ed_monroe

MEISSNER FAMILY

REUNION 2002 Directory

Generation No. 1

1. Edward Hayes Monroe, born 04 Apr 1882 in Carlin, NV; died 03 Apr 1913 in Pomona, Los Angeles, CA. He was the son of 2. David Skidmore Taylor Monroe and 3. Sarah Isabel Hayes. He married (1) Thalia Dorothy Dillie Meissner 27 Jun 1906 in Pullman, WA. She was born 25 May 1884 in Cashton, Portland Twp, WI, and died 19 Jun 1952 in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, CA. She was the daughter of Adolph Frederick Meissner and Loretta Haskins.

ES: Attended agri college in WA; married in Idaho 1906. [Probably incorrect. Other sources indicate marriage location Pullman WA (site of college now known as WA State Univ).] See also note at marriage of David Monroe and Sarah Hayes

Listed as “Dorothy Zaich, Owensmouth CA” in her father’s 1930 will (C Davis records); shown as Dorothy in CA Death Record. Some records show “Dorathea”

... Pa [Adolph Frederick Meissner, b 1861. - LPM] decided to go somewhere else. He wrote to some people by the name of Peterson, who lived in Pullman, Washington, to inquire about renting a farm. From their letters, Pa decided to move up there and find a place to live. [The move from OR to WA was in Dec 1905, according to Manly’s recollection. - LPM] ... The next spring, we moved to a place called the Sothe farm.

The Church of God home was just down below our home, on the bottom land by the creek. That’s where we went to church. Some of the elderly ministers and others passing through stayed there. They used to hold camp meetings every summer. ... They had wonderful times at those meetings. People would come many miles in their wagons to attend, and camp out for the week.

... we moved from there, taking with us Edith and Percy—the Sothe farm was their birthplace. [Edith was born 28 May 1906; Percy was born 19 Jun 1907; however Manly stated that Percy was born in a tent on Neal place near Pullman WA. - LPM]

Mr Monroe, a saint preacher, and his wife and two sons came into town in their covered wagon while we were living at the Sothe farm. [This is David Monroe b 1844; he was a preacher in Church of God, whose members were called saints; the two sons are Edward and probably George. - LPM] I’m not sure where they came from. Their oldest son was named Ed. He was a common laborer. He’d work at any job he could get. The younger brother was a school teacher. Ma got it into her head that it was time Thalia (nicknamed Dillie) got a man. She was close to twenty years old and Ma thought Ed would make her a good husband. Mrs Monroe got together with Ma and talked things over and got Dillie interested in Ed. It wasn’t too long afterward that they got married. [Dillie was 21 when the family moved to WA; she had her 22nd birthday just before her marriage to Ed in Jun 1906. Her family was still living on the Sothe farm at the time of the wedding, because Percy was born at the farm in 1907. - LPM]

The Monroes moved away with Dillie and went up to Alberta, Canada and took up homesteads. ... We heard from Dillie now and then. They only stayed in Alberta just one winter, and then got out of Canada. It was so cold their horses almost froze to death. All they had was a sod barn to keep them in. The following spring they headed south and traveled to one of the southern states. I believe it was Georgia where Ed contracted the fever and died. [The “southern state” was Alabama, not Georgia; Ed died 1913 in CA. - LPM] Dillie went out to California after the funeral, and worked as a cook in some of the sawmills in the northern part of the state. [Possible confusion with later residence at Owensmouth with George Zaich? – LPM] Later she met Bill Schertz in Upland, and married him. This marriage soon ended in divorce. ...

Generation No. 2

2. David Skidmore Taylor Monroe, born 17 May 1844 in West Liberty, Muscatine, IA; died 17 Jan 1933 in Edmonton, Alberta. He was the son of 4. Alexander Angus Monroe and 5. Martha Ann Russell. He married 3. Sarah Isabel Hayes 13 Sep 1875 in Albia, Monroe, IA.

3. Sarah Isabel Hayes, born 16 Jul 1858 in Monroe Co, IA; died 24 Aug 1938 in McBride, British Columbia. She was the daughter of 6. Hillah Hayes and 7. Sitha White.

ES: Civil war veteran (see note at George Clarence Monroe, “Mount Monroe” story).

Census data compiled by SG

During the years, from that time to March 3, 1862, he lived at Rochester, Ind., Keosauqua, Iowa. And Moravia, Iowa. He worked on the farm during the summer and went to school in the winter.

In the spring of 1862 a man came to the school house and said he wanted to speak to Dave Monroe. He was a recruiting officer, and was hunting soldiers to fight for the Union, the Constitution and enforcement of the laws. Finally after much discussion and hesitation on the part of father and mother and many prayers and tears from mother, on March 3. 1862 he enlisted in the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, Company H; Captain Craig of Albia, Monroe County Commanding.

At that time, Dave was only a boy, slender, but in good health. He was 17 yrs. 9 mos. old. During his service he was extremely fortunate in not being sick and not receiving any severe wounds in battle. He served two years and was discharged because of expiration of enlistment. He then re-enlisted for three years more serving three years and five months in all.

