On 19 Mar 1866 when William Berdette was 25, he married Caroline Holdbrook Simons (66244) , daughter of William H. Simons (1 Jun 1820-12 Mar 1894) & Angeline M. Sager (63773) (17 Aug 1821-2 Aug 1898), in Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Rev. James Mc Lead. Born on 1 May 1845 in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York. Caroline Holdbrook died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, on 13 May 1917; she was 72. Buried on 16 May 1917 in Fairplains Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

Caroline Holdbrook Simons, known as Carrie Simons. She first married William Burdette Monroe, second John Jacob Cosselman.

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 Federal Census. Bennington Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan
Roll 606, page 320A
    Carrie Monroe, 34, keeping house, b. MI, parents b. NY
    Cora M. Monroe, daughter, 13, at home, b. MI, parents b. MI
    Myrtie A. Monroe, daughter, 7, at home, ditto
    Lewie Monroe, son, 1, at home, ditto
    John Walsh, boarder, 26, retail grocer, b. MI, parents b. Ireland
    H. Clarkston, boarder, 21, b. MI, parents b. NY

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.”

Grand Rapids Herald (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 11 April 1897
COURT NOTES
    Edward Joyce petitioned the probate court yesterday to inquire into the sanity of Carrie Monroe and admit her to the asylum as a public charge.

1900 Federal Census. Grand Rapids ward 1, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 721, page 16A, ED 46
204 South Commerce
    Carrie Monroe, head, b. May 1845, age 55, b. MI, parents b. MI, not employed
    Louis Monroe, son, b. Mar 1878, age 21, b. MI, father b. Scotland, mother b. MI, metal polisher
Lewis is also listed in the census as living in Leroy, Michigan

1910 Federal Census. Grand Rapids ward 9, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 657, page 9B, ED 98
31 W. Fulton St.
    Carrie Monroe, boarder, 62, wid., 3 children, all living, , b. MI, parents b. NY, hotel cook
Carrie was a cook, no doubt at the hotel in which she boarded

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.”

Grand Rapids Press, 12 December 1916, Page 18
BREVITIES
Mrs. Carrie Monroe suffered a stroke of paralysis Sunday evening and is at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Joyce, 247 Jefferson avenue, S.E.

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 died about three weeks later. The twenty dollar a month pension was 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
Carrie H. Monroe d. 13 May 1917, æ. 73 years 12 days, at 120 Jefferson Ave., Grand Rapids. She was born 1 May 1844 in New York, daughter of William Simmons and Angeline Sager, both born in New York. Informant Edward Joyce [son-in-law] of the same address. Cause of death cerebral embolism. Burial at Fair Plains Cemetery 16 May 1917.

Mortuary Announcement
Grand Rapids Press, 14 May 1917, page 14
Dies After Long Illness
    Mrs. Carrie H. Moore, aged seventy-three years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Joyce, 120 Jeffereson avenue S.E. Sunday night after an illness of five months. She was a resident of Grand Rapids for thirty-one years. She also is survived by another daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Martin of Portland, Ore., one son, Louis N. Monroe of South Bend, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild. Funeral announcement will be made later.

Death Certificate
http://seekingmichigan.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/...29401coll7/id/125991
Carrie H. Monroe, residence 120 Jefferson Ave., Grand Rapids, b. 1 May 1844, d. 13 May 1917 at Grand Rapids, widow, b. New York, daughter of William Simmons & Angeline Sager both b. NY. Informant Edward Joyce of same address. Died of Cerebral Embolism. buried 16 May 1917 at Fairplains Cemetery.

Grand Rapids Press, 15 May 1917, page 16
Grand Rapids Brevities
Funeral service for Mrs. Carrie H. Monroe will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Edward Joyce, 120 Jefferson avenue, S.E. Interment will be in Fair Plains cemetery.

Grand Rapids City Cemeteries689
Name: Caroline (Carrie) Monroe
Date of Birth: 00/00/1844
FAIRPLAINS CEMETERY
BLOCK 02
Lot :406
Space :1
Age: 073
Date of death: 05/13/1917
Funeral director: Spring, Henry [Actually Berton Spring]
Service date: 05/16/1917