NIEHOUSE, Kathryn McBroom
Kathryn Theresa McBroom Niehouse was born at Hillsboro, Indiana March 23, 1898 the sixth child of nine (one passing young) born to Andrew Ainsworth and Margaret Laird McBroom. In 1905, the whole family moved to Kankakee, Illinois, where most of these grew-up, attended school, some staying and others going to California, where Kathryn went. Both the McBroom and Laird families were very early Fountain settlers.
The oldest McBroom, Victor, was a state senator of Illinois (his sister would follow his lead and she was quite proud of him and he was her). Vernon, the next up was in the restaurant (as was brother Stanley but not sure if together or separate) business in Kankakee and very active in the state (where he served as president) and national restaurant organizations (the national treasurer several years). Lance was an insurance agent and Warren worked in Civil Service. One of Kathryn’s sisters married a miller and the other a doctor.
On August 10th, 1920, Kathryn married Charles Casper Niehouse, a WWI vet who was in the insurance business a very long time. They had one child, Charles Casper Niehouse and Kathryn was extremely active in all concerning him (PTA, church also in many clubs, American Legion Auxiliary) but also learned the insurance business from her husband which she followed until the political scene interested her. He too was active in the Republican party, being the party leader in San Diego for some time and running for Assembly man. They lived in a very nice home at 4889 Bancroft Street in SD. She was also the president of the Republican Women’s group. One source indicated her as a widow when she ran for Assembly woman and won in 1942 but other sources indicated he had remarried, moved to Arizona and fathered another son. That man was also in the insurance business and a powerful Republican. Unusual name but can’t imagine in that day she could get that high in politics being a divorced woman. Anyone know?
At any rate, she was a well-loved senator and when she was interviewed in 1949 she noted, that the men on the Capitol had been very kind to her, as the only woman from California and one of the few in general. Serving four terms, she also felt that “Women certainly should take an interest in any thing that affects every phase of their being.” Not meaning all women should go out and run for office but certainly be aware of what was happening around them and what laws were being passed. Good point she made too was that women think about different things than the men thus her interests were about children (one of her bills to serve spastic children saying that she had read an article in a women’s magazine and learned that 78% could be helped with aide and also for older people to make their life easier). She was once described as a “young 40ish looking red-haired woman who was quite at home behind her desk in the assembly chambers!” Attiring herself in outfits such as “a black jersey suit dress with orange and beige pockets,” and at that point said she didn’t do much housework anymore (1949) but she still enjoyed her work and organizations.
A stroke in 1953 sent her to a rehab center so she did not reseek election in 1954 stating that she would not do so if she couldn’t give her all. She passed away Feb 25, 1961 and her later years were mainly enjoying her son (a WWII vet) who lived on a large horse ranch in California at that time. Although she has no tombstone, she is listed as being buried in the Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory in San Diego. If my strong suspicion that Charles Sr. remarried and moved away, he died 16 Aug 1964 in Chicago. Please if anyone knows, set me straight on this one. Their son passed April 24, 1995, don’t believe ever married or having had children. Here she is pictured at Sacramento University with the women who had a Spring bonnet theme at their meeting in mid-March, 1949. She was a cutie, a highly intelligent and gal and what a worker!
Source: Kankakee Sunday Journal 22 Feb 1959 p 1
The eldest of 8 children, the senator was born Aug 9, 1886 on a farm in Fountain County, Ind. He attended school there and as a boy worked on the farm. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McBroom moved their family to Bradley in 1905 when Mr. McBroom became a salesman for the Piper Buggy Co. Victor McBroom was married Dec 27, 1912 to the former Leona Jeffers. In 1919, they built their house at 983 S Washington Ave where they lived ever since. Surviving Sen McBroom are the widow, Leona; a daughter, Mrs. Wendell E. Frerichs; a son, Edward A. McBroom, all of Kankakee; brothers, Vernon and Stanley, Kankakee; Lance of Los Angeles and Warren (Jimmie) of San Diego and sisters, Mrs. Opal McGrew, Kankakee and Mrs. Kathryn Niehouse, San Diego. A sister, Mrs. Ruth Irwin and his parents preceded him in death. Sen McBroom was the founder of the Illinois Republican County Chairmen's Association in 1936 and served for 15 years as VP of the association. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church, the Union League of Chicago and the Indiana Society of Chicago. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity Methodist Church of which the senator was a member. Burial will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. The Yates Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Friends may call at the residence, 983 S Washington ave after 5 p.m. Monday and until noon Wednesday
Source: Chicago Tribune Mon 2 June 1969 p 56
Services for Vernon McBroom, 81, of 665 S Wildwood Ave, Kankakee will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Chapel at 543 Court St, Kankakee. He died Saturday in Kankakee Riverside Hospital. Mr. McBroom was the retired owner of McBroom’s Restaurant in Kankakee. He was a past president of the Illinois Restaurant Association and past treasurer of the National Restaurant Association. Surviving are his daughter, Mrs. Ardis Marek and two sons, Bruce and Andrew.
