Her death certificate demurely calls her a widow, but Kate had been long ago left behind by her husband Johnson Saunders Weir. The couple married December 18, 1893 at Ridge Avenue United Methodist church, and by 1910 they lived apart.

On the 1900 census, the still-together couple lives with 6 year old daughter Sarah born May of 1894. They also have Johnson's brother Harry living with them. Yes, if you do the math, Kate was likely pregnant with Sarah when she and Johnson wed.

By 1910, an interesting twist - Kate lives with her in laws, Archie and Mary Weir, Johnson's parents, with her daughter Sarah... while Johnson boards separately in town. Kate works as a dressmaker in a department store.

The records of Saint David's Episcopal in Manayunk record Kate's daughter Sarah's baptism on February 1, 1914: they say she was "Sarah Elizabeth Kirkpatrick" born May 30, 1893 and she was baptized as an adult, the record indicating that "Mr and Mrs Weir" were her parents (not stating the names of Johnson and Kate). But Sarah was not alone in her baptism that day - her daughter, listed as "Catherine Elizabeth Augusta Kirkpatrick" was baptized too. Born November 5, 1913, her parents are listed as "Mr and Mrs Russell Kirkpatrick". The handwriting is tough here, but it seems her sponsors were Mrs. Trecie Nygreen and Frank Kirkpatrick. No one has this online anywhere, not in any tree, not even on Ancestry. How long til this 2022 addition gets copied?

In 1920, Kate is (still? back?) with her in laws Archie and Mary Weir, and her 25 year old daughter Sarah. Also in the home are Archie and Mary's granddaughter Katherine "Kerpatrick" and a boarder, Alfred P. Kouba, age 26, a structural engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Thus it would appear that through death or divorce, Sarah is not with Russell Kirkpatrick any more.

So, diverting for a second... who were these Kirkpatricks? I despaired over figuring it out because there's plenty of Russell Kirkpatrick-s. But then I tripped over an obit for a lady named Christina Hill, widow of George, and her funeral was held from the home of her grandson Frank B. Kirkpatrick (like the Frank on the baptismal record) who lived smack dab in the middle of my Merkert clan - 4817 Ogle in Manayunk. Then, finding Frank B Kirkpatrick's 1925 obit, it names his home as 326 Gates (Merkert turf again and exactly next door to my Merkert-descended Turveys) and son Russell as one of his survivors. Finding Frank on censuses, we can make out that his son Russell was born about 1891 which will make him easier to find. 1910's census shows Russell at home with his folks and single. On the 1920 census, Russell is living on Gates Street, with his parents and brother, but he's listed as married. No wife is in the household though. Now, if you look up that Gates Street address you'll see an ad in newspapers for a hosiery company. On the 1930 census, Russell L Kirkpatrick is with a new wife, Elnor (yes, that's the right spelling), and he's listed as a hosiery salesman. Ditto the 1940 census. So he didn't widow Sarah, the marriage didn't hold.

By 1930, the magic has happened and Kate's daughter Sarah is now married to former boarder Alfred Kouba. They wed in 1923. In their home: Catherine E Kirkpatrick, age 16, listed as stepdaughter to Alfred, again clarifying her mother as Sarah. Also with the household - Kate, as Alfred's mother in law, and 11 year old James H Blackburn, listed as "Friend ". (In the next household, there's a 9 year old boy named George Blackburn who's also a "friend" to Walter and Lucille Hoover.)

On the 1940 census, Kate is living in the home of her married sister, Juliana (nee Merkert) Garforth. She reports living there in 1935 too, and says she is single.

More bio to come, just placeholding until her story may be better told.