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 →