Meroa Louisa Yeomans: Literary College Graduate

1848-1917

Meroa as a younger woman

Charlie Crooks, Helen Crooks McFarland, William McFarland, Meroa Yeomans Crooks

       Meroa Louisa Yeomans was born in Kortright, New York, in the Catskills, on February 24, 1848, the daughter of James Yeomans Jr. and Sarah Haines Redfield. She had 4 brothers: Albert Redfield (1845), Charles Howard (1846), James Edwin (1850) and Frederick Wright (1854). Albert died just before he turned 10 and Fred died when he was 21 years old.

     In the fall of 1851, Meroa's family moved to Illinois by oxcart and boat and settled at Squaw Grove (Hinckley today). Pioneer life involved significant privations and she and her brothers were largely educated by their mother, who had taught school back in New York. In 1855, her oldest brother Albert died. A few years later, they moved to Sugar Grove and thence to Peotone and finally, in 1866, to Onarga, Illinois.

      Meroa spent a year at Ripon College in Wisconsin. She later attended Grand Prairie Seminary in Onarga and was a member of the first graduating class in 1871. She received her diploma in the classical course on the same day that her brother Charles graduated from Ripon College in law. At the time of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, she taught at a college for women in Kankakee. She, along with other citizens, sent one meal a day to those stricken by the fire in Chicago. After teaching at Kankakee, she taught for six years in the Gilman schools.

     Meroa joined the Methodist church of Squaw Grove when she was 8 years old, but became affiliated with the Presbyterian church after she married Thomas Armor Crooks on July 31, 1878, in Onarga. Thomas and Meroa had 3 children: Charles Henry (1883), Helen Redfield (1885) and Fred Raymond (1888)...  Meroa had a deep interest in missionary work, sending barrels of home-canned fruit, clothing and magazines for over a quarter of a century. She was also interested in the Ladies Aid society at the church.

      Meroa was also interested in the library and the Fortnightly club. Fortnightly clubs were founded in the 1800's as a place for women to have an intellectual life! The Gilman Lore stated that she had considerable literary training and ability as a writer, and her papers were widely read and sometimes published.  

      On June 9, 1917, at the age of 69, Meroa died in Gilman, Illinois, of bronchial pneumonia. Anemia was mentioned as a secondary cause of death. At the time of her death, she appeared to have some property in her name only. In addition, she had notes due, one note being for $150 she had loaned to her son-in-law Will McFarland at no interest. In addition, all of her household goods are itemized including bedsteads, a bureau, washstands, a rest chair, rockers, 3 wash boards, 1 melodeon, 1 book case and books, 1 sewing machine, stoves and dishes.

      She is buried in Onarga cemetery, next to her parents, the two brothers that died young and her husband! I have visited this cemetery numerous times on the way to the Chicago area with my husband.