USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 1
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Gc 974.40 B45cu: v.1, p- 16268
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01723 3690
Gc 974. 401 B45cus v. 1 Pt. 2 History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofberkshi12smit
HISTORY OF
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
MASSACHUSETTS,
-WITH-
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men.
VOLUME I. PE2
NEW YORK: J. B. BEERS & CO., 36 Vesey Street.
1885.
1626847
GENERAL HISTORY. 350
principles, and never wasting time or labor on immaterial facts, and he was successful in obtaining a large number of clients among the leading business men of this section, but he had an almost irreconcilable antipathy to trying cases in court, and gradually his business was entirely that of a con- sulting counsel, which at one time was very large; for this reason he was not in later years so well known to the general public, as many men of much less ability and learning. He was a very modest, sweet tempered man, with the highest standard of public and private honor. A mean or dis- honorable thought never entered his mind. He was a fine specimen of the kind of men which is fitly characterized by the term " Christian gen- tleman."
Daniel Noble Dewey, son of Judge Daniel Dewey, was born in Wil- liamstown, April 4th, 1800. He graduated at Yale College in 1820, and studied law with Elisha H. Mills, of Northampton. where he was prob- ably admitted to the bar. He then opened an office in Williamstown where he continued to practice until his last sickness. He was a good lawyer and could make a telling and brilliant plea, but he never encour- aged litigation among his neighbors, and gradually gave himself to his duties as trustee, treasurer, and secretary of Williams College, which joint positions he held uninterruptedly from 1831 to 1859. He was judge of Probate from 1849 till 1859. Although not a popular man in the com- mon meaning of that word, yet he was a very courteous and kindly gentleman and of unswerving integrity. He was a religious man in the best sense of the word, and was always deeply interested in the welfare of the old church in Williamstown of which he became a member in 1838. He was elected once or twice a representative to the Legislature, was once a member of the executive council, and was always active and influential in town meetings. He acquired a handsome fortune in honorable ways and was a liberal giver to many good canses at home and abroad. He married a sister of Mrs. Mark Hopkins, who is still living. His son, Daniel Dewey, was admitted to the bar but is now a successful wool mer- chant in Boston. Judge Dewey died, greatly respected and lamented, January 14th, 1859, aged 59.
Silas H. Gardner, of Hancock, graduated at Williams College in 1822, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1826. He died in 1857, aged 50.
Augustus Turner, of New Marlborough, was born in Norfolk, Conn., January 23d, 1797. He studied law with Judge Bates Turner, of St. Albans, Vt., was admitted to the bar in February, 1828, and settled in New Marlborough, where he practiced law till a few weeks before his death. He was town clerk for ten years from about 1845 and was post- master at Southfield for about 25 years prior to his death, which occurred May 5th, 1869.
Russell A. Wilson, of Adams, was admitted to the bar in June, 1828.
Henry A. Raymond, son of Joseph Raymond, was born in the town
351
GENERAL HISTORY.
of Richmond. He graduated at Union College, studied law with Judge Bishop, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1820. Hle settled in Williamstown where he died September 16th, 1834, aged 28.
Franklin Sturgis, native of Lee, son of William Sturgis, was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1830. After a few years of practice his health failed and he removed to Lanesborough where he died.
Charles P. Huntington, of North Adams, was admitted to the bar about 1825 and removed to Northampton. He was clear headed and an excellent lawyer.
Lemuel Kingsbury Strickland was born in Sandisfield in September, 1803, and died October 9th, 1860. He studied law with Thomas Twining, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in October, 1830. He practiced for about a year in Monterey, and later in both Egremont and Sandisfield. He was several times a member of the Legislature and for eight of nine years chairman of the board of county commissioners. He was a well read lawyer, a man of active and vigorous mind, of excellent character, and of strong and tender sensibilities.
Robert A. Noble was born in Williamstown, graduated at Williams College in 1827, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1831. He re- moved to Michigan where he died.
John. Z. Goodrich was admitted to the bar in February, 1831. (See biographical sketch on another page.)
Algernon S. Hubbell, of Lanesborough, was admitted to the bar in 1833. In 1836 he removed to Newark, New Jersey.
Edmund B. Penniman, son of Christopher Penniman, was born in Adams in 1805. He graduated at Williams College in 1828, and was ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1833. He married Miss Sarah Robinson in 1840 and died in 1844. He was a very energetic business lawyer.
Charles R. Gold, of Pittsfield, son of Thomas and Martha Gold, was admitted to the bar in October, 1833. He practiced in Pittsfield for a number of years and then removed to Michigan where he died.
Samuel Allen, son of Phinehas Allen, of Pittsfield, was admitted to the bar in June, 1835. He afterward studied theology.
Edward V. Whiton, son of Gen. Joseph Whiton, studied law with William Porter, of Lee, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1836. He practiced in Lee for a short time and then removed to Janesville, Wis- consin. He afterward became chief justice of Wisconsin.
Horace N. Chapman was admitted to the bar in October, 1836. He practiced for awhile in Otis and Becket, and then removed to Washing. ton, D. C., where he died about 1884.
John Richards, of Hinsdale, graduated at Williams College in 1831. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1837, and soon after settled in . one of the Western States.
Ensign Hosmer Kellogg, son of Elisha Kellogg, was born in Sheffield in 1812. He graduated at Amherst College in 1836, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1838. He settled in Pittsfield, where he practiced
352
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
for a few years and then abandoned his profession for manufacturing. He took a prominent part in public affairs, and many times represented his town in the Legislature, of which he was twice chosen speaker. He died January 23d, 1882, aged seventy.
Nehemiah Hodge, of North Adams, studied law with Judge Bishop, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1838. He had some eccentricities. but was a man of brilliant ability, was very eloquent, and a rare public speaker. He invented a car brake, ont of which he made quite a fortune. He died very suddenly in Springfield.
James Bradford, of Sheffield, son of the Rev. James and Mary Flint Bradford, was born July 2d, 1817. He graduated at Amherst College, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1839. He began practice in Peru, in partnership with a man named Coffin, and remained there about five years. He then returned to Sheffield, where he formed a partnership with E. F. Ensign Esq., and where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred June 23d. 1883. In 1846 he married Miss Mary A. Hale, of Wethersfield. Conn. Upon the death of Judge Sumner he was appointed judge of the District Court of Southern Berkshire, which position he continued to occupy till the spring of 1883, when he re- signed on account of ill health. He was a man of considerable natural ability, of good judgment, and quick perceptions. He heartily appre- ciated a good story, and enjoyed social converse.
Henry A. Smith, of New Marlborough, studied law with Judge Bishop, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1840, but never prac- ticed. He soon died of consumption.
Jonathan Edwards Field, of Stockbridge, son of Rev. Dr. David Dudley Field, was born in Haddam, Conn., July 11th, 1813. He gradu- ated with the second honor of his class at Williams College in 1832. He practiced law for about five years in Ann Arbor, Mich., but left there on account of ill health and returned to Stockbridge, and was admitted to the Berkshire bar in February, 1842. In 1854 he was elected State Senator. Originally a democrat in politics, yet when the war broke out he was ar- dent in his devotion to the Union, and in 1863 he was elected by the re- publicans to the State Senate ; he was chosen its president, a position in which, by his dignity, his impartiality, and his courteous manners, he rendered himself so popular with men of all parties that he was three times elected to that office-or as long as he continued in the Senate-an honor never before conferred upon a member of that body. He was an active and public spirited citizen and occupied an honorable position at at the bar. He continued to practice in Stockbridge until his death, which occurred April 234, 1868.
James Denison Colt was the eldest son of Ezekiel R. Colt, and was born in Pittsfield October 8th, 1819. He graduated at Williams College in 1838. He was then, for two years, a tutor in a private family in Natchez, Miss., at which place he began the study of law with General Gaines, then United States district attorney. He returned to Pittsfield
353
GENERAL HISTORY.
in 1840 and continued his legal studies with Hon. Julius Rockwell and at the Cambridge Law School. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1842, and became a partner of Mir. Rockwell, in which relation he con- tinned until the appointment of the latter to the bench of the Superior Court in 1859. Mr. Colt was at the same time tendered an appointment to the same bench but declined. He then formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Thomas Perkins Pingree, and continued in the practice of law till 1865, when he was appointed judge of the Supreme Judicial Court. In 1866 he resigned on account of failing health. A sojourn of two years in Europe restored his health, and on his return, in 1868, he was again appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and continued to occupy that position until his death, August 9th, 1881. He was chosen one of the selectmen of Pittsfield when he was only twenty-nine years of age, and was a member of the Legislature in 1853-4. and chairman of the ju- diciary committee. He was a member of Governor Brigg's staff during most of his term of office. In 1870 he received the degree of LL. D. from Williams College : he also received the same degree from Harvard. In 1857 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel C Gilbert, of Gilbertsville. Otsego county, N. Y. Judge Colt was highly esteemed by his professional brethren, as is shown by the following extracts from the resolutions adopted by the Berkshire bar, soon after his decease :
" As a lawyer he ' had no arts but manly arts,' diligent, industrious, conscien- tious, faithful to the courts and to his clients, just toward all, able, earnest, ingenious, persistent in the development, presentation, and enforcement of his causes, litigants felt that their interests were safe in his hands, and he enjoyed a large measure of pro- fessional business. He exercised a generous and thoughtful kindness toward his as- sociates of the bar, and ever had, both for himself and for them, that 'sensibility of honor which feels a stain like a wound.' * * * * He had a clear and accurate knowledge of the principles which govern in the several departments of the law, and was guarded and kept from all eccentricities of individual judgment in the use of these principles by a sufficient familiarity with the most approved precedents. His
mind, by natural endowments, was strong, comprehensive, and impartial.
