Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-22
THE PUTNEY COLUMN
The Late Harvey 1rainerd.

Harvey Brainerd, the well-known resi-
dent whose sudden death on Thursday
of last week was recorded in The Phoenix
of the following day, enlisted at the
breaking out of the Civil war in Com
pany G.. 18th New Hampshire Nolun-
teers. He was stationed in Washington
some time and his entry into active ser
vice was at Arlington Heights, va Inc
first battle in which he was engaged was
the second battle of Bull Run, and
other engagements in which he fought
were Halls Hill, Antietam, Blackburn
Ford and Fredericksburg. He was
slightly wounded at Fredericksburg. In
March, 1862, he was in the hospitals in
Georgetown and Baltimore. The worst
engagement in which he participated
was at fredericksburg, his regiment be-
ing the last to cross the pontoon bridge,
and the regiment was the first to enter
Sharpsburg at daylight. In the battle
of Antietam they captured 90 prisoners,
The 18th New York regiment was with
the brigade which vas a part of the 5th
army corps, and was the only brigade
which crossed the Potomac at Blackburn
Ford. Mr.. Brainerd was discharged from
the service at Rochester, n. Y, MAJ 10,
1863, at the close of his enlistment.
Mr.. Brainerd was born in East Rush,
n. Y, June p, 1888. After completing
his services as a soldier he came to Put
ney and worked at farming a few years.
In 1868 he and James Gilbert began run
ming threshing machinery, continuing
two years. MIR. Brainerd then went in
to business by himself, saving wood and
threshing, continuing in this line up to
the time of his death. He was at work
with his power saw saving wood for b.
c. Clemens in the mill yard formerly
owned by f. l.. Pierce, when he was
stricken with heart disease and died in
stantly.
Mr.. Brainerd made his W ma
chinery. He invented a rotary rake
which pulled away the straw, but he
never patented the invention and later
he saw other machines equipped with
the same device. His first machines
were run by horse power. In 1886
he changed to steam. After using sew
eral boilers which proved unsatisfactory
he and his sons built one for them
selves, which was used until three years
ago, when he changed to a gasoline en-
CINE. Last year he sawed 800 cords of
wood.
In 1864 he married Sophronia A. Ford
of Brookline, who died in 1867, leaving
two children. February %, 1869, he mar
ried Wealthy j. Skinner of Chester.
Three children were born to them.
He was a member of Col. w. H.
Greenwood post, No. 90, G. a. r., TAX
ing an active part in all its affairs. He
was commander three years and adjutant
at the thine of his death. He attended
most of the state encampments and the
national encampment at Rochester, n,
Y, in August, after which his health
began to fail, although able to be
around and was with his machine wher
he was mustered out.
He was of a kind disposition, always
willing to help when needed. He was no
identified with any church, but his life
was an example to follow.
The funeral was held in the home
Duan A, of Bellows Falls, Hattie S.
wife of Almon Marsh of Townshend
and Lydia E., wife of George Worthley
of West Townshend, and Chauncey A., o
Springfield, Mass. Byron A. Brainerd
his other son, died Nov. l, 1895, when 2
years old. He also leaves eight grand
children, one great-grandchild, one sis
ter, Mrs. A. A. Kidder of Fairport, n
T., and one half brother, of Payette
Idaho.
The f. )eral was held in the home
Sunday afternoon at l o'clock, Rev. j. Z
Berry officiating. The choir of the Bap
list church rendered several selections
The burial service, under the rites o
the Grand Army, was at the family lo
in Mount Pleasant cemetery. The bear
ers were Alfred z. Ranney, Alonzo Kerr
Charles F.. Brown and Martin V. Sleep
er, old comrades.