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"Catherine Smith, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Brown Smith, was born 4 Feb 1821, in Washington Co., Tennessee, one of thirteen children. Catherine was between seven and eight years old when her parents loaded the wagon and headed for Vermilion Co., Illinois.
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My information on Katie's youth is limited. However, we do know that she was educated. This information comes from Beckwith's 'History of Vermilion County, Illinois, The Biographical Record'. . . 'Like the other members of the family Abram B. Smith pursued a common-school education, the schoolhouse being five miles from his home (Note: Abraham was Katie's brother).
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At the age of sixteen, like many other young girls Katie's age, she married Adam Kyger who was nine years older. Adam was the youngest son of Daniel and Anna Henthorn Kyger, who were also early pioneers from Monroe County, Ohio.
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Katie and Adam maintained their home in Vermilion County, having six children before leaving for Hermitage, Hickory County, Missouri sometime after March 1856 and before April 1860. They were in Hermitage during the birth of their son, John C. Fremont in 1860.
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Adam and his son, Walter, went into the Home Guard June 15, 1861, enlisting at Linn Creek. Katie, like thousands of other wives, carried on the best she could, making her stores last and keeping her children protected.
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A scant six months later, Walter brought Adam home from the war. His eyes had been injured. That incident will be covered in an article on Adam Kyger in a later issue.
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After Adam's death April 30, 1904, Katie Kyger applied for the Widow's Pension. In those days, a woman just didn't go into a federal government office and fill out forms and wait to receive what was due. Katie had to ask her friends and neighbors to vouch for her integrity. She had to submit a 'Declaration for Widows Pension Acts of May 9, 1900 and June 17, 1890.' She had to personally appear and state, 'That she was married under the name of Catherine Smith to said Adam Kyger on the 22nd day of February 1844,' and 'That she has not remarried since the death of the said Adam Kyger . . .'
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Katie's statement went on to say that she was 'without sufficient means of support other than her daily labor, that her actual income from sources apart from her daily labor does not exceed $250 per annum.'
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James Walker and William H. Smith made formal declarations in Katie's behalf. They declared that they were aware of the financial situation of 'the deceased soldier at the time of his death.' They stated that Adam owned 138-39 acres in Douglas County and 60 acres in Taney County which held a value of $1580.
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Walker and Smith also stated that Katie owned 120 acres valued at $415. Katie's personal property was valued as follows: 'One hourse of the value of $60, 8 head of cattle of the value of $114 and household and kitchen furniture of the value of $10 making a total of $184.' Apparently a crop had been planted and she could expect money from it. Katie had to pay a fee of $10 to file for this pension. Katie received her pension of $12 each month for the rest of her life.
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Katie Kyger passed on at the age of 90 years and 24 days. Her date of death is January 10, 1911. She had heart problems, spinal affliction and the contributory factor was pneumonia." (Printed in "Family Bridges" genealogical newsletter, Oct 1997; p. 8; compiled by Kay [Holly]Bolls)
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