Kitchen, Mrs. Sarah A.

KITCHEN, CALVERT, FATCHETT

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Date: 2/17/2003 at 20:11:14

PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA 1886 (CHAPMAN BROS.)
Containing full page portraits & biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. (Also available on FHL film 1036331 Item 9)
(P. 341-342) MRS. SARAH A. KITCHEN. The subject of this history is the relict of Thomas Kitchen, deceased, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 11, 1811. He was married in his native country before coming to the United States, but lost his wife in Deep Creek Township. His widow, who resides upon his homestead, has charge of the eighty acres of which it consists, on section 22, Deep Creek Township. Mrs. Kitchen was born in Birmingham, England, July 27, 1836. When she reached the United States, making the trip with her parents, she was seven years of age. They located in Chicago, where some years ago both parents departed this life. Her father was a stone-mason by trade.
Mrs. Kitchen was first married in Chicago to William Calvert, an Englishman, who came here when young. He was a merchant’s clerk, and after her first marriage she and her husband came to Iowa, where they located in Hauntown, Clinton County, and there Mr. Calvert started in business. After a short time he died. By this marriage one child was left to her care -- Joseph, who died at the age of three years. The second marriage of Mrs. Kitchen was celebrated in this county, March 25, 1861. After her second marriage our subject settled on a farm of eighty acres, which is now hers, being left her by the death of her companion. His demise occurred June 17, 1877, and by her union six children have been born to her, namely: Anna, wife of George Fatchett, residing near Elvira, Clinton County; they are farmers by occupation; Ellen, William and Maria, reside with their mother. The deceased are Charles and Walter.
Mrs. Kitchen has successfully managed her farm since her husband’s death, and has shown herself to possess good financial ability and an excellent knowledge of business. She has improved and cultivated the farm to a certain extent, and there is no friend of hers but what feels a pride in her course of action. She has shown that womanhood may fully rally from the shock and sorrow that lay it low, and face a frowning world with a strength and power hitherto unknown; nor is the woman whom fortune or preference causes to take these burdens upon herself and rise above the details of a household less womanly that “she knows her place, and, knowing, dares maintain. In her lies the power, and when called to wield it she will not refuse.”
A portrait of Mrs. Kitchens’ late husband is shown on page 340.