Kathleen Yurkonis was born and raised in Mundelein, Illinois, but she currently lives in Brooklyn, Wisconsin with her husband, 17 year old daughter, 3 cats, and a rescued pit bull.
Kathy became interested in the American Civil War just after 8th grade when her family visited Gettysburg on their way home from a trip to Washington, D.C. She didn’t discovered civil war reenacting until 1988 and found that she could combine several hobbies, her love of history, sewing, horses, and occasionally photography, into one. Kathy, her husband, Peter, their daughter and their two horses are active members of the First Federal Division/Division Cavalry Brigade along with several other “home” units. Kathy spoke at the Midwest Civil War Civilian Conference in 2005 on Side Saddle Riding. Mrs. Yurkonis spoke again at the 2007 Midwest Civil War Civilian conference on heirloom vegetable gardening. In Spring 2007, Kathy started her own business, called MorganAside, where she specializes in boys’ clothing, womens’ riding habits, & period knitting, crocheting & Tunisian crochet. In the Summer of 2007, Kathy joined forces with P. Palmer Drygoods. This traveling mercantile consists of three separate businesses that gather together under one name. Originals By Kay, Mrs. Vincent's Parasol Emporium, and MorganAside. In the summer of 2008, Kathy became the Website Committee Chair for the Midwest Civil War Civilians Conference. |