Esther Doyle Read, copyright 2003
New 22 May 2003
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
CATHERINE READ KIRKHUFF4
334. CATHERINE "KATE" READ4 (Aaron Read, II3, Samuel Read2, Joseph Read1) was born 4 November 1835 in Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 1929 in New Jersey. She married on 31 December 1856, Anthony "Johnson" Kirkhuff, the son of Anthony and Sarah Kirkhuff. He was born 16 June 1837 and baptised 8 October 1837, St. James Protestant Episcopal Church, Delaware, Warren County, New Jersey. Anthony died 24 July 1862, age 25 years. 1 month and 8 days. Kate and Anthony are buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery, Ramseyburg, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey.
Catherine and Anthony had at least one child born circa 1858. I have identified two grandchildren born in 1887 and 1896, and two great-grandchildren born in 1909 and 1912. Total identified descendants equals 5.
Children of Catherine Read and Anthony J. Kirkhuff
Biographical Notes
References
Probate Records of Aaron Read
Probate Records of Anthony J. Kirkhuff
CHILDREN OF CATHERINE READ AND ANTHONY J. KIRKHUFF:
919. (i.) SARAH A. KIRKHUFF5, was born 21 January 1858 in Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died unknown (Kern 1938; LDS Batch # C509861; 1880 United States Federal Census, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey). She married William J. Gardner the son of William B. and Matilda B. Gardner. He was employed as a cashier in a bank. In 1890, the couple resided at 42 Chestnut in Newark (Kern 1938). Sarah's mother, Kate Kirkhuff and William's mother Matilda Gardner also lived with the couple. Child of Sarah Kirkhuff and William J. Gardner:
1335. (i.) GRACE GARDNER6, was born 5 May 1887 in New Jersey, possibly in Newark, Essex County and died 11 November 1970 (Ramseyburg Cemetery; Social Security Death Index). She married Arthur DeWolf Walters, the son of William H. Walters. Arthur was born 14 June 1880 in New Jersey and died 24 January 1920 (Ramseyburg Cemetery). They resided in East Orange, New Jersey. First at 31 North Maple Avenue and later (in 1920) at 146 Hollywood Avenue. Arthur was employed as a Special Agent for the telphone company (Kern 1938; 1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43, 4th Ward, 2nd District, City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A). The Social Security death index lists the death residence of Grace Gardner as Columbia, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. They are buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery, Ramseyburg, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Their graves were field checked 15 April 2005. Children of Grace Gardner and Arthur Walters.
2464. (i.) ANNA WALTERS7, was born 21 May 1908 in New Jersey and died 16 September 1996 (Ramseyburg Cemetery). In 1920, Anna lived with her parents at 146 Hollywood Avenue in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. She and her brother attended school together (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43, 4th Ward, 2nd District, City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A). Anna never married. She is buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery, Ramseyburg, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Her grave was field checked 15 April 2005.
2465. (ii.) ARTHUR KIRK WALTERS7, was 11 March 1912 in New Jersey and died 5 December 1974. In 1920, Arthur lived with his parents and Great-grandmother Kirkhuff at 146 Hollywood Avenue in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. He and his sister Anna attended school together (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43, 4th Ward, 2nd District, City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A.) Arthur married Dorothy C. (Last Name Unknown). She was born 22 June 1913 and died 28 October 1992. They are buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery, Ramseyburg, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. Their graves were field checked 15 April 2005.
2445. (ii.) MARJORIE GARDNER6, was born circa 1896 in New Jersey and died unknown. In 1920, Marjorie lived with her brother-in-law and sister and her Grandmother Kirkhuff at 146 Hollywood Avenue in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. Marjorie was single and worked as a stenographer in a bank (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43, 4th Ward, 2nd District, City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A.)
Catherine Read was the second daughter and second child of the four children of Aaron Read, II and Hannah Brands. She was known as "Kate" to her family. Kate was born in Knowlton (now Hope) Township, Warren County, New Jersey in 1835. Her family lived in the vicinity of Green's Chapel (now Mount Hermon) in what was then Knowlton Township. In 1839, this section of Knowlton became part of the newly formed Hope Township. Kate is named as a daughter of Aaron Read in his will, which was written on 7 November 1887. Aaron bequeathed a share of his estate to Kate (then Catherine Kirkhuff the widow of Anthony), her brother Samuel and the two children of her late sister, Sarah Cooke (Warren County Surrogate Court Records, hereinafter WCSCR, Wills Book 10, page 391).
Kate appears as a resident of Aaron's household on the 1840 census as a female under the age of 5 years (1840 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 5). She was still a resident of their household in 1850 and was attending the local schools in Hope Township with her sisters Sarah and Martha and her brother Samuel (1850 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 437B). The year after the census, the structure of Kate's family began to change. Her 18 year old sister, Sarah Maria married Andrew Teel Cook on 20 September 1851. The ceremony was performed, by the Rev. R. Van Horn, the pastor of the Wolftown Methodist Episcopal Church in Knowlton Township (Snell 1881: 634;
Anthony Johnson Kirkhuff was known as "Johnson." He was the son of Anthony Kirkhuff and Sarah Louise Cummins and was born 16 June 1837. Johnson was baptised in St. James Protestant Episcopal Church in Delaware, Knowlton Township, Warren County on 8 October 1837 (Reuther n.d.). According to M. Flumer, a Kirkhuff family researcher, Anthony was the son of Robert Allison Kirkhuff and Mary C. Hulsizer (Flumer, personal communication 1997). However, Anthony is the youngest child of Anthony and Sarah Kirkhuff listed in the records of St. James. Rober Allison Kirkhuff was his oldest brother. The records of St. James indicate that Anthony and Sarah Kirkhuff had at lest three other children: Cyrus Butler Kirkhuff (born 23 September 1813), Robert Allison Kirkhuff (born 1 August 1816) and Mary Huffam Kirkhuff (born 2 December 1821). There is then a 15 and half year gap in the records before another child of Anthony and Sarah's appears in the baptismal records—their son Anthony Johnson Kirkhuff, who was born in June of 1837. Johnson lived with Anthony and Sarah in Knowlton Township in 1850. He was the only child living in the household. The census gives his name as "Anthony J." In addition to his parents, a young man named Theodore Galegar also lived in the household. Theodore was 21 years old. He was illiterate and the census indicates that he was "idiotic". He may have worked as a hired hand on the Kirkhuff farm (1850 United States Federal Census, Knowlton Township, New Jersey, page 547A).
The family of Kate's mother, Hannah Brands Read, and Anthony's family were neighbors in Knowlton Township. The farm of Kate's Uncle Jacob Brands was close to the Kirkhuff farm. Kate's mother was baptised in St. James Church, as were many other members of the Brands and Kirkhuff families. The Brands and Kirkhuff families knew one another through the church, as well as through community interaction. On 5 October 1843, when Kate was 8 and Anthony was 6, there was a Brands/Kirkhuff wedding. Kate's Uncle Abraham Brands (1821-1895), a much younger brother of Hannah Brands Read (1813-1888), married Anthony's much older sister Mary Huffam Kirkhuff (1822-1896). Kate's future sister-in-law was also her aunt.
Johnson and Kate had at least one child, a daughter named Sarah Kirkhuff. She was born circa 1858 in New Jersey (1880 United States Federal Census, Newark, Essex County, page 263A; Kerns 1938). On 24 July 1862, when Sarah was about 4 years old, her father died. Johnson Kirkhuff was 25 years old. He and Kate had been married five and a half years. He was buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery in Knowlton Township near his parents's home. His grave stone was checked on 24 June 1983 and is inscribed:
Anthony J. Kirkhoff
died 24 July 1862
aged 25 yrs, 1 mon. & 8 days
Loved one, thou art gone to rest
Thine is an earthly tomb
But Jesus summoned thee away
Thy saviour called three home
Monument maker:Cramer & Ward, Hackettstown
Johnson's brother Robert A. Kirkhuff and Kate's brother Samuel Read acted as the administrators of Anthony's estate (WCSCR Surrogates Orders, Book 1, page 172). Kate never remarried after Johnson's death, she was a widow for approximately 63 years. Kate's decision not to remarry was not unusual for the Victorian Era. After all, the most famous widow of the age was Queen Victoria of England, whose husband Prince Albert died in the 1860s. Victoria remained a widow until her death in 1901 and mourned the loss of her beloved Albert until the day she died. Kate may well have mourned Johnson until she died in 1929. However, there were compelling reasons for a woman to remarry in the mid-nineteenth century, the main one being economic security. There were very few employment opportunities for women when Johnson died. This situation would change over the next half century as the United States became an urbanized and industrialized nation, rather than an agricultural nation. By 1910, more Americans lived in cities than on farms. In New Jersey this change occured by 1900 when 72 percent of the state's population lived in cities. Wage jobs for women exisited in the factories of Patterson, Newark and other cities. The introduction of the telephone into middle class homes created jobs for women as operators. In addition, jobs for women as secretaries and stenographers increased after about 1870. Indeed, Kate's granddaughter Marjorie Gardner and her great-neice Hazel Read were both employed as stenoographers during the 1920s. By 1910, 25 percent of the wage earning population in New Jersey was female (Dodyk 1997:96).
Kate however was unable to take advantage of any of these opportunities in 1862. Raised in the household of a prosperous farmer, Kate had been brought up to be genteel and to move in polite society. It would have been socially unacceptable for Kate to work in any of the factories located in the cities. The telephone was some years off in future and it is doubtful that she had any secretarial skills. As one historian has noted "Despite the growing number of women wage earners, most women in the late 19th century, whether white or black, native born or immigrant, expected to marry and devote their mature lives to the nuture and care of their families and homes" (Dodyk 1997:97) Kate had been brought up since birth to be a wife and mother. She had no training in another occupation. Some widows continued to run their husbands businesses and farms after their husbands died. Teaching was also available to women, but Kate, with a small child, would not be able to take a school where she would have to board. There was no assurance that she would get a local school if she did choose to teach. Domestic service was also an option, and for awhile at least, Kate worked as a domestic servant. In 1870, she lived with her parents in Mount Hermon in Hope Township. The census gives her occupation as domestic servant. Her 12 year old daughter Sarah did not live with her. I currently have no data as to whom she lived with in 1870. According to the 1870 census, Aaron and Hannah Read's household included the following individuals:Table 1: Household of Aaron and Hannah Read in 1870
(1870 United States Federal Census, Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 25 of township)
Name |
Age |
Birthplace |
Aaron Read |
63 |
NJ |
Hannah Read |
56 |
NJ |
Martha Read |
26 |
NJ |
Kate Kirkhuff |
34 |
NJ |
Life would probably have been more secure, economically, if Kate had remarried. However, if there were compelling reasons to remarry, there were also compelling reasons to stay single. As a married woman, Kate had no control over her property, real or personal. It all became the possession of her husband. Any monies or land Kate might have inherited as Johnson's widow or received from her parents would no longer be in her control if she married a second husband. New Jersey did not amend state law to give a woman the right to control her own property or inheritance until 1874. But even with this right, a woman could not contract or sue, or be sued under state law until 1895. The following year, women gained the legal right to to their own earnings and wages as separate property over which their husband or husband's creditors had no control (Dodyk 1997:101). This was a right that women in Pennsylvania had had since 1872 (Luzerne County Land Records, Deeds Book 258, page 26). Each state enacted legislation expanding women's rights at different times, hence there was a mosaic of laws covering property, inheritance and wages across the United States. By remaining a widow, Kate had control of her own assets.
Kate left Warren County and settled in the city of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. She was living there with her daughter in 1880. Neither woman was employed (1880, United States Federal Census, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, page 263A):
Table 2: Household of Catherine Kirkhuff in 1880
(1880 United States Federal Census, City of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey)
Name |
Age |
Birthplace |
Kate Kirkhuff |
44 |
NJ |
S. Villa Kirkhuff |
22 |
NJ |
Kate's father either gave or sold her a lot adjacent to his homelot in Mount Hermon sometime before 1887 (WCSCR Wills Liber 10, page 391). It is not known whether she lived on the lot in Mount Hermon or if she continued to live in Newark. The 1887 Warren County History and Directory (Weaver and Kern 1887), does not list her as a householder in Mount Hermon. The directory does list other widowed female householders. Theoretically, if Kate was living in Mount Hermon she should have been listed in the directory. It is probable that she continued to make her home in Newark and used the Mount Hermon property to generate income.
According to the Newark City Directory, 1890-1891 (Hobrook 1891), Kate Kirkhuff lived at 42 Chestnut Street in Newark. She still lived with her daughter Sarah, who had been married for at least four years to William J. Gardener. William was the son of William B. and Matilda B. Gardner. Matilda Gardner was a widow in 1890 and also made her home at 42 Chestnut. In addition to Kate and Matilda, Sarah and William's three year old daughter Grace also lived in the house. Grace was joinned in 1896 by a sister named Marjorie. Their father made the trip on the inter-city rail into New York City each working day, where he was employed as a cashier in a bank .(ibid.)
