Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

establishment, and there became thor-
oughly acquainted with business meth-
ods. After two years spent in that occu-
pation, the young man determined upon a
professional career, and with this end in
view entered the office of Dr. Erdman
Brant and read medicine under that cap-
able physician's preceptorship. He then
entered the Medical Department of
Georgetown University, Washington,
D. C, from which he was graduated with
the class of 1896, taking his degree of
M. D. The young man was then appointed
assistant surgeon at the Emer-
gency Hospital, Washington, where he
remained about one year. In 1897 he removed
to Stamford, Connecticut, and
there established himself in general prac-
tice, continuing successfully there ever
since. Dr. Munson rapidly made an en-
viable reputation for himself in his
adopted community, and is now one of
the recognized leaders of his profession
in Stamford. He enjoys a large and high
class patronage, and the complete confi-
dence, not only of his clientele, but of his
professional colleagues without exception.
He has always taken a keen interest in
the general advancement of his profession,
the highest standards of which he has
consistently observed in his career, and
is a member of the Stamford Medical So-
ciety, the Fairfield County Medical Soci-
ety, the Connecticut State Medical Soci-
ety and the American Medical Associa-
tion.
Dr. Munson was united in marriage,
April 11, 1897, with Margaret Elizabeth
Berkley, a daughter of George and Louisa
(Reed) Berkley, of Cumberland, Mary-
land, the former a native of Pennsylvania.
Dr. and Mrs. Munson are the parents of
one child, Louise Frances, born March
11, 1900.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
388
RUTLEDGE, James Bernard,
Hotel Proprietor.
The pages of biography tell of the
achievements of men who have succeeded
through their own efforts. These men
can look back on their careers with pride,
and such is true in the case of James
Bernard Rutledge, one of the leading
hotelmen of Fairfield county. Mr. Rut-
ledge was born in County Leitrim, on the
river Shannon, Ireland, September 11,
1884, son of James and Mary (Costello)
Rutledge.
James Rutledge, his father, was born
in the same county, where he is now liv-
ing. He is engaged in the dairy busi-
ness. Mr. Rutledge married Mary Cos-
tello, a native of that county, and they
were the parents of four children, two of
whom are now living. They are : Francis
W. and James B. The former is asso-
ciated with his brother in the hotel busi-
ness.
James Bernard Rutledge received his
education in a Brothers School in Carricon-Shannon,
and also in the schools in
Cambridge, Massachusetts. He came to
America in 1898, and lived for two or
three years in East Cambridge, finding
employment at whatever his hand found
to do. He then went to New York City
and found employment at the Waldorf-
Astoria Hotel, which move was to determine
the entire current of his future life.
For ten years he was at this hotel, starting
as a bell-boy, working his way up
step by step to more important and re-
sponsible work, all the time closely ob-
serving and studying a way in which to
benefit himself. Such perseverance could
not help but be rewarded. There is no
place in the world where human nature
can be better studied than in the hotel
business, and it is a never ending study.