Back in 2010, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo created a list of writing prompts for each day during the month of March.  I didn’t participate in 2010, so I’m going to take the opportunity to participate this year, since Lisa was kind enough to resurrect her prompts for 2012.

Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?


I have several female ancestors who passed on too early.  Here are the stories for two of my great-grandmothers.

Alma (Leppin) Miller – Alma Leppin was born 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Illinois.  At the age of 19 she married Emil Charles Miller 4 September 1915 in Chicago.  Together, Emil and Alma had three children: Raymond, Harold, and Mildred.  Alma died 15 December 1928, at the age of 32, due to heart trouble.

Catherine (Schwartz) Cahill – Catherine Schwartz was born 16 April 1894 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.  On 25 April 1916, she married John Cahill in Aurora.  Just two-and-a-half years after their last child was born, Catherine reportedly committed suicide on 26 January 1925 in her home in Aurora.  She was just 30 years of age.

Read all of my Fearless Females posts.