Elias Riggs Monfort

Elias Riggs Monfort (March 2, 1842 – July 29, 1920) was a Union Civil War officer, attorney, the postmaster for Cincinnati, Ohio, and Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1915 to 1916.

He was born on March 2, 1842 at Greensburg, Indiana to Joseph Glass Monfort, D.D., LL.D. and Hannah Conger Riggs. Hannah was the sister of Elias Riggs. When he was 13 years old, in 1855, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Civil War

Elias enlisted June 18, 1861 as a Private in Company A, 6th Ohio Infantry. On October 5, 1861, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and transferred to Company F, 75th Ohio Infantry. He was then commissioned First Lieutenant of this company on May 15, 1862 and Captain of the same on January 12, 1863. He participated in 20 engagements, among which were the following: Phillipi, Laurel Hill, Carrick's Ford, Monterey, Shaw's Ridge, McDowell, Franklin, Strausburg, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Freeman's Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Sulfur Springs, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. In the last battle, he was dangerously wounded, July 2, 1863, which made it necessary for him to submit to repeated surgical operations, the last occurring in June 1911.

He was discharged, holding the rank of captain, on account of his wounds in 1864. Mr Monfort meticulously saved letters written to him in the field of battle and his family saved his letters as well. In 2013 the Monfort Family transferred these letters to Hanover College for the purpose of study and preservation. Digitized originals and transcriptions of these letters can be seen at Hanover's website.

Discharge

On December 24th 1863 discharge papers recounted the wound received at Gettysburg on July 2nd 1863. The last piece of metal was removed from Mr Monfort's thigh on June 12, 1912--some 49 years later.

Cincinnati Ohio
December 24th 1863

The Board examined E R Monfort Capt of "F" company 75th O.V.I. Enlisted June 21st and commissioned Oct 8th 1861. Age 21 years. Has served in Western Virginia Mountain Dept and armies of Virginia and the Potomac. Was at Battles of Carricks Ford, McDowell, Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, 2nd Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. At the latter, enfield bullet entered outer face of left thigh about 2 inches below trochanter major passed downward and forward in front of bone, which is probably grazed and was excised in several fragments from inner face from two to four inches below groin. Says that hemorrhage followed, wound was nearly fatal. A Piece of saber about three inches long was excised 17 weeks after receiving wound; from about middle of thigh, and several smaller pieces of steel a few days later. A number of splinters of wood and pieces of clothing and paper have been discharged or extracted. Has leave of absence of 20 days from August 30th 1863. States that Surgeons certificates have been forwarded as required. Now. Wound of entrance still open with moderate discharge and scars of numerous incisions on face of inner thigh. Uses crutch, but can walk a little without it, Since extraction of long piece of sabre on Oct 31st 1863. has been constantly improving. Within a few days has ridden on horse-back without inconvenience. No pain for last four weeks. General health good, Looks thin but healthy. The Board respectfully recommends that this officer be honorably discharged.

J. F. Head, Surgeon US Army
R Jones, Major and Asst Inspr Genl USA
A J Slemmer, Brig Genl US Vols

On the 5th of July 1863 Issac Watts Monfort, acting as Military Agent of the State of Indiana found his nephew Elias Riggs Monfort at the Lightner Farmhouse. His recollection from July 24th 1884 was additional evidence as part of a Pension Case:

...on or about the 5th of July 1863, I found said E R Monfort at a temporary hospital about six miles from Gettysburg on the Baltimore Turnpike and that he was suffering from a gunshot wound in the left thigh. He was in an insensible condition. Attention was called to his case by myself and at my request several consultations were held by the surgeon in all instance upon the wounded there as to the prospects of recovery. The wound was believed to be a fatal one with a bare possibility that with the best skill and nursing the limb might be saved and that there was also but a bare possibility of recovery if the limb was amputated at or so near the thigh joint. At my earnest solicitation it was concluded to accept the equal chance for recovery and not amputate...

By July 9th, Issac felt comfortable enough to send a telegram to his brother Joseph Glass Monfort to come to Gettysburg to see his wounded son.

Post Civil War

After the war, he continued his studies at Hanover College, going about on crutches, and graduated in 1865. Having decided upon a legal career, he then entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1867 and was admitted to the bar.

Mr. Monfort was married September 6, 1867, to Emma A. Taylor, who died October 24, 1914. They had three children, Joseph Taylor Monfort, Hannah Louise Monfort Burtis, and Marguerite Moorhead Monfort Simrall.

He began practice at Greensburg, Indiana and Cincinnati Ohio. He continued for eight years until failing health forced him to retire from the legal profession. He became prosecuting attorney of the Fourth Judicial Circuit District of Indiana (two years) later, a district attorney of the Twenty-Second District of Indiana (two years). Returning to Cincinnati to make his home, he later entered the service of The Herald and Presbyter, of which he rose to the position of editor in 1875 and continued as such for 20 years.

In 1896, Mr. Monfort was elected clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County, Ohio and served one term. He was selected in 1899 by President McKinley to fill the responsible position of postmaster of the city of Cincinnati. He held this position for 16 years, resigning January 1, 1915. He was a life member of the National Association of the Postmasters of the First Class and of the Ohio State Historical Society.

Mr. Monfort became half owner of The Herald and Presbyter and was president of the Mamolyth Paint Company until 1914. At one time, he was a director and trustee of 14 different organizations. He was a loyal supporter of the Republican party and, fraternally, he was a thirty-second degree Mason, and a Knight Templar.

Grand Army of the Republic

Mr. Monfort was Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Jones Post #401 in 1890, Commander of the GAR Department of Ohio in 1900, Commander of the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1906. In 1915, he was elected Commander-in-Chief of the GAR at the National Encampment at Washington, DC. He had refused the position three times on account of obligation to public service. Mr. Monfort attended nearly all of the Ohio State encampments and was 28 times a representative at the National Encampment.

He died on July 29, 1920 at Oaks Corners, New York. He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.