Myrtle Renwick Heer
This portrait hangs in the Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum in an exhibit regarding the founding members of the Galena Historical Society.
Born on July 25, 1877 in rural Rush Township, Myrtle Renwick Heer spent her life serving the citizens of Galena and Jo Daviess County through her career in the public school districts and her leadership in community, religious, and civic organizations. She was an inspiration to her students and friends throughout her life. Often quoted in local newspapers with gems of wisdom such as, “It’s always possible to get what you want if you work hard enough to be willing to sacrifice and work for it.”
Humbly beginning her life in rural Jo Daviess county, her father, Robert Bruce Renwick, was a farmer and Civil War veteran born in 1845. He served in Company F, 17th Illinois Calvary. He later became a member of the Warren Post of the G.A.R. On July 4, 1871 he married Alzina Cornelius. Together they had five children.
Growing up on the farm, Myrtle attended public schools and graduated from Warren High School in 1894. Her experience must have inspired her to go on to teach and advocate for education not just for children, but for all. She graduated with a B.S. from Monmouth College in 1899 with distinguished honors. Upon earning her graduate degree, also from Monmouth, she held roles as a teacher and principal in Clarindon, IA, then at Warren Academy until 1907 when she was elected the Superintendent of Schools for Jo Daviess County.
She had long been a respected “Warren girl,” but quickly gained ground in Galena at this time as a rousing speaker. Notably she was asked by Anna Felt and the library board to speak when the new library building opened on Bench Street on July 4, 1908. She stood at the top of the steps before the gathered crowd and delivered a speech about the pursuit of knowledge and the importance of reading for all ages. Today we’re lucky to have a snapshot of this moment captured by Miss Miriam Newhall.
She served as the county superintendent of schools until 1910. She then became the Superintendent of Stockton Schools until she resigned to take a trip abroad.
In 1914 she married Harry LeRoy Heer of Galena who had served as Circuit Clerk for the county for many terms before giving up the office to practice law with his own firm. The wedding took place on April 18 at the Renwick homestead in Warren which was decorated with enormous ferns and Easter lilies. Members of the Stockton High School Senior Class of 1914 served the banquet.
They lived in Rockford for a time where Mr. Heer practiced law and their son, Robert Renwick Heer was born.
It could be surmised that at this time she took time off to give birth to and raise her small son, though she was still involved in local organizations including partnering with Anna Felt to campaign for a referendum that would have brought a county-wide library system to Jo Daviess had it passed.
The Warren Sentinel Leader reported in 1921 that she had been elected as the Superintendent of Galena Schools and was “well qualified to fit the new office.” She and her husband relocated to Galena at this time. She traveled to New York in 1925 to attend courses at Columbia University. In addition to her continuing career in education, she participated in and provided leadership to several bodies and organizations in the area. She was President of the Galena Public Library board, chairman of the 13th district of the Women’s Club, County Superintendent of Sunday Schools, a member of the Fortnightly Club, a representative of the First Presbyterian Church at the Freeport Presbytery, President of the Galena Historical Society, and more.
She had become very well known as a “most forceful and inspiring speaker.” She delivered speeches on topics ranging from “A History of County Government” to “The Evil of Cigarettes Among High School Boys” to the ever popular “What Price Citizenship” which she gave to many different groups of people across the county and beyond.
She took great pride in the National Federation of Women’s Clubs stating that “If a club belongs to the general foundation, it means sisterhood with the world.” In her work with the club she touted the undervalued or unknown accomplishments of women throughout history and “urged every woman to take the opportunities offered by women’s clubs for growth and service and the wise use of leisure time.”
On the wise use of leisure time, she spoke extensively. “A stretch a day keeps old age away and a lack of mental stretching is much worse for bringing on old age than failure to stretch physically. The close of the club year is an excellent time to take an inventory of living and to estimate if we have stretched far enough toward top notch,” she said in a 1937 address.
In the years after women were granted the right to vote, she took an active role in the advancement of the role of women in speeches such as “Women’s Part in Civilization” and those on the importance of mothers as society builders. Along with Anna Felt she attended the first meetings of the Illinois League of Women Voters. They brought back enthusiasm to Galena and held educational meet-ups for women to learn the importance of their vote.
In the leadup to World War II, she urged sacrifice to bring enduring peace and condemned those quick to violence. In 1947 she proclaimed before the Republican Women’s Club. “We have a democracy, but if we send our boys to fight on foreign soil (the last poll indicated that 83% of the public was against such a plan) then will we have a democracy?”
Speaking on the duties of all citizens she stated, “America is more menaced today by the indifference and inertia of its good citizens than it is by all its enemies put together,” and went on to state that the founders of the nation put “responsibilities before rights and privileges.” She believed it is the duty of every American to hear both sides of a question and to think for ourselves rather than take someone else’s opinion as our own.
She continued what she considered her responsibilities as a citizen of Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and our nation until her death on July 17, 1957 at the age of 80 after a lingering illness. Her legacy continues in the results of her work as an educator and lifelong learner herself. She would urge us all to make the effort to “stretch” every day.
Written by: Larissa Distler, Adult Services Librarian, Galena Public Library
Date: December 30, 2025
Sources: Galena Gazette, Belvidere Daily Republican, Galena and U.S. Grant History Museum, Warren-Sentinel Leader, Freeport Journal Standard, The Dispatch, Galena Public Library Archives
Special Thanks: Michael Fertig, Historical Librarian, Galena Public Library
Dale Glick, Historical Room Volunteer, Galena Public Library
Tim Doser, Historical Room Volunteer, Galena Public Library