The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26
JUDGE MUNS0N, SKETCH BY
HON. J. X. BATCHELDER

hemofiai Address at Recent bar Asso-
citation. Life Of Chief Justice. In.
teresting Sketch Written by Mr..
Batehelder at Request of Commit.
tee.
Hon. ]. X. Batehelder al the annual
meeting Of the Vermont Bar Assoeia-
tion read a memorial sketch Of the late
Chief Justice Loveland Munson OF
Manchester. This article was highly
commended by those present. Follow
ing are the principal portions Of the
memorial.
Loveland Munson, the subject Of this
sketch, was born on the 2lst day Of
July, 1913, in the same house in which
he lived all his life and where he died
March "a, 1921.
The early ancestry Of Judge Nun
son, on both sides, was Of good old
English stock.
On his fathers side he was the
eighth in descent from Thomas Mum
son who came from England to Con-
necticut prior to 1888, the exact year
I cannot state. The records show that
he was a soldier in the Pequot War
and one Of the pioneer settlers Of the
New Haven Colony in 1888.
On his mothers side he descended
from the Wolcott and Loveland fam
lilies, the former prominent in the
Colonial and later history Of Connec-
ticut.
His great-grandfather, Jared Mum
son, came with a brother from Gran
vile, Mass, to Manchester, VT, in
1778. He became a prominent citizen
OF the town; was loyal to the cause Of
American independence and had such
faith in its final success that he pur-
chased lands confscated from the
Tories under the Ira Allen scheme.
Judge Munson's father, Cyrus Mum
son, was farmer, and substantial
citizen Of Manchester, respected by all
his fellow citizens for his integrity, |
sound judgment and public spirit He
died in early middle life when his son
Loveland, an only child, was fourteen
years old. He built in 1884 the brick
house in which Judge Munson was
born and, at that time, it was the
finest residence in town save one. 1t
is situated on the main thoroughfare
between Manchester Village on the
Hill and Manchester Center.
I saw Judge Munson once VIXEN a
lad at his home in about 1858. re-
member well how he looked; very tall
for his years, slim, and straight as an
arrow; but so delicate, pale and
fragile that I thought his life must
soon go out.
1t was his philosophy Of life, his
methodical way Of living, his temper
ance in all things, his constant
though not severe exercise, and per-
haps above all his freedom from
and his almost absolute con-
troll over his angry passions that car
ried him through.
Judge Munson's education in his
childhood was obtained in the common
schools Of Manchester. Later at Burr /;
and Burton Seminary located in that i
own. He entered that institution at ,
he age Of ten years and continued
here as a regular student, usually
staying out in the spring term to help |
IN the farm, until 1862, when he grad {
iated. During those years he lived at I
iome about mile away. 7
1t was in the fall of 1858, while {
,e was a student there, that first
became acquainted with him and for Z
,early two years / was fellow stu
lent, though not in the same classes L
With him. I
He was a good student, and always G
here, except that occasionally he was G
Ibsent for a day or two by reason Of i
llness. h
He excelled all others there in i
and had had the longest
experience in that art. 7
We, at the Seminary, all understood q
hat he purposed to make the profess o
ion and practice of law his life's !,
york. y
He was a modest, silent and unas- v
uming young man, respected by c
very one Of US, though not easy Of 4
pproach. But I saw him at times 4
ssisting other students in the lower a
rades in their studies, and he seemed
leased 20 do so. But be had no in O
mstes. ] do not know that he ever Il
ad except his own family ei
Directly after leaving the Seminary 4
+ commenced the study ~ 'aw n the u
s gf Elias B Burton. then a prac- q
trrer 81 long standing. and an ex- 5
uef lawyer He continued there as ).
aeut until the June Term 1866 Of q
saington County Court al which :,