NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Augustus Munson
Morris Co. Up

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

There are turning points in every man’s life called opportunity. Taken advantage of they mean ultimate success. The career of Augustus MUNSON is a striking illustration of the latter statement. Diligent and ever alert for his chance of advancement, he has progressed steadily until he is recognized to-day as one of the foremost business men of Dover, New Jersey. Here he is held in high esteem by his fellow men, who honor him for his native ability and for his fair and straightforward career. Mr. MUNSON is vice-president of the Hygeia Ice Company of Dover; president of the McKinnon Company, of Morristown; vice-president of the Highland Lakes Reality Company, of Dover. He was born at Franklin Furnace, Sussex county, New Jersey, June 3, 1852, son of John and Sarah (LEWIS) MUNSON, both natives of Sussex county. In early days the father was a butcher, but later became a carpenter and builder of note in Sussex county, where both he and his wife died and are buried. They were the parents of the following children:

  • Adelaide,
  • Augustus,
  • Eugene,
  • John,
  • Sarah, wife of Jacob THOMPSON.

As a boy Augustus MUNSON attended the common schools of Sussex county, and at the age of nineteen years he began to learn the trade of millwright under the apprenticeship of Frank M. WARD. In 1873 he became interested in the mining industry and during the long intervening years to the present time has devoted much of his time and energy to that business. He has been a resident of Morris county since 1875, residing at Hibernia until 1908, then removed to Rockaway. While a resident of Hibernia he was for a period of thirty years superintendent of iron mines of Hibernia and Wharton, also had charge of extensive mining operations in St. Lawrence county, New York, and for a good portion of this time had under his supervision close to 3,000 men. He retired from active association with the iron industry in October, 1912. He, however, continues to be consulting on mining matters. He is an unswerving Republican in politics and for twenty-three years is a member of the school board of Rockaway. For five years — from 1890 to 1895 — he was commissioner of Rockaway township, Morris county. Fraternally, he is a member of Dover Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M.; Madison Chapter, No. 20, R. A. M..; Salaam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is likewise a prominent member of B. P. O. E. at Dover, New Jersey. He and his family are devout communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church at Dover.

December 25, 1873, Mr. MUNSON married Justina M. DOW, a native of Morris county, daughter of John and Ruth (SEARCH) DOW, the former of whom was one of the old-time forge men in this section. Mr. and Mrs. DOW had three children:

  • Justina M., wife of Mr. MUNSON;
  • Joseph, deceased;
  • Susan, wife of Isaac BALDWIN.

To Mr. and Mrs. MUNSON have been born the following children:

  • Elizabeth, wife of Milton J. BLACK, and they have two children,
    • Augustus and
    • Kenneth;
  • May, at the parental home;
  • Adelaide Ruth, married Clinton F. McKINNON, and they have a daughter,
    • Helen.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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