Olive Spence Baker Monroe

"Lady of Faith"

Originally contributed to Polk County FLGenWeb on or by 3 Jul 2001, by Sandy Boyes.

The picture was taken around 1906 (the year my grandparents were married)
most probably in PolkCo where all three lived. The people in the picture are:
Sidney Allen and Mamie Ola BAKER DOUGLAS and Mamie's paternal grandmother
Olive SPENCE BAKER MONROE. Olive moved to Polk Co. in the 1870's from
Brooksville, FL. Mamie was born in Fort Meade in 1885. Sidney's family
moved to Polk Co. from South Carolina probably in the 1880's.

Born on a 495-acre farm on January 1, 1830, of Isaac and Tabitha Spence. She was married to Thaddeus Lafayette Baker on February 20, 1855, at Thomasville, Georgia. Two boys and one girl were born of the union; only one reached maturity. He was my grandfather Isaac Wesley Baker.

Her husband, "Fate" Baker, as he was called, had been away at war for 14 « months, but on his way home, died seven miles from his family on May 3, 1864. A gangrened leg and fever hastened his death. He is buried in a private plot near Brooksville.

She did not complain. A widow for over two years, she married a widower named Neil Monroe. A daughter was born of the union.

Mr. Monroe passed away in 1882; again she was a widow, but her mind and her hands were always busy.

She had a green thumb; she could grow anything: vegetable or flower. She was noted for her strawberries.

She tatted and sewed; carded her own wool; made socks and stockings.

A good cook, she was one of the first to make use of the coontie fern by making fried patties to be eaten with syrup. A healthy bunch of coontie is at the foot of her grave, planted there by her son.

On July 18, 1884, for the sum of $156.97 she bought from the U. S. government 120 acres in section 22, Ft. Meade, Florida.

She lived quietly and taught Sunday school, but she never married again.

Written by: Mildred Douglas Finkbeiner
Transcribed by: Sandra Caillouet Boyes