Michael Culliton (1843-1907) Niagara Falls

While researching a shipwreck an obituary from a New York newspaper revealed two Glenmore brothers who emigrated to Niagara Falls, New York in the late 1860’s. The name Culleton was long associated with Kilbride, Glenmore although sadly it has become “extinct” in the townland as Danny Dowling (1927-2021) would have said. What Danny meant was that the name was no longer present although there are descendants present. We have found several different spellings of the name Culleton/Culliton/Coleton etc.

In Kilbride there were two Culleton families. Perhaps the families had nicknames to distinguish them. If you are aware of how locals distinguished the two Culleton families please comment below. The oldest located Culleton baptismal parish records reflect two families in Kilbride. Michael Culleton, of Kilbride, was baptized 27 July 1777, the son of Michael Culleton and his wife Eleanor Grant. Eleven years later another Michael Culleton was baptized in Kilbride on 13 January 1788, the son of James Culleton and his wife Mary Haberlin. James Colleton (sic) and Mary Haberlin of Glinmore (sic) were married at Slieverue on 17 April 1784.

Michael Culliton (1843-1907) Native of Kilbride, Glenmore

The obituary that revealed the Glenmore brothers was published in the Niagara Falls News (11 Feb. 1907, p. 1).

               Michael Culleton—The death of Michael Culleton, which occurred at the family home, No. 1517 South Avenue, at 2:10 o’clock this morning, removes a highly respected citizen of this city. He was born at Glenmore, Kilkenny County, Ireland, August 10, 1843. He came to this country in 1869, and to Niagara Falls in 1873. He was for many years in the employ of the Erie railroad as a baggageman at Suspension Bridge. He resigned this position and entered the milk business. He was forced to give this up on account of ill health and sold out to the Niagara Dairy company, in which he was at the time of his death a large stockholder. Mr. Culleton has for many years served as a flagman on the Pine Avenue crossing of the Erie railroad.

Deceased is survived by one brother, James Culleton of Buffalo, four daughters and three sons, all of this city, and his death will also be regretted by a large circle of friends. He was a man of unusual intelligence and estimable character. He was a member of the C.M.B.A. The funeral will be held from the Sacred Heart Church Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock. Interment will be made in St. Mary’s cemetery. [To view Michael’s headstone see, Findagrave.]

It is of interest to note that the first horse ever used by the Niagara Falls fire department was purchased from Mr. Culleton.

From the above obituary it appeared that Michael was a widower. However, an obituary from the Niagara Falls Gazette (11 February 1907) revealed that he was survived by his spouse, but the Gazette made no mention of the horse he sold to the fire department.

“Michael Culliton, a resident of this city for the last 40 years died at his home no. 137 South Avenue this morning. The deceased was 63 years old. Besides his wife he is survived by four daughters Alice, C.; Nellie G.; Margaret W. Culliton and Mrs. Daul (sic) Curry and three sons James V.; Thomas F.; and Edward J. Culliton, all of this city. The deceased was for a long time employed by the Erie railroad but of late had engaged in the milk business.“

The 1900 Census

The 1900 Federal Census provided that Michael Culliton was born in August 1843, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1865. His wife, Anastasia was born in August 1850, and she emigrated in 1870. The couple were married 27 years (c. 1873) and 8 children were born, but only 7 children were alive in 1900. The family lived at 1317 South Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York.

Michael Culliton’s Family

From cemetery markers etc. we were able to glean that Anastasia Culliton’s (1850-1919) maiden name was Costello.  The children were: (1) James Culliton (1874-1920); (2) Mary A. Culliton (b. 1876); (3) Thomas Culliton (b. 1878); (4) John J. Culliton (1882-1882); (5) Nellie G. Culliton Albright (1883-1950); (6) Margaret W. Culliton Savage (1884-1964); (7) Edward J. Culliton and (8) Joseph Culliton (b. 1887).

For interesting information concerning, Niagara Falls, New York, see “The Movement to Save Niagara Falls,” (2025) on New York Almanack website.

James Culliton (1847-1927) Native of Kilbride, Glenmore

The Buffalo News (Wed. 10 Aug. 1927, p. 29) published the following obituary which highlighted some important events that occurred in Buffalo while James lived there.

 “James Culliton—One of the first Buffalonians who had his residence “north of Cold Spring,” has passed from the neighbourhood which was a wilderness when he went to live there 48 years ago. He is James Culliton, who celebrated his 79^th birthday a couple of weeks ago on the same spot, 2977 Main Street, where he first settled in Buffalo in 1879.

Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Mr. Culliton came to America in 1869 at the age of 19. He first located at Niagara Falls, where he was employed for a time by the New York Central. In a few years, he went to work for the Erie railroad, moving to Buffalo where he continued in that Company’s employ for 51 years. [Editor’s note–Buffalo is approximately 20 miles from Niagara Falls, New York.]

Buffalo’s greatest growth has come during the span of close to half a century during which Mr. Culliton lived here. He saw its population more than double and Central Park Region change from an uninhabited area of woods and fields to one of the principal residence sections of the city. President McKinley’s assassination and the public upheaval which followed were all a part of Mr. Culliton’s memories of earlier Buffalo.

Mr. Culliton is survived by four sons and three daughters, all residents of Buffalo. They are:  Edward H.; William C.; Richard J.; Joseph E.; and Miss Catherine M. Culliton; Mrs. Hannah Madigan and Mrs. John Brennan. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. from Saint Joseph’s Church, 3269 Main Street. Interment will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery. The Rev. Joseph Schemel, pastor of Saint Joseph’s will officiate.” To view James’s headstone see Findagrave.

James was a widower at the time of his death in 1927. His wife, Johanna died in 1918. (The Buffalo Times, Fri 1 Nov. 1918, p. 13).

               Mrs. Johanna Culliton—The funeral of Mrs. Johanna Culliton, who died at her late home, No. 2977 Main Street, will be held tomorrow morning at 2 o’clock (sic), from St. Joseph’s Church, Main St. Mrs. Culliton was born in Ireland, and came to this country 40 years ago, residing first at Niagara Falls. She had been a resident of Buffalo for 29 years. She was one of Buffalo’s most respected and esteemed residents and hosts of friends mourn her sudden and unexpected death. She is survived by four sons, William C., Richard, J.; Edward H.; and Joseph Culliton, and three daughters, Mrs. Jeremiah Brennan; Mrs. S.V. Madigan; and Caroline Culliton. Interment will be at St. Mary’s cemetery, Niagara Falls.

Thus, James was buried in Mount Calvary of Buffalo and his wife was buried in St. Mary’s of Niagara Falls, however no grave could be located for Johanna Culliton (c. 1853-1918).

1910 Census

In the 1910 Federal Census, (Buffalo Ward 17) James Culliton was 61 years of age and recorded that he had been married for 40 years. He emigrated in 1870 and was naturalized. His wife was Johanna and she emigrated from Ireland in 1868. They had 10 children and 7 of the children were living at the time of the 1910 census. James worked for a railroad as a section foreman.

James Culliton’s Family

Identifying the children of this family proved difficult because it appears that in different census the children were identified by different names and family members were identified with different dates of birth. For example, in the 1900 Federal Census the father James was reported as being born in September 1850 and his wife Johanna was born in January 1853. In the 1880 Federal Census James was 32 (b.c. 1848) and Johanna was 30 (b.c. 1850). It was recorded that James could not read or write which may explain the different dates given across various records. Known children located in Census and cemetery markers include: (1) James Culliton (b.c. 1871 per 1875 State Census); (2) Mary Culliton (c. 1874) married Jeremiah Brennan in 1902; (3) William C. Culliton (c. 1875-1955); (4) John Culliton (b.c. 1877); (5) Edward H. Culliton (1879-1960); (6) Richard J. Culliton (b.c. 1881); (7) Catherine Culliton (b.c. 1885-1947); (8) Johanna “Anna” Culliton Madigan (b.c. 1886) and (9) E. Joseph Culliton (1886-1935).

The Culleton Families of Kilbride, Glenmore

Michael Culliton (1843-1907) and his brother James Culliton (1843-1927) were baptized respectively at Kilbride, on 11 August 1843, and 9 June 1847, the sons of James Culliton and his wife Mary Murphy. To determine which Kilbride family the brothers belonged we examined headstones for both families as well as parish records.

Family A–Johnny Culleton line

Johnny Culleton (1911-1998)  m. Maggie Reid (c. 1918 -2009)
Johnny’s parents: James Culleton (1867 -1962) m. Hannah Grace (c. 1873 -1950)
Johnny’s grandparents: John Culleton (1836-1882) m. Bridget Walsh (c. 1876 -1917)
Johnny’s great-grandparents: James Culleton (c. 1807 -1847) m. Mary Murphy

Thus, Michael Culliton (1843-1907) and James Culliton (1847-1927) were Johnny Culleton’s (1911-1998) great uncles or Johnny’s grandfather John’s brothers.

Family B–Jim Culleton line

Given the names Michael and James it was initially believed that the two brothers were from Jim’s line. We have included this line for completeness. For more information on this line see our post of 26 August 2024 and 8 October 2020 concerning Patrick Culleton (b. 1848) the son of Michael Culleton and his wife Ellen Morrissy.

Jim Culleton (c. 1927-2012 m. Anna Brennan ( c. 1933- 2025)
Jim’s parents: Michael Culleton (1878-1968) m. Alice Hartley (1895-1982)
Jim’s grandparents: James Culleton (1845-1912) m. Margaret O’Connor (c. 1840-1918)
Jim’s great-grandparents: Michael Colleton (sic) m. Ellen Morrissy

Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com

Special thanks to everyone who was contacted today for information including: Michael Roche; Paschal Roche; Mary Doherty née Culleton; Michael Hoynes and Ann O’Rourke.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The featured photo of Niagara Falls, New York, is courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “The great cataract of Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.A. [Hand-colored view. 1850-1930]” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/cbe58960-c55c-012f-c5eb-58d385a7bc34

The photo of the tug pulling a ship through ice at Buffalo, New York in May 1869 is courtesy of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Tug and vessel in the ice, May 1869.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/cca47580-c553-012f-ee68-58d385a7bc34