USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 19
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John Ashcraft was reared to farm life, and, having grown to maturity, continued to follow agriculture as an occupation. He had charge of the old homestead at Guilford during his father's declining years, and, succeeding to its possession at the latter's decease, which took place at the age of eighty-two, resided there the remainder of his life, which was brought to a close at the age of fifty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Clarissa Stock- bridge, was a daughter of David Stockbridge, a merchant of Hadley, Mass. She became the mother of thirteen children, who lived to reach maturity, of whoni three still survive, namely: Amarette, who married for her first husband Henry Stedman, and for her second Melvin Chandler; Elizabeth, wife of Levi Stockbridge; and David, the subject of this biographical sketch. Mrs. Clarissa S. Ash- craft lived many years a widow, attaining the age of fourscore. Both herself and husband
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were earnest and sincere in their religious belief, and were members of the Universalist church.
The boyhood and youth of David Ashcraft were passed upon the home farm in company with his six brothers and an equal number of sisters ; and he acquired his cducation in the district schools of Guilford. On reaching the age of twenty-two years, he came to Whately ; and here he worked as a farm laborer for a period of two years. He then returned to his native town, where he married, and for the two succeeding years resided at the old homc- stead. At the expiration of that time he pur- chased a farm in Halifax, Vt .; but after a residence there of five years he sold that place, and removed to Colerain, in the north- ern part of Franklin County, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in farming for three years. Finally settling upon his present farm in East Whately, which he purchased in 1857, he has since devoted his time and energies to general farming, with satisfactory results.
In the month of January, 1845, he was united in marriage to his first wife, Cynthia Cole, who was born at Rehoboth, daughter of Samuel Cole, later a miller of Colerain. She became the mother of two children: Henrietta M., now wife of Frank Elwell, an employee at the United States Armory in Springfield; and Henry C., who married Amy Sears, and is now a merchant at East Whately. Mrs. Cynthia C. Ashcraft having died at the age of sixty-seven years, Mr. Ashcraft married for his second wife Marion Denison, daughter of Edward Denison, of Leyden, where she was born. Her father, who is no longer living, was a prosperous farmer. Her mother still survives. Mr. Ashcraft is a Democrat in politics, and has participated actively in local public affairs. He served as a Selectman in 1870, was again elected to office in 1890, and
has served in that capacity ever since, being also an Overscer of the Poor. The family attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Ashcraft is a member.
In calling the attention of our readers to the lifelike portrait prefixed to the present sketch, it may be further mentioned that Mr. David Ashcraft is a true son of the American Revolution, whether his name appears on the membership list of any society thus entitled or not, his grandfather, Daniel Ashcraft, as we learn from Volume I. of the Archives of the State of New York, having held a cap- tain's commission in the "First, or Lower, Regiment, Cumberland County Militia." Captain Daniel Ashcraft is supposed to have been a lineal descendant of John Ashcraft, who was in Stonington, Conn., in 1662.
UANE B. DUNHAM, superintendent of the Ashfield Co-operative Cream- ery, is a man of push and enterprise, possessing good executive ability, and during his residence in this part of Franklin County has won the esteem and confidence of the com- munity and a large patronage for the cream- ery. A native of the Empire State, he was born August 29, 1847, in Lewis County, being a son of Orrin and Eliza (Towsend) Dunham.
Orrin Dunham was born July 15, 1821, in the town of Denmark, Lewis County, N. Y., and received a practical education in the dis- trict school. He was entirely dependent upon his own resources, and began the battle of life as a pedler of dry goods and Yankee notions, travelling in and around Lewis County. Hav- ing in this manner accumulated somc money, he purchased a tract of land, most of which was covered with timber; and from this he cleared and improved a good homestead prop- erty. On the land he found a large bed of
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lime; and this he quarried, opening a kiln, which was then a new way of preparing it for market, and considered a wonderful improve- ment. Having followed quarrying and gen- eral farming for six years, he sold out, and bought a hotel at Denmark, N.Y., and man- aged it, in connection with teaming, until his decease, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow is still living. The following children were born to them: Harriet, who married George W. Pamater, a builder and contractor, of Carthage. N.Y .; Dennis H .; Duane B .; Marietta E., who died at the age of forty-five years; Edgar, who resides in Watertown,' N. Y .; Marion, who married J. E. Knapp, of Denmark, N.Y.
