Mary Mortensen or Mortenson born Ireland>US
Its been many years since I first posted this so I am reposting with more search keys.
Chicago area
Michael O'Shea or Michael Shea and wife
Mary (Mortenson or Mortensen) O'Shea or Mary (Mortenson Mortensen) Shea
their son
Harry Jack O'Shea
Need information on my grandfather Harry Jack O'Shea/Shea (he said he dropped O' because he was tired of writing it). Supposedly born Chicago 25 Mar 1886/1888 to Michael & Mary M. Mortensen O'Shea (names on his marriage license), both supposedly born Ireland. They supposedly owned land in the Loop area. After returning from working on a cattleboat, he was told both parents died/killed and only sibling, a brother died in Alaska on gold rush. (Another story that mother died heartbroken after the brother died.) He supposedly gave everything to his only cousin a woman named Charlotte and left Chicago. Supposedly joined army and fought under Pershing. Wound up in Waterbury CT where he enlisted for WW1 in the army's Yankee Division, fought at battle of Bella Woods (Bella Bois) in France where he was mustard gassed. Married Erma Maria Stohl (age 20) of Hungary in Wtby, CT 1920, died Southington, CT 1951. Had 6 sons, 5 lived to adulthood. Everything after 1917 has been proven, all supposition before that because a few of his sons had a tendency to spin tales so not sure what is truth. Also haven't been able to locate him anywhere in church or census records and military file was incomplete due to 1971 fire.
Some updates:
1920 census has Harry Jack & wife Maria with her parents - one month after they were married.
1910 census has one single Harry as a boarder in Hartford, CT area.
1900 census no results.
Castle Garden entries has two Mary Mortensens entering country from Ireland circa 1870-80; may possibly be the same woman.
Irish records have not (yet?) yielded a Mary Mortensen or Mary Mortenson born in Ireland.
Nothing in Canadian/U.S. border crossings for anyone.
So if anyone has a missing Harry Shea or Harry O'Shea, Jack Shea or Jack O'Shea, or maybe even John Shea or John O'Shea; or Michael Shea or Michael O'Shea, Mary Shea or Mary O'Shea in USA, please let me know.
Have joined Sheaand O'Shea dna project to help ascertain but to no avail - yet - need more participants to determine anything.