Kieron

Fearless Females Day 16: Who shall I invite to lunch?

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ Leave a comment

Lisa Alzo’s “Fearless Females” blog prompt for March 16th is: If you could have lunch with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why? Where would you go? What would you eat?

This is a hard one. I would definitely choose a female family member over someone famous – but which one?

Nora Marie (Kieron) BlackerAfter making a long list of possible lunch companions, I finally settled on my grandmother Nora Marie Kieron Blacker.

Nora was 100% Irish, having been born in Butte, Montana to immigrant parents – her father from County Monaghan and her mother from County Galway. Nora’s mother Kate died when she was only 36 years old – Nora was just a toddler. Sadly, history repeated itself when Nora also died at age 36 leaving my grandfather to raise five children. The youngest was 8 and the oldest was 14. Continue reading →

Tombstone Tuesday: Catherine “Kate” (Myers) Kieron and Infant Baby

~ Lark Dalin Robart
Kate Myres Kieron_vignettte
Kate Kieron circa 1900
2011 Kate Kieron tombstone
Photo of Kate Kieron’s grave taken August 2011

Kate

Wife of

Joseph Kieron

Died Aug. 4, 1902

Aged 28 years.

Also Infant Baby

Aged 2 Days

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This is a view of St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Butte, Montana, looking north from Kate’s grave.

2011 St. Patrick's Cemetery
Photo of St. Patrick’s Cemetery taken August 2011

“Tombstone Tuesday” is a Geneabloggers daily blogging prompt.

Kate (Myers) Kieron: A Short Sketch of Her Life and Road to Montana

~ Lark Dalin Robart
Catherine (Myers) Kieron circa 1900

I can only imagine the bittersweet feelings Kate must have felt when she left her home in Ireland in 1895, to travel to the United States.  She must have been thrilled knowing she would soon see her beloved sister Delia who had left Ireland for the United States several years earlier – and excited for the prospects of her new life in America .  At the same time, her heart must have been broken, knowing she would never again see her homeland and some of the family members she was leaving behind.

My great grandmother Catherine “Kate” Myers was born in Ower Townland, County Galway, Ireland – sometime between 1864 and 1877(1).  She was one of nine children born to John Myres and Nora Hennelly between 1862 and 1879. Life was difficult on a small farm in Ireland and there weren’t many prospects for John and Nora, much less their offspring.

Continue reading →

Joseph J. Kieron: A Short Sketch of His Life and Road to Montana

~ Lark Dalin Robart
Joseph J. Kieron circa 1900

My great grandfather Joseph J. Kieron was born in Drumgoosat, County Monaghan, Ireland, on February 15, 1874, the son of Peter Kieron and Genevieve Martin.  He was their sixth child out of eight, and the third of four sons.  Based upon census records, I believe he came to the United States, and then directly to Montana, in about 1896.

Having settled in Butte, he married Catherine “Kate” Myers on September 20, 1899.  Kate was also Irish, having been born in County Galway.  In September of the following year, Kate gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl.  The baby girl Nora survived but baby boy Peter died when he was only 4 days old.  On August 1, 1902, Kate gave birth to another son.  However, tragedy struck again only two days later when both Kate and the baby died. Continue reading →