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Martha Catherine Bigham Brode Catherine (called Kate in early years) was brought up on a farm adjoining the town of Chatsworth, Ill., and graduated from the high school in this place in 1882. She later attended the Illinois State Normal University, graduating in 1889, valedictorian of her class. She taught in public schools in Illinois and later for four years in Seattle, Wash. She was regarded as an exceptionally good teacher. She has been interested in literature and art and is a good investigator and a pleasing writer. In later life she became interested in genealogy and published in this line, "Ludlow-Ross Genealogy" in 1932. She has also been an efficient worker in many lines of community betterment, having been active in religious, civic and educational organizations, especially in the Parent Teacher Associations, Home and Foreign Mission work, the Garden Club, Women's Reading Club, D.A.R., Red Cross, and organizations on the Whitman College campus. In 1939 she was awarded a medal by the Washington Federation of Women's Clubs commemorating her community services in Southeastern Washington. In physical appearance she was 5 ft. 7 in. in height, of medium weight, growing heavier in later life. Her hair was moderately curly, of a brown color with a tinge of red. Her complexion was fair and her eyes were dark blue. She was left handed. In temperament she was intermediate, but quick to grasp situations and to act intelligently in emergencies. In what may be called emergencies was the birth of triplet sons. [Howard Brode published Catherine's book "Life in Chatsworth", reminiscences of upper midwest life just after the Civil War, after Catherine died in 1946.] |