USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 26
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others, but lead unselfish lives, and are among the most useful and esteemed members of their community.
BENEZER A. DEANE, M.D., a highly respected physician of Montague, and, with one exception, the oldest medi- cal practitioner in Franklin County, was born at Royalston, Worcester County, Mass., Jan- uary 16, 1825. His father, Jeremiah Deane, was a native of Warwick; and his grandfather Deane, who for many years followed agricult- ural pursuits in that town, was born at Ded- ham, Mass., and died at Geneseo, N. Y., aged eighty-eight years.
Jeremiah Deane was one of a family of nine children. On reaching the age of twenty-one, he purchased a farm at Burlington, N. Y., which he occupied for about twelve years, when he sold it, and, moving to Royalston, Mass., bought a saw and grist mill; but, after operating the mill successfully for some years, he disposed of the property, and purchased a farm at Gill, where he resided until his de- cease, at eighty-eight years of age. His wife, whose name before marriage was Rhoda Allen, was a native of Gill, where her father was a miller and a farmer. She became the mother of ten children, two of whom are still living : Dr. Deane; and his elder sister, Rhoda A., widow of Abel Bliss, residing at West- field, aged (1895) eighty-five years, her hus- band having died in 1844. One son, the Rev. James O. Deane, who was educated at Wes- leyan Academy, and, becoming a Methodist preacher at the age of twenty-five, labored upon a circuit which embraced Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties, died at Pelham when he was thirty-four years old. The others were: Merciline Deane, died at sixty-eight years; Hannah, also deceased, was the wife of Adams Prouty; Hiram W., de-
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ceased, aged seventy-two years; Achsah W. ; Albert E. ; Hepsibah J. ; Harriet N. ; and another daughter - who are all now deceased. Dr. Deane's parents were members of the Con- gregational church. His mother lived to the age of eighty-six years.
Ebenezer A. Deane resided with his parents upon the farm until reaching the age of twenty years. In his boyhood and early youth he diligently pursued his studies in the district schools and in Goodale Academy at Bernard- ston, after which he attended the academy at Shelburne Falls, where he was engaged as assistant teacher for two years. It was during this period that he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Stephen J. W. Tabor, of Shelburne Falls. Later he attended medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt., and then entered Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass., from which he graduated in 1853. He imme- diately entered upon the duties of his profes- sion at Jacksonville, in the town of Whiting- ham, Vt., where he remained eight years. In 1861 he came to Montague, and in October of that year commenced a practice which has ex- tended over a period of more than thirty-three years. When he established his residence here, he was the youngest member of the Franklin District Medical Society; and he has witnessed the passing away of all the original associates, he being at the present time next to the oldest member in the county. He has been exceedingly active, always ready to attend to the medical needs of a public distributed over a radius of many miles, and for forty-two years in all has ridden through the storms of winter and the heat of summer in the faithful discharge of his arduous duties.
On May 15, 1854, he was united in mar- riage with Hannah D. Sanderson, of Wood- stock, Vt., where her father, John Sanderson, was a fariner. She was one of three children
born to her mother, who was a second wife. Dr. and Mrs. Deane have two daughters, both residing at home, namely: Angelia M., a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, who taught music for some years, but is now engaged in studying painting; and Mary, who was educated at Wilbraham. The Doctor is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he has been Vice-President, and of the County Medical Society, of which he has been the presiding officer. He was sent to New York State Medical Society from the Massachusetts Medical Society as delegate to its annual meeting. He is a Republican in politics, and has served upon the School Board for many years. Dr. Deane was instrumental in securing the establishment of the Montague Public Library, of which he was a Trustee for several years. He is an active member of the Congregational church, being closely identified with its affairs and a teacher in the Sunday- school. Mrs. Deane has been President of the Ladies' Benevolent Society for many years, of which also her eldest daughter is Secretary and Treasurer. Her youngest daughter, Mary, is President of the Young People's Society for Christian Endeavor, devoting much time to church and Sunday-school work.
RANK J. LAWLER, attorney - at-law in Greenfield, Mass., is a young man of great promise, possessing undeniable ability, and has a fair prospect of achieving a brilliant success in his professional career. A native of Franklin County, he was born at South Deerfield, July 31, 1863, son of the late James Lawler, who was born in 1832, in Dorola, County Cavan, Ireland. His grand- parents were Francis and Margaret (Lee) Law- ler, who came to America in 1858, and located in this county, at South Deerfield, where they
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engaged in tilling the soil. To them fourteen children were born, seven of whom came with them to this country. They both lived more than fourscore years, the mother dying at the age of eighty-one, and the father soon after, aged eighty-three years, their bodies being laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery of Greenfield.
James Lawler, the father of the subject of this sketch, followed his parents to this coun- try in 1860, and lived for some years in South Deerfield, being there married to Margaret Hafey, who was born in Ballanclay, County Waterford, Ireland. He subsequently removed to Leicester, in Worcester County, where he was employed as a leather worker in a factory manufacturing cards to be used in carding wool. His health failing, he was obliged to relinquish his position, and in 1881 came to Greenfield, Mass., and was a continuous resi- dent of that place until his death, November 5, 1886. Of their children, one, Margaret J., "died at the age of three years. The follow- ing is the record of the four living now : Frank J., to whom this sketch has special reference ; Nicholas J., Deputy Collector of Internal Rev- enue and a real estate and insurance broker, at Room I, Pond's Block, Greenfield; Thomas L., of the firm of Lawler Brothers, real es- tate and insurance brokers, Room I, Pond's Block, Greenfield; and Mary A., wife of Edward Donovan, a prosperous grocer of Greenfield. The mother is still living, her residence being at No. 13 Wells Street, Green- field ; and her three sons, all unmarried, live with her.
Frank J. Lawler began his education in the public schools of his native town, and after- ward pursued his studies in the Leicester pub- lic schools. At the age of thirteen years, his father being in poor health, he was placed in a shoe factory, that his scanty wages might
contribute somewhat to the support of the fam- ily. In 1881 he came with his parents to Greenfield, and for twelve or more years was employed in the Cutler shoe factory. He was an ambitious scholar, however, and from the time he left the school-room was a dili- gent student of the best books he could pro- cure, and by application acquired an amount of general knowledge far exceeding that of many academic students. In 1888 Mr. Lawler began to devote his evenings and his leisure moments to reading law in the office of S. O. Lamb, who from the first appreciated his tal- ents, and lent him encouragement in his en- deavors. He subsequently entered the law department of the Boston University, from which he was graduated in June, 1894, and in the following month was admitted to the bar in Franklin County. He began his profes- sional career by opening an office on his own account ; but soon afterward, on February I, 1895, he became the junior partner of the well-known firm of Lamb & Lawler, and dur- ing the short time he has been in practice he has had his share of patronage. He is quite prominent in social and political circles, being a member of the Father Mathew Temperance Society and of the Catholic church. He is a sound Democrat, and has been a member of the town committee.
Nicholas J. Lawler was appointed United State Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourteenth Division in the Third Dis- trict of Massachusetts in September, 1894, to succeed John E. Drew. The Springfield Re- publican, in its issue of September 21, 1894, says in reply to the question, "Who is Law- ler?" "Well, he is a bright and worthy young man, full of push and energy, who has by close application and downright hard work come to the front, rising from the ranks of toilers, surprising many by his attainments in
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life, and already showing a capacity that will, no doubt, justify his appointment."
Thomas L. Lawler was born in South Deer- field, October 23, 1868, and received his edu- cation in the public schools of Leicester and Greenfield, Mass. After leaving school, he learned the plumber's trade, which he followed until June, 1895, when he entered into part- nership with his brother, Nicholas J., in the real estate and insurance business. The firm name was changed to Lawler Brothers, Real Estate and Insurance Agency. Thomas L. Lawler is a bright, wide-awake young man, of good business ability. He is strictly tem- perate, a member of the Father Mathew Temperance Society and the Knights of Columbus.
The Lawler boys are most worthy and indus- trious young men, of exceptional ability, and deserve credit for what they have already ac- complished by their own unaided efforts. Their widowed mother early implanted in their hearts the upright principles that have been their guides through life, and she now takes a justifiable pride in their well-doing.
HARLES H. ROBERTSON, who is foremost among the stock-raisers and fruit-growers of Leyden, Franklin County, Mass., was born in Westminster, Vt., November 23, 1850. His parents were Will- iam and Mary (Martin) Robertson, the former a native of Brattleboro, Vt., the latter of Guil- ford; and his grandfather was one of the carly settlers in the neighborhood of Brattleboro, a brief synopsis of whose career will be found in the sketch of Roswell B. Robertson, on an- other page of this volume. William Robertson was a successful farmer, and owned a good farm of about seventy-five acres. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in his religious belief a
Methodist. He died at his home in Leyden on August 18, 1891 ; and his wife followed to the better land a little more than two years later, January 29, 1894. They had ten chil- dren, all of whom reached maturity, namely : Edward W., now deceased; Harriet, Mrs. Stewart, a resident of East Colerain; Roswell B., a farmer in West Leyden; Martha E., Mrs. Brackett, living at Green River, Vt. ; Albert R., a dealer in hides and tallow in Burlington, Vt. ; James P., John H., and Alonzo M., all of New York City; Charles H., of Leyden; and Julia J., Mrs. Babb, liv- ing in Fitchburg.
The childhood and early youth of Charles H. Robertson were passed in Leyden on the old homestead. At the age of nineteen he went to New York City, and engaged in the provision business, remaining fourteen years ; and in 1880 he bought the farm which he now cultivates. In 1882 he returned to Leyden to live, engaging in general farming. His farm covers one hundred and thirty-five acres, and, being largely devoted to fruit-growing, makes a fine showing of all kinds to which the cli- mate is adapted. Mr. Robertson also has a good dairy and some fine stock, raising sheep, hogs, and poultry for the market; and, besides common table produce, he cultivates a variety of small grains.
On September 16, 1874, Mr. Robertson was married to Mary Della Miner, daughter of James R. and Mary Miner, of Leyden, and a member of one of the oldest families in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have one son, Walter H., born in New York, June 22, 1878.
Mr. Robertson votes the Democratic ticket. His religious belief binds him to no fixed creed ; but his wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he attends service with her. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M., being a member of Republican Lodge of
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Greenfield. His estate is a fine one, and the neat appearance of the buildings and luxuriant growth of the vegetation show that the man- 'ager is a man of methodical ways and abundant resources.
RS. CAROLINE C. FURBUSH, of Greenfield, widow of the late Merrill A. Furbush, was born at Deerfield, her maiden name having been Stone. Her maternal grandfather was Deacon Elisha Field, of that town, who married a daughter of Major Hubbard, of Sunderland ; and Mrs. Furbush is thus related to Eugene Field, the poet and journalist, of Chicago, and to Marshall Field of that city, and is also con- nected with the Montagues. Left an orphan at a tender age by the untimely death of her parents, Caroline C. Stone was cared for by her grandparents and her aunt, Mrs. Alonzo Rice, of Deerfield. She was educated in the schools of her native town, and in 1858 was married in Worcester, Mass., to Merrill A. Furbush, an extensive manufacturer.
Mr. Furbush was a native of Worcester County, Mass., and in early manhood became interested in the manufacture of improved machinery for woollen mills. In 1860 he transferred his business to Philadelphia, where he continued at the head of an extensive and successful enterprise. He was a gentleman who possessed much business ability, together with a thorough understanding of the general principles and conditions of manufacturing and trade at home and abroad, he having travelled much, both for the purpose of sight-seeing and the observation of the industrial methods of other countries. In the beautiful residence built by Mr. Furbush in Greenfield in 1884, the work of the distinguished architect and writer, E. C. Gardner, of Springfield, author of "Homes, and How to make them" and
"The House that Jill built," Mr. and Mrs. Furbush spent the ensuing summers till his death, which occurred on March 31, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years.
After that event the business established in Philadelphia by Mr. Furbush was placed in the hands of a stock company, which was organ- ized for the purpose of conducting it, with Merrill A. Furbush, Jr., as its official head, this gentleman, who has been recently mar- ried, being the only son. Mrs. Furbush has buried one daughter, Christine, who died Feb- ruary 9, 1888, and has two others, namely : Grace F., wife of Frank Bement, of Philadel- phia, having one daughter - Florence; and Caroline C., wife of Dr. J. P. Holmes, of Milford, Mass., who is now travelling in Europe.
