The River Raisin & Lake Erie Rail Road was an early Michigan railroad that played a crucial role in transportation and commerce in Monroe, Michigan. Originally founded in the 1830s, it operated with horse-drawn cars before transitioning to steam locomotives. By the 1860s, the railroad had been absorbed into the Michigan Southern Railroad, which extended its reach toward Chicago.

The railroad was significant in connecting Monroe to other trade hubs, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers. Historical markers in Monroe commemorate its impact, including its role in early railroad expansion and economic development.

Samuel Fothergill Troth (1801–1886) was a prominent Quaker pharmacist in Philadelphia, running a drugstore with his brother, Henry Troth. The family’s business interests extended beyond pharmaceuticals, and they were involved in wholesale commerce, which included food products like ham.