their livelihoods. At the time of his death, John White had been working on the Phelps Ranch which was just south of West Day Road. He also worked as a ranch hand for the Murphy family in the San Martin area.
Armand ' s father was photographed working in the Cullen Brothers Livery business around 1900- approximately the same time as his marriage to Margaret " Maggie " Cullen Fitzgerald. Irish immigrant families including the Murphys, Fitzgeralds, Cullens, and Whites left Ireland to avoid the religious and political troubles that have plagued Ireland for years. Their immigration pattern followed a route to Frampton, Quebec, Canada before making their way to California. Armand White ' s adolescent years were certainly linked to the intertwined Irish community of southern Santa Clara County..
The 1876 Thompson and West Map of southern Santa Clara identifies the extensive land holdings of the Murphy family including an 1,100 parcel owned by Mrs. J. Fitzgerald, aka Johanna Murphy Fitzgerald( 1813- 1899). Johanna ' s husband, Patrick Fitzgerald had died in 1849 in Canada leaving her with six young children. Bernard Murphy was asked by his father to bring the widow and children to California. During Bernard ' s Canada trip, he met Catherine O ' Toole( 1829- 1925), his future wife. Catherine ' s sister, Johanna( 1814-1904) married Thomas Cullen( 1808- 1895)- Armand ' White maternal grandparents. It was Johanna and Thomas Cullen who moved from Canada to California in 1868.
The Gilroy Museum offers a glimpse into Gilroy’ s history and includes research facilities, photographs, and artifacts covering everything from the Ohlone Indians, through the Spanish-Mexican period, all the way up to the“ Garlic Renaissance” and recent city history.( visitgilroy. org)
Armand ' s mother, Margaret " Maggie " Cullen Fitzgerald White is the best reference point in attempting to understand the tangle of Irish connections. Armand was proud of his " old pioneer " roots. He also described himself as a " well known local historian " when he produced a small pamphlet called a " History of Gilroy.” Unfortunately, it was not an original work and he should have given attribution to the earlier historians of Santa Clara County.
After retiring from his work in San Francisco, Armand returned to Gilroy after World War ll. He lived with his mother and sister Winifred in the family home at 7771 Church Street near Second Street. Winifred had attended Stanford, graduating in 1905, choosing a profession in teaching. She taught in Madrone and then transferred to Gilroy, retiring in 1948, probably to help care for her aging mother with Armand ' s assistance. It is likely that Winifred, who died in 1963, enjoyed collecting local history artifacts, especially family heirlooms, as did Armand,
The 1910 obituary for Armand ' s father, John, noted that " his widow and young son were living on Church Street near Fifth Street. A new house at 7771 Church Street home was built around 1915 and then occupied by Margaret Fitzgerald White and her children. I would like to think that Gilroy Mayor Thomas Fitzgerald( 1873-1933), and the extended Fitzgerald family, may have helped Armand ' s mother financially. His mother was also a Cullen.
Continued...
gmhtoday. com Gilroy • Morgan Hill TODAY Magazine: Go. Make history... SPRING 2026 35