Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Friday, October 10, 2014 at 06:50:28 :
The Marin Journal
Thursday, January 20, 1910
Page 2
Oldest Pioneer Lady of Tomales Passed Away
Mrs. Katherine A. Keys, a member of one of the first pioneer families in Marin County, died at her home at Tomales last Saturday night at the age of 71 years. Death resulted from heart trouble. She was probably the earliest pioneer lady living in Marin County at the time of her death.
Mrs. Keys’ father was James Miller, a member of the famous Murphy-Miller party that came to California in 1844. She was born in Quebec, Canada. In 1841 her family left Canada and located in Holt County, Miss. Three years later they started for California with a train of 13 wagons, crossing the Yuba and Bear Rivers and arriving at Sutter’s Fort in December.
The party reached San Rafael in 1846, and Miller located with his family at Las Gallinas, a few miles north of San Rafael, the following year. His deed to 8,000 acres of land was the first recorded in this county.
While at Las Gallinas, Mrs. Keys, then a child of 7 years, witnessed the battle between 14 of Lieutenant Ford’s soldiers and a detachment of 40 Spaniards, during the Bear Flag War. Lieutenant Ford was in the staff of General Fremont and it was while on his way to Sonoma with a small detachment of 14 men, that he encountered t he Spaniards lying in ambush near the old Miller Hall, the home of Mrs. Keys. Although greatly out numbered by the Spaniards, who were mounted, Ford ordered his men to take shelter among the rocks and trees. After a fierce battle lasting several hours, the American soldiers routed the Spaniards, taking a number of them prisoners. These and also a number of wounded men were carried into Miller Hall where the sight of them deeply impressed the little girl of 7.
Later the family moved to Tomales and there Katherine became the wife of the late John Keys, a prosperous stock raiser and merchant of that place on February 4, 1860.
The family home has for many years been in Tomales and large landed interests still remain a part of the Keys home. Mrs. Keys is survived by six (sic) children, Elizabeth, Edith and Minnie, residing in Tomales, James Keys of San Rafael, and George W. Keys who resides in San Francisco.
Mrs. Keys was a sister of Hon. William J. Miller of San Rafael, Bernard T. Miller of Nicasio, Mrs. Joseph Kirk, Miss Teresa Miller, and of the late Miss Miller and Mrs. James Tunstead.
The funeral services were held on Tuesday at 11 o’clock at Tomales, at the Church of the Assumption, many from here going to pay their last respects to this good woman.
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