In this presentation\, Brendan Wolfe will demonstrate how indirect evidence from Irish and American sources can be s ynthesized to confidently answer a genealogical question. Along the way\, he&rsquo\;ll tell the story of two Irish immigrants to Chicago: one the ci ty&rsquo\;s commissioner of public works and the other\, Thomas Coughlin\, a night watchman who\, in 1930\, was murdered by mobsters&mdash\;with pos sible ties to the Commissioner. In a small way\, finding Mr. Coughlin&rsqu o\;s birthplace pays him the attention and respect he deserved but never r eceived at the time of his death.
\nBrendan Wolfe is a professional genealogist\, writer\, editor\, and historian. He provides a wide range of genealogical services\, specializing in family histories that combine aut horitative research with deep historical context and accessible storytelli ng. A founding editor of \;Encyclopedia Virginia\, a project of Virgin ia Humanities\, and the author of several books\, he has researched extens ively\, but not exclusively\, in both Virginia and Irish records.
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