Windham

HOOKER, George White

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 207

George White HOOKER, of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont], was born 06 
February 1838 at Salem [Washington County], New York, son of Samuel S. and 
Esther (WHITE) HOOKER. He attended the common schools of Londonderry 
[Windham County], and his scholastic education was subsequently supplemented 
in the West River Academy. Commencing life as a clerk, he continued at 
Londonderry and at Bellows Falls [Windham County], and then went to Boston 
[Suffolk County, Massachusetts] as traveling salesman. In August 1861 he 
enlisted as private in Company F, Fourth Vermont Volunteers; soon after was 
made sergeant major; spring of 1862 was commissioned second lieutenant; in 
the summer first lieutenant. After the battle of Antietam he declined a 
captaincy in the line, and was appointed to the staff of Gen. E. H. 
STOUGHTON. From thence he was afterward transferred to that of Gen. George 
J. STANNARD. In June 1864 he was appointed assistant adjutant general of 
volunteers by President LINCOLN, and held that position until mustered out, 
with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1865. After the close of the struggle 
Colonel HOOKER returned to Boston; traveled through the eastern and western 
states; spring of 1876 was admitted as junior partner to the firm of William 
Belden & Company, bankers and brokers, in New York. In 1876 he removed to 
Brattleboro, which has since been his home.

Col. HOOKER has very properly manifested patriotic interest in the political 
affairs of his adopted state. In 1878 he was appointed chief of staff with 
the rank of colonel, by Governor PROCTOR; in 1880 was a delegate-at-large to 
the national Republican convention in Chicago, and in the same year was 
chosen a member of the national Republican committee; fall of 1880 was chosen 
to represent Brattleboro in the state Legislature; re-elected in 1882; during 
the first session was unanimously elected judge advocate general by the 
Legislature; chosen sergeant at arms of the House of Representatives at the 
beginning of the Forty-seventh Congress. In 1879 he was elected department 
commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in Vermont; re-elected the 
following year; nominated for a third term but declined. On 28 January 1868 
Colonel [George White] HOOKER was married to Minnie G., daughter of James and 
Love (RYAN) FISKE of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont]; they have one 
son, James Fiske.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly