Myrta Z. Belknap, born on October 19, 1862, lived a life woven with mystery, survival, and strength. Though much of her public identity is tied to the infamous H.H. Holmes, Myrta’s own story reveals the quiet perseverance of a woman navigating a turbulent life in the 19th century. As of 2025, if she were alive, she would be 163 years old, a reminder of how distant yet relevant her story remains.
Unclear Origins, Quiet Beginnings
There’s ongoing debate about where Myrta was born—some historical sources point to Pennsylvania, while others suggest New York. This lack of certainty already gives her story a shadowy edge, fitting for someone whose life intersected with one of America’s most notorious criminals.
Her parents, John Sands Belknap and Lucy G. Beers, provided the foundation of her early life, though records offer little about her childhood or upbringing. Much of what we know comes from census logs and genealogy archives. The silence around her youth reflects the broader trend of women being left out of historical records unless tied to a significant male figure.
Marriage to H.H. Holmes and Life in Chicago
Myrta’s most recognized role came when she married Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as H.H. Holmes. They married in 1887 and moved to Chicago, where Holmes was building what would become his infamous “Murder Castle.” While Holmes managed the darker aspects of their shared life, Myrta was involved in managing a legitimate business front—a Chicago drugstore.
In that drugstore, Myrta played a vital role. She wasn’t just a passive partner; she managed daily operations and handled the bookkeeping. This level of responsibility was rare for women during the era, especially within a male-run enterprise. While society then didn’t formally acknowledge her contributions, her work kept the business afloat.
Running a store while also raising a child was no small task. Her role blended domestic responsibilities with the demands of a business partner, all while living in an era that largely ignored female labor.
Motherhood and the Family She Fought For
Myrta and Holmes had one daughter, Lucy Theodate Holmes, born in 1889. Lucy later changed her surname to Hunter and led a quieter life, distancing herself from the infamy tied to her father. For Myrta, motherhood became her anchor. After distancing herself from Holmes as his activities became more erratic, Myrta focused on providing a stable environment for Lucy.
There’s no detailed record of what kind of upbringing Lucy had, but considering Myrta’s decision to remove herself and her daughter from Holmes’ chaos, it’s fair to infer that she prioritized safety and emotional stability. Being a single mother at the time was incredibly difficult, yet Myrta navigated that path without relying on Holmes’ name or any support from him.
Finances and Social Position
Like many women of her time, Myrta Z. Belknap’s financial records are missing from most public archives. Her net worth is undocumented, and there are no direct indicators of personal wealth. But if we examine the context of her life—working in a family-run drugstore and later living apart from Holmes—it’s likely she lived modestly.
Estimates today suggest her financial standing was humble. She wasn’t part of an elite class, nor did she profit from Holmes’ businesses, many of which were criminal fronts. Her focus was survival and providing for her daughter rather than acquiring wealth. If one were to assign a net worth today based on her known lifestyle and independence, it might have hovered around the equivalent of $20,000–$50,000 in today’s money—enough for a basic life, but certainly not comfortable.
Life After Holmes and a Vanishing Trail
Once Holmes’ crimes came to light and he was arrested in 1894, Myrta made the conscious decision to remain out of the media and public spectacle. She never sought attention, never gave tell-all interviews, and never attempted to capitalize on the scandal.
This choice further emphasizes her desire for privacy and normalcy. It also explains why so little is known about her later years. After Holmes was executed in 1896, Myrta and Lucy seemingly disappeared from the public record, possibly moving to Minnesota or another state in the Midwest.
She reportedly died sometime in the early 20th century, but the exact year is not clearly documented. This fading into obscurity was likely intentional—a way to erase the traumatic chapter and live quietly away from infamy.
A Woman’s Life in the Shadow of a Monster
It’s easy to reduce Myrta Z. Belknap to the role of “H.H. Holmes’ wife,” but that would be doing her a disservice. She was a working woman, a mother, and a survivor of a deeply disturbing period. Her resilience allowed her to distance herself and her daughter from a man who would go on to become one of the most notorious figures in American history.
Her life is also a reflection of the times. Women were rarely acknowledged for their work, seldom featured in historical records unless tied to someone famous, and often erased from the pages of history. Yet Myrta’s story remains important because it gives us a glimpse into what it was like to live alongside danger, survive it, and rebuild quietly.
Why Her Story Still Matters
Myrta Z. Belknap represents the thousands of women throughout history whose lives were shaped—and in many ways, obscured—by the men they married. She deserves recognition not because of who she was married to, but because of how she managed to separate herself from his dark legacy, and raise a child with dignity and courage.
In today’s world, her story would likely be front-page news. But in her time, she chose survival over spectacle, dignity over drama. That’s a legacy worth remembering.
