The Howell County Gazette

Thursday, May 8, 1913

Colonel Wm. Monks Dead

Aged Union Veteran Answers the Last Roll Call

He Took a Leading Part in Southern Missouri Warfare and Held Many Public Offices

Colonel William Monks, soldier, lawyer and statesman is dead. He passed away at 3:45 o’clock Thursday morning, May 1^st, at his home in the western part of the city. For months he had been growing weaker, and his relatives kept constant watch at his bedside, expecting that the end might come at any time. When the summons came Colonel Monks passed peacefully away.

William Monks was born February 5, 1830, near Huntsville, Alabama. He came from a family of soldiers, he grandfather, who came from Ireland to America, having fought in the Revolutionary War and aided in bringing freedom to the colonies. James Monks, father of William Monks, was a noted Indian fighter, and took part in the Seminole war in Florida. When a young man William Monks saw the Cherokee Indians moving from their old homes in Alabama to the reservation allotted to them by the government in the Indian Territory.

In 1844 William Monks came with his parents to Fulton county, Arkansas. They settled on Bennett’s Bayou twenty-five miles southwest of where West Plains is now located. The entire country was then a wilderness. Indians roamed through the country between Current and White rivers. Over on North Fork, near the mouth of Lick Creek, a big Indian village was located. A few years later the Indians left the country and went to the Indian Territory.

On April 10, 1853, William Monks was married to Miss Martha Rice and to them five children were born. Two of them are living, Mrs. H.D. Green and Mrs. V.P. Renfrow, both of this city. In 1859 Colonel Monks and family moved to Howell county and located on a farm on South Fork where they resided until the breaking out of the Civil War.

Colonel Monks was born in the South but he was a strong Union man. He declared his position early in the war and on account of his utterances was taken prisoner by General McBride’s command and held for several weeks. He made his escape near Springfield and afterwards joined Curtis brigade as a scout. He came to West Plains with a detachment of Union troops and was placed in command of a union force here.

Those were stormy days in this part of the country. In a volume of 300 pages entitled “A History of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas,” published in 1907, Colonel Monks told many incidents of his life as a soldier and the deeds that were committed by troops in this section. Taking an active part for the Union Colonel Monks was sent to Washington, D.C., with a delegation of Missourians to get permission from President Lincoln to organize several regiments of Union soldiers in this state.

When he returned to Missouri Colonel Monks assisted in recruiting and organizing troops. He was commissioned second lieutenant of a company and ordered into the field. A short time later, when Colonel Robt. Livingston, in command of the 1^st Nebraska and 11^th Missouri cavalry broke camp at Rolla, and started a march to Batesville, Ark., via West Plains, Mr. Monks was promoted to the rank of captain and made chief of scouts. Later he assisted in organizing the 16^th cavalry regiment and in 1864 was placed in command of a government port (post) at Licking, Texas county. When the war closed he was mustered out at Springfield.

Colonel Monks’ family lived at Rolla during most of the time of the war. In the fall of 1865 he moved them to West Plains. Twenty-five families came with him. The party went into camp at the spring now located in Spring Park. There was not a house in the town, every building having been burned by confederate troops. Colonel Monks procured some clapboards and built an addition to an old log barn that stood just south of the present West Plains House.

Colonel Monks was appointed sheriff of Howell county in 1865, W.Z. Buck was appointed circuit and county clerk. Soon after Governor Fletcher ordered an election and Colonel Monks was elected to the state legislature. He resigned as sheriff and W.D. Mustion was appointed to the vacancy. In the fall of 1866 he was re-elected t the legislature.

In the fall of 1867 Colonel Monks was ordered by the governor to organize a company and enforce the civil law in Oregon, Dent, Texas and Shannon counties. A secret order known as the Sons of Liberty was defying the civil war at that time. Colonel Monks marched from West Plains to Thomasville, which at that time was the largest town in this part of the state, and after remaining there for a time went into Shannon county to enforce the laws. In December, 1867, the governor ordered the troops withdrawn.

In 1868 Colonel Monks organized a company in Howell county and went into Northern Arkansas to assist in putting down the Ku-Klux uprising. He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the regiment. Governor Clayton of Arkansas afterwards said that Colonel Monks did more to put down the Ku-Klux than any other man. He went to Little Rock and was invited to address the Arkansas legislature. Then he returned to Jacksonport, rejoined his command and marched them back to West Plains. Here they disbanded.

Afterwards Colonel Monks practiced law here. He was twice elected prosecuting attorney and served two terms as postmaster. He held other positions of public trust and always took a prominent part in every public enterprise.

When old age and infirmities began telling upon Colonel Monks he quit the practice of law. He built a fine home in the western suburbs of the city and the old fashioned fire place chimney was painted red white and blue, showing his patriotism. He attended a great many reunions of Union soldiers in this section and always attracted much attention.

Last year Congressman J. J. Russell secured for Colonel Monks a liberal increase in his pension, but the old veteran did not live long to enjoy the aid the government owes to every one of the defenders of the flag.

Colonel Monks lived a fearless life and died bravely. His iron will remained to the last. He was a member of the Christian church and a charter member of John Rollins Post G.A.R. of this city.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the family home. Rev. J. L. Medsker, of Elmwood, Mo., an old friend and comrade of Colonel Monks, preached the funeral sermon, assisted by Elder J.S. George, pastor of the Christian church, and Elder I. N. Jett, the former pastor. The pall bearers were Will H. D. Green, Charles Renfrow, Frank Green, Russell Green and Dick Green, all grandsons of Colonel Monks and John Renfrow, a great nephew. The G.A.R. Post and Woman’s Relief Corps also took part in the services. Many sorrowing friends witnessed the internment in Oak Lawn cemetery.

In the death of Colonel Monks Southern Missouri loses one of the men who took an active part in reconstruction days. Those were troublesome times and brave and stern men were in demand. Colonel Monks had the confidence of the governors of two states, both of whom commended him for his services. In his history he gives these services in detail, and the last chapter of his eventful life was brought to a close a few days after the 60^th anniversary of his marriage.