Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-08-08

A striking, original, forceful yet
loveable character, that for years
filed an important place in the life
of the community, and at times in
the affairs of the state and the ma
ton; has gone out in the death of Col.
George w. Hooker.
There are three principal aspects to
his lifes record which appeal to public
interest: Col. Hooker as a soldier, as
a man in public life, as a citizen Of
Brattleboro.
mo braver soldier ever lived" is
the sincere tribute of one of his old
comrades, who knew him in battle and
in bivouac. On the field of battle he
faced death and privations absolutely
without fear. and with the same cheer
fulness which made 1t a pleasure to
meet him through all his later years.
in the civil war none of us wholly know.
Wounded five times at Cold Harbor,
and supposed to be beyond the reach
Of surgical skill, he recovered and re-
turned to the field for still further ef-
flcient service. All the world loves
a soldier. and Col. Hooker was the
kind of a soldier to win our adminra-
ton.
Col. Hooker undoubtedly enjoyed
public life. He liked other men, and,
with his attractive presence and pos
sessed of that indefnable quality
which. for lack of a better word we
came his friends.
The two most important public
positions which he ever filled were
as sergeant at arms of the House of
Representatives in the 47th Congress,
and as secretary of the Republican
national committee in the campaign
which resulted in the election of Presi-
dent Garfield. In our own state, the
most notable work in his legislative
career was the introduction of the
corporation tax law. In a general
way, his public record in a wide
sphere of activities is touched upon
elsewhere.
No one was more intensely loyal
to or enthusiastic for Brattleboro than
Col. Hooker. He loved the town,
and was ever ready to lend aid for
the advancement of any cause for
her good. AS selectman, as chair
man of the board of bailiffs, and in
other capacities he worked for the
interests of the town. and he sought
through his work for the Valley Fair
and through many other channels to
advance the good name and the fair
fame of Brattleboro.
His more active business life was
spent elsewhere. but in recent years
he has maintained an active interest,
and has been a great factor in the
| development of one of the leading in.
dustries of the town, the Hooker
Corser & Mitchell company, which
now gives employment to some 20O
hands. He had, in previous years
been connected with several large
corporations and concerns in New
York city, and his work in their be
half has come but little to the knowl
edge of Brattleboro people.
But it is as the man, as a peculiarly
original and lovable character that
he will be longest remembered. Col
Hooker was an optimist 1t was
habitual with him to meet everything
and everybody with a smile and {
pleasant word. Some of his las
words were characteristic, 81 neve
felt better in my life"
That was Col. Hooker all over Tn,
bright and sunny side appealed t,
him. But there were in him man.
veins of the humorous and philisoph
ical. Epigramatic in his remarks
now that he is gone, many of his say
ings come back to us almost with tn
force of proverbs.
Col. Hooker was Col. Hooker. N
one had to think or. speak for hin
Disagree with him at times we NIGH
but our liking for him never changed
What Brattleboro has lost, and wha
We all have lost, individually and co
lectively we shall never know unit
in the days to come we realize that hi
smile and his encouraging words, hi
voice of counsel and comradeship, hi
aid and support in numberless unde