WI BIO - Dane Co - BUNN, Romanzo
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol I, pp 252-253

Hon. Romanzo BUNN, U. S. District Judge for the Western District of WI, and 
at present lecturer on Federal Jurisprudence in the Evanston College 
[Evanston, Cook County, IL], whose honorable career as a jurist, barrister, 
and lecturer has extended over many years and has been closely and laudably 
connected with the courts of WI, is a self-made man, chiefly educated by his 
own efforts. The path of his early life was not strewn with roses, and he 
has won his way on the upward course of an honorable career of a most worthy 
citizen through many hardships, but is now enjoying himself and reaping the 
benefits of a well-rounded life, surrounded by a host of friends and honored 
and respected by all. His palatial home is situated on the magnificent 
residence street, the Langdon, in the city of Madison, Dane County, WI, and 
overlooks the silvery lake of Mendota.

Romanzo BUNN was born in Otsego County, NY, on 24 Sep 1829. He was only 
three years of age when his parents moved to Cattaraugus County, NY, where 
his early years were spent upon a farm, and grew up with only ordinary 
educational advantages, and as he expresses it himself, "Just about as poor 
as one can be." However, he was not lacking in energy and ambition, and 
through is own efforts received a practical education, first in the public 
schools and then at Springville Academy, NY, working his way through school 
by teaching, but always regretting that he had not the opportunity to take a 
regular college course. While in school and teaching school, young BUNN was 
giving some attention to BLACKSTONE, and after the style of most young men of 
his day, seeking to become lawyers, he first entered the office of McAckerson 
& Myers, at Elyria [Lorain County], OH, in the spring of 1849, at the age of 
19. In the spring of 1850, he entered the law office of William H. WOOD, at 
Ellicottville [Cattaraugus County], NY, a very excellent lawyer, and now and 
for many years past the trustee of the COUCH estate in Chicago. Here he 
pursued his studies, practicing the law, some in the courts of justice of the 
peace and teaching during the winters, until the fall of 1853, when he was 
admitted to the bar, and immediately found partnership with Mr. WOOD, which 
continued until they both removed West in the autumn of 1854.

In 1854 Romanzo BUNN wedded Sarah PURDY, who was born, reared, and educated 
in Otsego County, NY, and had come of stock in which flowed some of the best 
blood of New England and of NY, in which place both parents died. The Judge 
and his young bride were of ambitious nature and decided to join those who 
were making history and taking part in the development of the great West. 
Consequently they started for WI, and before snow had fallen in the winter of 
1854-1855, they had established themselves in a small house [p 253] in the 
then comparatively new town of Galesville [Trempealeau County], WI, and were 
young BUNN signified his willingness to conduct the legal affairs of the 
people of the town. Here began his career. At first his prospects were not 
very inviting, but honest integrity won him friends and brought him business. 
Always prompt and universally polite, he possessed those qualities which 
help any man to success. After six years of industrious labor in Galesville, 
he was induced to locate at Sparta, WI, which was the seat of justice of 
Monroe County, where he soon became a prominent member of the bar, and his 
career as jurist began. In 1860, before he had left Trempeauleau County, WI, 
Mr. BUNN represented the people of his district in the Assembly of that year. 
From 1861 he was in active practice as an attorney at Sparta, with good 
success. In 1868 he was elected Circuit Judge for the 6th Circuit of WI, and 
was re-elected in 1874, and held the office until Oct 1877, when he was 
appointed by President HAYES to the office of U. S. Judge for the western 
district of WI, and has to his own credit, and with great distinction for his 
wise and honorable decisions served this district continuously. The law 
reviews and the work called "Bench and Bar" make honorable and complimentary 
mention of him as an able and honest jurist. He has not been greatly 
interested in local or State politics, but affiliates with the Republican 
party. Judge and Mrs. BUNN attend the Congregational Church, although they 
are not members of it.

Nothing shows the good qualities of the Judge better than his honest, open 
and happy countenance, and his pleasant and approachable manner, treating 
rich and poor, acquaintances and strangers with a like courtesy. The Judge's 
family dates back some generations and seems to have been an admixture of New 
England, NY, and Holland stock. His father, Peter BUNN, born in NY, grew up 
a farmer, followed his calling diligently, held some of the local 
offices, and died of a fever in Cattaraugus County, NY, at the age of 54 
years. Although he came of long lived, hearty stock, he was thus cut down in 
the prime of life. The mother of our subject was named Polly A. JACKSON, and 
after the death of her husband she came to WI, spent her last years among her 
children, and died at the age of 71 years. She had been a kind, good wife, 
an affectionate mother, and both she and her husband had been members of the 
Methodist Church.

Judge Romanzo BUNN and his estimable wife are the happy parents of five 
children, of whom Charles W. and George L. are prominent and prospering young 
attorneys in St. Paul, MN; John M. is employed in a bank in Tacoma [Pierce 
County], WA, and Mary and Fannie remain at home. For seven years Judge BUNN 
was a lecturer in the law class of the WI State University, and the Evanston 
College is to be congratulated that it has secured for the important subject 
of Federal Jurisprudence so good a lawyer as the subject of this sketch.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly