Abraham “Abram” Monnett (1811-1881)

Abraham “Abram” Monnett

Birth

12 Oct 1811

Hampshire County, West Virginia, USA

Death

19 Mar 1881 (aged 69)

Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, USA

Burial

Monnett Chapel Cemetery

Bucyrus Township, Crawford County, Ohio, USA Show Map

Memorial ID

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Son of Rev. Jeremiah Crabb Monnett and his wife Aley Slagle Monnett, Abraham Monnett was born near Cumberland, in Hampshire Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1811. He was named for his paternal grandfather, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. In 1835 Abraham married Catherine Braucher of Ross County Ohio. He was the father of twelve by his wife Catherine: Ephraim, Martha Ellen, Oliver, John Thomas, Elsie, Augustus, Mervin, Mary Jane, twins Madison Welsh and Melvin, Amina J. and Catherine LaVendee; all lived to maturity.

The couple set up housekeeping in Marion County Ohio on what is now Morral-Kirkpatrick Road east of Tobias Station and west of Kirkpatrick. Using his wife's dowry as a baseline investment, combined with his hard work and shrewd business skills, he amassed the greatest farm based fortune of its kind in North Central Ohio for that time. At one point, his land holdings totalled over 18,000 acres of farmland between Marion to the south and Bucyrus to the north. Monnett was also involved with numerous successful banking institutions.

Following the death of his wife Catherine, Abraham married Jane Johnston (nee Ludwig) of Crawford County. The couple removed to Bucyrus, buying Rose Ridge, and both residing at the manse until their respective deaths.

Abraham Monnett died at Rose Ridge in 1881 following surgery for a bladder calculi and is buried in Monnett Chapel Cemetery, south of Bucyrus, Ohio.

The Granite marker that he shares with his first wife was purchased by Monnett from a Mansfield concern in 1875 for the sum of $300.

This Abraham Monnett was given the "nickname" of "Abe of the Plains", however, it is undocumented if he ever used it himself. The title was given purely to differentiate him from the other cousins also named Abraham. It is more likely that he was called "Abram" in daily life - a name that appears on his second wife's lot marker which serves as his cenotaph.

Inscription

ABRAM MONNETT
Died March 19, 1881
Age 69Yrs. 5Mo. 1Day
He died as he lived,
A Christian
Whilst in this tomb
our father lies
His spirit rests above;
In realms of bliss it never dies
but knows a Savior's love.