Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 Public Domain. Release under the CC BY Attribution license--http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/--Credit both “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library; From the California Historical Society Collection at the University of Southern California Send requests to address or e-mail given USC Libraries Special Collections specol@usc.edu
Description
Photograph of W.N. Monroe, one of the original founders of Monrovia, and his wife in Monrovia, Los Angeles, [s.d.]. An elderly man with a plump face in a pinstripe suit waves his hat in the air. His similarly elderly wife, dressed in what appears to be satin and fur, smiles gently out towards the camera. The carriage both are riding in is lined with the American flag. Palm fronds are visible in the background. W.N. Monroe, Founder of Monrovia, Dies. William Newton Monroe, founder of the city of Monrovia and a pioneer railroad builder, died today at the age of 94 years. Mr. Monroe was one of the early southwest pioneers whose lives were entwined in the fabric of the western expansion of the United States. In 1886 he laid the background for the founding of Monrovia when he purchased 240 acres from the huge ranch of "Lucky" Baldwin, picturesque California turfman. Mr. Monroe's ranch lay along Foothill boulevard. When strangers asked for directions in travel, the answer of the local resident invariably contained: "You go via the Monroe ranch." And so when Mr. Monroe and others laid out the town they affixed the word "via" and called it Monrovia. Born in Lexington, Ind., Mr. Monroe served in the cavalry in the Civil war and then turned westward to find his career. First a contractor for Union Pacific lines west of Omaha, he came to California in 1884 and for 12 years was superintendent of construction of the Southern Pacific. At the turn of the century he spent four years in Mexico building railroads. In 1907 he went to the Klondike gold fields. He built the first Alaskan railroad, a line from Nome to Anvil Creek. Then he retired and returned here to live with his family. Death came to him at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Ann Myrtle Dailey in Monrovia. He leaves another daughter, Mrs. Bruce Dyer of Inglewood. Mrs. Dyer is the mother of "Hec" Dyer, former Stanford sprinter. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. next Saturday in the Baptist church in Monrovia.
Type
image
Format
2 photographs : photonegative, photoprint, b&w 21 x 26 cm. negatives (photographic) photographic prints photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
