USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 2
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ILLIAM A. FORBES, a prominent dry-goods merchant of Greenfield, Mass., and one of the oldest busi- ness men of the town, was born at Buckland, in the western part of Franklin County, on May 13, 1836. His father, Captain William Forbes, was born at Buckland in 1802, his grandfather, Edward Forbes, who originally came from Bridgewater, Plymouth County, having settled there in 1785.
Edward Forbes was a volunteer soldier in the American Revolution, serving throughout the entire struggle for independence; and, while occupying a responsible position on board a man-of-war, he received a serious wound, which injured him for life. He was a highly intelligent and well-educated man, being a thoroughly competent surveyor, and used to teach a class in mathematics at his home during the winter season, together with penmanship, in which he also excelled. He was a pioneer in the Methodist faith, the first religious services of that denomination in the locality having been held in his barn; and the famous preacher, Lorenzo Dow, often found a resting-place in front of his fireside. Mr. Edward Forbes was the first to rebel against the church tax, and stood forth strong and un- flinching in defending his religious belief. His wife, whose maiden name was Eunice
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Amsden, and who was a native of Deerfield, belonging to a prominent family, was brought up in Conway.
They had two sons and one daughter, the first-born, Abner, who entered Williams Col- lege in 1812, from which he was graduated after having pursued the regular course, be- came a prominent educator at Boston. Al- though a Garrisonian, he believed in educating the African race separately, and had charge of the colored school. He also conducted a large printing establishment, figuring as an editor and publisher, and enjoyed the reputa- tion of being an interesting writer under the nom de plume of Senex. He was a decidedly marked character of his day, and a famous re- lator of stories and anecdotes. He died at Conway in 1878, aged eighty-seven years; and his remains were laid to rest in Buckland. His son, Frank Forbes, was a Director of the Hoosac Tunnel, is now, and has been for the past forty years, a reporter of the State Senate, and is prominent in Boston as a journalist. During the Civil War he was in charge of railroads under General Haupt, and ranked as Colonel.
Sarah, the second child of Edward Forbes, was a talented lady and a successful teacher. She became the wife of the Rev. Robert Trav- ers, of New York City, a Methodist clergyman, who was one of the first preachers of that denomination at Buckland; and they had two sons, Robert and Edward, the former an Epis- copal clergyman and the latter a lawyer. Cap tain William Forbes was a well-to-do farmer, having inherited the farm which his father, Edward, had cleared and improved. His death occurred in 1840, in the same house in which he was born thirty-eight years before, and where he had passed his entire life. It was made from hewed timber, even to the rafters, and was destroyed by fire in Novem-
ber, 1891, after having stood over one hundred years. The ancestral farm, which consists of seventy acres, is now owned by Caleb E. Forbes. His widow, Eunice Sherman Forbes, who still survives, was born at Conway, April 19, 1808. She is the youngest and only sur- vivor of eleven children, and comes of a long- lived race, being at the present time remarka- bly bright and active, although fast approach- ing her nineties. She resides at Conway with her daughter, Minerva A., wife of Carlos Bachelder. Of her five children, one died an infant, and the others are: Sarah H., wife of Lafayette Anderson, a farmer of Nebraska; Minerva A .; Caleb E., of Greenfield; and William A., of this sketch.
William A. Forbes was reared to farm life, and in his boyhood attended the district schools. He later pursued courses of study at the Conway Academy and the Williston Semi- nary at Easthampton, and at the age of six- teen years became a clerk for John Wells & Co. of the latter place, later filling a like position in Westfield. In 1860 he came to Greenfield, where he entered the employ of T. D. Root, a dry-goods merchant, and, after remaining as clerk for a period of seven years, became a partner in the business. On the death of the senior partner in 1871, Mr. Forbes succeeded to the business, having asso- ciated with him Mr. W. F. Root; but after three years of prosperity he retired from the firm and established himself alone in the same business, since which time he has conducted a most profitable trade, being at present one of the oldest business men in town.
On March 17, 1863, he wedded Miss Eliza Prentiss, daughter of Jarvis and Mary (Wells) Prentiss, of Greenfield, the former having died in 1844, aged about forty years, leaving a widow and two children. Mrs. Prentiss, now aged eighty-eight years, resides with her
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daughter, Mrs. Forbes. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have but one son, Frank P., who is now in business with his father. He married Miss Kate Talbot, of New York City, and has three sons, namely: Talbot; Leonard; and William A., who is yet an infant.
Mr. Forbes is a Director of both the Pack- ard and Conway National Banks, Vice-Presi- dent of the Greenfield Savings Bank, of which he is also chairman of the Financial Commit- tee, and is a Director of the Greenfield Gas Company. He is a Democrat in politics, and was elected a representative to the legislature in 1883 from a Republican district. He is a Master Mason and a thoroughly successful business man. Mr. Forbes and his son reside respectively at 44 46 Ferel Street, Greenfield.
RS. NANCY D. GALE, a highly respected resident of Heath, widow of the late Daniel Gale, was born in the town of Rowe, and is the daughter of Joseph S. and Sarah (Angel) Dodge. Her father was a son of Joshua and Rhoda (Smith) Dodge, the former a native of Bev- erly, Mass., and a cooper by trade, who set- tled when a young man at Brimfield. Later he conducted a saw-mill and grist-mill at Whitingham, also owning a farm; and finally he sold his property there, and purchased a farm in the township of Rowe. He died in the latter place at the age of eighty-three. His first wife, who died at the age of fifty years, bore him two children: Joseph and Rhoda. His second wife, who was Mrs. Sally (Langdon) Cheney, died at the age of ninety- three years. Joshua Dodge was a Whig in politics. In his religious views he was a Uni- tarian. Joseph S. Dodge, Mrs. Gale's father, whose birth occurred at Rowe, June 19, 1794, resided on the old homestead during his active
life, and spent the last years with his sons in Illinois, where he died at the age of sixty- seven years. He was married March 2, 1815, to Miss Sarah Angel, who was born July 16, 1796. She was called to her final rest May 31, 1893. Joseph Dodge and his wife were the parents of the following children : Rhoda, Nancy, Sarah, Sarah J., John A., Eliza D., Joseph P., Ellen M., George C., and Mary F.
Nancy Dodge was united in marriage on May 24, 1843, to Daniel Gale, whose birth occurred at Heath on May 26, 1816. He was the son of Luther and Sally (Spooner) Gale, a more extended account of whose ancestors may be found in an article relative to the career of D. J. Gale, which appears elsewhere in this work. Daniel Gale resided with his parents until reaching manhood. He pur- chased a small farm upon the banks of the Connecticut River, in the vicinity of Spring- field, which he cultivated for a period of ten years, and then moved to the town of Rowe, where he bought one hundred acres of land, upon which he resided the following seven years. He then sold that property for the purpose of buying another farm in the same town; and, after residing thereon six years, he removed to Dell, in the town of Heath, where he settled upon the estate which his widow now occupies. This farm, which con- sists of one hundred and twenty-five acres of valuable land, was known as the Deacon Smith homestead for a period of seventy years. The residence was erected by Colonel Snow; and upon acquiring possession Mr. Gale built a carriage-house, and made other important improvements. Daniel Gale was a public- spirited man, and attained a position of promi- nence in the town government, serving as a Selectman, Assessor, School Commissioner, and Justice of the Peace; and he represented his district in the legislature during the season
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of 1869. He was a Unitarian in his religious views, and Mrs. Gale also adheres to that liberal religious faith.
AMES L. FARR, a farmer of Green- field, was born in Windham, Vt., De- cember 7, 1831, son of Micah and Sally (Stearns) Farr. His grandfather, Joseph Farr, who was a native of New Hampshire, followed the profession of a school teacher for a number of years, but later in life became a farmer. He died at Windham when forty- nine years of age, leaving a wife, who lived to a good old age. They were members of an Orthodox church, and in politics he was a Whig. They had nine children who grew up, only one of whom is now living, Iva N. Farr, residing in Westminster, Vt.
Micah Farr, son of Joseph, was born in Chesterfield, N. H., in March of the year 1800. He passed his boyhood days and early manhood in New Hampshire, but spent his maturer years in Windham, Vt., where he owned and worked a farm. He took an active interest in the affairs of the town and at various times held public offices. In his religious views he was liberal, and was an attendant of the Con- gregational church. He died at the age of sixty-one ; and his wife, Sally (Stearns) Farr, born in Windham, Vt., in November, 1799, died at seventy-nine years of age. They had six children, four of whom grew to maturity; and three are now living. Martha died in 1861, thirty-one years of age; Almon died when a little over four years of age; Alfred, when not quite two years of age; James L. Farr is the eldest of those now living; George A. Farr now resides in Chester, Vt. ; Sarah E. became the wife of R. W. Carpenter, and they reside in Westminster, Vt.
James L. Farr spent the early years of his
life in Windham, Vt., where he received his early education in the public schools. Until twenty-one years of age he lived at home, but then began farming for himself, purchasing one hundred acres of land in Windham, the first piece of property he ever owned, on which he lived for two years. After farming in his native town for nine years, he sold his place there, and, moving to Westminster, there bought a farm, on which he resided about two years; but, again selling out, he went to Graf- ton, Vt., and bought another farm, on which he lived two years. Selling this farm he re- turned to Windham, where he purchased a place on which he lived six years. From Windham he removed to South Vernon, Vt., where he rented land for three years, and then, in 1876, he moved to Greenfield; and, after renting land for seven years, in 1883 he bought the place where he now resides. Hav- ing disposed of his farm, he has in view the erection of a fine residence at no distant day.
He was married in 1856 to Mary H. Stiles, of Grafton, Vt. She died in October, 1871 ; and in May, 1873, he married Mrs. Julia (Dunklee) Banks, of Sunderland, Mass. Mr. Farr had two children by his first wife, and is the father of one by the present Mrs. Farr. Mary A., daughter of the first wife, died at the age of fourteen years. Myron J. Farr, his only son, a lumber dealer, resides in Green- field. Vinnie M., the daughter by the second marriage, lives at home.
Mr. Farr and his wife are both members of the Congregational church, and in politics he is a Republican. While in Windham he served two years in the capacity of Assessor, and since coming to Greenfield has taken an active interest in all movements pertaining to the welfare of the town. Mr. Farr has re- tired from the hard work and active pursuits of the morning of life, and is spending the
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afternoon of his days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labors.
AMES W. ADAMS, an extensive agri- culturist and an active dealer in real estate, residing in the town of Orange, was born January 1, 1828, in New Salem, Franklin County, and is a son of Samuel and Arethusa (Whitney) Adams. His grandpar- ents, Amos and Lydia (Adams) Adams, lo- cated in New Salem in 1795.
Of this branch of the Adams family the immigrant ancestor was John Adams, who set- tled in Cambridge, Mass., about 1650, and died there in 1706. He was a millwright by occupation and quite a well-to-do man. He left six children, namely: Rebecca, born in England; Mary; John; Joseph ; Hannah ; and Daniel. Joseph, the second son, born in Cambridge in 1657, died in 1701. He was a farmer, and after his marriage with Margaret Eames bought a farm in West Cambridge, where they reared their five children : Joseph, Daniel, Cherry, John, and Abigail. Their son Joseph, the second of that name, was born in West Cambridge in 1688, and died in 1774. He was a prosperous farmer and a man of in- fluence, being active in politics and holding many of the town offices. He married for his first wife Rebecca Cutter; and they reared three children: Thomas, Joseph, third, and Margaret. Joseph Adams, third, was born in Cambridge, July 3, 1715, and died May 3, 1794. He was a thrifty agriculturist and one of the largest land-owners of his native town. He was Deacon of the church in Menotomy, now Arlington, and Selectman four years. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah Hall. She bore him ten children, as follows : Thomas, Rebecca, Susanna, Mary, Nathan, Joel, Amos, Daniel, Abigail, and Ann.
Amos Adams, the paternal grandfather of James W., of whom we write, was born August 23, 1765, twin with Joel, and lived in Cambridge the first thirty years of his exist- ence. Removing then to Franklin County he purchased two hundred acres of wild land in the town of New Salem; and this he partially cleared and placed under cultivation, further improving it by the erection of substantial buildings. He was highly respected as a man and as a citizen, being among the foremost in political matters. He was also an active worker in religious circles, being Deacon of the Congregational church. He lived to the ripe age of seventy-eight years. His good wife survived him, attaining the age of eighty- six years. They reared a large family of chil- dren ; namely, George, Amos, Samuel, James M., Nancy, Lydia, Hannah, Betsey, and Maria.
Samuel Adams, the third son of Amos, was born on the paternal homestead at New Salem, September 25, 1805, and was reared to farm- ing pursuits. He inherited the farm from his father ; but he subsequently sold a part, pur- chasing another adjoining, on which he made many improvements, and carried on lumbering in addition to tilling the soil, becoming one of the leading business men of the town. In him the Republican party found one of its most faithful adherents, and he filled satisfac- torily the offices of Assessor and Selectman for several years. He was, likewise, one of the Directors of the Springfield & Athol Railway Company, holding the office until his death, October 30, 1871. His wife, who bore him three children - James W., Lydia A., and Sarah E .- lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years.
James W. Adams completed his school life at the New Salem Academy, and when ready to establish himself in life assumed charge of
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the home farm, which he managed successfully for two years. Following the star of empire westward, in 1857 Mr. Adams went to Michi- gan, settling in Deerfield, Lenawee County, where he bought a farm, on which he lived six years. He then enlisted in the Eighth Mich- igan Infantry for three years as a musician, playing the B-flat cornet, and at the expiration of six months was discharged by general orders, along with a large number of bands, from the army. He then came East on a visit, and while here engaged with J. Wiley at Cooley- ville in the manufacture of palm-leaf hats and in general mercantile business. He manufact- ured hats for two years at Prescott, making them on contract for other parties; and in the succeeding three years he was engaged in mercantile business at Bond's Village, in the town of Palmer, Hampden County. Return- ing then to his native county, Mr. Adams bought the W. Reynolds farm, containing fifty-three acres of choice land, finely located, south of Orange; and here in 1886 he erected a commodious brick residence and two con- veniently arranged barns, and has carried on general agriculture with excellent success. As a dealer in real estate he has exhibited energy and enterprise, having laid out fourteen acres in village lots, many of which he has sold. He has also built several houses, some twenty-three in all; and of this number he has but seven now remaining, they having met with a ready sale. Mr. Adams is the posses- sor of five hundred acres of land in New Salem, including the original homestead prop- erty of his paternal grandfather.
On Thanksgiving Day in November, 1848, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with E. Augusta Cleveland, who was born at Rutland, Mass., March 18, 1826, a daughter of Shubael and Abigail (Jewell) Cleveland, the former a well-known shoemaker. Mrs. Adams passed
to the spirit world June 17, 1871, leaving seven children, namely : Emma F., born Au- gust 3, 1849; John C., born January 15, 1855; Walter J., born June 16, 1859, who married May Clark, and is the father of two children - Elmer and Marjory; James S., born June 13, 1863, who married Lulu Bas- sett, and has three children - Vera M., Lu- cinda I., and Emma A .; Albert J. and Arethusa W., twins, born October 4, 1869; and Abbie A., born April 28, 1871. After the death of his first wife Mr. Adams married Miss Emily Jilson, who was born in Rich- mond, N. H., March 5, 1842. She is a most estimable woman and a home-keeper in the truest sense of the word.
Politically, Mr. Adams is a stanch Repub- lican. He has served with credit in many of the town offices, having been Selectman, Assessor, and a member of the School Com- mittee. Socially, he is prominent in Grand Army of the Republic circles, belonging to Orange Post, No. 17; and he is also an active member of Orange Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
ATTHEW CHAPMAN, a retired manufacturer of Greenfield, Mass., was born in Sterlingshire, Scot- land, September 10, 1814. His father, Jo- seph Chapman, a manufacturer of garden uten- sils and cutlery, was a native of Yorkshire, England, born in the vicinity of the famous cutlery manufacturing city - Sheffield. He removed to Scotland, where he engaged in business, and subsequently married Margaret Baird, a farmer's daughter, their union being celebrated in the year 1788. They raised a family of eight children, all of whom eventu- ally presided over families of their own.
Matthew Chapman, who was one of three brothers, received a practical education in the
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common English branches of study, and ac- quired his father's trade, after which he left home, being naturally attracted to Sheffield, where he worked for some time, gaining much knowledge and experience relative to the art of manufacturing fine cutlery. In 1841 he crossed the Atlantic, arriving at New York on August 12, 1841, after a passage of five weeks and two days upon an American vessel named the "Stephen Whitney," which was com- manded by Captain Popham, a son of the Rev- olutionary soldier, General Popham.
Mr. Chapman started in the world without any great amount of cash capital, but, being an expert workman at his trade, he was able to command good wages, and came to this country provided with means sufficient to de- fray the cost of his return passage, in case he should find himself unfavorably impressed with the United States and dissatisfied to re- main here; but, although he has since made several visits to the old country, he has never had the desire to reside there permanently. He originally intended to locate at Pittsburg, Pa., where his cousin lived; but, meeting in New York Nathaniel Russell, a brother of John Russell of the well-known cutlery com- pany, after an interview of some length he decided to enter the employ of that concern, which was then conducting a comparatively small business. He commenced by doing piece work; and. being a strong, active man, skilled in his trade, he became of great value to the Russells, and soon received a salary of one thousand dollars, per year. During the long period of business prosperity enjoyed by the Russell Company he was advanced from time to time to higher positions of responsi- bility and trust, each step being seasoned with a further recognition of his services and worth, until he at length received a salary of twenty-five thousand dollars per annum.
Aside from his duties with the Russells, he established a factory for the manufacturing of edged tools and fine table cutlery of a superior quality, in which he employed twenty men, the products finding a ready sale throughout the United States; and during the past thirty years he has perfected and received patents upon thirteen valuable improvements.
On July 26, 1845, Mr. Chapman married his first wife, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Gaines, and who was born in Guilford, Vt., daughter of Samuel and Martha (Ather- ton) Gaines. Their union was blessed with four children, as follows: Jeannie, who mar- ried Charles Lord, of Kennebunk, Me., and died, together with an infant son, on February 9, 1868, aged twenty-two years; Francis Rus- sell Chapman, who resides in Boston, having a wife and two daughters - Jennie L. and May H .; William M., who is a travelling man; and Lizzie Baird, wife of Walter Newell Snow, a bank official in Greenfield, who has one child - Galen Snow. After thirty-five years of wedlock Mr. Chapman was called to mourn the loss of his wife, Elizabeth, who died on July 26, 1880, at the age of fifty-eight years; and ten years later, on December 21, 1890, he married for his second wife Miss Sarah J. Chapin, also of Guilford, Vt., daugh- ter of Nathan P. and Abigail (Hubbard) Chapin, her parents being now deceased. Her father was Justice of the Peace over fifty years, and during that time officiated at the union of more than two hundred couples, in- cluding that of Mr. Chapman with his first wife. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman reside at 161 Main Street, where the former has lived for over forty years; and in his retirement he now has leisure to indulge his taste for books and reading, which, in common with so many of his countrymen, he possesses in a marked de- gree. Mr. Chapman was formerly a Director
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of the Turner's Falls Bank, and has been a Trustee of the Greenfield Bank since its or- ganization. He has advanced in Masonry to the Knight Templar degree, or Commandery, having been a member of the craft for more than forty years. He voted with the Free Soilers for Martin Van Buren in 1849, but has been a Republican in politics since the forma- tion of that party, and, although not an aspir- ant for office, was a candidate for Representa- tive to the legislature in a very closely contested election, which resulted in the counting in of his Democratic opponent. His life has been one of useful and honorable ac- tivity and thoroughly successful, much of the prosperity of the Russell Company having been due to his skill and energy. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are members of the Congrega- tional church, and he has for many years been active in Sunday-school work.
DWARD WRIGHT, a successful and highly intelligent farmer of Rowe, Franklin County, was born in Wind- sor, Mass., October 1I, 1840, son of Philo and Harriet (Wells) Wright. His grand- father, Aschel Wright, who was a native of Connecticut, removed to Windsor, Mass., where he became the owner of several hundred acres of land, owning at one time the whole of Windsor Hill, Berkshire County. In polit- ical matters he supported the Whig party. He was a man of enterprise and public spirit, and served in several prominent town offices. His children were: Worthington, Aschel, Uriel, Erastus, Clark, Julius, Mary, Philo, and Maria.
Philo Wright was born in Windsor, Mass. He became the owner of a portion of the old home farm, which he cultivated with success, but afterward sold it, and removed to West
Cummington, where in 1865 he purchased a home and retired from business. He was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, whose ranks he then joined. He ren- dered acceptable service as Town Clerk sev- eral years and also as Trial Justice. - His wife, Harriet Wells Wright, bore him eight children : Harriet, Clark, Julia, Jane, Julia A., Henry C., Edward, and Martha.
Edward Wright remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he secured a position in Hudson, Mass., as clerk in a general store, where he remained until he came to Rowe. In this place he purchased the Dr. Gould farm, which contains one hun- dred and twelve acres of land; and he has since successfully engaged in general farming, stock-raising, and dairying. On March 19, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Gould, daughter of Dr. Humphrey and Electa (Haynes) Gould. Dr. Gould, who was a very successful physician, was born in Topsfield, Mass. He was educated at Will- iams College, and began the practice of his profession in Danvers, Mass., but soon after removed to Rowe, where he entered into part- nership with Dr. Haynes, his wife's father. He lived to be seventy-seven years old. His wife, Electa (Haynes) Gould, bore him two children : Electa, born August 15, 1828; and Hannah, born December 18, 1837.
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