Munger, L.A.

FOX, CARROLL, WELLS, CREAGER

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/9/2009 at 19:43:12

L.A. Munger, one of the earliest settlers in Bremer county and well known for the work he accomplished along agricultural lines, is living retired in Sumner, having put aside the cares of business life in 1909. He was born in Oneida county, New York, May 9, 1830, and spent his boyhood in his native state, acquiring a common-school education. He afterward worked as a monthly farm laborer until 1857, when he came west to Iowa, settling in Bremer county in pioneer times. He and an older brother purchased four hundred acres of wild prairie land and this they farmed in partnership until the outbreak of the Civil war. Mr. Munger of this review then returned to New York and enlisted in Company I, eighth New York Volunteer Cavalry. He was with the Army of the Potomac during all of its activities and was promoted to the rank of corporal. He took part in sixteen engagements and at Upperville, Virginia, received a gunshot wound through his hand. Although he was out of the ranks for two weeks he did not go to the hospital but did odd jobs around the camp until his wound was healed. He was mustered out at Rochester, New York, in December, 1864, and a few weeks later returned to Bremer county, where he took up his residence upon one hundred and sixty acres of land owned by himself and his brother. This he developed and improved for many years thereafter, meeting with excellent success and contributing in substantial measure to general agricultural advancement. About 1898 he disposed of this farm and moved to Fayette county, where he lived for two years. He afterward bought forty acres of land in Sumner township, this county, and there made his home until 1909, when he retired from active life, moving into Sumner, where he now resides.

At Independence, Iowa, Mr. Munger married Miss Mary Fox, a native of New Jersey, and they became the parents of six children: Ella, the deceased wife of Sidney Carroll; S.A., of Sumner; Richard, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Delia, who married Farmer Wells, a farmer in Fayette county; Victor, of Sumner; and Georgia C., who is now Mrs. Warren Creager of Bremer county.

Mr. Munger gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held various township offices. He is a man of marked enterprise and force of character and throughout his business life made good use of his time and opportunities, winning the rest and retirement which he today enjoys.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914