Up until this last weekend I had never searched for my ancestors in any city directory. I didn’t realize how helpful they could be!

Recently I have been doing a lot of research on Mathew’s first family in New Jersey when he was married to Mary Cox. This last weekend I spent most of my genealogy time working on one of Mathew’s grandsons, Clem Ivory. Clem’s father was the son of Mathew H. Ivory, who was the son of Mathew Hayes Ivory Jr.

I found many records for Clem including US Census records, military draft cards, city directories, and death records.

I found Clem in the 1897-98 McKeesport City Directory. McKeesport is a small city in Pennsylvania. He lived there with his family comprising his father Mathew, mother, Celia, brother Harry, and sister Mary. Click here to see the image from the city directory. I also found Clem and his family in the 1901-02 city directory for McKeesport. Click here to see that image.

The records didn’t really give me any vital information like births, deaths, etc., but it did give the address of 617 Water Street. From there I went to Google Maps and I found exactly where the house had been. Now it is a parking lot, but back in 1900 there were houses or some sort of housing along Water Street.

The 1897-98 directory states that Clem “bds”(boards) at 617 Water Street and that his father Mathew “h” owns the house.

The 1901-02 directory states that Clem was a laborer working for the railroad.

Like I said, they directories don’t give vital information, but it does tell you a little bit more about the person and sometimes their address and occupation. I have had so much fun researching Clem because somewhere between 1902 and 1910 he managed to do something to get into prison. The 1910 US Census states he was in the Allegheny County Jail and later in the 1920 US Census he is in the New York State Prison for Men. I am currently trying to figure out what Clem did to wind up in prison.

One of my new favorite documents to research is city directories. They give a different aspect of our ancestors that we may not get anywhere else. I will keep everyone up-to-date with what I find out about Clem and Mathew’s first family.