James Elmer O'Brien

Brief Life History of James Elmer

When James Elmer O'Brien was born in September 1890, in Brown Township, Martin, Indiana, United States, his father, Joseph Francis O'Brien, was 24 and his mother, Maranda Jane Henderson, was 20. He married Rose Nevada Baird on 1 December 1919, in Ames, Story, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Lawrence, Illinois, United States in 1935 and Bruceville, Washington Township, Knox, Indiana, United States in 1940. He registered for military service in 1919.

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Family Time Line

James Elmer O'Brien
1890–
Rose Nevada Baird
1886–
Marriage: 1 December 1919
Robert Edward O'Brien
1922–2010

Sources (15)

  • James O'Bryn, "United States Census, 1940"
  • Legacy NFS Source: James E.O'Brien - Government record: birth:
  • James Elmer O'Brien, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934"

Spouse and Children

World Events (8)

1892 · The Chicago Canal

The Chicago River Canal was built as a sewage treatment scheme to help the city's drinking water not to get contaminated. While the Canal was being constructed the Chicago River's flow was reversed so it could be treated before draining back out into Lake Michigan.

1896 · Plessy vs. Ferguson

A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities if the segregated facilities were equal in quality. It's widely regarded as one of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history.

1922 · Oldest radio station west of the Mississippi

The Karlowa Radio Corporation, in Davenport, was issued a new license for broadcasting and with it they were randomly assigned call letters of WOC. The small studio was the first to reach the Iowa area and was identified as one of 21 stations that were desirable because of coverage area and performance. In September 1927, WOC became a member of the new NBC radio network and still is today. In 1932, Ronald Reagan got his first broadcasting job at WOC as a sportscaster and he returned in 1988 after his presidency tour. WOC is the oldest surviving broadcasting station in the middle Mississippi Valley and was the first to keep logs on their electrical consumption and their on-air programming.

Name Meaning

Some characteristic forenames: Irish Brendan, Dermot, Liam, Brigid, Declan, Donovan, John Patrick, Kieran, Colm, Donal, Brennan, Caitlin.

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Briain ‘descendant of Brian’, a personal name probably based on the element bre- ‘hill’, with the transferred sense ‘eminence’, i.e. ‘exalted one’. See also Bryan . In Ireland there has also been some confusion with O'Byrne (see Byrne ).

History: This name is borne in particular by one of the greatest of Irish septs, descendants of Brian Boru, who rose to the high kingship of Ireland in 1002.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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