Hon. Mahlon Mundy

MUNDY, Hon. Mahlon H., who is one of the most prominent Democrats in Wabash County, Ill., and has served in several public offices in the State, as well as in local offices, has been engaged in the practice of law at Mt. Carmel, Ill., since 1880. Mr. Mundy was born in Lancaster Precinct, Wabash County, March 8, 1850, a son of Henry and Mary (Penson) Mundy, the former a native of Edwards County and the latter of Wabash County. Henry Mundy was a son of Samuel and Phebe (Reed) Mundy, both born in New Jersey, the former in 1785 and the latter in 1787. Phebe Reed was a daughter of William and Rachel Reed and a cousin of President Pierce, and her husband was a son of Samuel and Abigail Mundy.

Samuel Mundy and his wife were married November 30, 1809, and in 1818 they came to what is now Wabash County, Ill., then a part of Edwards County. Their children were: Griffith, born June 22, 1813; William, born May 26, 1815; James M., born June 6, 1817; Henry, born February 26, 1820; Nelson, born February 16, 1822, died January 3, 1824; Caroline born May 21, 1824; Samuel, born December 25, 1825; John Q. A., born October 15, 1827; Phebe A. born July 23, 1829; Julia A., born November 1, 1831; Jersey A., born November 12, 1834. The Penson family were native of Connecticut and were early settlers of what is now Wabash County.

Henry Mundy married and settled on a farm in Lancaster Precinct. He was born February 26, 1820, and his wife March 12, 1824. He died on his farm, June 7, 1896, and since then his widow remains on the old homestead. Their children were: Carl, died in infancy; Allen, deceased; Mahlon; Samuel, of Mt. Carmel; Maria and Frances M., deceased; Sarah Jane, Mrs. W.A. Risley, of Mt. Carmel; Mary Ellen, died in 1888; Phebe A., Mrs. John Mason of Edwards County, Ill.The early years of Mahlon H. Mundy were spent on his father's farm and he attended the commons schools. He remained at home until he reached his majority and then worked a year and a half on a farm, after which he went to Warrenton, Warren County, Mo., and attended the Central Western College two years. Returning to Illinois he went to Edwards County and taught four years, then began reading law with Judge Phinney D. Preston, of Olney, Ill. Three years later he came to Mt. Carmel and engaged in the practice of law there, January 1, 1880. He has been successful from the start and stands high in his profession.

In political views Mr. Mundy is a strong Democrat and is active in party affairs. He served from 1884 until 1896 as State's Attorney, and as a member of the Forty-third and Forty-fourth General Assemblies of Illinois. He held the office of Master in Chancery from 1905 - 1909, and was elected City Attorney in 1882 and again in 1884, serving two terms of two years each. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, No. 715, of Mt. Carmel, and has many friends among all classes. He is well known among business men and is looked upon as a representative, patriotic citizen of the city, county and State.

Mr. Mundy married (first), January 6, 1884, Mrs. Isabel Phipps, who was born in Lawrence County, Ind., widow of Larkin Phipps, and daughter of David and Catherine Boyles, of Lawrence County, Ind. By her first marriage she had two children: Harry M., of Mt. Carmel, and Minta, Mrs. J.F. McDonald, of Virginia. One daughter was born of her marriage to Mr. Mundy, Hazel, Mrs. Fred Lewis, of Columbus, Ind. Mrs. Mundy died September 21, 1894, and Mr. Mundy married (second) October 18, 1895, Mrs. Emma L. (Koegley) Robinson, widow of John Robinson. She had two children by her first marriage: Estella, Mrs. J.S. Campbell, of Marion, Ill., and Hattie, who lives with Mr. and Mundy and her daughter. By his second marriage Mr. Mundy had no children. [Transcribed from the book "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Wabash County" Editor Theodore G. Risley, Published 1911 by Munsell Publishing Company]