KELLIHER FAMILY PICTURES
This carte de visite is unlabelled and undated, however, we believe it is Brigid/Ellen Fuller Kelliher. She lived in Castlemain, which is the parish just south of Tralee, where the photographer's studio was. A reasonable speculation is that this picture was taken shortly after her husband died (thus the classic "widow's weeds")and shortly before she emigrated to Australia with two of her sons, perhaps about 1890, just a few years before the postcard photos below were taken.
There is a family story about Brigid Fuller Kelliher emigrating there from Ireland with two of her sons and establishing a sheep station there. There is also a story about the two sons who stayed in Ireland visiting New York in the '40s.
The following two postcards showing Nelson Street with their captions were quoted from the site: "Ask about Ireland:Postcards of Tralee" on 10/25/09
Postcard photograph of Nelson Street (later renamed Ashe Street after Kerry patriot Thomas Ashe) taken about 1900. The photogragher has attracted a crowd of rapt onlookers indicating that photography was still a novelty in Tralee. The onlookers add a fascinating and informative dimension to the photograph a hundred years on. It is clear the photographer was happy to have them included. The street remains the same today except for the clump of trees in the background which is now a road. One of the town's notable buildings, Tralee Court House, lies hidden from view on the right hand side.
This second photograph offers a number of contrasts and changes to the earlier postcard. It is perhaps ten years later. The townsmen, except for the young boys, show very little interest in the photographer. Indeed they appear to show no interest at all. The sender of the photograph refers to "Mr Donkey and cart standing in the street" The barrels of porter were a common feature of the town in 1908 and for many years later. The trees attached to the Church of Ireland presbytery are now enclosed by a wall which stood until recent times.
This is the census record for Ellen Kelliher's household on April 11, 1911. It shows that Ellen is a widow, 68 years of age. She is listed as a "farmer," living with her son Michael, who is 38 and is listed as a "farmer's son." Also listed is her granddaughter, Lena, who is 5 (presumably Michael's daughter).
Two other people are in the household: John Horgan, 18, who is listed as a servant/farm laborer, and Catherine Fitzgerald, 19, who is listed as a general servant/domestic.
The rest of Ellen's children are not listed. They may have moved out or were deceased by this time. Michael is listed as "married" (not widowed). Where is his wife and other children?
All the adults in the household can read and write and speak English and Irish and are Catholic except that John Horgan and the child Lena speak only English.
From this data we can infer that Ellen was born in 1843. We already have Michael's dates as 2/26/1874-1941.
The census also reported one stable, 2 cow houses, 1 calf house, 1 fowl house and 1 shed.
We believe this unlabelled tintype is William Kelliher, Sr.
William Kelliher, Sr. We know that these pictures were taken between 8/1/1899 - 1902 because the design of the badge (#447) he is wearing was used only during 1898-1902.
William Kelliher, Sr. sometime after 1902. The badge design has changed but the number remains 447. The insignia on his collar indicates that he is a CO, i.e., Commanding Officer, or Captain, of a precinct. He served from 8/1/1899 to 12/8/1937 and retired from Traffic Precinct I.
In 1928 William Fuller Kelliher traveled to Ireland and wrote a letter to his son, William, Jr.
Tralee, Kerry
Aug 16, 1928
Dear Bill
You should have accepted your Uncle's invitation to come to Ireland with him a couple of years ago. You would be wild, wooley and healthy by this time. There are mountains to climb, rivers and seas to swim in and a bit to eat once in a while. There are very few radios here though. Tell you all about it when I get back about the 26th.
Yours,
Father
I believe this letter is from William Fuller Kelliher to his son William, Jr., who would have been 16 in 1928. WFK would have been 56. It could not be WFK's father writing because (I believe- but have no evidence that) WFK's father (probably Michael Kelliher according to Coolcleve records found by Mary Leinenbach) died about 1890, just before WFK came to the US and Ellen/Bridget Fuller Kelliher went to Australia with two sons. I wonder why WFK went to Ireland in 1928. Was it a funeral? Whose? Note that he indicates that he has a brother in Ireland.
These two pictures are still later with yet another badge design, a captain's badge. The picture on the right was supplied by Tom Kelliher of Maryland. The picture on the left has adhered to the glass of the frame in which it had been displayed, which was then cracked. It can not be separated from the glass without further damaging the picture. It is a good subject for a digital adjustment.
Left: Marion, January 1910, 21 months. Right: Marion and Helen.
Marion, Helen and William Kelliher
John Kelliher, 1940s - 1950s
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