YOSEMITE STAGE DRIVER
The Life and Times of George Monroe and His Family
By Tom Bopp
“Just as there are the greatest of soldiers and sailors, artists and mechanics at times
so there are greater stage drivers than their fellows and George Monroe was the greatest of all.”
– A.H. Washburn, Supt., Yosemite Stage & Turnpike Company
The Life and Times of George Monroe and His Family
By Tom Bopp
“Just as there are the greatest of soldiers and sailors, artists and mechanics at times
so there are greater stage drivers than their fellows and George Monroe was the greatest of all.”
– A.H. Washburn, Supt., Yosemite Stage & Turnpike Company
eBook & Hardcover only on Amazon
LIBRARIES & BOOKSTORES: buy wholesale with free IngramContent account through iPAGE
Participating bookstores in Yosemite:
Yosemite Village Store
Wawona General Store
Yosemite Conservancy Stores:
Wawona Visitor Center at Hill's Studio
Mariposa Grove Depot
One glorious week in Yosemite, stage driver George Frazier Monroe shared his bench with Ulysses S. Grant. The backstory, told here for the first time, reveals a family’s epic journey from the Antebellum South, through the California Gold Rush and on to Yosemite, ending in Southern California at the dawn of the automobile era. The story follows Monroe’s rise to the top of his profession, his mother’s heroic fight for her family, his father’s role in civil rights, and how they built a 480-acre ranch near Yosemite.
Weaving rare artifacts of Monroe’s life story with a rich trove of primary sources, this history paints the backdrop of George Monroe’s career and the beginnings of Yosemite tourism.
With new research on Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Monroe’s story gives a kaleidoscopic glimpse into the rich history of the American West.
Weaving rare artifacts of Monroe’s life story with a rich trove of primary sources, this history paints the backdrop of George Monroe’s career and the beginnings of Yosemite tourism.
With new research on Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Monroe’s story gives a kaleidoscopic glimpse into the rich history of the American West.
AUTHOR
Musician/Historian Tom Bopp has educated and entertained Yosemite’s guests since 1983. His decades of primary source research form the bedrock for illuminating Yosemite’s history.
CONTENTS
With links to excerpts
With links to excerpts
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
PREFACE
Chapter I
THE MILLENS—George Monroe’s mother; Pennsylvania to Georgia.
THE CORONER’S INQUEST—George Millen reveals the family history.
THE MONROES—An intriguing theory about Louis Monroe escaping enslavement to a British colony in Nova Scotia. Mary Millen and Louis Monroe wed.
LEAVING GEORGIA—George Monroe’s father, uncle, and later his mother, join the Gold Rush to California, while George attends school in Washington, D.C., after which they reunite with Louis and Mary in California.
Chapter II
MARIPOSA—The Monroes settle in Mariposa, California. Yosemite draws increasing tourism.
EMANCIPATION—Slavery in post-war California. Reconstruction brings new opportunities to the Monroes. Louis Monroe becomes a pillar of the local Black community, and George shows an affinity for horses.
Chapter III
SETTING THE STAGE—Galen Clark, Henry Washburn, and the travel industry.
Chapter IV
THE ROAD TO YOSEMITE—Monroe Ranch. Washburn builds a transportation empire. George Monroe gains stature as a stage-driver.
INTRODUCTION
PREFACE
Chapter I
THE MILLENS—George Monroe’s mother; Pennsylvania to Georgia.
THE CORONER’S INQUEST—George Millen reveals the family history.
THE MONROES—An intriguing theory about Louis Monroe escaping enslavement to a British colony in Nova Scotia. Mary Millen and Louis Monroe wed.
LEAVING GEORGIA—George Monroe’s father, uncle, and later his mother, join the Gold Rush to California, while George attends school in Washington, D.C., after which they reunite with Louis and Mary in California.
Chapter II
MARIPOSA—The Monroes settle in Mariposa, California. Yosemite draws increasing tourism.
EMANCIPATION—Slavery in post-war California. Reconstruction brings new opportunities to the Monroes. Louis Monroe becomes a pillar of the local Black community, and George shows an affinity for horses.
Chapter III
SETTING THE STAGE—Galen Clark, Henry Washburn, and the travel industry.
Chapter IV
THE ROAD TO YOSEMITE—Monroe Ranch. Washburn builds a transportation empire. George Monroe gains stature as a stage-driver.
Chapter V
CELEBRITY—George Monroe’s famous passengers. Washburn grows his business while George’s parents perfect the Monroe Ranch.
FIRE—Fire at Big Tree Station.
Chapter VI
GRANT—Ulysses S. Grant and George Monroe—a detailed account.
Chapter VII
TRIUMPH—George Monroe’s fame as a stage-driver, his parents lauded by the press, and Washburn dominates Yosemite tourism.
Chapter VIII
ADVERSITY—Death of George Monroe. Louis and Mary list their ranch for sale. Mary wins a real-estate lawsuit. Louis dies from a carriage accident.
SAN DIEGO—Mary joins her brother in San Diego. The death of Mary Monroe. George Millen testifies at the Coroner’s inquest.
Epilogue
CHRONOLOGY
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AUTHOR PAGE
CELEBRITY—George Monroe’s famous passengers. Washburn grows his business while George’s parents perfect the Monroe Ranch.
FIRE—Fire at Big Tree Station.
Chapter VI
GRANT—Ulysses S. Grant and George Monroe—a detailed account.
Chapter VII
TRIUMPH—George Monroe’s fame as a stage-driver, his parents lauded by the press, and Washburn dominates Yosemite tourism.
Chapter VIII
ADVERSITY—Death of George Monroe. Louis and Mary list their ranch for sale. Mary wins a real-estate lawsuit. Louis dies from a carriage accident.
SAN DIEGO—Mary joins her brother in San Diego. The death of Mary Monroe. George Millen testifies at the Coroner’s inquest.
Epilogue
CHRONOLOGY
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
AUTHOR PAGE
ERRATA
Pg. 11: (Corrected in second printing) "Pleasant Point" corrected to "Point Pleasant" (thank you, Paul Beach!)
Pg. 51: (Corrected in third printing) Image upgraded, image source changed from (Chamberlain 1936) to Mariposa Museum and History Center (thank you, Joanna!)
Pg. 123: (Corrected in third printing) "...and informal reception" changed to "...an informal reception" (thank you, Rich Apple!)
Pg. 224: (Corrected in third printing) endnote #103 "Mariposa Gazette" corrected to "Mariposa Mail" (thank you, Susan Anderson!)
Pg. 51: (Corrected in third printing) Image upgraded, image source changed from (Chamberlain 1936) to Mariposa Museum and History Center (thank you, Joanna!)
Pg. 123: (Corrected in third printing) "...and informal reception" changed to "...an informal reception" (thank you, Rich Apple!)
Pg. 224: (Corrected in third printing) endnote #103 "Mariposa Gazette" corrected to "Mariposa Mail" (thank you, Susan Anderson!)