133 - James E. Monroe - Jacksonville, FL - Headstones of Centenarians on Waymarking.com

"Birth: 1815
Death: Jun. 28, 1949
Dinsmore
Duval County
Florida, USA

James Edward Monroe was a man of many colorful stories. He claimed to be the son of the 5th President of the United States & to have been born on the 4th of July in 1815 in Ashland, VA. None of these claims can be substantiated & some have been disproved in modern times.

Mr. Monroe had many stories he loved to share with anyone who would listen. He styled himself a Major of the Confederate Army, THIS WAS SHOWN TO BE UNTRUE in the obituary printed in the local paper. He said that he "had been moving about the world, from war to war and had outlived everyone who had known him in his early life". His claims include service in the Mexican-American War, fighting with Gen. Lee in Virginia during the war between the states & fighting with the Turks against the Russians. He also said that he came out of working in the Kimberly Diamond mines to join the Boers in their fight against the British and that he saw action in the Franco-Prussian War.

Mr. Monroe came to Jacksonville penniless and with no papers proving any of his claims several years before his death. He was caught squatting on expensive riverfront property and was removed by local law enforcement at the property owners request. His last few years were spent in a rest home in Dinsmore and his grave (purchased through Riverside Memorial Park) was gifted to him in the Gravely Hill Cemetery (a cemetery within Riverside Memorial Park).

Mr. Monroes obituary was printed in the Florida Times Union on Wed. June 29th, 1949.

Thank you, George Thomas (#47179885) for the copy of the obituary.

Inscription:
UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERAN

Note: The Concordia Sentinel October 30th, 2008 The oldest Confederate veteran of the American Civil War James E. Monroe, Florida, 133 years, 11 months, 24 days at death on June 28, 1949."

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Location of Headstone: Cemetery

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