lan

WILLIAM BENJAMIN MUNSON, B.S., was born near Astoria, Fulton County, Illinois. He attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College, from which he was graduated in 1869 with the degree of Bachelor of Science, being the first graduate of the young institution, which was  established  in   1865.
Mr. Munson began his work after graduation as a civil engineer with a railroad. A year later he entered the drug business, but decided after a brief period to cast his fortunes with those of Texas, a rapidly growing State. He practiced law in Denison for a time, entering later into real estate with Jot  Gunter,  which  proved  very profitable.    The  firm was  engaged  also  in  the  cattle  business.
In 1883 Mr. Munson purchased the interest of his partner, paying $560,000 in cash, which marked quite a change from his college days, when his income was about $1   a week.
During the next few years Mr. Munson was one of (he foremost organizers, promoters, and executive officers of his section of the State, and it is said that he almost "made" Denison, his present  home.
He organized and was President of the Denison & Washita Valley Railroad Company, and likewise organized the Southwestern Coal & Improvement Company, through which he operated coal mines at Colgate, Indian Territory. He was elected President of the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railroad, and of the Light & Power Company of Denison. In 1905, with his brother, he bought and operated the Denison Cotton Manufacturing Company, which is now one of the largest cotton mills west of  the  Mississippi  River.
The Munson Realty Company is another branch of business in which he is intensely interested. This company still handles large real estate deals in and near Denison.
In college with Mr. Munson was his brother, Thomas V. Munson, deceased, who graduated in 1870 and  later became the  leading expert in  grapevine culture in  this country  and  in  Europe.
(85)
1916