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Katherine O’Connor

 Also know as Kate Connor

 

Born: 1828 County Galway, Ireland

 

Parents: John O’Connor and Katherine unknown

 

Siblings: Thomas (1823-1886), died in Ireland; buried near Athlone

 

Marriage: to Michael Joyce, 1858 Ireland; Michael and Kate “divorced” at some point by 1900. Kate lived with daughter Mary Sweeney and always listed herself as married in the census,  Michael listed himself in the census as divorced. See misc. notes below.  Michael and Kate are buried together and listed as husband and wife on tombstone, although this may have the more of the wishes of their children than that of the couple.

 

Children: Margaret (died in Kentucky between 1865/8),  Hannah (1859-1937),  Mary Frances (1868/9-1937),  Katherine (1873-1952)

 

Death: April 13, 1911, Edgerton, Wisconsin

 

                                                                            MRS. MICHAEL JOYCE
  After a brief illness of pneumonia, Mrs. Michael Joyce died at her home in this city Thursday morning, April 13th, aged 83 years. The deceased, whose maiden name was Kate Connors, was born in Ireland and came to this country with her husband 46 years ago and has since lived in this vicinity. A husband and three daughters survive - Mrs. Mullowney, Mrs. H.T. Sweeney and Miss Kate Joyce, all of this city. Funeral services will be held from St. Joseph’s church at 10 o’clock Saturday morning.

 

Census:

1910 U.S Census, Dane Co, Albion Township: (April 27th)
Hugh T. Sweeney, head of house, married, white male, age 43. Married 20 years. Born WI, both parents born Ireland. Tobacco dealer. Owns home, no mortgage.
Mary F., wife, age 41, 9 children born, 7 alive. Born WI, parents born in Ireland. George H., son, 18 years old, single.; Hazel A., daughter, age 16; Paul E. son, age 14; Miles C., son age 10; Alice G. daughter, age 7, Ruth, daughter, age 5, Anna G., daughter, age 2
Kathreen Joyce, mother-in-law, age 85, born Irish free state, 5 children born, 3 alive, emigrated 1865, blind

 

1905 WI state census, Dane county, Albion:
Hugh F. Sweeney, age 38, borm WI, parents born Ireland, farmer
Mary, wife, age 37
George, age 13
Hazel, age 11
Paul, 9
Miles, 5
Alice, 3
Ruth, 6 months
Catharine Joice, mother-in-law, age 69, born Ireland

 

1900 U.S. census, Dane Co, Township of Dunkirk: (6/1/1900)
Hugh Sweeney, head, born April 1867, age 33, married 10 years, born WI, parents born Ireland, farmer, can read and write, owns farm with mortgage. Mary, wife, born Dec 1869, age 30, married 10 years, 6 children born with 4 living, born WI, parents born Ireland; George, son born Oct 1891, age 8 born Wi; Hazel daughter born Mar 1894, age 6; Paul son, born Feb 1896, age 4; Miles son, born Mar 1900, age 2 months; Kate Joice, in-law, female born Jan 1840, age 60, married 36 years, 4 children born, 3 alive. Born in Ireland, both parents born in Ireland. 3 servants.

 

1880 Census Rock Co, WI, Janesville:
Michael Joyce, age 48, married, labourer, born in Ireland; Kate, wife age 47, born Ireland; Hannah, daughter age 19, helping mother, On the day of the census she reported ‘general complaints” regarding her health and was listed under the category of Maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled, born in Ireland, cannot write; Mary age 12, at school, born WI; Kate age 6, at school, born wi.

 

1870 Census, Dane Co, Springfield:
Michael Joyce, age 35, farm labourer, born Ireland, both parents foreign born, unable to read and write; Kate age 35 wife, born Ireland, unable to read and write; Annie age 10, born Ireland, Mary age 2, born WI

 

 

Notes from Marie Sweeney Quisling :
My grandfather Michael Joyce married Katherine O’Connor of Galway Ireland, daughter of John O’Connor. They came to the US in the fall of 1863 with daughters Hannah, age 9, and Margaret, age unknown. Had a son who died at sea, so it is said. He worked in the mines in Kentucky (area unknown), then came to Wisconsin with his family and sister Hannah. Daughter Margaret died in Kentucky. Michael was a tailor in Ireland, but worked on the railroad in Mazomanie and Janesville for a time. In 1890 when my mother, Mary Francis Joyce and Hugh Sweeney were wed, Michael was farming in Stebbsville, WI (Dane Co).

 

Misc:

Kate became nearly blind with cataracts as she was older. Her husband Michael decided to go back and visit Ireland around 1907; Kate assumed she was going with Michael, and when she found that this was not his intention, she decided never to speak with him again.  Any message she had for him after that point was conveyed through her children.

 

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