Who is Alice?

In the 1880 US Census for Highland Pointe, County Clackamas, Oregon, Patrick McIntyre (c1831-1901) is listed as head of household and there is a granddaughter named "Allice McIntyre" who is 7 years old.  Who is this "Allice?"

Detail shows:

None of the children listed are old enough to have a 7 year old child. We know the other children of Patrick and Bridget: Mary didn't marry until 1875; Edward didn't marry until c1877; Bartholomew was living in Mexico in 1872/3 when Allice would have been born.

Of note, Kate is listed as 18 years old, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget, widowed, and without occupation. 

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However, in the 1880 US Census for San Francisco, California, her husband, Paul Kreft is listed:

Kreft, Paul, White, Male, 33, Boarder, married, Seaman, born in Russia

So, it seems that Paul Kreft was a seamen in June, 1880 and Kate most likely went to live with her parents in Oregon. I believe that Bridget and children might have moved to the Oregon homestead with Patrick sometime after December, 1879, when their son, William, was killed in a car accident in San Francisco.

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We don't have a marriage record for Paul Kreft and Kate McIntyre, but his obituary, written in 1900, states they married in 1878.

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In a letter from Kate's niece, Ellen McIntyre, daughter of Dominick and Mary McDonald, she writes in 1965 to Mrs. Stratford that Kate and Paul had a daughter, Alice, who died as an infant. See letter: https://mcintyrestevens.blogspot.com/2020/06/letter-from-ellen-mcintyre-satantin-sp.html

In the letter, Ellen writes "My sister (Sarah) says there were no other children in the Kreft family. One named Alice who died as an infant and another named Frances who was killed in a horse and buggy runaway."

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On Find-A-Grave there is an entry for May Alice Kreft, daughter of Paul and Kate:

 

Additionally, it reads: 

The entry was created by Athanatos, added 11 Mar 2013.

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Paul Kreft's 1900 obiturary reads:

Paul Kreft

After a long and painful illness, Paul Kreft died at 3:30 yesterday afternoon at his home in this city, aged 52 years, 2 months and 3 days.

Mr. Keft (sic) was born in Danizer, Prussia, May 20, 1848, and came to California when 16 years of age, residing there until 1881, when he came to The Dalles, making this his home until the time of his death. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Kate McIntyre in San Francisco.  She and six children, Henriette, Bertha, Charles, Edward, Paul and Nellie, survive him, while two children have preceded him to the grave, one daughter having been killed in a runaway accident here four years ago.

Mr. Kreft was a painter by trade, and for several years conducted a paint store here.  For the past years his health has been failing, and a few months since he went to San Francisco, hoping to gain relief, but his malady was incurable, and since his return home he has patiently awaited his final summons.  He was an honored member of Mt. Hood camp, W. O. W., and was universally respected by the entire community.

During his residence in The Dalles Mr. Kreft held a number of official positions, and on the death of Dr. Rhinehart, who was major, he was selected by the council to serve the unexpired term as chief executive of the city.

Source believed to be: The Dalles Daily Chronicle, July 24, 1900. Original copy provided by Dolly Purcell, May 5, 2014.

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So, we know/have:

1. A grandchild "Allice McIntyre" age 7 years listed on the 1880 US Census with Patrick and Bridget McIntyre in Oregon.

2. None of Patrick and Bridget's children, with the exception of  Mary, Edward and Bartholomew, were old enough/married to have a child 7 years old. 

3. It is unlikely Allice is the child of Edward who married in c1877; Mary who married in 1875; or, Bartholomew who was living in Mexico in 1872/3 when Alice would have been born.

4. Paul and Kate married in 1878.

5. We have a letter from the daughter of Dominick, Kate's brother, that Paul and Kate had a daughter Alice that died as an infant.

6. A child, May Alice, daughter of Paul and Kate was buried on July 23, 1880 and was 8 months old.

7. Paul Kreft's obituary in 1900 states he had two children who "preceded him to the grave."

8.  We know the names of seven of Paul and Kate's eight children. They are listed on www.McIntyreGenealogy.com

Given the information available, it is believed that "Allice McIntyre" age 7 years on the 1880 US Census is actually May Alice Kreft, first born daughter of Paul and Kate Kreft and was 7 months old at the time of the census.

The census taker may have been told that Kate's husband was "gone" and he surmised Paul Kreft was dead, because he was not living with her.  And the census taker probably just left off the "months" for Allice when he transcribed the information on to the census sheet.