Mrs. Furbush came to Greenfield to reside permanently in 1894. She is a lady of both literary and artistic tastes, and possesses a val- uable library filled with choice and rare books, many of them in rich and costly binding, en- gravings, etchings, and bas-reliefs, together with various literary curiosities, including autograph letters of celebrated poets, artists, authors, actors, singers, and dramatists. The works of art embrace a fine steel engraving of Longfellow; a portrait of Abraham Lincoln woven into silk, which Mr. Furbush purchased at Lyons, France; an etching by Baldini of the fifteenth century; an engraving of the prophet Ezekiel, dated 1624; and an édition de luxe of the new gallery of British art. The attractiveness of the home of Mrs. Furbush, especially to the book-lover and art student, is enhanced by the fact that this lady is a kind and agreeable hostess, evidently one who takes pleasure in giving pleasure, exemplifying the poet's word,
" Make others happy. All who joy would win Must share it : happiness was born a twin."
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She is a member of the Universalist church, as was also her husband.
EORGE H. GODDARD, a prominent farmer, residing in Montague, Frank- lin County, Mass., was born in this town, November 24, 1844. He is a son of Sandford Goddard, whose father, Henry God- dard, was a native of Worcester County, and there spent most of his life, but died at the home of Sandford, in Montague.
Sandford Goddard was born in Royalston, Worcester County, being one of seven chil- dren, and was brought up a farmer; but at the age of seventeen he went to Boston, and en- gaged in trucking, soon after buying out his brother's interest in the business, and conduct- ing it independently. At the age of twenty- five he married, and went to Royalston, where he bought a farm, and resided two years. In 1837 he removed to Montague, purchasing the farm on which his son now resides, remaining here till his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-seven years. Mr. Sandford Goddard was a man well known and highly appreciated in the community, a stanch Republican, and formerly a prominent member of the Whig party, taking an active part in the politics of the day. He was elected to represent the county as State Senator in 1860, served on the Board of Selectmen many years, and filled the office of trial justice for a long period of time. He married Miss Julia Kendall, of Vermont, who brought up six children, four of whom are now living, as follows: Edward L., a soldier of the late war, and now living retired at Turner's Falls; Elvira, wife of George C. Kaulback, a leather manufacturer, of Newark, N.J. ; George H; and Julia A., wife of D. F. Hamilton, of Greenfield, an ex - Postmaster, who was also a member of the legislature one
term, and is now connected with the Green River machine works of Wiley & Russell. One of the children who died was Prentice H., who served in the Civil War, and lost his life at New Orleans. The mother of these children died at the age of forty-seven years.
George H. Goddard grew up on the home farm, attending the schools of the town and assisting his father till he was seventeen years of age, when he was obliged to take full charge of the place. This he continued till his father's death; and then he leased the farm, and went West. After two years' ab- sence, having spent some time in California and Colorado, he returned to the East, and took up his old employments. Mr. Goddard is now the owner of three hundred acres of land, devoted to dairy purposes, and keeps a fine herd of Holstein cows. He conducted a successful milk route to Miller's Falls for fif- teen years, but for the last three years has fur- nished milk to the neighboring creamery.
Mr. Goddard was married in 1875 to Miss Julia Hammond, daughter of John Hammond, of Ashburnham, who was by trade a ship car- penter of Boston. They are the parents of two children, named respectively Hattie May and Sarah Hammond. Mr. Goddard is a charter member of the Grange, a farmers' organization of the locality, founded in 1885, in which he has held all of the offices. He is a Republi- can in politics, has been Overseer of the Poor four years, and has filled the office of Select- man since 1890. He has also been one of the directors of the Creamery Association since its formation, being at one time its President. Election to these many offices is an indication of the high regard in which this gentleman is held by his fellow-townsmen and friends. Mr. Goddard is also one of the Trustees of the Congregational church at Montague, his wife being a member, and the family being all con-
EDWIN A. STRATTON.
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nected with the Sunday-school, and taking prominent parts in its various activities.
