Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 690.
Includes portrait

WILLIAM MUNROE

William Munroe, whose death was deeply deplored by all who knew him, was one of
the best farmers in the Hood River valley, having been thoroughly progressive in
his methods, while in private life he was a high-minded, loyal and
public-spirited citizen, the kind of a man that contributes to the prosperity
and stability of a community. Born in Illinois on the 15th of August, 1867, he
was a son of Arthur and Elizabeth Munroe, both of whom were natives of Glasgow,
Scotland. The father was a coal miner by occupation and came to the United
States in young manhood. For several years he was employed in coal mines in
Illinois, and then went to the vicinity of Waterloo, North Dakota, where he
bought a tract of land, on which he carried on agricultural operations for many
years. He then went to Kansas, where his death occurred. To him and his wife
were born ten children, of whom William was the oldest.

William Munroe received his educational training in the public schools of his
native state and then went to work in the coal mines there. Subsequently he went
to Leadville, South Dakota, where he found work in the Phoebe Hearst gold mine,
in which he was employed for eight years. In 1906 he came to the Hood River
valley and bought a fifteen-acre fruit ranch, located one and a half miles south
of Hood River, and there established his permanent home. On the place was a fine
young orchard and during his early years here he was in partnership with Oscar
Reitz, whom he afterwards bought out. Later Mr. Munroe took out the apple trees
and planted half of the land to pears, which he developed into one of the best
and most productive orchards in the valley. He was painstaking and thorough in
everything he did, was energetic and industrious, and took a justifiable pride
in the development of the ranch into an attractive and comfortable home.

On May 3, 1906, Mr. Munroe was united in marriage to Miss Christina Stanger, who
was born near the Black Forest in Wittenburg, Germany, a daughter of Wilhelm and
Katherine (Kibler) Stanger, both of whom were natives and lifelong residents of
Germany. Her father was a farmer by occupation and became a soldier in the
German army in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, in which he was killed. To Mr.
and Mrs. Stanger were born two children, Gottlieb, deceased, and Mrs. Christina
Munroe. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Stanger became the wife of Gottlieb
Graze and they became the parents of four children, Mrs. Werner, Mrs. Sophia
Einicke, Mrs. Josephine Stamm and Wilhelmina, deceased. Christina Stanger came
to the United States with friends in 1881, and at Ottawa, Kansas, completed the
education which she had begun in her native land. She became a school teacher
and taught in the Indian schools in Oklahoma for several years prior to her
marriage to Mr. Munroe. She is a member of the Pythian Sisters. Mr. Munroe was a
member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grange, while his religious connection
was with the Riverside Congregational community church, to which Mrs. Munroe
also belongs. Mrs. Munroe has been active in Grange work and is now a lecturer,
and she has been actively interested in the civic affairs of her community, in
which she has been an effective factor. A few years prior to Mr. Munroe's death
he and his wife took a trip to Europe, which proved a very enjoyable vacation.
Mr. Munroe was a man of kindly and generous impulses, gave earnest support to
every movement for the betterment of the community, and was consistent in his
advocacy of those things which are uplifting in life. Because of his sterling
character and his cordial and friendly manner, he commanded the respect of all
who knew him and had a large circle of warm and loyal friends.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.