Edward Joseph is the loving son of Sarah Jane Hickinson and Edward Cullen who married 14 September 1868 in Manhattan. His mother Sarah is the daughter of John Hickinson (1790-1871) and Susanna Neale (1816-1874) both of England. His father Edward is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth who may have possibly been from County Cavan or the south of Dublin County in the Glenncullen townland at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, Ireland. Edward's forename is apparently from his father.

Edward’s father served during the Civil War, Co. C, N.Y. 10th – National Zouaves, and was seriously injured leaving him an invalid. He would suffer a fatal fall while in the employ of the NYFD Telegraph Bureau and pass away a month before Edward’s 10th birthday.

Edward is fifth of Edward's and Sarah's eleven children: John F. 1869-1904, Ellen (aka Nellie) 1873-1894, Elizabeth (aka Bessie) 1871-1951, James 1877-1924, Edward Jos. 1878-1950, Susanna 1880-1966, William 1881-1916, Mary 1883-1888, Sarah 1884-1885 (the infant held in the family picture shown within her parents' memorials – links below), Catherine 1886-1971, Francis J. 1888-1918.

At time of birth, Edward lived at 4th Avenue and 97th Street, at the Cullen Homestead 110 East 97th Street, around 1905 until around 1909 at 164 East 100th Street, and from 1910 up to time of mother Sarah's passing on at 122 East 98th Street.

As a grown man, Edward was tall of slender build with gray eyes and brown hair.

On May 2nd, 1898, at the age of 19, Edward enlisted to serve two years in the 12th Regiment of the 1st Brigade of New York’s Volunteers during the Spanish American War. He was mustered in as a private in Company E on May 13th, 1898. During the Civil War, the 12th was at Harper’s Ferry, WV, during engagement and at surrender.

The Spanish American War came about after an internal explosion of the USS Maine on Feb. 15, 1898. Hence, the slogan “Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!”. At the time and before, Cubans were rioting against Spain for independence and the USS Maine was in Havana to protect American citizens, interests and support Cuban independence.

Congress passed, and President William McKinley signed, the Declaration of War on April 25, 1898. Teddy Roosevelt was assistant Secretary of the Navy at the time (April 1897- May 1898). By July 1st, outside of Santiago, Col. Roosevelt led his “rough riders” (1st U.S. Volunteer Calvary Regiment) in a Civil War style, open field, frontal assault up San Juan Hill, along with other forces.

This battle was also where Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing, then a 1st Lieutenant, made his name with the 10th Calvary. Meanwhile, at Guantanamo, the U.S. Marines were kicking butt. A score of years later, after distinguishing himself during World War I, Pershing was promoted General of the Armies of the United States. Previously, Washington and Grant held the same title. It ceased to be after Pershing’s passing (07/15/1948).

At time of enlistment Edward was sent to the “Camp of Instruction”, on the outskirts of Peekskill, in Cortlandt Manor, NY (about 30 miles north of NYC). This camp became Camp Thompson after the General who established it and decades later, in 1919, became Camp Smith, after four time elected (2-year terms) NY Gov. and 1st Roman Catholic presidential candidate Alfred E. Smith, which the camp remains so named today (2017). Gov. Smith’s father, also Alfred, served in the NY 11th Fire Zouaves during the Civil War. Gov. Smith is interred in 1st Calvary, by the chapel, just feet away from Edward’s great grandnephew the Hon. Lawrence V. Cullen, Esq., USMC (refer to memorial no. 101656836 for a photo showing proximity).

By July 1st, Edward was appointed artificer, as such he was responsible for the mechanical workings and upkeep of military equipment, including, among other devices, weaponry. There was only one artificer per company. On January 1st, 1899 (New Year’s Day) he was stationed in the occupation of Matanzas, with the first battalion occupying Cardenas, Cuba. His regiment formed the garrisons at each location.

Matanzas was a key port town on the bay of the same name, west of Cardenas and east of Havana, all on the island’s Northshore. Matanzas is closer to Florida than Havana. Prior to the occupation, on April 25, 1898, the U.S. Navy was successful in establishing a blockade of the port.

Edward returned home during the Spring of 1899 and his company was mustered out of service on April 20th, 1899. Upon his return to the family’s East 97th Street residence, Edward went into plumbing. It was the time of not just a new decade, but the beginning of a new century – the 20th Century – and all the inventions and modern conveniences it would bring.

He was still working as a plumber in June of 1905, while residing with the family on East 100th Street. Near end of April 1910, he continued as a building plumber, still with the family, now at their then East 98th Street home.

Subsequently, Edward had steady employment throughout his life as foreman attendant at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, located at 82nd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

Edward registered for the World War I draft on September 12, 1918 when residing with his siblings in Manhattan's upper eastside at 122 East 98th Street and the World War II draft in mid-April of 1942 when residing with the Nelsons at 1319 Hollywood Avenue, over in the east Bronx. His nephew Joseph Francis Nelson would go on to be a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force reserves at time of retirement and live to a grand age of 102 (d.03-09-16). Joe’s mom was Edward’s sister, Catherine, his father, Bill, was Godfather to our father, Jas. Edwd. Aloy. Cullen, his mom being our dad’s paternal aunt. More below, toward the end of this memorial.

Going back, the 1920 Census is the last federal census that reflects the balance of the Edward and Sarah Jane Cullen clan that started back in 1868. It lists Sarah as head of household with Edward, 39, being employed at the museum and Elizabeth, 42, a dressmaker, her lifelong career. I wonder what thoughts crossed their minds at this time of ever raising a family of their own and in having come to accepting control of their destinies. Haute couture fashion, i.e., the designing and hand tailoring dresses and other such clothing to order, would soon face a phasing out in the market by manufactured standard size garments. Similar fate would be encountered with women’s hats and associated trades, such as feathering, particularly, feather curling.

In re the 1920 Census, I came across a Francis, age 31, Cullen who was a "Chauffer" for a coal company. He was residing at 307 East 93rd Street along with his family. His wife May was age 32, sons George 10 and Robert 2, daughter Catherine 6 and father-in-law John Owens 56. John, a building watchman, was a native son of Ireland as were the parents of Francis and May. I'm making note of it simply because of last surnames, proximity of residences and a couple of common family forenames.

As mentioned, Edward, along with his sister Elizabeth, would always stay with their mom from time of birth to time of her death in 1925. So, refer to Mother Cullen’s memorial, link below, for further family details up until January 1925.

The 1925 New York State Census as of June 1st records that Edward and his older sister Elizabeth continued to reside at the family’s 122 East 98th Street residence after Sarah Jane’s passing five (5) months earlier. Here Edward reports being age 44, while Elizabeth, his older sister by just under 8 years, is enumerated as only 40 years of age. This was clearly a saddle point time in their lives.

By April 1st, 1930, Edward and Elizabeth would be residing with married baby sister Catherine "Kitty" Cullen Nelson and her family with William E. Nelson in a section of the Bronx known as North New York and later in the east Bronx. Refer to Catherine's memorial - link below. Bear in mind that the Great Depression was essentially started the October before.

The remaining decades of Edward's life are covered within the aforementioned memorial for his sister Catherine "Kitty" - link below. Only their youngest brother Francis Joseph, who was born less than four (4) months before their Father’s passing and, thus, never had the opportunity to know his Father first hand, would be the only one to pass on the Cullen surname. Only Susie, Catherine and Frank J. would pass on their Hickinson-Cullen bloodline through their offspring of which my brothers and I have carried on.