Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-25
JOSEPH bATTELL,
Ill OVER YEAR,
Dies, AGED rs
Gave Cancels Hump to the State
Morgan Stock Farm to the
Government.

MiddleburY, Feb. A.-The Hon. Joseph
Battell, a widely known citizen Of Mid
dlebury, died at six o'clock last night In
the hospital Of the Georgetown Un1ver-
sity at Georgetown. D.. c., from a com
plication of diseases with which he had
been afflicted for more than a year. A
few weeks ago MIR. Battell went to Wash
ington to spend the remainder of the
winter.
Joseph Battell was born in Middlebury
July 10, 1889, the only son of tho Hon
Phillip and Emma CHart) Seymour Bat
tell. There was one other child, n daugh-
ter, who was the wife of former Cow
crnor ana United States Senator John
w. Stewart.
Mr.. Battell received his early educa-
ton In the Addison county
school at Mtddlebury and entered Mid
dlebury College in the class OF 1906. lie
remained In college until his junior year
and then made a tour abroad, which
lasted for six years. Returning home IN
1865 he purchased a large tract of land
on the Ripton mountain, where he erected
the famous h~ostelry known as the Bread
Loaf Inn and which for many years..
with added cottages, have been filed in
the ummers with guests from many OF
the big cities. This hotel was one of Mr..
Battell's pet projects and he spent much
Of his time there during the summer
seasons.
Mr.. Battell, who was n bachelor, was
a man of wealth and many enterprises
He was n great lover of the woods ana
hills and much interested in forest pre-
Servation. At his death he owned about
1000 acres of mountain land stretching
through many towns In the Green noun
tains and n few years ago he donated
a tract of several thousand acres TO the
State of Vermont which included Gamers
Hump. He was also the owner OF many
farms in different towns and the land
and buildings of the United States Nor
gan Stock farm at Weyhridge was a
gift to the government by him. The
ia rm Is now the scene of great actiV-
lty and the government Is keeping 1t up
and enlarginE from year to year
After the big fire of 1891, owing to the
efforts of Mr.. Battell and his father.
who paid most Of the cost. the splend1d
stone bridge over Otter creek was built
to replace the wooden one destroyed.
This bridge was completed in 1893. At
that period he also purchased the sites
Of all the store buildings which had been
nuTIltu OH ~" "hp N"N
street and began the erection of the
Battell block, which now covers all and
more of the territory burned over on
the west side OF Merchants row and
the south side Of Main street. The Main
street part OF the block has only been
completed within the past two or three
Years. In 1t Is located the United States
postoffice.
Mr.. Battcll's activities were many.
About 20 years ago he acquired possession
of the Middlebury Register, which he
; has since published and which for sew
eral years has been located in the former
Wallet block on Main street, also pur-
; chased by Mr.. Battell. There are also
; located the offices of the American Pub
. fishing company, from which have been
h, issued several OF Mr.. Battell's humorous
I works.
2 Mr.. Battell was a lover of the Morgan
:, horse and spent many thousands Of dol
lars in investigating pedigrees. the result
=, Of which was the publication of three
f volumes of THE Morgan Horse Register"
,, He also compiled and published three
, volumes of THE American Stallion
f Register and the final volumes of these
!. two works are now in press. Between
q 1901 and 1913 he published. in three
{ volumes tlleI, or the nlSpeTlnSS w
an Old Pine" and In 1900 his New
Physics" In these two works. which
9 have become celebrated in scientific cir
cles, Mr.. Rattell opposed the generally
accepted theories of the transmission of
. light and sound. He hoped to see his
theory universally adopted during his
life time.
Col. Battell took a large Interest ir
public affairs. He was usually a republi'
:. can In politics and had once been 6
candidate for governor and again fol
. member of Congress. In 1878 he was
one Of the Addison county senators ant
was n member oe the lower House OF
: the Legislature seven different terms
representing AZ different times The
towns of M~iddlebury and Ripton.
2 Mr.. Battell was Il man Of generou!
disposition. His money was always a.
, the command Of worthy projects ant
# through the large number OF workmeI
v whom he employed 1t was difuse1
widely throughout the community.
The remains will arrive here from
Washington some time Tomorrow anC
h will be taken to the old Battell hom'
on Maine street. The funeral service
If have not been arranged.