Kate Shelley
Katherine Carroll "Kate" Shelley (December 12, 1863 – January 21, 1912) was a midwestern United States railroad heroine and the first woman in the United States to have a bridge named after her, the Kate Shelley High Bridge. She was also one of the few women to have a train named after her, the Kate Shelley 400.
Kate was born at Loughaun, a crossroads near the village of Dunkerrin and the town of Moneygall, in County Offaly, Ireland. Dunkerrin Catholic Church records show that her parents, Michael and Margaret Shelley, married on February 24, 1863, and she was baptized on December 12, 1863. Her grave marker says she was born on September 25, 1865 and died January 21, 1912. The family name was originally spelled Shelly, which is how she wrote her name, but the spelling Shelley was later adopted.
Michael was likely a tenant farmer in Ireland. The family emigrated to the United States when Kate was 1-1/2 years old. They first lived with relatives near Freeport, Illinois, then built a home on about 163 acres (0.66 km2) near Honey Creek, a perennial tributary stream to the Des Moines River in Boone County, Iowa located to the east of Moingona. Michael became foreman of a section crew, building tracks for the Chicago and North Western Railway.
Michael died of "consumption", in 1878. Kate had to help support the family by plowing, planting, harvesting crops, and hunting. In 1880, the family consisted of 35-year-old Margaret, 15-year-old Kate, 8-year-old Mary, 6-year-old Margaret, and 4-year-old John, living in Worth Township. A fifth child, James, was also born in Iowa, but he drowned while swimming in the Des Moines River when he was ten.
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