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- [S1044] Genealogy information submitted to WMGS by Bobbi Schirado, "Tree: Schirado," members database, Western Michigan Genealogical Society, (http://trees.wmgs.org/index.php: accessed ), ., Accessed; 22 October 2011; http://trees.wmgs.org/getperson.php?personID=I3939&tree=Schirado.
Caroline Holdbrook Simons, known as Carrie Simons.
1866 Marriage. The Reverend James Mc Leod verifies that Carrie and William Burdette were married in a statement given in regards to her request for a minor pension for Louis. He declares, “... My age is seventy four years. My post Office address is Laingsburg, Michigan. I hereby certify that I joined in marrieage one William B. Monroe and Carrie Simons at Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, Michigan, on or about the 19th day of March A. D. 1866.”
1880 Bennington Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan census - Carrie is 34 and keeping house for her family and two borders (John Walsh, 26, is a retail grocer, was born in Michigan, and both of his parents were born in Ireland; and H. Clarkston, a 91[21?] year old man who was born in Michigan). Cora M. is 13, Mytie A. is seven and Lewie is one.
Shiawassee County Marriage Records state Carrie Simonds, 33 years of age married John Jacob Cosselman, 26, on March 1, 1882. Both lived in Bennington Township. He was born in Shiawassee County, and she in Livingston County, Michigan. He is a farmer. They were married in Owasso by Seth Reed, Minister, with Harriet Reed and Hannah Milten as witnesses. (Copy of marriage license included with Pension Records.)
Shiawassee County Divorce Records, 16 May 1883. Circuit Judge William Newton, following the report of Harry Hutchins, one of the Circuit Court Commissioners for the County of Shiawassee, declared that “John J. Cossllman was guilty of the several acts of failure to support and cruelty.” After a motion by Turner and Turner, Counsel for the Complainant (Carrie H. Cossellman), Judge Newton declared that their marriage was disolved.
Civil War Pension Records. On 9 August 1890, Carrie Monroe gives her address as 207 Mt. Vernon St.,Grand Rapids. She is the legal guardian of Lewis N. Monroe. On 28 September 1891, Myrtie and Cora give an affidavit regarding their mother:
“. . . We have been well and personally acquainted with said Carrie Monroe for 24 years and 18 years respectively, and that she is our mother and said Wm. B. Monroe was our father; he died at Bennington, Shiawassee County, Mich. on December 17, 1879, being killed by a falling limb. Said Wm. B. Monroe left no child nor children now surviving by his last or any former marriage, other than Lewis N. Monroe, who were under the age of sixteen years on Aug. 9, 1890.
Said Lewis N. Monroe is now living with and is supported and cared for by his mother in the City of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich.
Neither said Carrie Monroe nor said Lewis N. Monroe own any property of any kind and have no income. Said Carrie Monroe supports herself and said minor by keeping boarders in said City of Grand Rapids.”
On 9 August 1890 Lewis N. Monroe was granted $8 per month as a minor child of William B. Monroe. On 20 June 1891 he was allowed an additional $2 per month until he was 16.
On 17 November 1892 Carrie made a statement regarding Lewis’ claim for a minor pension. “My Post Office address is 183 S. Front St., Grand Rapids, Michigan. My age is 47 years. I hereby certify that I am legal Guardian of the claimant in this case and swear that neither said William B. Monroe nor myself were ever married prior to our marriage in 1866 and that said minor child lives with and is supported by me by my own labor at Grand Rapids, Mich. and that I am the mother of said minor child by said soldier.”
Cora requested a Civil War Pension on behalf of her mother in 1916. Carrie had had a stroke and was incapacitated. Cora apparently took care of Carrie during the last two or three years of her life. Attorney, Frank I. Blake, 229:330 Houseman Building, Citizens Phone 1187, was retained to help obtain a pension. The Hon. Carl E. Mapes, United States Senate (1909-1920), was also enlisted to help speed the process. He sent at least two letters to the the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Civil War Division requesting information regarding the status of the pension.
