Catherine Amelia (Arthur) Parr (1870 - 1962)

Born 7 Jul 1870 in Esquimalt, Colony of British Columbia

Ancestors

Wife of Richard Aaron Parr — married 17 Oct 1888 in Ladner, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Descendants

Died 1 Oct 1962 at age 92 in Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington, United States

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Biography

Catherine was born in summer 1870, the first child of William Arthur and Pamelia Parmiter.^[1] Her parents had married the preceding summer, and when she was born, Catherine's mother was 18 years old.

The Arthurs ran the Ship Hotel aka Ship Inn in Esquimalt village. Remaining in Esquimalt, five brothers were added to the family: William, Frederick, John, Herbert, and Charles. Catherine was 10 years old when her sister Lillian arrived.^[2]

Catherine's world included her grandparents and aunts and uncles until 1874, when they moved to the British Columbia mainland, taking up 160 acres at Ladner. The exception was aunt Lavinia, who had married that same year, and started her family in adjacent Victoria, now the capital of Canada-confederated British Columbia. In addition to her own siblings, it seems rather likely that Catherine's early years would have included regular visits with her Shotbolt cousins.

In 1883 the Arthur family joined the Parmiters at Ladner, taking acreage immediately south. Catherine's final sibling, sister Mabel was born there in late 1887.

At age 18 in autumn 1888, Catherine married 27-year-old California-born farmer Richard Aaron Parr at Ladner.^[3] The couple settled at Richard's farm at Pleasant Valley near Birch Bay, Washington Territory, about 25 miles south of her former home in Ladner.

By the US census collection in 1900, the Parr family had added children Fred, Gertrude and Roy.^[4] Their final child, daughter Gladys was born in autumn 1903.^[5] Catherine and Richard continued farming while their elder children moved into adulthood.^[6] Some time in the 1920s they gave up the farming life and moved to nearby Bellingham. The 1930 US census found Catherine and her husband living at 2400 Cornwall Avenue.^[7]

Husband Richard passed away in 1938, and Catherine remained in Bellingham, initially remaining at Cornwall Ave.^[8] The 1950 US census found her living at 1811 C Street.^[9]

Catherine Amelia Parr passed away in autumn 1962,^[10] and shares a memorial stone with her spouse at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale, Washington.^[11]

Research Notes

• It is evident that the Arthurs of Ladner and the Parrs of Birch Bay were in regular visitation, according to mentions in the Belligham Herald.
• Numerous mentions in the Belligham Herald have Katie and her husband playing card games like euchre and whist with family and friends.

Sources

1. ↑ (birth notice), British Colonist, July 8, 1870, page 3, https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist18700708uvic/page/n2/mode/1up
2. ↑ Canada Census 1881, British Columbia, District No. 190, Esquimalt & Metchosin, page 3, lines 13-21, https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1881&op=img&id=e008211946
3. ↑ Province of British Columbia, Marriage Record, Reg. No. 1888-09-114583, https://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/37e8fac0-5a09-4e4a-9114-6d261810bf91
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MM5M-7S1 : accessed 22 Dec 2013), Catherine A Parr in household of Richard A Parr, Birch Bay, Custer, Excelsior, Delta, Woodland, and Meridian Precincts, Whatcom, Washington, United States; citing sheet , family 6, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241753.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGJ3-NKR : accessed 22 Dec 2013), Katherine A Parr in household of Richard A Parr, Birch Bay, Whatcom, Washington, United States; citing sheet , family 125, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375687.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJC-NMG : 4 February 2021), Katherine Parr in entry for R A Parr, 1920.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCQX-TBZ : accessed 22 Dec 2013), Catherine A Parr in household of Richard A Parr, Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0010, sheet , family 22, NARA microfilm publication .
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9SL-QRK : accessed 22 Dec 2013), Catherine Parr, Ward 2, Bellingham, Bellingham City, Whatcom, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 37-14, sheet 3A, family 51, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4368.
9. ↑ US Census 1950, Washington, Whatcom, Enumeration District 37-59, sheet 79, https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?ed=37-59&page=1&state=WA
10. ↑ Washington State Archives, Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907-1996 - Catherine - Parr, https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/DigitalObject/Download/432ff647-35a3-4386-950a-f0631b7f5283
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #8687883