----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 03/20/1924

Monk, Robert W. (28 Mar 1866 - 17 Mar 1924)

Dr. Robert W. Monk, Mayor of the City of Neillsville, Clark County, Wis., passed away at his home here, Monday morning, March 17, 1924. He had been in gradually failing health for more than a year from pernicious anemia. All that modern medical science could do for him was done, but the action of the disease was merely arrested for a brief time.

Robert W. Monk was born on a farm near Fond du Lac, March 28, 1866. His parents moved to Sheboygan Co. in 1868 and he received his education in the public schools of that county and at a Commercial college in Fond du Lac. For four years he was employed by the railway and express companies at Menasha and then engaged in the general merchandise business at St. Cloud, Wis. Selling his business, he entered the Northwestern University and graduated from the medical department in the class of 1894. He practiced one years with a physician under whom he had studied at St. Cloud, and then located at Chilton, where he remained nine years. While there he was mayor of Chilton and also served on the county board of supervisors. He disposed of his practice there and went to Chicago, where he took a year of post graduate study in medicine, and located in Neillsville in 1908, where he has since lived. In 1912 he was elected State Senator for this senatorial district and served with distinction in the Senate. He was progressive but careful and considerate in his support of measures that came before the legislature. He was a man of firm principles, stood for those things that he believed to be right and lived up to all that he advocated. He was an active man not only in his profession, but also in business, and did much for the city in building up and improving residence property and furnishing homes when much needed. As mayor he looked well to the city's interests and was faithful in securing the enforcement of law and ordinance.

Personally he was a most likable man, meeting people with a cheerful greeting and giving an air of optimism everywhere he went.

He was married at Greenbush, Wis., Oct. 10, 1889, to Miss Mina Hesler, who survives him. He leaves to sons, Robert Monk, an attorney of Wausau and Floyd Monk, who has completed his course in law, but this years is teaching in Janesville High School. Both were with him at the time of his death. He leaves two little grandsons, children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Monk. He is survived also by a brother, Everett Monk of Mitchell, S. D., and three sisters, Mrs. Walter Barrager of Sheldon, Iowa; Mrs. Verna Beaulieu of Baraboo and Mrs. Al Lawrence in Florida.

The funeral will be held at the M. E. Church this Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. L. B. Colman of Wonewoc, formerly pastor here, preaching the funeral sermon. The Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges and other fraternities of which deceased was a member, will attend.

By request of W. C. Thoma, acting mayor, all business places in the city close from 2 o'clock to 3:30 p.m. in honor of the deceased.