Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-11-20
CAPT ERNEST w. GIBSON.
The New Commander of Company ! and
His Military Record-Lieut. Davis and
Serneant Ratchelder Promoted


Captain Ernest w. Gibson is the new
commanding officer of company |, list
Infantry, Vermont National Guard MIR.
Gibson was the unanimous choice of the
members of the company at a meeting in
the new company headquarters in Bank
building Friday evening. The meeting
was held to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Capt Ernest j. Waterman.
who resigned because of an appointment
as assistant clerk on the Senate com
mttee on agriculture and forestry in
Washington, ID. c., and to fill such other
vacancies as might exist. Second Lieu
tenant Charles ii. Davis was elected first
lieutenant to succeed Captain Gibson, and
Sergeant Wallace Il. Batchelder was elect
ed to succeed Lieutenant Davis. Ser
geants Fred Dunklee and Fayette Miller
were in line for promotion to the position
of second lieutenant, but did not wish to
be promoted. Col. j. Gray Estey pre-
| sided, and after the election announced
| that the examination for commissions
would be held about Dec. is.
Captain Gibson was born in London
derry 81 years ago The first 20 years
of his life he spent working on a farm and
attending the common schools. Later he
attended Black River Academy in Lud-
| low, Norwich University in Mortified,
| this state, and the law department of
the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor,
working his way through college. Nor
| witch University conferred upon him the
degree of Bachelor of Science at the time
of his graduation in 1894. and the de-
| greee of Master of Arts in 1897 for mer-
itorous work. He was principal OF the
| High and graded schools of Chester from
1894 to 1895 In 1899 he came to Brat
tleboro. and was admitted to the Yer
| mont bar in that year. He is a mem
| Der of the faculty of Norwich University
being lecturer on constitutional and com
| mercial law and social science, and is one
| of the trustees of that institution. He is
a member of the law firm OF Waterman q
Martin, deputy clerk of the United States
courts for the district OF Vermont and one
| of the veStrymen of st. Michaers Epis-
| copal church of Brattleboro.
Captain Gibson enlisted in company
| Aug. 3, 1899, was appointed sergeant Dec
| 3, of the same year, was appointed ad-
jutant of the first battalion June 25 1901
and was elected LIST lieutenant oct. 2S
| 1901 He married Miss Grace Hadley OF
| Chester in 1896. They have three chill
| dren
First Lieutenant Davis enlisted in the
company May 5. 1892. He was promoted
corporal Dec. 10. 1895, sergeant in 1897
first sergeant May "a, 1900, and second
lieutenant Jan. 81, 1908. He served rs
sergeant during the Spanish war. being
with the regiment at Chickamauga. He
received from Governor Stickney a To-
year service badge at the annual mus
ter of the regiment in 1902.
Second Lieutenant Batchelder was q
member of the first United States Vol
unteer Cavalry, RooseVelts Rough
Riders at Tampa, Fla. and MontauR
Point, l.. l., during the Spanish war. He
was appointed first lieutenant in the
United States Infantry by President
dent Mckinley Aug II, 1899 and served
in the Philippine Islands in the 10th In
fantry. He was in the expedition on tn,
South line with General Schwan's hynl
column, and was mustered out of tn,
United States service May 81. 1901. He
enlisted in company l Feb. &c, 1902, and
was appointed sergeant Aug. l, 1902.