HomeMy WebLinkAboutMunson Street HistoryThurmond A. Munson, Sr.
1889 -1958
Family History
The Munsons migrated west to Tennessee, and then to Louisiana. In about 1821 two
Munson brothers, Henry William and Robert, decided to move to Texas where land
grants were promised by the Mexican government. After settling near the Trinity River
for several years, they realized that land grants from the Mexican government were not
forthcoming. A friend recommended them to Steven F. Austin, and they joined the
Austin colony.
At first, the Mexican government forbade land grants near the Gulf of Mexico, but as
more settlers came into Texas, grants near the gulf were allowed. The Munsons settled
and prospered in the area that is now Brazoria County (where the Brazos River empties
into the Gulf) and south of it. Later they participated in Texas history, fighting in the
war for independence from Mexico (runaway scrape), and etc.
Henry William's son, Mordello S. Munson, was a lawyer and owner of a large tract of
land near the gulf. He was a colonel in the Civil War and later was elected to the Texas
legislature. While serving in the legislature, he helped establish the A &M College of
Texas, 1876, and later the University of Texas, 1883.
Mordello's son, Joseph Waddy Munson, was a student at A &M in 1877. J.W.
became ill with pneumonia and did not stay the year, but later finished his education in
Kentucky and became a lawyer.
J. W's son, Thurmond Armour Munson, graduated from A &M in 1920; was in army
reserves; called to active duty for one year to help oversee a government Civilian
Conservation Corps camp near Lufkin; worked summer in water resources and
surveying; helped establish the City of College Station; first water alderman; first elected
city council representing College Hills. He was called to active duty in WWII, and after
the war returned to A &M to teach. Eventually, he became Chief Civil Engineer for Dow
Chemical Co. in Freeport.
Munson Street in College Station is named after Thurmond Armour Munson. In 1941
or 1942, Munson was drawing up some plats East of Walton Street, one street was left to
name. He described it as a cow trail. After he left work that evening, his students put
his name on the unnamed street and it passed the city council.
Thurmond Armour Munson's wife was Mary Emma "Minnie" Hardwick Munson.
They had two children, Thurmond Jr. and Mary Jane Munson Hirsch.