Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Munroe, George 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 12:59 am

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

GEORGE MUNROE. The genealogy of the Munroe family is traced back to the year 
1050, when it flourished in the extreme north of Scotland. Later generations 
removed to Lanarkshire, near the English border. During the seventeenth 
century some of the name served in the army of the ill-fated Charles I. The 
traits of character for which the Scotch are noted were noticeable in the life 
of the subject of this sketch and were large factors in his business success. 
He was born in Lanarkshire April 4, 1821, a son of Daniel and Jane (Richmond) 
Munroe. His father, who was a woolen manufacturer, brought the family to 
America in 1827 and settled in Brownville, Jefferson County, N. Y., where he 
followed his chosen occupation. At an early period in the history of Joliet he 
came to this city and acted as manager of the woolen mill which at that time 
stood near the Jefferson street bridge. Later he improved a farm in Florence 
Township, where he died in 1860. He had long survived his wife, who passed 
away in Brownville in 1829. They were the parents of three children: George, 
Angus and Barbara.

Having learned the moulder's trade, the subject of this sketch was made 
foreman of a foundry in Brownville. In 1849 he settled in Florence Township, 
this county, where he engaged in farming. In 1862 he was elected sheriff, 
which office he filled for one term. In 1865 he and his son, George H., 
embarked in the grocery business, and they continued as partners until his 
death. For ten years they occupied a building on the corner of Jefferson and 
Chicago streets, after which for six years they conducted business in the 
Opera House building. In 1884 they erected the first large building on Chicago 
street, and in it they carried on a very large and successful wholesale 
business; this building, since remodeled, is now the Munroe Hotel. The 
partnership continued until the death of the senior member of the firm in 
1890. In the midst of his important business interests Mr. Munroe nevertheless 
kept in touch with local affairs and contributed his quota to the advancement 
of his city. As alderman and school trustee he was helpful in public and 
educational matters, and for three years he served the county as its 
treasurer, being first chosen to fill a vacancy in the office and subsequently 
elected without opposition. Fraternally he was a Knight Templar Mason. He 
aided in religious movements and was identified with the Methodist Church, in 
which he served as a trustee. In his character he combined those qualities of 
heart and mind that rendered him deservedly popular and secured to him the 
warm friendship of his associates. Beginning for himself with limited means he 
steadily, by perseverance and good management, won a prominent place in the 
business world, where his talents were recognized and appreciated. Methodical 
and exact in transactions, conservative in judgment, and careful in his 
decisions, he possessed the qualities which go to make success in the world of 
commerce. As one of the pioneers of the county, and a man whose energies were 
devoted to the development of its resources, his name is worthy of 
perpetuation on the pages of local history.

December 22, 1842, Sarah M. Hentze became the wife of Mr. Munroe. She was born 
in Brownville, N. Y., a daughter of Henry and Charity (Gould) Hentze. Her 
father, who was born in Rutland, Vt., was a son of Henry Hentze, a Hessian 
soldier brought by England to America at the time of the Revolutionary war; 
who, later, being in sympathy with the struggle for freedom, deserted and 
joined the Americans; he was a descendant of a large landed proprietor of 
Germany. The father of Mrs. Munroe brought his family via the lakes on the 
steamer "Mayflower" to Chicago, where Mr. Munroe met them with teams and 
brought them to Wilmington. In 1852 he and  his son George went overland with 
ox-teams to California, where he engaged in mining until his death; many years 
afterward his son came back to Joliet. Mrs. Munroe died in this city in 1895. 
Of her five children all but one are still living. The eldest, George H., is 
represented on another page. Jennie A. is the wife of Rev. G. R. Van Horn, of 
Rockford, Ill., who is a prominent minister in the Rock River conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mary E. is the wife of Charles B. Hayward, of 
Joliet; and Edwin S. is a partner of his older brother in the real-estate 
business.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

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