1950's - Ambrose Aloysius McDonald & Jeannette M. Straley

A formal portrait of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald with his second wife Jeannette Margaret Straley.

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald was born 24 October 1889 in Vowinckel, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest son of Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Ambrose and his second wife Jeannette Margaret Straley were married on 23 December 1953 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Jeannette was the daughter of George Straley and Caroline Oliphant. She was born about 1886.

This was also a second marriage for Jeannette M. Straley. Her first husband was Fred Emerson Allen. The death date for Fred Emerson Allen is currently not known.

The photograph may have been taken the day the couple married - note that Jeannette is wearing a corsage and Ambrose appears to be wearing a boutineer.

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald & Jeannette M. Straley

This portrait is shared with permission. The original is in the care of Ginny Geary Laskovics my 2nd cousin 2x. Ginny is a granddaughter of Ambrose A. McDonald. The photograph is originally from the Virginia McDonald Geary Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky

Virginia McDonald Geary is my 1st cousin 3x removed. She is the daughter of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great uncle and Gertrude Anna O'Neill, my 2nd great aunt. My relationship with Virginia McDonald Geary  is unique in that we are double 1st cousins 3x removed. We share two sets of common ancestors. Our common McDonald grandparents are Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Our common O'Neill grandparents are Michael O'Neill and Ellen Cunningham. Winifred Agnes O'Neill is my 2nd Great Grandmother  Robert Alphonsus McDonald is my 2nd Great Grandfather.

References:

1. Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Marriage of Fred Emerson Allen & Margaret Jeannette Straley.
2. Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Marriage of Ambrose A. McDonald & Jeannette M Allen. [Jeannette M Straley].

Formal Portrait: Ambrose Aloysius McDonald

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald was born 24 October 1889 in Vowinckel, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of fifteen children born to Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Ambrose married Gertrude Anna O'Neill on 15 January 1915 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

This formal portrait of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald was included in the photograph collection of his daughter, Virginia McDonald Geary. Ambrose appears older in this formal portrait than in another known photograph of him taken at his parent's Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration in 1916. Based on the style of the collar the portrait was likely been taken in the 1920's.

Ambrose Aloysus McDonald
Formal Portrait

Ambrose lived to be 80 years old. He died on 15 September 1970 in Bay Village, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

Virginia McDonald Geary is my 1st cousin 3x removed. She is the daughter of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great uncle and Gertrude Anna O'Neill, my 2nd great aunt. My relationship with Virginia McDonald Geary  is unique in that we are double 1st cousins 3x removed. We share two sets of common ancestors. Our common McDonald grandparents are Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Our common O'Neill grandparents are Michael O'Neill and Ellen Cunningham. Winifred Agnes O'Neill is my 2nd Great Grandmother  Robert Alphonsus McDonald is my 2nd Great Grandfather.

References:

1. Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, Orphan's Court. McDonld, Ambrose & O'Neill, Gertrude A. Marriage License.
2. Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007. Ambrose A. McDonald. 
3. Find A Grave. Memorial Number 172106233.
4. Vintage Dancer. 1920s Mens Shirts and Collars History