Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
DEATH OF DOCTOR
HENRY D. AOLTON
One of Vermont's Prominent
Physicians-Active in Pro-
fessiOn Half a Century.
ONCE PROFESSOR IN u. v. M.
First Doctor to Advocate state board Of
HenIth-Largely Responsible for
Creation of That Body,

Health-Lnrgely Responsible for
Creation Of That Body.
Brattleboro, Feb. 12.-Henry Dwight
Holton, A. NJ. NJ. D., n years of age,
president of the Vermont National bank.
president of the Austine Institution for
the Education Of the Deaf and Blind,
president of the Home for the Aged and
Disabled in Brattleboro, president OF
Leland G. Gray Seminary of Townshend.
president of the Brattieboro Free library
trustees. member Of the Vermont State
board Of health. president Of the Vermont
Red Cross society, former professor OF
materia medca OF the. University of Yer
mont. former State senator and repre-
and member of many medical
and scientific bodies In this country and
abroad, died at his home here to-day.
He had been for over 40 years one of
the most prominent men in BrattleborO
and in the State. He retired from active
practice Of medicine after so years In
1910. but continued his interchangeable labors
on the State board OF health and In con-
nection with his many other interests
until nature rebelled.
DR.. Holton was born in Rockingham
July "a. 1888, son Of Elihu Dwight and
Nancy (GrouD Holton. Through his
father he was of Puritan lineage, de-
scending from William Holton who came
from Ipswich. Suffolk county, England.
and settled in Cambridge. Mass. and was
later a member Of a band of 100 who
settled Hartford, Conn. On his maternal
side his ancestry runs back to Germany.
On both sides he descended from sturdy
Revolutionary stock
He was educated at Vermont Academy
at Saxtons River. He had a strong desire
to study medicine and. having graduated
from the academy, he went to Boston,
where he studied medicine under DR.. J. H.
Warren and later under DR.. Valentine
Mott Of New York. the most celebrated
American surgeon of his time. He entered
the medical department of the University
of New York and graduated in 1850 as q
doctor Of medicine.
For short time he was physician to
the dspensary in Williamsburg ard then
went to Putney, where he located and
began the general practice of medicine.
In 1867 he moved to Brattleboro and had
since made this his home. His fame as
a skillful operator spread over a wide
area and. coupled with his activity in all
that related to the advancement Of medi-
cal science and the safeguarding of pub
lie health, brought him early in life a
national reputation.
Early in his career he was elected n
member of the Connecticut River Medical
association. was its secretary for five
years and it's president in 1867. In 1861 he
Joined the Vermont Medical society and
was its president in 1873. He was elected
a member of the American Medical assoc
citation in 1864 and in 1873 no was sent by
that representative body as a delegate to
the international medical congress ut
Brussels. While abroad he was made q
member Of the British Medical associa-
ton.
In 1873 he was called to the chair Of
materia medica and general pathology in
the medical department of the University
of Vermont and for 10 years continued in
that professorship. When he took the
chair the medical class numbered 40 and
when he resigned $50 students were en-
rolled and more than 1900 had received
their degrees as doctors OF medicine.
The State Legislature elected him in
1873 a trustee of the University of YER
mont and of the State Agricultural Coll
lege. offices he retained by successive re-
elections for IS years. He received q de-
gree Of A. M. FROM that university. In
this same year nc was made medical
examiner for the Vermont Asylum for
the Insane.
He was a member of the American
Public Health association. for nine years
its treasurer and In 1902 its president. He
was active in the organization Of the
Pan-American medical congress. a body
composed of representatives of all the
countries on this hemisphere. and was
chairman Of the board Of trustees and
executive committee. In 1901 he was presi-
l-vxA - H. A.,k~ ,lA,s rl@2
president Of the American Medical as
ISOLATION he delivered in Baltimore. Nd.
b. appointment an GRAFTON on state medi.
cine before that body in 1895.
He was q member. and In many in
stances an officer, Of numerous other
medical and scientific societies both In
this country and abroad.
In 1873. while president Of the Vermont
Medical society. no advocated Q Stats
board OF health. In accordance with his
suggestion . committee Of three physi-
clans, Of whom he was one, was appoint-
cd to put before the Legislature the plan.
Not until 1885 did the bill become law.
Ten years later he was appointed Q MEM
Der Of the State board and from 1900 to
1919 no wan its secretary and executive
officer. resigning that offics in October.
1913, but remaining on the board TO which
he was re-appointed in January, 1916
His activities were not confined "a
medical lines entirely BY any means
He was always greatly interested In
education ana In the advancement OF
all things that tended to the welfare
Of town. county and State. He wa
member OF the Brattleboro school
board for 26 years and its chairman ii
years Since 1897 no had been presi.
dent OF the Leland q Gray Seminary q
Townshend.
When the AustAne' institution for the
education OF the deaf and blind VA
founded and established In Brattleborc
he was elected It's president and held
that office at the time Of his death. He
had also been a trustee OF the Brattle.
boro free library since it's organization
In the formation of which he took an
active part. He had been president OF
the Brattleboro Home for the Aged and
Disabled since Its establishment.
Besides these various offices and in
| terests to which no gave attention he
was president Of the BrsttleborO Gas
Light company for 10 yeras. uutil II wal
taken over by the Twin State Gas h
Electric company. He was a director
for years OF the Vermont National bank
Of Brattleboro and, an It's vice-president
at tho resignation Of George c. Avcrill
as president early In 1915 he waa
elected to the presidency of that insti-
tuition, an office he held ut the time OF
his death Ho was elected to tho first
board of directors OF the Fort Drummer
: Mills, when the plant was established
| In Brattle boro and had been vice.presi.