Draft:Catherine OHare Schubert

Catherine Schubert, born on April 23, 1835, in Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland, was the only woman among the 1862 Overlanders, a group of approximately 150 settlers who journeyed from Fort Garry (now Winnipeg, Manitoba) to the interior of British Columbia during the Cariboo Gold Rush. She passed away on July 18, 1918, in Armstrong, British Columbia.

Early Life and Emigration

Catherine O'Hare was the youngest of nine children. Her father, James O'Hare, struggled with unemployment due to the industrialization of the textile industry. The Irish potato famine and a typhus epidemic in the 1840s further strained the family's circumstances. At 16, Catherine enrolled in a domestic science course aimed at young Irish women planning to move to North America as domestic servants. After traveling in steerage across the Atlantic, she worked as a maid in Springfield, Massachusetts, where she taught herself to read.

Marriage and Move to Rupert's Land

In 1855, Catherine married Augustus Schubert, a carpenter from Dresden, Saxony. They moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Augustus worked as a carpenter, and Catherine managed a bakery and grocery store. Due to regional unrest, the family relocated to the Red River Settlement in Rupert's Land (now Manitoba) in 1860. They settled in St. Boniface but lost their home and farm to a flood in 1861.

Joining the Overlanders

In May 1862, the Schuberts joined the Overlanders, a group formed in Fort Garry to travel west seeking fortune in the Cariboo Gold Rush. Despite the rule against women in the expedition, Catherine insisted on accompanying her husband. She did not disclose her pregnancy, assuming they would reach their destination before the baby was due.

The Overland Journey

Catherine traveled on horseback with two children in saddle baskets, while Augustus carried their youngest. The journey was arduous, with poor weather, mosquitoes, and flooded rivers. They traversed 1600 km to Fort Edmonton, traded for supplies, and hired a Métis guide for the treacherous passage through the Rockies. Fellow Overlander Alexander Fortune praised Catherine's presence for fostering goodwill and mutual respect among the men and reassuring First Nations communities of their peaceful intentions.

Arrival in Kamloops and Later Life

The Schuberts' journey down the Thomson River was perilous, resulting in the loss of their supplies. On October 14, 1862, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Rose, with the assistance of Shuswap First Nation women. Catherine's bravery was lauded by Thomas McMicking, the expedition leader. The family stayed at Fort Kamloops for the winter, where Augustus worked as a carpenter and Catherine as a cook.

The Schuberts eventually settled in the Okanagan Valley, where Catherine ran an inn, taught children, and practiced midwifery. After Augustus's death in 1908, Catherine sold their farm and moved to Armstrong, British Columbia, where she died in 1918.

Legacy

Catherine Schubert is honored with a memorial in Armstrong and a statue in Kamloops. Schubert Drive in Kamloops is named after her family, recognizing her remarkable contribution as a pioneering woman of the Overland Expedition of 1862.

There is also a memorial in her hometown, Rathfriland. It's mounted in the spot where the family home once stood.

A play called "Little Hills" was written about the story of Catherine and her journey by (Dr)John Shannon and directed by his son Caleb Shannon.

Starring John Shannon, Caleb Shannon, Sinead Rice McAleavey, Sean O'Baoill and Bronagh Lynch. Written by John Shannon. Directed by Caleb Shannon.

Music by Whiskey Before Breakfast.