Doyles--Agnes & Ed's Family

After their marriage, Edward and Agnes moved to Savannah, IL where Earl (Larry), Kathleen and Darrell were born. Ed worked for the Milwaukee RR, and they lived briefly in Oxford Junction, Iowa, where Conan was born. Later they moved to Calmar, Iowa, then in 1904 to Davenport where Agnita, Donald and Dolores were born.

Remembering Agnes Doyle:
Moira remembers "Grandma Doyle"
My earliest memories of Grandma Doyle were during the early fifties when she was 80 or older. After Dad graduated from Chiropody school we came back to the Quad Cities. I was 3 and a half or 4, Jim was a baby. We lived for a short time in the downstairs back bedroom of Grandma Doyle's house before we got an apartment downtown over the Elks club. I think Grandma Kathleen & Jack also lived there, and we certainly must have been crowding them. At any rate, I visited with her upstairs one day. She told me that when she was a little girl, they came to Iowa on a wagon. She said they saw rattlesnakes, and she was very afraid of them. Also, she was very afraid of Indians. They saw Indians too, but not in any frightening way. I was supposed to not bother her or go upstairs to her apartment, so I have really only this one memory. We got her TV after she died. The first one we had.
John Cosgrove says:
 His grandmother was the "nicest woman", always taking care of the family and doing for others. All the kids were big on the social scene according to John. Don's wife's parents owned the Coliseum Ballroom, the "Col", in Davenport. He was a bellhop there. They (Don & his wife) ran away to get married, and Agnes found out later. Also Conan was secretly married, in the rectory of the Cathedral, not a "Catholic" wedding.  John also remembers that Dolores could really do the Charleston.
Sheila Cosgrove Kautz remembers:
 Grandma Doyle wanted a TV and so all the families chipped in to get her one for Christmas. In those days they were 6" to 10". Hers was supposed to be 8", but she wasn't sure it was. So we got a measuring tape to make sure it was 8 inches. She loved to sit and watch TV when she wasn't watching the activity of the neighbors out the window. (Moira's note: Our family got the TV when Grandma Doyle died in '52--we were thrilled, our first!)
 She always baked her famous Ice Bar cookies and they were in the cookie jar in the pantry and if one was quiet and didn't cause problems at her house, she told you that you could go to the jar and take one cookie--she rationed them out!! For awhile after we moved from Dover Court we rented her downstairs apartment after Gallaghers moved to 1109 West 17th Street. (Moira: When Dad finished Chiropody School in Chicago we lived there too in a back bedroom of that same apartment for a couple of months--Jimmy was a small baby. I don't remember the pantry, but I remember the back stairs in that house. I always thought of it as a secret passage).
Jim Cosgrove remembers:
 Grandma Doyle had a brother Will Burns (wife Mary) from Phoenix who would come to visit. That part of the family came from Northern Iowa. In June of 1912, Will and Mary moved to Phoenix because he had been diagnosed with TB.  When they got there, they lived in a "shack". He recovered and sold real estate and also bought some during Phoenix's phenomenal growth period, and was quite successful. His business was Burns Investment Company. Agnita (his niece, Agnes' daughter) lived with them when she had TB in the thirties.

Moira remembers:
 We used to visit with Sr. Huberta at the motherhouse in Cedar Rapids, maybe once with Carmela. Sister Carmela died first; Sister Huberta retired to the motherhouse and died in the '50's. Sister Huberta was really old at her last teaching assignment, somewhere I think in the Northwest. The kids literally drove her crazy, I was told. They were both Sisters of Mercy (?) Motherhouse in Cedar Rapids. My dad had met the bishop as a young boy at family parties during the Depression when they would all get together. It was years ago when he would tell me about those. Mostly the Doyles got together, and the nuns Huberta and Carmela would wear regular clothes. Once dad and his cousins knocked on the door, pretending to be the bishop and the nuns had to scamper back and put on their habits...the boys must have been successful at their trick because dad never forgot it.
 Ed Doyle was a switchman for the Milwaukee Railroad and, according to Dad, drove a Model T coupe. He bought it in '21 or '22. Dad got to ride in it--but not till he was 7 or 8. It had planetary gears, he recalled, and three pedals. It would inch along, and you had to put gas in the tank under the passenger seat. You had to crank to start the engine, and once the engine backfired and broke Ed's wrist. Later he had an Olds Touring Sedan that our Grandma Kathleen learned to drive (and her brothers did too). It had an electric starter. . .He died at age 65 of a heart attack, suffered at work. His son, Darrell, was with him when he died.  Before I was born, in their house on Iowa Street, Agnes kept priests as boarders--the place was not far from the cathedral.

