The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-21
SOLDIERS HOME IS
HOST Of BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
Annual Meeting Was Held
There Today
ITS USUAL GOOD RECORD
Institution Has Another Good Record
and Ran Well Within Its
Income

The annual meeting of the trustees
of the Vermont Soldiers Home was
held at the Home today with eight
trustees present as follows:
Col Hugh Henry of Chester, pres
ident; Capt. John A. Sheldon of Rut
land, secretary; Col. John c. Stearns
of Bradford, treasurer; Hon, U. A
Woodbury. of Burlington, Hon. f. J.
Ormsbee of Brandon, Hon c. J. Bell
of Walden, Col. H. e. Taylor of Brat
tleboro, Hon. Justin Dartt of Spring
| field.
The attendance was smaller than
usual owing to the absence from the
state of several trustees and illness
| in the family of two others. Presi.
dent Henry was accomanied by Mrs
Henry and with Gov. Woodbury. were
Mrs. Woodbury. and Miss Wood
bury. Mr. Edwards of Brattleboro
came with Col. Taylor and Capt.
Chamberlain of Bradford with Col.
Stearns.
Hugh Henry was reelected presi-
dent, John A. Sheldon, secretary. John
c. Stearns treasurer. Thomas Harmon,
assistant treasurer. Col. Thomas
Harmon of Bennington was again cho-
sen superintendent and Mrs. Harmon
matron. DR.. l.. H. Ross was again
appointed physician to the Home.
The total number of admissions to
the Home since it was established
have been 657 of whom % were admit
ted during the past year. During the
year there nave been / deaths, max
ing a total of 221 of whom so are bur
led at the Home cemetery. The pres
ent enrolment at the home is 1922
The reports for the past year show
that the institution under the compe-
tent management of Col. Harmon con
tinues to be a credit to the state. The
addition to the hospital has been com
pleted, the buildings painted and roofs
newly slated. The total expense for
the year ending June 30, 1909 was
$50, l0l.12, which is within the income
including the special appropriation
made by the legislature last fall of
$4,000 to complete the repairs. The
net income from the farm, including
the products used at the home during
the year was Sl,921. 6S the largest
in the history of the Home.
Following the meeting the annual
trustees dinner was served and as
usual it was a feature of the occas
ion. Today is the 4Sth anniversary of
the battle of Bull Run and that fact
brought out many interesting remini-
SCIENCES. 1t was at the Battle of Bull
Run that Governor Woodbury. lost his
right arm, compelling aim to give up
the practice of medicine for which he
had prepared himself. He graduated
from medical college 80 years ago this
summer, fact that is known TO com
partiyely few, but after losing his
arm turned his attention to hotel bus
mess in which he has made a disting
uished success.
The first Vermont soldier killed in
the war was Russell Benjamin known
as Rusty Ben" of Brattleboro, of
Company C. Second Vermont Infantry
and it was the explosion of the same
shell that killed him that so badly
wounded Governor Woodbury. that it
was necessary to amputate his arm
at the shoulder. After the battle he
was unable to retreat with his com
rades and was taken prisoner and
sent to Richmond where he was con.
fined for several months.
The first Vermont soldier to die in
the war was Benjamin Underwood of
Bradford a soldier of the First Yer
mont who died from disease at For
tress Monroe and was buried there.
Former Governor Ormsbee who was
present at the dinner was one of
those who attended Underwood's fun
eral. 1t was suggested at the dinner
that the state of Vermont ought TO
make an appropriation and have I'm
derwood's body brought back to Yer
mont if the burial place at Fortress
Monroe can be now identified.