USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 25
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Edward Davenport, Jr., was born in Cole- rain, March 8, 1817, and there grew to man- hood, getting a fair education in the common schools of the town. He was a thrifty farmer, and accumulated considerable property, his real estate comprising about one hundred and sixty acres. In 1847 or 1848 he bought the farm which is still in the family, and here he resided until his death, on May 5, 1883. Mr. ; Davenport in his latter years, after the disso- lution of the Whig party, voted the Repub- lican ticket. On May 8, 1849, he married Marietta Maxam, daughter of John and Mari- etta (Dwight) Maxam, who was born in Cole- rain, September 7, 1826. John Maxam was a carpenter, who conducted a farm for his fam- ily needs, and lived in Colerain the greater part of his life, having been born here in 1796, and passing away at the age of seventy- three. His wife, a native of Williamsburg, born in 1800, lived to be a little over seventy. Mr. Maxam was a Republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They had four children, daughters, two of whom are deceased. Cordelia, wife of Theodore Galer, a soldier in the late war, who died in Andersonville, died at the age of forty- two; and Prudence, the wife of J. B. Daven- port, passed away when sixty years of age. The living are: Mrs. Juliette Walden, a resi- dent of Colerain ; and Marietta, Mrs. Daven- port. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Davenport, Jr., were members of the Baptist church. They had three children, as follows: John E., born October 25, 1850, a farmer, married April 7, 1878, to Ada Donalson, born July 6, 1854, daughter of Samuel and Louisa Donalson, of Colerain, and living in Colerain; Carl E. ; and Rena M., born February 8, 1861, wife of Professor W. F. Lamb, residing in New York City, who has one son, Ferdinand R. Lamb, born December 1, 1888.
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Carl E. Davenport maintains the prestige of the family, holding the respect and esteem of all who know him. He owns the old home- stead, which comprises a good farm, one of the finest residences in this part of the county, and substantial farm buildings. He is a hard worker, and very successful in his line; a Re- publican in politics, and liberal in religious views. Mr. Davenport is still a bachelor, his mother, who resides with him, occupying the place of honor in his household.
ANIEL BALLARD, a successful farmer and dairyman of Franklin County, owns a finely equipped and well-improved farm in New Salem, and is widely known as a public-spirited man who has filled many offices of trust in the town, and has fully merited the confidence which his fellow-citizens have reposed in him. H comes of Puritan stock, and from a family noted for intelligence and enterprise, descend- ants of William and Grace Ballard, who emi- grated from England to Massachusetts at an early day, and settled on one of the Andover hills. They reared several children, their son Joseph being the progenitor of the line now being considered.
Joseph Ballard was an industrious farmer of Andover, and was Ensign of a company of in- fantry in 1694-99. He married Rebecca Horne, or Orne, most of the members of the Horne family having at an early date dropped the "H," and written the name "Orne." Of their children, Jeremiah, who was born in Andover in 1697, married in 1721 Mary Dane, daughter of Francis Dane, of the same town; and fourteen years later they removed to Lunenburg, where they were admitted to full communion of the church of Christ, Octo- ber 3, 1736, but apparently lived in Concord
a few years afterward. They came to New Salem about 1746-48, being among the early settlers of this locality. Jeremiah Ballard had risen to the rank of a Captain of a company of infantry, and had seen service in the days of French and Indian warfare. On May 20, 1750, he and his wife united by letter from Lunenburg with the Congregational church in New Salem, of which he was elected the second Deacon. He was active and influential in church and town affairs, being one of the original proprietors of the New Salem town- ship, and filling the office of Selectman several years. He lived here until his decease, in 1761. The names of his children were : Jere- miah, Joshua, Daniel, Joseph, Mary, Phœbe, and Hannah.
Daniel, third son of Jeremiah, was a native of Andover, and for many years a resident of New Salem, having moved thither with his father. He married January 26, 1754, Ruth Houlton, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Houlton, of New Salem, and aunt of the Joseph Houlton who founded the town of Houlton, Me. They were admitted to the church in New Salem October 2, 1763. He was Tax Collector for several years. He col- lected and paid to H. Gardner, State Treas- urer, March 24, 1780, the sum of one thou- sand, ninety-nine pounds and four pence, in part for taxes committed to him to collect for the year 1779 - State tax - a large sum for so small a town. He subsequently moved to Wendell, where he bought a farm, and lived to the age of fourscore years, his departure occur- ring on May 31, 1808. His widow survived him till November 22, 1817, attaining the age of eighty-four years. She left the following children : Daniel, Phœbe, Tilly, Josiah, Lucy, Joseph Henry, James, William, and Hannah, all born in New Salem.
Josiah, son of Daniel and Ruth (Houlton)
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Ballard, was born February 11, 1762, and suc- ceeded to the ownership of his father's farm in New Salem, on which he carried on mixed husbandry during his entire life. He was a progressive farmer, and bought more land, own- ing some two hundred acres in all, and doing an extensive business in real estate and in lumber. On January 20, 1789, he married Frances Jane Zuil, daughter of Alexander and Frances Zuil, of Boston, who survived him nineteen years, dying near the old homestead at the home of her son Daniel in 1856. Josiah Ballard served several months as a Revolution- ary soldier, having enlisted when but sixteen years of age in the place of his father, who was drafted. He died in June, 1837, aged seventy- five years. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. They reared five children, namely: Chester, James, Char- lotte, Daniel, and Lucinda.
Daniel Ballard, Sr., son of Josiah, and father of the special subject of this sketch, was born in Wendell, March 4, 1802, and there received the rudiments of his education. He afterward attended both the New Salem and Amherst Academies, and later on he was engaged in teaching school in the winters and farming in the summer season for several years. He finally bought a two-hundred-acre farm in Wendell, and became one of the most prosperous farmers in the town. Possessing great individuality and force of character, he was very influential in local affairs, and for many years was a member of the School Com- mittee. He was a Whig in his earlier days, but on the formation of the Republican party became one of its most earnest adherents. Both he and his wife were members of the Bap- tist church. He died November 9, 1870; his widow, whose girlhood name was Dulcenia Brown, and who was born February 21, 1811, is still living at New Salem.
They were married March 7, 1833, and became the parents of the following children :. Dulcenia J., born March 19, 1834, died Jan- uary 23, 1852; Harrison W., born October 15, 1835; Lottie M., born November 19, 1837; Daniel, born January 16, 1840; Hattie L., born January 29, 1842; Milton, born March 3, 1844; Albert, born September 28, 1846; L. Annie, born March 6, 1849, died July 1, 1870; and Lester, born February 6, 1852. Harrison W. Ballard was married December 6, 1866, to Sarah Jane Larned, of Worcester, Mass. He has pursued mercantile business in Trenton and Jersey City, N. J., and Indianapolis, Ind., where they now (1895) reside. They have no children. Lottie M. is a teacher in the public schools of Wendell. Hattie L. married October 1, 1868, Beriah W. Fay, Esq., of New Salem, for many years one of the County Commissioners. Their children are Harry W. and Beatrice A. Mil- ton Ballard died February 7, 1866, from dis- ease contracted in the army during the Civil War, when he was a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers. Al- bert, who has a saw, shingle, and planing mill in New Salem, married August 16, 1876, Mary E. Foote, of Conway, Mass., daughter of David A. and Esther E. Foote. Their chil- dren are : Annie, Frances, and Harold Foote. Lester Ballard, a farmer in New Salem, mar- ried September 2, 1875, Emma F., daughter of Edwin K. and Charlotte M. Parkhurst, of Chelmsford, Mass. Their children are: Wini- fred E., Hattie L., and Ruth P.
As indicated above, Daniel Ballard, of New Salem, is the second son of the late Daniel Ballard, Sr., and was born in Wendell. After leaving the public schools, he attended the New Salem Academy and the Ames Business Col- lege at Syracuse, N. Y., where he completed his education, afterward teaching in the winter
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season and working on the home farm during seed time and harvest. In 1862, inspired by patriotic ardor, Mr. Ballard enlisted in the service of his country, becoming a member of Company D, Fifty-second Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry, with which he was at the front under General N. P. Banks, in Louisi- ana, for nine months, when he returned home, broken down in health and reduced to a mere skeleton. Not able to do any hard labor for some time, he at first accepted the position of a clerk, and, gradually growing stronger, at length entered into the lumber business with his brothers, they carrying on an extensive traffic until burned out. In 1874 Mr. Ballard purchased the Upton farm of one hundred and fifty acres in New Salem, where he has since resided. He has here built a commodious and convenient barn, repaired the other buildings, and by a system of under-draining has rendered his estate one of the most productive and val- uable in the vicinity. He pays much atten- tion to dairying, having a choice herd of Jersey cows, this being an important branch of his industry.
On November 11, 1868, Mr. Ballard was united in marriage with Bessie P. Foote, a daughter of David A. and Esther (Hill) Foote, her father being a well-to-do farmer of Con- way, Mass. Mrs. Esther H. Foote died Janu- ary I, 1858. By this marriage Mr. Foote had five children, namely : Frances, born Decem- ber 30, 1840, died July 28, 1841 ; Bessie P., born November 26, 1843; David A., Jr., born December 2, 1847, died September 13, 1849; Mary E., born May 27, 1852; and Etta E., born December 31, 1857, died December 15, 1878. After the death of his first wife David A. Foote married Lucetta Felton, who bore him one child, Eliza F., born April 10, 1861, who died November 5, 1879. Mr. Foote died December 18, 1869, at the age of fifty-nine
years. He was a strong Republican in poli- tics, and both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ballard are the parents of four children, of whom but two are living, namely : Frederick F., born January 3, 1872; and May E., born July 14, 1873. The de- ceased are : Bessie J., born September 10, 1876, and died April 30, 1893; and Lottie L., who was born May 22, 1879, and passed to the higher life December 19, 1885. Mr. Bal- lard is a stalwart Republican in politics, and has served his town with credit as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for ten years, as a valued member of the School Board for many terms, and in 1882 was Representa- tive to the State legislature. He is now one of the Trustees of the New Salem Academy. He and his wife are esteemed members of the Congregational church, of which he is a Dea- con and superintendent of the Sunday-school, and are active workers in the cause of religion and humanity.
AMES R. LONG, a well-known farmer of Greenfield, his native town, was born January 5, 1841, son of Lemuel H. and Sabrina (Flagg) Long. David Long, the grandfather of James R., married Millicindy Brooks, January 13, 1778, in Vermont, and, leaving that State, came to Greenfield, where he settled. He was a hard-working farmer, and, as a military man, served in the War of 1812. He successfully reared a family of eight sons and eight daughters, three of whom are still living. Grandfather Long died at the age of ninety-four, and his wife at ninety years, both in Greenfield.
Mr. Long's maternal grandfather, Jonathan Flagg, father of Sabrina Flagg, was born Feb- ruary 26, 1775, in Worcester, Mass. ; and his
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wife, Sabra Titus, was born May 16, 1775. He owned and worked a good farm in Ver- mont ; but in 1826 he moved to Greenfield, and bought, in company with Lemuel H. Long, the one hundred acres of land which to-day constitute the farm now conducted by James R. Long. The house which stands on it to-day was standing then, having been built fourteen years before, and was widely known as "A. Thayer's Hostelry," it being in the centre of the business portion of Greenfield at that time. This farm Jonathan Flagg and Lemuel Long continued to work in partnership till the death of the former. Mr. Flagg was a musician of some note, and a man of dignified presence, well-known as Squire Flagg, having for many years been Justice of the Peace in Vermont. In politics he was a Democrat. He had five children, all of whom grew to maturity, but are all now deceased. Mr. Flagg died in Greenfield April 12, 1864, and his wife January 29, 1861.
Lemuel H. Long was born in Marlboro, Vt., November 10, 1799; but most of his boy- hood and youth were spent in Halifax. When twenty-one years of age, he moved to Green- field, and was apprenticed to his brother David to learn the blacksmith's trade. After a time he became a partner with his brother, and they continued the business together until 1826, when Lemuel disposed of his interest, and moved to the farm where his son now resides, where he remained, tilling the soil, till his death, which took place February 24, 1881. He was married April 22, 1828, to Sabrina Flagg, who was born in Wilmington, Vt., January 14, 1802, and died January 1, 1859.
On June 19, 1860, Lemuel H. Long's sec- ond marriage was solemnized, the bride being Julia Hinsdale, who is a native of Upper Meadows, Greenfield. The Hinsdale family are highly esteemed and numbered among the
older residents of Franklin County. Mrs. Julia H. Long's great-grandfather, Samuel Hinsdale, who was an early settler of Green- field, was born April 24, 1708, and his wife, Rebecca, June 13, 1703. Mrs. Long's father, Samuel Hinsdale, a native of Greenfield and a farmer, married Sally Clark, of Colerain. Both died in Greenfield, he at a ripe old age. They had ten children, four of whom are now living : Emily; Fanny; Julia, Mrs. Long; and Maria, now Mrs. Baker. Mrs. Long has in her possession the old family Bible, which is in a good state of preservation, and dates back to the year 1708. Mr. Long, Lemuel H., was an attendant of the Episcopal church, and in politics belonged to the Democratic party. He had seven children, five of whom grew up, and two are now living, namely : James R. Long, born January 5, 1841 ; and his sister, Sabra T. Long, born March 26, 1844. The others were: Sabra, born Febru- ary 3, 1829, died October 6, 1843; Jonathan F., born December 30, 1830, died April 9, 1853; Saloman H., born December 31, 1832, died November 7, 1893 ; and Alanson B., who was United States District Attorney for the district of Louisiana, born March 26, 1835, died October 30, 1870.
James R. Long was educated in the public schools in Greenfield, where he grew to man- hood, since which time he has followed the occupation of farmer. He and his sister re- side with their step - mother, Mrs. Julia H. Long, on the old home farm, where he runs a dairy in connection with fruit - raising and general farming. James R. Long and his brother, Captain A. B. Long, were mustered into the United States Infantry, Company A, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teer Militia, October 2, 1862, to serve nine months. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fourteenth
WILLIAM STEWART.
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Army Corps, and participated in the demon- stration against Port Hudson, La., March 14, 1863, and also in the following engagements : Irish Bend, La., April 13, 1863 ; siege of Port Hudson, La., May 30, 1863; and Jackson's Cross Roads, La., June 20, 1863. The Fifty- second was the first regiment to ascend the Mississippi River from Port Hudson after the surrender of Vicksburg, Miss. The Long brothers were mustered out of service in Greenfield, August 14, 1863, James R. being Fifth Sergeant of his company. Mr. Long has never ventured on the sea of matrimony, but remains content in single blessedness, his step-mother and sister living with him. In politics he is independent. Mr. and Miss Long are Episcopalians.
ILLIAM STEWART, whose likeness will be recognized on the opposite page, an influential and highly re- spected resident of Colerain, Franklin County, Mass., was born upon the farm he now owns and cultivates, September 16, 1820. He is a son of Captain Amos and Margaret (Oak) Stewart, both of whom were born at Colerain, the former on June 4, 1793, and the latter on June 15, 1797. The family are of Scotch an- cestry, being descendants of Charles Stewart, who, in company with his brothers, James and John, settled upon a tract of land in this town about the year 1740. They cleared good farms from the forests, and resided here for the re- mainder of their lives. Mr. Stewart's great- grandfather was William Stewart, a noted man in his day; and his son, David Stewart, who was born at Colerain in June, 1760, became a very active farmer. He died at the age of sixty-nine years; and his wife, whose maiden name was Miriam Haven, who was born at Hopkinton, Mass., December 27, 1760, died
at the age of eighty-five years, having been the mother of four sons and two daughters, as fol- lows: David, Jane, Amos, Elizabeth, Will- iam, and Joram.
Amos Stewart was reared to an agricultural life upon the old home farm, and resided there for his entire life. He was a hard - working and successful farmer, and a prominent man in the community, in religion always adhering to the Presbyterian faith, serving as Selectman and Assessor for many years, and representing his district in the legislature for three years. He was also a soldier and pensioner of the War of 1812. He died June 17, 1867, at the age of seventy-four years, his wife having been previously called to rest on August 29, 1850, aged fifty-three years. Of their ten children, all reached maturity but one, and four sons are now living : Amariah H., a resident of Con- necticut, who was born May 13, 1818; Will- iam, of Colerain; Silas S., now deceased, who was born December 21, 1822; David, a resident of Michigan, who was born July 29, 1827; Amos, who was born December 29, 1829, and died young ; Amos, 2d, a resident of Colerain, who was born May 13, 1833; Charles, also deceased, born June 29, 1836; Nancy Jane, born June 10, 1825, and died Septem- ber 16, 1849; Mary Abbie, born February 13, 1839, and died November, 1882; and George H., born June 29, 1843, and died April 6, 1888. Captain Amos Stewart was twice mar- ried, his second wife having been Lydia Bab- cock, of Colerain, who died at the age of eighty years, on January 21, 1883, leaving no children.
William Stewart, like his immediate ances- tors, has passed his entire life upon the farm where he now resides, the property having been in the possession of the family for a cent- ury and a half. He received his education in the district schools, and assisted his father in
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carrying on the farm until the latter's decease, after which the estate was managed jointly by himself and his brother. Mr. Stewart suc- ceeded the ownership of a part of the old homestead, which consists of about one hun- dred acres, and is devoted to general farming. He has been a tireless worker all his life and eminently successful, being considered by his fellow-townsmen to be one of the most pros- perous farmers in the neighborhood. The land is in a high state of cultivation, being admirably located, and finely equipped and substantial buildings are kept in perfect re- pair. Although Mr. Stewart is considerably past threescore and ten, he is still actively engaged in superintending his farm, person- ally attending to all details, as has been his custom for so many years.
On November 26, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Chapin, whose father, Erastus Chapin, was born at Spring- field, Mass., in 1790. Erastus Chapin was a farmer who resided at Leyden during a greater part of his active life, and who died at Green- field, April 30, 1870. His wife, who was born at Colerain, December 26, 1790, died on June 26, 1867. Of their six children, four lived to reach maturity, but only one now sur- vives, David G., a resident of Greenfield, born August 27, 1824. Eliza Jane, now deceased, was born April 25, 1813; Sarah E., also de- ceased, was born March 10, 1818; Julius E., deceased, born December 14, 1821; Mrs. Mary C. Chapin Stewart died July 30, 1895, aged seventy-nine; and Miriam Chapin, born August 27, 1827, died August 6, 1895. Mrs. Stewart was well known and much esteemed in the community, of which she and her husband were among the oldest residents. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with it at eighteen years of age ; and he also has been connected with it many
years, during a greater portion of which he has held official position in the society. Mr. William Stewart has long been prominently identified with local public affairs, having served the town as Selectman and Assessor, and was a representative to the State legisla- ture in 1873. His home is in many respects a model one, and now, in the absence of the devoted wife and mother, is cheered and pre- sided over by the only daughter, Edith E., who was born on September 20, 1870, and is also an active member of the Methodist church.
ENRY S. SMEAD, a capable and energetic farmer of Greenfield, was born in that town, October 22, 1858. The Smeads were among the early settlers of Greenfield, the grandfather, Jesse Smead, being born here, January 9, 1785. When a young man, he bought the farm where Henry S. Smead now resides, and in course of time brought it into a high state of cultivation. In politics he was a Whig, and both he and his wife were attendants of the Congregational church. His death occurred at the farm Sep- tember 20, 1858. He was twice married. His first wife, Martha Allen, was born in Shelburne, December 3, 1823. For his sec- ond wife he married Matilda Allen, who died February 6, 1853. They had a family of six children, none of whom are now living. Their son, Sylvenus A. Smead, father of Henry S., was born on the farm, August 22, 1825, and here spent his life. After growing to man's estate, he became the owner of the farm in company with his brother; and they carried on its various industries together until the brother's death, when Sylvenus bought the entire property, which at that time amounted altogether to about three hundred acres of land, besides the farm buildings, it being one
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of the largest farms in the town. Politically, he was a Republican ; and his ready mind and practical business methods were called into use in public affairs, he being called upon at different times to fill various town offices, among them that of Assessor. He married Susan M. Ballou, who was born February 7, I835; and they became the parents of two children : S. Gertrude, born December 13, 1864, now the wife of Charles A. Wheeler, of Greenfield; and Henry S., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Smead died April 22, 1873. His wife survived him until August 6, 1895. Both were members of the Congregational church.
Henry S. Smead attended the district and high schools of Greenfield until reaching the age of fourteen years and six months, when, on his father's death, he took charge of the farm. Inheriting the characteristic energy of his father, he applied himself to work with such good effect as to achieve a marked suc- cess, and now owns the old farm, which con- sists at the present time of two hundred and twenty-five acres. Here he carries on general farming, and also has a good dairy, keeping from thirty to forty head of full-blood Dur- hams. The buildings are in good condition, and the entire property presents a neat and thriving appearance. Mr. Smead is a stanch Republican, but does not care to hold office, preferring a private life to participation in active politics. He is liberal in his religious views. On October 26, 1892, he was married to Alice L. Newcomb, who was born in Ley- den, April 27, 1865, the daughter of John H. and Frances (Denison) Newcomb, both of whom are now living in Leyden, Mr. Newcomb being a farmer of that place. Mrs. Smead is a member of the Congregational church ; and she and her husband, while enjoying the comforts of their pleasant home, are not unmindful of
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