Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 146.
 
WILLIAM BRATTON MUNFORD, M.D.

     No man has done more for the building up and general welfare of the town of
Banks, Oregon, and that section of Washington county in which Banks is located,
than Dr. William B. Munford.  He was born in *Cottonville, Illinois, in 1873.
His father was James Renwick Munford, a pioneer farmer of the state, whose
Scotch-Irish ancestor had come to America in 1810.
     William B. Munford was educated in the schools of Illinois, and when his
father located in Kansas he matriculated at Washburn Medical College at
**Tokepa, Kansas, and in 1905 was graduated with the degree of Medical Doctor.
He first took up practice in Kansas, but on account of his health came to Oregon
in 1907 and in 1908 located at Banks.  He was the pioneer physician of that
settlement and from the time he located there was a potent factor in the growth
of the little town, both professionally and otherwise.  When the Commercial Club
was formed Dr. Munford was its president, and he constructed one of the first
buildings in the town, where he opened a drug store.  His reputation as a
physician was not confined to the vicinity of Banks, but soon spread to
surrounding sections of Washington and nearby counties with the late Dr.
Linklater of Hillsboro he controlled the practice of the county.  There was no
enterprise looking to the advancement of Banks or the surrounding county but
found in him an active and unselfish helper.  Generous, kindly and optimistic to
a degree Dr. Munford worked hard for the sick in his professional way and
equally hard as a citizen for the progress of the town.  The result of this
activity brought about the undermining of his health for in 1918 he developed
lung trouble and with his devoted wife took a trip to Colorado.  The same year
he passed away, leaving a host of mourning friends, the city of Banks having
lost one of its most progressive citizens and the medical profession of
Oregon one of its brightest members.   Dr. Bailey, Dr. Linklater and Dr. Munford
have all passed away and the people of that vicinity feel keenly the loss of
these splendid citizens.
     Dr. Munford was married at Greeley, Colorado, in 1905, to Miss Flora A.
Mawhinney, a native of Illinois, who was born in Cottonville, the doctor's own
birthplace.  She was likewise of Scotch-Irish ancestry whose forbears were
pioneers in Illinois and descendants of generations of progressive Americans.
From the time of his graduation she was his helpmate in every sense.  Dr.
Munford left his wife and two children, Charles Wilbert, now a student of the
high school, and James Kenneth,  pupil of the grade school, who are being
trained by their devoted mother to follow in the footsteps of their
distinguished father.  Mrs. Munford is an active member of the Methodist church
and is the corresponding secretary of its Sunday school.  She owns a fine farm
of forty acres within two miles of Banks and also a town residence and some
business property on the main street of the city.
     Dr. Munford was a member of the Washington County Medical Society and the
American Medical Association.  He was the local physician of the Southern
Pacific Railway and the Oregon Electric Railway.  The people of Washington
county will long remember Dr. Munford as a man always active along various lines
that have been directly beneficial in the upbuilding of Banks and the
advancement of its welfare.
 
 
Transcriber's Additional notes:
 
*  spelled "Cottonville" in the book, may be "Coulterville"
**  spelled "Tokepa" in the book, may be "Topeka"
 
CENSUS
1880 - January 23; Randolph Co, IL; Coulterville, p 598
James R. Munford, 32, IL, SC, IL, farmer
Martha H, wife, 29, IL, SC, SC, keeping house
William B, son, 6, IL, IL, IL, att. school
Howard, son, 4, IL, IL, IL
Raymond H, son, 2, IL, IL, IL
David, son, 5/12, b Jan, IL, IL, IL
 
1895 census
<>http://skyways.lib.ks.us/skysearch.html
 
OR State Archives  (for estate of William B. Munford)
<>http://genealogy.state.or.us/start.lasso?location=search
 
OR DEATH INDEX:
Name: Munford, Flora
County: Washington 
Death Date: 10 Aug 1945 
Certificate: 5492 
 
Name: Munford, Charles Wilbert
County: Washington 
Death Date: 26 Jan 1994 
Certificate: 94-02565 
Age: 88 
Birth Date: 19 Oct 1906 
Spouse: Margar 
 
 
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.