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.
Kate’s sister Delia was the first of six children in the family to make the trip to the United States beginning in 1887 – each one making the voyage alone. Records indicate they all went directly to Montana upon arrival.
Several years after settling in Butte, Kate married Joseph Kieron on September 20, 1899. He was also an Irish immigrant – from Drumgoosat Townland, County Monaghan. Shortly after the wedding, Kate’s brother Denis arrived in Butte from Ireland – and in May 1900, another brother, Thomas, made the long trip. It must have been a happy and hopeful time for Kate.
On September 7, 1900, Kate and Joseph became the proud parents of twins – a son Peter and a daughter Nora. Both babies became quite ill right away and Peter passed away when he was only four days old. Thankfully, baby Nora recovered and survived.
There was more to be thankful for in 1901 when two more of Kate’s brothers arrived in Butte – Patrick in May and Michael in June. And soon, Kate was expecting another baby. She gave birth to a son on August 1, 1902 – but unbelievable tragedy struck again when both Kate and the baby died two days later on August 3, 1902.
Recently, I located a short obituary for her in the Butte newspaper. Kate was described as being “loved by all her neighbors and . . . a charming companion to her devoted husband and child.” Because she died so young, we know only the facts about this woman’s life. This one sentence in the obituary is the only description we have of her personality. Such a little crumb, and yet I’m so grateful for it.
Kate and the infant baby are buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Butte, Montana, next to Kate’s husband Joseph.
(1) sometime between 1864 and 1877. This discrepancy is due to the fact that the 1900 U.S. Census record has her born in 1864, the Irish birth record states 1865, and her marriage record in Butte, Montana states 1877.
