Catherine Mary FIELDS

  General Notes:

1856 BIRTH of Catherine Mary Fields ("Aunt Kate") (Her name may actually have been "Mary Catherine")

1860 CENSUS, Iowa, Iowa County, Honey Creek Township, Lost ("Catharine," age 4, with parents)

1865 DEATH (approximate) of grandmother, Rachel (Phippen) Fields

1870 CENSUS, Iowa, Iowa County, Honey Creek Township, Lost ("Mary C.," age 14, with parents)

1877 MARRIAGE of Catherine Mary Fields and William B. Alvord ("Will")

1878 DEATH of mother, Mary Ann (Teagarden) Fields

1880 CENSUS, Iowa, Dallas County, Booneville ("Will Alvard," age 26, "Grocer")

1893 DIVORCE of Catherine (Fields) Alvord and William B. Alvord

1893 MARRIAGE (approximate) of Catherine (Fields) Alvord and Solomon Hazen Brunson

1900 CENSUS, Iowa, Polk County, Walnut Township ("Sol" Brunson, age 56, "Drover") (wife "Katharine," age 43) ("Katharine" is documented as the mother of 2 children, both children living in the year 1900; she did, however, have 3 children, although just 2 -- Floyd and Grace -- were in her household in 1900)

1902 DEATH (approximate) of father, Lewis Fields

1910 CENSUS, Iowa, Polk County, Walnut Township ("Kate M. Bronson," age 54) (Kate is shown as the mother of 3 children, all 3 children living in the year 1910) (In Kate's household in 1910 are her daughter "Grace V. Brunson"; her son Floyd F. Alvord"; and her sister "Rachel Fields," age 58)

1920 CENSUS, Iowa, Polk County, Walnut Township ("Kate" Brunson, age 60, widow; in Kate's household is her elder sister, Rachel Fields, age 63) (Kate would actually have been about about 64 and Rachel about 68)

1927 DEATH, Catherine (Fields) Brunson, at 71 years 4 months 5 days




SIGNATURE (Will): From sentiment in Emma Meacham Fields' autograph book

DOCUMENT (Will): State of Minnesota Death Certificate for William B. Alvord

DOCUMENT (Kate): State of Iowa Death Certificate for Mrs. Kate Brunson




BOOK: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM TEAGARDEN, From Arrival in America, Including European Background, by Helen Elizabeth Vogt, published 1967, page 342, regarding Catherine Fields:

"The 1850 Scott County census shows C. C. Alvord, born 1810 in N. Y., farmer, and Kediah Alvord, b. 1840 in N. Y. in same Sec. with Joseph and Bethia Teagarden Seaman."

Within the book is the notation that Catherine died "possibly in accident with Loren McCurnin." Loren was Catherine's son-in-law.



Bonnie Darr Fields (1882-1967):

"Aunt Kate was a beautiful woman and married a man from New York. He was a graduate of Yale and came to Iowa where he met Aunt Kate. They had two children, Clyde and Floyd. After Mama passed on, Aunt Kate and Clyde, then 6 years old, came to live with us, and Floyd went to Aunt Rachel, who took care of Grandpa, and they lived in Stewart (sic) (probably Stuart), Iowa. Will Alvord left Aunt Kate. He had a wonderful mother who wanted to educate Clyde and Floyd, but she died of T. B. in New York. Aunt Kate married again, and to this union little Grace was born, named for our sister Grace. She married a Catholic, and they had 9 children. The nicest kids you ever saw. All have good positions, but none of them farmers like their father, Jesse Tedrow."

--February 14, 1964 letter to DeeAnna


Bonnie:

"Aunt Kate was papa's sister, and her husband, Will Alvord, was a smart young man, a graduate of Columbia. I think he came west from New York and went in business with our father, but it went on the rocks. They had 2 sons, Clyde and Floyd. One day he came home and right out of the blue skys (sic) he said to Aunt Kate (children were only 3 and 5 years old), "I'm going to leave you. You think more of the boys than me," and from that day she never did see him. But Floyd did. He (Will Alvord) married again and lived in Minnesota."

