The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-05-14
Celebration in Washington This
Afternoon.
BORN IN HISTORIC WESTMINSTER
A Vermonter Who Has Contributed
Much to Beautiful Washington
Tales About Interesting Early Career
-Store-keeper in Bellows Falls.

men, whose ln1uentlal anu useiul lie Hd
been crowned with honor and plenty, will
be pleasantly celebrated by large com
pany of lifelong associates and othe
friends at The Occidental on Pennsylva
MIA avenue, this afternoon when a lunch
con will be followed by short speeches
poems. appropriate letters and music
The old residents of the district will TAKE
this occasion to congratulate Mr.. Willard
and in this way show their appreciation
of his. faithful public service and loya
companionship. Mr.. Willard was borr
in Westminster, VT, May IA, 1922, where
the old family home still stands about
one and one-half miles south of the
Main street, occupied by Mr.. Fairbroth
err.
Mr.. Willard is descended from Major
Simon Willard, who came from Hors-
monden, Kent, to Boston in May 1884,
removing later to Concord, Mass, where
he had a distinguished career. He was in
command of the colony's forces sent
against the Mantle Indians in the Nara
gansett war, and afterwards (l675) with
46 dragons CALAMITY rescued the people
of Brookfield, Mass, from destruction by
the Indians in King Philips war. A
great grandson, Rev. Joseph Willard, was
graduated from Yale in liza and was
killed by the Indians near Rutland, VT,
in 1928 His son, William, was a soldier
and frontiersman in Vermont who made
himself disiked by his neighbors by de-
Tending the New York court party" in
it's claim to the Hampshire grants, being
involved in the Westminster, Vt, massa-
also descended, through his mother from
Joseph Dorr of Boston tea party fame.
He worked on the farm in Westminster
and attended school till the age of II
when his father consulted William G.
Bradley as to Henry's future career. Two
opportunities offered, one to settle in
Brattleboro, the other to work in Hor-
ace Baxter's store in Bellows Falls as
general clerk. The latter was accepted.
During his stay there many incidents oc-
Cured which in retrospect furnish abun-
dant amusement, especially to those ex-
perienced in country store life. An oys-
ter peddler, known as "old man. Jaynes
from Connecticut, was an occasional Wis
itor to Bellows Falls. One day one Of the
Baxter boys thought to play a practical
cart key of oysters. The peddler had
not gone far before he missed the BIZ
valves and about the time the boys were
seated for good meal with local law
yer named Sheaf as a guest, the latter
brought CONSERVATION to the feast by de-
claring that the partaker is as bad as the |
thief Then he informed the boys that |
Jaynes had employed him to find out who |
1ad stolen the oysters. There was hur
led and exciting consultation which end
d in an assessment of the guests to pay
or the supper. e
The turning incident in young Will
ards career came when Sidney Baxter,
'on of the proprietor of the store, re-
luested the Westminster boy to black
good natured, faithful employee and he
hen and there quit work and immediate
" set out for Brattleboro where he be-
zane night clerk in Capt. Chase's tavern.
Mr.. Willard remained here until his
brother, Joseph, of Troy, N. Y, induced
aim to accept the position of steward on
he Hudson river boat Niagara. Here
Henry's business ingenuity asserted it.
self and he began saving his pennies
which he invested in books and which
he kept on the boat for the use of its
for small fee. He soon
,ained the confidence of the company, as
large sums of money were carried by
lin between the banks in Troy and those
If New York city. A thrilling expert
,nce left it's indelibe impression on Hen
US mind, when one night he was shad
WED by two thugs who attempted to hold
i'm up upon his way from the boat to
he hotel. 1t was then that he proved
himself good sprinter, and he still has
he impression that penny would have
taid on his coat tail during his flight,
which only ended when, well nigh ex-
lausted he reached the st. Nicholas
otel. His New York recipients of funds
losed their banks when the boat was
ate, which would entail the necessity of :
10 xubopo b, |
was often placed in small bas-
cts and hauled up into the second story |
1indows by the bankers.
Mr.. Willard continued very popular $
18th the Trojans and among those who $
ecame especially interested in his wei. t
ire was Miss Phoebe Warren, fancee of
enjamin Ogle Taylo, to whom she highly ,
the young man. Mr.. Taylo /, !
'as then the owner of the old City hotel =
'hich stood on the present site of the !
lagnifcent New Willard here. Mr.. Will I
I'D came to Washington-being the first 9
five brothers to settle herein Octo- =
er lS47 He leased the City hotel an =
,-christened it the Willard hotel. From : ;,
ter was able to purchase the property 7
IT himself. Six years after establishing !
ere, Mr.. Willard gave his brother Jo- J.
,ph, who had been clerk in the Astor 4
ouse in New York and had followed up | !,
he California gold excitement in l849, {
4 undivided half interest in the Willard !,
otel. Here the two brothers continued c
active partners, until 1861 when they y
ased the house to Skyes, Chadwick
,mpany, who subsequently made for
me in the business. Mr.. Willard in = I
need his other three brothers, Edwin =
.evens and Caleb to come here where he !,
arted them in business life. During the =
.rly part of the Civil war, Mr. Willard q
roved his loyalty and patriotism by u
,eping in close touch with the Union !.
my. and many northern soldier .
jared his bounty and hospitality. He g
Id acquired a moderate fortune and was =
lite able to respond to the wants of =
$ fellowmen. Several times when it = =
emed probable that the capital would =
taken by the confederates the flag on = :
lizards hotel was the only one outside T,
those on the government buildings fly =,
q in the city of Washington. Many =,
mes he was advised to haul the flag :,
,wn, but invariably refused to do so. :,
he first property acquired by Mr.. VIII +
I'd. aside from the hotel, was house =.
hich stood on the site now occupied by &c
e Willard block on Fourteenth street, =
which is the department of commerce ~
ID labor. 1t was here that Mr.. and :
rs. Willard lived when Abraham Lin II
In came to Washington preparatory to ~
; Inauguration and stopped at the Will =
I'd hotel. That night Mr.. Lincoln =
He'd for pair of slippers, his foot could :, e
t be readily fitted, owing to its size, W
It Mrs. Willard suggested that Papa"
lillian C. Bradley, who was visiting
q m had a large pair of sinners and g,