Published Friday November 9, 1928 in the Hudson Herald, Hudson, IA:
Mrs. Kathryn Cavanaugh, age 75 years a pioneer resident of Black Hawk county, died suddenly last Monday at 6:45 a.m, at the family residence, 817 Wellington St., Waterloo, death resulting from a heart attack. Mrs. Cavanaugh had been in her usual good health Sunday, attending Sacred Heart church at the morning service, and callin on old friends during the evening.
Kathryn Emmett was born May 3, 1853 at Rockford, IL, coming to Tama county with her parents when she was two years old. The Emmett family resided for years on a farm northeast of Traer, where the marriage of the deceased to Christoher R. Cavanaugh took place on New Year's Day, 1878. At that early day a Catholic parish had just been established at Eagle Center with Father Kelly in charge as pastor. It was necessary for the priest to travel many miles to the Emmett home in Tama county to officiate at the marriage.
For several years following the couple lived on a farm a few miles north of Traer and later moved to the homestead in Lincoln township where they continued to live for years. Upon retiring from active farming Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh moved to Voorhies where they resided for several years, and then to Waterloo where Mr. Cavanaugh died on July 27, 1924.
Mrs. Cavanaugh often had many tales to tell of the pioneer life of the community. The neighborhood was thinly settled at the time of the arrival of the Emmett family in Hawk counties, but at the time new settlers were arriving in numbers from the east and farms were being settled radpidly. During these pioneer days friendships were established which existed throughout her life and which caused Sacred Heart church to be filled at the requiem mas held for her Thursday morning, Father J. M. Malloy officiating. Burial was in the Immaculate Cemetery at Blessing with Rev. Father J. H. Richards, her former pastor, officiating at the grave.
"Mrs. Cavanaugh led a truly beautiful Christian life," said Father Malloy in his eulogy. In the olden days when physicians were few and far between in the rural community for miles around she was often called upon to attend the bedside of sick and suffering friends and neighbors. She was often both physician, nurse and advisor to those who suffered, her pioneer friends recall.
Surviving are nine children: Mrs. Phil Maloney and Leo A. Cavanaugh of Waterloo; John P. Cavanaugh and Will Cavanaugh, Buckingham; C. T. Cavanaugh, Hudson; Miss Mary Cavanaugh, Detroit; Mrs. E. B. Mullan, Voorhies; Mrs. Will Ryan of Marshalltown, and Miss Frances Cavanaugh, Cedar Rapids. A brother, Thomas Emmett, Huson, SD, also survives.
Contributor: viking78 (50442711)

United States Census, 1910
Name: Kathryn Cavanaugh
Event Place: Lincoln, Black Hawk, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 59
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Birth Year (Estimated): 1851
Birthplace: Illinois
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Listed in Household;
Christ Cavanaugh Head M 62 New York
Kathryn Cavanaugh Wife F 59 Illinois
Mary Cavanaugh Daughter F 28 Iowa
Christ Cavanaugh Son M 23 Iowa
Nellie Cavanaugh Daughter F 22 Iowa
Grace Cavanaugh Daughter F 21 Iowa
Les Cavanaugh Son M 20 Iowa
Francis Cavanaugh Daughter F 19 Iowa

Iowa, State Census, 1905
Name: Katherine Cavanaugh
Event Place: Black Hawk, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 52
Marital Status: Married
Birth Year (Estimated): 1853
Birthplace: Illinois
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland

United States Census, 1900
Name: Katharine E Kavanaugh
Event Place: Eagle & Lincoln Townships, Black Hawk, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 45
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Number of Living Children: 9
Years Married: 22
Birth Date: May 1855
Birthplace: Illinois
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1878
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Listed in Household;
Christopher Kavanaugh Head M 50 New York
Katharine E Kavanaugh Wife F 45 Illinois
John Kavanaugh Son M 22 Iowa
Mary Kavanaugh Daughter F 20 Iowa
Norah Kavanaugh Daughter F 19 Iowa
William Kavanaugh Son M 17 Iowa
Nellie Kavanaugh Daughter F 16 Iowa
Christopher Kavanaugh Son M 13 Iowa
Leo Kavanaugh Son M 12 Iowa
Frances Kavanaugh Daughter F 9 Iowa

Iowa State Census, 1895
Name: Cathren Cavanagh
Event Place: Black Hawk, Iowa
Gender: Female
Birth Year (Estimated): 1853
Listed in Household;
Chris R Cavanagh M 47
Cathren Cavanagh F 42
John Cavanagh M 16
Mary Cavanagh F 14
Nory Cavanagh F 13
William Cavanagh M 12
Nellie Cavanagh F 10
Cristy Cavanagh M 9
Grace Cavanagh F 8
Leo Cavanagh M 6
Frances Cavanagh F 3

Iowa State Census, 1885
Name: Katie Cavanaugh
Event Place: Geneseo, Tama, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 31
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Listed in Household;
Chris Cavanaugh M 33
Katie Cavanaugh F 31
John Cavanaugh M 7
Mary Cavanaugh F 5
Nora Cavanaugh F 4
William Cavanaugh M 2
Nellie Cavanaugh F 1

United States Census, 1880
Name: Catharine Cavanaugh
Event Place: Lincoln, Black Hawk, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Occupation: Keeping House
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Birth Year (Estimated): 1852
Birthplace: Illinois
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Listed in Household;
Christopher Cavanaugh Self M 31 New York
Catharine Cavanaugh Wife F 28 Illinois
John Cavanaugh Son M 1 Iowa
Mary Cavanaugh Daughter F 0 Iowa

Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934
Name: Christopher Cavanagh
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 01 Jan 1878
Event Place: Black Hawk, Iowa
Age: 28
Spouse's Name: Katie Emmet
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1854

United States Census, 1870
Name: Catharine Emmitt
Event Place: Geneseo, Tama, Iowa
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1851-1852
Birthplace: Illinois
Listed in Household;
Patrick Emmitt M 60 Ireland
Honora Emmitt F 50 Ireland
Catharine Emmitt F 18 Illinois
James Emmitt M 16 Iowa
Thomas Emmitt M 15 Iowa
Patrick Emmitt M 13 Iowa