The Howell County Gazette

Thursday, February 13, 1913

Col. Monks 83 Years Old

Aged Veteran Celebrates Birthday Anniversary

An Interesting Character Who Helped Make a War History in Southern Missouri

An enjoyable event that took place in West Plains on Wednesday of last week was the dinner celebrating the eighty-third birthday of Colonel Wm. Monks, given at his home on West Main street. Monks' family, including his wife and two daughters, their husbands, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were present.

Colonel Monks is one of the interesting characters of this country. He was born February 5, 1830, near Huntsville, Alabama. His grandfather came to America from Ireland and fought in the Revolutionary war. James Monks, father of William Monks, fought in the Seminole Indian war in Florida. When a young man Wm. Monks saw the Cherokee Indians moving from Alabama to their reservation in the Indian Territory. Wm. Monks came to Fulton county Arkansas, with his parents, in 1844. They settled on Bennett’s Bayou, 25 miles south of where West Plains in now located. When a boy Wm. Monks was employed to carry the mails from Salem, Fulton county Arkansas, to Rockbridge, Ozark county, Missouri. At that time there were millions of deer, turkey, bear, wolves and other wild game in the country. On April 10, 1853, Wm. Monks married Miss Martha Rice.

When the Civil war broke out Wm. Monks, became know as a Union man. He went to Springfield and joined the Federal forces. He afterwards was a member of a delegation from Missouri which went to Washington, D.C., to see president Lincoln in regard to Missouri affairs. He was commissioned captain of Company K, 16^th Missouri cavalry and fought in a number of battles. In July 1865, he was ordered to declare civil law in force in Texas, Dent, Shannon, Oregon, Howell, Ozark and Douglas counties.

Wm. Monks was appointed sheriff of Howell county after the close of the war. He was elected to the state legislature and re-elected in 1866. In 1867 he was ordered by Governor Fletcher to organize a detachment and put down an uprising in adjoining counties. The regiment was organized with Wm. Monks as colonel in command. The troops marched through several counties of South Missouri and North Arkansas and finally returned to West Plains after putting an end to the uprising.

Colonel Monks is a prominent citizen of West Plains. He and his estimable wife are spending their declining years in peace and contentment, happy in the thought that this is now a united country – no North, no South. Next April, God willing, Colonel and Mrs. Monks will celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary.