John Holbrook

John Holbrook (July 10, 1761—April 6, 1838) was a publisher and entrepreneur. An early settler of Brattleboro, Vermont, Holbrook was notable for initiating a publishing industry there. Biography Holbrook was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on July 10, 1761. At the start of the American Revolution, Holbrook's father moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts. His family were British loyalists. British Army officers in the Dorchester area were impressed with Holbrook's desire for learning, and instructed him in surveying, map making, and engineering. As a young man, Holbrook moved to Newfane, Vermont; a letter of introduction to Judge Luke Knowlton led to Holbrook's employment as a surveyor, and he laid out towns after they were granted by Vermont's government and then subdivided the individually owned lots. While in Newfane he became a co-owner of a general store. After moving to Brattleboro, he took on a partner based in Hartford, Connecticut, and they operated stores in Hartford and Brattleboro. In 1797 he bought out his two business partners and went into the flatboat business, owning and operating the first and largest flatboats carrying goods from Hartford to Brattleboro. Holbrook was also involved in other business ventures, including a slaughter house, a paper mill, and a river boat freight hauling business.