Monroe Benbrook, of Dallas, Texas, was born in southern Illinois, and is a son of James M. and Martha Benbrook (Metcalf) Benbrook, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Illinois. The father served gallantly in the Federal army, and in 1869 he and family came to the Lone Star State. After a short residence here be returned to his former home, but in 1873 again returned to Texas and resided one year in Johnson county. From there he went to Tarrant county, settling on a farm near which the town of Benbrook was laid out, the latter being in his honor. The mother is deceased, but the father is still living. Monroe Benbrook finished his education in the Sam Houston Normal School, at Huntsville, Texas, from which institution he graduated, and then began teaching school, continuing this for three years, one year of which time he was in the Dallas High school. In 1885 he embarked in the school- furniture business and has been prosperous from the very first.
In 1891 he organized the Benbrook School Furnishing Company, of which be is president. He now has one of the largest establishments of its kind in the South and is probably one of the best known business men among the educational people in the State. Careful, conscientious and industrious, his present prosperous business is the natural result. Mr. Benbrook is a member of the First Baptist Church and in politics is independent, with Republican proclivities. He selected as his companion in life Miss Lily A. Draper, a native of Canada, who was educated at Sam Houston Normal School, and their nuptials were celebrated in September, 1886. The fruits of this union are two children, a son and daughter. Personally, Mr. Benbrook is held in the highest esteem, and is honored alike for his business qualifications and social standing.
John Henry Brown's History of Dallas County, 1892, pp. 482-483