Bennington

MUNSON, Loveland

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 283-284

Loveland MUNSON, of Manchester, was born 21 July 1843 in Manchester 
[Bennington County, Vermont], son of Cyrus and Lucy (LOVELAND) MUNSON. The 
first ancestor of Mr. MUNSON to become a resident of Vermont was Jared 
MUNSON, who emigrated from Lanesboro [Berkshire County], Massachusetts, and 
settled on a portion of the land on which Manchester village now stands. His 
son Rufus was born in 1762 and accompanied his father to Manchester, where he 
died at the age of thirty-five in 1797. Cyrus MUNSON, son of Rufus, was born 
in Manchester 22 January 1790, and was twice married. His first wife, to 
whom he was married 10 August 1811, was Catherine WALKER, who died in 18??. 
[The last two numbers in the date are blank.] On 16 November 1841 he [Cyrus 
MUNSON] married Lucy, daughter of Deacon Asa LOVELAND. Mr. MUNSON led the 
life of a quiet, industrious farmer, was honored by election to different 
town offices, and died on 01 October 1857.

Loveland MUNSON received a good academic education. Choosing the legal 
profession, he began the study of law in 1862 in the office of Elias B. 
BURTON. Admitted to the bar of Bennington County in June 1866, he at once 
entered into copartnership with his former preceptor. The firm of Burton & 
Munson, while it continued, had a good practice, as did afterward its junior 
member when alone. Mr. MUNSON occupied for many years a prominent place in 
the political affairs of the state. About 1866 he was elected member and 
afterward chairman of the Republican county committee; served as such for 
several years; was made chairman of the Republican district committee; and 
was continued in this for several years. From 1863 to 1866 Mr. MUNSON edited 
the "Manchester Journal" and his interest in literature he has always kept 
alive. In 1882 he delivered an excellent address on "The Early History of 
Manchester," and in the latter year declined further election because of the 
pressure of professional pursuits. From December 1866 to December 1876, he 
was register of probate for the district of Manchester. He was a member of 
the famous Constitutional Convention of 1870.

In 1872 Mr. MUNSON entered the Vermont Legislature as the representative of 
the town of Manchester. During the session of that year he served on the 
committees on the judiciary and on railroads, and also on a special joint 
committee appointed to investigate the affairs of the Central Vermont 
Railroad. The latter assembled after the adjournment of the Legislature, and 
made its report to the Governor. Again elected to the House in 1874, he 
served in the session following as chairman of the judiciary committee. He 
received a large vote for the speaker's chair in competition with Judge H. H. 
POWERS. In 1878 he represented Bennington County in the Senate, and 
receiving the honor of an election to the presidency pro tem, was for that 
reason excused from all committee service, except that on rules, of which 
committee he was chairman.

Mr. MUNSON was again returned to the House in 1882, and by the action of his 
friends was made a candidate for the speakership against Hon. J. L. MARTIN, 
but the latter was elected. At this session he was chairman of the general 
committee and was also a member of the judiciary committee. His sound sense 
and absolute sincerity gave him the leadership on the floor of the two Houses 
in which others carried off the honors of the speakership. Strong in debate, 
his speeches uniformly commanded the close and respectful attention of his 
colleagues, and almost always their hearty support of measures advocated by 
him.

In May 1883 he received the appointment of judge of probate for the district 
of Manchester, succeeding Judge Ranney HOWARD, deceased. He was appointed by 
Gov. ORMSBEE in 1887 chairman of a committee authorized by the Legislature of 
1886 to revise and redraft the school laws and incorporate with their 
revision new features to improve the schools and present the same in the form 
of a bill. The bill so drafted with some few changes became the school law 
enacted in 1888. Judge MUNSON was in September 1889, upon the resignation of 
Judge VEAZEY, appointed sixth assistant judge of the Supreme Court, and in 
1890 was elected fourth assistant judge of that court, which position he now 
holds by re-election in 1892.

Judge MUNSON's fairness, studious habit, and literary skill rendered him a 
most valuable acquisition to the bench, and his peculiar ability as a 
presiding officer helps to keep up the well-deserved reputation the Vermont 
trial courts have won as places where law is administered with fit dignity 
and decorum. On 04 May 1882 Judge [Loveland] MUNSON married Mary B., 
daughter of Rev. Alexander B. and Anna M. (HOLLISTER) CAMPBELL, of Mendon 
[Adams County], Illinois.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly