Mrs. A. M. (Catherine) Henderson

In June 1903, following the announcement of the funds for a Carnegie library to be built in Marengo,[1] Mrs. A.M. (Catherine) Henderson was appointed to be a member of the library board[2]. Henderson was also appointed the Treasurer of the Library Fund.[3]  Prior to this appointment, in 1901, Henderson had served as Superintendent of the M.E.S.S. (the home economics department of the high school) of Marengo.[4]

Mrs. A. M. Henderson (née Catherine Anderson) was born in Iowa in October 1864 to English immigrants.[5]  Not much is known about her formative years. In 1896, she married Alfred M. Henderson in Iowa County, Iowa.[6]  Based on the age of the children in the household as notated on the census record, Catherine was most likely A. M.’s second wife.[7]  In 1900, the couple lived in Marengo, Iowa, at 913 Hilton Street.[8]

-Rachel Rackham

[1] “Marengo Public Library, Past to Present,” Marengo Public Library, IMLS, 2017. http://www.marengo.lib.ia.us/Marengo{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}20Public{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}20Library{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}20Past{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}20to{d88251a6d044bb92acfc6562c844669d257905d2c83f008be98127c59e94a890}20Present.pdf. (Accessed October 27, 2018).

[2] Pauline Lillie, Marengo the County Seat Marengo the Town: A History, (Marceline: Walsworth Publishing, 1984).

[3] “Marengo Public Library,” Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project, University of Iowa Libraries, https://www.carnegielibrariesiowa.org/library/marengo/. (Accessed November 26, 2018).

[4] “County Sunday School Notes,” The Marengo Democrat, Marengo, Iowa, August 1, 1901, p. 1. Roll 960-K.

[5] Ancestry.com, 1900 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule), Marengo City Township, Iowa County, Iowa, District 47, Household ID 240 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. http://familysearch.org. (Accessed October 26, 2018).; A specific site for her birthplace was not found.

[6] Ancestry.com, Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880–1940, Des Moines, Iowa [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018, http://ancestry.com. (Accessed Octpber 26, 2018).

[7] Ancestry.com, 1900 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule), Marengo City Township, Iowa County, Iowa, District 47, Household ID 240 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. http://familysearch.org. (Accessed October 26, 2018).; At the time of the 1900 United States Federal Census, A. M. had two children living in the household, Clarence (26) and Francis (22). Also at the time of this census, A.M. was 50 and Catherine was 35.

[8] Ibid.; Though extensive research has been conducted, no conclusive information has been found about Catherine’s life and eventual death following the events in Marengo, Iowa. Records on Ancestry.com and Family Search were checked in an attempt to determine when she died.

[9] Ancestry.com, Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880–1940, Des Moines, Iowa [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. http://ancestry.com. (Accessed October 26, 2018).

[10] Ancestry.com, 1900 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule), Marengo City Township, Iowa County, Iowa, District 47, Household ID 240 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. http://familysearch.org. (Accessed October 26, 2018).