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Note: N25 . Ontario Birth Registration # 1891 Sep 3 # 4051, 3043.
Donovan, Joseph, s/o Joseph Donovan, 1891 Aug 14, Sarah Musgrave, Occupation Confectioner,
Informant: Sarah Donovan, 34 Edward St, Toronto.
Note: Edward Street, North side, #36 is an empty lot in 1892.
WWI Muster:
. Donovan, Joseph, b 1891 Aug 14; 60 Browning Ave., Toronto
1916 Jan 31 - Attestation Paper 2nd Depot Battalion 1st Central Ontario Regiment Battalion CEF Reg 3230411
Occ. Pressman, Single, 1st registration: 1917 Jan 31st. Distinctive marks: Top of thumb off left hand.
Roman Catholic. 5 Feet 6.5 inch. girth 35. Fresh completion. Brown Eyes, Fit. Fair Hair
Next-of-Kin: Sarah Donovan, Mother, same address.
Previous Militia, 8 Month in 180 OS Battalion, CEF, Pte. 2nd: 1918 Jan 5, Aged 26Y 1o (i.e. date of examination Sept 1917.)
. 1918 May 6 [2nd Attestation for WWI; as above, except for the following variations:]
Joseph Alphose Donovan, 309 Cadillac Ave., Detroit, Michigan, USA,
Born
. Also resided 126 Oak Street, Toronto.
.1912 Toronto Directory, Joseph A. Employee of Sheet Metal Products Co., 126 Oak St., Toronto; (Joseph worked at General Steel Wares for a short while.)
. 1917, 1918, 60 Browning Av. Toronto: Jos. Donovan, Press Operator. 1918 Representatives Ltd.
1921, Jos., Woodwork.1. McKinney Hotel, Toronto.
. 1921 Jan 11 Ontario Marriage Registration #001076,
dated 11 Jan 1921, at St. Joseph's Church, by Rev. E Canning, 172 Leslie St., Toronto, Catholic.
Ada Mary Quince, b.1898, England, daughter of Harry Quince & Ada Bundy, residence: 230 Morley Ave. Toronto, married
John Alfonse Donovan. 1892, Toronto,
son of Jos. Dovovan & Sarah Musgrave;
Wit. Louis Donovan, 60 Browning Ave.
Holy Name RC Church, Residence 60 Browning Ave., Toronto, Occupation: Driver.
Wit: Louis Donovan & Teresa Donovan, both 60 Browning Ave.
. Joe Donovan was the (year?) Featherweight Boxing Champion of Toronto & had a large sliver-leather belt as a prize. Grandson Terry Donovan was given the silver prize belt. Joe was known in Toronto for this boxing championship. Joe was asked to march in military band that parade about drumming up recruits for the First World War.
One of Joe Donovan's favourite sayings was:
"Shake the hand the shook the hand of John L Sullivan (Sullivan was an Irish-Amerian boxing champion in the 1800s).
. 1916 Apr 1. Saturday - Donovan Beat Gallager - At Detroit, the meeting of Joe Donovan of the Sportmen's Battalion & Red Gallagher was the cause of much discussion. The soldier showed a lot of clever foot work & although he did not have as strong as a punch as Gallagher, he reached the champion repeatedly. The results:
135 pound Class., J. Donovan, 30th battalion won from F Gallagher, Riverside. A D Decision.
. 1916 Apr. 3 - International Tourney Final Night, Joe Donovan Loses to Newton
The Riverside, Detroit. The first surprise of the night was when Newton of the Riversides won over Joe Donovan of the 130 Battalion, in the other semi-final. Donovan defeat Gallagher on Friday night & was conceded the best chance to win the class. The first 2 round were even. In the third both went at it hammer & tongs, at which at which Newton proved the better.
Ref: Toronto Globe & Mail.
. 1918 Jan 5, Toronto - Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), WWI, Joseph Donovan, Regimental # 3230411,
Ref: Archives of Canada, RG150 Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2597-25, Item 357901.
2nd Depot Battalion 1st, Central Ontario
Joseph Donovan, 60 Browning Ave, Toronto, Ont. Military Service Act letter #511093,
Born 14 Aug 1891, Toronto, Single, Catholic, Made Pressman,
Next Kin, Sarah Donovan, Mother, 60 Browning Ave,
Previous military service: 8 months in 180th. (Pte.)
Medical Examination, Toronto, 25 Sept 191, Category A-2.
Age 26yrs 1 m. Height, 5 ft. 6 3/4 ins. Chest 36in, 4 in range of expansion, Complexion Medium, Eyes Brown, Hair Brown,
Signed, Joseph Donovan.
. During the 1930 Great Depression Joe was able to great a job with the City of Toronto, garbage incineration department. The boss gave him the job because he had made money from boxing bets on Joe. On the first day on the job, shoveling garbage into the great furnaces, this other worker told Joe, 'Do you know they hired a Catholic in the department.' Joe kept on shoveling, not telling the guy that was him! At that time all the City of Toronto was under the influence of the Orange Lodge. Some times Joe would save from the incinerator some shoes or Neilson's Jersey Milk chocolate seconds for his children.
Joe like to smoke a pipe. Later Ada bought a house near the dead-end of Gough Avenue. At the top of the street was Holy Name RC Church. At noontime the bells sounded the Angelus. Following the Irish tradition, he would stop where he was on the street & pray the Angelus. If grandchildren were caught coming home from school at this time, Granddad would press them into prayer with him. PJ Ahlberg, Toronto 2013. Thank you. - - -
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