When Irish immigrants Patrick and Bridget McGrath Kiernan came across the plains in 1854, Bridget was pregnant with the first of their seven children -- two sons and five daughters. The couple settled close to Gazelle in Northern California鈥檚 Siskiyou County. They raised cattle and ran a butchering business under their O-K brand, named for the original family name, O鈥橩iernan.
Kiernan began building the family home in 1872, using oxen to haul the lumber for the house from the Dobkins Lumber Mill on the Shasta River. The home鈥檚 ornate papered ceilings and borders delighted neighbors. The Irish accented story goes that one of Patrick鈥檚 friends once said, 鈥淲ell, Pat, now that you鈥檙e a-buildin鈥� such a big house, we don鈥檛 suppose you鈥檒l be a-speakin鈥� to the likes of us anymore.鈥� With his Irish wit, Patrick responded, 鈥淥h, I鈥檒l be a-speakin鈥� to you, but I鈥檒l not be on the same equal with you!鈥�
A visiting Catholic priest came monthly, offering alternate Sunday services at the Kiernan ranch and a neighboring one. Those attending Mass stayed for dinner. Patrick died in 1896 and Bridget more than 20 years later. By 1928 all the Kiernan acreage and the family home had been sold.
Source: McCracken, Marjorie. 鈥淭he Kiernan Ranch.鈥� The Siskiyou Pioneer 3.7 (1964): 20-22. Print.
