The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-10
Cashier of Peoples National
Bank Stricken with Cere-
bral Hemorrhage
FOUND UNCONSCIOUS
IN HOME LAST NIGHT
Had Been in Poor Health Nearly a
Year, But There Had Been No In
dication of an Immediate Crisis - A
Citizen of the Highest Type.

dication of an Immediate Crisis - A |
Citizen of the Highest Type.
The entire Brattleboro community
| feels today a sense of personal loss in
the death of Wilford H. Brackett, vice
president and cashier of the Peoples
National bank, which took place last
evening shortly after 10 clock in
his home on the Putney road.
| Mr.. Bracket had not been in good
health for nearly year and in the
past few months had been unable tol
give his attention regularly to the af-
fairs OF the bank. There had, how
ever, been no indication of an imme-
dlate crisis in his condition and he
had been about the streets, at the
Wheel club and the Country club and
in his general appearance seemed to
be i'll fairly good health.
In the past two or three days he had
suffered from severe pains i'll his left
side and during yesterday his family
physician was called to attend him.
About 10 clock he retired to his room
as usua!. Mrs. Bracket and her son
heard him moving about the room
i6hortlv after this, and u few moments
later Mrs. Brackett went upstairs to
give him some medicine She was
startled to find her husband lying un-
conscious on the floor. Death took
place almost Immediately. before a
physician could reach the house The
cause OF death was undoubtedly cere
brai hemorrhage.
Mr.. Braekett was born in this town
August II, 1864, the only son of Dana
f. and Lucy \. (Taylor) Bracket. He
attended the public schools, leaving
the high school at the end of his junior
year, in 1850. to become clerk in the
, store of John j. Ray. In 1884 he took
the position of bookkeeper and secre-
, tary for the Valley Mill company, re-
naming in the employ of that con-
p cern two wears. His connection with
$ the Peoples bank covered period of
$ lover 30 years beginning April /, 1856.
In 1889 he was advanced from the
position of bookkeeper to that of as
) sistant cashier and in 1898, following
1.-THE death of Oscar A. Marshall, he was
' chosen by the directors to the position
!. of cashier In 1910 he was elected
vice president of the bank. In 1898
r. following the death of George s. Dow
+ he was appointed treasurer of the
;. town and had filed that position eve,
!, Isince bv annual election In 1898 he
! was strongly supported as Il candidate
: for state treasurer at the time whef
the late John l.. Bacon of White Rive
% Junction received the Republican nom
- lination.
- Mr.. Bracket was one of the mos
- capable bank men the state of Yer
L mont has ever produced. lie came t
:, position Of great responsibility a
. an early age, but he Immediately gav'
evidence of exceptional ability. Tn
=. der his direction the Peoples bank ha
= grown rapidly and for years has bee
: known as one of the strongest ma
= tional banks of the state. Mr.. Brack
= EFT s work in the bank was not pei
! functory-simply matter OF seem
: that the business was conducted con
= servativelv and accurately. He wen
VI far beyond this, showing his initiativ
in MANY transactions and using M
trust for the upbuilding of the bus
l., mess interests of the town. Wheneve
or possible he sought to give aid to firm
h, or individuals needing financial al
10 Isistance. His Judgment was sound
~ all business affairs and he was fir
ro quently called upon to settle estate
~ and to act as counsellor of peo9l
%, needing advice in financial matter
u, Bankers outside of the state had Ion
- recognized Mr.. Brackett as a man c
great capabilities and on more tha
L. lone occasion he had been offered e.
- ecutive positions with large cit
nu banks. He, however, believed that I'll
= upbuilding of the Peoples bank WI
n9 n9 his hfework and had always decline
"' the offers from larger institutions.
Mr.. Braekett married Bertha
~ III Hines, daughter of the late Mr.. Al
- Mrs. George A. Hines of Brattlebor
Ms August /, 1883. He leaves his wi
n and one son, Roger Arnold Braekett.
n Junior in Amherst college. His otn
Immediate relatives are his moth
land one sister, Lucie I. Bracket
pa lCowles. wife of Dennison cowles.
.ha Mr.. Braekett was one Of the pa
e presidents of the Vermont Wheel clu
- He was an enthusiastic Free Mas
- -, and after filling the Offices Of iuni
n a5 and senior warden Of Brattleho
IA -, lodge was elected worshipfnl mass'
~ - but declined that honor, as it camc
sns ~ the time when the management of {
sed nanh ueVo'ssu 81. oi' 'i'''. :.
~ and personal life was true and hont
able in every relation. He was knos
~ ~ everywhere as absolutely upright. s.
-. - cere and conscientious. In addi.i
~ ~ to fine presence he possessed I
wv charm of unfailing courtesy and g
ena dialitv and kindliness In his dca
Brattlehoro has lost a citizen of t