Mrs. MATHEW (Catherine McCabe) RAFTER 1837-1917

MCCABE, RAFTER, BARBARAS, HAWES, NICHOLSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/23/2005 at 20:53:36

Mrs Catherine Rafter died Friday, Dec. 21, 1917 at 8 a.m. at her home in this city. She was born in Ireland April 6, 1837, being in her eightieth year and her death was due to the infirmaties of old age. She emigrated to Canada when a mere child and from there to Iowa at about the age of 16 years. As Catherine McCabe she was joined in marriage to Mathew Rafter about sixty years ago, they lived to celebrate their Golden wedding , a priviledge few married couples are granted. They resided near Waukon Junction until about twenty-two years ago, when they moved to this city. Mr Rafter died here in February 1912. She was a noble, loving, christian wife and mother and was always bright and alert to the duties of home and of her religious and social affairs. Besides one brother, Jas. McCabe, of Tacoma, Wash., she leaves five daughters, Mrs. Barbaras, Mrs J. J. Hawes, Mrs M. Nicholson, Annie and Alice at home, and one son, John, of Wabasha, Minnesota, and two great grand children. All her children were present at the funeral which was held at St. Joseph's Church Saturday, Rev. Sheehan reading the Requiem Mass, and was burial was made in the adjoining cemetery beside her husband. The ladies of Immaculate Conception Court attended the funeral, she having been a charter honorary member.

Note: "This City" is Harpers Ferry, Iowa. Mrs Barbaras is Bridget Rafter, Hawes is Katherine Rafter, Nicholson is Elizabeth Rafter.

Waukon Standard, 12/28/1917 - contributed by John Stanton