Katherine Francis Howes Compiled by Howard Wood, 2017 Katherine Frances Howes was born December 4 th 1881 in the Rotherhithe area of London, to John James Howes, and Catherine Hersey. Rotherhithe is near the docks, just off the River Thames. Records will show Katie being born in the Bermondsey, because Rotherhithe is in the borough of Bermondsey.The 1881 English Census, show the family living at number 15 Osprey St. Rotherhithe, London. I ve done prior research on Bermondsey, and they would be virtually the same in quality of life. Rotherhithe and Bermondsey are on opposite sides of Southwark Park, and about a mile apart. According to the English Censuses, Katie s father worked as an Iron labourer. As they lived near the docks, I can gather his job had to do with ship building or scrapping. Rotherhithe has a long history as a port, with many shipyards from Elizabethan times until the early 20th century and with working docks until the 1970s. Katie s father, grandfather, and great grand father were all named John and lived in Stepney, Middlesex, London. Both Stepney & Limehouse are about two miles from Rotherhithe, and on the opposite side of the River Thames. All of which are in Greater London. At this time, 22% of all families were living in London. The Bermondsey/Rotherhithe area of London, dates back
before the 10 th century. By the mid-19th century parts of Bermondsey, especially along the riverside had become a notorious slum with the arrival of industrial plants, docks and immigrant housing. The area around St Saviour's Dock, known as Jacob's Island, was one of the worst in London. It was immortalised by Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist, in which the principal villain Bill Sikes meets a nasty end in the mud of 'Folly Ditch' an area which was known as Hickmans Folly the scene of an attack by Spring Heeled Jack in 1845 surrounding Jacob's Island. Dickens provides a vivid description of what it was like: "... crazy wooden galleries common to the backs of half a dozen houses, with holes from which to look upon the slime beneath; windows, broken and patched, with poles thrust out, on which to dry the linen that is never there; rooms so small, so filthy, so confined, that the air would seem to be too tainted even for the dirt and squalor which they shelter; wooden chambers thrusting themselves out above the mud and threatening to fall into it as some have done; dirt-besmeared walls and decaying foundations, every repulsive lineament of poverty, every loathsome indication of
filth, rot, and garbage: all these ornament the banks of Jacob's Island." Online link: https://goo.gl/8cbnp1 Old Photos of Rotherhithe, London St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
1895 Rotherhithe Town Hall, view from Neptune Street and Lower Road Local Pub
Old Rotherhithe, 193 Lower Road 1900 St Mary's Free School, Rotherhithe
old Rotherhithe Old Borough, Bermondsey & Rotherhithe
Katie did have it easy living in Salt Lake City. She married Winfield Scott Wood in 1899, and her first child, Katherine, was born in 1900. They went on to have 9 children, one of which, Filmore, was adopted out. He was born in 1913, during a very turbulent time for the Wood household. Katie s husband, Winfield, was caught up in a two year affair, in which he spent most all their money on his mistress. At one point, the relationship was being put on hold by his enticing lover, Winfield was so very jealous, and actually shot her in the chest, as she flaunted her affection on a trolley driver. Winfield spent 5 years in the State prison, for attempted manslaughter. All during this time, Katie was receiving absolutely no money from Winfield, and had to rely on the goodness of neighbors. The county did help with $3 a week. Katie had filed and received a divorce. Here are a couple of transcribed newspaper accounts of the incident.
Katie Remains Loyal to Her Husband Salt Lake Telegram, June 12th 1912 Online link: https://goo.gl/skwofg Wife and Children Wait and Weep While Man Paces the Prison Cell and Victim Lies at Point of Death in the Hospital. Mrs. Winfield Wood, wife of the man who shot and probably fatally wounded Mrs. Margaret Martin yesterday as she stopped from a street car at the Saltair beach passenger depot, says that although he has not treated her rightly, she will do everything in her power to help him out of his trouble. When seen this morning at their little home at 273 North First West street, surrounded by her four small children, she had tears in her eyes for the man who she loves and for whom she has suffered much. It is said that she has suffered much. It is said that she has had to take in washing in order to support her children while her husband was away from home, but in the face of all this, she is still willing to do more than her share to help him. Winfield meant right but I think that he was led into his temptation against his will she said. I knew all the time that he was doing wrong, but I was hoping and praying that he would come to his senses and try and do right. He finally did, and really tried to get on his feet again. It seemed that luck was against him. No one seemed to want to give him work. When he finally did get work he worked hard and tried to get away from his temptation. Why do you think he shot the woman was asked. He has always had a strong temper, she replied, and it has been hard for him to control it. He probably lost his mind for a moment and did not realize what he was doing. While I realize that he has made a mistake, still my heart is with him and I am willing to help him if I can.