--June 12, 1966 letter to DeeAnna




LETTER, original letter owned by DeeAnna dated May 6, 1879 from Sarah "Emma" L. (Meacham) Fields at Koszta, Iowa to her sister, Matilda Meacham at Solon, Iowa:

Dear Sister,

Your postal just received. It seemed so strange to me that you did not write me sooner. Sorry to hear Mother [Fanny Averill Pratt Meacham, stepmother to "Emma"] does not improve faster. Tell her we had such a nice, large fish this morning. I thought of her and Father.

Have been so busy since I came home. Last week I made soap, have about a barrel and a half and some grease left. Did not have enough ashes. It is thick, salve-like soap. If you were my neighbor I would divide it with you if you haven't plenty.

Our little Sister Katie [Catherine Fields Alvord] has a nice little boy baby. Came in the rain last Saturday, Dr. Darr officiating physician. He is a dainty little fellow, only 6 1/2 pounds, clothes and all. Katie maintained her usual bravery through the whole thing. Alvord has not been down yet. I wrote him Sunday and today again. They are doing well, both of them. She is so robust. She wants to sit up now, but we won't let her. Grace is about crazy over the baby and so innocent. She said to Mrs. Gorley [or Mrs. Gorby], "Why didn't you bring that baby to our house? Mama could take good care of it. I don't believe Alvord will want it." They told her we should have it if he did not like it. Hattie said no, she did not care to have it, it would make so much work and she would have to rock it. Nellie, dear, little pet, cried and trembled when she saw it, like an older person when an old grief that has been buried is revived, and acted so strange. She seemed to think it was our baby, one of her little brothers, she said, and yet couldn't touch it. Queer thoughts these little ones have.

How lovely it will be for you when Fannie is gone. I wish she wasn't going so far, and yet it is right if they can do better. News comes here from those who have gone to Nebraska that times are very dull and many are coming back.

What a frost last night. I wrapped our cherry trees, two ofthe small ones, in sheets and covered my plants. They all grew I brought home excepting one geranium Carrie gave me. We have no garden yet. Yesterday we finished up soap and washed carpet, powdered and boiled it, then rinsed it. Alex sent for me about three o'clock to come to the store. From that until ten last night we were both flying. So much butter and eggs and a good money trade besides. I was out of the store three days last week.

Have had my brown dress made over, princess trimmed with dark brown. It is quite a presentable suit--dark sleeves, dark front, alternate dark and light ruffles and pleating.

Tell Amanda I dreamed she came to see us the other night. Wish it had not been a dream. They got along so nicely while I was gone, and Alex did not complain a word about it, neither the expense nor time. Minnie has concluded to stay another month with us.

Quarterly meeting last Sunday at Ladora. We were both so tired we did not care much about going, so we did not go.

Have not heard from John since I came back. Mr. Huston does not hear from George only indirectly. Someone from Nebraska saw George, said he was well, has a partner in business and is doing well, has a large trade, etc.

Don't wait so long before you write again. I am so anxious to hear from you all and Mother and Father especially. I will send Marni some cards. Please give them to him. Write soon to Your loving sister, Emma Fields.




CONTRIBUTOR to this page:

Kristen Jorgensen (death certificates for Kate Fields Brunson and William B. Alvord)

Catherine married Solomon Hazen BRUNSON, son of Lewis BRUNSON and Unknown, in 1893. (Solomon Hazen BRUNSON was born in January 1842 in North Hero, Grand Isle County, Vermont.)

Catherine next married William B. ALVORD on December 25, 1877 in Iowa County, Iowa. (William B. ALVORD was born on May 8, 1855 in Gloversville, Fulton County, New York, died on January 5, 1925 in Jasper, Pipestone County, Minnesota and was buried on January 8, 1925 in Cremated.)