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Note: William George Houlihan was the youngest son of John & Margaret Houlihan. (His middle initial was provided by J.J. Houlihan in the early 1960's; his middle name was provided by his will.). According to his marriage license application in 1891, he was born in Armstrong Co., PA. At the 1870 census, he was reported as being 12 years old, making his birth year approximately 1858; this is consistent with the 1880 census where he's listed as being 21 years old. When he applied for a marriage license 13 May 1891 he gave his birth as 7 June 1865. At the 1900 census, he gave his birth date as August, 1864; his will states his birth date as 7 June 1864. Cemetery records list his age as 54, again consistent with an 1858 year of birth. I have chosen 1858 as the "best" accurate year.
At the 1870 census, he was living with his parents and siblings, and uncle Richard McCarthy and his 2 daughters in Union Township, Allegheny Co., PA. At the 1880 census, he was living on Butler St., Pittsburgh in the home of his older brother John, along with his parents, 2 siblings and his cousin Kate, one of the McCarthy daughters. His occupation was shown as "student" and he was unmarried.
According to J.J. Houlihan, William married "Kitty Green" who died young and they had no children; I've confirmed his marriage to "Katie" Green 14 May 1891 via Pittsburgh Marriage License Registry docket # B1951, Vol. 18, pg. 151. William G. Houlihan (Hollihan) is listed in the 1895 Pittsburgh Directory at 5115 Carnegie St., just 3 houses from David and Barbara Houlihan. He is shown as a "music teacher," his business address the same as his home address. The same William Houlihan appears in the 1900 census and the 1900 Pittsburgh Directory at the same address, with the same profession, a widower living with his sister, Mary. Both are PA-born of Irish parents. Wife Katie died between their May, 1891 marriage and the 1900 census.
William "Hollihan" and his sister Mary appear in the 1910 census, still living at 5115 Carnegie St., Pittsburgh. His occupation is "music teacher" This time William is listed as 36 years old (he was actually 46) and his sister 47. Also living in the house was a 21 year old boarder; although difficult to read, he was likely Harry "Hollihan"/Brady, son of William's sister Margaret (see Notes: Margaret Houlihan & Harry Brady). This boarder was employed as a machinist in the locomotive works.
F.X. Houlihan recalls his father, John J., talking about an "Uncle Will" who weighed 300 pounds! This may have been this William Houlihan - or, possibly, William McCarthy.
The "Pittsburgh Press" obituary of Professor William G. Hollihan reports his death 5 Feb. 1913 at 5:45 am. The funeral was held at his residence, 5115 Carnegie Ave. at 8:30 am; a requiem mass was held at St. Kieran's Church at 9 am (the same church his brother John was buried from 13 years prior). He was buried in a single grave at Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, on 8 Feb. 1913. On 4 April 1916, however, his body was removed to Section M, Lot 298, grave 1 in a plot of 6 graves purchased by Catherine Rawlins of 5115 Carnegie Ave.; his name is shown in cemetery records as "W.G. Holligan." (This is "Kate" McCarthy Rawlins, his principal legatee.) Buried in that lot are Katherine (1936), Bernard Rawlins, her husband (1925), an infant Rawlins son, Mary Jane Houlihan (shown as Mary Hoolihan) who was William's sister (1916) and 3 other Rawlins moved there in April, 1916 from St. Mary's cemetery. On 19 April 1998 I visited this burial plot and found no markers or tombstones for Houlihan or Rawlins.
The Index of Allegheny Co. wills reports the will of William G. "Hollihan" who died 5 Feb. 1913 in the 18th ward of Pittsburgh (the ward where Carnegie St. was located, later changed to ward 10). It is recorded in Will Book 118, page 491. A copy of the will has been obtained, written 25 Aug. 1902, almost 11 years before his death, but at a time when he appears to have been ill. It reads as follows:
"In the Name of God. Amen.
I, William George Hollihan [born June 7, 1864], widower, of the Eighteenth ward in and of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, being of sound and disposing mind but of present sickness of body, mindful of the uncertainties of life and of the certitude of death, do make and ordain this, my only and last, will and testament, in manner and form following:
Imprimis. When it shall please Almighty God to call me hence, I hopefully commit my immortal soul into the benign care of its Lord and Creator and direct that my bodily remains be duly interred in Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after the intoning of a High Mass thereover in Saint Kieran's church within said city; a headstone, both to exceed one hundred dollar cost, to mark my grave.
Secundo. I will and bequeath to my sister Catherine, intermarried with Bernard Rawlins, of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, my Decker Brothers' square piano outright.
Tertio. I will and bequeath to my nephew John D. Hollihan, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my Estey parlor organ outright.
Quarto. I will, and direct the payment of three hundred dollars, stipendia for Masses for my spiritual welfare beyond, to the then pastor of Saint Kieran's Roman Catholic church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Quinto. After the due payment and discharge of all and singular of my just debts, funeral and grave=expenses (sic), the State collateral inheritance tax, the costs and fees connected with the regular administration of my estate, etc., I will and devise my home=realty (sic), No. 5115 Carnegie avenue back to 5114 Dresden Alley, Eighteenth ward, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to my sisters Mary Jane Hollihan and Catherine, intermarried with Bernard P. Rawlins, both devisees of the same city, as tenants=in=common (sic). Respecting of the latter devisee, I insistently request and enjoin upon her - her said husband being then living - to forthwith apply for, and diligently develop application for, a regular judicial decree of femme=sole tradership; in order that her holding hereunder may be and stand relieved of all prejudice or accountability of her distressing coverture.
Postremo. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my brother, David Hollihan, the sole executor hereof: alternatively my long time friend, Lawyer William A. Golden, of Pittsburgh, too.
Whereunto I, William G. Hollihan, the testator, to this, my will, written on one (1) sheet, two and a quarter pages of paper, have set my hand this twenty-fifth day of August, Anno Domini one thousand, nine hundred and two (1902):
Subscribed, published and declared by the above-named testator, William George (Signed) William G. Hollihan Hollihan, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names at his request as witnesses thereto, in his presence and that of each other: (Signed) David Sheehan (Signed) David P. Delehanty"
The will was filed for probate 24 February 1913 by William A. Golden. William Hollihan had been a resident of the 10th ward of Pittsburgh at his death; the obituary stated that he still lived at 5115 Carnegie St. His personal estate was valued at $300 and real estate, less encumbrances, at $4,000.
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