Argalus L. & Allie Monroe

This photo came to us from a collection once owned by Shirley Asselin of Racine, WI. On its reverse side, someone wrote, "Mr. & Mrs. Monroe, Photographers in Thorp, Withee Twp., WI.  We are seeking additional information concerning these obviously talented photography artists.

Researchers' Notes

I found my great grandfather's half siblings and their mother living with Clark Monroe in Levis, 1880 Census. The family is listed as : Clark Monroe, age 63, head, Malise (Melissa), wife, age 38, Argalus, son, age 20, Allie, daughter-in-law, age 16, Nellie, daughter, age 11.

Perhaps a little background will help, Melissa was the third wife of Dennis Sharon and had three or four children with him, I found them in the 1870 Census living in Mower Co, MN. Their (?) son Aeoleon's (Ole) obituary says the family went back to Fond du Lac in 1874. I could not find the family after that although Ole's obituary mentions a brother Fred and a sister Mrs. Nellie Aucott/Aucutt. It's a long story of how I tracked this family but this weekend I hit the jackpot. First finding them in a census and then finding the obituary of Clark Monroe and today finding the obituary for Melissa Monroe and then finally the picture of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Monroe.

I found Argalus L. Monroe in the Duluth, MN Directories 1890/92. He was a boarder at 310 Hammond Ave. He was a photographer for W. D. Baldwin. Then it says Superior, MN but I wonder if it means Superior, WI.

Later Argalus is found in the 1920 Census in OR, Lane Co, Lane, he is now married to 'Clara' and is living with two step children, he is a photographer. He is also in the 1910 census living with Clara and her children, Lane, OR.

Interestingly, I found an Allie I. Monroe 14 Jan 1910 to 14 Nov 1994, Gays Mills, Crawford, WI. I don't know what to make of this. But I like to 'dig,' so I will probably find out.

I found info about Mrs. Melissa Monroe on the 1895 WI State Census. The info was A. L. Monroe, Wm. Auvutt (Aucutt) and Mrs. M. Monroe. At first I thought the A. L. was Argulus but after thinking about it, I am thinking that it is probably her daughter Allie, as Argulus is in Duluth five yrs earlier. I could POSSIBLY be wrong though.

Argalus is in the OR death index having died 26 July 1933.