O. L. MUNGER. Special adaptability to any particular calling in life is the one necessary adjunct to permanent success. No matter the vim and determination which characterizes a man’s start in business, unless he is to the manner born, he will find to his sorrow that his lines have been falsely cast, and the quicker he draws back and takes up another calling the better it will be for him. O. L. Munger, editor and proprietor of the Current Local, published at Van Buren, Carter County, Missouri, has made no mistake in his calling. His paper is bright and interesting, and fills a long-felt want, it being the only one published in the county. It was established in 1884 by William H. Paevers, and for the past three years Mr. Munger has had an interest in the paper. In 1893 he took control and became owner. Mr. Munger came originally from Reynolds County, Missouri, his birth occurring March 23, 1865, and he is a son of Francis and Mary (Parks) Munger.
Our subject’s grand-father, Marvin Munger, was of English descent, and a native of the State of New York. About the year 1818 he came from the East to Missouri, and settled in what was known as Belleview Valley, making his home at the head-waters of Black River, now in Reynolds County, where he was one of the very earliest settlers. He delighted in hunting and was a prominent pioneer. At an early day he was sheriff and collector of Ripley County, and was one of the prominent men, taking a leading part in all enterprises for the good of his section. There he reared his six children: Martha, who became the wife of William Andrews, is still living, and is quite an aged woman; Mary, wife of Mr. Light, of Reynolds County, is also living; Oran died at Memphis, Tennessee, during the war; Louis died at the same place; Francis, father of subject, and Moses, who is living on the old home place in Reynolds County. The father of these children died just before the Civil War. In politics he was a Democrat. He helped to build the first mill ever erected in south Missouri, and was fore-most in all good deeds. Farming was his principal occupation in life. Francis Munger received but a limited education in his early life, and when grown was married to Miss Mary Parks, a native of Reynolds County, Missouri, and the daughter of Marshall Parks, who came from Georgia to Reynolds County at a very early day and there followed farming. There Mr. Parks died in 1873. Francis Munger became a minister in the Baptist Church, and also followed the trade of wagonmaker. He enlisted under Gen. Price, but was only in service a short time on account of sickness. He was a good man, gave much of his time to church work, and passed peacefully away in the year 1891. The mother is living at Piedmont, Wayne County. Their children were as follows: William A., a prominent attorney at Centreville, Missouri, died in 1890 (he was a Democrat); Martin M., married, is a Baptist minister at Centerville, Missouri; O. L., subject; George W. is a popular attorney at Van Buren (he attended the St. Louis Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1893, and at present is Democratic nominee for prosecuting attorney); and Damaris is the wife of John W.Cross, of Piedmont, Wayne County, Missouri.
The original of this notice received good educational advantages, attending schools at Farmington and at Carlton Institute, and after assisting his father on the farm until 1888 came to Carter County. He took the position of deputy clerk in the county clerk’s office, later the office of deputy sheriff and county collector, and in March of the year 1889 he was elected sheriff of the county, filling the vacancy caused by the death of E. J. Turnev. The same year he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the same position, and filled that position in a creditable and satisfactory manner until January 1, 1892. He has ever been active in politics, and was a delegate to the Kansas City Convention in 1894. After his term of office had expired he took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1893, beginning his practice in Van Buren. Socially he is a Mason, a member of Van Buren Lodge, and politically a Democrat, his paper being published in the interests of that party. Mr. Munger was married in Carter County to Miss Minnie M. Lee, daughter of Arch Lee, of Madison County. She was educated at the State Normal School, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. One child has been born to this union, Lucile.