The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-22
PIONEER NM. HUNKS DEAD.
Typical Representative OF the Best
Class Among the Men Who Led
the Way for Civilfxatio 70 Eater
the Great states Of the West.

ANArORTEs. Nov. M.-william Manks
died ar about o'clock last evening at his
home a. FidaIgo aged about q years. De-
ceased was a man Of remarkable vfgor
both OF mind and body. He was slightly
ever six feet tall. with a frame built as II
of iron, and an erect. soldiarly bearing.
A few weeks ago he had an attack OF the
grippe and since then has complained that
Il hurt him 10 cough. No particular TN
easfness was felt though. for ne has gone
about his business as usual. and only two
days before death drove ove> TO Anacortes.
The only other symptoms Of unsound
health were slight attacks OF pieurisy and
heart trouble, but this was not thought at
all serious.
While sitting at the table last evening.
he coughed few times and raised very
little blood. but even this did not cause
serious alarm, although II was unprece-
dented An hour and half later he again
coughed. and this time blood flowed freely
from his mouth. A messenger was imme-
diately dispatched for a ply stefan. but he
had not beesn gone FIVE minutes before
William Munks had passed away.
William Munks was born at Canton.
Ohio, January g. 1872. His grandfather
fought in the Revolution, his father served
throughout the war of 1872. and his brother
was with Sherman on his march to the
sea. Munks himself served from the be-
ginning to the end Of the Mexican war.
mostly In the Fifteenth infantry under
Gen. Chen Col.) Morgan.
In 1919 he started West. trapping for q
time In the Rockies but finally making the
coast. and for a time following placer
mining. He fought through two Indian
wars and In 1856 entered the Indian de-
partment, first under Joel Palmer, and
subsequently as express messenger. Then
he made a prospecting and trading trip
through q hostile Indian country to the
headwaters of the Columbia. His next
move was to come to Puget sound where
he assisted In locating the boundary Inc
between the United States and British
Columbia.
AT the breaking out OF the Fraser river
gold excitement he established a trading
pest at Fort Yale, and also engaged in
mining. In 1859 he located on Fidalgo
island being the first white sett.er), where
he had beautiful home at the time Of
his death.
In 1850 his frontier-loving nature caused
him 10 go on an expedition to the Similka-
meen mines and later to the Harvey lake
country. When In 1861 he returned to FL
dalgo and opened store, ne was sur
rounded by Indians and had no white
neighbors nearer than twenty miles He
understood the Indians nature thoroughly
and got along with them where others
would have failed.
For twenty years he was postmaster at
Fidaigo. He was practically the king Of
this frontier community. accommodating
hundreds of acres of land, having the only
trading post. and controlling many log
ging camps. He did business In free and
open and candid maner. and expected
others to dc likewise This policy won in
the pioneer days, but with the inroads Of
civilization and modern ways OF transact
ing business. his prestige grew less, and
his wealth decreased. although he left con-
siderable property. He visited Washing
ton City a number of times on business
connected with the Northwest. and knew
many people there who were high In the
councils OF the nation.
His home at Fidalgo is beautiful spot
on a slope fronting the bay. The home
Is modern and the shrubbery and sur
roundings show that, despite his frontier
.'fe and rugged character, he never lost his
native love for the more refined life at
home. A wife and FIVE sons survive him.
two being by his present wife and three by
a wife who died number of years ago.