Ellen Hartnett

Ellen Hartnett (1855-1942) was the oldest child, born in Brosna, Co. Kerry, to Daniel Harnett and Mary Connor. Her grandmother Ellen Flynn Harnett (wife of John Harnett), gave her the money to immigrate to America. Ellen immigrated about 1876 (ship and port unknown) to the East Coast, where she hired on as a teacher to a family traveling by wagon to the West. When she arrived in Los Angeles, she continued as a teacher to earn the money to bring her siblings over from Ireland.

Ellen met Michael Leahy in Los Angeles. One story is they met at a Catholic dance, another story is Michael was walking down the boardwalk, heard her Irish accent and asked Ellen out. When he asked her to marry him, he reportedly told her that he was landed and she'd never have to work again. They lived in Los Angeles at Alameda and 20th streets and he was an Orchardist.

Spouse: Michael Leahy (c1841-1909) was born in Ireland (county unknown) to John Leahy and Johanna 'Anna' Keller. He immigrated c.1857 (port and ship unknown) around Cape Horn to California to his uncle Matthew 'Don Mateo' Keller, who had immigrated c.1832.

On Apr 20, 1880, Ellen Hartnett and Michael Leahy married in St. Vibiana's Church, Los Angeles. The witnesses were Daniel M Murphy, a friend of Michael, and Johanna Hartnett, a relation of Ellen.

Ellen and Michael had 11 children: Ann, Mary, John, Johanna, Daniel, Ellen, Katherine, Mathew, Thomas, Mildred, and Edward.