Mrs. Henrietta E. Groesbeck

Mrs. Henrietta E. Groesbeck had charge of the Newton city library for eight months, from November 1, 1906 to June, 1907.[1]  “Mrs. P. B. Groesbeck, late of Bloomington, Illinois, is the new librarian, and assumed the duties Thursday, Nov. 1st,” The Newton Journal reported.  “She was associated with the Withers’ Family Library while at Bloomington and a month previous to her arrival in our city was with the Iowa Library Commission at Des Moines.  She is classifying the books and it will not be long until she is thoroughly acquainted with her new surroundings.”[2]  Henrietta Estella Wightman was born in McHenry County, Illinois, October 15, 1859[3], the daughter of John Earl and Isabella Margaret (Atkinson) Wightman.[4]  She came to Chenoa, McLean County, Illinois in 1866 with her parents, and was educated in Chenoa schools.[5]  She later taught in the country and city schools in that community.[6]  On March 29, 1882, she was married to Peter B. Groesbeck (1855-1904).[7]  In 1900, the couple was living in Chenoa, where Groesbeck was listed as a clothing dealer.[8]  Following her short term of service at the Newton Public Library, Mrs. Groesbeck was married to Maurice Monroe (1844-1938), a native of Scotland, March 17, 1909, at her parents’ home in Chenoa.[9]  He had been vice-president and cashier of the Farmers’ Bank for several years.[10]  In 1910, she was living in Chenoa with her husband, who had his “own income;” an adopted daughter, Helen G. Monroe, age 26; and a 30-year-old niece, Ella E. Evans.  Henrietta and Helen reported to the census taker that they had no trade or profession; Ella was listed as a bookkeeper in a bank.[11]  Ten years later, the Monroes were still in Chenoa.[12]  In 1930, the couple was living in Daytona Beach, Florida.[13]  Mrs. Monroe died May 27, 1940, in Chenoa, Illinois.[14]  At the time of her death she was living with a great niece, Miss Dorothy Remmers.[15]  She is buried in the Chenoa Cemetery.[16]  Mrs. Monroe was a member of the Chenoa Presbyterian Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Chicago chapter.[17]

-Larry Ray Hurto

 

[1] The Newton Journal, November 14, 1906; The Newton Herald, July 5, 1907.

[2] The Newton Journal, November 14, 1906.

[3] Ancestry.com. Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[4] Ibid.

[5] The Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, May 28, 1940.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ancestry.com. Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

[8] 1900 United States Federal Census.

[9] The Pantagraph, March 20, 1909.

[10] Ibid.

[11] 1910 United States Federal Census.

[12] 1920 United States Federal Census.

[13] 1930 United States Federal Census.

[14] Ancestry.com. Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.  Her occupation was listed as housewife.

[15] The Pantagraph, May 28, 1940.

[16] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85815322/henrietta-estella-monroe.

[17] The Pantagraph, May 28, 1940.