Frances ‘Frank’ Michael Connolly was born on 8th Oct 1877 in Warwick Queensland. He was the son of Dennis Connolly and Johanna Mary Callaghan both from Co Cork, Ireland. He had seven brothers and three sisters and he died of Typhoid fever in the Kalgoorlie Hospital on the 13th Jan 1902.
He is buried alone in a double plot in the Kalgoorlie cemetery in the Roman Catholic section. It’s not known why a double plot was purchased as he was a single man. It was perhaps thought that his two brothers and their family may also wish to be buried there. It seems he had two brothers in the Goldfields at the time of his death. James and John Connolly.
Francis Michael Connolly – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Ancestry.com
The inscription reads: In loving memory of Francis Michael Connolly
Fifth son of D & J Connolly of Clifton Darling Downs Qld.
Who died Jan 13th, 1902
Aged 25yrs years.
Oh loving heart of Mary Your prayers for him extol.
Oh, sacred heart of Jesus have mercy on his soul.
R.I.P.
Francis Michael Connolly – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Ancestry.com
Kalgoorlie Miner 15 January 1902, page 8
FUNERAL OF MR. FRANK CONNOLLY.
Yesterday afternoon the remains of Mr. F. M. Connolly were conveyed to their last resting place in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. The funeral procession was indeed a very lengthy one, a large number of private citizens and business people paying their last tribute of respect to the deceased. The pallbearers were Messrs M. Craigg, G. Fitzgerald, J. McAuliffe, D. Creedon, W. Phelan, and S. Butler. A goodly number of floral tributes were placed on, the coffin, wreaths being sent by the following persons — Mr. and Mrs. J. McAuliffe, Mrs. J P. Connolly, Miss M. McAuliffe, Mr. and Mrs. Carigg, Messrs. Hehir and Green, Messrs. Sparling and McMahon, Mr. P. Hargan, Mr. J. Ryan, Madam Carlotta and sister, Mr. J. Malone, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. and Mrs. Logan (of Bulong), and many others whose names we were unable to obtain. The Rev Father O’Neill, assisted by Father Brennan and Father Crowler, officiated at the grave. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. Walker and Greenwood.
Kalgoorlie Miner 14 January 1902, page 4
Items of News.
Obituary — It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of Mr. Frank Connolly, fourth son of Mr. D. Connolly, J.P. of Elphinstone, Darling Downs, Queensland, a brother to Mr. J. D. Connolly, M.L.C., and Mr. John Connolly, which took place shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday. Mr. Connolly had been under medical treatment for the past ten weeks. He had made considerable progress towards recovery under the care of his medical attendant. However, Complications set in, and the patient needed to undergo an operation to bring about a complete restoration to health. This was successfully undergone on Sunday morning, and everything went favorably until yesterday morning when Mr. Connolly succumbed to heart, failure. Deceased was one of the best known and most respected young fellows on the goldfields, where he had resided for the past nine years. The funeral will leave the Roman Catholic Church at 2.15 this afternoon.
Frank Connolly was the brother of well-known Colonial Secretary James D Connolly M.L.C. who lived in this attractive home near the corner of Cheetham St and Bouder Road Kalfoorlie in 1901.
Residence of James D Connolly M.L.C. – Kalgoorlie WA -J J Dwyer
Hon J D Connolly – W.A. Record 8 November 1913, page 11
NOTE: You will read that Frank Connolly had been in the Goldfields for 9 years before his death in 1902. This would make his arrival in Kalgoorlie in the first year of its existence. He would have only been a young man of 16yrs at that time. He may have come with his parents or just with his brothers,
Moya Sharp
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Hi Moya,
Thanks for posting this. James, the older brother was my great grandfather. Their parents lived in Queensland. James was in Victoria at some point where he met his wife, Catherine. Perhaps his brother told of opportunities in Kalgoorlie.
I believe James who was a quantity surveyor became a building contractor in Kalgoorlie and Western Australia from around1893. He then started a political career by being elected to the town council in 1899. He later entered the Legislative Council and Assembly and became a Minister. He moved to England in 1917 as Agent General for Western Australia and later Malta where he encouraged Catholics to emigrate to Australia! He was knighted in 1920.
Wow He certainly had a full life. May I add this extra detail to the story about him?
Of course!