 |
|
You are visitor: |
|
|
Mary Eliza Reedy and Philip Kiernan
Mary Eliza Reedy, the youngest daughter of Stanislaus County Treasurer John Reedy, graduated in 1877 at age 18 from the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Oakland. A sampler she embroidered commemorating the occasion was found by descendants of John Dunn and Margaret Reedy in a trunk on the Dunn farm in Salida outside Modesto.
Information from the Stanislaus Genealogical Society led to the marriage record of Mary Eliza and Philip Kiernan. They were married April 22, 1891 in St. Stanislaus Church in Modesto. The Modesto Daily Evening News carried a front page story of the wedding:
Kiernan-Reedy Nuptials (Sic)
One of the most delightful and quiet weddings of the season took place at St. Stanislaus (Catholic) church this afternoon, the contracting parties being Miss Elise Reedy, daughter of the late John Reedy, and Mr. Philip Kiernan, a prominent and extensive land owner of Alameda. The bride looked charming in an imported gown, with bonnet to match. She wore an elegant diamond brooch, the gift of the groom. The maid of honor, Aggie Dunn, the bride's niece, a captivating little Miss, was attired in white surah silk, carrying a basket of La France roses, making a beautiful foil for the shimmering beauties of the rich bridal toilet. Mr. Philip Kiernan, the groom, is well and favorably known in Oakland and Alameda, and a host of friends congratulate him not only upon his important step, but upon the estimable young lady he is so fortunate in securing. Miss Reedy, the bride, is one of Stanislaus fairest rosebuds, whose bright and genial smile, bewitching manner and charming presence has endeared her to the many friend who shower good wishes upon her for a land and happy life. Mr. and Mrs. Kiernan departed on the afternoon train for an extended wedding tour to Southern California. On their return they will spend the summer at Mr. Kiernan's villa, near Alameda.
Mary Eliza was 32 years old and Philip 54 years old when they married.
The first record found of Philip Kiernan is the 1860 census which shows him a 23 year old miner from New York counted in Stanislaus County at La Grange. In the same census Mary Eliza is an 11 month infant residing with her parents. Perhaps her future husband and her father were acquainted as they worked in the same gold fields.
Philip Kiernan appears in the 1866 San Francisco City Directory where he is listed as a carpenter. In 1873 he was working as a stevedore with Preston & McKinnon. In 1875 he and partner Samuel Stryker started their own stevedoring company Stryker & Kiernan. At that time Kiernan was living in San Francisco at 513 Howard Street. The 1881/82 Langley's Directory for San Francisco shows the business at Pier 5 and Kiernan was living in Alameda.
Philip was
listed in the 1891 Oakland City Directory as the proprietor of the
Green Arbor Baths on the corner of 2nd & Central Avenue which was also
shown as his residence. The 1909 Polk-Husted Directory for Alameda
shows that Kiernan continued as proprietor of the Green Arbor Baths
and lists his residence at 464 Central Avenue. He died 19 October
1909. The Oakland Enquirer of 20 October 1909 carried his obituary
with a photograph:
PHILIP KERNAN (SIC), PIONEER OF STATE IS DEAD
ALAMEDA, Oct. 20 - Philip Kernan, an appraiser in the United States commission service and a pioneer resident of this city, died yesterday at the Alameda sanitarium after an illness of six months. Mr. Kernan has been in the service of the government off and on since early man-hood. At the time of his death he was sixty-four years old. Mr. Kernan came to California when a boy and left New York at the age of twelve years. When a young man he entered the lumber industry where he amassed a considerable fortune. He came to Alameda twenty-nine years ago and purchased considerable property here. At the time of his death, however, the most of his wealth had disappeared. Mr. Kernan was an ardent Republican and took an important part in the activities of the party in this city. He was also interested in civic affairs and was a member of several improvement clubs that have been organized in this city. About fifteen years ago he married Miss Elizabeth Reedy, daughter of County Treasurer John Reedy of Stanislaus County. He was also known in this city as a man of unblemished reputation, of retiring disposition but of great hospitality. Mr. Kernan is survived by his widow.
It was in the home of Mary Eliza and Philip Kiernan that Anita and Irene Reedy, the young daughters of Mary Eliza's brother John, sought refuge after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. In her later years Anita remembered her aunt as eccentric and reclusive. When she died her estate was distributed to her remaining relatives including a small bequest to Anita Reedy Nunan.