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.

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Brita (Johansdotter) Dalin: A Short Sketch of Her Life and Road to Montana

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ Leave a comment
Brita Johansdotter Dalin circa 1890. Photo taken in Sweden.

Brita must have felt very alone and frightened when her husband Andrew left her and their young son Johan to travel to America several years after they were married.  She was only 25 years old and I can only imagine that she prayed every day he would stay safe and send for her and their son just as soon as he was able to secure work in the new country.

Brita was born in about 1863 in Hudiksvall, Sweden.  I know nothing about her parents and it seems that even her children were unclear on her maiden name.  I have located a Swedish record which indicates it might have been “Johansdotter” but more research needs to be done.

After Andrew had been gone from Sweden for some time, his brother Erick went searching for him.  Eventually Brita was sent for – but their young son Johan had died in the meantime.

For more information on how Andrew, Brita and Erick made their way to Montana after Brita arrived, click here.  Once in Montana, Brita and Andrew went on to have four more children, including my grandfather Cid H. Dalin.

When Andrew died in 1919, Brita was only 55 years old.  Her brother-in-law, who never married, seem to watch over Brita for the rest of her life. According to census records, he lived with her for what seem to be short periods of time off and on until her death in 1942.

Brita is buried in the Oddfellows Cemetery next to Andrew.  And Erick, who died in 1955 in California, is buried nearby.

George Schenk: A Brief Sketch of His Life and Road to Montana

~ Lark Dalin Robart ~ 2 Comments
George Schenk_vignette
George William Schenk circa 1898

Young George’s life was forever changed when at age 6 his father, Johann “John” Frederick Schenk, died in Iron Mountain Michigan on April 27, 1884 – at the age of 39. George’s mother, Katharina “Katherine” Ziegler Schenk, was left to raise George and his seven siblings on her own – the youngest being 9 months and the oldest being 14.

George William Schenk (pronounced “Shank” and sometimes spelled Schenck) was born September 29, 1877 in Houghton, Michigan.  After his father died, George’s mother found it difficult to support her family and soon made the decision to follow her two oldest sons who had left Michigan to work in the gold and silver mines of Montana.  By age 14, George found himself working in hard rock mines as a water carrier.

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Steamboat travel on the Missouri River

~ Lark Dalin Robart

Vast herds [of buffalo], extending away to the horizon line of the north-ward bluffs, were moving slowly toward the river, grazing as they came.  On arriving at the river’s brink they hesitated and then, snorting and bellowing, plunged into the swift-running current and swam to the opposite shore.  When the [steamer] Stockdale reached a point nearly opposite the Elk Horn grove, excitement rose to a high pitch on board, for the buffalo became so thick in the river that the boat could not move, and the engines had to be stopped.  In front the channel was blocked by their huge, shaggy bodies, and in their struggles they beat against the sides and stern, blowing and pawing.  Many became entangled with the wheel, which for a time could not be revolved without breaking the buckets.  As they swept toward the precipitous bank of the north shore and plunged over into the stream, clouds of dust arose from the crumbling earth while the air trembled with their bellowings and the roar of their myriad hoofs . . . it seemed almost as if they would overwhelm the boat.  No one on board cared to shoot among them, for the sight of them was too awe-inspiring . . . Several hours elapsed before the Stockdale was able to break through the migrating herds and resume her journey, and they were still crossing when at last she passed beyond view.

Hanson, Joseph Mills. “Blockaded by Buffalo.” The Conquest of the Missouri: The Story of the Life and Exploits of Captain Grant Marsh. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole, 2003. 97-98. Print.

I believe that three of my great grandparents and two of my great great grandparents experienced at least one trip on a Missouri River steamer – probably sometime between the years 1867and 1879. And so I found myself feeling quite curious about what that trip might have been like.

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