One of the facts I've been chasing down for some time is where Libbie lived when she returned to Monroe on August 4, 1876. The books were all a little vague saying she lived with the elder Custers on the "old homestead" or she lived in her house on South Monroe and 2nd Street or they lived in their own house or out at Nevin Custer's farm.
I wrote the Monroe Historical Society as well as Steve Alexander who with his wife lives in the Bacon house in it's new location. It has been moved around a bit and remodeled and he and his wife are working to restore it.
He suggested I order a research journal called "The Greasy Grass" published by the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Assoc. vol 17, May 2001. I ordered it and finally almost two months later, I have it.
It has reprints of the actor Lawrence Barrett's letters to his wife. He as GAC's best friend and was on tour in the Midwest in the fall of 1876. He took time to travel to Monroe to see Libbie. He was very nervous about the visit and tried to talk his wife, Mollie, into coming all the way from Massachusetts to Michigan so he wouldn't have to see Libbie alone.
This was in October and the visit must have been harrowing. He had his own grief to deal with for he cared a great deal for Custer. But here was the whole family - Mother Maria was in bed, still to sick to get up. But Father Custer, Maggie and niece Emma were all there.
In the Bacon house in Monroe. Barrett stopped at "the only hotel" and walked to the house, which he describes as "A neat wooden house with a porch, and in the midst of an unkept garden."
Problem solved. She was in her house with the elder Custers and Maggie. As Emma's parents lived only a few blocks away, I don't think she was living there. He doesn't mention Annie Yates, who other books say stayed with Libbie and Maggie. But she had three little kids so I imagine she found some place to live pretty fast. She did stay in Monroe for about a year before going to her family. Anyway, by October, she was gone.
What a miserable environment, a whole house full of grieving people.
