Frank Asbury Munroe, Jr.

Notes:

Frank graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1925. He resigned his commission in the U.S. Navy in 1928 and accepted a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He began working for a coal company in Pittsburgh, and one year worked underground as a surveyor. He then worked for ten years in the office of a steel company in Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio.

He made several reserve cruises on the Great Lakes in Spanish War gunboats. In Oct 1940, he was ordered to active duty to recruit his reserve division to full strength. In early 1941 he took his division to Hoboken to fill out the crew of USS Polaris (AF-11), a refrigerator stores ship which had no refrigerating machinery. The ship made three round trips to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Coco Solo carrying cement and lumber in the reefers.

In Jan 1942, he was ordered to take command of the USS Hilo (AGP-3), a 2000 ton private yacht which was being converted into a PT tender. From Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, he took four PT boats to Palmyra Island and thence to Funa Futi in the Ellice Islands, where his PTs picked up Eddie Richenbacker and his crew. After leaving those PTs at Funa Futi, he took six other PTs from Noumaa to Australia and then to New Guinea, remaining there at anchor until Mar 1944, except for a three month overhaul in Sydney.

In 1944, Frank returned to the U.S. to take command of the USS Cyrene (AGP-13) a cargo ship which was being converted in Baltimore to be a real PT tender. Upon completion of the conversion, he sailed it to Leyte Gulf and remained there until Nov 1945.

In 1945, Frank had attained the rank of Captain and he applied and was accepted back into the regular U.S. Navy. After serving four years at the Bureau of Personnel, he took command of a destroyer tender, the USS Hamul, AC-20, which was home ported in Plymouth, England. When the Korean War broke out, he ferried 59 women and 61 children back to Norfolk and then went to Sasebo, Japan for 6 months.

He commanded the Naval Station in Seattle for two years, then served for three years as Marine Director of the Panama Canal. He retired from the Navy in Sep 1957 after serving as Administrative Officer at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

In retirement, Frank built a home on Hood Canal and helped organize the local fire department. He became deeply involved in Parish and Diocesan affairs and served as Senior Warden of St. Paul's in Bremerton, Washington.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - The Munroes of Annapolis -
undated - 6.i., note 18

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Frank married Martha Stone Rogers on 7 May 1927. Martha was born on 13 Apr 1904 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, USA; died on 13 Aug 1983. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Margaret Hall Munroe was born on 2 Jul 1928; died in Jul 1995.
2. Living
3. Living

Notes:

Frank graduated from St. John's College in 1885. He was a member of its first football team. He started law school in Baltimore, but when his father suffered a stroke, he gave up law and returned home to manage the store. When his father died in 1896, Frank took over the store and ran it until he sold it in May 1929.

In 1909, Frank was elected to the City Council. In 1912, he became a Judge of the Orphans' Court of Anne Arundel County. In 1935, he was appointed by the Governor to be a member of the County Board of Educatation, and served as its president for 15 years being reappointed by Democratic and Republican governors every four years. Frank was always a Republican and was elected Clerk of the Court in 1934 for four years. In 1946, at the age of 80, he was elected County Commissioner by a huge majority.

Frank was one of the organizers of the Annapolis Volunteer Fire Department and continued to answer fire calls until at least 1914.

He was a member of the Severn River Boat Club (later renamed the Annapolis Yacht Club). He rowed sculls as a young man. He was a Mason for over 50 years, a member of the South River club and the Annapolitan Club. He served as Junior Warden of St. Anne's Church for 40 years. While he was President of the Board of Education, he attended every graduation ceremony in the County, and kissed every girl graduate.

Frank married the daughter of John Wilson and Matilda (Davidson) Inglehart. It is not known why her surname is Hall. Perhaps she was previously married.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - undated newsletter showing the
descendants of Matilda Davidson and John Wilson Inglehart

(2) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - The Munroes of Annapolis -
undated - 4.i., note 12

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Frank married Margaret Davidson Hall on 12 Nov 1896 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, USA. Margaret was born on 23 Sep 1870 in Of, Davidsonville; died on 26 Apr 1954 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

It is believed that James graduated from St. John's College.

When he was still quite young, he served as a county commissioner of Anne Arundel County. He was elected Mayor of Annapolis in 1871 and again in 1873, serving 4 years. He was the first Republican mayor of Annapolis since the Civil War.

For 25 years, he served as superintendent of the First Methodist Church Sunday School and as a trustee and recording steward and treasurer of that church. At one time he was said to have been in business longer than any other merchant in Annapolis. He was in the dry goods trade for 47 consecutive years. He also was a long time member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of St. John's College. (Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep 1896)

When James suffered a stroke in about 1886, his son, Frank, quit law school in Baltimore and came home to manage the store.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Moore, Mary Jane - membership application

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - The Munroes of Annapolis -
undated - 4.i., note 5, note 11

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

James married Matilda Rebecca Walters on 25 May 1862. Matilda was born on 26 Nov 1838 in Of, Gettysburg; died on 26 Feb 1893. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Grafton successively married two sisters.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Moore, Mary Jane - membership application

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Munroe, Frank A., Jr. - The Munroes of Annapolis -
undated - 3.vi.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Grafton married Mary Anne Edwards on 20 Nov 1826 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, USA. Mary was born on 17 Jul 1800 in Of, Annapolis; died on 7 Sep 1854. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA