Stella M. Gallagher, born July 9, 1897 in Indiana, was the daughter of Edward L. Gallagher and Anna Kilrain, married in Pittsburgh on February 16, 1885.
Edward L. Gallagher, born in Pennsylvania, was a Glass Blower. In the 1900 Federal Census, the family lived in Grant County, Indiana. At that time, the children were Frank A., 14, Hilda, 12, Leo, 6, and Estella, 2. The birth years are off slightly from other records.
Stella Gallagher, 12, is found in the 1910 Federal Census of Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio with her mother, Annie Gallagher, 46 (8 children, 6 living), and the following siblings: Hilda, 21, Leo, 16, Regis and Leroy, both 6. Hilda (Anna Hilda) was born in Pittsburgh (per marriage record) and the others in Indiana. The mother's birthplace is listed as Pennsylvania, but in 1920, Stella indicated that her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Ohio.
In 1920, Stella Gallagher, born in Indiana, was a student nurse at St. Francis Hospital, and she lived at the Nurses' Residence.
By 1930, Stella had married Dr. Ernest Perri and they had two sons, Francis, 4, and Ernest L., 8 months. They lived in Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Perri was a General Practice physician.
Stella Perri, a widow, was still in Monaca in 1940. Her husband had died on July 9, 1939, leaving her with three sons, Francis, Joseph and Ernest.
In one of her husband's obituaries, Stella is named Stella Kilrain Gallagher. As indicated in the 1900 census, she was "Estella." Perhaps her middle name was Kilrain at some point early one. In any case, her mother's maiden name was Kilrain.
Stella's mother had a sister, Virginia A. Kilrain, who became a Registered Nurse. Miss Kilrain, trained nurse, born in Pennsylvania, lived in Seattle, Washington in 1910. She is called "Mrs. Virginia A. Kilrain" in the following article, but she was "Miss." Apparently, in 1938, she left her estate to three nephews and two nieces, the children of her two sisters.
By 1913, Miss Kilrain had moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, where she was employed as a Superintendent of the Lynn Tuberculosis Saniatarium. Next, she worked as a Social Worker. Finally, she owned a sanitarium and practiced as a Physio Therapist.
Of course, Stella was the niece in Pittsburgh who married a physician.
Stella's sister, Hilda - Anna Hilda Gallagher - married Monroe Bert in Ohio in 1920. Born September 26, 1886, she died in 1927 in Michigan. Brother, Leo, born February 17, 1894, died January 16, 1940 in Michigan. Other siblings were not researched.
Stella died on May 20, 1985.
