Katherine McNamara (usually called Kate) was born in Ireland in December of 1846 while still very young she came to America with her parents. She lived a few years in Kenosha County, Wisconsin before the family settled in Chicago. It was there sh e met another young Irish immigrant Joseph Martin.
They were married in 1874 and had two children named James and Irene. Unfortunately Kate sickened with "consumption" (tuberculosis) and died in 1878.