*
*
*
He was a man of. large and fine personality which was not overlaid and obscured by the dignity of his official position; and his bearing to the members of the bar was cordial and familiar, but never so as to involve any loss of respect either for himself or for the court; and such was their affection for him that they mourn his death as the death of a friend."
Henry Wheeler, born in New Marlborough, was admitted to the bar in February, 1842. He practiced in Great Barrington for awhile and then went West.
George D. Wilmot, of Alford, studied law with Judge Bishop and was admitted to the bar in June, 1842. He practiced for awhile in Lenox and then removed to Boston.
Thomas Gardner Gold, son of Thomas A. Gold, of Pittsfield, wasad- mitted to the bar in September, 1842. He is said to have been well read in certain branches of law. He removed to Texas and died there about 1861.
354
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Edward Whiting, son of Gen. John Whiting, of Great Barrington, was born January 11th, 1818. He graduated at Williams College in 1838, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1843. He died February 20th, 1844.
Charles Noble Emerson, son of Rev. S. M. Emerson, was born in Wil- liamstown, February 6th, 1821. He graduated at Williams College with honor in 1840, and began the study of law with Gov. George N. Briggs. In 1843 he married a sister of Henry Shaw (Josh Billings) and went to North Carolina for two years. He then returned and settled in Great Barrington where he practiced law with ability and success until 1858. He then practiced for several years in New York city and then settled in Pittsfield. He was elected a representative to the Legislature. In 1862 he was United States assessor for the Tenth Massachusetts District. He wrote an article of some note on "Internal Revenue." He died April Sth, 1869, at which time he was president of the Alumni Association of Williams College.
Jonathan F. Cook was admitted to the bar in February, 1814. practiced in Lee for a short time, and then went into business in Boston.
George W. Hay was admitted to the bar in 1844.
Thomas C. Rogers was admitted to the bar in 1844.
Lyman C. Thayer, of North Adams, was admitted to the bar in Octo- ber, 1844. He entered the army during the war. He was a man of great natural energy and brightness and business enterprise. He removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died.
Henry Dwight Filley, son of Hon. Lester Filley, of Otis, was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1845. He practiced for few months with his father and then removed to Chester where he built up a good practice. He died August 1st, 1860.
William Lamphere was admitted to the bar in May, 1845. He practiced for a little while in Hinsdale and then removed to Coleraine, Mass.
Lucius E. Smith was born in 1822, and graduated at Williams Col- lege in 1843. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1845, and began practice in Williamstown. He studied theology and preached in Groton from 1858 to 1865. He was then appointed a professor in the University at Lewisburg, Penn. He received the degree of D. D. from Williams College in 1859.
James N. Richmond was admitted to the bar in September, 1845. He practiced in Lanesborough and Cheshire for a few years and then went into business and removed to the West.
F. Eugene Mills, of Pittsfield, was admitted to the bar in June. 1846.
Charles F. Bennett, born in Canaan, Conn., was admitted to the bar in June, 1846, and settled in Dalton. He practiced in Lee for about two years prior to his death, which occurred about 1867.
Benjamin O. Tyler was admitted to the bar about 1847.
---
355
GENERAL HISTORY.
O' Connor B. Duncan. son of Dr. Duncan, of North Adams, was admit- ted to the bar in October, 1847. He removed to Cleveland, Ohio.
Napoleon J. Smith was admitted to the bar in February, 1848.
Joel Stanley Page graduated at Williams College in 1846, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He practiced in Pittsfield until 1857, when he removed to Chicago, where it is reported that he died about 1880.
