A History of Father's
Tracing the Mayhugh and Monroe family line.
Being a father has been the biggest challenge of my life. The more I learn about being a father, the more I understand my father and grandfather. The more I understand my place in this world and how difficult it is to lead and hold others to account.
Fathers are important. They provide stability and structure. They enforce rules, offer grace, show forgiveness, and teach humility.
But that role is not easy for all, and many stumble, some don’t get back up. A strong family is a family of strong fathers who fulfill their responsibilities with love and grace. I view my role as a son to learn from my father’s successes and failures. I view my role as a father to share mine so my children can learn from me. It’s not easy to be that vulnerable, but the openness can give my children a head start in what can sometimes be an unforgiving world.
And so today, I’d like to share my fathers with you.
I am the son of Michael Douglas Mayhugh, born in 1963, a mechanic.
He taught me the value of hard work and community. My creativity comes from watching him build. Whether it was a machine, a shed, or a cabin, he has a way of making something from nothing. My favorite movie as a kid was Field of Dreams for two reasons: I love baseball, and it reminded me of my dad. “If you build it, he will come.” To me, he could build anything, and because of that, I felt safe and was free to pursue happiness.
Michael is the son of William Joseph Mayhugh Jr., born in 1942, a carpenter.
He taught me the value of family, instilled a love of history, and taught me how to tell a story. I remember hours in front of the TV watching Cronkite and black-and-white documentaries on WWII and Korea. We spent mornings before school sitting at his kitchen table, talking about give ‘em hell Harry or that bastard Nixon. He encouraged me to speak my mind and made me feel like I had a voice.
William Jr. was the son of William Joseph Mayhugh Sr., born in 1912, a farmer.
William Sr. was the son of Douglas Joseph Mayhugh, born in 1882, also a farmer.
Douglas was the son of George Mayhugh, born in 1845, a wheelwright. You can find George Mayhugh on the 1860 census.
George was the son of Matthew Mayhugh, born in 1815, who appears in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census records.
Matthew was the son of William H. Mayhugh, born in 1777, a farmer. He is listed on the 1850 census.
William H. was the son of Joseph A. Mayhugh, born in 1750, though I don’t have much information about him.
On my mother’s side:
Her father was Lee Thomas Monroe, born in 1931.
My papa was a no-nonsense guy, yet he could be silly. He worked for the electric company and managed a family farm. In the summer mornings, he would drive me and my brother to the country store, where we would help stock the shelves while he talked about the town with locals. In the evening, I remember picking corn and snapping green beans. He served in Korea before he met my grandmother, but never talked about it, saying only, “He peeled potatoes.” He taught me to think practically about my decisions.
Lee Monroe was the son of Wallace Metz Monroe, born in 1890.
Wallace Monroe was the son of James Wallace Monroe, born in 1858, a farmer. He appears in the 1860 and 1900 censuses.
James Monroe was the son of William Wallace Monroe, born in 1816, and was also a farmer. You can find him on the 1850 census.
William Monroe was the son of Thomas Monroe, born in 1788, listed in the 1850 census, and the Prince William County Clerk Papers of 1835.
Thomas Monroe was the son of John Monroe, born in 1752. You can find him in the 1786 marriage records to Mary Green.
John Monroe was the son of George Monroe, born in 1728.
George Monroe was the son of William Monroe, born in 1690.
William Monroe was the son of William Monroe, born in 1666.
Now here’s something interesting.
William Monroe (b.1690) had a brother, Andrew Monroe, born in 1692.
Andrew’s son was Spence Monroe, born in 1727.
Spence’s son was President James Monroe, born in 1758.
You can find them in the genealogies of Virginia families (from William and Mary). That means President James Monroe and I share a father: William Monroe (b. 1666). One of his sons led to my grandfather Lee Thomas Monroe, the other to the 5th President.
These men made me what I am today. Without them, I would not be here. I enjoyed researching my family—talking to relatives, uncovering different stories, and visiting local gravesites—a big thank you to my Uncle Bruce for guiding me in Monroe history and getting me started.
It’s been fascinating to trace the Mayhughs and Monroes to the founding era, using the census—a tool so central to our system of representation. The whole point of the census was to understand that in a self-governing republic, the people are power. The census was the mechanism to count and distribute that power—to apportion representation in Congress accordingly.
And now, 250 years after declaring independence and choosing to be a free, self-governing people, the census continues. We continue to count the people. But since 1929, we’ve stopped sharing that power. We stopped sharing that power with the fathers of mechanics and farmers.
While the world may look scary today, with hyper-polarization and rising political violence, we should take this opportunity to learn from our past fathers and understand their successes and failures. Our founding fathers left us with a road map and an instruction manual: the Constitution and the Federalist Papers.
In Federalist No. 10, Madison proposed guarding against the vice of faction, not by destroying liberty that allowed it to form, but by limiting its effects. He proposed a system of plentiful representation so no one faction could grow so large as to dominate the rest. Yet the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 threatens that protection.
In moments when life has beaten you up or left you astray. It’s sometimes worth looking back. Not to judge but to learn. A father can relate to you. Help center you. Help you focus on what can be done. Help you forgive what has been done. A father will help you plan so you can build something of your own that lasts.
So, on this Father’s Day, please unite with me for representation. Go to www.why435.org and sign the declaration.
Because I believe… that’s what our fathers want us to do.
Peace & Love,
Jeff Mayhugh