) William Hession of Moyne/Ballyglunin, Galway. His final intended destination was Chicago, Illinois, and, yes, he had a ticket to get there. His passage was paid for by his Uncle Patrick Hession, whom he was planning to join at 7800 Marshfield Ave.
1930 US Census. [not found]
1936 Bill Hession became a naturalized US citizen. I believe the record below is his, although the birthday is off. (This is not uncommon in Ireland, where I've heard that birth and baptismal dates wind up being used interchangeably.)
1940 Census. Living at 1639 W. 78th St, Chicago IL with their two sons William (3) and John (2). Bill's brother John Hession (age 32) lived with them. Bill Hession worked as a policeman with a packing company, fully employed during the 52 weeks of 1939, earning $2500... very fortunate for a nation still enduring the Great Depression.
According to the 1940 census, the Hessions were living around the corner from Patrick and Nora Hession, who were still at 7800 Marshfield Avenue.
Patrick Hession and Nora Stephens
Patrick Hession was born 17 Apr 1882 in Ballyglunin, Abbey Knock Moy, Co Galway. He emigrated from Ireland to the US in 1906 or 1907. At the time of the 1910 census he was still single and boarding (along with his brother Michael) with the Cox family at 520 Pine Street in Chicago.
On 22 Apr 1914, he married Nora Stephens and they lived at 923 Sedgwick Street at least through the 1920 census.
On 11 Jul 1918 he became a naturalized American citizen. On 12 Sept 1918 he registered for the draft, but was probably deferred from serving in WWI because he was already married.
Nora Stephens was born about 1889 in the Kilkerrin/Ballaghduff area of Galway. Her brother James ("Jimmy") Stephens married Mary Dunne of Ballaghduff, who was the sister of Maggie Hession (above) and my grandmother Bridget Dunne Price.
In 1907, at the age of 18, she left Kilkerrin for the US on RMS Carmania, in the company of Ellen Dunne (Maggie Dunne Hession's sister), Mike Martin (Maggie Dunne Hession's uncle), and 7 other Kilkerrin residents. She stated that her destination was with her sister Lizzie in New York City. [It needs to be verified that this Nora Stephens is indeed the one who married Patrick Hession. I'm asking the family if Jimmy Stephens had a sister Lizzie...] It is unknown when Nora moved to Chicago. [I haven't found her in the 1910 census.]
After marrying Patrick Hession, they had 5 children. Nora died in 1965 and Patrick in 1966.
In 1930 Patrick was working as a chauffeur for a restaurant. In 1940 he was a truck driver for a carting company and made $1800 during 1939. I've been told that (despite these humble circumstances), Patrick and Nora sponsored several nieces and nephews to the US, including Bill Hession (1929), Vera Stephens [Whalen] (1939), Mary Stephens [Barry], Jack Stephens and Mike Stephens. [source: Jack Hession and Mary Ellen Groark]
6/25/13
