Person:Kate Baker (6)

BIOGRAPHY: Subject: RE: Greetings, cousin! Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 10:19:27 -0500 From: "Brattin, Vincent" <[email protected]> To: "William Knight" <[email protected]>

Hello, again!

I should have some details on Kate Inez Baker soon; she was one of the earlier female graduates of UM, and I have applied to their Bentley Historical Library for whatever information they might have.

The family verbal histories have always said that she was seven years older than her husband, which would give a birth year of 1874; also, she was said to have been in her nineties when she died (June 4, 1965). I understand that she and her husband may have swapped birth dates on their wedding license, because they didn't want to admit to such an age disparity in her favor.

If her birth year is correct, she was 34 when she married (October 24, 1908) and 40 when her first child was born, unusually late ages for that time. Coincidentally, my wife predates me by seven years, was 34 when we married, and was 40 when our daughter was born.

Some other tidbits: Kate Inez first got to vote at age 46, and was always extremely faithful in voting thereafter, especially to counteract her husband's vote (he was a die-hard Republican; she a die-hard Democrat). Her hair was down to her waist, and she brushed it with 100 brush-strokes every night before rolling it back up in a handsome bun. She enjoyed very good health through her life (many were surprised that she didn't make it to 100); she began her last day as any other, and suddenly felt something in her chest. She said to her husband, "Will, I think I'm dying," and laid down on the living room couch and died a moment later.

I have some photos of Kate Inez and other family members, and hope to get them scanned soon. When I do, I'll send them along if you like.

All the best,

Vincent Brattin

MEDIA: D0131 - Kate Inez Baker Knight and grandson Vincent J. Brattin