In the Battle of Missionary Ridge, in 1863, he was wounded in the anterior aspect of the right leg just above the knee. Fortunately it was a spent ball and the force was only sufficient to drive the ball against the bone.

Dave dug the bullet out with his knife blade, wrapped the wound with his handkerchief, and went on fighting. After the Battle was ended, the surgeon dressed the wound properly, and it gave but little trouble afterward, only a scar to remind of what might have been. During Dave’s army life, his services were wholly in the army and he served under Generals Pope, McPherson, Logan, Rosecrans, Sherman and Grant, and participated in the following battles: The siege of Corinth, Mississippi, May, 1862, Corinth, Oct 3 rd, and 4th, 1862, Coldwater, 863, Raymond, Miss, 1963, Junction, Miss, May 16th, 1863, and many other battles and skirmishes of lesser note.

We used to have a picture of the battle of Champion Hills, Miss. hung on the wall at home when I was a boy, and I could see the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry swinging around, enclosing the enemy, and I felt sure I could pick out Brother Dave as one who was helping to win the battle. He was in the first assault on Vicksburg, Miss during the siege of that place May 22nd, 1863, and the second assault also on June 27th, 1863. With his Regiment he too part in the Battle of Missionary Ridge, Tenn. Nov 25th, 1863.

With Companies H and I, he engaged with Joe Wheeler’s cavalry four miles south of Dalton, Ga. And the battle of Tilton, Ga. In Aug.1864, and was here captured the second time. The first he was held only three days, being paroled by Gen. Joe Wheeler, the second time he was more fortunate. He was confined in the prisons of Cahaba, Ala. Wilson Stockade and in Andersonville, or as the Rebels called it, Camp Sumter, Ga. After being confined more the seven months, he with seven other comrades managed to escape, and made their way through forests and dark dismal swamps, part of the time wading in streams to throw the blood hounds off the scent. At times they were near capture and kept a constant fearful lookout.

They finally made their way to Charleston, South Carolina, and reported to the Union forces, and were heartily congratulated on the manner and success of their escape. By this time the war was at an end and there; great rejoicing and all over the North at the successful issue of the dreadful fratricidal war.

After having been honorably discharged, Dave came home and took up his interrupted education. For two years he attended the University Academy (Stephen Hickman, Principal) at Unionville, Iowa. He then entered the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and graduated Bachelor of Science at the end of three years. At the end of his college work, he was elected Superintendent of schools of our home County, Appanoose County, Iowa. He served one year and resigned to join the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On September 15, 1875 he and Miss Sarah Isabel Hayes of Monroe Co., Iowa were married at the home of the bride, and they began house-keeping at Unionville, Iowa where Dave was preaching.

After traveling on Southern Iowa circuits for six years, he decided to change his location. In 1878 he moved to Kansas, preceding the rest of the family a short time. There, he lost his first born son, Albert Francis, aged 3 mos. and 14 days. He died near Minneapolis, Kansas, February 17, 1880. The climate in Kansas not being satisfactory, he moved to Carlin, Nevada, where his second son, Edward Hayes was born, April 4, 1882. Here Dave taught school for two years, and then moved into Idaho, Washington Co, where George Clarence was born Nov. 15, 1885. Here in the same place, Sept 27. 1889 Adrian Angus was born.

Some time after this Dave with his family moved to California, where at Nord, Mary Isabel was born July 29 1897.

Hoping for a better chance for his boys to go to school, they moved from California to Pullman, Washington, where there was a State Agricultural College. Edward and George attended college for some time.

About this time public interest was aroused as to the chance of obtaining free land in Canada and Dave and family all moved to that country and located in the Alberta region. They all got land and for a time seemed satisfied, but the rigorous climate seemed too severe for Dave, and he, his wife, Edward and wife, and Mary all moved down to Alabama, which was a very unfortunate move for them.

Lester Mayfield: They were wholly unacclimated to that malicious region. Soon little Mary sickened of malignant fever and after a short illness died. This was a severe blow to her father and mother. She was their only daughter, their baby, and of a most unusually lovely disposition. She died Sept 14. 1912, and was buried near Shortleaf, Alabama, “in a lonely graveyard many miles away”. She was 15 years and 15 days old.

SG email 2003: David and Sarah (with sons Ed, Adrian, and George along with Ed’s wife Dillie) were in Mobile Alabama about 1911. They also had a 15 year old daughter Mary Isabel - a beautiful girl. Just about the time they were moving [back] to Alberta Canada, Mary got very ill. They left her in Alabama and carried on to Alberta to homestead, planning on returning to get her when she was well. Mary died not long after they left in 1911. The family were devastated.

Lester Mayfield: Edward was seized with the same disease [malignant fever] and almost died. When he was able to travel, he and his wife went back to California, near Los Angeles, hoping to regain his failing health, but it was not to be. The germs of that dread disease, Captain of the Hosts of Death, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, had found a lodgment in his system, and he was weakened not able to resist their fatal work. He died April 3, 1913, at Pomona, California, and lies buried there. He was 31 years of age at the time of death. Heart broken at the loss of their oldest son and only daughter, Dave and Sarah disposed of their property and went back to Canada to be to be with their sons, George and Adrian, who still lived there. [Note some confusion concerning Edward's cause of death: malignant fever or tuberculosis (or both)? -LPM]

[Lester Mayfield:] The following appreciation of the life, influence, character and death of Mary Isabel Monroe and Edward Hayes Monroe, written by their mother, and placed here at the request of their father, is added to show more fully than what has been written, the character of those two who were called home at the very beginning of their life.

