USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
on October 5, 1887, agcd sixty-seven years, eight months, and five days.
William B. Washburn was married on Sep- tember 6, 1847, to Miss Hannah A. Sweetser, of Athol, Mass., of which town both her par- ents were natives, and where their marriage took place in 1823. Mrs. Washburn has been the mother of six children -two sons and four daughters - as follows: Maria Augusta, who died January 1, 1851, at the age of four- teen months; William Nelson, now residing in Greenfield; George Sweetser, who died in May, 1870, in his sixteenth year; Anna R., who married Walter Osgood Whitcomb Jan- uary 15, 1885, and is now a resident of New York City; Clara Spencer, who was married February 19, 1885, to James C. Deane; and Mary Nightingale Washburn. Clara and Mary reside with their mother at the Washburn mansion, 151 Main Street, Greenfield.
R EV. ALPHEUS CLARK HODGES, of Buckland, pastor of First Congre- gational Church and editor and publisher of several religious newspapers, was born at Rochester, N. Y., in February, 1853. His father, Willard Hodges, a native of Tor- rington, Conn., was a son of Erastus Hodges, who was also born in that town. Mr. Hodges's great-grandfather, Elkanah Hodges, was a physician and one of the first settlers of Torrington, where, aside from his pro- fession, he engaged in mercantile pursuits and farming, residing there until his death. Erastus Hodges was a merchant in Torring- ton, both hc and his wife, Laura Loomis, being life-long residents.
Willard Hodges received his early educa- tion in Torrington, and, after two years' study at the Suffield Literary Institute and the same period at Williams College, was graduated at
151
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Yale with the class of 1845. He was for a time a merchant in New York City, but re- moved shortly to Rochester, N. Y., where he purchased a farm, and resided thereon until his death, which occurred in the month of July. ISSS. His wife, who still resides at Rochester, was before her marriage Jane A. Bradley. She is a daughter of Gurdon B. and Phebe Bradley, of Fairfield, N. Y., and the mother of six children - Henry, Alpheus C., Jane R., Amy M., Louise M., and Fanny L.
Alpheus C. Hodges, the second son, as above named, received his elementary and col- legiate preparatory education in the schools of Rochester, and was graduated at Yale College in 1877. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Hartford, Conn., graduating in 1881, and on November 16 of that year was ordained and installed a pastor at Buckland, Mass. In 1890 Mr. Hodges established a weekly newspaper at Buckland, called Our Country Church, which is devoted to the inter- est of country churches and local church papers. At first the paper gave some space to local news, but, finding that its circulation was principally abroad, that department was trans- ferred to another publication ; and Our Country Church, which was changed to a monthly, has now developed into a journal of sixteen pages, with Mr. Hodges as its editor. He also pub- lishes the Connecticut Valley Congregationalist, the Deerfield Endeavorer, the Springfield Dis- trict Methodist, besides issuing a number of papers for different localities.
In 1893 the Rev. Alpheus C. Hodges was married to Eleanor R. Squire, who was born at Dorchester, Mass., and is a daughter of the Rev. Edmund and Sarah M. Squire. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have one son, named Benja- min Redfern. Mr. Hodges has been a liberal donor to the Public Church Library of Buck- land, which was established in 1890.
ILLARD HENRY PIERCE, M.D., physician and surgeon, with his home and office at 163 Main Street, Greenfield, has a large and increasing practice in this part of Franklin County, and, al- though young in years, has already performed feats in surgery that have brought him into prominent notice in the medical fraternity as well as before the general public. One espe- cially worthy of mention is a difficult case of laparotomy performed by the Doctor in 1890, the very first operation of the kind by a resi- dent physician in the entire county, and being entirely successful. Dr. Pierce is a native of Vermont, having been born November 21, 1863, in the town of Westminster, which was the birthplace of several of his ancestors and life-long residence of his grandfather, Moses Pierce ..
Nathan G. Pierce, the Doctor's father, was born in Westminster in 1816, being one of a family of three children -two sons and a daughter. He was a representative agricultu- rist of that part of Vermont, and a man of broad knowledge and sound sense, wielding quite a strong influence in local and State affairs; and, besides holding town offices, he served two terms in the State legislature. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and fearless in the expression of bis principles. He died in December, 1888. He was twice married, both of his wives being daughters of John Keach, of Westminster. His first wife, Melissa Keach, died in the prime of young womanhood, leaving two sons: Hart Benton Pierce, a member of the detective force of Providence, R.I .; and Milton, who died at Camp Griffin during his enlistment in the late war. His second wife, Roxanna Keach, bore him five children, namely: Edwin R., man- ager of the Glendower Hotel at Springfield; Ella, who died in childhood; George W., who
152
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
has charge of the Asylum Farm at Brattle- boro, Vt .; Lilla Jane, a young lady of rare promise, who passed to the higher life at the early age of sixteen years; and Dr. Pierce, of whom we write.
Willard H. Pierce was reared on the pleas- ant home farm, and attended the district school as a boy, being afterward fitted for col- lege in the Vermont Academy, at Saxton's River, near Bellows Falls. His inclinations leading him to choose the profession of medi- cine, he entered the University of Vermont, from the medical department of which he was graduated with the degree of M.D. in June, 1885. The following September Dr. Pierce, being then twenty-one years old, opened an office in Bernardston, Mass., remaining there until January 1, 1893, when he took advantage of a favorable opening, and came to Green- field. As indicated above, he has gained an extended reputation for skill in surgery, to which he pays special attention, and has won the confidence and esteem of his many pa- tients, his eminent success proving that his life-work has been wisely chosen, and thus far faithfully followed. In September, 1894, Dr. Pierce established his hospital at 2 West Main Street, in a large brick dwelling, where he has the most modern appliances for success- fully attending to his suffering patients, giv- ing them his personal care and supervision.
On the 7th of September, 1888, Dr. Will- ard H. Pierce and Nellie May Gray were united in marriage, and of their union two children have been born, namely: Roxy, a beautiful little girl of three years; and Frank Gray, who died in infancy. Mrs. Pierce is a daughter of Ormando and Roxcena (Arnold) Gray, of Bernardston, Mass., where they are now living, the former being the well-known map and atlas publisher, although he is now retired from active business.
Politically, the Doctor is a warm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and, socially, is an advanced member of the Ma- sonic order, being a Knight Templar, belong- ing to the Greenfield Commandery. He is prominent in medical circles, belonging to the Massachusetts Medical Society, to the Frank- lin District Medical Society, and to the Con- necticut Valley Association, and is a frequent contributor to the various medical journals of the country. Both he and his estimable wife are in hearty sympathy with the liberal faith and advanced thought of the Unitarian church, of which they are regular attendants.
ERBERT E. WARFIELD, an exten- sive farmer of Charlemont, was born in the adjoining town of Heath, Mass., November 25, 1855, and is a son of Edward E. and Martha A. (Gleason) War- field. Mr. Warfield's grandparents were Job and Nancy (Thompson) Warfield, the former of whom was a son of Joshua Warfield, whose father, also named Job Warfield, was the first member of the family to settle in Franklin County.
The first Job Warfield, who was a native of Milford, Mass., and a veteran of the Revolu- tionary War, became one of the original set- tlers of the town of Heath, where he purchased a tract of wild land, which he improved into a good farm. He resided there until his death, on July 21, 1835. The maiden name of his wife was Prudence Bush. Their son Joshua was born at Milford, and accompanied them to Heath. He also followed agricult- ural pursuits successfully.
Job Warfield, son of Joshua, was born at Heath, and there grew to manhood. After marriage he purchased a farm in the eastern part of the town, a considerable part of which
153
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
he cleared, and cultivated grain to some extent. In 1867 he sold his property in Heath, and moved to Buckland, where he resided until his death, which occurred on October 28, 1871, after fifty-six years of mar- ried life. he and his wife having celebrated their golden wedding in 1865. Mrs. Job Warfield was a daughter of Stephen and Phebe (Chapin) Thompson, and she lived to the age of eighty-two years. She and her husband were members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Warfield was a Republican in poli- tics. Their children were: Stephen, Lucy, Edward E., Alexander, Nancy I., Sarah U., and Henry L.
Edward E. Warfield was born at Heath on August 21, 1820. When a young man, he acquired the trade of a tanner, and, after fol- lowing that occupation for a few years, pur- chased a small farm in his native town. Five years later he traded that estate for the prop- erty known as the J. Twing farm, which he conducted for the succeeding eight years, when he sold, and moved to Wilbraham, where for some time he had charge of the academy boarding-house. In 1869 he re- moved to Charlemont, and purchased the Miner farm, which formed a part of the prop- erty known as the C. Rice tract, of one hun- dred and fifty acres, which is now owned by his son Herbert, and which at that time was in a very rough state. He cleared a consid- erable portion of the land, constructed a new road to the village, erected a new house and barn, and successfully devoted his energies to general farming, keeping during the latter part of his life thirty head of choice cattle. In politics he was a strong Republican, and served the town as a Selectman and Assessor, and as Overseer of the Poor for four terms. He also had charge of the town farm for one year. His own farm, on account of its
healthy location and pleasant surroundings, became a noted resort for summer boarders, and has been known to accommodate as many as forty guests in a season. His wife, whom he married on June 7, 1843, was Martha, daughter of Abijah and Elizabeth (Bevins) Gleason, both of whom were natives of Heath. Abijah Gleason, who was a progressive farmer, died in 1852, aged fifty-nine years, his wife having passed away in 1844, at the age of forty-six years. Their children were: Salmon, Elizabeth, Reuben, Susan, Martha, Edward, Abigail M., Allen B., William F., Samuel K., and Charles A. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason were members of the Congregational church. Edward E. Warfield died at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, who survives him, is still bright and active. She has reared three children, as follows: Abbie J., wife of Dr. Temple, a resident of Charle- mont; William S .; and Herbert E.
Herbert E. Warfield received his education in the public schools and at the Wilbraham Academy. He continued to reside with his par- ents; and after his marriage, which took place in his thirtieth year, he purchased his father's farm. He has since established a creamery, and has added two hundred and ten acres of adjoining land for pasturage purposes. He keeps a herd of twenty choice cows, an equal number of fine young stock, five horses, and a pair of mules. There are unmistakable signs of mineral products upon his farm, sulphur being plainly visible; and in 1894 Mr. Davis, proprietor of the well-known sulphur mines, opened a silica mine upon the property, which he worked to some extent. Mr. Warfield and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Warfield is a Republican.
On January 22, 1885, Mr. Warfield was
154
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
married to Miss Mary T. Bassett, daughter of William O. Bassett, of Hawley, an account of whom may be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Warfield have two children, namcly: Marjoric B., born April 4, 1890; and Horace E., born October 26, 1893. In the History of Milford, the birthplace of Joshua Warfield, as mentioned above, it is said that the Warfields of that town "all descended from Deacon John, of Mendon," who was in Dedham as early as 1642, and was later appointed the first schoolmaster in Mendon, certainly a far-off ancestor worthy of being held in remembrance.
OSHUA GRIFFITH SEARS, a retired merchant and highly respected citizen of Shelburne Falls, Franklin County, Mass., was born in the town of Ashfield, a few miles distant, September 5, 1822, son of Ahira and Aurora (Griffith) Sears. The Sears family genealogy in America is traced back to Richard Sears, of English parentage, who was taxcd in Plymouth Colony, Mass., in 1633, and in 1639 removed to Cape Cod. Begin- ning with him, the lineal representatives of this branch of the family are as follows : Richard, Silas, Joseph, Zachariah, and Ro- land, the last-named being the grandfather of Joshua G. Sears. He was born in Yarmouth, Mass., February 3, 1745, and lived there until twenty-eight years of age. In 1773 he and Paul Sears removed to Ashfield, Franklin County, where they took up a grant of two hundred acres of land on what is now known as Cape Street.
When they settled there, the country was ncw; and the farms were often separated by large tracts of wild or thickly wooded land. They clcared their land together, and they be- camc successful and progressive agriculturists.
Later in life they divided their grant equally, so that each had a farm of onc hundred acres. Roland Sears served as a patriot soldicr in the Revolutionary War. In political affiliation he was a Whig, and he was a member of the Congregational church. Ahira Sears, son of Roland and Jedidah (Conant) Sears, was born December 12, 1783. Having grown to man- hood, he continued to live with his parents, whom he cared for in their last days; and at their death he became the owner of the farm, on which he afterward erected a substantial new house and barn. He was also a success- ful agriculturist, and spent his whole life on the old Ashfield homestead, where he died January 18, 1870. In politics he was a Whig, and in religious views a Congregation- alist. His wife, Aurora Griffith Sears, by whom he had six children, was born in Had- dam, Conn., in 1791, died in 1881, leaving two sons and one daughter; namely, Thomas Conant, Joshua Griffith, and Harriet Bement (Mrs. Spellman).
