| ThomasMunroe, M.D. |
THOMAS MUNROE, M. D., Rushville, Illinois.There is, in the career of the earnest professional or business man, toilingon through the busy, work a-day years of a long and arduous life, but littleto attract the attention of an idle reader in search of a sensational chapter.But for the mind fully awake to the real meaning of human existence thereare immortal lessons in the life of the man who, without other means thana strong arm, a true heart and determined will, conquers adversity, overcomesobstacles, and closes the evening of a long life with an honorable competenceand good name. Such a man is the subject of this biography, Doctor ThomasMunroe.Doctor Munroe was a son of John and Ann (Wells)Munroe, and was born at Annapolis, Maryland, January 4, 1807. His fatherand mother were both natives of Maryland; the former was born August 6,1763, and the latter January 20, 1771. They were married May 14, 1789.The boyhood of Thomas Munroe did not differ much from that of other boysborn of and reared by Christian parents, who held progressive and correctideas of the higher duties and privileges of American citizenship. He enteredschool at an early age, and, being an apt scholar, made rapid headway inhis studies and graduated from St. John’s College with honors, having takenthe full classical course.
After finishing at St. John’s College, hedecided to adopt the profession of medicine as his life-work. He beganreading under the direction of Dr. Dennis Claude, and later entered theUniversity of Maryland in Baltimore, from which he graduated with the degreeof M. D. in 1829. All through his life, Dr. Munroe took a just pride inhaving upon his diploma the famons names of Drs. Roger B. Taney and ReverdyJohnson, — the first as to Provost, the second a member of the executivecommittee of the University of Maryland.
After graduating, Dr. Munroe began the practiceof his profession in Baltimore, but after twelve months concluded it wasbetter for him to go West. In accordance with this wise conclusion, heclosed up his business in Baltimore, and in 1834 removed to Illinois andsettled in Jacksonville, where he remained until 1843, when he came toRushville, and was actively engaged in professional labor until the breakingout of the civil war, when he offered his services to his country, andwas commissioned Surgeon of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Volunteerinfantry. He participated in all the marches of the regiment, and was inall its campaigns and battles for two years; at the end of that periodhe was obliged to resign his commission on account of ill health. He returnedto his home and resumed his practice, which he continued, with great activityand success, until a short time previous to his death, which occurred April23,1891.
Dr. Munroe was married October 5, 1841, toAnnis Hinman, who was born at Utica, New York, December 10, 1815; her father,Benjamin Hinman, was a native of Southbury, Connecticut; he was a son ofDeacon David Hinman, who was a son of Benjamin Hinman, who was a son ofBenjamin Hinman, Sr., who was a son of Sergeant Edward Hinman, the firstsettler of that name in this country. (See genealogy published by R. R.Hinman, New York.) Mrs. Munroe’s father was a soldier in the war of theRevolution, and had the title of Major; he was one of the early settlersof Little Falls, New York, and purchased a large tract of land there; heafterward removed to Utica, New York, and died in Pennsylvania in 1821,while making a business trip to the State. He married Anna Keyser, whowas born at Fort Keyser, New York, a daughter of John Keyser, of Montgomerycounty, New York. Her father was taken captive by the Indians during theRevolutionary war, and was carried to Canada, where he was held for threeyears; his death occurred at Fort Keyser, his wife survived until August9, 1863; she was living in Illinois at that time, her sons being amongthe pioneers of Brown county; they emigrated to the State in 1836, andwere of a party that laid out the town of La Grange.
Children are indeed blessed who have educatedand Christian parents to guide and direct those early impulses which haveso much to do with the ultimate direction of ambition and mentality; andno family of children were ever more favored in this than the childrenof this good father and mother. The breadth of Dr. Munroe’s mind, his greatwisdom in giving his children splendid educations and permitting them toselect their own vocations, is manifest in the marked degree of successwhich has attended their efforts. The eldest son, Thomas, is one of theprogressive and successful men of Muskegon, Michigan, being the head ofthe well-known firm of Thomas Munroe & Co., and the general superintendentof the Thayer Lumber Company, both of Muskegon. In this double capacityhe has acquired more than an ordinary fortune, and, with his marked successas a financier. He has won a greater meed of victory – that of the loveand respect of all who know him.
The second son, James E. Munroe, residesin Chicago, and is engaged in the practice of law. He is a lawyer, of goodability, fair attainments and great industry. As the result of twenty yearsof labor at the bar he has acquiesced a large practice and a handsome competence.
The daughter, Mary A., of Rushville, is deeplyinterested in all that pertains to the betterment and advancement of mankind.She resides at the family home, the companion and comfort of her aged andgentle mother. Her brothers, Hinman and Charles G., are also residentsof Rushville, the former being married and residing in a happy home, aclose neighbor of his mother. Charles G. is a member of the family at theold homestead, and is engaged with his, brother Hinman in the lumber business,in which they are eminently successful. The youngest son is a residentof Muskegon, Michigan, where he holds a position of trust under his brother.Dr. Munroe was related to such men as Jonathan Pickney, Nathan Hammondand William Munroe, all of whom occupy honored places in the early historyof the United States from their participation in the notable events incidentto those times. The fine engraved portrait of Dr. Munroe, which faces thissketch, was executed specially for this history. An examination of theportrait will reveal better than word-painting the character of the manherein recorded.
In the death of Dr. Munroe, the city of Rushvillelost one of the men whose great mentality, indefatigable energy and trueChristian manhood did so much to make the city what it is. The followingappeared in the Schuyler Citizen a short time after Dr. Munroe’s death,and was written by his eminent co-laborer, Dr. J. N. Speed: “No man inthe community performed more faithfully the duties of a citizen and a Christian,or led a more exemplary life than he did; and this could be as truly saidof him during his army as well as his civil life. He was a lifelong memberof the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always held one or more officialpositions; and, what is a little remarkable, he held the position of RecordingSteward and Secretary in the Rushville Methodist Episcopal Church continuouslyfor thirty-eight years, and then resigned by reason only of the infirmitiesof age, I doubt if in the memory of any person a like office has been filledfor so long a time continuously by the same person, and certainly no morefaithfully. He was very regular in his attendance on the means of grace.Even after the first admonition of his approaching affliction his seatat church, day and night, at prayer-meeting and class-meeting, was veryseldom occupied by any other than himself. As a citizen he always tookan active interest in the affairs of the public, and his influence wasalways, on the side of the public welfare. As a physician Dr. Munroe wasever studious and attentive, and his habit of study continued even afterhis active practice ceased, and in all his intercourse with his brotherphysicians he was the embodiment of professional rectitude, and in thisrespect he had no superiors and but few equals. He was looked upon by allwho knew him as a perfect gentleman. He was always kind to the poor, andthe resources of his skill and watchfulness were as faithfully extendedto the pallet of the lowly as to the silken couch of the affluent, thusmanifesting in his life the saying of the venerable Beerhaave, that ‘thepoor were his best patrons because God was their paymaster.’ “
Biographical Review of Cass,Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 125-127.
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