Ulysses Grant Monnet b.1865

MONNET

Posted By: Volunteer: Stacey Swierk
Date: 9/13/2008 at 23:11:32

Date & Newspaper Unknown

ULYSSES GRANT MONNET

Ulysses Grant Monnett was born in Keosauqua May 20, 1865. He was one of a family of nine children, his father being John Monnet and his mother Eleanore. He obtained his education in the Keosauqua public school which he finished at the age of 16.

The first employment was in the general store of Edwin Manning at Douds station. In the spring of 1885 he went to Chicago and obtained his first position there as clerk in Marshall Field & Co.’s establishment, afterwards going to the Atwoods Gentlemen’s Furnishings and Clothing store for a time and from there to Swift & Co. in 1888. There he remained until 1892 when he connected himself with the firm of Nelson Morris and Co., where he served continuously for 22 years, working himself up to the position of general eastern manager of their immense export business with headquarters in Boston and New York and superintending shipments of live stock all along the eastern coast from St. Johns and New Brunswick to Newport News, Va. At 49 years of age he retired from business, his health not being of the best at that time, but at the outbreak of the war he was called to New York by Mayer, Carpenter & Co., who were shipping horses to France for use in the war. His previous experience particularly fitted him to take charge of this work. At the close of the war he returned to Chicago and retired permanently from business.

Ulysses Monnet was a gentleman of the old school – modest, dignified, and unassuming. He was upright and conservative, giving and demanding in return a square deal. He was reserved and adverse to conspicious display, always choosing his friends among those above the ordinary in character and intelligence. A constant stream of friends, calling to relieve the tedium of his days of illness, testified to the high esteem and warm love in which he was held by those nearest to him. It has been a wonderfully sweet experience to his relatives to see daily the faithful, loyal friendship and cheerful help of his boyhood and life long friend, Hugh B. Craig, which prevailed throughout his illness.

Mr. Monnet was a member of the Elks Lodge in New York, a member of the Hawkeye Club in New York and Chicago, and in recent years he affiliated with the Prairie Club, deriving much enjoyment from the hikes, nature study and wholesome outdoor recreation of the club. He attended the National Geographic lectures and had a wide knowledge of the worthwhile affairs of the world. His tastes were for the finest in music and the serious in reading.

Jan. 16th of this year he was stricken with an attack of angina pectoris at his home, and complications rapidly developed.

All that a faithful nurse and a competent physician, who was at the same time a valued friend, could do for him for eight long months failed to restore his health and he passed away on Friday, August 27th at 8 a.m., at his home at 5000 Michigan Ave, Chicago age 61y, 3m, 7d.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, August 30, at the Keosauqua Congregational Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Paul B. Jackson. Interment at Purdom Cemetery.

[Photocopy of this obit is located on page 241 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA]