Necrology of Catherine McKinley

It is a task of some little difficulty, and of no little delicacy, to treat properly of one who has lived and died in our own time, and it is quite possible that the author of this sketch has said either too much or too little, and in consequence has fallen into some inaccuracies. But if this attempt should have the effect of stimulating some one better qualified to devote herself more successfully to the work, her humble efforts will not have been wholly in vain.

Amongst the favored ones whom God has raised up in our Community few, if any, have been more distinguished that she who is the subject of this sketch.

Mother Mary Edward, known in the world as Catherine McKinley, was the daughter of John McKinley, ship owner, and Sarah McCaffrey. They were both of Irish descent and possessed in a large degree the open-heartedness of the Irish character. They were held in the highest esteem for kindness and charity especially to those living at a distance from church and market. Those weary travellers were refreshed, nourished and often harboured, particularly those who were to approach the Holy Table on the morrow. The McKinley home became to them a half-way house.

God was pleased to reward this charitable couple with a family of two sons and one daughter, the youngest who was born September 5, 1838, and received in baptism the name Catherine. (Note: There is an error here: the baptismal certificate gives September 5th the date of Baptism and August 14th the date of birth.) The years of her infancy and youth were spent under the parental roof. This child of predilection having no sister to share in her innocent amusements was easily led to join her brothers in all the feats and frolics of boyhood life.