Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-08-08
A Sketch of Col. Hooker,s Life.

A Sketch OF Col. Hooker's Life.
George White Hooker was born in
Salem, N. Y, February 6, 1898, the
son of Samuel S. Hooker and Esther
White Hooker. 1he father was a
successful hotel keeper, first in Lon
donderry, and later in Salem. N. Y,
but he died in Norfolk Va, when his
son was an infant. The elder
Hooker was at that time engaged in
the cotton trade.
Col. Hooker's boyhood was spent in
Londonderry, where he was brought
up in his mothers family. His edu-
cation in the public school was sup
plemented by study in the West River
academy. At an early age he was
employed as clerk in a store at ia
maica, and later in similar occupation
in Londonderry and Bellows Falls.
He went from the latter place to Bos-
ton as travelling salesman for s. & ].
G. Flint, dealers in teas and coffees.
and in this capacity was one of the
early and very successful knights of
the road"
He gave up his employment to
serve his country in the civil war,
where his bravery won him promo
tion and distinction. His brilliant
career as a soldier is recorded in
detail in another column. At the
close Of the war he returned to Bos-
ton to enter the employ of Carr,
Chase & Raymond, wholesale gro
GERS, in whose interests he travelled
through the eastern and western
states. In the spring of 1868, he
organized the firm of William Belden
& Co.. bankers and brokers. in New
York city, he being junior member
of the firm. He did a successful
business in New York as a member
of this and other similar firms until
1876. In the latter year he moved to
Brattleboro, and this town has since
been his home. In 1882 he bought
the historical Hunt place at the corn
er of Main and High streets, and
moved there in June, 1888, after i'm
proving and renovating this old colo
nial mansion.
In 1878 Col. Hooker was appointed
chief of staff, with the rank of colonel
by Gov. Redfield Proctor. In 1880
he was a delegate at large to the
national Republican convention in
Chicago, and in the same year was
chosen the Vermont member of the
national Republican committee. He
was elected to the executive board of
the national committee and made its
secretary. In association with Gov.
Marshall Jewell and S. w. Dorsey, he
had charge of the presidential cam
paign of 1880, which resulted in the
triumphal election of James A. Gar
field as president of the United States.
His department comprised the east
ern states and New York. and night
and day, with intelligent and honest
earnestness, Col. Hooker labored to
achieve success. The high order of
ability which he displayed in this cam
palgn was recognized in numerous
ways by many of the leading Repub-
licans of the country
In the fall of 1880 he was chosen by
a handsome majority to represent
Brattleboro in the state legislature,
and served therein on committees on
military forces and public buildings.
During the session, he was unani-
mously elected Judge advocate gen.
eral by the legislature. He was re-
elected to the legislature of 1882, and
again rendered satisfactory service
as chairman of the committee on ways
and means, and as a member of
other important committees. At this
session., he introduced the corporation
tax law, which provided that the
funds for the payment of state ex-
penses be raised by direct state taxes
levied upon corporate franchise or
business within the state, of railroad,
telegraph, insurance, banking, manu-
featuring and other companies.
II xtrIf oh
Hooker ever filled brought him so
prominently before the people of the
entire country as that of sergeant at
arms of the House of Representa-
tives in the 47th Congress. He dis
charged the trying duties of this posi-
ton to the entire satisfaction of both
parties. The Washington cores
pondent of a noted western paper
said that Col. Hooker was the first
sergeant at arms of the House who
did not use his position to become a
lobbyist. He gave dignity to the
office, and managed his room like a
we'll conducted bank. This cores
pondent stated that Col. Hooker
might have made thousands of dol
lars out of the possibilities of his
position, as some of his predecessors
did, but "he chose the better part
and has the respect of the community
and of George w. Hooker"
The management of the memorial
services in honor of President Gar
| field were arranged under his direc
ton. At the celebration of the cen
tennial anniversary of the battle OF
Bennington in 1877, he was marsha
of the second division and led regi
ment of nearly 500 Grand Army vet
Grams from Windham county. In
| 1879 he was elected commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic in Yer
mont, and was again elected in the
| following year. He also received the
unusual compliment of nomination fo
a third term, but positively declined
election. Col. Hooker was strongly
supported for Congress in 1S9l
against Gen. w. w. Grout.
This sketch recounts briefly SOM
of the more important positions il
public service which Col. Hooker ha
filled. He has been at different time
president of the state agriculture
society, president of the Vernon
Horse Breeders association, and h
has been for II years the presiden
and the leading spirit in the develoI
ment of the Valley Fair in Brattlt
boro. He has served his town a
chairman of the board of selectmer
as chairman of the village bailiffs, a
. road commissioner, and in variou
other capacities. AS a presiding O
| fcer esuecially at conventions cam