George H. Kerrigan was born on 18 June 1894 to Owen Patrick Kerrigan and Anna Flannigan Kerrigan. There is a conflict as to where he was born. All of the census records we have access to state that he was born in West Virginia, USA.[1][2][3][4][5] In addition, his WWII Draft Registration card, which George completed himself, shows that he was born in Kenova, West Virginia.[6] Both of his living daughters, Alma Church and Martha Samse have stated that he was born in Kenova, Wayne, West Virginia, USA.[7][8] But there is an Ohio County Birth record that shows he was born in Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio.[9]
Early Life
In 1896, when George was about two years old, his mother died shortly after the birth of his younger brother, Joseph.[10] At that time, George's father worked for a railroad. After his wife died he was unable to take care of the children because he was traveling with the railroad so much of the time. [11]The four children were separated at that time. Frances "Fannie" and baby Joseph went to live with their maiden aunt Fannie and Grandmother Flannigan.[12] Owen sent his daughter Mary, and George to live with their maiden aunt Mary Kerrigan and grandparents Patrick and Mary Kerrigan.[1] According to George's daughters, Alma and Martha, George never saw his father again.[7][8]
George dropped out of school after the sixth grade to go to work. He was living in Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio until he joined the Navy. By 1910 George was living only with his grandmother[1][2][13]>
Military
George Kerrigan is a Military Veteran. Served in the United States Navy 1917-1929 attaining Chief Petty Officer Served during World War I
George Kerrigan was awarded the World War I Victory Medal (United States).
George joined the U.S. Navy at the age of fifteen (1917).[7] He served aboard the USS McCawley as a sailor.[3] He enlisted on 11 Apr 1917. He must have misrepresented his birth date as the paperwork shows a birth year of 1892. [14]
George reenlisted and served on the Pacific Coast. In 1923 he was serving on a destroyer, the Young, as the Chief Electrician's Mate, the only electrician aboard.[15] .
The Honda Point Disaster
His ship was in a convoy of seven destroyers and seven other ships which were steaming south from San Francisco Bay to San Diego Bay. On the evening of September 8, 1923, the entire convoy was involved in what has been called the Honda Point disaster, the "largest peacetime loss of U.S. Navy ships". While heading for Santa Barbara Harbor in the fog the convoy made a navigational error and the seven destroyers ran aground and were lost. Twenty-three men died in this disaster.[16][17]
George related the incident on his ship. He said that when the ship hit a submerged pinnacle reef, as he was heading to the bridge, the destroyer rose out of the water higher and higher. She staggered for a split second and then fell back into the water with a resounding slap. The ship had deep gashes in the vessel's bottom on the starboard side. George, at that time, worked his way to the engine room, as that was where his main responsibility lay. He learned from a fellow sailor that there was 15 feet of water in the engine room and that the ship was probably sinking.[15] Kerrigan proceeded to start tying on a life jacket. At that moment the ship rolled onto its side, leaving the port side out of the water where the surviving men were clinging. At that moment George was thrown overboard. Fortunately he had a flashlight in his pocket and was able to get the attention of his shipmates with the light from it. Three of them were able to rescue him and he only suffered minor injuries from his dowsing and rescue. Others were not so lucky as most of the men who went into the water did not survive. The rock that they hit was a treacherous piece of rock called the "Devil's Jaw".[18]
Lying abandoned near the Young was another ship, the Chauncey. The Chief of the Young managed to swim, carrying a rope, to the Chauncey and rig up, with a second rope, a way for another man to get over to him. Between the two of them they were able to get a 7-man life raft back to the stranded men. George was on the first ferry trip to the Chauncey, which was followed by 11 more trips. With that 70 men were rescued from the sinking Young, with the captain being the last man off. The Young had 30 missing men, but not one of them had been left on board.[19]
Honda Point Disaster
Click here to listen to George tell of his experiences aboard the Young during the Honda Point Disaster
Following the loss of his ship he was reassigned to the USS Henshaw, another destroyer, which had been recommissioned just four days after the loss of the other destroyers. George was honorably discharged from the USS Henshaw on 22 October 1923, about one month later.[20]
George had another enlistment and was again honorably discharged as a Chief Electrician's mate from the US Naval Hospital in San Diego, California on 14 February 1929.[21]
George's final discharge paper shows that he was a Chief Electrician's Mate, having enlisted on 17 Jan 1924 for a term of four years. He served on the US Rec Ship in San Diego, the USS Riegel, the USS Ludlow, the USS Savannah, the USS Relief, and was discharged from the US Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. It also states that he served a total of eight years. This would include his service starting in 1917.[14][22] As noted above, George also served on the USS Young.[15]
Family Life
While George was still in the Navy in San Diego he met and married Miss Korilla Samse. They were married on 3 June 1921 in San Diego, California.[23] They remained married for 56 years, until George's death.
