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Title
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Shelley, Kate (1863-1912)
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birthday
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1863-12-12
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Birthplace
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Loughaun, IE
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Death Date
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1912-01-21
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Occupation
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Farmer
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Biographical Text
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Kate Shelley was a railroad heroine and the first woman in the US to have a bridge named after her. Born Catherine Carroll Shelley in Loughaun, IE, her family emigrated to the states when she was just a year and a half old. Her parents, Michael and Margaret, settled their family on a farm in Boone County, Iowa, in close proximity to the Honey Creek stream.
After the passing of her father, Shelley took on more responsibility around the farm to support her mother and four siblings. On July 6, 1881, a heavy thunderstorm caused a flash flood of Honey Creek. This resulted in the collapse of the bridge during the crossing of a pusher locomotive, sending the engine into Honey Creek with four crew member aboard.
Upon hearing the crash, Shelley heroically sprung into action to help the surviving crew and warn a soon arriving passenger train of the crash. The news of Shelley's bravery spread quickly, with her receiving great recognition for her actions. A new steel bridge built in 1901 was named the Kate Shelley Bridge, marking it the first in the country to honor a woman.
Shelley passed on January 12, 1912, from Bright's disease at the age of 48.
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Contributor
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O'Neill, Iris
Kate Shelley, Grave Memorial