Harry Jack O'Shea/Shea c. 1886-1951
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 ILL 25 Mar 1886 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.