On 5 October 1916, William G. Stenger, 17 Conklin Terrace, Grand Rapids, Michigan, provided an affidavit regarding the marriage and divorce of Carrie Monroe and John J. Cosselman. “I have been acquainted with the claimant, Carrie H. Monroe, for the past thirty years or more, having lived near them when they lived at Bennington, before Mr. Monroe died. That I know that claimant did not remarry after the death of Mr. Monroe until she married one John J. Cossleman at Bennington, about a year after Mr. Monroe’s death. That said John J. Cossleman borrowed a suit of clothes of me in which to be married. That he and the cliamant lived together about a year, and separated and claimant was divorced from him sometime after. That claimant has not remarried since said time.”
On 20 March 1917, Cora is granted legal guardianship of Carrie. Carrie is declared to be mentally incompetent. Cora is required to give a $500 bond, “For the faithful performance of the trust as appears of record in the office of said Court, and that said appointment and bond are now in full force and effect.”
This pension was not granted until 28 April 1917. Carrie dies about three weeks later. The twenty dollar a month pension is granted from 5 October 1916 until her death. However, Cora apparently did not receive any money before Carrie died.
Following Carrie’s death, the family was required to inform the government. In order to recover some of the cost of her care, Cora submitted information about her medical care and needs. Dr. A. B. Thompson, #825 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids, was Carrie’s only attending physician during her last illness. Her death was caused by cerebral embolism, and the contributary cause was Arteroma. “Pensioner was boarded and nursed and cared for by the claimant (Cora Joyce) during all of her last sickness. That the district nurses, a charitable organization, would come in twice a week and help claimant change dressings and bathe pensioner, but who made no charges therefore, being supported by voluntary contributions.” Carrie died at 120 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, (Cora’s home), on 13 May 1917, and was buried in Fairplains Cemetery, Grand Rapids Township [as Caroline Monroe]. Of the Undertaker’s bill, $55 was donated by the Kent County Relief fund for indignent soldiers and sailors and their widows. Additional expenses were as follows.
Dr. A.B. Thompson Physician $ 31.50
Purchased at various drug stores Medicines 37.40
Cora Joyce Nursing, board and care 220.00
Berton Spring Co. Undertaker’s bill 155.00
$443.90
An itemized account of medicines and care was required. From December 11th, 1916 to May 13th, 1917, Cora provided “board, nursing, care and support for 22 weeks, as pensioner was totally disabled and unable to to talk or look after herself in any way, @ $10 per week - $220.” She also purchased:
Ointment, about 1 box a week @ $.25 per box $ 5.50
Adhesive plaster, about a large spool a week, @ $.35 per spool 7.70
Alcohol @ $. 25 per week 5.50
Carbolic Acid, 1 bottle 5.00
Prescription, filled once a week at $.60 a week 13.20
Gause, 5 yards $ .50
Cora also says that, “My brother Louis Monroe paid $100 on the funeral expenses and $5.00 on the doctor’s bill, out of insurance, but that I am responsible for the balance.” Rose Harmon, Aileen E. Joyce, and Edward Joyce all make an affidavit to the effect that they knew Carrie H. Monroe and believe everything Cora stated was true. Edward also waves any interest in the claim for reimbursement.
Death Certificate Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan states that Carrie H. Monroe died 13 May 1917. She was a widow, 73 years and 12 days old. She was born in New York and died of a cerebral embolism. Her parents were William Simmons and Aneline Sayers, both of New York.
- [S1044] Genealogy information submitted to WMGS by Bobbi Schirado, "Tree: Schirado," members database, Western Michigan Genealogical Society, (http://trees.wmgs.org/index.php: accessed ), ., Accessed; 22 October 2011; http://trees.wmgs.org/getperson.php?personID=I3939&tree=Schirado.
- [S1044] Genealogy information submitted to WMGS by Bobbi Schirado, "Tree: Schirado," members database, Western Michigan Genealogical Society, (http://trees.wmgs.org/index.php: accessed ), ., Accessed; 22 October 2011; http://trees.wmgs.org/getperson.php?personID=I3928&tree=Schirado.
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1845 - 1917 (72 years)
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