Katharine Barton was born on February 12, 1865. Her mother was Elizabeth (Elsie) Tubbs. Her father was John Barton. My records do not say where she was born other than Pennsylvania.
John Alfred Barton was born in 1834 in Espy, PA, a small town along the Susquehanna River, next to Bloomsburg and a bit west of Hazelton.
His parents were Cyrus Barton and Catherine Brewer.
The Barton family dates back to Edward Barton, who was born in 1585 in Suffolk England and came to America before 1600. He married Margaret Henings-Barton in New York in 1603. They would be my 8th grandparents. They lived in Westchester, NY. His father, Edward Barton, died in Cape Porpoise, Maine in 1671, You can do the math!
My research on Margaret Henings-Barton shows her as Lady Margaret Henings. She was born In Stepney, Middlesex, England in 1587. They were married in Middlesex in 1603. They had many children including Roger Barton who begot Elisha Barton, then Thomas, then Elisha, then Cyrus.
So, these are close to if not our oldest family in America. Records show that they were in Westchester, New York in 1608. Nancy, your namesake is Barton. You have work to do here since this in your back yard. Can you find these records???? FYI, Kauffman’s were in Lancaster in the early 1700s.
Back to Katharine.
So, Katharine’s mother was Elsie Tubbs. John and Elsie were married in 1860. They had four children, Lizzie, Charles Katharine and Howard. Elsie dies in 1869 when Katharine was 4 years old.
So, now John marries Alice Tubbs. They shared common grandparents of Joshua Tubbs and Jemima Williams..
Alice has seven children, including Mable and Ruth.
Here is a picture of Mable, Ruth and Katharine. Katharine is eight years older than Mable and nineteen years older than Ruth.
Katharine marries Percival Coover Kauffman in Mechanicsburg in 1889. A bit about Percy. He was the youngest son of Levi Kauffman and Ann Elizabeth Coover. You can read about him by clicking above.
He is educated at University of Pennsylvania in 1879 and has a degree in law. He works in Hazelton as a young lawyer and meets Katharine. He also works in the banking industry in Mechanicsburg with his cousin Ralph Kauffman. In 1887, they decide to go out West to Vancouver, WA and start a bank. He then returns to Hazelton to marry Katharine. They take the train back out. I recall a story about the Indians attacking the train.
This chest was used in shipping goods out West.
Here is a picture of Katharine.
They have two boys, Percival Barton Kauffman and of course, Walter Lee Kauffman 2nd.
Uncle Bart, Percival Barton Kauffman, graduates from University of Pennsylvania. Dad attends University of Washington. Percy dies when Walter is just entering college. Dad is drafted, attends Officer Candidate School, becomes an officer, during WW1.
Bart is commissioned a Captain and coordinates training in Minneapolis. Katharine lives with Bart during the war.
Following the war, the three of them live in Youngstown, OH near Uncle Walt and Aunt Edith.
Dad moves to Erie when his wringer washer invention takes off and brings his mother and brother with him. Some years later, Dad meets Mom and the rest is history. (Really, you need to read about Dad and Mom, there are many good stories on the website)
I would add that Katharine lives with her sons for years, is much loved and passes just after Walter marries Betty in case you are confused a bit.
Katharine was quite the lady, so I understand.