Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley.
Katherine Frances Colborne-Veel was born about 1858 in Christchurch.
The daughter of Joseph Colborne-Veel, a school principal, and Anne Maria Anstey.
She married Alfred John Sims, a music teacher, on 15 August 1876 at the Holy Trinity church, Avonside and they had seven children, one who died in infancy.
Alfred died in 1888 and when Katherine signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Larkworthy St, St Kilda, Dunedin.
Katherine died at her home on 28 September 1922 – she is buried with Alfred in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources:
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/