Title: Crooke-Mabbett Family Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1847-1944

Creators:

• Crooke Family
• Mabbett family

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 9

Quantity: 0.5 cubic ft. (2 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

The records in this collection document the correspondence of the Crooke and Mabbett families who were connected through the marriage of Maria E. Crooke and Hiram J. Mabbett in 1883. Members of each family served in the American Civil War and World War I. Several of the family members lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, though others lived in McGregor, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and Yorkshire, England.

Note:

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Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0009

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The Crooke-Mabbett collection follows four generations of the Crooke family (starting in 1847) and three generations of the Mabbett family (starting in 1853).

Crooke Family: The Crooke collection begins with Reverend John Crook(e) and Maria Crook(e) from Yorkshire, England. Reverend John Crook(e) was a Baptist minister, it is unknown what Maria Crook(e) did. The two had four children: George (1830-1899), William (1837-1894), John, and Mary Anne (birth dates unknown). George, William, and John Crooke relocated to America in 1853, eventually settling in McGregor, IA. George Crooke purchased some land in Winnebago County, IL, in 1853, prior to settling in McGregor, IA. William was admitted to the bar in 1862, and George married Jane Crooke some time before the Civil War and had a daughter, Maria E. Crooke (1861-1939).

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), both George and William entered military service. In August 1862 George was admitted as a private and William as a captain, and both were attached to the 21st Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. George was discharged on January 26, 1863, though re-enlisted as a lieutenant on June 15, 1864; he was discharged after the war on July 15, 1865 in Baton Rouge, LA. William was promoted to major on May 23, 1863, and mustered out on August 4, 1863; he re-enlisted on January 25, 1865 still as a major.

In 1866 William married Sarah S. Updegraff. Both brothers went into insurance; George worked for the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, William for the Northern Insurance Company. William and Sarah Crooke relocated from McGregor, IA, to Chicago, IL in 1876, while George and Jane Crooke relocated from McGregor, IA to Milwaukee, WI around 1879. George and Jane’s daughter, Maria E. Crooke, had already relocated to Milwaukee in 1877 to study physics at the Milwaukee College. William died on April 27, 1894 in Chicago, IL. George died in 1899 in Milwaukee, WI.

Mabbett Family: The Mabbett collection starts with Joseph S. Mabbett, who was born in Bridgewater, NY, in 1826. He moved to Detroit, MI in 1850 and then to Milwaukee, WI in 1853. His relative, Hiram Mabbett, had already moved to Milwaukee in 1845. Hiram first was a grocer and then entered the lumber business. Joseph S. Mabbett was first in insurance with Mabbett and Breed around 1860, and then went into lumber in 1863, last running the company Mabbett, Pillsbury, and Co. (he left the company in 1874). Joseph S. Mabbett was married three times, first to Sarah Mabbett, mother to their son Hiram J. Mabbett (1856-1917). Sarah Mabbett died on September 11, 1859 of consumption. Joseph married his second wife, Hattie Twogood, on November 22, 1860. His third wife is unknown. Joseph S. Mabbett died on February 20, 1901.

Crooke-Mabbett Family: Maria E. Crooke married Hiram J. Mabbett in Milwaukee on December 12, 1883. During their marriage, they had at least three children, George C. (born June 9, 1885), Joseph E. (born May 3, 1887), and Jeanette (born May 21, 1889). Hiram J. first appeared in the Milwaukee City directory in 1874 and eventually took over the family lumber business. He died on March 14, 1917. Maria E. Mabbett died on July 6, 1939. Maria last lived at 2219 N. Lake Drive in Milwaukee, along with Jeanette and Joseph E. at that time.

Joseph E. Mabbett entered World War I on January 11, 1918, arriving at Camp Grant in Rockford, IL. During his time, he became affiliated with the US Army Signal Corps, becoming an instructor in wireless technology. He was relocated several times, first to the Signal Corps School in Chicago, IL, then to Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and finally to Camp Meade in Baltimore, MA. Joseph E. Mabbett first appeared in the Milwaukee City Directory in 1907, and last appeared in 1938, though it is unknown if this is when he died.

The records in this collection document the correspondence of the Crooke and Mabbett families who were connected through the marriage of Maria E. Crooke and Hiram J. Mabbett in 1883. Members of each family served in the American Civil War and World War I. Several of the family members lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, though others lived in McGregor, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and Yorkshire, England. This collection contains correspondence, documents and ephemera. Family correspondence, documents and ephemera spans over 60 years of collected materials by family members. The wartime correspondence and documents, contains correspondence and materials collected by family members during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and World War I (1914-1918).

Subjects are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Crooke-Mabbett Family Papers, 1847-1944, Collection 9. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the Milwaukee Public Library in June 1962 by Jeanette Mabbett, daughter of Hiram J. and Maria Mabbett, and sister to Joseph E. Mabbett. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Initial inventory of materials by unknown, 1966. Processed by Archives Intern, Kyle Davis, 2011.

	Family Correspondence, 1847-1911
Box   1 Folder   1	Crook, Rev. John, 1847-1852
Box   1 Folder   2	Crooke, George, 1849-1855
Box   1 Folder   3	Crooke, George, 1871-1893
Box   1 Folder   4	Crooke, William, 1855-1861
Box   1 Folder   5	Crooke, [unknown], 1850-1852
Box   1 Folder   6	Mabbett, Hiram, 1911
Box   1 Folder   7	Mabbett, 1853-1859
	Family Documents and Ephemera, 1850-1944
Box   1 Folder   8	Crook, Rev. John, 1850-1853
Box   1 Folder   9	Crooke, George, 1854-1893
Box   1 Folder   10	Crooke, George – Notebooks, 1874
Box   1 Folder   11	Crooke-Mabbett, Maria, 1875-1883
Box   1 Folder   12	Crooke-Mabbett, Maria – Notebooks, 1877-1878
Box   1 Folder   13	Mabbett, Hiram, undated
Box   1 Folder   14	Miscellaneous , 1877-1944
	Wartime Correspondence and Documents, 1861-1919
Box   2 Folder   1	Crooke, George – Correspondence, 1862-1865
Box   2 Folder   2	Crooke, George – Documents and Ephemera, 1863-1899
Box   2 Folder   3	Crooke, Mary Anne – Correspondence, 1861-1866
Box   2 Folder   4	Crooke, William – Correspondence, 1862-1866
Box   2 Folder   5	Crooke, William – Documents and Ephemera, 1871-1907
Box   2 Folder   6	Mabbett, Joseph – Correspondence, 1918-1919
Box   2 Folder   7	Mabbett, Joseph – Documents and Ephemera, 1918-1919