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.

Following Kate’s death, Joseph married Julia Dennehy in February 1904. Julia was born in County Cork, Ireland.  Joseph and Julia had one daughter, Margaret, born in about 1905.

During his early years in Butte, Joseph worked as a foreman for the railroad. But by about 1900 and until his death in 1939, he was employed as a miner. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, two sons, his daughter Nora, and five siblings.

Joseph is buried in St. Patricks Cemetery in Butte, in between Kate and Julia. His brother Michael is also buried nearby.