DWIN A. STRATTON, manufacturer of spirit levels at Greenfield, Franklin County, is one who by his own exer- tions has steadily climbed the ladder of pros- perity, and occupies an honorable position in the esteem of his fellow-men. He was born at Northfield, Mass., September 15, 1819, being a son of Asa Stratton, who was born in the same town, September 10, 1786. North- field was likewise the place of nativity of Asa Stratton, Sr., who was at the battle of Ben- nington, under the command of General Stark, and was one of the militia that went with the regulars to arrest the progress of General Bur- goyne. Mr. E. A. Stratton still has in his possession the gun which his grandfather car- ried through the Revolutionary War. The story of the ancient weapon, contributed to these pages by a great-grand-daughter of the patriot, will be found appended to this sketch.
Members of the Stratton family are men- tioned in the early records of Watertown, Cambridge, and Concord, Mass., the first thus noted being Samuel, who was born in England in 1592, crossed the Atlantic before 1648, was at Watertown in 1652, and died in 1672. One of his sons, Richard Stratton, came over in the "Speedwell" in 1656. Another son was Samuel, Jr., who married Mary Fry in 1651, and a few years later moved to Concord, where their son Samuel was born in 1660. Hezekiah Stratton, son of the third Samuel, removed to Deerfield about the year 1713, and thence in 1715 to Northfield, where he was one of the earliest permanent settlers. Asa Stratton, Sr., son of Eliezer and grandson of Hezekiah, married Lucy Woodbury, of Barre, Mass. ; and they had a family of seven sons and
two daughters, of whom one daughter died young, and the remaining children married and reared families. Grandfather Stratton was quite a wealthy farmer, and of the four hun- dred acres of land included in his homestead property, much is retained in the family in the form of wood lots. The grandmother lived to the age of seventy-six years, surviving her hus- band sixteen years, his death having occurred in 1816.
Asa Stratton, the younger, was a farmer by occupation, carrying on mixed husbandry on the homestead farm in Northfield until 1854, when he sold out and removed to Greenfield, where he lived in retirement until his decease, April 3, 1869, being then fourscore and three years of age. The maiden name of his life companion was Sophia Holton. She was a native of Northfield, born in 1794, and was a woman of more than average ability and brightness, retaining the use of her faculties until the close of her long life of ninety-six years, on November 4, 1891. Mrs. Sophia H. Stratton bore her husband seven children, of whom three are yet living : Edwin A. ; Sarah, wife of C. T. Buffum, of Keene, N. H. ; and Oscar G., who is unmarried, and resides in Greenfield. The deceased are as follows : Sarah, the first, who died at the age of seven years; Franklin A .; Charles M. ; and Dr. F. S. Stratton, who died September 20, 1894. Franklin A. was a Colonel of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry in the late Civil War, and was twice wounded in battle. He was afterward a civil engineer in the government employ, at Washington, D.C., being at one time in charge of the construction department at the navy yard, going thence to California, where he worked on the fortifications at the navy yard on Mare Island. His war record was brilliant and honorable, he having risen from the ranks to the office of Colonel, in
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which capacity he acted at the surrender of Lee ; and after the close of the war he was brevetted Brigadier-general. The sword presented to him by his regiment is now one of the valued possessions of his brother Edwin. Colonel Stratton died in Philadelphia in 1879, being then but fifty years old, and left a widow, but no children. Charles M. Stratton was asso- ciated with Edwin A. in business for many years as a carpenter and builder, the partner- ship continuing until the decease of Charles, on August 3, 1893, aged seventy years. He also left a widow, but no children.
Edwin A. Stratton was the third child and the second son born to his parents, and, in common with his brothers and sisters, received his education in the district school, being reared on the home farm, whence they all scat- tered to different parts of the United States. Mr. Stratton never learned a regular trade, but, in company with his brother Charles, began carpentering in Northfield, and continued his occupation in Boston and the suburban towns. In 1848 he came to the western part of the State, and in the following fourteen years built many houses in Greenfield and vicinity. From 1862 until 1865 he was em- ployed by the United States government in the Springfield Armory ; and in 1869 he and his brother established the business that he now carries on alone, building their own shop. They made many improvements in their manu- factures, including wood and metal levels, and, having begun in a modest way, built up an extensive and paying business.
Mr. Stratton has been twice married, his first wife, Almira Purple, of Gill, having died after three years of wedded life, in 1854, leav- ing one daughter, Almira, who married Fred Chase, and is the mother of two interesting children, the family residing in Keene, N. H. In 1857 Mr. Stratton was united in wedlock
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