John A. Walker, son of Hon. William P. Walker, of Lenox, was born January 7th, 1821. He graduated at Williams College in 1840, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1848. He removed to Pittsfield in 1853, and was for a few years justice of the Police Court. He was elected a representative to the Legislature. In 1860 he was chosen secretary and treasurer of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which po- sition he held until his death in 1864.
Andrew A. Richmond, of North Adams, was admitted to the bar in May, 1849. He was quite a prominent "know-nothing." and was a competitor with Gardner for the nomination for governor, and nearly succeeded in getting it. He was a member of the Legislature, and a member of the committee to revise the statutes of Massachusetts in 1860. He died about 1861.
John B Woodruff, of West Stockbridge, graduated at Union College, studied law with Henry W. Taft Esq., and was admitted to the bar in May, 1850. He settled in Great Barrington, but died of consumption in about one year.
Thomas W. Loring, of Blanford, studied with Lester Filley Esq., and was admitted to the bar in May, 1851. He practiced in New Boston and Cheshire for several years, and then removed to Charlotte, Mich., where he died a few years later.
Horace Clark was admitted to the bar in June, 1851.
Charles B. Ball, of Lee, was admitted to the bar in September, 1851. He afterward studied theology.
Almon C. Morse, of Dalton, was admitted to the bar in May, 1852, and died a few years later.
John Price, of Great Barrington, was born in Webster. Mass., in 1827. He studied law in Balston, N. Y., and in the office of Judge Bishop, of Lenox, and was admitted to the New York bar in 1851. and to the Berkshire bar in May, 1852. He was in partnership with his father-in-law, Thomas Twining Esq., and was a lawyer of excellent abili- ties. He died November 16th, 1859.
Isaac A. Hoxie, of North Adams, was admitted to the bar in Sep- tember, 1852.
Henry E. Fitch, of Alford, was born in 1829. He was admitted to the bar in September, 1852, and practiced for a few years in West Stock- bridge, part of the time in partnership with Henry W. Taft, Esq. I 1864 he went to Washington, as a clerk in the war department. but re- turned to Alford in 1860, where he resided till his death, April 9th. 1885.
Franklin D. Richards was admitted to the bar in October, 1852.
350
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Calvin HI. Carter, of Great Barrington, was admitted to the bar in February, 1853.
Wesley L. Shepardson, of Pittsfield, was born in Lanesborongh, January 8th, 1827, and died January 10th, 1874. He was educated at Lenox Academy, and studied law with Matthias R. Lanckton and Calvin Martin. He was admitted to the bar in 1853 and settled in Pittsfield. He took an active part in recruiting soldiers for the war, being instru- mental in raising 2,700 men. He was commissioned captain by Gov. Andrew, but never served as he was taken sick with the rheumatism, which crippled him for life and finally caused his death.
Ellsworth N. Bates was admitted to the bar in February, 1854, and went West.
Norman L. Johnson, was admitted to the bar in 1855. He practiced in Pittsfield for some years, and then removed to Ohio, where he died.
William C. Bartlett was admitted to the bar in October, 1855. He practiced in West Stockbridge for a few months and then studied the. ology.
William P. Porter, of North Adams, was born in Ashfield, April 25th, 1819. He graduated at Williams College in 1848, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1856. He was at one time in partnership with Senator Dawes. He was an internal revenue assessor from about 1862 until his death.
Jarvis Rockwell, of North Adams, was born in Peru in 1828. and died May 14th, 1885. He graduated at Williams College in 1854. being valedictorian of his class, studied law with the firm of Rockwell & Colt. of Pittsfield, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He was a member of the Legislature in 1859. He practiced in Hinsdale until 1861, when he removed to North Adams, having married Mary, daughter of Joseph N. Chapin, of that town. He . was appointed judge of the District Court upon its organization in 1870, and held that position until his death ; there his kindly nature inclined him toward the side of mercy. He was also president of the Berkshire National Bank, chairman of the school committee, and president of the board of management of the public library. Judge Rockwell was an earnest Christian, a just and kind-hearted man, and a faithful and public-spirited citizen. In his home and all his neighborhood relations he was a lovable and helpful personality. His scholarship was broad and his mind was richly stored with information. for he had maintained through life the studious habits which had dis- tinguished him in college.
Newton T. White, of Stockbridge, was admitted to the bar in Oc- tober, 1860. He died of consumption about two years afterward.
PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BERKSHIRE BAR.
(We are indebted to Child's Gazetteer for the following list. Many others are still living who have been admitted to the Berkshire bar but have either abandoned the profession or removed from the county.)
357
GENERAL HISTORY.
Adams. - Nelson H. Bixby, Henry J. Bliss, Wallace M. Burt, Frank- lin H. B. Munson, Franklin O. Sayles.
Cheshire .- John C. Wolcott.
Great Barrington .-- A. Chalkley Collins, Justin Dewey, Herbert C. Joyner, Norman W. Shores (judge of District Court), Billings Palmer, Frank H. Wright.
Lee .-- John Branning (judge of Police Court), Albert B. Clark, Charles E. Hibbard.
Lenox .-- J. E. Parsons. Thomas Post, Julius Rockwell (judge of Su- perior Court), William S. Tucker.
North Adams .- Enoch H. Beer, Frederick P. Brown, Edward C. Kiely, George P. Lawrence, Mark E. Conch. Charles J. Parkhurst, Arnold G. Potter, Andrew Potter, Abiathar W. Preston, James T. Robinson (judge of Probate), *Jarvis Rockwell (judge of District Court), Shepard Thayer, S. Proctor Thayer.
Pittsfield .- Lewis K. Albro, James M. Barker (judge of Superior Court), Samuel W. Bowerman, John C. Crosby, Henry L. Dawes (U. S. Senator), William T. Filley, Edward A. Gamwell, Lorenzo H. Gamwell, John F. Noxon, Thomas P. Pingree, William R. Plunkett, Charles Sedg- wick Rackemann, Francis W. Rockwell (member of Congress), Edward T. Slocum (register of Probate), Henry W. Taft (clerk of the courts), Joseph Tucker (judge of District Court), William Turtle, Andrew J. Waterman (district attorney), Marshall Wilcox, Edgar M. Wood.
Savoy .- George M. Bourne.
Stockbridge .- Henry J. Dunham (trial justice), Charles E. Evans.
West Stockbridge .- William C. Spaulding (trial justice).
Williamstown .-- Keyes Danforth (judge of Police Court).
* Died May 14, 1885,
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE."
BY A. M. SMITHI, M. D. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
IN ORDER to form a just appreciation of this subject, it will be neces- sary for us to contrast the past with the present: the time when there were but two medical colleges in this country, and now, when they are abounding in the land ; when medical books were scarce. the best medical library being worth less than $100, and now, when medical libra- ries count their thousands of volumes ; when it took a week to go from New York to Boston, now the journey is performed in a few hours : when there were in this county but three roads, and those in wretched condi- tion, upon which a carriage hardly was seen, travelling being upon horse- back, now, riding at ease in fine carriages with fine horses through a con- tinuous succession of villages ; then, when there were but few hospitals or opportunities for clinical instruction, now, when such facilities create unbounded rivalries which degenerate into systems of trade ; then, when there were in this county but a few medical men. and those riding into two or three towns, encountering great trials and hardships. now, with a superfluity.
Then a physician received a preparation which would now be thought insufficient to admit one to practice, "for medical education was such as he could pick up while serving an apprenticeship to some noted practi- tioner, during which he combined the duties of a student with many of the menial offices of a servant." Says MeMasters : "He ground the powders, mixed the pills, rode with the doctor on his rounds. held the basin when the patient was bled, helped to adjust plasters, to sew wounds, and ran with vials of medicine from one end of the town to the other."
* In the preparation of this article the writer has availed himself of information derive l from various sources. most of it from correspondence with friends of those noticed. Much of it is given in their language. Some is taken from old tiles of papers. In some, quotrions are indicated, when the language is that of the writer of the biography. Thanks are hereby tendered to all who have kindly assisted in this compilation.
4
359
GENERAL HISTORY.
.. His apprenticeship ended, the half educated lad returned to his native town to assume practice. Sunshine and rain, daylight and dark- ness were alike to him. He would ride ten miles on the darkest night, over the worst of roads, in a pelting storm, to administer a dose of calo- mel to an old woman, or to attend a child in a fit. He was present at every birth. he attended every burial ; he sat with the minister at every death-bed, and put his name with the lawyer to every will." The ele- gant pharmacies of this day were then entirely unknown. The physician combined the duties of both apothecary and doctor. His saddle bags were the drug store. and senna, jalap, and calomel occupied a large part of these. Still cinchona bark and opium were used. " but in malaria the amount of cinchona bark necessary to restore the patient was so great and the supply so small that the remedy was all but useless." Dr. Holmes says : "Before the morphia which deadens the pain of neuralgia, or the quinine which averts the fit of an agne, can find a place in our pharmacies, commerce must have perfected its machinery, and science must have refined its processes through periods only to be counted by the life of nations."
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