Kate and Dunning were married September 4, 1877, in Philadelphia, possibly St. Michaels Church as they were noted for attending services there.
They began their own family in Germantown where both were born, two sons were born, Dunning Foster Jr., in 1878 and George Edward in 1880.
Their happiness didn't last, Dunning died in 1881, just a year after their last son was born.

Kate waited 12 years before marrying again in 1893 on August 15th, to Frederick Aschenbach, who was 21 years older then her. Mr. Aschenbach was in the wholesale drug business and operated his store in Philadelphia. He and Kate applied for passports to visit his homeland of Zillback, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thuringen, Germany in 1904.Frederick Aschenbach died two years later.

Name:Frederick Aschenbach
Birth Date:17 Aug 1837
Birth Place:Zillback, Germany
Age:66
Gender: Male
Passport Issue Date:8 Jun 1904
Passport Includes a Photo: No
Residence:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spouse Name:Catherine E.


Frederick Aschenbach was born in Zillback,Germany 17 August 1837 and came to America in 1847 with his parents when he was just a child of ten.

Kate's two sons took the Aschenbach name in the 1900 census, (or a census taker's mistake ) however after Mr. Aschenbach's death , Edward returned to his Thornton name. Kate's Aunt, Esther Fox Nice was living with the family in 1900.

Mr. Aschenbach was married to Rebecca Crowcour from England in 1859,in Pennsylvania, one daughter Fannie Ernestina Aschenbach Kitson. Rebecca died in 1889.
All are buried at Ivy Hill.
Frederick was a well off gentleman,his home at 309 West School House Lane in Philadelphia was free and clear, he had it built in 1899 for him and Kate and apparently paid for it in full when built. However in 1910 after his death , Catherine and son Edward were renting at a boarding house located at 245 Chelten Ave in Philadelphia. They were not living at 309 School Lane in the home that was built in 1899 for Frederick and Kate.. Kate and son Edward both stated they were not employed in 1910.
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Date: May 23, 1899 Paper: Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) Volume: 140 Issue: 143 Page: 13
Real Estate News

Contractors Appleton and Burrell, who were successful bidders for the erection of the $8500 residence which Frederick Aschenbach will have constructed on the north side of School Lane, east of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Germantown yesterday secured the necessary permit for the work. The house, which will be built of Germantown stone, with a peaked shingle roof, will measure 30 x 75 feet. The lot measures 50 x130 feet. A full description of this work was published in this column some time ago.
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It seemed as tragedy followed Kate, her mother dying when Kate was just 17, Kate's first husband, Dunning Sr. just 4 years after their marriage when she was 23,with two baby boys to care for. She lost her first born son, Dunning Jr. in 1902, then her father in 1904, husband Frederick leaving Kate a widow again at age 48 when he died in 1906 of cirrhosis of the liver.
Dunning Jr., dying from accidental opium poisoning surely was a shock for her, as it would be for any mother.

We can assume Katherine/Kate is buried in Ivy Hill along with the rest of her family, no records have been found of her burial. She was still living in 1910 at age 52, one might think as strong as she seemed from the events of her life that she may well have lived on for many more years. When son Edward Thornton registered for the WWI draft, Kate was still living at 245 N. Chelton Av, the date was September 9, 1918, she would have been just 60 years old.

Research and bio by JMB