OHIO

Monroe is situated in southwest Ohio, in Butler County, with a small portion also within northwest Warren County. Originally Monroe was within the limits of Lemon Township, the largest in Ohio. Very little of Lemon Twp exists today with most areas having been annexed into Monroe proper.

 

Pioneer John Baker (1775-1852) is believed to be the first inhabitant of the area. His double log cabin with porch in between, sat on a hill overlooking what is now Lebanon St, near Main. In 1814 a soldier turned tavern owner (and early Butler County sheriff) by the name of Pierson Sayre of New Jersey bought this portion of Lemon Twp from Col. James Clark.  He later sold the land to John H. Piatt, Cincinnati banker & merchant and business partner Nathaniel Sackett Jr. of Fishkill, New York. (His father, Nathaniel Sr., was head of the Secret Service during the American Revolution (1775-1783)).

 

In September 1817, our small town was platted and named “Monroe”, after then US President, James Monroe. Mr. Sackett set about building his farm and clearing the land for downtown, which consisted of Main St (now Old St), 3 cross streets; Lebanon, Church & Elm; and 3 alleys. Nathaniel, also the local Methodist preacher, and his wife Elizabeth Terboss, had 2 children, a daughter Almira and a son William Augustus.

Nathaniel is buried in Mound Cemetery on S. Main St. The mound is former Adena Indian burial ground/signal hill.

Read an actual 1820 letter from Nathaniel Sackett’s daughter Almira to her cousin Dr. John H. Sackett in New York.

 

She describes life living in Monroe and southern Ohio.

1820 Map of United States & Territories

To read more about Monroe, we recommend:

Monroe Sesquicentennial: 1817-1967 by Ruth Cast

Firmly Founded - Proudly Growing by George Crout

Both are available for sale from the Historical Society

Nathaniel Sackett
Proprietor of the town of Monroe. Died June 5, 1864 Aged 85 yrs, 7 mos, 12 days