Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in practice for many years, is a member
of an old New England family, the members
of which are identified with Derby,
Connecticut, for many years and afterwards
removed to various parts of the
country.
Dr. Munson's grandfather, George Munson,
was a native of Connecticut, and
was left an orphan by the death of his
parents when he was a small child. For
a time he made his home with rela-
tives, and later went to Breakneck,
Maine, where he became in time a dealer
in stone on a large scale. It was Mr.
Munson who supplied the stone for the
construction of the great "High Bridge"
in New York City, across the Harlem
Valley, and while that structure was being
erected he removed to the city and
made his home in its vicinity for some
years. While in New York he accumu-
lated considerable real estate. He also
established a coal, lumber and stone yard
at Hastings-on-the-Hudson, and after a
time opened a grocery store in connec-
tion with his other business, which en-
terprise proved successful. He married
Frances Jones, and they were the parents
of several children, one of whom was
Ezra Edwin Munson, the father of Dr.
Munson of this sketch.
Ezra Edwin Munson was born in 1844,
in New York City, New York, and was
seventeen years of age when the Civil
War between the North and South broke
out. He was anxious to join the Union
army but his parents, thinking him too
young to endure the hardships of a sol-
dier's life, sent him to the West to visit
his cousins in Illinois, hoping that the
war fever would be less there than in the
East. They were mistaken, however,
and the youth, taking advantage of his
opportunity, promptly enlisted as a pri-
vate in Company C, 36th Regiment, Illi-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
387
nois Volunteer Infantry, and served for
three years in the army. He took part in
many engagements and was wounded
severely in the thigh. After the close of
hostilities, he returned to his home and
was taken into partnership by his father
in the latter's coal, lumber and stone business
at Hastings-on-the-Hudson, and he
was also active in the grocery establishment
there. After two years of this as-
sociation the elder man retired from ac-
tive management, and the son took over
the entire business which he conducted
successfully until 1883. In that year he
sold out his interests to Jno. Bonnett, his
brother-in-law, went on the road as a
wholesale grocery salesman, and continued
in that line until his death. He
married Emma S. Zarr, of Bedford, New
York. Mrs. Munson was a woman of
strong character and most lovable personality,
a Baptist in religious belief, who
was much beloved both by her family and
the host of friends she made. They were
the parents of five children, four of whom
survive, as follows : Lillian Louise, now
a deaconess of the Episcopal church at
Yonkers; Leonard W., with whom we
are especially concerned ; Laura, who became
the wife of Frederick Cummings, of
Yonkers ; Lester D. ; Herbert E.
Leonard W. Munson was born November
16, 1868, at Hastings-on-the-Hudson,
New York. He received his education in
the public schools of his native place. He
completed his preparation for college at
the Hastings High School, in the build-
ing designed and constructed by his
grandfather, and then matriculated at
Fort Edwards College. After his grad-
uation from that institution, which took
place in 1887, he remained there for three
years in the capacity of instructor, and
then went to New York City, where he
secured a clerical position in a hardware