Person:Solomon Monroe (1)

Solomon Monroe was a farmer, born in Pennsylvania, who also lived in Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. He willed his Crawfordsville, Indiana farm to his grandson, Charles DeWitt (Sr.) when he died, about June of 1851. The location of the farm (80 acres) was in Montgomery County, S/2, NE/4 of Section 3, T19N, R5W. Charles DeWitt (Sr.) was to care for his grandparents until their death.

A copy of the court document which executed Solomon's will was located, probably by his great-great grandaughter, Mary Ellen DeWitt Baker, when she researched her genealogy around 1940. The document read as follows:

Be it remembered that on the fourteenth day of June, in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in vacation of the Probate Court of Montgomery County in the State capital of Indiana, the last will and testament of Solomon Monroe deceased, was produced before the clerk of said court and admitted by him to proof, which said will and the proofs and attestations were duly recorded by the clerk, and which are in these words and figures to-wit:

"I, Solomon Monroe of the County of Montgomery and the State of Indiana, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

First I direct that my body be decently interred, and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding to my estate and situation in life; and as to such worldly estate as it has pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of the same and in the following manner, to-wit:

I direct that my beloved wife, Mary Monroe, shall have full and uninterrupted use and enjoyment of all real estate and personal while she continues my widow as perfectly in every respect as I could do myself if living, if she shall be living at the time of decease. I also direct that at the decease of my said wife, in case she shall survive me, or at my decease, if she shall not survive me, all of my said real estate, it being the south half of the northeast quarter of section three township nineteen north of range five west, in Montgomery County, Indiana, shall vest in my grandson Charles DeWitt, his heirs and assigns forever. Provided he, the said Charles, will pay the following sums of money to-wit:

the sum of seventy-five dollars to Melinda Kennedy my daughter, late Melinda Monroe. Also the sum of seventy-five dollars to my daughter Nancy Knapp, late Nancy Monroe, and also the sum of fifty dollars to be equally divided between my grandchildren Milton DeWitt, Jane and Ira DeWitt, and provided also that the said Charles shall continue to live with me during my life and with my said wife if she survives me, during her life, upon the said land and take proper care of us. I also direct that at my decease in case I shall survive my wife, the said Mary, or at her decease in case she survives me, my executor proceed to make sale of my personal property and after paying off the expenses of administration pay over the proceeds as follows, to-wit:

one-third part to my sid grandchildren Milton, Jane and Ira DeWitt, one-third part thereof to my said daughter Melinda Kennedy and the remaining third part to my said daughter Nancy Knapp. I further direct that at my decease my said executor proceed to sell enough of my personal property to pay off and satisfy all my just debts and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the said debts before the distribution be made as aforesaid of my personal property. And I hereby make and ordain my worthy and esteemed friend Peter Gronendike executor of this, my last will and testament. In witness whereof I, Solomon Monroe, the testator have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of May, in the year of our lord 1845.

(Signed, Solomon Monroe; with seal)

signed, sealed, published and declared by above-named Solomon Monroe, as his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in the presence of said testator and in the presence of each other.

(Signed Hosea D. Humphrey, Ben T. Ristine, Preston McCormick)

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   pg. 8.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Ellen DeWitt Baker. Family Bible - Barbara (Beachum) Kanipe. (Presented as a gift on 5/25/1956).
3. ↑ Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   ppg. 8, 8A.
4. ↑ Charles and Chere Humphries. Monroe, Solomon, Tombstone reading. (2001-2003, Crawfordsville District Public Library online database)
   Also DAR "Cemeteries", vol. 3, pg. 176.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   pg. 8A.
6. ↑ Charles and Chere Humphries. Monroe, Solomon, Tombstone reading. (2001-2003, Crawfordsville District Public Library online database).
7. ↑ Sallie Lee DeWitt. Research by Sallie DeWitt. (1981)
   pg. 10.