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Obit. Presque Isle Co. Advance, Mar 3, 1949.
Dr. N. C. Monroe, Pioneer County Physician, Passed Away Saturday Morning
Dr. Neil Campbell Monroe, veteran Presque Isle County Physician, died at his home on West
Erie Street Saturday morning about 6:30. He had been ill for six weeks, suffering
from cerebral thrombosis complicated by a heart condition which brought an end to 50 years
of medical practice.
Born December 10, 1870 near St. Thomas, Ont., Canada, Dr. Monroe came to the States in the
early 80s with his parents who settled at Cass City. His medical education was obtained
at the Detroit College of Medicine and the Indiana Medical College. He was graduated
from the latter in 1898 and began his practice at Elkton in Huron County, where for a
three-month period he relieved his cousin, Dr. D. J. McColl, who was ill.
He then spent a year in Omer, following which he moved to
Millersburg in 1900. He came from a medical family and was one of
seven cousins all practicing in Michigan at the same time.
In 1905 the doctor married Bess Whiteley of Millersburg. He and Mrs. Monroe and their four
children came to Rogers City in 1917 and for 25 years he was physician for the Michigan
Limestone and Chemical Company, also engaging in private practice. He retired as plant
physician in 1942, continuing a limited practice until his illness.
Dr. Monroe served as the first president of Millersburg which had a population of
approximately 1,000 in the
early years of the century,and took an active part in its development.
Harness racing was among his enthusiasms and he
was one of a group which organized a driving association about 1910 and built a race track
at the fair grounds at Millersburg. He was a charter member of the Rogers City Kiwanis Club,
although he had not belonged for a number of years. He was also a member of
the Odd Fellow lodge.
Together with Dr. W. W. Arscott and the late Dr. S. H. Rutledge and Dr. B. G. Larke, Dr.
Monroe was honored by the Lions Club at a "Doctor's Day" celebration during the Rogers City
homecoming in July, 1946. In appreciation of their service during the horse and buggy days
and in the many years that followed the four physicians were presented with engraved
watches by the Lions.
Besides his wife the doctor leaves two daughters, Mr. Karl Vogelheim of Rogers City
and Beth at home; two sons, Donald of this city and Robert of Wyandotte;
a broher Dr. D. J. Monroe of Elkton and seven grandchildren, Malcolm and Donna Lou Monroe,
Karl, Neil and John Vogelheim of Rogers City and Carol Beth and Neil Tiffany Monroe
of Wyandotte.
Dr. Monroe's body lay in state at the Ruggles Funeral Home Sunday and Monday.
There were no services in Rogers City. Rites were held Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the chapel
of the Elkland township cemetery at Cass City.
Members of the family requested that no flowers be sent, feeling that a more fitting tribute
would be the establishment of a fund to be presented to the Rogers City hospital
board in the doctor's memory. Remembrances may be left at the Presque Isle
County Savings Bank at any time in the near future and donors
will be given a card which may be sent to the family.