Research into a part of Shepherdsville's history led us to a merchant named John L. O'Brien whose parents were Christopher and Sophronia O'Brien. Below is some of what we learned about this family. Comments, additions, and corrections are welcome.
Christopher O'Brien married Sophronia Simmons in Bullitt County on 13 Dec 1838. As far as we know they had a son and six daughters. Here is a lineage chart on their family.
1 Christopher O'Brien, b. abt 1815
+ Sophronia Simmons, b. abt 1824, md. 13 Dec 1838 in Bullitt Co.
2 John L. O'Brien, b. abt 1840, d. 4 Mar 1909
+ America Travis, md. 2 Feb 1862 in Bullitt Co.
+ Mollie W. ??, b. Feb 1861
3 Augusta D. O'Brien, b. 28 Jul 1883
+ J. Warren Holsclaw, md. 31 Oct 1900
4 Mildred Francis Holsclaw, b. 28 Jul 1901
4 J. Perryman Holsclaw, b. 2 Apr 1905
2 Annie O'Brien, b. abt 1842
+ E. H. McCormack, b. abt 1839, md. 1 May 1861 in Bullitt Co.
3 Charles E. McCormack, b. abt 1862
3 Edward E. McCormack, b. abt 1865
2 Nancy O'Brien, b. 7 Feb 1843, d. 22 Jun 1913; never married
2 Mary O'Brien, b. abt 1846
2 Sarah Elizabeth O'Brien, b. 20 Mar 1848
+ William Walker Zazio, b. 8 Dec 1845, md. 14 Dec 1869 in Bullitt Co.
3 Lily Belle Zazio, b. 13 Sep 1870
+ Thomas Cooper Coleman, b. 6 Apr 1868, md. 20 May 1896, d. 22 Nov 1926
4 Thomas Cooper Coleman, b. 20 May 1898
+ Edith Castleman Edmonds
5 Thomas Cooper Coleman, b. 25 Aug 1920
5 Cornelia Roberts Coleman, b. 12 Sep 1924
4 William Zazio Coleman, b. 13 Aug 1902
3 Anna F. Zazio, b. 25 Jun 1872
+ George D. Lancaster
4 Elizabeth Lancaster
4 Linda Lancaster
+ H. B. Weeks
2 Rebecca O'Brien, b. abt 1850
+ James Q. Jenkins, md. 26 Jul 1870 in Bullitt Co.
2 Maria O'Brien, b. abt 1852
+ Joe E. Vaughn, md. 9 Nov 1870 in Bullitt Co.
We think the last two daughters' marriages are accurate, but additional documentation is welcome.
The census records below follow the family from 1850 to 1900.
1850 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, page 186B
household 538/538
Christopher O'Bryan - 35 M, farmer, born KY
Sophiona O'Bryan - 26 F, born KY
John O'Bryan - 10 M, born KY
Palsey A. O'Bryan - 8 F, born KY
Nancy O'Bryan - 6 F, born KY
Mary O'Bryan - 4 F, born KY
Sarah O'Bryan - 2 F, born KY
household 539/539
Joseph Simmons - 75 M, farmer, born MD
Rebecca Simmons - 70 F, born MD
1860 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Shepherdsville, page 4
household 33/33
Sophonia O'Brian - 37 F, seamstress, born KY
John O'Brian - 20 M, clerk, born KY
Ann O'Brian - 18 F, born KY
Nannie O'Brian - 17 F, born KY
Sallie O'Brian - 12 F, born KY
Rebecca O'Brian - 10 F, born KY
Maria O'Brian - 8 F, born KY
1870 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Shepherdsville, pages 5-6
household 27/27
McCormack, E. H. - 31 M W, ret. dry goods merchant, born KY
McCormack, Annie - 28 F W, keeping house, born KY (O'Brian) md. 1 May 1861 in Bullitt Co.
McCormack, Charles E. - 8 M W, born KY
McCormack, Eddie E. - 5 M W, born KY
O'Brian, Rebecca - 19 F W, at home, born KY (O'Brian)
O'Brian, Mollie - 26 F W, at home, born KY (O'Brian)
O'Brian, Mariah - 17 F W, at home, born KY (O'Brian)
Zazio, Wm. W. - 24 M W, deputy clk Cir Ct, born KY, md in Dec.
Zazio, Sallie - 22 F W, at home, born KY, md. in Dec. (O'Brian)
Porter, John P. - 20 M W, clk in store, born KY
household 30/30
O'Brian, John L. - 30 M W, W.S. Storekeeper, born KY
O'Brian, America - 36 F W, keeping house, born KY (Travis, md. 2 Feb 1862 in Bullitt Co)
Bates, D. M. - 26 M W, physician, born KY
Colmesnel, Mary - 30 F B, domestic servant, born KY
Colmesnel, George - 3 M B, born KY
Colmesnel, Ellen - 5 F B, born KY
Colmesnel, Mary - 7 F B, born KY
Colmesnel, Fannie - 7/12 F B, born KY in Oct.
1880 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Shepherdsville, page 216A
household 9/9
McCormick, Ann - W F 38, keeping house, born KY, parents born KY
McCormick, C. E. - W M 18, son, at school, born KY, parents born KY
McCormick, E. E. - W M 15, son, at home, born KY, parents born KY
O'Brien, J. L. - W M 40, brother, grocery clerk, born KY, parents born KY
O'Brien, Mollie - W F 26, sister, born KY, parents born KY
O'Brien, Maria - W F 22, sister, born KY, parents born KY
Simmons, Caroline, B F 50, servant, born KY, parents born KY
1880 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Leaches, page 223B
household 18/19
Zazio, W. W. - W M 34, retired merchant, born KY, father born Italy, mother born KY
Zazio, Sallie E. - W F 32, wife, keeping house, born KY, parents born KY
Zizio, Lily B. - W F 9, daughter, at home, born KY
Zizio, Anna F. - W F 7, daughter, at home, born KY
1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Shepherdsville, page 17A
household 318/324
McCormick, Elsworth - head, W M 38, born Feb 1862 in KY, md. 5 yrs, parents born KY, editor
McCormick, Mary M. - wife, W F 26, born Mar 1874 in KY, 2 children, parents born KY
McCormick, Elsworth - son, W M 3, born Jul 1896 in KY
McCormick, Mary M. - daughter, W F 5/12, born Jul 1900 in KY
O'Brine, Mariah - aunt, W F 52, born Mar 1848 in KY, single, parents born KY
household 321/327
O'Brine, John L. - head, W M 60, born May 1840 in KY, md. 18 yrs, parents born KY, merchant
O'Brine, Mollie W. - wife, W F 39, born Feb 1861 in KY, 1 child, parents born KY
O'Brine, Augusta - daughter, W F 16, born Jul 1883 in KY, single
If you have questions, or can share information about this family, use our contact link to share with us.
If you, the reader, have an interest in any particular part of our county history, and wish to contribute to this effort, use the form on our Contact Us page to send us your comments about this, or any Bullitt County History page. We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you feel that we have misspoken at any point, please feel free to point this out to us.
The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/christopher_obrien.html
