James Munro

Notes:

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The following is from a family history manuscript written by John Judson Monroe

One rope led back to Ireland, to the region called Ulster. Half of its strands had crossed the seas from Scotland during Cromwell's time. Here in Ulster four young men, brothers, danced the Kerry dance and sparked the colleens, dug potatoes, and lived upon the lean of the land, all as young men of the day and locality were motivated to do. But only between wars; for they were professional soldiers.

When England had a war forced upon her by the "war-hawks" under the guise of maritime rights in 1812, these vigorous young men promptly responded to the call of romance and lucre. They crossed the Atlantic, and fought nobly against hordes of American militiamen. But when the war was over, James Munro found himself alone in the world; his brothers were gone. He was unable to trace them. Whatever mental anguish he may have suffered because of his loss, he had no qualms in leaving the army. Sentiment says his time was out, but reason boasts, "He deserted". The call of the west got in his blood, and he traveled toward the setting sun until he came to Indiana. Here he settled, and was married to a quarter-breed Indian girl whose pretty name was Charity Fairchild. Among their children was another James.
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James originally came from around Ulster where his ancestors had fled from Scotland during the time of Cromwell. He went to the United States with three of his brothers to fight in the War of 1812. Although they "fought nobly against the Americans, the four of them deserted when the war was over. James lost track of his three brothers so he traveled west to Illinois, where he settled.

He married Charity Fairchild, who is said to have been a half-breed (or "quarter-breed") Indian. Some references say it was James' grandson, John Judson Monroe who married Charity Fairchild, but that is probably an error.

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

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Family/Spouse: Charity Fairchild. Charity was born about 1812; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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The following is from a family history manuscript written by John Judson Monroe

James was a commissary sergeant during the Civil War. He "hated like hell" to take food from southern women to feed northern men. During the performance of his disagreeable duty, he was shot in the foot. He died from the wound twenty years later.

Meanwhile he married an Irish girl. Among their children was John Judson, for whom I am named.
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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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The following is from a family history manuscript written by John Judson Monroe

Among their children was John Judson, for whom I am named.

John Judson was a huge man, amply fit to cope with the west: the settled prairies of Indiana could not hold him. He migrated to Kansas to farm to save for intermittent expeditions to Colorado and Wyoming. When grasshoppers wiped out his farm, he returned to the middle west, making Illinois hes stamping grounds.

He had had some education at the beginnings of a small college called Ewing in the southern part of Illinois. His physical build fitted him for handling belligerent farmer boys. It was nothing for him, then, to procure numerous positions teaching country school.

Finally he settled down on a farm in Jefferson County, Illinois, near Ina, and not far from Mount Vernon. Marriage, farming, and politics held his attention for many years. For twenty years he was elected road commissioner of the township on the Democratic ticket, and gloried in his responsibility. But there was a Republican landslide one year and he was defeated. He turned tail and became a Reb\\publican henceforth and forevermore. his children never ceased to tease him about it.
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John married Sarah "Sadie" Lavinia Cox, who was called "little grandma" by some of her grandchildren to distinguish her from grandma Koch. She was the daughter of James Duncan and Rebecca Landrum (Davis) Cox and a descendant of John Sevier, the Tennessee pioneer.

John was a 230-pound farmer. He migrated from Illinois to Kansas. On his Kansas farm, he was injured when his team of horses reared at the sound of a rattlesnake. He carried a deep hole in his temple for the rest of his life.

After intermittent expeditions to Colorado and Wyoming, and after grasshoppers wiped out his Kansas farm, he returned to Illinois where he eked out a poor living on a bad farm there. Since he had some education from Ewing, a small college in southern Illinois, he had no trouble procuring numerous positions as a teacher in the country schools of Illinois.

He finally settled on a farm in Jefferson County, Illinois, near Ina. For twenty years he was elected road commissioner of the township on the Democratic ticket, and gloried in his responsibility. There was a Republican landslide one year, and he was defeated. Because of that, he changed parties and became a Republican himself forever after.

The Boak reference gives John's death place, but it is illegible.

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

John married Sarah Lavinia Cox on 28 Sep 1881 in , Jefferson Co., Illinois, USA. Sarah (daughter of James Duncan Cox and Rebecca Landrum Davis) was born on 9 Jan 1857 in Spring Garden, Jefferson Co., Illinois, USA; died on 7 Jan 1922 in Spring Garden, Jefferson Co., Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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The following was written by John Judson Monroe

My father met my mother in the classroom. Hearkening to her words of wisdom, he sat humbly at her feet. She was the teacher. he was a country boy getting away from the cows and the pasture.

A number of years after that, they were married. Their union knotted two ropes from whose lengths hung a good many strands of different texture. ...

My father, James Oliver, was the oldest of a family of eight. He led the typical farmer-boy's life of the time, working at home and in the fields, and going to school. Upon graduation from Ewing Academy, he attempted to place himself teaching country school. But, though he raised his age from 17 to 19, the lie did him no good. He entered Ewing Cgortingerollege. After two years, my mother's wise words turned his steps toward Illinois College and what everlasting fame he was to acquire during his lifetime.
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James was the oldest of a family of eight. He led the typical Illinois farm boy's life of the time, working at home in the fields, and going to school. He went to grammer school in a country school where his father taught at one time. He later had another teacher, Fredericka Koch, with whom he fell in love and subsequently married.

His wife's full name was Fredericka Juliana Sophia Louisa Christina "Frida" Koch. She had so many names because when she was born, many of her mother's neighbors wanted to be god-mothers, so she was named after each of them.

After graduation from Ewing Academy, he attempet to get a job as a teacher in a country school. But, though he raised his age from 17 to 19, the lie did him no good. He entered Ewing College, but after two years he began studying at Illinois College.

James bought the Collinsville Herald newspaper in 1917. He served as a Senator in the Illinois State Legislature most of the time from 1930-1962.

The Karl Monroe letter says James was born in Spring Garden, Illinois.

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

James married Fredericka Juliana Sophia Koch on 6 Jan 1912 in Bowling Green, Pike Co., Missouri, USA. Fredericka (daughter of August Koch and Elizabeth Habermaas) was born on 17 Jun 1885 in East Saginaw, , Michigan, USA; died on 1 Sep 1945 in Highland, Madison Co., Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]