In the business life of Denison, the name of William B. Munson is well known in connection with his real estate operations and has become a synonym for enterprise, capable management and straightforward dealing.

He was born January 16, 1845, in Fulton County, Illinois, and his early education was secured in the public schools of his native county.  He is descended from Scotch ancestry, the line being traced back to Captain Richard Manson, who was a sea captain, belonging to a titled Scotch family. He became a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, about 1661, and from him the line of descent is traced down through John Manson Sr., John Manson Jr., Richard Manson, Theodore Munson, Joseph Munson, and Theodore Munson Jr., to William B. Munson of this review. It was the great-grandfather of our subject who changed the spelling of the name to its present form. The grandparents were Theodore and Lydia (Philbrook) Munson, and the parents William and Maria (Linley) Munson, the latter a daughter of Joseph and Sarilla (Benjamin) Linley.

When twenty years of age, William B. Munson received his time from his father. He had previously mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools, and after being given his time, he followed farming and other occupations in order to pay his way through college. He was one of the first students in the Agricultural & Mechanical College, then a part of the University of Kentucky at Lexington, and was graduated with the first class in that institution in 1869.

By doing various kinds of work he was enabled to meet the expenses of his college course. He taught to some extent in the primary classes. He had for one year previously attended Abingdon College in Abingdon, Illinois, and in early life he learned the profession of civil engineering and was connected with the railroad construction in the surveying department in addition to teaching school.

Every step that he has made in his business career has been a forward one. He has sought for proper opportunities, has availed himself of the advantages that come to all, and through the best utilization of time and talents he has made steady advancement until his position today in business circles in Denison is a most commendable and creditable one.

He came from Illinois to Texas in the fall of 1871 and at Sherman, entering upon the study of law, he was soon afterward in 1872 admitted to the bar and began practice, but early turned his attention to the real estate business, becoming identified with the sale of property in the early days of Denison. He has been instrumental in securing for the city its various enterprises and has negotiated very important realty transfers that have been a factor in the city's growth.

In 1874 he returned to Sherman and formed a partnership with Jot Gunter, and during the ten years of their business connection conducted an extensive land business and dealt in lands to a greater extent than any other two men. They handled millions of acres, buying and selling, and they gradually became interested in the cattle business as well and were owners of large herds, Mr. Munson having a ranch at the upper end of the Red River comprising two hundred and fifty thousand acres. This was a splendid property, which he sold in 1885 for seven hundred thousand dollars. It was an ideal property for ranch purposes and the raising of cattle, having a canyon which gave excellent protection to the large herds in winter.

Mr. Munson has also been closely identified with many of the industries, enterprises, and institutions of Denison that have promoted its material, commercial, and financial growth. He was the purchaser of Mr. Scullin's interest in the First National Bank of Denison and at one time was the sole owner, but distributed his stock among his relatives and friends, however retaining possession of the controlling interest for two years, when he sold out to the National Bank of Denison, which institution succeeded the First National Bank and, in the former, Mr. Munson is still a director.

He is likewise the vice president of the Denison, Bonham and New Orleans Railroad Company and is largely interested in and president of the Denison Cotton Mills Company, successor' to the now defunct American Cotton Spinning Company, and which mills are now in successful operation.

He is president of the Denison Light & Power Company and one of its largest stockholders; vice president of the Southern Trust Company; and a director in the Denison Bank and Trust Company; and he organized the Red River Steel Bridge Company, which built the bridge across the Red river. He has been instrumental in opening up coal mines and organized the Southwest Coal and Improvement Company, which is now the Southwest Development Company, dealing largely in real estate.

Mr. Munson is indeed one of the influential citizens of Grayson County and belongs to that class of representative men who, while promoting individual success, also contribute in large and substantial measure to the general welfare.

Mr. Munson was married in September, 1876, to Miss Mary Ella Newton, a native of Alabama and a daughter of Jesse M. and Frances Lavinia (Allen) Newton. Her father, who was born in Alabama in 1824, was for many years a merchant and in the fall of 1869 came to Texas, settling at Sherman, where he followed farming. His death occurred in the year 1902. His widow was born in South Carolina in 1831 and they were the parents of four children, of whom three are living: Mrs. Munson, Charles J. and Jesse. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, five of whom yet survive: Linley Allen, born in Sherman, Texas, who married S. J. Tonkin, of Parsons, Kansas; Maud, who was born in Sherman, Texas; Theda, whose birth likewise occurred in that city; and William B. and Eloise, who were born in Denison. The third member of the family, Vida, died when two years old.

W. B. Munson House
(now John Munson residence)
1127 West Morton Street
Denison

Front door detail, 1127 West Morton Street
Photo by Brian Christopher Hander & Rachel Willis, May 2010

Mr. Munson is a Democrat in his political views but would never accept political honors or office. He is one of the active members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has a very wide and favorable acquaintance. A very busy man, with extensive and important personal interests, he is yet ever ready to pause in the midst of his business duties to assist in the welfare of his city or to aid those who are in need. He is wholly worthy of the respect which is everywhere tendered him, for his name is synonymous with honorable dealing and with all that is elevating and beneficial to the city and the individual.

Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), page 613. See at http://archive.org/stream/twentiethcenturyv1padd/twentiethcenturyv1padd_djvu.txt

[Source: Davis, Ellis Arthur, and Edwin H. Grobe, eds. The Encyclopedia of Texas (Dallas TX: Texas Development Bureau [1921–1922]). Digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth21069/ : accessed September 03, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries, Denton, Texas.]

W. B. Munson Dies Thursday
Pioneer Capitalist and City Founder was 84 Years of Age
(Special to The Sherman Democrat)

DENISON - W.B. Munson, 84, capitalist and one of the founders of the city of Denison, died at 5:15 o'clock Thursday afternoon at his home here, surrounded by members of his immediate family. Death was not unexpected as Mr. Munson had been critically ill for some days.
Funeral services have been announced for Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the family residence conducted by the Rev. C. C. Keller, rector of the Episcopal church. Pallbearers will be Julian C. Field, F. B. Hughes, J. W. Madden, Frans Kohfeldt, Harry Tone and W. C. Green, and Long Tuck and W. R. Brents of Sherman.

BORN ON FARM
Born Jan. 7, 1846, on a farm in Fulton County, Ill., Mr. Munson grew to young manhood in the exacting environment of pioneer rural life. His first schooling was received in the rural schools of Fulton county. Later he entered a college at Abington, Ill., for a term of one year.
With the opening of the Agricultural and Mechanical college at Lexington, Ky. (later reorganized as the University of Kentucky). Mr. Munson and his brother T. V. Munson, now deceased, entered the first freshman class and earned their way through school by working at odd jobs, among which was cutting cord wood during Christmas holidays.
After completing the four-year university course in three years, W. B. Munson received his Bachelor of Arts degree in June 1869 and was the first graduate of the school. For two years he enjoyed the distinction of being the only alumnus of the university.
In 1871, Mr. Munson came to Texas, first locating at Sherman where he immediately began the study of law. At the end of six months of study, he passed the state examination and was formally admitted to the bar.

HELPED LOCATE CITY
Shortly afterward, the M-K-T railway launched negotiations for a Texas terminal. With Sherman turning the Katy proposal down, Mr. Munson, accompanied by railroad agents, came to the present site of Denison and purchased land for the city in whose development he was destined to be a material factor. Having already opened a real estate and surveying agency at Sherman, Mr. Munson was in a position to assist in platting the city and otherwise nourishing the growth of a then small village.
In 1873 Mr. Munson formed a partnership with Jot Gunter of Sherman, the company being known as Gunter & Munson. The new firm engaged in real estate business and the surveying and locating of land for railroads and other companies. The firm became interested in the cattle business operating ranches in Hutchison and Randell counties, which composed ....acres and were stocked with 20,000 head of cattle. Then the partnership with Mr.....Mr. Munson returned to....to reside temporarily.
Disposing of his cattle interests and dissolving the partnership with Mr. Gunter, he returned to Denison to turn his attention again to real estate. In this step he formed a partnership with his brother, J. T. Munson, now deceased, in a firm known as Munson and Brother.
The firm of Munson and Brother was incorporated in 1915 as the Munson Realty company, still in operation, of which Mr. Munson has been president since its organization.
At one time he was president of the First National Bank of Denison. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Citizens State Bank which took over affairs of the defunct Denison Bank and Trust company and make good deposits of the latter institution. Operating under a national charter, this bank today is known as the Citizens National Bank of whose directory Mr. Munson has been a member since the bank was established. His son, W.B. Munson, Jr. is president of the institution.
Among railroad lines which Mr. Munson helped establish were the Denison and Washita Valley railway; Sherman, Shreveport and Southern railway, and the D.B. & N.C., all of which were later taken over by the Katy.
Hoping to make Denison the railroad center of North Texas, Mr. Munson secured charters for the building of the Frisco railway from the northeast, and Rock Island and Santa Fe from the northwest. Due to influences over which he had no control, these roads were never built. However, he obtained franchise for the Frisco from the north, which line was constructed.

MARRIED SHERMAN GIRL
In September 1876, Mr. Munson was married to Miss Mary Ella Newton of Sherman and following a honeymoon trip to the centennial in Philadelphia, the couple returned to Denison to make their home at the old homestead here. In 1926 Mr. and Mrs. Munson observed their golden wedding anniversary.
One of the outstanding adventures of Mr. Munson's colorful career was the organization of the Denison Cotton Mill company in 1905 after two previous attempts at the project had failed. He has served as president of this company since its establishment. Mr. Munson also organized the Southwestern Surety company which operated extensively here until merged with the Southern Surety company.

UTILITIES PROMOTER
Mr. Munson developed and was president of the Denison Light and Power company and the Eastern Light and Power company which properties were later sold to the Texas Power and Light company.
After his brother, J.T. Munson, deeded 130 acres adjoining the city limits on the north to Denison for a park, Mr. Munson gave an additional 30 acres to the city and personally defrayed the expense of constructing the present lake. The 50 acres included in Riverside park, northeast of Denison, also represents the gift of Mr. Munson to Denison.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mary Ella Munson; three daughters, Mrs. L. M. Tonkin, McAlester, Okla., Mrs. R. L. McKinney, Little Rock, Ark., and Miss Eloise Munson, Denison; one son, W. B. Munson, Jr., Denison, and twelve grandchildren.