Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-25
BURIAL OF HENRY mUNsoN.

An Old and Esteemed Hamden Resi-
dent-Impressive services At Whit
NEVILLE Church-An Important In
vention of His in Connection with
Gun Making.
The funeral of the late Henry Munson
Of Dixwell avenue, Hamden Plains, was
conducted from the Whitneyville church
yesterday afternoon. There was q large
attendance of relatives and sorrowing
friends, including people from miles
around and many from this city. The
Rev. Mr.. Cutting, pastor of the church;
Rev. Mr. Dinsmore of Willimantic, an ex-
pastor, and the pastor of the Hamden
Plains n. e church conducted the services,
which were deeply impressive. Rev. Mr..
Dinsmore delivered the address, in which
he spoke of the long life of the deceased,
his Christian character, his usefulness as 3
townsman and his sterling qualities of
head and heart. Like the sturdy oak he
stood the blasts of many winters to fall at
last in ripe old age He leaves an honorable
name, one which for integrity and upright
ness of character brought him the sincere re
spect of the community. The life and ex-
| ample of the deceased were commended as
| worthy of imitation, and after life's fitful
| fever comes the reward of we'll doing.
There were beautiful tributes of flowers.
The bearers were Messrs Joel F. Gilbert,
John Gilbert, NJ. W. Filley, d D. Clark
and Police Commissioner John q. Plstt, all
| of New Haven, and ]. Burton Gilbert of
Hamden. There was a large representa-
ton of the most prominent people of Ham
| den at the obsequies. The burial was In
the Whitneyville cemetery.
The deceased was a man of inventive
| genius, and one invention of his, the &C.
curate boring of gun barrels, would, If he
had had it patented, brought him millions
| of dollars. He leaves an estate valued a;
| 500, 900 or more. He was tho owner OF
considerable New Haven real estate, as
we'll as of much farming land in Hamden
| A few years ago he sold a large tract OF
farming land in Hsmden to the Winchester
Repeating Arms company, which is used
by the company for Its powder houses.
Mr.. Munson, who was nearly eighty Ell,
years of age, was q native of Hamden and
as indicated above, was one of the best
known residents of that town. His wife
who died about twenty years ago, was Mis-
Jane Ford. Mr.. Munson, Griswold 1 Gil
bert and William A. Atwater married thre
sisters Mr.. Munson was the father of ell
children, but only two survive-Henry W
Munson, with whom he had resided fo
several years, and Mrs. George d. Gorham
Mr.. Munson learned the trade of gun
making at the old Whitneyville armor,
and was an expert at his trade. After
wards he became contractor. He We
| the first man to make gun out of q soli
piece of steel. 1t was always the custom
to weld the barrel, building it up fror
several sections. This difficulty set Nj
Munson to thinking aud the final resul
was, after much persevering and undaunt
ed labor that would have discourage
many, Mr.. Munson solved the problem, OF
which had bsfled SO many. He invente
q little machine which bored the hole fc
the gun barrel straight as die throug
one solid rod of steel.
Before this it had besn impossible to t..
Just in what direction the drill was BORN,
as It was bound to bore at one side or th
| other of the center. Mr.. Munson's litt
| machine is still used in boring out tt
barrels of steel guns all over the country
nothing to take its place or suparcede
having ever been devised.
: Mr.. Munson worked at gun making f,
many years, and was able to lay the -four
q dation of considerable fortune Leavir
the Whitneyville armory he became Il
] senior member of the firm of Munsol
Morse & Co., dealers In saddlery in Temp
q street. Mr.. Munson retired from this bus
ness about twenty years ago, but was
very active old gentleman up to the tin
n of his last illness from pneumonia, whic
was of only thirty hours duration. Du
ing his later years he settled many estat
in HamdeD, and many of the older res
r dents thought no one could perform tn
business quite as we'll as Mr.. Munson.
e Up to the breaking out of the war
f the rebellion he was democrat, but the
8 became a republican. Twice he Iepr
:. sented his native town in the legislator
Il and during his useful life had held all
@ the principal Offices in the town. Early
Q the rebellion he was au active assistant
o helping Hamden fill her quota of trool
and none did so much in this line. The
o services were so much commended that Il
y town presented him with handsome clot
| and a gold headed cane