Remembering Ed Doyle:
Pat Doyle remembers his grandfather:
 Our great grandfather, Edward Doyle, sat me on his lap in the living room of their two story house on 8th (sic) and Iowa streets. He let me admire and touch his pipe collection on a small table next to his chair; he let me fish in his coat pocket for the candied mint I found there when I was four or five. He was tall, bony with a narrow face and pointed chin and shock of hair, nearing his retirement age from the Rock Island Lines railroad. He died of a heart attack without collecting a cent of his pension, not payable to his widow. My dad was shaving for work when the telephone call from his mother told him the news--1935, '37? He lay in state in his living room for an evening when the family gathered for the wake. Only a few candles around his coffin illuminated the room. Then he was gone.
 My dad [Darrell] told of how Grandpa could swim the Mississippi River on his lunch hour and back from the Rock Island shore. (Once? One summer, most of his years?) Grandpa had a passenger pass the family could use for travel on the lines. Dad took advantage of it when he was scouting for a job in his early years. (Did your Grandmother ever use it?) Dad showed me a news clipping that described Grandpa's bout of sleeping sickness that lasted nearly a month.

He also remembers family gatherings:
 The Doyles, (including Gallaghers, Cosgroves and later Pete Petersen, Agnita's husband), assembled at Grandma's [Doyle] for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Fourth of July celebrations for several years. Larry, Esther, Jerry, Patsy and Marilyn drove in from Chicago; Clinton Doyles, Marion and Don, Steve, Bob, their sister, Donna and little Eddie; I don't recall Conan but once with his wife (girlfriend?); Sisters Huberta and Carmella from their Dubuque convent; the Phoenix Burns, Poppa and his girls occasionally. I don't think we ever missed one of those free meals at Grandma's. Most of the adults sipped a highball before dinner (including the Sisters--who would tell Mother Superior?). No singular incidents occurred that I remember--no posing for photos. Agnita usually played a few popular ballads (no lessons, she played by ear). Larry often performed his monologue of rescuing little Nell from the well, ad-libbing a different script each time. Larry played for the Cincinnati Reds one season, and had been in the Army in WWI. My dad was called up to report for induction on 11 November, 1918. Selective Service was closed that day, celebrating the Armistice--his story.
 When I began dating Ann it was important for me to get Grandma Doyle's approval. She invited us to dinner (in her kitchen, not enough of a crowd to set the dining room table). I believe she offered us a glass of wine. I had alerted Ann to Grandma's custom of politely belching aloud in a slight, rolling stutter. She was a pleasant companion and a gracious hostess and gratefully refrained from any special advice. I liked Grandma.

Agnes & Ed's Family
Agnes and Ed Doyle had 7 children:

Kathleen Doyle (1895 - 1966) m. John Aloysius Cosgrove (1893 - 1966) in 1920.

John and Kathleen, our grandparents, had 4 children: Remembering Kathleen & Jack:

Jim (Cosgrove) remembers:
 Grandma taught Jack to drive on a 1928 Chevrolet 4 door sedan. It was their first family car and had no heater. After that they had a '33 then a '38 Chevy.
 One summer Jack and Kathleen won a trip to French Lick (an Indiana resort) and John and Jim stayed with Grandma Doyle. She took them one day to the Palmer School (which is what we've always called Palmer College of Chiropractic; she rented to Palmer students). Palmer had, and still does, a garden with little Asian statues. A little guy with a Vandyke beard--old--came out and took them through the "Little Bit of Heaven" and bought them an ice cream cone, which at the time cost a dime. It was B.J. Palmer.

Sheila Cosgrove Kautz remembers:
 My earliest recollections are of when we lived on Dover Court near Vanderveer Park. Mom & Dad frequently went to the Elks Club and my brother Tom age 15 or 16 babysat with me and was always changing the time on the clocks so he could get me to bed earlier. A cute girl lived next door and he'd sneak over there and keep her company when she babysat her younger brother. I remember several times that he hid in the bushes and scratched the window--then she'd call him to come over and keep her company--sometimes he'd bring me over and put me on the living room couch to read and they'd go to the kitchen, play music on the radio and dance.
 I spent many days at Mary Carroll's and her sister Winnie's across the street playing with their cats, as I couldn't have pets because of Mom's asthma.
 Holidays were special--the Darrell Doyles, Gallaghers, Larry & Esther (from Chicago), and Clinton Doyles all got together for big dinners at Gallaghers' at 7th and Iowa. (They lived downstairs in an apartment.) All the aunts had their chores--Esther was in charge of peas, Dolores was mashed potatoes, and Kathleen, gravy. My dad, Jack, always carved the bird! At Thanksgiving, we always had turkey notes and the grandchildren made these and we all had some good laughs--I still remember Dolores's favorite: "Turkey neck, turkey heart, was it you who let the fart?"

Pat Doyle remembers:
It seems we made regular visits to the Cosgroves on Dover Court for conversations or cards for the grownups while we rummaged upstairs in Tommy's room, reviewing his comic book collection or playing tag in their backyard. I remember Uncle Jack, usually in his undershirt, (barefooted during the hot fall Sunday afternoons), listening to the Bears games on the radio. There was usually a lot of laughing (at what?), amid whatever gossip came to mind when we bothered to listen. I don't know of any other families who enjoyed humor so much as those micks. Dolores and Agnita always had a new joke to share while the menfolk sprinkled their reminiscences with jests or salty language for amusing effect. Jack, Gallagher and Larry were all salesmen who collected anecdotes to share with customers and family alike.
 

Julie Gallagher Kraman remembers:
 Although I can remember Kathleen, Jack, Tom and Sheila living on Dover Court near Brady Street in Davenport, your Dad and John may have been grown up and on their own by that time.  I know that Jim was my godfather.  I don't recall much about him and your Mom until the time when you and Jimmy were small and your family was living in downtown Davenport.  The next thing I recall is while I was at Marycrest, and Sheila and Barry were engaged.   I remember that your Mom was at a bridal shower that Naomi gave for Sheila.  Also, I know that Mike and I are godparents to one of your brothers, but not sure which one, perhaps Christopher.  I'll have to ask Mike if he remembers.

Earl (Larry) m.  Esther and had three children: Gerry, Patsy, and Marilyn. Gerry never married and was killed in a terrible traffic accident involving a cab he was driving and several other cars; several killed besides him. He was about 40. Once as kids he told his cousin, our Uncle John, that he didn't want to live past 35, as "you begin to go downhill after that."  Esther died at a nursing home in Chicago about 10 years ago after battling Parkinsons.  Larry died at age 63 of a heart attack.


Donald married Marian Barbara Kerker (10/22/12- 8/7/62) in May 1934. and lived in Clinton; he was a chiropodist, and encouraged Dad to take up that profession. He died before Dad was able to take him up on an offer of partnership (maybe around 1949-50) His children are Robert, Steve, Ed, Donna and Tom. Marian's parents owned the "Col" Coliseum Ballroom in Davenport.


Conan died of Hodgkins disease as a relatively young man. He was an attractive man, dressed well, and was kidded a lot about being vain about his looks. Conan was married to "horse faced " Frances Drury (this is direct from Dad); they had no children. He lived in Tulsa.

Agnita married Maurice "Pete" Peterson and had no children. She suffered all her life from asthma (as did Kathleen), and fought TB as a young woman. She played the piano--a baby grand--in bands and in "five and dimes" (Dad again) Shown are Kathleen, Agnita, Dolores, Darrell and Pete.

Darrell married Esther Connolly in 1927, who died in 1954. In 1957, Darrell married Naoma Johnson (She was the widow of Barry Kautz's uncle Leo. It was through this connection that Sheila [Cosgrove, our aunt] and Barry [Kautz, her husband] met. Darrell and Esther and Naoma and her first husband, Leo, were good friends and socialized together. Both of the men worked for the paper in Davenport. Darrell was a sportswriter originally, later became copy editor and was quite prominent. He retired in 1967. Darrell had been a member of the 1920 class of St. Ambrose. Darrell and Naoma spent winters in Arizona.  Naoma still lives in their apartment in Davenport. Darrell and Esther's children were Donald, Edward, Patrick, and Judy (Waters). Naoma had no children.

Remembering Darrell:
Moira remembers:
I thought Darrell's sons Eddie and Don were my uncles. Once or twice when we lived above the Elks club they came by (individually) and took me out for a milkshake. I thought they were the funniest and most glamorous men I had ever met. It was very exciting to me.  All my Irish relatives impressed me with the fact they were always pulling your leg and cracking a joke. I was constantly in awe at what I considered great wit.  (Sheila and Tommy in those days were no exception.)
Pat Doyle remembers
When I was seven or eight I decided to take my little brother Eddy and littler sister, Judy, to visit Grandma; simply because I knew the way. It was near a mile and a half, crossing the 'busy' thoroughfares: Harrison, Main and Brady Streets. It was a pleasant, sunny morning in which I was so preoccupied with the excursion I neglected to mention the outing to Mother. We arrived safely, had a nice visit, then Grandma phoned Mom, who phoned Dad to leave the newspaper to go fetch us home. I'm sure I was impressed with a series of admonitions so readily forgotten. It was, after all, an expression of filial piety to my Father's mother . . .
 


Dolores Huberta  (after her aunt), the youngest, married Jim Gallagher and had four children: Michael James (1-27-40), Julie Kraman, Mary Boyd, and Dennis Paul (12-15-50). Her children are all slightly older than Kathleen's oldest grandchildren, and they considered themselves "cousins".

Remembering Dolores:
Julie remembers:
 My Dad's father, JT, Sr., worked for the Rock Island Railroad and was killed while painting the Arsenal Bridge when Dad was an infant.  Dad and his four brothers all worked for the Rock Island Railroad in their early years and all stayed connected to the railroad or the trucking business.  Dad then became Sales Manager at Gordy Freight Lines in Moline, where your Uncle John also worked for a time.  Later Dad held the same position at Chicago Tri-Cities Motor Freight in Rock Island.
 My Mom was the youngest of the seven Doyle children and your Grandmother was the oldest.  Mom worked in the office at Sears Roebuck before she and Dad were married and was a homemaker during our growing-up years.  Then for a few years, she worked for Scott County, I believe, as an assistant to some elderly ladies in their homes.  Also, she and Dad worked part-time for a friend reviewing freight billings.
 After Grandma Doyle died, our home at 1109 West 17th Street in Davenport became the official or perhaps unofficial Doyle family gathering place.  Mom often said she couldn't imagine retiring to Florida or California...she would miss everyone too much.
 Both Mom and Dad enjoyed potluck dinners and playing bridge with their friends.  Also, when we were all newly marrieds -- Mary & Gene, Mike & Dottie and Paul & I -- often spent an evening playing bridge or rap poker with Mom & Dad.

(Photo -- l.to r.: Dolores Doyle Gallagher,
Kathleen Doyle Cosgrove,
Sheila Cosgrove,
Naoma Doyle,
Darrell Doyle,
Jack Cosgrove,
Agnita Doyle Peterson)

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Mom (Dolores) lived at the Kahl Home for about 8 years following a stroke.  Many of the residents there knew her and the Doyle family and took a special interest in her.  Although her speech was limited, she had a smile for everyone.  Denny entertained often at the Kahl Home when he was in town.