The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-07-29

name.
Donrr. vr. July 9th. 1885.
Ahinaa L. Niasr.
Born ia Middletown, VI, September %
1904. died 10 Manchester. w., July 10
1886.
A. L. Miners father, Gideon Miner, j..
came TO Vermont from Woodbury., Conn.
ia l770. The family history runs back 4
the time Of Edward III. Of E0gland, whsS
the frst Of the name furnished the KIM
With hundred men TO Fspel Invasion. foi
uhIch service be was granted severa
mines BY the grateful monarch. from whict
be became greatly enriched and the family
surname was 10 consequence changed x
Miner.
The subject Of sketch ~ ono Of clever
children and received his preliminary ed
ucation in the common schools OF MID
dlet0un. and Afterwards prepared Tor COL
iege 10 Castleton Academy but never tool
. college course. He entered upon The
study Of Law in the ofice Of Mallory
Warner 1t Poultney and Afterwards con-
tinued Il 10 the ofice Of B. 4. Lsngdon Ia
Castleton and finished his law studies ia
the once Of Royce 4 Hodges in Rutland,
being admitted 10 the bar IN 1882. HI
commenced TO practice In Wsllingford.
where be remained three years snd thea
removed TO Manchester, where be resided
dirty years until his death.
Az lawyer. Mr.. Miner speedily 90
quired an unusual degree OF popularity
and Vas retained in many important cases.
From the years l64l to 1872, there wsrs
very few jury trials brought before the
court d Manchester In which be wss not
employed on one side or tho other. Nor
were his forensic abilities alone appreciA.
tod in the neighborhood Of his own resi-
dence. 10 1869 there were forty eight liz.
igsted cases set for trial at the June Tenn
OF court and 10 each OF them Mr.. Miner
was employed ~ counsel, and In none OF
them were the parties residents of Man.
chester. The latter fact il m accurate in-
deg OF the peacesbls character Of the in
hAbitsnts OF the town and no LEES strik-
Ing indication Of their non-litigious ten.
dsncies
In the presentation Of 3 cause befor Z
jury Mr.. Miner particularly sxcsllsd. His
own personal character. bis thorough com.
mand Of Ill Ne faets snd relations Of the
case. his falling pressatatioA Of IL saliept
points. his eloquence- born Of conviction
and feeling. and the cogency and conclu.
siveness Of hib logic, oil combined 10 ele.
vate him 70 the front rank Of forensic ad-
vocates and 10 make him one Of the most
effective jury lawyers 10 the state. N al
In public olacial life Mr.. Miner was do.
servedly prominent. Many Of his oficial
positions were entrusted 10 him by the
freq SURFACES Of his fellow citizens and
many more we're received by appointment
from the Governors Of the commonwealth.
His hnt public service was in 1886 and
1887 - clerk Of the Vermont Legislature.
In 1888 and 1899 hs represented Hspches.
ter in the lower house Of that body and Ia
1910 he Was returned 70 the senate from
Bennington County. In 1916 be WAS
elected 70 the house and again in 1647, IS,
81, go, 65. SO, 81 aud '6S Since the
latter year he persistsntly declined consent
to oil solicitations looking towards the ~.
sumption Of legislative duties. During
bis twelve years services in both branches
Of the Legislature, Mr.. Miner served
eight years ia The Important position OF
chairman Of the Judiciary committee.
Within those eight Year, the Statutes Of
Vermont were subject 10 two revisions,
each Of which gave plenty Of work TO him
and bis colleagues.
In 1850 M. Niner ~ elected q .
whig 70 The thirty. secoud couRress. after
very exciting contest. IL which hic chief
opponent W. the late A. p. Lyman Of
Bennington. IN eoegrsss his party va
10 The minority sAd, be had euell cppor.
unity for special work. AID Ala not d.
liver any set speeches. AZ the time Of
this election Vernon had iour represen-
laGivss, but lhe newt appcrSjouueut =.
dsesS tha numps, - th,ss IA, ~ ,s~
srranssmsnt IN Mr., - th,o-r ma
the d;,trict rer,sssrssa hv IL oid s,;srS
James Meachsm' a~sinst vhom ha mac.
nanimouslv deciinsd a. sccert : rsnomi-
netion.
~ Nipsv - Re~;.a., ~ p,o,,aGa i.
the YEAR i6a5 ~ m IN a IQ ~
and ,5S. During this per,od four icdsss
exercised the fnncfions ~ th,ir of,cs IA
h;mssls -. isdss - p,chsss y s.cr, ia, I.
n Ialo ;ncIna,s In IN i.lAs, vs.r 10
resionsd n - atstss Aitcrr.v n lazS
ma ~ and svs;r n laGa "a snd ,eS
While o0icistinc Il tha lsst farm ia -
called mon n nrosscnts ths rnn.rsi
nnmhs, 81 io.v nnr1er.rs. to ~ vhom
we're Convicted Gnecisl vssson. contr;h-
u,sd n fla sccu;ttsi ~ ~. oth.rs IL
80 ! iust;cs N ~ rs.cs H. mo,s dian
Ioytv ys,y. ~ Sscl,rsa q sstvs' othsr.
M - sianrnsv a, ~ ns.i a nsnsh.s.
~ Tor Ivsnt1 vca,s snd nrccr,sd n.
,hsrter a ths Rsttsntill Rsnk vhich -
he place al liz former. m attsinmsnts
recsived dse recosnitiop 81 ia honorrrv
icrree Of A. III. from Niddisborv al.
"a.
The h,sh estsem in vhieh NJ. Niner
- held 81 81 lsilov cilisens 4 fullv
,hcvr bv Sis $1,000 slsction. a. ,ssv,nr.