Katharine Ging and her twin sister Julia were born on a farm just outside of Auburn,New York in October 1864. Their parents were John and Bridget Ging who had emigrated to America in the late 1840's to escape the "Irish Potatoes Famine." Growing up the Ging sisters were highly respected in the community.
According to one Auburn resident, " The Ging sisters had an excellent reputation in Auburn. They saved money, paid no attention to young men and their quiet demeanor, beauty and remarkable resemblance drew many favorable comments."
Katharine and Julia looked so much alike that one often wore red and the other blue so that they could be told a part.
At age 17 Katharine enjoyed sewing and making clothes very much. However, instead of going to New York City and working in a textile factory like most women of the time she decided to go to Syracuse New York to apprentice for a dressmaker named Florence Unkless.
In 1884 Mrs. Unkless decided to move to the booming Midwest city of Minneapolis, MN. and start a new business and asked Katharine to go along with her. Katharine accepted with an ultimate goal of having a business of her own someday.
In 1886 Katharine would take over the dressmaking business when Florence Unkless suddenly died. Katharine's work was so good that she attracted many clients of which most all were from the wealthy middle and upper class women in town. She became so successful that she was able to setup her office in the Syndicate Block the most prestigious building in Minneapolis. In addition she was able to rent an apartment at the Ozark Flats Apartment building in downtown Minneapolis where many of the city's most prominent business people lived.
Dressmaking was very competitive and Katharine had the ability to rise to the top of her profession by keeping her clients happy through her hard work, creativity and strong people skills. The Minneapolis Tribune reported that, "Katharine was a woman with more than ordinary beauty. She cut a striking figure and was graced with pretty blue eyes and abundant brown hair.
On the street her style was such to attract the attention of passers-by." Katharine became a successful entrepreneur at a time when business was dominated by men. It was said by a close friend that, "Katharine was a very likeable person by being very pleasant, a lady like girl as well as affable and extremely courteous and ambitious."
She was an independent woman and certainly way ahead of her times! Katharine Ging suffered an untimely death on December 3, 1894 at the young age of thirty years old.
On Wednesday, December 5, a funeral Catholic Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Minneapolis where Katharine had been a member. After the funeral her casket was placed on a train and returned to her hometown of Auburn, New York escorted by her niece Lulu Ireland.
Another funeral Mass was held on December 10 at Saint Mary's Church in Auburn. She would be buried in Cold Springs Cemetery (Old Catholic Cemetery) where many Irish immigrants are buried including her Father John (who died in 1885) and mother Bridget (died in 1879) and brother Morgan. The cemetery overlooks what was once the Ging family farm. Robert C. Rasmussen
According to one Auburn resident, " The Ging sisters had an excellent reputation in Auburn. They saved money, paid no attention to young men and their quiet demeanor, beauty and remarkable resemblance drew many favorable comments."
Katharine and Julia looked so much alike that one often wore red and the other blue so that they could be told a part.
At age 17 Katharine enjoyed sewing and making clothes very much. However, instead of going to New York City and working in a textile factory like most women of the time she decided to go to Syracuse New York to apprentice for a dressmaker named Florence Unkless.
In 1884 Mrs. Unkless decided to move to the booming Midwest city of Minneapolis, MN. and start a new business and asked Katharine to go along with her. Katharine accepted with an ultimate goal of having a business of her own someday.
In 1886 Katharine would take over the dressmaking business when Florence Unkless suddenly died. Katharine's work was so good that she attracted many clients of which most all were from the wealthy middle and upper class women in town. She became so successful that she was able to setup her office in the Syndicate Block the most prestigious building in Minneapolis. In addition she was able to rent an apartment at the Ozark Flats Apartment building in downtown Minneapolis where many of the city's most prominent business people lived.
Dressmaking was very competitive and Katharine had the ability to rise to the top of her profession by keeping her clients happy through her hard work, creativity and strong people skills. The Minneapolis Tribune reported that, "Katharine was a woman with more than ordinary beauty. She cut a striking figure and was graced with pretty blue eyes and abundant brown hair.
On the street her style was such to attract the attention of passers-by." Katharine became a successful entrepreneur at a time when business was dominated by men. It was said by a close friend that, "Katharine was a very likeable person by being very pleasant, a lady like girl as well as affable and extremely courteous and ambitious."
She was an independent woman and certainly way ahead of her times! Katharine Ging suffered an untimely death on December 3, 1894 at the young age of thirty years old.
On Wednesday, December 5, a funeral Catholic Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Minneapolis where Katharine had been a member. After the funeral her casket was placed on a train and returned to her hometown of Auburn, New York escorted by her niece Lulu Ireland.
Another funeral Mass was held on December 10 at Saint Mary's Church in Auburn. She would be buried in Cold Springs Cemetery (Old Catholic Cemetery) where many Irish immigrants are buried including her Father John (who died in 1885) and mother Bridget (died in 1879) and brother Morgan. The cemetery overlooks what was once the Ging family farm. Robert C. Rasmussen
Katharine Ging and her twin sister Julia were born on a farm just outside of Auburn,New York in October 1864. Their parents were John and Bridget Ging who had emigrated to America in the late 1840's to escape the "Irish Potatoes Famine." Growing up the Ging sisters were highly respected in the community.
According to one Auburn resident, " The Ging sisters had an excellent reputation in Auburn. They saved money, paid no attention to young men and their quiet demeanor, beauty and remarkable resemblance drew many favorable comments."
Katharine and Julia looked so much alike that one often wore red and the other blue so that they could be told a part.
At age 17 Katharine enjoyed sewing and making clothes very much. However, instead of going to New York City and working in a textile factory like most women of the time she decided to go to Syracuse New York to apprentice for a dressmaker named Florence Unkless.
In 1884 Mrs. Unkless decided to move to the booming Midwest city of Minneapolis, MN. and start a new business and asked Katharine to go along with her. Katharine accepted with an ultimate goal of having a business of her own someday.
In 1886 Katharine would take over the dressmaking business when Florence Unkless suddenly died. Katharine's work was so good that she attracted many clients of which most all were from the wealthy middle and upper class women in town. She became so successful that she was able to setup her office in the Syndicate Block the most prestigious building in Minneapolis. In addition she was able to rent an apartment at the Ozark Flats Apartment building in downtown Minneapolis where many of the city's most prominent business people lived.
Dressmaking was very competitive and Katharine had the ability to rise to the top of her profession by keeping her clients happy through her hard work, creativity and strong people skills. The Minneapolis Tribune reported that, "Katharine was a woman with more than ordinary beauty. She cut a striking figure and was graced with pretty blue eyes and abundant brown hair.
On the street her style was such to attract the attention of passers-by." Katharine became a successful entrepreneur at a time when business was dominated by men. It was said by a close friend that, "Katharine was a very likeable person by being very pleasant, a lady like girl as well as affable and extremely courteous and ambitious."
She was an independent woman and certainly way ahead of her times! Katharine Ging suffered an untimely death on December 3, 1894 at the young age of thirty years old.
On Wednesday, December 5, a funeral Catholic Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Minneapolis where Katharine had been a member. After the funeral her casket was placed on a train and returned to her hometown of Auburn, New York escorted by her niece Lulu Ireland.
Another funeral Mass was held on December 10 at Saint Mary's Church in Auburn. She would be buried in Cold Springs Cemetery (Old Catholic Cemetery) where many Irish immigrants are buried including her Father John (who died in 1885) and mother Bridget (died in 1879) and brother Morgan. The cemetery overlooks what was once the Ging family farm. Robert C. Rasmussen
According to one Auburn resident, " The Ging sisters had an excellent reputation in Auburn. They saved money, paid no attention to young men and their quiet demeanor, beauty and remarkable resemblance drew many favorable comments."
Katharine and Julia looked so much alike that one often wore red and the other blue so that they could be told a part.
At age 17 Katharine enjoyed sewing and making clothes very much. However, instead of going to New York City and working in a textile factory like most women of the time she decided to go to Syracuse New York to apprentice for a dressmaker named Florence Unkless.
In 1884 Mrs. Unkless decided to move to the booming Midwest city of Minneapolis, MN. and start a new business and asked Katharine to go along with her. Katharine accepted with an ultimate goal of having a business of her own someday.
In 1886 Katharine would take over the dressmaking business when Florence Unkless suddenly died. Katharine's work was so good that she attracted many clients of which most all were from the wealthy middle and upper class women in town. She became so successful that she was able to setup her office in the Syndicate Block the most prestigious building in Minneapolis. In addition she was able to rent an apartment at the Ozark Flats Apartment building in downtown Minneapolis where many of the city's most prominent business people lived.
Dressmaking was very competitive and Katharine had the ability to rise to the top of her profession by keeping her clients happy through her hard work, creativity and strong people skills. The Minneapolis Tribune reported that, "Katharine was a woman with more than ordinary beauty. She cut a striking figure and was graced with pretty blue eyes and abundant brown hair.
On the street her style was such to attract the attention of passers-by." Katharine became a successful entrepreneur at a time when business was dominated by men. It was said by a close friend that, "Katharine was a very likeable person by being very pleasant, a lady like girl as well as affable and extremely courteous and ambitious."
She was an independent woman and certainly way ahead of her times! Katharine Ging suffered an untimely death on December 3, 1894 at the young age of thirty years old.
On Wednesday, December 5, a funeral Catholic Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Minneapolis where Katharine had been a member. After the funeral her casket was placed on a train and returned to her hometown of Auburn, New York escorted by her niece Lulu Ireland.
Another funeral Mass was held on December 10 at Saint Mary's Church in Auburn. She would be buried in Cold Springs Cemetery (Old Catholic Cemetery) where many Irish immigrants are buried including her Father John (who died in 1885) and mother Bridget (died in 1879) and brother Morgan. The cemetery overlooks what was once the Ging family farm. Robert C. Rasmussen
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