Keating Ancestry

We had a fun Zoom call on Sunday, September 28, 2025 to discuss two female ancestors who both had very interesting, long lives.  Both of them were born in Davenport in the second half of the 19th century. Neither of them married, but they were both very involved with their families.  Between the two individuals, they traveled far from Davenport to Chicago, California, and New York.  The first highlighted ancestor was Emily Motier (1851-1935). She was the third daughter born to Joseph Motie and his wife Mary Maguire.  Emily was born on September 11, 1851. In an undated obituary for Emily found in Eleanor's scrapbook, the writer describes Emily's early life quite lyrically. The writer described Joseph and Mary as "pioneer settlers" in Davenport. The obituary explained Emily's journey to the convent, writing, "Before the era of railroad transportation, she (Emily) traveled by steamboat up the Mississippi River from Davenport to Dubuque to enter the Novitiate of ...