The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-04-09


was indelible and gave coloring to his
whole life. lie was a teacher of com.
mon schools for long period, a calling
which at an early age is often quite as
profitable TO teacher as pupil. 1t affords
opportunity TO study character. II
teaches self control and power to con
troll Others. lie was q practical friend
of temperance. lie had remarkable
memory, far stronger than that of ordi-
nary men. He never forgot friend or
favor. lie was industrious and self re-
llant. Thus equipped, he began profess
Sl0nal life. rough diamond wrought
ny the hand of an artist, if imperfect is
dlscarded-if found brilliant and of the
llFst water, 1t is appreciated, set in gold,
and appropriated to use. Thus the
young aspirant of sound quality and ex-
lllOltllS good parts won. The public
are seldom slow in the estimate men.
His initial step was fortunate and sue
cess followed.
1t has been said that the legal profess
sion, more than any other, presents al
iurements and dangers to young men.
From these he escaped. The love of
stlmulants or the gaming table fore
shadows a downfall, and is poor quali-
hcation for domestic life and its less ex-
citing pleasures. Excesses of any kind.
either of labor, study or indulgence of
the passions demOralize. The profess
sional public man may be regarded for
tunate who possesses such eduipoise rs
enables him to avoid such enticements
and dangers on.the one hand, while on
the other he meets the reasonable re-
quirements of family and home. Men
unaccnstomed to excitements, either
mental of physical, are as a general rule
better husbands and better guardians.
1t has also been said lin substance) by
an eminent jurist who was well acquaint-
ed With Mr.. Miner and sometimes con-
nected in trials with him, that his great
strength in the management of cases
consisted in his foresight of the effect of
evidence. He often allowed its admis-
sion contrary to the advice of associate
counsel, where by established rules it
could be excluded. His forte was in
that direction. He seldom took notes.
He depended solely on memory and com
prehensiOn of the salient points of evil
dence given by the witness. These pow
ers combined with uncommon intuition
must have contributed greatly to his
success and reputation as a jury advo-
cate.
He will be remembered long for his
conversational power. While member of
the Legislature or at sessions of court he
often met friends of his early years and
business associates. His remarkable
memory enabled him to recall leading
ing events of State history. When at
ease and unrestrained by rules of court.
his recital of dates, names of men, Incl
dents OF trials, elections and decisions of
cardinal law nnnCtipng 81,
He was rich in anecdotes and used them
in illustration of character, thus often
giving an off-hand entertainments He
was equally ready and felicit0us in con-
versatlon at his home, as will be remem-
bered by those who have enjoyed the
hospitality of his household.
Other natives of Middletown, contem-
poraries of Mr.. Miner, obtained distinc-
tion. CaSwell became missionary to
Siam. MatsOn was member of the CON
vention to frame the first constitution of
Iowa, chairman of the committee on cd
ucation, and widely identified with the
industries of the State-the Oatmans ac-
quired great wealth-WOod became chief
justice and Governor of Ohio, and subse-
quently minister to Chill under the ad-
ministration of President Polk. Others
were distinguished, but Mr.. Miner ex-
ceeded all in the length of his public life.
and may be favorably compared with all,
in the elements which mark the civilian
and useful citizen. During the last ser
vice as member of assembly, there was
evidently decay of his physical forces,
but his intellect remained unclOuded,
and some of his best forensic efforts
were then made. In a recent letter,
Hon. George w. Harman of Bennington,
who was a cotemporary, says of Mr.
Miner: "To err is human, but with his
shortcomings, he filled an honorable and
useful position in society, which owes to
his memory debt of gratitude for his
example of upright bearing and for nu-
merous benefits derived from his efforts"
Such were his antecedents and such
his life work.
This additional memoir has been writ
ten at the request of friend-by hand
weakened with age, and under restraint
with fears the reader might regard the
work overdrawn. We have claimed no
exemptions from the common tendencies
foibles of other men, yet, in summing up
we believe a record should be made, as
the judgment of his peers, that he was
pre-eminent among the benefactors of
the age in which he lived.