Duane was educated in the common schools of his native county, and continued to live at home, working with his father at teaming until 1873, when he began the manufacture of butter and cheese, in time becoming very pro- ficient in the business. In 1884 he came to Massachusetts, and, settling in the town of Hatfield, there opened the first creamery ever established in the New England States, and for three years continued as its superintendent and salesman. During the succeeding six years Mr. Dunham filled a similar position at Peterboro, N.H., coming thence to Ashfield in 1889, to take charge of the Ashfield Co- operative Creamery. He carries on a large business, manufacturing a choice brand of fancy package butter, which meets with a ready sale at the highest market price, the product sometimes reaching as high as four thousand pounds per week.
On March 19, 1869, Mr. Dunham was united in marriage to Miss Louisa H. Loomis, who was born in Canada, October 26, 1847, a daughter of Ashley and Hattie (Francis) Loomis. Mr. Loomis was born in Jefferson County, New York, not far from Phelps Mills,
where his paternal grandfather settled when the country was in its primitive wildness. After growing to manhood, Mr. Loomis moved to Canada, and for two years engaged in till- ing the soil, but, not being satisfied with his prospects, returned then to Phelps Mills, and was employed in blacksmithing for a while. He subsequently removed to Carthage, where he carried on a lumber business for a short time, but later bought, or rather built, a tannery, which he operated successfully for twelve years. Disposing of that, he bought a farm in Franklin County, New York, but soon after sold out, and migrated westward, locat- ing in Missouri, where he bought a coal mine, which he is successfully operating. He has two children, one being Mrs. Dunham, and the other Dr. Horace A. Loomis, a dentist in New York City.
The wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Dunham has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren, namely: Carrie A., born September 21, 1870, now the wife of Charles E. Henry, of Peterboro, N.H .; Mittie G., who died at the age of nine years; and Wesley L., born June 19, 1879. As a man of business, Mr. Dun- ham is strictly honorable in his dealings, and in politics is a warm advocate of the princi- ples promulgated by the Prohibitionists. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EORGE H. DAVENPORT, manu- facturer of Davenport's Silver Polish, a well-known resident of Bernards- ton, and a veteran of the late war, was born in Lowell, Mass., October 6, 1837, son of Warren T. and Pamelia W. (Thayer) Daven- port. Mr. Davenport traces his ancestry back to John Davenport, who came across the water in 1637, landing in Boston, was among the
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first settlers of New Haven, Conn., in 1638, and was pastor of the first Puritan church of that place. Warren T. Davenport, the father of the subject of this sketch, a farmer residing most of his life in Petersham, Mass., was born in that town, and his wife in Athol, Mass. A hard worker, successful in his career as a farmer, and taking an active part in the affairs of the community, he served as a School Committee-man and Road Surveyor of his town. He was a Baptist, and in politics a Whig, and later a Democrat. His death took place at the age of seventy-six, while visiting his son George H. at Athol, Mass. His wife still lives in Petersham. They had three children: Emory W. Davenport died at twenty-nine years of age, while a member of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery ; George H. Davenport is the elder of the two sons now living; the youngest son, Nathan T., a painter, resides in Worcester, Mass.
George H. Davenport grew to manhood in Petersham, where he attended the public schools, and at the age of eighteen began to learn the carpenter's trade, which business he followed till the breaking out of the Civil War in April, 1861. In 1861 he took a con- tract to build on East Rock, New Haven, Conn., an observatory, the tower of which was to have been sixty feet high. He commenced the erection of the stone tower; and it had reached the height of about fifteen feet when Mr. Stewart, for whom it was being built, became financially embarrassed. Upon learn- ing of this state of things, Mr. Davenport at once laid down his tools, and enlisted in the Union Army. In 1894 Mr. Davenport, chanc- ing to be in New Haven, found his tower still standing, it having been converted into a refreshment-room. In a conversation with the proprietor thereof he heard a story which had been current for years - how the man who had
started building the tower had dropped his tools at the rousing of the North, on the fall of Fort Sumter had joined the federal forces, and been killed during one of the bloody bat- tles of the Rebellion.
Mr. Davenport's term of enlistment dates from August 8, 1861, at which time he became a private in Company C, Tenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. He was afterward promoted to Sergeant, and then Lieutenant, and, after having served about two years in Company C, became attached to the Quarter- master's Department of the United States Service, where he remained two years longer. He was in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern, Whitehall, Kinston, and the siege of Fort Sumter, besides numerous minor en- gagements, during one of which he was struck by a piece of shell, and wounded. He was a brave officer, and displayed particular gallan- try in the battles of Roanoke Island and New- bern, and was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain of the Quartermaster's Department. He served during the entire time of his enlist- ment, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. At the close of the war he went to Meriden, Conn., and once more engaged in the business of contractor and builder, living there three years. Mr. Davenport's resi- dence in Bernardston dates from 1890. In 1876 he invented what is now known as Dav- enport's Silver Polish, an article used for cleaning and polishing gold, silver, and other metals, besides glass, and has since devoted his entire time to pushing its sale.
On the 9th of November, 1866, Mr. Daven- port was married to Emma A. Cleveland, born in Hardwick, daughter of Charles R. and Eunice S. (Thayer) Cleveland. Her father was a farmer, and died at the age of seventy- four, and her mother died at sixty-one, both deaths occurring at Athol, Mass. Two of
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Mrs. Davenport's great - grandfathers, Asa Wait and Colonel Abija Thayer, are said to have served as soldiers in the Revolution. With what regiments they were respectively connected and in what battles they took part the present writer is not able to state. The son of the latter, Nathan Thayer, served in the War of 1812; and Mrs. Davenport's father was a soldier in the late Civil War, a private in Company A, Thirty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport have had four children: Clarence, deceased; Gertrude E .; Mabel B. ; and Ernest R., deceased. Gertrude E. is the wife of Abijah N. Pierce, now living in Greenfield, engaged in business as a plumber. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have three sons: George N., Abijah D., and Raymond R. Mabel B. Davenport is at home with her parents.
LONZO GRAVES, a retired farmer of Greenfield, was born in Whately, Franklin County, Mass., April 15, 1818, son of Plyna and Lucinda (Field) Graves. His great-grandfather, Oliver Graves, born in Hatfield about 1725, son of Nathaniel and great-grandson of Thomas Graves, was an early settler of Whately, which place was for- merly the northerly part of the town of Hat- field. Selah Graves, son of Oliver, was a successful farmer and the owner of a fine farm in Whately, on which he and his wife, Mary Strong Graves, resided until the time of their death, each living to a good old age. They reared seven sons and two daughters.
Their son Plyna, father of Alonzo Graves, was born February 21, 1786, and spent the whole of his life of seventy-two years in Whately. He was a carpenter and joiner, and gave that trade his principal attention, but also owned and carried on a small farm. He
was a man of sterling character, a Republican in politics, and served his town as Selectman. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Field, died at the age of sixty-six years. They had five sons and four daughters, one of whom died in infancy. The rest grew to maturity, and four are now living, namely : Alonzo; Edward, whose home is in Charle- mont; Clarissa, widow of Edward Atkins, residing in Whately; and Jane, widow of Chester G. Craft, residing in Greenfield. The deceased are: Franklin, Noah first, Noah second, Lucinda, and Mary.
Alonzo, who is the eldest of the family sur- viving, having received his early education in Whately, when fourteen years of age began to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, and started in business for himself at the age of twenty-one. The first property he ever owned was a saw-mill in Deerfield, which he managed for about twenty years, also owning a small farm at that place. In the spring of 1865 he bought the farm in Greenfield, where he has since resided. In 1870 his buildings were burned to the ground, but with true manly courage he did not let the sun go down on the smouldering ashes before he commenced to get out timber for another house; and in a few days he had erected a new shelter for his family.
In Hawley, Mass., March 27, 1845, when nearly twenty-seven years of age, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Sophronia G. Rice, who was born in Hawley, October 6, 1824, and died August 26, 1854, leaving four chil- dren. Mr. Graves was again married March 21, 1855, to Sophronia L. Field. She was born in Bernardston, in this county, December 26, 1829, daughter of Jesse and Lurancy (Par- menter) Field, both natives of Bernardston, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Field were the parents of six children: Mary H., the first
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born, whose birth date was March 30, 1820, died May 30, 1888; Aaron W. died at the age of three; John B., the eldest now living, is a farmer, residing in Bernardston; Harriet L., widow of Otis Chittenden, resides in Hadley, Mass .; Sophronia L. is now Mrs. Graves; and Aaron W., a Congregational preacher of Sandisfield, Mass.
Mr. and Mrs. Graves have a family of seven children, namely: Ashmun T., a farmer of Shelburne, Franklin County; Clark O., also a farmer, residing in Greenfield; Cary C., a resident of Denver, Col .; Sophronia A., wife of Nathan J. Alger, of Cochesett, Mass .; Burke F., residing in Greenfield, where he follows the business of farmer and dairyman ; Cyrus S., also a farmer of Greenfield; and Mary L., wife of John D. Cromack, a clerk residing in Greenfield. Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Graves are among Greenfield's oldest and most esteemed citizens. Mr. Graves is a Prohibi- tionist in principle and practice, having never bought a drop of liquor in his life to be used as a beverage. Mrs. Graves is a member of the Baptist church. They have fourteen grandchildren living, and are enjoying their latter days in the consciousness of long years usefully spent, many duties faithfully per- formed.
EORGE H. WILKINS, of the firm of Mayhew & Wilkins, silk manu- facturers of Shelburne Falls, was born in Antrim, N.H., June 7, 1861, son of Joel N. and Mary E. (Wright) Wilkins. His grandfather, Joel Wilkins, worked at shoemaking during the early part of his life in Antrim, and later owned and cultivated a large farm in the northern part of the town, living to an advanced age.
Joel N. Wilkins was born in Antrim, N.H., June 9, 1828. He attended the dis-
trict schools of his native town and the acad- emy at Hancock, N.H., and, on finishing his education, served an apprenticeship to cabinet- making in Reading, Mass. He spent some time in the West, at Bunker Hill, Ill., but, his health being impaired by the climate, he returned home; and the rest of his life - with the exception of three years spent in Lowell, Mass .- was passed in his native town, working at his trade. He died at the age of fifty-nine. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary E. Wright, was a daughter of Imla and Rachel B. (McMaster) Wright. In politics Mr. Wilkins was a Republican. He was a member of the Methodist church, and his wife was a Presbyterian. They had but one child -- our subject.
George H. Wilkins acquired his elementary education in the district schools, and at the early age of thirteen went to work for wages, first obtaining employment in an establish- ment where apple-parers were manufactured. After that he worked on cutlery at Antrim, N.H., four years, and then entered the silk manufactory of J. N. Kelsea, commencing at the bottom, and winning his way up to the position of overseer of various departments. Intermitting his labors for a time, with a view to finishing his education, he took a course of study at Francestown Academy; and in May, 1881, he was tendered the position of overseer in the silk mills of Streeter & Mayhew at Shelburne Falls, the company being later known as the Mayhew Silk Com- pany. Mr. Wilkins subsequently became superintendent; and in 1891, in company with Francis Mayhew, he rented the building and machinery. Here, under the name of Mayhew & Wilkins, silk commission throw- sters, they carry on a thriving business, giv- ing constant employment to sixty-five hands.
Mr. Wilkins was united in marriage No-
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vember 19, 1883, to Nellie M., daughter of W. B. and Ann (Orr) Jones, and the follow- ing children have blessed their union: Anna M., born January 28, 1887; Marion R., born October 14. 1888; and Bertha E., born Sep- tember 15, 1891. Mr. Wilkins votes the Republican ticket. He belongs to Mountain Lodge, A. F. & A. M., being at present Grand Master.
EORGE R. PURINTON, a leading farmer in Colerain and a scion of one of the oldest and most respected families in this vicinity, was born on the farm where he now resides, October 18, 1853, son of Thomas and Eunice (Hawkes) Purin- ton. The family springs from two brothers, who came from France, and settled in Amer- ica in Colonial times-one in Maine, the other in Massachusetts. From the latter Mr. Purinton is descended.
His great-grandfather, Joseph Purinton, who settled on this farm in 1784, was the first of the family to live in Colerain. Though a hard-working farmer, he was a well-educated man, and had the Bible at his tongue's end, becoming famous among his neighbors for his ready and apt quotations. He died here at an advanced age. David Purinton, son of Joseph and father of Thomas, was a child of nine years when the family came to Colerain. He, too, was a man of some culture, and took an active interest in educational matters, aiding materially in the establishment of the Frank- lin Academy at Shelburne Falls. He died on the farm where his father had passed away, and to the ownership of which he had suc- ceeded. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Wilkinson, lived to an advanced age. Grandfather and Grandmother Purinton were Baptists; and he, like his father, was a Deacon.
Thomas Purinton first opened his eyes to the light in the old house where his grand- father and father had looked their last on earth. He was born on October 10, 1825, and spent his life on the farm, taking, never- theless, an active interest in town and State matters. He was Selectman and Assessor of the town for years, and was Captain in the State militia, being popularly known as Cap- tain Tom Purinton. He died at the old home on April 18, 1879. His widow is still liv- ing, and makes her home with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Purinton were members of the Baptist church, he a Deacon, the third of the Purinton family to hold that office. They had seven children, with two of whom they were early called to part - Julia, who died at the age of fifteen, and Myron at two and a half years. Martha is the wife of E. Hillman, of Grand Junction, Iowa; Winnie E. is the wife of Nelson H. Purinton, of Colerain; Marian is the wife of Orrin Purinton, of Worcester, Mass .; and Jesse M. also lives in Worcester.
The childhood of George R. Purinton was spent on the old farm, amid the same scenes and pursuits that had filled the daily life of his ancestors. Besides attending the district school, he studied during two terms at Powers Institute; and at the death of his father, he being then in his twenty-sixth year, he took charge of the home farm, which now covers one hundred and ninety-six acres. Here he carries on general farming and fruit-growing, and has a good dairy, prospering in his line, and taking "no steps backward." The build- ings on his farm are among the old landmarks of the town; and the house, which was built about 1827, has the broad and generous pro- portions characteristic of the domiciles of that day.
On March 8, 1882, Mr. Purinton was mar- ried to Hattie M., daughter of Hiram W. and
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Melinda W. (Slatc) Dean, the former born in Burlington, N.Y., in 1811, the latter in Ber- nardston, Mass., in 1813. Mr. Dean was a well-to-do farmer, residing in Gill, Mass., for many years, where Mrs. Purinton was born. He was a stanch Republican, and he and his wife werc members of the Congregational church. They had eight children, seven of whom are now living; namely, Anjanette, James L., William H., Charles W., Edward P., Clifton S., and Hattie M. (Mrs. Purin- ton). Mr. and Mrs. Purinton have no chil- dren of their own, but have taken into their home an adopted daughter - Eva L. Purinton. Politically, Mr. Purinton favors the cause of prohibition. He maintains the family pres- tige in the town, holding the office of Select- man four years, and Assessor one year, and attends the Baptist church, of which he is a Deacon, being the fourth of the line of Purin- ton to hold that office.
ENRY HINSDALE, a prosperous farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Monroe, Franklin County, was born in this town, June 25, 1830, son of Chester and Lucy (Allen) Hinsdale. His grandfather, Darius Hinsdale, was a farmer in Greenfield, Mass., where he died, at the age of fifty-eight years, leaving a widow, Elccta Graves Hinsdale, who died there at seventy- five years of age. They were the parents of six children: Daniel A., Chester, Ariel, Ebenezer, Fidelia, and Mary A.
Chester Hinsdale was born in Greenfield, and there in early manhood learned the trades of tanner and shoemaker. He afterward pur- chased a small tannery, which he ran for a time, also engaging in shoemaking, but at length sold out, and during the succeeding four years carried on his father's farm. He
next purchased fifty acres of land in Monroe, on which he built a log house, and proceeded to clear off the timber. That work being accomplished, he sold the place, and in 1835 bought the farm of two hundred acres on which his son Henry now resides. This farm, which was first settled by Hosea F. Ballou, then consisted for the most part of wild or un- cultivated land. Its new owner erected a sub- stantial frame house, and also built a shingle- shop, where for years he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of shingles. In politics Mr. Chester Hinsdale supported the Republican party, and served acceptably in the town offices of Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. He was a member of the Universalist church. He died at sixty- seven years of age; and his wife, Lucy Allen Hinsdale, lived to about the same age. They reared ten children, as follows: Daniel A., Miriam, Chester, Henry, Fidelia O., Diana, Lucy, Chester, Electa, and Louisa A.
Henry Hinsdale, who has always lived on the home farm, received his education in the district schools of Monroe. He cared for his parents during their declining years, and at their death purchased the interest of the other heirs, and became the owner of the farm. He has since remodelled the buildings and cleared a good portion of the land. In addition to general farming, he is engaged in dairying, and keeps cight head of choice grade Jersey cows. Mr. Hinsdale's marriage to Miss Han- nah L. Porter was solemnized on August 31, 1862. She was born December 19, 1836, daughter of Joseph and Oritha (Whitcomb) Porter, and died January 1, 1887, leaving two children : Lyman E., born May 30, 1869, who died at seven years of age; and Eunice M., born March 17, 1873, who married George H. Bishop, of Readsboro, Vt., and has one child - Gertie - aged two years.
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