Monrovia
Monrovia is located in the southwest corner of Section 12, Monroe Township, Morgan County, Indiana. State Road 39 enters the town north and south and State Road 42, as Main Street, is east and west. Their intersection is in Monrovia. The original name of Pleasant Grove was discarded since postal officials found another town in Indiana by that name. The town was platted on June 10th, 1834 with 45 lots. By 1853 at least 52 more had been added. In the early 1800's, this was a community of "Friends," also called "Quakers." The West Union Meetinghouse, organized in the 1820's, was built in 1832 and was the first church and the first school in the area.
Today there are approximately 600 citizens. The Monroe-Gregg School District and the Monroe-Gregg Volunteer Fire Department serve the area. Monrovia is incorporated and the Monrovia Police Department was established in 1998 with the first female Police Chief in the County. Local churches include the Monrovia Christian Church, Monrovia Methodist Church, Monrovia Nazarene Church and the West Union Meetinghouse.
The first settler in the area of Monrovia was probably John H. Bray in 1822. He sowed 2 acres of wheat in 1823 and around 1829 built the first mill in the county. Between 1822 and 1832 the population of the area increased and a town started to take form. June 10th, 1834, Gideon Johnson and George Hubbard recorded the plat for Pleasant Grove.
May 15, 1834 the post office was established under the name of Monrovia. David Lindley was the first postmaster. Patrons called for mail until 1905 when delivery started. Mail was delivered by mail wagon for five years, motorcycle for two years, a Stanley Steamer, and then automobiles. The first female mail carrier was Kattie Tucker in 1972.
Gideon Johnson and Ira Hadley were the first merchants in Monrovia. In 1837, possibly due to the 1837 stock market crash, Mr. Johnson sold his store along with several lots to Thomas Edwards, I.B.Edwards and C.G. Hussey. Mr. Johnson opened another store in 1839. Mr.Hadley took a partner in 1838 but was unable to stay in business. Other early merchants were Eli Vestal, Henry and Noah York Milton Lindley, Benjamin Young, Porter & Breedlove, Samuel Hadley, Joseph Fulghman, M.B. Shaw, Butler & Mendenhall, Mendenhall & Thompson, W.B. Thompson, Collins, Philips & Johnson, R.P. Johnson & Company. Irvin Caveness had a shoe shop and was the first tavern (hotel) keeper. Samuel Wilhite and John Balentine were the blacksmiths until William and John Hornaday came to town in the 1830s. Saddles and harness were made by Mr. Halfhill and later Mr. Dunning. John Edwards was the town wagon maker. Ira Fowler owned a distillery south of Monrovia. Mr. Mershon was the coffin maker and undertaker. Joseph Pray started a tannery and sold it to William Wisner in 1836.
Monrovia incorporated for a brief time in the 1860s and even passed a few ordinances but the government was abandoned within a few years.
Sometime after 1880, Mr. Stotzell started a newspaper but it only lasted six months. By 1884 Monrovia boasted two dry goods stores, four grocery stores, three milliners (hat makers), and a hardware store. Henry Book was the barber, Albert Taylor ran the grist mill, the livery stable was owned by David Brewer, J.H. Hunt sold harness, Jerry Wellman was the undertaker and Henry Binkley sold wagons and carriages. John M. Davis started a tile factory which continued for many years.
The national bank was organized in 1902 under Nathan E. Hubbard and continued for 30 years. Citizens Bank came to Monrovia in 1950 and continues to serve the community. The Monrovia Mutual Telephone Company was organized in 1904 and became the Monrovia Telephone Company in 1925 under Jess Turley.
Most of the buildings in town were frame structures at the turn of the century. In 1916 the south side of Main Street burned, destroying several businesses which were later rebuilt. The photograph on the right was taken the year before the fire.
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