Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Jonathan Monroe

9^th IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: July/August, 1861 Dubuque, IA
Mustered In: 9/24/61 Dubuque, IA
Mustered Out: 7/18/65 Louisville, KY

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:

The 9^th, a three year western theater regiment was organized in July/August, 1861 and was mustered into Federal service that September. Shortly thereafter it left the state for Benton Barracks, Missouri. It then performed railroad guard duty between Franklin, TN and Rolla, MO until January, 1862.

In early '62 the unit joined the Army of The Southwest and was engaged at Sugar Creek, TN. From there it marched on to Pea Ridge, AR where it was heavily engaged in two days of fighting. During those two days the 9^th lost nearly 200 killed and wounded.  The regiment then moved through Missouri and Arkansas where, at Helena, it went into camp for five months.

The 9^th began 1863 by taking part in the campaign against Arkansas Post. From there it then moved into Mississippi at Grand Gulf, participated in the battle for Jackson and started towards Vicksburg which it reached on 5/19. The following day the regiment lost a number of men during an assault on the enemy's fortifications. ON THE 22^nd IT LOST NEARLY 100 KILLED AND WOUNDED IN A SECOND ASSAULT ON THAT PLACE.

After the 7/4 capitulation of Vicksburg the 9^th remained active in Mississippi for a time before moving on to Chattanooga, TN. It reached the base of Lookout Mountain on 11/23 and the following day took part in the "battle above the clouds".  Pursuit of retreating Rebel forces into Georgia preceded winter quarters at Woodville, AL

With the dawning of 1864 enough men of the 9^th re-enlisted to earn the regiment veteran volunteer status and, in February, a 30 day furlough home. Returning to the field in Match the unit joined Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's movements toward Atlanta, GA. After the fall of that city the regiment went into camp but was sent in pursuit of the forces under Confed. Gen.  John Bell Hood. The march to Savannah and the sea ended the year.

In 1865 the 9^th travelled northward through The Carolinas. With the War's end it participated in the Grand Review at Washington City before being mustered into history.

Regimental Losses: Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 12; Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 2; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 142; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 230.

SOLDIER:

Residence: Central City, IA   Age: 18.6 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/14/61 Marion Linn Co., IA   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/24/61 Dubuque, IA
Mustered Out: 7/18/65 Louisville, KY
Highest Rank: Cprl.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Jonathan W. Monroe was born 10/12/42) in Wayne Co., PA. His parents were Eleazer Joslyn (b. 8/11/02 Plymouth, MA) and Catherine (nee Roberts b. 1809 PA) Monroe. The Monroe family was a farm family.

As best as can be determined from U.S. Census documentation, Jonathan was the youngest of five children. His older siblings were: Lyman, (b. 1828 PA), Mary J. (b. 1830 PA), Ellen (b. 1833 PA) and James Eleazer (b. 1838 PA).

Joslyn Monroe died on 4/21/47 in Wayne Co., PA. In 1856 census takers noted his widow, Catherine, as well as children Ellen, James and Johnathan farming in or near the Wayne Co. community of Preston.

By 1860 Jonathan had left home and was residing in Maine Linn Co., IA. There, he was employed as a laborer on the farm of Ormus and Sabra Clark.

On 9/14/61 Jonathan, then showing his address as Central City, Linn Co., IA enlisted in the U.S. Army. On this occasion we get a glimpse of Jonathan the physical man. He was 5'8" tall, had blue eyes, a dark complexion and brown hair. At the age of 18.6 years, his occupation was "farm hand."

Private Monroe's military experience was not to prove fatal, but then again, it was not completely benign. Present for duty through the end of 1861, company muster records January through March, '62 show him hospitalized then furloughed home. Available documents do not elaborate on his debility, but hint at wounding. Present for duty by mid-year, Private Monroe wrapped up 1862 assigned to the duties of a nurse in the one of the army medical departments.

1863 would prove to be more harrowing. In early May Union troops under the command of General U.S. Grant disembarked in Grand Gulf, MS and began an overland movement designed to capture the City of Vicksburg. During a 5/22 assault on the fortifications of that place the 9^th Iowa lost heavily and Private Monroe received a wound to his right foot and/or ankle. Caused by a spent rifle ball, the wound was not serious, but did result in Jonathan's reassignment away from field operations as a nurse and cook in a military hospital for the remainder of the year.

In early 1864, his three year term of service expiring, Private Monroe reenlisted as a veteran volunteer. For doing so he earned a $400 enlistment bonus or "bounty", a portion of which was generally paid "up front" with the balance coming in later increments. He also earned a 30 day furlough home. Returning to duty, it appears Private Monroe completed his period of service and the War in the regimental quartermaster and/or commissary department.

Military life behind him, Jonathan returned to Wayne Co., PA. There, ca. 1867, he married a woman whose surname, year and place of birth are not documented. Jonathan and "Lucy Ann" would produce two daughters - Agnes Delphine (b. 9/1868 - '69) and Eva Jane (b. 12/5/71) - before her death. 

Here, though, family matters become very murky. Lucy A. supposedly died (during childbirth) on 7/2/71 in Scranton, PA. How, then, could she have given birth to Eva on 12/5/71?

To make matters more confusing, according to available pension documents, in 1871 Jonathan and Lucy were supposedly residing in Pennsylvania. However, the U.S. Census for 1870 noted Jonathan and second wife, Ann "Annie" M. (nee Simpson b. 2/8/49 Preston Township Wayne Co., PA)-  whom he reportedly didn't marry until 2/8/74 in Pleasant Mt. Wayne Co., PA- living in the home of  daughter/her step daughter Agnes in Belleville Chautauqua Co., KS.

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The census for 1880 again found Jonathan, Annie and Agnes in Belleville Chautauqua Co., KS. As it had been in 1870, Jonathan's occupation was noted as “horse & carriage."

Around 1889 Jonathan and Annie moved from Kansas to Washington Territory/State. Documents are silent as to why the move was made.

First residential stop for the Monroes was the eastern Washington community of North Yakima (present day Yakima) in Yakima Co. What had drawn them to that particular location is not known. Although still in that city as of 2/14/98, they did not remain there much longer. 

As of 1900 Jonathan and Mary were west of the Cascades in Seattle, King Co., WA residing in the home of Jonathan's married daughter Agnes. Interestingly, however, instead of Annie, Mrs. Monroe's name appears as Lucy A. Monroe (age 57 b. 6/43 PA step mother- in- law no children). Was Jonathan doing this reporting? If so, in his mind was Mary becoming, or had she become Lucy?

As of 5/12/02 Jonathan and Mary had settled into a Seattle residence of their own. Their address was 1811 19^th Ave. (The Capitol Hill site now contains condominiums). Then, at some point in time after the end of March, 1903 they moved out of Seattle northward to a new home near Edmonds in Snohomish County.

In 1905 something went terribly wrong in the Monroe household.  Jonathan - for undocumented reasons - became a resident of Western Washington Hospital for the insane located in Steilacoom Pierce Co., WA.  He died there on 3/26/13 at the age of 69.5 years. Burial was in the Edmonds Memorial Park cemetery.

At the time of his passing Jonathan was receiving a $25 per month disability stipend. This was a U.S. Government disability pension based on ailments or conditions which traced back to his days of Civil War soldiering. He had originally applied for the stipend in October of 1886, but when it was granted and the original amount are not known. Nor is the basis for the granting known. However, in 1903 when applying for an increase he claimed lumbago, kidney disease, general debility and deafness in both ears. The examining board ruled he was warranted $10 per month based on rheumatism, sciatica, deafness, lumbago, rectum and heart problems.

These pension details are noted because, although on 12/13/12 Annie had applied guardianship of Jonathan's legal affairs, she had no control over his pension. Upon his death she applied to the U.S. Government to obtain a least a portion of that stipend. That request was granted as, at the time of her death, Annie was receiving $24 per month.

After Jonathan's death Annie remained in Edmonds. Strangely, when the U.S. Census found her there in 1910 she indicated she was a Canadian-born widow who had birthed seven children, six of whom were then living.

Annie M. Simpson Monroe died on 4/25/18. She was/is buried beside Jon in Edmonds. 

Buried at Edmonds Memorial Cemetery