The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
Friday
December 2, 1938
Page 1
Column 7M. A. MUNSON
CRITICALLY HURT
IN AUTO ACCIDENTM. A. ("Doc") Munson, well known local contractor, was critically injured about 8:30 yesterday morning when his car collided with one driven by some young people, one a Carthage High school student.
Mr. Munson sustained a skull fracture and a severe scalp wound. He was removed to St. Joseph hospital, Keokuk, immediately by Dr. Slater, and his condition was reported as being very serious by hospital authorities.
The accident occurred at the four corners about one mile south of the East Union school.
The girls in the car that was struck were on their way to school and Mr. Munson was going to the country to work. His car struck the other machine and rolled over several times.
At the hospital it was found that Mr. Munson had received a skull fracture and his scalp was torn loose; he also received other injuries to his legs and body.
The three young people were only slightly injured. Their car was little damaged, but the Munson car was wrecked.
The location of the accident was what is known as a "blind" corner, hedge obstructing a clear view of either highway.
The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
December 7, 1938
Page 1
Column 1M. A. MUNSON, 66
WIDELY KNOWN
CONTRACTOR, DIESDies As Result of Auto
Accident Last
ThursdayM. A. Munson, 66, who was injured in an automobile accident Thursday, died Sunday, Dec. 4, at midnight at St. Joseph hospital in Keokuk, Ia.
About 8 o'clock, Thursday morning, Dec. 1, Mr. Munson and his helper, Okley Jones, were traveling on a gravel road south of East Union school house enroute to Fred Belknap's to replace the roof on a barn that had been blown off in the recent storm. At the next crossroads their trailer was struck by a car coming from the east and Mr. Munson's trailer and car turned over and over. The other car, filled with young girls enroute to school, did not see the trailer for the hedge, but seeing the car passing, proceeded and struck the trailer.
Help was quickly secured and Mr. Munson, practically scalped and with a fractured skull, and other bodily injuries was able to get on his feet and help himself in getting into the car that rushed him to the doctor. Mr. Jones was longer getting free of the wreck, as his foot was caught in the door and he could not be released until he took the tools himself and worked from the inside of the car. His foot was badly bruised but not broken.
Mr. Munson was taken to St. Joseph's hospital, Keokuk, where every effort was made to save him, but his head injuries were too severe and he passed away Sunday night about midnight.
The body was brought home and the funeral will be held at the Baptist church today at 2:00 p.m., Rev. V. S. Wilson and Rev. J. R. Hoy to officiate. Interment at Elm Tree cemetery.
Marion Arthur Munson was the son of John and Lucinda (Langley) Munson, and was born just south of Carthage on the present John Schuster place on Oct. 26, 1872. He came to Carthage at the age of 17 and lived with his sister, Mrs. Jane Pritchard until his marriage in 1903 to Miss Minnie Johns who died that year at the birth of her child.
On Dec. 21, 1905, he married Miss Bernice Landon, to which happy union were born the following ten children who with the wife survive: Mrs. Blanche Webber, Mrs. Bulah Wallace and Francis Munson, of Chicago; Marion Munson of Cadillac, Mich.; Mrs. Bruce Campbell, of Rock Falls, and Arthur, Dorothy, Leon, Weldon and Betty Joan Munson, all at home. The children were all at the funeral.
He is also survived by four grandchildren, Jack Wallace, Russell Webber, Dale and Marian Campbell; and by four brothers, Eli, of Artesia, Calif.; Calvin, of Hillsboro, Ia., and Jerry and Jo of near Plymouth. Three brothers and a sister preceded him in death.
In the death of Mr. Munson, Carthage and Hancock county have lost an unusual citizen. We have had good architects, but he was one of the finest engineers and contractors that we have ever had locally. His genius was chiefly in moving unwieldly objects, building bridges, replacing foundations under brick buildings, building restraining walls, replacing foundations under heavy brick smoke stacks and innumerable difficult jobs that the average carpenter and builder would not undertake. He was self-taught, but he had a high sense of honor and slighted no job no matter how small, or how indifferent the possibility of immediate remuneration. He was honest about his prices and charged no customer more than was based upon a careful estimate, and he never presented a bill until the work was not only accepted by the customer, but satisfactory to himself. There is a wide-spread feeling of regret at the loss of this good man, whose kindly, generous nature won for him a wide friendship in this community where his life has been spent.
His family of bright and attractive children were a joy to him and this stricken group are facing a future without him with an equanimity that exhibits a brave spirit but hides a deep grief.
He will be carried to his last resting place at the Elm Tree cemetery, which used to be adjacent to the Old Brick church. In this cemetery rests his father and mother and other relatives, and about them lie the friends of other days. He loved this old church yard, and when a young man, created a corporation and solicited funds for the perpetual upkeep of this hallowed ground. Sixty-six years of age is a time of going when one's usefulness can hardly be spared, but at that age it is a promotion and opportunity for those who are in the rear to reach and overtake the standards established by an honest, industrious life.
