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Clan Munro USA
Genealogy Pages
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 1851 - 1910 (58 years)
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| Name |
Lyman Sylvester Monroe |
| Born |
28 Mar 1851 |
Lawrence, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
7 Feb 1910 |
South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA |
| Person ID |
I660 |
Munro |
| Last Modified |
17 Dec 2002 |
| Father |
Jay Randolph Monroe, b. 11 Apr 1806, Surry, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, USA , d. 30 Oct 1876, South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA (Age 70 years) |
| Mother |
Fanny Rawson, b. 28 May 1815, Erving, Massachusetts , d. 31 Oct 1907, South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA (Age 92 years) |
| Married |
10 Sep 1836 |
| Family ID |
F300 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Carrie Jane Curtis, b. 31 Oct 1855, Niles, Berrien Co., Michigan, USA , d. Mar 1919, Deland, Florida, USA (Age 63 years) |
| Married |
10 May 1876 |
| Children |
| | 1. Mabel C. Munroe, b. 15 Mar 1878, South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA , d. 19 Sep 1894 (Age 16 years) |
| + | 2. Mary Louise Munroe, b. 6 Aug 1881, South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA , d. 4 Jul 1967, Orange, New Jersey, USA (Age 85 years) |
| + | 3. Jay Randolph Monroe, III, b. 6 Jan 1883, South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, USA , d. 29 Apr 1937, Orange, New Jersey, USA (Age 54 years) |
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| Last Modified |
20 Jan 2009 |
| Family ID |
F299 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- Lyman was born on his parents' farm in Lawrence, Michigan. After graduation from high school in Decatur, Michigan, he studied at Parson's Business College in Kalamazoo in 1871. He was then employed by his uncle, L. T. Rawson, in his grain trading business in Decatur.
In Apr 1873, Lyman took a job as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of South Haven, which had been founded two years earlier by his oldest brother, Charles, and S. R. Boardmen. By 1875, Lyman was assistant cashier. In 1878 he succeeded his brother Charles as cashier when Charles stepped up to Vice President. Lyman held this position for 21 years. During this time, he was the de facto operating head of the bank. In 1889, the bank was reorganized as the First State Bank of South Haven.
Lyman and Carrie J. Curtiss married in 1876. Two years after their wedding, they moved into a beautiful large house which they had built on the north side of South Haven. This house in the Victorian style of its time was described as one of the finest and most beautiful houses in South Haven. Their three children were born there and their eldest daughter died there. For many years they lived a happy affluent life. Devout Baptists, there were known as pillars of the local Baptist Church where Lyman served for many years as treasurer.
In 1899, Lyman resigned as cashier of the bank to devote full time to his large real estate holdings. He had inherited a large amount of agricultural land from his father, and by shrewd and prudent investment, he added greatly to his holdings which included resort cottages, hotels, and town properties. His 60-acre peach orchard was partially within the village limits of South Haven. He maintained his connections with the bank by remaining on the board of directors.
In 1902, he organized a private unincorporated banking company, the South Haven Loan & Trust Company, which he operated with a partner, Eugene Allen Hartman. In 1906, he was elected president of the Bank of South Haven, when his brother was promoted from president to Chairman of the Board.
Lyman was a registered Republican, but he was not active in politics.
In 1907, a disastrous late spring frost destroyed the crops in southwestern Michigan, including the local peaches. Besides a total loss of his own peach crop and defaulted loans to his private banking company, Lyman Monroe, as a business leader in the community, co-signed many loans on the Bank of South Haven to fruitgrowers in the area. While these defaulted loans did not completely destroy Lyman financially, they took the bulk of his fortune.
After several years of failing health, he died in 1910. He was deeply mourned by the people of South haven who recognized his strong devotion to the community.
References:
(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 13-8/11-87 - p. 253-254
Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA
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