John Doherty Cullinan was born on October 4, 1854 and baptized four days later at the Parish Church in Castleisland, County Kerry. He was the son of John M. Cullinane (1824-1902) and Julia
Doherty (1828-1904). John and Julia emigrated to the United States in the late 1860s and settled in Notre Dame, Indiana. Six of their eight children were born in County Kerry, but the younger two were born in Indiana. This family also had relatives
in Cass County, Michigan who left County Kerry several years before.
Unlike his cousins in Michigan, John Doherty Cullinan dropped the 'e' in his surname. This practice was more common in County Waterford, however, the names have been used interchangeably in all counties.
After several years at Notre Dame University, John Doherty Cullinan started a company which created, installed and painted the ornate ceiling and wall decorations found in hotels from Illinois to Louisiana, a career which would span more than 35
years. These fixtures became the focal point of some major ballrooms, foyers and receptions of American hotels--and his work could also be found in some churches.