The Valley Sentinel Wednesday June 13, 2012 • 15
History
June 16, marks 100 years of Monroes in the Robson Valley! Sheilagh Foster Local Artist and Author
Generation 2 : a. George Clarence Monroe (1885 – 1974) and Ether Bevier (1882 – 1959) George’s first building in Mountainview was meant to provide shelter for himself, an adopted son, Harry Adams and friend Alex Farquarson for the winter of 1914. Ethel, not to be left out, surprised George my arriving, with their two children and Alex’s wife at the homestead on Christmas Eve. The 24 x 32 foot log structure was the home of five adults and three children for the winter. To complicate matters in the spring Alex’s wife gave birth to the first child born in Mountainview. George and Ethel were market gardeners, farmers, and preachers. They initiated the McBride Farmer’s Institute and the McBride Fall Fair. They “George Monroe” were Mountainview School trustees establishing the 1912 George Monroe with his team of Joker and Bob working with an advance crew of the Grand Trunk Pacific near Mile 90. school in it’s permanent location while promoting Mountainview as a place to settle and raise families. Submitted Photo They provided housing for settlers answering Ethel’s n 1912 George Clarence Monroe horse-hauled sup- promotions in The Free Press. The Gordon family plies to the advance crews of the Grand Trunk Pacific settled in Mountainview as a result of Ethel’s ads. Railroaders as they prepared track bed through the The de Haviland-4 that flew into the valley in 1922 Robson Valley. He travelled by horseback from Ed- fascinated George and his family. They longed to monton then carried supplies by pack train from the have a flying machine to see and explore the wonrailway camp at Mount Robson through to Mile 90, ders of mountains, valleys and lakes. The determinamed McBride in 1913. nation to fly was passed from George to his descenHe was in awe of the mountains, full of energy and dants. Keith Monroe became the first family pilot, enthusiasm and determined to settle in this “prom- followed by his brother Ian. Mike Monroe also took ised land.” Only bonafide homesteaders were allowed flying lessons. Joe Marsh has flown helicopters for to acquire land in the Robson Valley. George resolved thousands of hours. Phil Marsh flew Hercules for the to be one. From Pat Burn’s landing near McBride he Canadian Forces. Doug Monroe has recently purrafted down the river to stake claim to land near the chased an airplane and Shannon Monroe and pilot mouth of soon-named Monroe Creek on the Mounta- partner Cory Mercer fly helicopters commercially inview side of the Fraser. He was one of the first settlers from McBride. in the valley. Six generations of Monroes have lived here. George’s father David filed for claims adjacent b. Adrian Angus Monroe (1889 – 1950) and Lela to George’s. Adrian, George’s brother bought Ralph Alma Crumley (1894 – 1984) Veale and Bob Alderson’s homesteads, also adjoining George’s and moved with his family to Mountainview in 1920. Both Adrian and George were influential in developing the community of McBride and the settlement of Mountainview. Contributions of the Monroe family in the McBride area include almost any enterprise associated with the valley. Geographic features are named for them. They, with others, started the Farmer’s Institute. They were trappers, loggers, preachers, gardeners, teachers, soldiers, home makers, builders, mill owners, corporate managers, school and hospital “Monroe’s Mercantile, 1950s” board members, politicians, insurance dealers, real Both Adrian and Lela were entrepreneurs and effective business estate agents, business people, farmers, pilots, ranchpeople. After Adrian died suddenly in 1950 Lela carried on with ers, school superintendents, photographers, poets, Monroe’s Mercantile. In addition, she provided room and board to writers, painters and more. many of McBride’s more transient citizens. Submitted Photo Descendants of both George and Adrian remained in the Robson Valley for many years. Many of George’s George and Adrian early efforts to homestead and still remain. Eventually all of Adrian’s family have work in the budding forest industry were shared. moved elsewhere. Adrian’s family was growing when he and Lela arrived in Mountainview. Adrian was keen to escape Generation 1: some of the rigors of homestead life. In the 1930s David Taylor Monroe (1844 – 1933) and Sarah Eliza- he moved to McBride and became a leading busibeth Hayes (1858 – 1938) nessman. He built one of the largest mills in the David was a U.S. Civil War veteran. He and Sarah valley on property adjacent to what became Lamhad 5 children. By 1913 three of their children had ming Mills. His mill had loading facilities on the rail died. They followed their remaining sons George and line and accommodated all forestry products of that Adrian to Canada. Keen to support George’s new ven- time: telephone poles, fence posts, and lumber. ture in the Robson Valley, they loaned him the money Adrian owned the fastest racehorse in the valley, to register a homestead and helped purchase the set- a part thoroughbred called Netty. Fran Long won a tler effects he needed to get started in the new frontier. horserace from McBride to the cemetery down the They moved to Mountainview and filed for a home- old road. She still chuckles remembering how she stead beside George. David however was going blind and Netty defeated other horses particularly those so proving up on this homestead became George’s re- of her father-in-law Bert Long. sponsibility.
Generation 3: Sadie Grace Monroe Marsh Frye (1912 – 1998) Sadie was the second child of George and Ethel Monroe. She spent her younger years thriving in the wilderness surrounding their home. A logging accident involved the killing of a mother black bear. The cub was left unharmed and the children persuaded George and Ethel to keep her. They named her Alice. Sadie completed Grade 12 in Colorado where she met and married Henry Seay Marsh. They moved back to McBride, operated a dairy farm and raised two sons, Jack and David. Sadie taught school in Mountainview, Penny and other small towns in the valley. She was known as an avid gardener. Generation 4: Ian George Monroe (1952 – 1987)
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“Flying Tradition”
Above: Ian Monroe pilots nephews Leonard and Andrew Foster and son Doug. Submitted Photo
Ian was the fifth child of Everett Monroe and Dorothy Apsey. From an early age he loved his Monroe inheritance of hunting, fishing, flying and working with machines. He married Jocelyn Brandt and raised children Doug and Julie until his untimely death in a helicopter fire accident. He and Jocelyn were effective logging contractors. Ian got his fixed wing pilot’s license, floatplane and helicopter endorsements and became a third partner in CCI Aviation. CCI stood for Charlie Chitwood, Charlie Leake and Ian Monroe. Ian was instrumental in the formation and dedication of Kakwa Wilderness Park. After his death following the helicopter accident, a mountain in Kakwa Park was named for him. Generation 5: Barbara Dawn Monroe (1965 - ) Dawn Monroe Hickerty is the second child of Don Monroe and Edna Patrick. She has lived in McBride all her life, married Marty Hickerty and raised three children, Bryce, Paislee and Cohen. Dawn is a lab technician at McBride and District Hospital.
“Generation 6: Tanner Quinn Mercer”
Above: Tanner is the youngest Monroe descendant in the Robson Valley, son of Shannon Monroe and Cory Mercer. True to tradition he is learning a love for flying. Submitted Photo
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