Joshua G. Sears grew to manhood on the old homestead, receiving a good practical edu- cation in the district schools of Ashfield, Mass. In 1848 he removed to Shelburne Falls, where he purchased horses and the nec- essary outfit, and for five years was profitably engaged as a teamster from this place to Greenfield. At the end of that time he opened a livery stable, which he conducted for two years with good results. He next en- gagcd as a clerk in the store of Joel Thayer; and later on, in company with Mr. Good- nough, he conducted a general grocery store for a year. He then purchased his partner's interest, and for ten years conducted a pros- perous business where Mr. Halligan's store is now located, after which he sold out, and retired from active business.
Mr. Sears has twice married, but has no
155
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
children. His first wife, Miss Mary El- dridge, daughter of Eli and Susan (Hall) Eldridge, died when but twenty-five years of age. Mr. Sears's present wife was before marriage Miss Hannah C. Sears, and is a daughter of Edmund and Betsey (Crowell) Sears, of Dennis, Mass., where her father was a prosperous farmer, and was also engaged in salt-making. Mr. Joshua G. Sears is a sup- porter of Republican principles; and he takes a keen interest in town affairs, but has at all times declined to serve in office. He and his wife are influential members of the Congre- gational church. They reside at 24 Main Street, in the pleasant and comfortable home which he has remodelled since he purchased the property.
A granite monument, erected in Yarmouth cemetery by the late Hon. David Sears, of Boston, to the memory of his ancestors, bears this noteworthy inscription : --
" Worth is better than wealth. Goodness greater than nobility, Excellence brighter than distinction."
OHN H. CLARK, a skilful wagon- maker, doing a good business at Fac- toryville, in the town of Gill, is a native resident of Franklin County, having been born in Greenfield, July 20, 1823. He is a son of John and Phœbe Fish (Henry) Clark, and grandson of Daniel Clark, whose father came to Massachusetts from Ireland, and settled in Colerain, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active life. Daniel Clark in his boyhood and youth acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture on his father's farm; and there he remained employed until reaching his major- ity, when he settled on a farm that he had purchased for himself in the same town. He
was the father of four children, of whom John, father of John H., above named, was the third.
John Clark was reared a farmer, but later acquired the blacksmith's trade, which he made his regular occupation until 1812, when he removed to Greenfield, and engaged in the manufacture of woollen cloth, following this for some years. He finally resumed his labors at the anvil, which he continued, so far as he was able to work, up to the time of his death, at the age of eighty-three. His wife, Phoebe F. Henry, a native of Halifax, Vt., was the mother of two children, John H. and Henry. She died at the age of eighty-two years, hav- ing spent her last years at the home of her son, whose name heads this sketch, the house purchased by her husband in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. John Clark were both church members in good standing, and were highly esteemed by their neighbors.
John H. Clark, to whom we now return, spent his early years at home, attending the district school as opportunity afforded, and working in his father's shop until the age of twenty-one. He then went to work as a jour- neyman in the town of Greenfield, being there engaged in house carpentering for five years, and subsequently employed for some eight years as a machinist in a large woollen mill in that vicinity. He finally returned to the old homestead, and took charge of the place, both shop and farm, which he has managed successfully ever since, acquiring a good repu- tation for the quality of his work as general blacksmith and wagon-maker. He was first married, in 1855, to Eveline Severance, daughter of Obed Severance, a farmer of Gill, in which town her remote ancestors were very old settlers. Mrs. Eveline S. Clark died after eight years of happy married life, having reared one child - George C. Clark - who
156
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
married Delia Blackmer, of Gill. Mr. Clark took for his second wife Miss Mary Hale, daughter of I. S. Hale, a prominent lumber- man and carpenter of Bernardston.
Mr. Clark is a Democrat in politics, as was his father, and is a man highly esteemed by his neighbors and fellow-townsmen for his intelligence, sound business sense, and unim- peachable character. With such qualities it need cause no surprise to learn that he has ably filled several important offices, among them those of Selectman, Assessor, and Over- seer of the Poor, holding the latter office for twelve years, having been re-elected eleven times - a proof of the confidence of the people in his capacity for public affairs. He and his wife are attendants at the Congregational church. They are people who stand high in the community in which they dwell, and are representative citizens of their town and county.
NSEL HARRINGTON, a respected resident of Tully, in the town of Orange, is the worthy representa- tive of one of the early pioneer families of the town, being a great-grandson of Jason Harrington, who settled on the east side of Tully Mountain in old Colonial days, and there became an extensive landholder, clear- ing and improving a good homestead, He was a native of Weston, Mass., born in 1734, and died in Orange, January 8, 1821. He married Priscilla Lebetter, who was born in 1741, and lived until April, 1793. They reared a large family of children; namely, Isaac, Daniel, Rest, Millie, Sarah, Nancy, Susanna, Nabby, Obadiah, Molly, Azubah, Allen, and Jason.
Daniel Harrington, second son of Jason, was born at Grafton, Mass., in 1762, and was a farmer by occupation. His first purchase of
land was a farm west of Tully Mountain, con- . sisting of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which are now included in the farm of A. N. Harrington. The land was partially in its primitive wildness at the time he bought it, and much hard labor was required to place it under cultivation; but he succeeded well in this undertaking, and further improved the place by erecting good farm buildings, living there until his demise, in 1843. The maiden name of his life companion was Sally Lord. She was born December 30, 1762, and died June 5, 1849. The following children were born of their union: Daniel, Sally, Molly, Lyman, Reuben, Emory, Polly, Abram, Asa- hel, and Ansel.
Abram Harrington was a native of Orange, born January 14, 1802, and, being bred a farmer, continued in agricultural pursuits on the old homestead throughout his entire life, having bought the estate after the decease of his parents. In the course of time he made substantial improvements, erecting a new house and other needed buildings. He died at fifty-eight years of age, in 1860. His wife, whose maiden name was Esther God- dard, died in the prime of early womanhood, in 1845, leaving six children - Ansel, Asa G., Daniel, A. Nelson, Mary J., and Esther. Mr. Abram Harrington was a man of strong convictions, and was very liberal in his relig- ious belief.
Ansel was the eldest child born to his par- ents, Abram and Esther (Goddard) Harring- ton. He acquired his education in the district schools, attending mostly in the winter sea- sons, and working on the home farm during the remainder of the year. At the age of nineteen years, which was in 1849, he having been born October 24, 1830, he turned his attention to mechanical pursuits, entering a furniture shop in Tully, where he worked for
DAVID ASHCRAFT.
159
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
six years. He was next employed in the same business at Templeton for about seven- teen years, subsequently remaining a resident of that place for four years longer, being en- gaged as railway station agent. Coming back then to Tully, Mr. Harrington bought the Mellen farm, on which he now resides, and to which he has added other land by purchase. He has entirely remodelled the house, and built a new barn, making it one of the finest and best improved homesteads in this section of the county. He is a man of excellent judgment and sound principles, a loyal and true-hearted citizen, taking a deep interest in local affairs, and is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. Religiously, he is a Spiritualist, and, socially, is a member of the Grange.
Mr. Harrington has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united October 24, 1854, was Hannah M. Mellen, who was born in Spafford, N.Y., May 3, 1833. Her father, Nathaniel K. Mellen, was a native of Mendon, Mass., and in his early years was a school-teacher and quite a musician, and later a practical farmer. He married Miss Ruth C. Wales, and they reared the following- named children: Jonathan W., James E., Lucetta, Mary Adeline, Hannah M., David D., Nathaniel, and William H. His first wife dying September 23, 1890, Mr. Harring- ton was again married August 30, 1892, to Mrs. Fannie L. Stratton, a daughter of Na- thaniel C. and Frances (Goddard) Forrester, her father a respected farmer, a descendant of the well-known and prominent Forrester fam- ily of Orange. Mrs. Harrington had previ- ously been twice married. Her first husband, Edwin S. Thompson, died February 1, 1868, leaving her one son, Loren S. Thompson. She subsequently became the wife of Abner G. Stratton, who died March 26, 1882. This
estimable woman is a native of Franklin County, born in Orange, May 4, 1843. The wife of a thrifty Franklin County farmer, it may safely be assumed that "she looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
AVID ASHCRAFT, an old resident and well - to - do farmer of East Whately, in the extreme southern part of Franklin County, Massachusetts, was born at Guilford, Vt., May 28, 1821. His father, John Ashcraft, was also a native of that town and State, his grandfather, Daniel Ashcraft, who resided for a time at Fisher's Island, in Long Island Sound, a part of the town of Southold, Suffolk County, N. Y., hav- ing removed thence to Guilford, where he followed agriculture, and also engaged in manufacturing bricks.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.