George & Korilla Kerrigan's Wedding Day
On 10 September 1923 George and Korilla's first daughter, Veva Jeanne, was born in San Diego.[24] This was only two days after George had been thrown overboard from his ship in the Honda Point disaster discussed above.[18]
The couple had two more daughters, Alma Louise on 26 December 1925[25] and Martha Leigh ("Marty")[26] on 16 October 1928. Shortly after Marty's birth George left the Navy and began his civilian career. George and Korilla remained in San Diego for the rest of their lives.
Civilian Career
George in his jeweler's shop in about 1930
At the end of George's military career he was in the Naval Hospital in San Diego. It was from the hospital that he was discharged. While he was in the hospital he learned watchmaking. He started his own jewelry business in East San Diego and operated it for eighteen years. He was forced to give up his business in 1946 due to cataracts. He had the cataracts removed and rather than wear glasses he made his own contact lenses at his jeweler's bench.[7][8][13][21]
Kerrigan Jewelers Baseball Team
One of the sideline benefits that came from owning his own business was having the opportunity to participate in community activities. One of those opportunities came in the form of sponsoring a local baseball team which was called "Kerrigan's Jewelers". He was sponsoring the team at least during the years 1936-1938.[8]
Political Career
George became interested and involved in the San Diego city government. He served eleven years on the city Planning Commission, starting even before he left his watchmaking shop. Then in 1949 he won a seat on the City Council from an East San Diego District. He was twice reelected, devotedly serving three terms on the San Diego City Council from 1949 to 1961. His leadership in city government contributed to the postwar development of San Diego and during his tenure the city's population more than doubled.
He had a large part in the development of Mission Bay Park (today the home of Sea World, many luxury hotels, homes, and recreational facilities), the academic and research facilities on Torrey Pines Mesa and the Metropolitan Sewer System. However, he was best known for his leadership in bringing Northern California water to the San Diego area.
George was a longtime member of the County Water Authority. It was through this membership that he later became president of the Feather River Project Association. Through this Association he provided leadership in the building of the California Aqueduct and the second San Diego Aqueduct. His favorite subject was his conviction that water held the key to Southern California's future and he spoke tirelessly on this subject to the press, his fellow politicians and the public.
Mr. Kerrigan was well-loved and well-respected in San Diego. One state representative said of him, "I'll never forget his wealth of knowledge, sensitivity to public need and grasp of complex issues. It was an inspiration to serve with him. San Diego is a better city because of George Kerrigan." A former mayor said that Mr. Kerrigan had a peculiar insight into people and their problems, adding: "He was the greatest councilman San Diego ever had."[13]
Death & Burial
George died on 14 Jan 1978 in San Diego, San Diego, California. He had been suffering with artheriosclerotic heart disease but died from a massive cerebral thrombosis.[27]He was survived by his wife of 56 years, Korilla, three daughters, 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego.[13][28]
Certificates, Awards & Proclamations
Over his adult lifetime, Mr. Kerrigan received numerous recognition certificates. A few of those follow:
San Diego Chamber of Commerce, November 2, 1933 -- This was awarded to George at the time he was retiring as Director. It states that he served as District Chairman while representing eastern San Diego in the Harbor Development and NRA (National Recovery Administration) campaigns.[29]
Certificate of Election, April 16, 1957 -- This certificate was given at the time of his third term as City Councilman for District No. 4 in San Diego.[30]
Resolution from the City of San Diego Planning Commission awarded on May 12, 1972 for his service on this Commission from 1937 to 1949 as well as his having been the first chairman of the first Zoning Committee and the first Chairman of the Architectural Control Committee.[31]
Resolution from the California Legislature awarded on May 15, 1972 for Mr. Kerrigan's various service to the City of San Diego from 1937 to 1949.[32]
Recognition Certificate from the California Water Resources Association awarded on February 17, 1978 for Mr. Kerrigan's activities and development of adequate and timely water supplies for San Diego and all of Southern California.[33]
Residences
On 1 June 1900, George was living in Portsmouth (Ward 4), Scioto, Ohio with his paternal grandparents, Patrick and Mary Kerrigan, his Aunt Mary and his sister Mary. They lived at 20 West 7th Street.[1]
On 29 April 1910, George continued to live in Portsmouth (Ward 1), Scioto, Ohio with his paternal grandmother, Mary Kerrigan. They were still living at 20 West 7th Street.[2]
In 1920, George was a sailor on board the USS McCawley.[3]
By 3 April 1930, George was married and settled down with his wife, Korilla and three daughters, Veva, Alma and Marty. They were living at 3646 47th Street, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.[4]
On 24 April 1940, the entire family was living at 4392 University Avenue in San Diego, California.[5] When George registered for the draft during World War II he was still living at this University Avenue address.[6]
Sometime in the 1960s, George and Korilla moved to a home that he built at 4780 55th Street, San Diego, San Diego, California.[7] He was still living in that home at the time of his death.[27]
↑ 1.01.11.21.3 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM61-51Y : accessed 12 May 2017), George H Kerrigan in household of Patrick Kerrigan, Wayne Township Portsmouth city Ward 4, Scioto, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 125, sheet 1B, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,319.
↑ 2.02.12.2 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML6F-VXY : accessed 20 January 2020), George Kerrigan in household of Mary Kerrigan, Portsmouth Ward 1, Scioto, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 146, sheet 22B, family 507, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1228; FHL microfilm 1,375,241.
↑ 3.03.13.2 "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP8T-KJN : accessed 12 May 2017), George Kerrigan, Boston, Massachusetts, Military and Naval Forces, United States; citing USS McCawley, sheet 2A, line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 2041; FHL microfilm 1,822,041.
↑ 4.04.1 "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC66-BWC : accessed 20 January 2020), George Kerrigan, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 70, sheet 2B, line 88, family 60, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 191; FHL microfilm 2,339,926.
↑ 6.06.1 "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V48R-NF5 : 8 November 2017), George Kerrigan, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X66L-MVD : 22 December 2016), Geo. H. Karrigan, 10 Jun 1894; citing Birth, Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, United States, county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 292,704.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/99839999/anna-kerrigen : accessed 26 May 2021), memorial page for Anna Kerrigen (3 Feb 1863–3 May 1896), Find A Grave: Memorial #99839999, citing Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by S Burrough (contributor 48461265) .
↑ Personal knowledge of Owen's grandson, Ned Rickett, Sr., as told to his son, Ned Rickett, Jr.
↑ Census for Fannie and Joseph Kerrigan "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML6N-7X6 : accessed 22 January 2020), Joseph Kerrigan in household of Susan Flannigan, Portsmouth Ward 2, Scioto, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 150, sheet 15A, family 263, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1228; FHL microfilm 1,375,241.
↑ 14.014.1 "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPTV-H1MJ : 17 October 2019), George Kerrigan, 19 Jul 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
↑ 15.015.115.2 Lockwood and Adamson, Tragedy at Honda, Naval Institute Press, 1986, pgs. 56-59
↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V25G-MYW : 27 November 2014), Veva J Kerrigan, 10 Sep 1923, daughter of George and Korilla Kerrigan; citing San Diego, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VL13-DCB : 27 November 2014), Alma Louise Kerrigan, 26 Dec 1925, daughter of George and Korilla Kerrigan; citing San Diego, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2R3-4SH : 27 November 2014), Martha Leigh Kerrigan, 16 Oct 1928, daughter of George and Korilla Kerrigan; citing San Diego, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPC9-YBQ : 26 November 2014), George H Kerrigan, 14 Jan 1978; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento
Thanks to SJ Baty for his help with military questions and for adding the military stickers.
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{Medal|image=Military_Medals.gif|medal=World War I Victory Medal (United States)}} (use two braces on each end though.)
Thanks. The category name was changed to Category:World War I Victory Medal (United States).
Regards, Natalie, Categorization Project member and Military and War Leader
Regards, Nat