Pierce Edward Kirwan

A photo of Pierce Edward Kirwan in Waterford County, Ireland. Seated is my great grandfather, Pierce E. Kirwan. He is being photographed with his sister. He emigrated to San Francisco USA he met and married Catherine Mary Power - also known as Kitty. They made a life in San Francisco with a nice house and a bar -- but 3 days after the 3rd birthday of the son Nick, The Great Quake of 1906 changed everything. The family of 4 was were initially forced to live in a tent in Golden Gate Park. Pierce (also known as The Duke) was taken in by his brother Nicholas (an SFPD officer) and his wife. They had no kids so bringing Mary (age 6) and Nick (age 3) into their home with their parents was the least they could do. A third child, Edward James Kirwan, would be born about a year after the Great Quake, on May 20, 1907 in Southern California, where the family relocated to recover.