Charles Jay Monroe

Notes:

Hon. Charles Jay Monroe. If the people of Van Buren county were challenged to name an admirable product the high type of their citizenship they might with eminent propriety say: "Here is Hon. Charles Jay Monroe--show us his fellow! Behold the fruit and the representative of our civilization! 'of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble-bush gather the grapes!'." In every field of duty and his have been numerous, and in every relation of life, Mr. Monroe has exemplified sterling manhood, elevated citizenship, and all the other fine attributes of the genuine American gentleman.

Mr. Monroe is wholly a product of Van Buren county. He was born in the township of Lawrence on 20 Nov. 1839. He obtained his elementary education and first impressions of his relations to his fellow men in the country school near his home. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and did his part of the labor necessary for its cultivation, acquiring therein habits of useful industry, a practical knowledge of farming, and an interest in his native soil that has grown with his years and been intensified by his experience. The activities, aspirations and tendencies of the people of this locality have also been objects of the greatest interest to him at all times, for he has been one of them and fully imbued with their spirit and in sympathy with their desires.

Moreover, he taught their children in the schools, surveyed their land, served them wisely and faithfully in many important public capacities, and in time became, in large measure, their banker. And when, in the pride and power of his young manhood, he bowed beneath the flowery yoke of Eros, he united himself in marriage with one of their most estimable and accomplished young ladies, with whom he walked life's troubled way for over forty years.

Mr. Monroe is of Scottish ancestry on his father's side of the house. His grandfather, Isaac Monroe, was a physician who lived in Surry, New Hampshire. In 1816 he moved to Hamilton, Madison County, New York, where he passed the remainder of his days. He reared a family of eleven children, of whom his son Jay R. Monroe, the father of Charles, Jay, was the eighth in the order of birth, and came into being on April 11, 1806, in Surry, New Hampshire, where the family was then living.

About the time Charles Jay Monroe completed his seventeenth year the State Agricultural College was ready to receive students, and he was one of the first to be enrolled. He was present at its opening session, and remained under its beneficent instructions two years and a half. Then, on account of weakness in his eyes, he was obliged to give up his studies. His father, however, found employment for him that he was able to attend to by placing him in charge of the land agency business he was conducting. In connection with this he taught school eight terms, and also did surveying in Van Buren and Allegan counties, serving as county surveyor for the former two terms, and being in frequent requisition for work in the same line in the latter, both while he was in office and afterward.

In Jan 1867, in partnership with S. R. Boardman, Charles opened a private bank, which was the first enterprise of that kind in South Haven. In 1871 the First National Bank of South Haven was organized, with Mr. Boardman as president and Charles as cashier of the institution. After serving the bank as cashier for some four years, Charles was elected vice president and the next year president. He held this position until 1889, when the bank was reorganized as the First State Bank of South Haven. He was chosen president of the new organization.

In 1879, Charles pursued a course of instruction in the law department of the University of Michigan, not with any intention of practicing the profession, but to assist him in carrying on his many business ventures. As he stated the case, he had more business than knowledge, so he quit business for a time to obtain more knowledge. In 1880 or 1881, he organized the West Michigan Savings Bank of Bangor, and he served as its president until he sold his interest in it. He also organized the Kalamazoo Savings Bank, and was its president for some years. In addition, he was president of the Van Buren county Pioneers' Society, and one of the most active men connected with that organization.

In politics, Charles gave his allegiance steadfastly and continuously to the Republican party, and as its candidate, was elected township supervisor for three terms, county surveyor for two terms, and school inspector for many years. In 1883, he was elected state senator for Van Buren and Allegan counties, and to this office he was twice re-elected, serving three consecutive terms in all. In the state senate he was chairman of the committee on banks and banking and a member of other important committees. He was the author of the banking law at the time, which he had enacted while he was in the senate. In his last term he was unanimously elected president pro tempore of the senate, and during the term, he was in the chair almost every day.

The interests of South Haven were of great importance to Charles, and he did his part in promoting them. He built a number of brick business blocks and other houses, and did valuable work in many ways for the advancement and improvement of the city. He also gave the welfare and progress of the county his careful and helpful attention, looking after its interests in every field of effort, intellectual, moral, social and business afairs. His farm of three hundred and twenty acres was in the country, just outside of South Haven, and it was a source of considerable addition to the mercantile and commercial wealth of the county. Here he carried on for some years an extensive dairy business, which was a great convenience to the residents of the city and townships, and on the farm he raised large quantities of fine fruit, of various kinds, his peach orchard alone comprising thirty acres, with the other orchards in proportion.