Grace Gardner was Aaron and Hannah Read's fourth great-grandchild and Kate's first grandchild. Six months after Grace was born, Aaron Read wrote his will. He appointed his daughter Kate a co-executor of the estate with her brother Samuel. Aaron lived until 29 January 1898. His will left Kate a legacy of $3,000 as well as half of the residue of the estate which she was to share with her brother Samuel (WCSCR Wills Book 10, page 391). Kate does not appear to have returned to Warren County after her father's death. She probably lived in Newark until the second decade of the twentieth century. By 1920, she had moved to East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey.In 1920, Kate had taken up residence with her granddaughter Grace Gardner Walters. Grace was married to Arthur D. Walters, the son of William H. Walters. Arthur was born 14 June 1880 in New Jersey. During the early part of the twentieth century they resided at 31 North Maple Ave. in East Orange, New Jersey (Kern 1938). Arthur worked as a Special Agent for the telephone company. The couple had two children (Kate's great-grandchildren): Anna (born circa 1907) and Arthur (born circa 1912). By 1920, the Walters family lived at 146 Hollywood Avenue in East Orange. Grace's sister Marjorie Gardner also lived with the family. She was 24 years old, single and worked as a stenographer at a bank . The couple's Aunt Sarah Albert (age 77) also lived in the household (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43, 4th Ward, 2nd District, City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A.) Kate probably resided with Grace until her death at about 93 years of age in 1929. Table 3 is a summary of the inidividuals living in the Walters household in 1920:
Table 3: Household of Arthur and Grace Walters in 1920
(1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 43,
City of East Orange, Bergen County, New Jersey, sheet 11A)
Name |
Age |
Birthplace |
Arthur D Walters |
39 |
NJ |
Grace Walters |
32 |
NJ |
Anna Walters |
11 |
NJ |
Arthur Walters |
8 |
NJ |
Kate Kirkhuff |
84 |
NJ |
Sarah E. Albert |
77 |
NJ |
Majorie Gardner |
24 |
NJ |
Kate appears to have been interested in genealogy. William M. Kern, the author of Kern and Ogden ancestors. Also allied families of Lanterman, Read, Crisman, etc., placed his manuscript in the New York Public Library in 1938. However, Kern did much of his work in the first two decades of the twentieth century. One of the Read family members who Kern interviewed was Catherine Kirkhuff, who he cites in his work. Kern also cites a Mrs. Durand as a source. I believe Mrs. Durand, was Jennie T. Durand, Kate's first cousin. Jennie T. Durand was probably Jennie Thompson, the sister of William and Abigail Thompson. William and Abbie were the children of Kate's Aunt Jane Read Drake Thompson and her aunt's second husband Elder Jonathan S. Thompson. I believe Jennie may have been the youngest child of this marriage, but I lack documentation. Their mother died in January 1837 and their father took a church in Falls River Township, Bristol County, Massachusetts shortly after her death. While Jonathan S. Thompson took William with him to Massachusetts, Abbie and Jennie were left behind in the care of their grandparents, Samuel and Maria Read. They appear to have grown up on their grandparents's farm with thier older half-sisters (Jane's children by her first husband George W. Drake). Kate, Abbie and Jennie were close in age and probably spent time together as children. They remained close to one another into their 70s. In 1910, Abbie sent a postcard to her brother William in Rochester, Monroe County, New York. She wrote to William that cousin Kate had turned 75 on November 4th. The postcard was sent from Newark (Hubbard n.d.). In 1880, Jennie and her husband, William Durand (a bank note engraver), lived a few doors from Kate and Sarah Kirkhuff in Newark (1880 United States Federal Census, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, page 263A). Jennie also sent William post cards from Newark in 1908 and 1909. Her address was 15 North 6th Street (Hubbard n.d.).
Kate was approximately 93 years old when she died in 1929. She was buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery, Delaware/Ramseyburg, Knowlton Township. However, it is unclear where she is buried in the cemetery as there are two markers for her. Her name is inscribed on Anthony Johnson Kirkhuff's monument. Her inscription on the monument was field checked on 24 June 1983, and reads:
Catherine Read Kirkhuff
1835-1929
. A second monument is located on the Walters family plot in Ramseyburg cemetery. This plot belongs to Kate's granddaughter Grace Gardner Walters. The second stone is a single stone, it was field checked on 24 June 1983 and is inscribed:
Catherine Read Kirkhuff
1835-1929
Kate's granddaughter Grace Gardner Walters died in November 1970 at the age of 83. She had been living in Columbia, Knowlton Township at the time of her death (Social Security Death Index). She was buried in Ramseyburg Cemetery.
PRIMARY
Cemeteries
Ramseyburg Cemetery
Ramseyburg/Delaware, Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey
Directories
Land Records
Newspapers
Probate Records
Surrogate Court Records, Warren County (WCSCR)
Belvidere, New Jersey
Social Security Death Index
United States Federal Census, New Jersey
SECONDARY
Dodyk, D.W.
Fulmer, M.
Hubbard, Jocelyn S.
Kern, William MacKellar
Snell, James P. (Compiler)
WEB SITES
Ruether, Jan
This web site was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
<edrtjd@charm.net>