#52ancestors Post Twenty-Two: Kathryn Keith - Why was she so far from family?

Eddye Kathryn Keith was my father's first cousin. I don't believe they met. However, it is very likely my father's older sisters knew her when they were children.   

Eddye Kathryn Keith

According to writing found on a baby photo, her name was Eddye Kathryn. She was born January 21, 1902 and was the second of three children born to Laura Louise Bryan and William Harve Keith.  The first daughter, unnamed, was born and died in 1900. Kathyrn's younger sister, Laura Louise was born in 1905. 

Kathryn's mother, Laura Louise Bryan Keith, was the daughter of Terrell Bryan and Harriet Albritton and, my grandfather's youngest sister. She passed away from complications related to typhoid in 1908. 

Laura Louise and Eddye Kathryn Keith

In 1910 and 1920, the Keith girls were living with their grandmother, Martha Keith, and several Keith family members.  Kathryn was listed as "Eddie C. Keith" in 1910 and "Cathryne Keith" in 1920.

Kathryn played the piano and was an accomplished vocalist. As early as age 11, mention of her singing with a local music club was found in Erath County newspapers. Later she sang at church programs and at weddings. 

Kathryn was attending John Tarleton Agricultural College in 1921 and 1922. She was a member of the J. T. Actors' Club and on the yearbook staff where her job title was "kodak." I assume this had something to do with photography. 

Kathryn married Wayne Merrill Chandler on June 21, 1922, at the Keith home. A wonderful description of the wedding can be seen by clicking on this link to The Portal to Texas History.

According to information at Find A Grave, Kathryn died on June 12, 1925 and is buried in West End Cemetery. It is reported she died in Colorado.

The writing prompt for this week's #52ancestors is So Far Away. I immediately thought of Kathryn Keith as I had always wondered why she died so far away from family. However, as a good researcher, I need to determine if this information is correct.  I hope there will be more to this story. 

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Diana

© 2018

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 June 2018), memorial page for Kathryne Ruth “Eddye” Keith Chandler (21 Jan 1902–12 Jun 1925), Find A Grave Memorial no. 12950933, citing West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Erath County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8).

The Tribune. (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, February 20, 1914, newspaper, February 20, 1914; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881188/m1/2/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 24, 1921, newspaper, June 24, 1921; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881895/m1/3/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

John Tarleton Agricultural College. The Grassburr, Yearbook of John Tarleton Agricultural College, 1922, yearbook, Spring 1922; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth541961/m1/18/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, December 2, 1921, newspaper, December 2, 1921; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth881220/m1/8/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.

Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, June 23, 1922, newspaper, June 23, 1922; Stephenville, Texas. (texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth877718/m1/7/?q=%22kathryne%20Keith%22: accessed June 2, 2018), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Stephenville Public Library.