Campbell-Pittsylvania-Charlotte County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Monroe, Edward R. 1856 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 15, 2008, 8:09 pm Author: Leonard Wilson (1916) EDWARD R. MONROE EDWARD R. MONROE, President of the Brookneal Bank since 1904, was born in Campbell County, Virginia, April 24, 1856, son of John and Pamelia (MacGregor) Monroe. In both lines of descent, Mr. Monroe is Scotch. The clan Munro, spelled variously "Munro," "Monro," "Munroe," and "Monroe," is one of the most ancient of the Highland Clans and has a history of remarkable interest. The Clan belongs to County Ross, which is one of the most rugged counties in Scotland. Some high Scottish authorities claim that their original name was "Monrosse," which meant that they were the hillmen or mountaineers of Ross. This seems very plausible. Their traditionary origin is from the "Siol o' Cain" of North Moray—from which also sprung the Clans Buchanan and MacMillan. The first known Chief of the Clan was Hugh Monro of Foulis, who lived in the twelfth century. Later records show that George, then Chief, obtained charters from King Alexander, and a later Chief, Robert, fought at Bannockburn under King Robert Bruce. Robert, eighth Baron of Foulis, and then Chief, married the niece of Euphame, daughter of the Earl of Ross by his wife, who was the widow of King Robert II. George Munro, fifth son of Robert Munro, fourteenth Baron of Foulis, was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. He was, according to Alexander Mackenzie's History of the Highland Clans, the direct ancestor of the American progenitor of that branch of the Monroe family here dealt with. Among his children was George(2), who received the lands of Katewell. He married first, Catherine, daughter of Hector Mackenzie(4), of Fairburn, and had children, Hector and Catherine. He married secondly Euphemia, daughter of John Munro of Pittonacky, and had issue Andrew, David, Florence and Ann. He married thirdly Agnes, only daughter of Hugh Monro<5> of Coul, and had a daughter Agnes. David Munro, son of George by his second wife, married Agnes, daughter of Rev. Alexander Munro. They had sons, George who became their heir and successor; Alexander, who succeeded his brother George, in the representation of the family; and Andrew, who under his distinguished relative General Sir George Munro, fought at the battle of Preston, August 17, 1648, where he was taken prisoner, but shortly thereafter escaped to America with others. Andrew Monroe landed in Maryland where he took command of a pinnace in the service of Cuthbert Fenwick, general agent for Lord Baltimore, and he was known as a "mariner." When Richard Ingle declared for the Parliament, Andrew Monroe took sides against Lord Baltimore's government, and like Nathaniel Pope, ancestor of President Washington, Dr. Thomas Gerrard and other leading Marylanders, fled over the Potomac to a settlement under the Virginia authority. He had several tracts of land granted to him in Virginia from 1650 to 1662, mostly in Northumberland and Westmoreland Counties. The first of these grants, which was for a 200 acre tract designated as one of the "Head Rights," is dated June 8, 1650. Prom the Westmoreland deeds it appears that Andrew Monroe married Elizabeth (whose maiden name has not been found). He died in middle life in 1668, leaving issue: Susannah, Elizabeth, Andrew(2), George and William. His widow married, secondly, George Horner. Andrew(2), was a Justice of the Peace, held rank of Captain in the militia and was owner of large estates and numerous slaves. He died in 1714. He married Elinor, daughter of Patrick Spens, and the children mentioned in his will are: Spens, John, Susan, Andrew(3) and Elizabeth. Spence son of Andrew(3), married Elizabeth sister of Joseph Jones, a member of the continental Congress. Spence and Elizabeth (Jones) Monroe were the parents of James Monroe, born 1758, who was the fifth President of the United States. John, son of Andrew(3), left sons: John, Daniel and William. The last named married Mary Pitt and had issue: Elizabeth, Alexander, John, Mary, James, William and perhaps others. Property is bequeathed by William to my son John and his wife Sarah Monroe. This couple, among others, had a son John, who married Rebecca, daughter of Josiah Crews of Pittsylvania County, and granddaughter of David Crews, corporal in the Bedford County militia in 1760. Josiah Crews (1745-1832) married Elizabeth Jeter, an aunt of Reverend Jeremiah Bell Jeter (1802-1880) the distinguished Baptist divine, celebrated author, and for many years forceful editor of the Religious Herald. Among the children of John and Rebecca (Crews) Monroe were sons John, James, Sterling Jeter, and Josiah. Of these, John Monroe was the father of Edward R. Monroe, whose name introduces this sketch. In the Civil War the Monroe family gave valorous service. Robert Monroe who, at the age of fourteen years, joined the Confederate Army, died in the hospital at Richmond. John Monroe was killed at Drury's Bluff, May 10, 1861. William Monroe, of Company C, Eleventh Virginia, was killed at Plymouth, North Carolina. These three were brothers of Edward R. Monroe. His cousin, William Thompson Monroe, served in Company C, and was captured May 21, 1864, at Milford. His uncle, James Monroe, had two sons in the war, John and James. The latter was killed. Another uncle, Josiah, moved in 1860 to Missouri. In the maternal line, Edward R. Monroe descends from one of the most ancient of the Scottish Clans, MacGregor, and one of the most unfortunate. Its history goes back to the year 787. After the usual warlike and turbulent history of the Scottish Clans, the MacGregors came under the ban of the Scotch Parliament in 1503. In 1603 they were commanded to change their name under pain of death. One act followed another, and the outlawed clan never regained its rights until 1775, when the British Parliament without a dissenting vote restored the name, rights and immunities of the Clan MacGregor. Thereupon, 826 Clansmen held a meeting, in which they acknowledged John Murray of Lanrick, afterwards known as Sir John MacGregor, Baronet, as the lawful descendant of the House of Glenstraemand the true chieftain of the Clan Alpine, by which title the MacGregor Clan was usually known. The famous Bob Roy MacGregor was a member of this outlawed clan, and one of those who, contrary to law, refused to change his name and consequently spent his life in hiding and raiding. Pamelia MacGregor, mother of Edward R. Monroe, was a daughter of John MacGregor of Halifax County, Virginia, a son of Archibald MacGregor. Her mother was Mary Lansdown of Pittsylvania, a daughter of Thomas Lansdown, who married a Miss Thompson. Edward R. Monroe was the seventh son of a large family. His boyhood was mainly spent in that troubled period succeeding the Civil War, which means that he had to be content with modest educational advantages and go to work early. His business career was spent in Southside, Virginia, and he was successful, becoming a highly respected citizen of his section. In 1899, being then a resident of Charlotte County, he was elected Chairman of the County Democratic Committee and served for a term of four years. In 1904 he moved to his present location, becoming President of the Brookneal Bank, which position he has held since that date. In religious belief, Mr. Monroe is a Baptist, having been for many years a Deacon of the Staunton River Baptist Church in Charlotte County. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity in all of its various divisions, from Blue Lodge to Knight Templar, being affiliated with the De Molay Commandery of Lynchburg. In his reading, Mr. Monroe is partial to general literature and history. Of course, like all competent men, he keeps abreast with the world's doings through the newspapers and current periodicals. He has been twice married,—first, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, on April 27, 1879, to Ida Tate, daughter of William Carrington and Marie Louise (Whitehead) Tate, of Chalk Level, Pittsylvania County. His first wife died November 4, 1888, and of their two children, the son John died when eighteen months old. The daughter Louise, the only surviving child of this marriage, married on October 26, 1904, at "The Oaks," Charlotte County, Virginia, Richard Douglas Williams, son of Richard Douglas and Sarah (Ewell) Williams. The elder Williams was a Baltimore lawyer who died in Centerville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, July 19, 1882. His widow later married Rev. A. B. Carrington, who officiated at the marriage of Mr. Monroe's daughter to R. D. Williams, Jr. The children of this marriage are Sarah D. Williams, Richard D. Williams, Elizabeth Louise Williams and Edward Monroe Williams. These children are Mr. Monroe's grandchildren, and their great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs Tate, were still living in 1914. Mr. Monroe was married, secondly, on February 19, 1891, at Danville, Virginia, to Elizabeth Hodge Edmunds, born at "Woodburn," Charlotte County, June 18, 1860, daughter of Joseph N. and Elizabeth Barnes (Hodge) Edmunds. The children of his second marriage are Kathleen, Bessie, Ruth and Edward R. Monroe, Jr. All the daughters have been educated at Hollins College, Virginia. Edward R. Monroe comes of good stock, which through many centuries (mostly of war) has exemplified the virtue of patriotism in turbulent times. It has not been his misfortune to be called upon as a soldier, but in his turn he has exemplified the virtue of patriotism by a life of good citizenship in peaceful times. The Coat of Arms of the Clan Monroe is described as follows: "Or, an eagle's head erased gules. "Crest—An eagle on the perch proper. "Motto—'Dread God.' " Additional Comments: Extracted from: MAKERS OF AMERICA BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE VOLUME II By LEONARD WILSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS Illustrated with many full page engravings B. F. JOHNSON, INC. CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 1916 Copyright, 1916 by B. F. Johnson, Inc. 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