James H. Munger
James H. Munger, farmer, P. O. Centerville.Jonathan Munger, with his brother Edmund, and Benjamin Maltbie, with their families, left Middlebury, Vt., for the territory northwest of the Ohio River in 1797; came to Marietta, Ohio, and from there to Belpre; at Marietta they raised a crop of corn, 1799.In 1800, they reached what is now known as Yankee street in this township.There nearest neighbors were then from two to seven miles distant.Jonathan Munger was a pensioned Revolutionary Soldier; like all of that profession, he had personal incidents to relate.He has often been heard to say that the sweetest night’s sleep he ever had was on a pile of cannon balls with his feet in water up to his ankles; at another time, he and half a dozen comrades called at a house for a night’s lodging; it proved to be the dwelling of a Tory; the woman had just scrubbed the floor, but said it was good enough for them, and they might thank God and her for it; the soldiers said they thanked no one, but they were going to stay all night.Harvey Munger, son of above-named, Jonathan and Elizabeth Munger, was born in Adison County, Vt., October 2, 1790; came West, with his parents and assisted in raising the crop of corn at Marietta as above referred to.Married, February 8, 1812, to Miss Catherine Gray; from this union were thirteen children, of which five are now living (July 1881).In the war of 1812, he was a teamster, hauling flour to the army lying at St. Mary’s.In stature, he was five feet ten inches; small bone inclined to corpulence.Died July 22, 1859.His wife, Catharine Gray, was born May 10, 1791, and died in 1836.She was the daughter of Daniel and Phebe Gray.In stature, she was below the medium size.Socially, it was said that wherever Katy Munger was there was good company.Her father was a pensioned Revolutionary soldier.James H. Munger, subject of this sketch, and son of Harvey and Catharine Munger, was born in Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, February 12, 1816; his school privileges were not extensive, as he says his last summer’s schooling was in the second story of a weaver’s shop in 1825; after that would get from two to three weeks’ during the winter season, depending upon the weather and work to be done.The first religious meetings he recollects of attending were held in Gen. Munger’s barn; everything about the building was in perfect order corresponding with the occasion; rakes and forks were all hung up out of the way.Raise a farmer, he has always adhered to it.With no political ambition, has lived at his present residence, on Section 28, since 1849.Married, March 15, 1840 to Miss Lydia A. Wright, who died July 9, 1865.Second marriage, January 1, 1870, to Mrs. Anna R. Chambers, whose maiden name was Linton.She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1824, her parents William and Hannah Linton, natives of Pennsylvania, settling in that county in 1814.Mr. Munger is one of the leading farmers of his township.
From History of Montgomery County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1882