Kate Sumner

Born on [???] to Charles McIntyre and Lucinda Earle. Sister of [NAME]. Passed away in 1919.

m James Albert Sumner on August 12 1861

children Catherine Lou Sumner Grace, Ida Bell Sumner, Sarah D Sumner, Mary Frances Sumner Hogan, two infant sons, Olive Blanche Sumner Donohue, James Albert Sumner Jr, John William Sumner, and Charlotte Cornelia Sumner Robinson

Catherine Lou (Kate) McIntyre Sumner was known all over the Turner County, SD region as "Aunt Kate", who drove the Star mail route in her horse and buggy for 14 years to raise her kids after her husband's desertion. Her route took her from her home in Hurley SD to Vermillion SD and back about 140 miles round trip, allowing her to purchase her own home alone. She often took her small children along, putting them in a soap box covered with blankets with hot bricks at their feet. She also carried her Winchester rifle on her route.

She later lived with her daughter Catherine Lou Sumner Grace and her husband Frank John Grace from about 1905 to her death in 1919. The Mittchell SD newspaper The Dakota Republican wrote a sketch of her life which appeared in the paper on 10 July 1890, one year after South Dakota became a state.

She raised some of her grandchildren after her daughter Mary Frances' death in childbirth.