Windham

HOLBROOK, Frederick, John & William

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 197-200 

Biography of John HOLBROOK - pp 197-198 
(portrait p 197; father of Frederick)


John HOLBROOK, late of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont], was born 10 
July 1761 in Weymouth [Norfolk County], Massachusetts, son of John and Sybil 
(LANE) HOLBROOK, and soon after he became of age moved to Newfane [Windham 
County, Vermont], reporting himself to Hon. Luke KNOWLTON, who assisted him 
to employment as a land surveyor, as he been taught drawing and the 
surveyor's art by British officers stationed at Dorchester Heights. Young 
HOLBROOK ran town and division lines in the vicinity of Newfane hill. At the 
age of twenty-five he [John HOLBROOK] married Sarah, daughter of Luke and 
Sarah (HOLLAND) KNOWLTON. Luke KNOWLTON was one of the first judges of the 
Supreme Court of Vermont, and was one of the very earliest settlers, coming 
from Shrewsbury [Worcester County], Massachusetts, where most of his family 
were born.

At the time the settlers sought high elevations to protect themselves from 
roaming Indians, who were wont to attack from ambush along the valleys, and 
also to escape the malarial fevers. Mr. HOLBROOK soon opened a small general 
store in the "L" of what is now about the only house left of the early ones 
built on Newfane hill. He took his produce and articles of barter on pack 
horses over a bridle path defined by marked trees along the West River valley 
down through Brattleboro, then unsettled, to Greenfield [probably Greenfield 
in Franklin County, Massachusetts], where they were exchanged for dry goods 
and groceries. After accumulating his first thousand dollars he moved to 
Brattleboro, buying the old mills which stood where Hines & Newman afterward 
built their shop, and also buying the house which is now known as the 
American House, of which his family occupied a part, he opening a country 
store in the other part. He finally formed business relations with David 
PORTER, a leading merchant in Hartford [Hartford County], Connecticut, under 
the firm name of Porter & Holbrook at Hartford, and Holbrook & Porter at 
Brattleboro. Mr. HOLBROOK was one of the original directors of the old 
Phoenix Bank of Hartford, and is said to have brought the first bank notes 
here for circulation. He started the first flat bottom boats on the 
Connecticut River between here [Brattleboro] and Hartford, and for many years 
these boats were the principal means of exchanging heavy freights with the 
seaboard. He also built a slaughter house on the island across the river, 
where large quantities of beef, pork, hams and tongues were cured for market, 
and which were sent mainly to the West Indies by the Hartford firm in 
exchange for goods of that country. About 1809 he sold his property to 
Francis GOODHUE, who came to Brattleboro from Wethersfield [Hartford County, 
State].

Mr. HOLBROOK removed to Warehouse Point [Hartford County], Connecticut, where 
he lived for two or three years or until the death of his son-in-law, William 
FESSENDEN, who left a small family and an extensive business, which made it 
necessary for Mr. HOLBROOK to return and assume charge of the concern, which 
he subsequently extended and enlarged after taking as a partner Joseph 
FESSENDEN, brother of William, and under the firm name of Holbrook & 
Fessenden, the business was continued many years. In 1794 Mr. HOLBROOK was 
appointed postmaster, and served until 01 July 1804. At age sixty he retired 
from active business and built a house for his own occupancy on extensive 
grounds in the north part of the village, where for the remainder of his life 
he devoted himself to fancy gardening, and to beautifying and cultivating his 
home farm. He [John HOLBROOK] was the second member of the original board of 
trustees of the Vermont Asylum under the MARSH bequests, and died in the 
office in 1838.



Biography of Frederick HOLBROOK - pp 198-200 (son of John)

Frederick HOLBROOK, of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont], was born 15 
February 1813 in East Windsor [Hartford County], Connecticut, son of John 
HOLBROOK (of the above sketch). Frederick HOLBROOK received a sound English 
education in the progress of which he devoted much attention to mathematics. 
For two years he was a diligent student at the Berkshire Gymnasium, 
Pittsfield [Berkshire County], Massachusetts, an institution then under the 
direction of Professor DEWEY, and held by many to be the best private school 
in the country at that time. When twenty years of age he crossed the 
Atlantic to obtain the advantage of a European tour. Returning home in 1833, 
he settled in Brattleboro and confined his energies mainly to agricultural 
pursuits.

Public official life with Mr. [Frederick] HOLBROOK began in 1847, when he was 
elected register of probate for the district of Marlboro [Windham County, 
Vermont]. In 1850 he was chosen to the presidency of the Vermont State 
Agricultural Society, of which he was one of the founders. The first address 
delivered before the association was from his lips. Eight consecutive annual 
elections followed his first elevation to that most useful and honorable 
post. In 1849 and 1850 he was returned to the state Senate as the 
representative of his fellow citizens in Windham County. While a member of 
the Senate, and acting as chairman of a special committee on agriculture, he 
proposed and prepared a memorial to Congress setting forth the usefulness and 
urging the establishment of a National Bureau of Agriculture. The project 
received the endorsement and commendation of the President of the U. S. in 
his message to Congress. It was no less favorably received by the 
representatives of the several states, and by their action, approved by the 
chief magistrate, the department of agriculture soon passed from the domain 
of possibility into that of reality.

His essays and other writings for the agricultural press for several years 
first attracted public attention to him. His style of writing, the result of 
careful training in the formation of good composition, and clear, concise 
statement was said to be graceful and forceful, and later on conspicuous in 
his state papers and official correspondence. Qualities so useful and public 
service so beneficial naturally led to Mr. HOLBROOK's elevation to the 
gubernatorial chair of Vermont. In 1861 he was placed therein by a 
gratifying majority of votes. The choice was one of special honor to the 
subject, inasmuch as the time was one of the darkest and most portentous in 
our national history. Responsibilities of the gravest character devolved 
upon the executive head of the state and burdensome and incessant labor was 
required of him.

While Governor of Vermont, Mr. HOLBROOK was called upon to assist in devising 
means for the preservation of injured Union soldiers. Under his guidance 
Vermont was the first state in the Union to provide hospitals for its 
soldiers. Thereby many were saved from sinking into untimely graves. There 
were no precedents to guide action. Good practical sense alone availed to 
work out the problem. But few mistakes attended the attempted solution, and 
brilliant success crowned it in the outcome. Since he was Governor he has 
declined all overtures of public office, preferring the quiet, honored, and 
eminently useful life he is now leading. As an authority on many and diverse 
subjects, his opinions are eagerly sought and largely followed by an 
ever-widening circle of friends and acquaintances. Appointments from general 
government have sought his acceptance, but have been declined. Never an 
office seeker, and comparatively seldom an office acceptor, whenever he has 
been persuaded to don the official harness, he has always been noted for the 
efficiency, thoroughness, and beneficence of his work. The best ends, the 
wisest means to them, and the highest rule of action have entered into all 
his mediations, plans, and deeds of public activity.

Chairman of the board of trustees of the Vermont Asylum for the past forty 
years, he has incessantly sought for the best good of the patients and the 
best welfare of the institution. Legislator, Governor, and public 
benefactor, his career has been one of dutiful, loving utility. In the 
tranquil but prolific department of agriculture his position, if vacated, 
would be extremely difficult to fill. On 13 January 1835 Frederick HOLBROOK 
was married to Harriet, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (EDWARDS) GOODHUE, of 
Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont]. Their children are: Franklin F., 
William C., and John.



Biography of William C. HOLBROOK - p 200
(portrait p 200; son of Frederick; grandson of John)

William C. HOLBROOK, of New York, was born in 14 July 1842 in Brattleboro 
[Windham County, Vermont], son of Frederick and Harriet (GOODHUE) HOLBROOK. 
He commenced his education in the public schools of Brattleboro, and 
afterwards attended a private school for boys under the charge of the Rev. 
Addison BROWN. He first engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston [Suffolk 
County], Massachusetts. Returning to Brattleboro on the outbreak of the War 
of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Fourth Vermont 
Volunteers; accompanied that regiment to Washington [D. C.] as first 
lieutenant, and was shortly afterwards made acting adjutant. Subsequently he 
was promoted to major of the Seventh Vermont Volunteers, which organization 
he accompanied to Ship Island, Mississippi, and was commissioned colonel of 
the command in August 1862. He served as such and as brigade commander until 
after the surrender of all the rebel armies. Colonel HOLBROOK actively 
participated in sieges and the battles of Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, Baton Rouge, 
Jackson's Bridge, Gonzales Station, Spanish Fort, Blakely, Whistler and 
Mobile, and he re-enlisted in the Seventh Regiment for three additional years 
service or for the war on the expiration of its first term of service.

At the close of the struggle he entered the Cambridge Law School and began 
there the study of law. In 1868 he went to New York City, was there admitted 
to the bar, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of law. He 
has also been admitted a member of the bar of Windham County [Vermont], and 
of the circuit and district courts of the U. S., of departments in New York, 
New Jersey, and Western Pennsylvania. Colonel HOLBROOK is allied with 
numerous civil and military social organizations, among which may be named 
Sedgwick Post No. 8, of Brattleboro, Grand Army of the Republic, the military 
order of the Loyal Legion, the societies of the Army of the Potomac, of the 
Officers and Soldiers Fourth Vermont Volunteers, of both the Windham and 
Windsor County Veterans, of the Nineteenth Army Corps, of the Vermont 
Officers, and of the Veteran Officers and Soldiers of the Seventh Vermont 
Volunteers. Of the three last named, he either is or has been president. He 
also belongs to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and is a 
life member of the New England Society of New York. On 17 January 1872 in 
New York City, Colonel [William C.] HOLBROOK was married to Anna Morrison, 
daughter of Thomas and Margaret CHALMERS. ["Morrison" not assumed by 
submitter to be a surname.] Three children are issue of the union: Margaret 
Chalmers, Marion Goodhue, and Chalmers.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly