Notizen zu dieser Person
Darius S. MUNGER was one of the first settlers at Manitowoc, WI,removing to that place in the spring of 1837. Was a carpenter andbuilder; a man possessed of remarkable natural mechanical ability. WasTax Collecter, Justice of Peace, Postmaster. Had much to do in theupbuilding of the town of Manitowoc. It is said his son was the firstwhite child born there. Late removed to Missouri, and in 1868, provedup a claim on the Osage lands for a town site, which later became thecity of Wichita, Kansas. He built the first dwelling in town, whichwas residence, hotel and postoffice. Wichita First Dwelling Wichita's fisr dwelling house, after being hid from public view forsome thirty-seven years, has suddenly emerged from its seclusion, andnow for a few days presents the most interesting of holiday treats. This house is the homestead of D. S. MUNGER, erected in 1868 on theclaim which he proved up on the osage lands for a town site, at thesuggestion of a Burlingame land company. What was Mr. MUNGER'S home, is now known as 901 North Waco Avenue,where for a generation was the home of the late Commodore W. C.WOODMAN, Wichita's pioneer banker. P. J. CONKLIN has for several yeats owned the land, and some time agosold to DR. J. H. FULLER the historic dwelling, which was concealed inthe WOODMAN home. It is now for the reason that DR. FULLER has workmanengaged stripping off the WOODMAN house which has been as a shell tothe historic old first dwelling, and is removing the MUNGER house to apemanent location closer to the river banks. It will be recalled that in the spring of 1910 Mr. CONKLIN presentedto the city of Wichita a log cabin which occupied his premises, andthis cabin was removed to Central Riverside Park, near the Zoo. It wasdescribed by some persons as the MUNGER cabin. A number of old-timerscalled the EAGLE'S attention to the fact that this was a very graveinaccuracy relating to the early history of Wichita, causing the EAGLEto secure from Mr. MUNGER'S daughter, living in this city, anauthentic story of the MUNGER home, which they stated was stillconcealed in what has been known in Wichita for many years as the oldWOODMAN home. The EAGLE printed a number of letters from old-timers who identifiedthe building now in Riverside as a trading-post, in no way connectedwith the MUNGER home. The MUNGER homestead was Wichita's first dwelling, hotel andpostoffice. As soon as the Indian lands could be proved up forhomesteads, Eli P. WATERMAN proved up one claim, ehich he sold, and D.S. MUNGER proved up a claim further to the north. Mr. MUNGER arrivedin Wichita in the spring of 1868, and commenced immediately theconstruction of his home, a work which occupied most of the year. Mrs.MUNGER remained in Topeka, their daughter Mary (Mrs. WATSON of thiscity) attended Bethany Seminary at that place. In the spring of the1869 the daughter joined her father, Mrs. MUNGER coming in the fall.The building was constructed of logs for the most part, and were cutby Mr. MUNGER on what was known as Teuchel Island near the junction ofthe two rivers. He went to the island in a skiff, cut down the cottonwoods and hewed them out with an adz, and carefully joined them. Thishouse was pretentious considering the labor necessary in those days ofpioneering, when many plains men were content with sod houses,dug-outs or rough puncheons. Mr. MUNGER lathed the house, cutting windows and splitting them forthe purpose. For plaster he burned his own lime, building a kiln onthe river bank back of the house. He used buffalo hair to bind theplaster. He hauled the window glass, sash and flooring from Emporia,overland in frieght wagans. A small log addition on the north end of the house was Wichita's firstpostoffice, if one may ignore the fact that the "really and truly"first postoffcie was Mr. MUNGER'S black silk hat. In this logpostoffice room was a table about three feet long, on which were piledcigar boxes for pigeon holes. Here Miss Mary MUNGER, fourteen yearsold when she came to Wichita, acted as assistant to the postmaster. On the north gable of the house, the exterior was plastered, and inthe plaster pebbles were embedded in a effort to put a mark ofdistinction to the first dwelling. ( Wichita EAGLE, 24 December 1911). 1820 Census Hanover, Chautaqua Co., NY Salmon Munger [indexed Salman Manger] 3 - - 1 1 - 2 - - 1 1840 Census Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Territory D. S. Munger 1 Male 0-4 2 males 20-29 1 female 0-4 2 females 20-29 1850 Census District 48, Lewis Co., Missouri 658 / 659 D. S. Munger 37 M Carpenter 225 NY Julia P. 36 F Mass Julia H. 14 F NY Charles P. 12 M WI Malissa 9 F WI Amelia 7 F WI 1860 Census Wichita Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas Terr. Darius Munga 47 M W Farmer 300 NY Julia 46 F W Mass. Julia S. 25 F W N. Y. Charles 23 M W Farm Labor Wisconsin Melissa 19 F W WI Amelia 16 F W WI Mary 5 F W Missouri 1870 Census Wichita Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas 75 / 75 Munger, Darius S. 57 M W Farmer 5000 200 NY Julia P. 56 F W Keeping House Mass. Mary E. 16 F W Missouri Akles, John 21 M B Domestic Servant Missouri Post, Henry A. 22 M W Farmer Labor 3000 - Michigan Meeche, Charles 32 M W Farmer 1 800 1000 Michigan Mentioned as a founding father of Wichita.
Karl-Heinz
Böttcher
