William A. Monroe
Born in Lorain County, Ohio, on July 20, 1832, he was found in the 1850 census there. He lived with his parents, Younglove, 46 and Phebe, 42. His brother, Orrin, 18, and William, 16, were both listed as farmers. Jane, 14; Henry, 11; and Harriet, 9, completed the family.
The 1860 Federal Census found William in Elk Creek, Jasper, Iowa, with his wife, Isabell (Brower), whom he had married there on November 11, 1854. In 1860, William was 24 and Isabelle, 23. They had children: Albert, 4 and William M., 1, both born in Iowa.
Many thanks to Dianne Grimm for
this photo of memorial ribbons from
Donafin Post, G.A.R.
On April 18, 1865, William A. Monroe, having moved from Iowa, enlisted at Maysville, Indiana, into the 155th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company D. Company D was almost exclusively men from Allen County, Indiana. Once enlisted, all the companies went to Indianapolis - 1,013 men in total. William entered as a private and served as a cook. They were sent out to Alexandria, Virginia on April 26, 1865, where they served with the Provisional Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps.
On May 3, they moved to Dover, Delaware, where the soldiers were divided up and sent to several locations in Delaware and Maryland. They eventually reunited in Dover, Delaware where they mustered out on August 4, 1865.
By the 1870 Federal Census, William and Isabelle Monroe were enumerated in Washington Township, Allen County, Indiana, living with the John and Angeline Clear family. Both John and William were farmers. At that time, William was 36 with $600 personal worth. Isabel, 35, kept house for their growing brood of children:
Albert, 15; William, 12; Henry, 9; Anna E., 5 and Cora, 2. George Brower, 25, perhaps Isabelle's brother, lived there, as well, helping with the farming. The children were: Albert Goodrich Monroe, born in 1855; Manford William Monroe, born in 1857; Henry M. , born in 1862; and Anna I., born in 1864, so she was just a toddler when her father went off to war.
In 1867, Cora B. was born, followed by George Washington Monroe, born 1873 and Hanford Burdette, born in 1876. None of the children were born in Ohio.
William Monroe was listed as a charter member of the John C. Carnes Post G.A.R 144, St. Joe, Dekalb County, Indiana. When he moved to Hicksville in about 1884, he joined the Donafin Post where he was quite active in attending meetings, reunions and old settlers' meetings. A land record confirmed that he bought land in Hicksville Township in 1886 and by 1900, he noted on the census that he and Isabell owned that farm, and that he farmed it at the age of 67. Hanford, his youngest son at 23, was still on the farm helping him as a farm laborer. Also at home was Anna, 36, a widow.
Sadly, on March 22, 1902, his wife, Isabelle died at the age of sixty-six. Born in Preble County on November 11, 1835, she traveled to Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio with her husband and bore seven children along the way. She is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio. The obituary was posted online from an unknown newspaper:
"Isabelle Brower was born Nov. 11, 1835 in Preble county, O., and departed this life March 21, 1902. She was married Nov. 11, 1854 to William Monroe. To this union were born seven children, five sons and two daughters, all living. She leaves 4 brothers, 3 sisters, 17 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many others to mourn their loss. Two brothers and one sister and father and mother have preceded her to the life beyond. She united with the Church of Christ in January, 1873."
Oldest brother, Albert Monroe, applied for a marriage license for his sister, Anna Isabell Monroe and William M. Dailey on May 20, 1887.. It was a first marriage for both and the ceremony was held in Defiance County with the Justice of the Peace officiating on May 26, 1887. No information could be found on their lives after the marriage. Anna was listed with her maiden name and as single in the 1900 census. On August 10, 1906, Anna died. No further information could be found for this couple.
After losing his wife and daughter, William A. Monroe lived on until April 20, 1919, when he died at the age of 86. One obituary appeared in The Fort Wayne Sentinel on Monday, April 21, 1919:
"HICKSVILLE, O. April 21 - After an illness due to the infirmities of old age, William Monroe passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hiram Hart, Sunday morning. Mr. Monroe was an early settle of this vicinity, having lived for several years on a farm five miles west of Hicksville, where he reared his family.
About thirty-five yars ago, he moved to Hicksville where he had since resided. He was a soldier of the civil war and a member of the G.A.R. post of this place.
He is survived by the following children: Albert, Henry, George, Hanford and Mrs. Hiram Hart of this place, and Manford, of Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be held here Tuesday...and interment in Forest Home Cemetery."
The Tribune in HIcksville published his obituary on Thursday, May 1, 1919:
"MONROE.
William A. Monroe, son of Younglove and Phoebe Monroe, was born July 20, 1832, near Lorain, Ohio, and died April 20, 1919, aged 86 years and 9 months.
Was married to Isbella Brower, Nov. 11, 1854, and to this union were born seven children, Albert O. of Hicksville; Manford of Antwerp; Henry M. of Hicksville; Anna bell who preceded the in death; George W. of Hicksville; Cora B. Hart of Hicksville; Hanford B. of Detroit. There are also 23 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, all of whom are living. Also a large circle of near relatives and friends.
He enlisted in the Civil War, March 3, 1865, and served his country until the end of the War. He was a member of the G.A.R. in Hicksville and also a member of the M.E. church.
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Methodist church, Rev. C.A. Moore officiating. Interment in Forest Home cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS -
The Monroe children and other relatives take this means of expressing their heartfelt thanks to all who extended them sympathy and assistance during the illness, death and burial of their father and loved one. They particularly thank the pastor and the singers for their service."
No comments:
Post a Comment