The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-08-17

Estey, was educated in the public schools and
at Norwich University and Is now in the
prime of life. being 40 years old. As soon as
he was u years old he was admitted to part
nersllip with the firm ofJ Estey & Co, now
the Estey Organ Co. in the manufacture of
organs, and has for years been the treasurer
ana the financial man of the concern. For
the past I'D years also he has been president of
the Peoples National Bank at Bratteboro.
ne represented the town In the legislature of
1876, was county senator in 1882, and in 1888
was delegate at large to the Republican Ma
tiona convention and influential in bringing
about the nomination of Harrison. His relig-
ious and charitable activities are multifariolls,
as president of the Brattleboro Y NJ CA,
treasurer and trustee of the Mortified, Mass,
Seminary for young ladies, trustee of Mt Her.
mon school, treasurer of the Vermont Acad-
! envy at SaXtons River, and president of the
board of managers of the Baptist state con-
yention. He has also been president of the
Baptist State Sunday School Association, in
all these duties and in life generally display
ing healthy and well-rounded Christian char
acter.
His military life began when he was Il boy
in the militia. In 1874 he recognized and
fitted out the Brattleboro company as the Is
tey Guard, of which he was elected Captain.
In 1881 he was chosen Lieutenant Colonel, in
1856 Colonel and in 1892 Brigadier General.
He was also Colonel on Gov Fairbanks staff
1868.
He welded in 1867 Florence, daughter of
Or. Henry Gray of Cambridge, n Y, and she
has borne him three children, Capt Jacob
Gray, Capt Julius Henry and Guy Carpenter.
--<sb----
The Old Camp Ground
The camp-ground was laid out in the win
ter of 02 and the barracks were occupied at
different times by the 10th, 18th, 18th, 18th,
18th, 10th and 10th regiments. The Sth had
what were known as "knOcked down" houses,
being built of wood, and some of the build
ings were taken south with the regiment.
There were some 80 or 60 barracks. enough
for the accommodation of three regiments.
They were built under the supervision of
GOV Holbrook, and two or three still remain
on the grounds. At the close of the war quite
number of these barracks were removed
and transformed into cheap tenement-houses
Gov Holbrook, DR. Lyman of Royalton, and
surgeon 2 e Phelps of Windsor. who was
afterward in charge of the hospital, went to
Washington in the winter of '62 and interced-
ed with President Lincoln and Secretary
Seward for the establishment of a govern
ment hospital in Vermont. The president
had doubts of the eXpediency of such ac-
ton but finally granted the request with
the understanding that the state of Ver- :
mont should furnish the buildings and bed
ding, the government agreeing to supply the
hospital stores. Brattleboro was chosen as
the most convenient place for hospital.
which was the first to be established in the ,
United States, and which afterwards became
a United States hospital, the government
taking full charge. Soldiers from every state
in the Union north of Mason and Dixon's line
were sent there, and at the time of Grants
in the Wilderness, when they were
sending back from the front every soldier not
fitted for duty, there were as many as 100
men at the hospital at one time.
According to the records of George +.
Greene of Brattleboro, who was hospital
steward for 2 IL years, no less than 1000
patients were treated at the hospital Gov
reasoned that men would recover
more rapidly in their own state. hence many
Vermonters were brought back to Brattle-
boro from the front for treatment. The old
barracks which stood on the brow of the hill
Oh the east side of the camp-ground were
moved back to the side of the present fair
buildings to give place to the hospital 1t is u
fact that there were more recoyeries in this
han in any other hospital subsequently estab-
ished. Only score of men were buried in
3rattleboro whose bodies were unclaimed by
elatve or friend, their graves being in the
'lllage cemetery surrounded by hedge of
.reen and cared for by the government Be-
ides the three or four barracks now stand
lg, the old tree under which so many men
we're mustered into service is living remind
OF tn eveterans' camp fire. Republican.