Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-06
Ex-oovERNoR HoLsRook DEAD
Oldest and One Of the Last Civil War
Executives.

Hon. Frederick Holbrook, former gov
erDor of Vermont, and the oldest ex-gov-
ernor in the United States, died last week
Wednesday at his home In Brattleboro
after an illness of three days. He was 90
years old and one of the last OF the Civil
war executives.
Early In March the aged governor was
taken suddenly i'll, but he rallied from
the attack and for the past month had
been taking his daily drives about Brat
tlsboro and his electrical treatments at
the Brattleboro retreat. A week before
his death he was again taken i'll but as
compared with his earlier illness the at
tack seemed slight. Death was due to
extreme old age.
Frederick aolbrook, afterwards gov
ernor OF Vermont, was born February Is,
1913, in Warehouse Point, Conn. He re-
ceived his early education in the Brattle-
boro schools aud at the age OF Is he v as
sent to the berkshire Gymnasium in
Pittsdeid, Mass Soon after his return
from school be was elected captain Of the
Floodwood militia company. an awkward
company Of young men, and be bore the
title OF Captain until ne became gov
ernor.
When in his 18th year, he went to Bos-
ton, where he became interested in the
book store of Richardson, Lord & HoI-
brook, and remained two years. He be-
came a member OF the Handel aud Hay
den society and of Lowell Mason's church
choir. Upon his return to Brattleboro be
was appointed choir leader OF the Central
Congregational church. which position
he held for 40 years. He continued to
\ take an active interest in church affairs
until bis last Illness.
At the age OF 81, he married Harriet
\ Goodhue, daughter Ct Col. Joseph Good
hue. They settled ia Brattleboro and
three or four years later the death OF his
father led Frederick Hclbrook to take up
farming. During some months spent in
Great Britain when he was 20 years old,
: he carefully observed farm methods in
that country. He read widely on agri-
cultural topics, especially on the scienti-
&c side and soon came to have a reputa-
ton as a scientific farmer. something un-
usual in those days. He wrote extensive
ly for the agricultural press and his writ
ings were given wide publicity, these be-
ing the first things which brought him
into public prominence.
In 1919, Governor Holbrook was elect
ed a member of the Vermont state Senate
and he held that office for two years. At
the session of 1919 joint committee was
appointed to inquire into the expediency
OF recommending an establishment OF a
national bureau OF agriculture, and Gov
ernor Holbrook drew up set Of resoln-
tions addressed to the president and Con-
Rress, stating in detail the reasons for es-
tablishing such a bureau. n was fol-
lowed BY definite recommendation in
President Taylor's annual message to
f.r kos fr.~f hr Tor.
OF such bureau, and undoubtedly was
the primary move which led TO the estnb-
lishment OF the department of agrlenl-
ture as in exists today. He was president
Of the Vermont State Agricultural socie-
ty from its organization in 1850 up to the
time of his election as governor, and this
gave him a wide personal acquaintance.
At the Republican mass convention in
Montpelier in 1851, Frederick Holbrook
was nominated to head the state ticket
and was elected by en- oyerw helming ma
iority the following September. His
, first official act was to suggest to the state
legislature the policy OF paying OF one
I half OF the state war expenses by direct
taxation, and funding the other half in
state bonds to be paid by those OF anoth
er generation. and laws were enacted in
conformity with this suggestion.
, , After his election as governor, Mr.. Hol
brook became a close friend and adviser
of President Lincoln. and at the latter
personal request was asked to writ
! frankly and fully suggesting the bes
manner Of policy and procedure of con
!, Quoting the Civil war as "plain people,
saw il. Governor Rolbrook's letter ma
with President Lincoln's approval ans
1 the suggestions in it were minutely car
: sued q call for 800, 900 three years men
: and 900. 900 nine months men, the min
months men were drafted. but Governo
Holbrook protested that q draft woull
. dampen the enthusiasm Of the men o
: Vermont, and by his request the stat
was allowed to raise its quota by volun
teer enlistment.
e Governor Holbrook was reelected i
: 1852, serving two full terms during tn
e most trying time OF the war. One OF tn
most valuable services for the people {
Vermont was in securing the establish
ment of the military hospital in Brattl,
boro. In December, 1862, Governor Ho
r brook and his staff went to Washingto
!. to try to secure the establishment of ii
Vermont military hospital. Secretar
: Stanton and others urged well-founde
e Lobjections to the plan, but Governor Ho
! brook was so much in earnest that II
secTetarR OF war finally consented. and
the middle of February OF the followin
II year, the hospital was ready. The dis
o bled soldiers soon began to arrive, an
3 during the following summer the hosp
tai was full of invalid soldiers being sci
from other states. From 1900 to 2,0l
lie patients were under treatment at a tim
Is On laying down the cares of offic
= Governor Holbrook dropped quietly baC
~ into the ranks OF private life. He kel
IS up his interest in agricultural affairs al
ID performed valuable services in designir
IN agricultural tools on scientific principl
for RuggIes, Nourse, Mason & Co.
Boston. At one time the New Yol
1t State Agricultural society offered go
e. medal at its meeting in Utica for pic
! to be drawn by three horses abreai
s. which would turn up a stiff clay soil fro
n a furrow a foot deep and 10 inches wit
pulverizing the soil and not laying
to hurry, no need t