San Diego County Biographies
  
JUDGE CHARLES F. MONROE

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


a resident near Poway. To the early pioneers is California largely indebted for 
its present growth and prosperity, coming as they did when its soil was supposed 
to be unproductive and the resources of its valleys undreamed of, and here midst 
hardships unnumbered have they demonstrated to the world that California in 
soil, minerals and climate embrace the products of the Universe. Among the early 
pioneers we find the subject of this sketch, who was born in Salem, 
Massachusetts, February 28, 1842, being the youngest in a family of six 
children. His father, George Monroe, was by trade a tanner, carrying on business 
at Salem, and though in advanced life, he enlisted in the civil war, going as 
Captain of a company in Colonel Manning's regiment of artillery. They were sent 
to New Orleans, and while landing he was shot from ambush, in September, 1863, 
dying from the effects of the wounds. The mother of the subject of this sketch, 
Mary Elizabeth (Massey) Monroe, is a lineal descendant of the first white child, 
Goodman Massey, who was born at Salem, about 1635. Charles F. resided at Salem 
until fourteen years of age and was graduated from the old Hacker 
grammar-school. He came to California with his eldest brother, George, in 1856, 
by the old Nicaragua route. After his arrival in San Francisco he continued his 
education at Dr. Durand's private school at Oakland. In 1857 he began his trade 
of mechanical engineer, serving an apprenticeship of four years with Thomas Ogg 
Shaw, of San Francisco. In 1861 he took a portable engine and thresher and 
traveled through Yolo County, threshing wheat, which created great excitement, 
being the first steam thresher in that country. In 1862 he went to the Coso, 
Inyo County mining district, which was his first introduction into mining. He 
was there about two years, but much of the time was passed in fighting the Piute 
Indians, being the year of the Owens River Indian war, when 900 warriors were 
held at bay with a mere handful of men. He then went to Placerville, and then to 
San Francisco, where in 1865 he was appointed deputy sheriff and served until 
1868, and that being the year of the great Democratic victory all Republicans 
were turned out of office, Charles F. among the number.
        Mr. Monroe was married in June, 1868, in San Francisco, to Miss Sarah A. 
Clark, a native of Illinois. He then acted as business manager of the Golden 
Era, a very valuable weekly newspaper with an able corps of writers. The first 
mine was struck at Julian, February 22, 1870, and on account of the great 
excitement, Mr. Monroe immediately visited the mining district, prospecting a 
little, but more particularly in the capacity of mining engineer, and he 
assisted in erecting every quartz mill in Julian up to 1882. In 1878 be was 
elected Justice of the Peace at Julian, and was re-elected in 1880 and 1882. 
December 13, 1882, he was shot in the leg by a disgruntled milling engineer. The 
ball shattered his leg very badly and amputation was necessary close to the hip. 
After regaining his health a more quiet life was necessary, and he moved to San 
Diego in June, 1884, and began the study of law. In November, 1884, he was 
elected Justice of the Peace of San Diego, and before the term was expired the 
city became incorporated under fifth class, and be was elected first city 
recorder. He was re‑elected to both offices in 1886�'87, respectively, and in 
1888 the city changed charter from fifth to fourth class, on account of increase 
of population. In November, 1888, Mr. Monroe was elected first police judge, 
holding the office until May, 1889, when he was legislated out of office by the 
new charter. During the year 1888, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme 
Court, and since May has followed his profession. During his term of office not 
one of his decisions were ever reversed. He is now retiring from active practice 
in view of settling upon a fruit ranch near Poway, which he is improving. 
February 29, (?) 1889, Mr. Monroe was elected president of the San Diego 
Pioneers, and he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  309-310