BIRTH:
September, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Derry, Ireland.
According to her Ireland Civil Birth Certificate 8064132, Catherine Kirlin was born on September 26th, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Cumber, Claudy, County Derry, Ireland, to mother Ann [maiden name Kirlin as well] and father Philip Kirlin (a farmer). Her birth must have been registered late, because there is a church baptism record for her on September 23, 1866. (It was common for people to fudge the birth date if they were registering the birth late, to avoid paying the late fee.)
BAPTISM:
September 23, 1866, in Claudy, Derry, (Northern) Ireland. Parents Philip Kirlin (farmer) and Ann Kirlin. Residence: Carnanreagh. Witnesses: John Kirlin and Nancy McDaid.
[Catherine's death certificate gives the date of her birth incorrectly as October 31, 1866, the correct year, but not month or day.]
INCORRECT BIRTH YEAR ON GRAVESTONE:
Her gravestone says she was born in 1876, ten years later than her actual birth. Clearly a mistake was made, and nobody must have noticed it at the time. (The year on her death certificate is correct, 1866.) Her gravestone also has the incorrect birthdate, as does her death certificate. It was typical for the Irish of that time not to know their exact birthdate, as birthdays were not celebrated then in Ireland.
IMMIGRATION:
Catherine immigrated at age 17 from Ireland to New York with her parents (Philip, age 40, and Ann, age 39) and her younger siblings (Annie, James, Philip, Robert, John, and baby Dennis) on the ship Bolivia, arriving October 15, 1884.
EMPLOYMENT:
In the late 1880's, Catherine worked at the Cheney House as a waitress. In later years she mentioned to her daughter the blue dress, starched white apron, and hairnet that the waitresses wore. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney provided living quarters for their women employees so that they had a clean, safe place to live.
William Henry Welch of Janesville, Wisconsin, was employed by the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad; his headquarters were in Missouri Valley. It was there he met Catherine "Kate" Kirlin, who worked at Cheney House.
MARRIAGE:
Catherine married William H. Welch on Sept. 9, 1890 in Modale, Harrison, IA., and the two lived in Missouri Valley all of their married lives, the greater part of those years in the home they built at 413 North 6th Street. They had four children: Helen (Nelle), Anne, William P., and Catherine.
BIOGRAPHY:
Their daughter Catherine Welch Armstrong wrote of her mother Catherine Kirlin Welch:
"My mother, Kate Welch, was a natural mimic. When she told us about visiting with family members, friends or neighbors, she automatically assumed the accent, the facial expressions and gestures of the person she was quoting."
Catherine Welch Armstrong also said of her parents Catherine Kirlin and William H. Welch:
"Neither parent had much schooling . . . but somehow they saw to it that we all finished high school, and gave us help afterwards in becoming self-supporting. I know that Dad's salary was low, but our home was open to family and friends. The home environment we took for granted as we grew up now causes amazement and I ask HOW did they do so much with so little?"
DEATH:
Catherine Kirlin Welch died in her home at 413 N. 6th St., Mo. Valley, on December 29, 1945.
September, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Derry, Ireland.
According to her Ireland Civil Birth Certificate 8064132, Catherine Kirlin was born on September 26th, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Cumber, Claudy, County Derry, Ireland, to mother Ann [maiden name Kirlin as well] and father Philip Kirlin (a farmer). Her birth must have been registered late, because there is a church baptism record for her on September 23, 1866. (It was common for people to fudge the birth date if they were registering the birth late, to avoid paying the late fee.)
BAPTISM:
September 23, 1866, in Claudy, Derry, (Northern) Ireland. Parents Philip Kirlin (farmer) and Ann Kirlin. Residence: Carnanreagh. Witnesses: John Kirlin and Nancy McDaid.
[Catherine's death certificate gives the date of her birth incorrectly as October 31, 1866, the correct year, but not month or day.]
INCORRECT BIRTH YEAR ON GRAVESTONE:
Her gravestone says she was born in 1876, ten years later than her actual birth. Clearly a mistake was made, and nobody must have noticed it at the time. (The year on her death certificate is correct, 1866.) Her gravestone also has the incorrect birthdate, as does her death certificate. It was typical for the Irish of that time not to know their exact birthdate, as birthdays were not celebrated then in Ireland.
