The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-01-21
JUDGE MvNSON,
SKETCH BY HON.
]. K. BATCHELDER
Memorial Address at Recent
Bar Association
LIFE OF CHIEF JUSTICE
Interesting Sketch Written By
Mr.. Batchelder at Request
Of Committee

Hon J, X Batchelder at the ANNA
meeting Of the Vermont Bar Assoc a
tion read memorial sketch Of the
Late Chief Justice Lovoand Munson OF
Manchester. This article was highly
commended by those present Fol
lowing are the prlacipal portions OF
tho memorial.
Loveland Munson, the subject Of this
sketch, was born on tho 2lst day OF
July lS43. In the same house In which
he lived all his life and where he died
March "a. 1921.
Tho carly 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 Nun
son who came from England TO Con
nccticut prior to 1898, the exact year
cannot state. The records show that
hd was soldier In the PeQuOt War
and ono Of tho pioneer settlers Of tho
Now Haven Colony In 1898
On his mothers side be descended
from tho Woleott and LoyeIand fam.
lilies, tho former prominent ln tho
Colonial and later history Of CoEnec
tcut.
Ills great grandfather, Jared Nun
son, camo with D brother from Gran.
Vile, Mass, ~ Manchester, VI, in
i77s. lie became prominent citizen
Of tho town; was loyal to the cause
Of American independence and had
tas,h faith In It's final success that he
purchased lands con6scated from the
Tories under the Ira Allen scheme.
Judge Munsou'R father, Cyrus Nun
son, vac farmer. and substantial
citlzen Of Manchester, respected by all
his fellow citizens for his integrity,
sound Judgment and public spirit He
died iu early middle life when his son
I.1veland. al only child. was fourteen
yoars old. IIo built In 1884 the brick
house In witch Judge Munson was born
snd, at that time, II was the finest
residence IN town save one. II Is
situated on the main thoroughfaTc be
tween Manchester Village on the HUI
and Mancheste Center.
lsaw Judge Munsou once wh'u a lad
al HIS home In about 1853, | remcm
her vel how he looked; very tall
for his youls, slim, and straight as
an arrow; but 80 delicate, pale and
fragile that | thought his life must
soon 90 out.
It was his philosophy Of life, his
methodical way OF living his temper
ance In all things his constant tho
not severe exercise. aud perhaps above
~ hts freedom from worrying and
hls almost absolute control over his
angry passions that carried him
through.
Judge Mdrson's education IN his
childhood was obtained In the common
schools OF Manchester. Later at Burr
and purtou seminary located In that
town. lie entered that institution al
the age OF ton years and continued
there as a regular student. usually
s,ayius out in the spring term to heip
oo the farm until 1852, when he grad
uo,cd During those years he liHeN
al home about a mile away.
II was In tho fall OF 1888, while
he was student there, that first
became acquainted with him and ior
nearly two years | was a fellow stu
dent, tho not in the same classes WIN
h'm. ,......
Hc was good student, and always
lhofo, except that occasionally he wa ,
ahseut for day or two by reason o'
lne5s. -.
fIc excclod all others thore In decIa'
nation. aud had had the longest eS'
periencc 10 that art.
We. at the Seminary all und'rs'oou
that he purposed to make the proles
alou and practice OF Law his lies worR.
lie was o modest silent and unas'
aiming young man. respected oy
oyerv ono of VI, tho not easy oil
approach. but eBw him at times as
bistng other Students IN the IoWot,
GRADES In their stud ca, aud he seemed
ulcnsed 10 do SO. But hc had no m
limatog do not know that he ever
tpd. except his own lamily'
directly after leaving the som'haIE
be commenced the study of law IN Inc
office Dt ZINE " nhlA'N 'e''' ~
lltIoncr OF long standing, an an en-
ceucn, lawyer tta continued there
asa student until the June Tcrm lSoo
a. bennington County Court at "h'ch
form be was admitted to the bar.
At onco. on hs admission. he found.
nj n law partnership With Mr., Burton
which continued until 1889, when Mr'
Nupsor became o member of the Su'
nreme Court. During that period the
arm Of Burton and Muuson was wen
and favorsbly known, not only IN yer
mont but beyoud lts limits. The latter
pnrt of the time BY reason OF the age
and falling heath Of MIR Burton the
work OF the firm fell mostly to Mr
MunSon
In addition 10 bis law practice, dur
ing six years of the partnership nc
swas Judge Of Probate for the d strict
az Manchester, and he gave to the dis
charge OF the duties OF that office ih'
full moasure ~ his knowledge auo
ability. believing as he did that The
Office was public trust. h. felt that