MONROE, Nancy Elizabeth

Prescott Evening Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, August 30, 1956, page 1, column 2 Mrs. Monroe, Pioneer of Yavapai, Dies Yavapai County lost one of its picturesque pioneers today when Nancy Elizabeth Rosenberger Monroe died this morning in a local hospital, after having lived in the county for 75 years. Mrs. Monroe was born in Nebraska, Nov. 24, 1870, and came across the plains in a covered wagon to reach the Verde Valley, where she had lived at Camp Verde. The trip across the wastelands made by the Rosenberger family was filled with horror of Indian attacks, loss of and depletion of supplies and food, actual capture at least twice by the Indians and all the hardships of the trip. Water was the constant need and many times the group was without it for days at a time. Mrs. Monroe was a member of the book committee which gathered a group of pioneer stories and had them published in 1933. The story of her life is told in two stories, contained in the book, which she wrote herself. She told of staying behind when her father and brother went for supplies and how the Indians drove them from their home, which was the second one they had to leave because of the natives. The first was burned with all supplies in it near the San Juan river. Onward toward Arizona the wheels rolled. Finally, the 11 year old girl had to drive the wagon down one of the steep inclines because of an injury to her father. Carefully, trying to obey his instructions, she started on foot beside the wagon with the back wheels braked hard. Down, down, until suddenly a cry from the cliff overhead warned her and she looked back to see the wheels of the wagon descending upon her. She jumped and was not injured by the wagon, but all their pots, pans, tubs and other household items spilled from the top to the bottom of the ravine. Then she had to choose and cut wood for a new wagon tongue. Twice she made the trip to the top with saplings and finally one would do. At last the wagon rolled, however, 'one end of the tongue pointed south while the wagon went west,' she wrote. Horror was still not over. She was sent once in the dark of the night to gather the cows while the family made ready to go to the fort because of an Indian raid. Time and time again the scares came and time and again this woman helped her family. Life in the Verde Valley was in itself a hard one with no conveniences and hard work, but she became the matriarch of a family of 40. Two sons, Elmer and Ralph Monroe, survive her. Elmer lives in Modesto, Calif., and Ralph lives at Camp Verde. Ten grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren are in her dynasty. The body will lie in state Monday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ruffner funeral chapel for friends to call. Tuesday morning she will be taken to the Camp Verde church for funeral services with the Rev. Sapp in charge. Burial will be in the family plot of the Citizens cemetery in Prescott with her husband, E. W. Monroe, who died in 1937.