Ralph Middleton Munroe

1851 - 1933  (82 years)

• Name	Ralph Middleton Munroe
  Born	3 Apr 1851	New York, New York Co., New York, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	Aug 1933
  Buried	Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA
  Person ID	I36866	Munro
  Last Modified	27 May 2001

  
  

  Father	Thomas Munroe,   b. 18 Oct 1812, Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA ,   d. Aug 1884  (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Ellen Middleton,   b. Abt 1814,   bur. Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA
  Married	4 Jul 1839	London, , Greater London, England
  Family ID	F12621	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Eva A. Hewett,   b. Abt 1853,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York, USA
  Children	1. Munroe,   b. Est 1875,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2009
  Family ID	F13486	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Jessie Wellington Wirth,   b. 13 Jul 1876, Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA ,   d. 16 Feb 1940  (Age 63 years)
  Married	29 Jul 1895	Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA
  Children	1. Martha Wirth Munroe,   b. 22 Nov 1900, Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA ,   d. Yes, date unknown + 2. Wirth Middleton Munroe,   b. 27 Nov 1902, Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA ,   d. 21 Oct 1968, Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida, USA  (Age 65 years)
  Last Modified	20 Jan 2009
  Family ID	F13487	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  In 1847, Ralph helped a friend, William Andrews, to develop a wood carving machine and after about one year, the friend threw in the towel and told Ralph to help himself to what tools he wanted, in lieu of better pay. During this episode, he also worked in his spare time with two German machinists named Newman. they were experts in developing and perfecting intricate patterns, so Ralph gained much knowledge from these men. At one point, Ralph visited his grandfather in Concord, Massachusets, and visited the old pencil shop of William Munroe which was still in operation. Also during this visit, he met the daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ellen. She was credited with bringing the game of croquet from England to the US. In Concord, Ralph also became acquainted with the Alcotts, Frank Sanborn, the Barretts, William W. Weildon, Horace Mann, the Hosmers and others. Across the way from his grandfather lived Judge Rockwood Hoar, who later became Attorney General under Grant. Shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War, Ralph went to boarding school at the Eagleswood Military Academy. The school was located about a mile and a half west of Perth Amoby on the Raritan River. When his parents moved to Staten Island, he was sent to a private school on New York Avenue, opposite St. John's Church. The school was run by Isaac Holden. In 1875, Ralph became engaged in a business venture with the Elmira Seamless Keg Company. In 1888, Ralph became a permanent resident of Cocoanut Grove, Florida. He was one of the early settlers of that place and lived there until his death. From Nov 1889 to Jun 1891, he tried various experiments with sponge culture. He tried to persuade the state legislature to set aside a small area to be reserved for experiments, but the bill was not passed. Ralph was well known for his superior skill at designing sail boats. He designed and built many boats for his friends and for many well known people of his day. He was the originator of the Sharpie sail boat. Many other interesting facts about Ralph can be found in his book, "The Commodore's Story" printed in 1930. References: (1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S. Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 15-21-34-1 - p. 275, 407-408 ----- Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA