The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-03-31
LovELAND MuNsoN

LONELAND MINs0N
In the early evening n Thursdag
March oath, on the anniversary Of ths
death Of his widowed mother, Love.
land Munson peacefully passed 70 the
realm beyond and thus ended long
career. faithful IN is service 70 the
highest of ideals. fruitful on accom-
plishmcnt beyond the dreams Of the
ordinary individual, and married by no
event to detract N any why from the
memory which win bc cherished by
his family, his townspeople and his
associates at the bar and on the
bench
Judge Munson's ancestry was Of the
good pioneer stock Of Connecticut
from which Vermont drew So many Of
her abest sons On his fathers side
he was eighth in descent from Captain
Thomas Munson, founder Of the
Hartford and New Haven colonies and
on his mothers side he was descended
from the Loyeland and Woleott fam
lilies also Of Connecticut The first
Munsons 20 settle in Manchester were
two Of the sons Of Ephraim Munson Of
Granville, Mass, Jared and Thaddeus.
or his great-grandfather Jared, Judge
Munson wrote, "He must have had
abundant faith In the American cause,
for all the land he bought on coming
here in ITS was property taken from
The Tories by confseation, the title Of
which depended upon success"
As one enters the main gate Of
Dellwood Cemetery the first stones on
the left mark the graves Of Judge
Munson's grandparents, Rufus and
Bethiah (Burton) Munson. The form
er died in early manhood and on the
tombstone, Erected by Bethiah," we
read that he left four children, "the
first letters Of their names are c. NJ,
J. NJ, b. NJ, and p. NJ" C. NJ. was
Cyrus Munson, the father Of Loveland
Munson, n man who had few oppor-
tunities because Of the early death Of
his father, but who was a substantial
citizen, respected for his integrity, /
cool judgment and public spirit. !
Cyrus Munson died in early middle
life and when his son was only Ia.
Judge Munson accordingly missed a
fathers guidance but he had all the
opportunities for education which the
town afforded.
After graduation from Burr and
Burton Seminary in 1862, Judge Mum
son studied law in the Office Of f. b.
Burton with whom he later entered
into partnership. He sometimes re-
marked Of his preparation for admis-
sion to the bar that he might have
been a better read lawyer II his legal
studies had not been carried on during
the stirring days Of the Civil War
when news from the front was Of
more Importance than Blackstone and
Kent AT about this time he was for
few years editor Of the Manchester
Journal and wrote many patriotic ed
itorials.
Judge Munson was married on May
4, 1882, to Mary Burton, the only
daughter Of Rev. A. d. Campbell Of
Mcndon, Illinois. Mrs. Munson's
grandmother. Polly Munson Hollister,
was the only sister Of Judge Munson's
father, so there were ties Of kinship
between them as well as affection and
both valued their common heritage.
Judge Munson was Town Clerk
from 1866 TO 1878. Registrar Of Pro-
bate from 1866 to 1876. represented
Manchester in the Legislatures Of
1872, 1874 and 1882, was senator
from Bennington County in 1878 and
Judge Of Probate from 1883 TO 1889.
In 1889 he was appointed an Associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court Of Yer
mont By Governor Dillingham; and he
ended his judicial career as Chief Jus
tice on February /, 1917, outranking
in length Of service all but two or
three other members Of the court from
It's earliest days He held public o. /
fee q one nature or another FOR so