Since he and Sarah were married, they have lived at Unionville, Iowa, Monroe County, Iowa, Minneapolis, Kansas, Carlin, Nevada, in many places in Idaho, Nord and Corning, California, Pullman, Washington, Puffer and Camrose ,Alberta, Canada, Shortleaf, Alabama, then back to Canada again where they live now, in that cold country.

And he is likely to spend the remainder of his days up there in King George’s country. But whatever they, brother Dave and Sarah, have lived, preaching, teaching or farming they have been active in every community, in all good works, and were always allied with the powers that work for righteousness. Of a modest disposition, he has never pushed himself into conspicuous positions, but was willing to take what was given and be satisfied.

“The forest trees once asked the fruit trees, why is not rustling of your leaves heard in the distance? The fruit trees replied, we can dispense with the rustling and manifest our presence - Our fruits testify for us”.

He is a Republican in politics. He was a Methodist but is now a Minister and adherent of The Church of God.

ES: Moved to NV abt 1881-82; to ID abt 1884-85; to CA abt 1896-97; to Alberta, Canada abt 1900; to Alabama between 1905-1910. Some family members returned to Alberta abt 1911. Mary died in Alabama 1912; entire family went back to Canada by 1913. Ed went to CA, d 1913.

= [SG:] The story I know about Ed was: he got sick with yellow fever (same as Mary) not long after they arrived in Alberta. At this time Ed and Dillie decided to go to Cal., thinking that the warm weather might help his health. He died April 3, 1913 at Pomona, Cal.

Died in infancy: Albert Frances Monroe b 03 Nov 1879 near Minneapolis, Ottawa, KS; d 17 Feb 1880 at KS.

1 i. Edward Hayes Monroe, born 04 Apr 1882 in Carlin, NV; died 03 Apr 1913 in Pomona, Los Angeles, CA; married Thalia Dorothy Dillie Meissner 27 Jun 1906 in Pullman, WA.

ii. George Clarence Monroe, born 15 Nov 1885 in Boise, Ada, ID; died 07 Jan 1974 in McBride, British Columbia.

A number of members of a Monroe family have been in the McBride area since the 1910s; the particular individual for which the mountain was named is unknown. Some say it was named for a second cousin, not George.

George Monroe (1885-1974) was born in Idaho and graduated from high school in West Virginia. George taught school in Washington state before immigrating to Canada in 1903. After a few years in Alberta, where he and brother Adrian started cattle ranching, he came west with the railroad. In the summer of 1914 he arrived in McBride. Looking for a homestead, he built a raft and set out from Burns Landing, drifting down the Fraser until he came to the mouth of Tumbledick Creek. He filed homestead rights on land nearby. His wife Ethel and children Warner and Sadie arrived later that year. Everett was born in 1917. George’s brother Adrian (1889-1950) and father David Taylor Monroe (d. ca 1930), a veteran of the American Civil War, also moved to the valley. Many descendants live in the area.

Over the years the Monroes farmed, raised sheep, trapped and made posts and poles. George was foreman at Wally Jeck’s first mill at Mile 5 in 1918. In 1926, so the children could attend school, the family moved back to the United States. George attended a seminary in Indiana [probably Church of God institution at Anderson IN] and held pastorates in Michigan and Colorado. In 1930 they returned to their farm near McBride. For many years their greenhouse, gardens and fruit trees helped supply fresh fruit and vegetables to McBride. They also sold lambs and chickens. In the early days George acted as minister and occasionally as undertaker.

References: McBride cemetery. Grave markers; Robson Valley Courier. Weekly newspaper published by Pyramid Press of Jasper from 1969 – 88; Wheeler, Marilyn. The Robson Valley Story. McBride, B.C.: Robson Valley Story Group, 1979. Available at the Glenbow Library: Call Number 971.18 R667r

Related place names: Spiral Road Place Names - 22 September 2002

iii. Adrian Angus Monroe, born 27 Sep 1889 in Boise, Ada, ID; died 06 Aug 1950 in McBride, British Columbia.

Generation No. 3

4. Alexander Angus Monroe, born Abt. 1818 in OH. He married 5. Martha Ann Russell Abt. 1843 in IA.

2 i. David Skidmore Taylor Monroe, born 17 May 1844 in West Liberty, Muscatine, IA; died 17 Jan 1933 in Edmonton, Alberta; married Sarah Isabel Hayes 13 Sep 1875 in Albia, Monroe, IA.

3 i. Sarah Isabel Hayes, born 16 Jul 1858 in Monroe Co, IA; died 24 Aug 1938 in McBride, British Columbia; married David Skidmore Taylor Monroe 13 Sep 1875 in Albia, Monroe, IA.