From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 66
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
A. J. MONROE
A J Monroe represents a family that came to Rice county among its first settlers, arriving here in August, 1871. Here our subject has since resided and made his home, and his life record illustrates the opportunities which the Sunflower state affords to its settlers. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred in Ross county, on the 1st of August, 1830. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Wishon) Monroe, both of whom were natives of Virginia, and their marriage occurred in Pike county, Ohio. They afterward removed to Ross county, that state, where they remained for a number of years. They then went to Newton county, Indiana, and there the father passed away. The mother afterward moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, where she also died. They had six children, as follows: John H, Andrew J, Mary Jane, George C, Hannah E and George W.
In the county of his nativity A J Monroe remained until thirteen years of age, when the family removed to Warren county, Indiana. The labors of the farm occupied much of his attention throughout the period of his youth and he gained good practical experience in the best methods of developing and cultivating land. He was married in Newton county, Indiana, on the 27th of January, 1856, to Miss Julia A Roberson, and through the intervening years she has been to him a good wife and helpmate. She possessed much executive ability and courage and was thus well fitted for the experiences that come to pioneer settlers. Her birth occurred in Carroll county, Indiana, and she is a daughter of William and Anna (Tinkle) Roberson. The father was born in the south, the mother in Ohio, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Mrs Monroe, Nancy, Martha, George R, now deceased, Josephine, Warren and Morgan. The father died in Cowley county, Kansas, at the age of eighty. Throughout his life he was a farmer and a hard-working, upright, honorable man. He held membership in the Baptist church. His wife passed away in Cowley county, at the age of sixty-four years, loved by all for her many good qualities.
Mr and Mrs Monroe made the overland trip to Kansas in 1858, traveling in a wagon drawn by ox teams and camped along the way where night overtook them. They started on July 21, 1858, and arrived at their destination on the 18th of September following. They remained in eastern Kansas until the 15th of May, 1862, when they started for Indiana, reaching their old home on the 27th of July. The return trip was made with both oxen and horses. They crossed a corner of Nebraska, a large portion of Iowa, the southeastern corner of Missouri, the state of Illinois and thus reached the Hoosier state. Through the following year Mr Monroe was engaged in farming, but in 1863 he put aside his agricultural pursuits that he might give his country the benefit of his services as a soldier in the civil war. He enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, with which he served for eighteen months. He sustained a flesh wound, but was never seriously injured. His regiment was with the Army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas, and he participated in the battles of Nashville, Clarksville and many others of lesser importance. When the war was over he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and thence returned to Indiana, where he remained until 1871.
In that year Mr Monroe again started for sunny Kansas and cast in his lot among the early settlers of Rice county. Here he built a sod house and afterward a small frame house, but today he owns a large modern residence, built in a good style of architecture and containing a number of pleasant and well ventilated rooms. It stands upon an attractive building site and is surrounded by a fine grove and orchard containing fifteen acres, and has also erected excellent barns. The farm is complete in all its equipments. Windmills pump the water supply, good pastures afford excellent grazing for the stock and the fields bring to him a good return. The Monroe farm comprises nine hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. It is one of the most valuable farming properties in Rice county and is a monument to the thrift and enterprise of the owner, whose persistent purpose and diligence have enabled him to gain a prominent position among the substantial farmers of his community.
Unto Mr and Mrs Monroe have been born three children: Mary Ann, who was born in Kansas, in 1860, is now the wife of Moses Baker, of Wilson township, Rice county. George A, whose birth occurred in Wabash county, Indiana, on the 16th of April, 1864, was married at the age of twenty-seven years to Agnes McCabe, a cultured and intelligent young lady, a daughter of Wesley McCabe, of Wilson township. She died in 1892, leaving a daughter, Clara Belle. George A Monroe was seven years of age when he came to the county, where he was reared and educated. Here he follows farming. Charles E, the youngest of the family, was born September 16, 1878, on the old homestead where he yet resides. The Monroes were originally Republicans, but the sons are now connected with the People’s party. Since coming to Kansas our subject has achieved excellent success and is now numbered among the substantial citizens of Rice county.