Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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WILLIAM N. MONROE, 
 
the founder of Monrovia, is well worthy of mention in the annals of Los Angeles 
County. He was born in Scott County, Indiana, in 1841. His parents are Sanders 
A. and Catherine Monroe, for a more extended notice of whom see sketch of C. O. 
Monroe, in this volume. The early life of William N. was spent upon a farm,
after which he became a student in the Ashland University, Iowa. At the breaking 
out of the war of the Rebellion he left college and entered the ranks of the 
Union defenders, serving with gallantry and distinction until the close of the 
struggle, when he was mustered out of the service with the rank of Major. He 
then engaged in railroad construction, and obtained large contracts for the 
Union Pacific Railroad. In 1875 he came to California, and the following ten 
years was engaged by the Southern Pacific Company in railroad building in 
California, Arizona and New Mexico. In 1885 he came to Los Angeles County and 
purchased from E. J. Baldwin the tract upon which the city of Monrovia is 
located. In this he was associated with E. F. Spence, J. D. Bicknell and J. F. 
Crank. A large force of men were employed, and the planting of fruit trees and 
vines progressed rapidly. But in the spring of 1886 it was decided to locate a 
town upon the tract, which Mr. Spence christened Monrovia, in honor of Mr. 
Monroe, who was the prime mover in the enterprise. The remarkable growth of the 
town, the influx of solid citizens, the
opening of magnificent avenues, the erection of handsome residences, substantial 
business blocks, banks, churches, schools, the completion of a perfect and 
abundant water supply, and the establishment of the varied business enterprises, 
seemed almost magical; but all was well ordered and sprang from the energetic 
operations and trained business habits of Mr. Monroe. He was at the head of 
every enterprise that tended to advance the interests of the city of his choice. 
To him more than to any other man is Monrovia indebted for the San Gabriel 
Valley Rapid Transit Railway, that gives to her citizens a competing line with 
Los Angeles. His generosity seemed unbounded, and he was ever the friend of all 
honest and deserving men who were seeking to build up homes in the San Gabriel 
Valley. He was one of the original incorporators and a director of the Granite 
Bank of Monrovia. During the war Major Monroe was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary J. Hall. From this marriage there are the following named children: Milton 
S., who married Miss Mamie N. Thomas; George O., who married Miss Lizzie Miller; 
Myrtle M. and Mabel H.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 779
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler