Featured in the book "The African-American Connection: How Humboldt, Kansas Conquered the Prairie" 2014. Book can be ordered. Contact memorial owner.

Cousin of Albert Woodard

I believe Mattie's mother was Martha Keller who married William Groomer Sr in 1877. I could be wrong but I know for sure she was at least an aunt of Mattie's. I am connecting her to Martha "Mattie" Keller Groomer as I know her grandparents were Bird and Isabella Keller.

This connection to the Groomers makes Mattie's mother, Martha Keller, married to William H Groomer Jr's father as his 2nd wife. This would make Mattie a 1/2 sister of Bird Leopold Groomer as well as a 1/2 brother of Mattie's husband William H Groomer, Jr.
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1870 Adairville, Logan, Kentucky hh 89
Isabella Keller female black 50 Tenn
Martha 27 female black cook Ky
Martha Roberts 6 mulatto female Ky
Michael C Russell 12 female mulatto house girl Tenn
Whitfield Draughan? 24 male mulatto works on farm Tenn
Bettie Smith 5 female mulatto Ky

1 Mar 1875 Allen Co Kansas line 21 hh 18
B Keller 54 male mulatto farmer real estate 275, personal 225 Virginia came from Ky
Arbelia 52 black female Tn came from Ky
Martha 24 black female Kentucky came from Ky
Martha Robert mulatto female 11 Ky came from Ky

1880 Iola, Allen, Kansas
Self Bird Keller M 60 Virginia parents VA
Wife Isabela Keller F 49 Tennessee fa GA mo Nc
Granddaughter Mattie Roberts F 17 Kentucky parents Ky
boarder John Keller M 12 Kentucky parents Ky
boarder Victoria Holland F 30 Kentucky parents Ky

William Groomer
Kansas, Marriages, 1840-1935
birth: 1863
marriage: 5 October 1882 Allen Co. Kansas
spouse: Mattie Roberts
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Date: June 2, 1950
Paper: Negro Star (Wichita, KS)
Volume: 43
Issue: 6
Page: 4
Eighty Seventh Birthday
Mrs Mattie C Groomer of Iola, Kansas celebrated her 87th birthday on May 8th, 1950, fell and broke her hip on May 9th, and was brought to Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She is under care of a bone specialist, and reported doing nicely. Mrs. Groomer has three daughters here: Mrs Pearl Robertson of 1061 Ohio; Mrs. Lola Barker of 2020 East 18th Street and Mrs. Alice Denton, 517 North Topeka Ave.
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Iola Register, 8 Aug 1951
Mrs W H Groomer Dies in Wichita
Mrs W H Groomer, who has lived in Allen county for nearly 80 years died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs Pearl Robertson, Wichita.

Mrs Groomer, 88, was born in Kentucky and came to Kansas with her grandparents when she was about 9 years old. The family settled on a farm west of the Neosho river and Mrs Groomer lived in or near Iola until May, 1950, when she broke her hip. She was taken to a hospital in Wichita where she recovered from the injury. She has lived with her daughter since then. She was a member of the A.M.E. church in Iola.

She leaves two sons: Floyd Groomer, Iola, and Roy Groomer, Denver, five daughters, Mrs Robertson, Mrs. Anthony Barker, and Mrs. Alice Denton, Wichita, Mrs Evelyn Sweatt and Mrs Margaret Jackson, Evanston, Ill.

Funeral services will be announced later by the Sleeper Mortuary.

Mortuary Notice
Date: August 10, 1951
Paper: Negro Star (Wichita, KS)
Volume: 44
Issue: 15
Page: 4
Mrs Mattie C Groomer of 1117 E 10th Street, died at her home Wednesday, at the age of 88; She was a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Iola, Kansas.

Survivors include five daughters: Mesdames Pearl Robertson, Lola Barker, Alice Denton, Wichita; Evelyn Sweatt, Evanston, Illinois; Margaret Jackson; two sons; Roy of Denver, and Floyd Groomer of Iola; 13 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and several great great grandchildren. Burial in Iola, Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. Jackson Mortuary in charge.