St. Ninian's Cemetery Stone #14 John O’Brian/Family Inscription: North Side: John O’Brian DIED Feb 11. 1891, AGED 54 Y’RS AND HIS LOVING WIFE MARY DIED APRIL 5, 1888, AGED 49 Y’RS. ALSO THEIR CHILDREN East Side: IN LOVING MEMORY OF MICHAEL O’BRIAN KILLED AT STELL- ARTON, N.S. IN A RAIWAY ACCI- DENT SEPT. 28 1898. AGED 37 YEARS West Side: ALICE DIED JAN. 1875, AGE 16 Y’RS. MAGGIE DIED MAR. 20, 1885, AGE 16 Y’RS ALICE DIED AUG 16, 1885, AGE 6 Y’RS JOHN DIED FEB. 7, 1893, AGED 26 Y’RS MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE. South Side: JAMES O’BRIAN SR. DIED JUNE 8, 1876, AGED 85 Y’RS. CATHERINE HIS BELOVED WIFE DIED FEB. 7, 1879, AGED 79 Y’RS Material: Multiple materials, including granite, white limestone and concrete. Condition: The granite is, naturally, faring the best of any part of the marker. Some lichen is growing on the stone, and what deterioration exists is evident where sections of the different materials meet. John O’Brian was born in Antigonish County in 1837. His father, James, according to records at the Antigonish Heritage Museum and information provided by a descendant, was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland in 1791. James married Catherine Conners, daughter of a United Empire Loyalist in Nova Scotia. He moved to Bayfield in 1815, and later North Grant and finally 28 Church Street, Antigonish. He built a successful tanning business there, which he handed down to John, one of his 13 children. John married Mary Delaney and they had 5 children together. He maintained the tannery until his father’s death in 1876. John himself died on February 11, 1891. A Resolution of Condolence from the Sanbeam Lodge No. 171 Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen published in the Casket corroborates that John and Mary’s son Michael O’Brian was killed in a railway accident between Stellarton and Westville, Pictou County, and explains that he died instantly. It is clear from the article that Michael was well-respected among his professional community. Heather Anderson (edited by Christopher Greencorn) [ Back ]