IMMIGRATION:
Catherine immigrated at age 17 from Ireland to New York with her parents (Philip, age 40, and Ann, age 39) and her younger siblings (Annie, James, Philip, Robert, John, and baby Dennis) on the ship Bolivia, arriving October 15, 1884.
EMPLOYMENT:
In the late 1880's, Catherine worked at the Cheney House as a waitress. In later years she mentioned to her daughter the blue dress, starched white apron, and hairnet that the waitresses wore. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney provided living quarters for their women employees so that they had a clean, safe place to live.
William Henry Welch of Janesville, Wisconsin, was employed by the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad; his headquarters were in Missouri Valley. It was there he met Catherine "Kate" Kirlin, who worked at Cheney House.
MARRIAGE:
Catherine married William H. Welch on Sept. 9, 1890 in Modale, Harrison, IA., and the two lived in Missouri Valley all of their married lives, the greater part of those years in the home they built at 413 North 6th Street. They had four children: Helen (Nelle), Anne, William P., and Catherine.
BIOGRAPHY:
Their daughter Catherine Welch Armstrong wrote of her mother Catherine Kirlin Welch:
"My mother, Kate Welch, was a natural mimic. When she told us about visiting with family members, friends or neighbors, she automatically assumed the accent, the facial expressions and gestures of the person she was quoting."
Catherine Welch Armstrong also said of her parents Catherine Kirlin and William H. Welch:
"Neither parent had much schooling . . . but somehow they saw to it that we all finished high school, and gave us help afterwards in becoming self-supporting. I know that Dad's salary was low, but our home was open to family and friends. The home environment we took for granted as we grew up now causes amazement and I ask HOW did they do so much with so little?"
DEATH:
Catherine Kirlin Welch died in her home at 413 N. 6th St., Mo. Valley, on December 29, 1945.
BIRTH:
September, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Derry, Ireland.
According to her Ireland Civil Birth Certificate 8064132, Catherine Kirlin was born on September 26th, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Cumber, Claudy, County Derry, Ireland, to mother Ann [maiden name Kirlin as well] and father Philip Kirlin (a farmer). Her birth must have been registered late, because there is a church baptism record for her on September 23, 1866. (It was common for people to fudge the birth date if they were registering the birth late, to avoid paying the late fee.)
BAPTISM:
September 23, 1866, in Claudy, Derry, (Northern) Ireland. Parents Philip Kirlin (farmer) and Ann Kirlin. Residence: Carnanreagh. Witnesses: John Kirlin and Nancy McDaid.
[Catherine's death certificate gives the date of her birth incorrectly as October 31, 1866, the correct year, but not month or day.]
INCORRECT BIRTH YEAR ON GRAVESTONE:
Her gravestone says she was born in 1876, ten years later than her actual birth. Clearly a mistake was made, and nobody must have noticed it at the time. (The year on her death certificate is correct, 1866.) Her gravestone also has the incorrect birthdate, as does her death certificate. It was typical for the Irish of that time not to know their exact birthdate, as birthdays were not celebrated then in Ireland.
IMMIGRATION:
Catherine immigrated at age 17 from Ireland to New York with her parents (Philip, age 40, and Ann, age 39) and her younger siblings (Annie, James, Philip, Robert, John, and baby Dennis) on the ship Bolivia, arriving October 15, 1884.
EMPLOYMENT:
In the late 1880's, Catherine worked at the Cheney House as a waitress. In later years she mentioned to her daughter the blue dress, starched white apron, and hairnet that the waitresses wore. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney provided living quarters for their women employees so that they had a clean, safe place to live.
William Henry Welch of Janesville, Wisconsin, was employed by the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad; his headquarters were in Missouri Valley. It was there he met Catherine "Kate" Kirlin, who worked at Cheney House.
