Mrs. Catherine (Kate) Harkins, a native of the town of Mitchell and a graduate of Plymouth high school with the class of 1901, and now a resident of Mary-Jude nursing home, 9806 W. Lincoln ave., West Allis, recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

Three generations of her descendants with other relatives and friends comprised 110 people who visited her that day.

Mrs. Harkins received many cards of felicitations from absent relatives and friends. She also received recognition from the Ronald Reagans, Gov. Dreyfus, Princess Grace of Monaco and the Irish ambassador.

Mrs. Harkins, relatives and friends were deeply elated and touched when a representative of the chancery office of the Milwaukee archdiocese delivered a personal message and blessing from His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

Born Catherine Lindsay, Dec. 6, 1881, in the town of Mitchell, Sheboygan County, she is the daughter of George W. Lindsay and Agnes O'Connell Lindsay.

Having graduated from Plymouth high school in June. 1901, and having taught school in Sheboygan County until May, 1910, she married John Patrick Harkins, a native of the town of Holland, also a teacher, the son of Patrick Harkins and Margaret Donavan Harkins, on June 15, 1910, at St. Michael's Church, town of Mitchell. The couple took up residence in Milwaukee, where he became a policeman. He died in 1951, several years after his retirement.

In her later years, Kate lived with her daughter, Hazel, until Feb. 26, 1980, when she took up residence at Mary-Jude nursing home.

Mrs. Harkins has three living children: Hazel, Wauwatosa; Mrs. John (Willette) Cass (sic - should be Carr), Annapolis, Md., and Mrs. Jean Murphy, Milwaukee. A fourth daughter, Ethel Bultman, died in 1971. Ethel was the mother of 20 children, 19 of whom are living.

The "tear-jerker" of the party occurred when her life-long friend, Margaret Phalen Murphy, also a centenarian, a native of the town of Mitchell and a graduate of Plymouth high school, came to visit her. They have been close friends since their youth.

Margaret Phalen Murphy was born July 22, 1881, in the town of Mitchell, the daughter of Richard Phalen and Delia Martin Phalen. As a graduate of Plymouth high school in June, 1910, Margaret also taught school in Sheboygan County until she married on Oct. 24, 1906, at St. Michael's Church, town of Mitchell, William Murphy, son of Peter Murphy and Julia O'Brien Murphy, and also a Mitchell boy.

As the Harkins couple did later, the Murphy's also moved to Milwaukee where Will also became a policeman. For many years he was a familiar figure in the downtown area where he walked his beat.

In late years until January, 1981, Margaret made her home with her daughter, Cecile, the wife of the late William McGarry, when she went to the Marian Catholic home, 3333 W. Highland blvd., Milwaukee.

Mrs. Margaret Murphy has three children living: Neil Murphy and Cecile McGarry, both of Milwaukee, and Clare Conlon, Dallas, Tex.

The ladies also have two nieces. One of Mrs. Murphy's nieces, Mrs. Aloys (Frances) Trimberger, resides in Plymouth. Mrs. Harkin's nieces, Mrs. Maurice (Beth) Hughes Sr. and Mrs. Eugene (Cleo) Wifler, also reside in Plymouth.

Rarely does one witness a friendship which lasts a lifetime and has so much in common.

Transcribed by: Kay Reitberger

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