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Anne is pictured in the middle right, accompanied by her grandson on the far left and his girlfriend and her grandmother in the middle
Family and New Beginnings
Family and New Beginnings
Anne Kilcoyn and Cornelius O’Reilly arrived in New York City in the late 1800s, hoping to build a new life away from the struggles they had faced in Ireland. They settled into the crowded city and worked hard to establish themselves. Together, they had their first child, John Patrick O'Reilly, in 1890. As their family grew, so did their determination to make a better life for their children.
Life In The Big City
Anne and Cornelius put in a lot of effort to make their living in New York. While Anne ran the home and took care of their expanding family, Cornelius worked in a variety of locations but ultimately started his own business. After a while, they purchased a modest house and spent several years there.
Business Booms
Business Booms
Early Stages
Cornelius began a modest carpentry and furniture-making business in the early 1900s since he had experience with manual labor and had a talent for using his hands. Cornelius specialized in custom cabinets and handcrafted furniture, which soon became well-known for their quality. His store, which was in a packed part of the city, drew in both local families and other foreigners searching for reasonably priced, well-made furniture.
Later Stages
As the business grew, Cornelius expanded his services to include home repairs, from installing windows to building custom shelving. Anne helped manage the business by keeping everything organized and making sure everything ran smoothly at home. Their children often helped out in the shop, sweeping the floors or delivering small pieces of furniture around the neighborhood.
Cornelius's business became well-respected in the community, allowing the O'Reilly family to build a stable life in New York. As his reputation grew, Cornelius's work was put in local shops and in local newspapers, honoring the success of an immigrant family starting from scratch in a new country.
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