Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-22

CALCULATIONS TO Governor Holbrook and
the people of the Green Mountain state
that he has been spared to them in such
long and honorable career"
Governor Pattison of Ohio requests
that his greetings be extended to Gov
crnor 1Iolbrook and with them his best
wishes for many more years of a hap
py and contented life.
How beautiful is the sunset Of life
when that life has pecn one of blessing
to mankind and of glory to its Maker
Governor 1iolbrook is surely one of
Nermont's Grand Old Men"
Ex-Governor Frederick Holbrook Is
the Oldest ex-governor in the United
states and the only surviving "war gov
crnor.' Ex-Governor HolbroolS spent the
day much as usual, but there were GER
tain features to mark the anniversary
Many of his neighbors and intimate
friends paid their respects to him ny call
ing while others sent flowers. Vermont
ers have reason 10 be proud or ex-Gover-
nor lIolbrook because of his record IN pri-
vate life as well as his public career. As
chief executive of the State in the dark
days of threa tened conflict and in actual
warfare great opportunities and great re-
sponsiblities met him in the way, but he
was fully equal to the emergency. His
tory has recorded his loyalty and his
promptness in preparing Vermont for her
honorable share in the great contest for
the freedom of the slave and the perpet-
ual union of tho States. Even national
administration in the midst or trying diff
culties had full confidence in the clear
mndedness, the quick decision and the
n II
wisely accepted his suggestions. Mr.. Hol-
brook is a man of remarkable mental
vigor for one of his years, the result or
Steadfast adherence to correct habits
formed in boyhood. He was the youngest
Of 10 children of John Holbrook, and was
born in Warehouse Point, Conn. At the
age Of l6 years he was sent to the Berk-
shire gymnasium in Pittsfeld. Mass
whore for two years he studied mathe-
mates and the higher English branches
under Principal Chester Dewey and Vice
Principal Mar hopkins, the latter after
ward president Of Williams College He
was elected captain of the Floodwood mil
lila company in Brattleboro, an awkward
company of Young men, soon afte' his re-
turn from school, and he bore the title of
captain until he was elected governor
w Htti ne WIS IN years Ola ne went 10 BOS
ton, whore he was in business two years
lie was - member OF the Handel and
Haydn society and of Lowell Masons
church choir. and alters his return to
Brattleboro he was for 10 years choir
leader in the congregational Church. At
the age of Il he married Harriet Goodhue
of Brattlcborc. few years later his IA
Their died and he then took up farming. to
which the years of his mature life were
devoted. lie read widely on 1, @ scientific
side Of agricultural topics and gained a
reputation rs a writer for the agricultural
press. in the years of 1910 and 1850 he
was Il member of the Vermont Senate. He
drew up a memorial to Congress and the
President in 1919, stating reasons why II
national bureau Of agricultural should be
established. In that year President Tay-
lor. in his annual message, recommended
the establishment of such a bureau. In
doubtcdly Governor IIolbrooks mcmoria
WAS the initial movement which resulted
in the department of agriculture as it cx-
lists to-day He was president of the Ntr-
mont state Agricultural society from its
organization in 1850 until he was elected
governor in 1851. He was reelected gov
e1nor in 1861 lie was reelected governor
in 1862. ono of the most valuauIc services
performed by him for the people of Yer
mont was in securing the establishment
Of "A military hospital in Brattcboro. In
December. 1862, Governor IIolbrook and
his staff went to Washington to try to
secure the establishment of such an in
sttution in Vermont. Secretary Stanton
and others urged we'll founded objections
To tho plan. but Governor lIolbrook was
80 much In earnest that the secretary
finally consented and in the following
February the hospital was ready. During
the summer the hospital was full, invalid
soldiers being sent from other States
treatment at a time. Camp Governor
Hobrook." as it was called, is now being
marked by a granite bowlder by the pa
triotic societies of Vermont. On laying
down the cares of Office, Governor Hol-
brook dropped quietly back into the ranks
Of private life but kept up his interest
in agricultural affairs. At one time he
won gold medal offered by the New
York State Agricultural society for a
pillow to be drawn by three horses abrea ST.
which should turn up stiff clay soil from
Il furrow "A foot deep and 10 inches wide,
pulverizing it and not laying it over in "a
slab. He designed the plow and held It
himself Governor Uolbrook's wife died
in 1887.