Even the little children are in sympathy with their father. The eldest, a girl 10 years old, cries as if her heart would break, asking repeatedly if her father will have to stay in jail. Wood, when seen this morning said that the most that he worried about was the children who will be left without support if he is sentenced to prison. What will my children and the Martin children do? He said: If I get a chance I will support all of them if I have to work night and day. The latest report from the hospital says that Mrs. Martin is still alive but is in a precarious condition. Charity is Asked for Katie and Her The Salt Lake Tribune., August 17th 1912 Online link: http://tinyurl.com/om8a3fs HERE IS A CASE FOR QUICK CHARITY, NEIGHBORS ASSERT Mrs. Winfield Wood, Wife of Felon, With Big Family, in Dire Want Surrounded by her five small children in their tiny, unlighted rooms at 157 West Second North street, Mrs. Winfield Wood, whose husband is a felon in the state prison, is in dire want, and hears her children s cries for bread, with no means of satisfying their hunger. Mrs. Wood, whose husband was sentenced to a term in prison a few months ago for an attack upon another woman with whom he had been infatuated, is expecting another little one in their home. Without means of support, without money and without any of the necessities of life, her lot is a hard one. Mrs. Wood has been forced to receive aid from the county since her condition became such that she could not work to support her children. The county poor clerk issued $3 a week to her for some time, and this meagre allowance was all she had to keep her and her children from starvation.
The fuel supply ran low, and in the cold of the last few nights the little family has suffered extremely. Kind hearted neighbors who had done much to sustain the family in its bitter trouble, reported the facts to the poor clerk of the county, and a petition was sent to that office that fuel be supplied. The coal was sent, but when Mrs. Wood s small boy applied to the clerk for the customary allowance of $3 for food the money was refused on the ground, it is alleged, that the county had furnished fuel and the family must look elsewhere for food. Dr. G.A. Gamble, to whom Mrs. Wood s story was told, has volunteered to aid her in any way that he had tendered free of charge his professional services. The family will need medicine, food and care, however, and the children are in great need of warm clothing. One of the boys, a bright little fellow 5 years old, must stay in the house all the time as he has no shoes. Residents living in the neighbourhood of the Wood home assert that Mrs. Wood s plight for her family has been of the most heroic character, and that she deserves the most charitable consideration. They say that in this particular case tangible charity will not be misplaced, and that a more deserving case has never come under their observation. The Family needs are great, and they are pressing. It is imperative, they say, that money, clothing, food and other comforts be supplied for Mrs. Wood at once.
Photos of Old Salt Lake City Saltair Pavilion, Salt Lake Citiy South Main Street, Salt Lake City 1890 Temple Square 1912
Katie s son, John Wood, at work..about 1920 Greenhalgh Remedy Company, Salt Lake City.. 1910
According to Katherine s death certificate, she died on 14 June 1931. She was 57 years of age, and had died of septicaemia caused by cellulitis. The story goes, that it was caused by a blister on her food, and that the dye from her socks had worked its way into her blood system. See Appendix for Death Certificate. Salt Lake City Cemetery
Howes Family Appendix
English Censuses 1861 English Census
1881 English Census Rotherhithe, London
1891 English Census Rotherhithe, London
U S Censuses 1900 US Census, Salt Lake City, Utah 1910 US Census, Salt Lake City, Utah
1920 US Census, Salt Lake City, Utah 1930 US Census, Salt Lake City, Utah
Maps 1889 Map of the Rotherhithe Area of London, south of the River Thames In 1881, Katherine Katie Howes was born. at: 15 Osprey Street, Rotherhithe, London, England
Map showing housing, with colours to show wealth of residents. Red showing highest, with blue lowest, and grey showing the very poorest.
Rotherhithe as seen today.
Inside the Osprey Housing Estate St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe
Katie Wood s Death Certificate
Katie had an older sister, Alice, who was born some 5-6 years earlier. Alice married Milo Warner in 1920, Salt Lake City, and lived in Filmor, Utah. They were married 13 years, before Milo died of Cancer. Alice then moved to Salt Lake City, and stayed with her nephew, Jack Wood and his family, at the 950 California Ave. house. The following, is from a history of the Warner Family Online link: https://goo.gl/bdztoa (page 33)