My Genealogy Hound

Warren Woodson Munday, merchant, the son of Samuel and Angeline (Williams) Munday, was born in Greene County, Ill., February 16, 1842. His grandfather, William Munday, was a native of Kentucky and a machinist by trade. He settled in Greene County, Ill., at an early period of its history, and passed the balance of his days. Samuel Munday was a sergeant of a company from Illinois, and served in the Black Hawk War under Gen. Warren and Col. Woodson, whose names are preserved in that of the subject of this sketch. Angeline Williams was the daughter of William Williams, whose history is similar to that of the Mundays regarding nativity and settlement in Illinois. Samuel Munday engaged in milling and farming, and in 1858 he settled in Lawrence County where he built the first important flouring mill on Spring River. This industry he carried on for several years. In 1858 he started for Texas on account of his wife’s health, and she died on the way, leaving three sons and three daughters, all of whom are grown to manhood, and all have families. In 1859 Mr. Munday returned to Missouri with his family, where he led an active life until the breaking out of the war, when he was compelled to leave for a while He went to Kansas and farmed until 1869, when he returned to Missouri and after several years built another mill, but subsequently engaged in the dry goods business. He died January 6, 1887, universally respected and mourned by all who knew him. His son, Warren W. Munday, grew to manhood in Lawrence County, Mo. (being connected with his father in the mill), and upon the breaking out of the late war he took issue with the Union, and was in the Home Guards. While on duty at Braggs Springs, near Springfield, a few days before Wilson’s Creek battle, he was wounded in the thigh and left shoulder, his horse being shot from under him at the time he was wounded in the thigh. He was the first citizen soldier of Lawrence County to be wounded. He was taken home from Springfield, and the citizens, especially the women and children came for miles to see a wounded man at this early date in the war, July, 1861. This caused a great sensation, and especially among his own neighbors, he also being so very young, only eighteen. He was only allowed to remain at home a short time, as the Confederates had taken possession of his father’s mill and pressed his father into their service as a miller, there being a guard placed at the mill and house. They were not long in learning where and how the young wounded Munday had received same, so he left for St. Louis on horseback before his wounded leg would admit of using a saddle, and he made the entire trip of 280 miles on a pad, accompanied by only one companion to take care of him. So in 1862, and after he had recovered somewhat from his wounds, he returned to Springfield and joined the First Arkansas Cavalry being made first lieutenant of company H, and served in all the battles and skirmishes of the campaign of 1863 and 1864. In 1865 he was placed in command at Bentonville, Ark., and organized and defended this place. In June of this year he received fearful wounds in a battle with the guerrillas, from which he has never fully recovered, being a cripple now. After the war he convalesced for a while, and in 1868 he built a steam saw and grist mill at the head of Spring River and carried on this business for several years. He afterward engaged in the cattle business, and later in the dry goods and mill business here, and has run several branch stores. In 1887 he suffered a heavy loss by fire at Aurora, losing his entire stock of goods, some $8,000 worth. In 1864 during the war he married Miss Mary Ann Farwell, of Illinois, daughter of Albert and Angeline (Wilder) Farwell, natives of New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Munday became the parents of five children: Albert W., a live young business man, connected in business with his father; Willie Porter, also in business in same firm, W. W. Munday & Sons; Minnie May, Maud and Flora. Mr. Munday and family worship at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Munday is a member of the G. A. R. His sons are both members of the J. B. Foraker Camp, No. 53, Sons of Veterans, and he has been a notary public for several years. He has put up more buildings, and has done more to build up the town of Verona, than any other business man in it, as it is on ground where he chased the deer and flushed the turkey when he was a boy, and he takes pride to see enterprises grow up as his children do.