MARRIAGE:
Catherine married William H. Welch on Sept. 9, 1890 in Modale, Harrison, IA., and the two lived in Missouri Valley all of their married lives, the greater part of those years in the home they built at 413 North 6th Street. They had four children: Helen (Nelle), Anne, William P., and Catherine.
BIOGRAPHY:
Their daughter Catherine Welch Armstrong wrote of her mother Catherine Kirlin Welch:
"My mother, Kate Welch, was a natural mimic. When she told us about visiting with family members, friends or neighbors, she automatically assumed the accent, the facial expressions and gestures of the person she was quoting."
Catherine Welch Armstrong also said of her parents Catherine Kirlin and William H. Welch:
"Neither parent had much schooling . . . but somehow they saw to it that we all finished high school, and gave us help afterwards in becoming self-supporting. I know that Dad's salary was low, but our home was open to family and friends. The home environment we took for granted as we grew up now causes amazement and I ask HOW did they do so much with so little?"
DEATH:
Catherine Kirlin Welch died in her home at 413 N. 6th St., Mo. Valley, on December 29, 1945.
September, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Derry, Ireland.
According to her Ireland Civil Birth Certificate 8064132, Catherine Kirlin was born on September 26th, 1866, in Carnanreagh, Cumber, Claudy, County Derry, Ireland, to mother Ann [maiden name Kirlin as well] and father Philip Kirlin (a farmer). Her birth must have been registered late, because there is a church baptism record for her on September 23, 1866. (It was common for people to fudge the birth date if they were registering the birth late, to avoid paying the late fee.)
BAPTISM:
September 23, 1866, in Claudy, Derry, (Northern) Ireland. Parents Philip Kirlin (farmer) and Ann Kirlin. Residence: Carnanreagh. Witnesses: John Kirlin and Nancy McDaid.
[Catherine's death certificate gives the date of her birth incorrectly as October 31, 1866, the correct year, but not month or day.]
INCORRECT BIRTH YEAR ON GRAVESTONE:
Her gravestone says she was born in 1876, ten years later than her actual birth. Clearly a mistake was made, and nobody must have noticed it at the time. (The year on her death certificate is correct, 1866.) Her gravestone also has the incorrect birthdate, as does her death certificate. It was typical for the Irish of that time not to know their exact birthdate, as birthdays were not celebrated then in Ireland.
IMMIGRATION:
Catherine immigrated at age 17 from Ireland to New York with her parents (Philip, age 40, and Ann, age 39) and her younger siblings (Annie, James, Philip, Robert, John, and baby Dennis) on the ship Bolivia, arriving October 15, 1884.
EMPLOYMENT:
In the late 1880's, Catherine worked at the Cheney House as a waitress. In later years she mentioned to her daughter the blue dress, starched white apron, and hairnet that the waitresses wore. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney provided living quarters for their women employees so that they had a clean, safe place to live.
William Henry Welch of Janesville, Wisconsin, was employed by the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad; his headquarters were in Missouri Valley. It was there he met Catherine "Kate" Kirlin, who worked at Cheney House.
MARRIAGE:
Catherine married William H. Welch on Sept. 9, 1890 in Modale, Harrison, IA., and the two lived in Missouri Valley all of their married lives, the greater part of those years in the home they built at 413 North 6th Street. They had four children: Helen (Nelle), Anne, William P., and Catherine.
BIOGRAPHY:
Their daughter Catherine Welch Armstrong wrote of her mother Catherine Kirlin Welch:
"My mother, Kate Welch, was a natural mimic. When she told us about visiting with family members, friends or neighbors, she automatically assumed the accent, the facial expressions and gestures of the person she was quoting."
Catherine Welch Armstrong also said of her parents Catherine Kirlin and William H. Welch:
"Neither parent had much schooling . . . but somehow they saw to it that we all finished high school, and gave us help afterwards in becoming self-supporting. I know that Dad's salary was low, but our home was open to family and friends. The home environment we took for granted as we grew up now causes amazement and I ask HOW did they do so much with so little?"
DEATH:
Catherine Kirlin Welch died in her home at 413 N. 6th St., Mo. Valley, on December 29, 1945.
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