In Jun 1911, he was elected president of the Michigan Bankers Association. He was a Freemason of Royal Arch degree.

Van Buren county has never had a citizen whom its people esteemed more highly or more universally, or one who was more worthy of their confidence, and hearty regard and good will. He had the good fortune of being estimated at his real value during his life, which is a rare experience among men, and must have been due to merit made clear and services beyond question.

Ref: "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82

Charles married Hattie Morehouse in 1866. Hattie was born about 1841 in Albion, Calhoun Co., Michigan, USA; died on 22 Jun 1903. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Charles married Clara O. Atkinson on 16 Sep 1905. Clara was born about 1841; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Stephen was born on his parents' farm in South Haven. He was named for his maternal grandparents. He attended the local schools, and in 1891, he graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, after which he began a legal practice specializing in probate, financial, and real estate matters.

In 1901, he moved to Kalamazoo to work for the Kalamazoo Savings Bank, which his father had founded in 1884. He became a director of the bank two years later. Stephen lived the rest of his life there, and played a large role in the industrial and commercial life of the city. By the time of his death, he had aided in the development of more than a score of important local business and manufacturing concerns.

Stephen eventually became president of the Kalamazoo Savings Bank. Serving with him at the bank was Charles A. Peck and his brother, Horace. They were older men who recognized in Stephen a keen business acumen. They were engaged in the financing of fledgling industries and were happy to find a younger man to help them carry on.

Another young man who became associated with the Peck brothers at about the same time, was Alfred B. Connable from the village of Petosky in northern Mchigan. Alfred married Horace Peck's daughter. Stephen and Alfred began an association which lasted until Stephen died in 1946.

The two friends and some others provided the original capital for the Monroe Calculating Machine Company, which Stephen's younger cousin Jay Randolph organized in 1912. Stephen and Alfred served on the board of that company for many years until they retired. Stephen's two sons and Alfred's three sons all played important roles in the company in later years.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-1 - p. 385-386

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

Stephen married Albertina Harriet Schmidt on 11 Jan 1899. Albertina was born on 14 Feb 1873 in Emden, Germany; died on 4 Oct 1947 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George attended public schools in South Haven, Michigan before he moved to Covert, Michigan to attend the State Agricultural College in 1896-1899.

He started out as a land surveyor and fruit grower for seven or eight years. On 1 Dec 1899, he accepted the position of cashier of the First State Bank of South Haven after having had a year's experience in the banking business as thepresident of the Bank of Covert, which he helped to organize under the auspices of C. H. Monroe Sons & Company on 12 Jan 1899. In 1906, he became the vice president of First State Bank of South Haven.

George served as secretary of the Hotel Columbus Association and the South Haven Hospital Association. He was one of the organizers of the latter. He was a 32nd degree Freemason in the Scottish rite and worked his way to the top in the York rite as well. He held memberships in the Star of the Lake Lodge, No. 155; Royal Arch Chapter, No. 58; and South Haven Council, Royal and Select Masters, No. 45 and he had presided over all three. He was also associated with Malta Commandery No. 44; Knights Templars, at Benton Harbor; Saladin Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids; and DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Scottish Rite Mason, at Grand Rapids. He was also a member of Hamilton Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and the Order of the Knights of Pythias and several insurance orders.

He had a deep interest in the affairs of his city and county, and was a leading business man in his community. He was a Republican, but never sought public office.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-2 - p. 386-387

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

George married Helen Smith on 14 Feb 1893 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA. Helen was born in 22 Mar in Emden, Germany; died in 1950 in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-3

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: William Shakespeare, Jr.. William was born est 1871; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-4

Notes:

Charles was known as "C. O." For many years, he served as the editor of the "South Haven Tribune", a daily newspaper in South Haven, Michigan.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-5 - p. 388

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

Family/Spouse: Lorene Seaver. Lorene was born est 1883; died on 17 Nov 1963. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-11 - p. 386

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

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-12 - p. 386

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

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-13 - p. 386

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

Notes:

George entered the United States Army in 1917, and was killed in France during World War I. He was the first soldier from South Haven, Michigan to be killed in the war, so the American Legion Post there is named after him.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-21 - p. 387-388

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

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-22 - p. 388

-----

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

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-23 - p. 388

-----

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

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes" by R. S. Munroe,
2nd ed. - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-82-51 - p. 388

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