USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 27
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with Ellen A. Sawyer, of Northfield, a daugh- ter of Asahel Sawyer. Two children have been born of this union : Edith A., the elder, keeping books in her father's factory; and Lena L. S., who was graduated from Smith College, Northampton, in 1892, and is now taking a post-graduate course, devoting herself to the study of art, in which she has already shown much ability. Mr. Stratton is always an interested actor in movements calculated to advance both the material and moral welfare of his community, being a liberal supporter of institutions of education and religion. He and his family are liberal Christians of the Unitarian type, followers of Channing and Martineau. In politics first a Whig, and later, naturally, a Republican, he voted in 1840 for General William H. Harrison, and in 1888 for his grandson, Benjamin Harrison. The portrait of Mr. Stratton, herewith pre- sented, is the likeness of a worthy representa- tive of an old and patriotic New England family.
THE OLD BEAR GUN.
We do not know for certainty just when this old gun was brought to this country, but prob- ably it was brought from England with the first Strattons who came over. It is made like the old English guns, and, besides, it is known to have been in the family before there were any guns made in this country; and it is not probable that in coming to a new country they would have come without a gun with which to protect themselves from the wild beasts and Indians. The first account we have of the gun's figuring prominently in affairs is that our great-grandfather carried it in the Revolu- tion, where it did its share, with others like it, in helping to free our country. It was car- ried by our great-grandfather at the battle of Bennington ; and it was there that he cut with a knife his initial, A for Asa, on the butt of the gun, where it can still be seen.
One of the adventures in which the gun has
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figured was this: There was an old bear in the neighborhood of Northfield Mountain, which people had been hunting for several days. There was a light snow on the ground; and great-grandfather, in looking for his hogs which were allowed to run in the woods, came across her tracks in the snow, and followed them until he found where she had gone under some fallen logs. He returned to the house, took his gun, and went back, followed by his two boys, Roswell and Asa. Great-grand- father then fired in where he thought the bear was, but failed to awaken her, and, saying to his boys, "I guess she has gone," he crawled under the logs to investigate, when suddenly he came upon her; but, nothing daunted, he called to Roswell to hand him the gun. Fir- ing, he wounded the bear, but did not kill her ; and she went tearing off through the brush, snorting and growling. It was then nearly dark. Great-grandfather notified some of the neighbors : and they came out the next morning with a dog, which scented and followed the bear until he found her, and then chased her over on Round Mountain. Great-grandfather heard the dog barking, and, hastily taking the old gun, started in pursuit, grandfather, then but a lad, following after as best he could. Just as great-grandfather came up to where the bear was, she seized the dog with one paw, and bit him through the neck: at the same time great-grandfather fired at and killed her. Tying up the dog's neck with a handkerchief, they started home in triumph with the bear ; and they found, when they dressed her, that the bullet went straight through the heart.
In some other exploit, the exact circum- stances of which are lost, great-grandfather fired at a bear, but without effect ; and before he could load again she attacked him. So he fought her with the gun; and in the struggle, before the bear was killed, she bit into the stock, and it shows to-day where a long piece of the wood was split off.
For years this gun hung in the kitchen in the old house on the mountain, always loaded, ready to shoot any thieving hawk in search of unwary chickens. When the old house was sold, the gun was brought to Greenfield, and was in the possession of grandfather's son
Charles, at whose death it came to us, to rest after more than a hundred years of active service.
LENA SOPHIA STRATTON.
R ICHARD N. OAKMAN, who died recently, September 6, 1895, after an illness of two weeks, formerly a successful teacher, and later a farmer in Mon- tague, where he was an extremely useful, influ- ential, and valuable citizen, was born at Wendell, Mass., January 20, 1818. His father, Joseph Oakman, was born at Chester- field, N.H .; his grandfather, Joseph B. Oakman, at Lynn, Mass. ; and his great- grandfather, Isaac Oakman, was a native of Salem, where he followed agriculture as an occupation. Joseph B. Oakman was a shoe- maker, but his son Joseph was a farmer in the town of Wendell. His wife, Mary Nickerson, daughter of Joseph Nickerson, of Province- town, Mass., was the mother of eight children, only two of whom - Orrin and William - are now living. Her husband having died at the age of forty-nine, Mrs. Mary N. Oakman passed her declining years with her children, living to the advanced age of ninety years. Both parents were members of the Congrega- tional church.
Richard N. Oakman completed his studies at the Franklin Academy, Shelburne Falls, when he was seventeen years of age, and entered upon the arduous vocation of an educa- tor, a calling for which he was, in many ways, especially adapted. He taught school contin- uously for twenty-three years, six of which were spent at the academy in Provincetown, Mass. In 1846 he came to Montague, where he purchased a farm upon which he settled, and conducted it successfully for a period of eleven years. Having succeeded in clearing the property from all financial encumbrances,
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he then disposed of it, a good opportunity occurring, and for the next six years had charge of the town farm, during which time he placed it on a self-supporting basis, thus sav- ing an expense of three thousand dollars annu- ally to the town. In 1863 he purchased the property, and resided there until 1877, when he bought the place, which remained his perma- nent home, and which he immediately occu- pied, leaving his son to carry on the old town farm, until the latter relinquished farming in order to engage in business. Mr. Oakman then sold the property and afterward devoted his time to his home farm, consisting of about ten acres of fertile land, together with one of the finest residences in this locality.
Mr. Oakman was a Republican in politics, and was long identified with public affairs in the town. He was a Selectman for twenty- eight years, having been continuously in office for twenty-six years; Overseer of the Poor for the same length of time; School Committee for twenty-three years; and a County Commis- sioner for three years. He was for twenty years a Director of the Crocker National Bank, serving as its President for sixteen years, and had in his possession a beautifully engrossed set of resolutions, expressive of appreciation and esteem, presented by the Board of Direc- tors upon his retirement. Mr. Oakman was also interested in other financial institutions, and he acted as notary public for a period of twenty years.
In 1841 Mr. Oakman was united in marriage with Miss Julia Hawkes, daughter of Ichabod Hawkes, a farmer of Hawley. They became the parents of two sons and two daughters, namely : Richard N. Oakman, Jr., who mar- ried Sarah Clarke, of Exeter, N. H., and has one daughter -- Anna C .; Julia K., who was educated at Mount Holyoke Seminary, and is a successful teacher; Nellie P., who married
Eugene S. Taft, of Greenfield, and has three children - Eugene, Richard Nickerson, and Julia Kate; and Frank Hawkes Oakman, who married Fanny Davenport, of Providence, and has three children - Ethel, Fannie, and Mar- ion. Mrs. Julia H. Oakman died on May 7, 1894, after having well and faithfully per- formed the duties of wife and mother for more than half a century. She was formerly a member of the Congregational church at Mon- tague, but later became connected with the church in Greenfield.
HOMAS R. MILLER, a prominent farmer and successful business man in his native town, Colerain, was born on January 24, 1845, son of Robert and Martha Ann (Miner) Miller. Mr. Miller is of Scotch descent. His great-grandfather Miller was one of the pioneer settlers of the town, and was a very enterprising man, doing business as merchant and hotel-keeper, dealing in potash and dipping into various enterprises. He was well known and popular, and was universally missed when he died, at the early age of thirty- six years. His wife lived to an advanced age. They had six children, all of whom grew up, and five were married.
One of their sons was Thomas Miller, who was born in Colerain, and here spent his life. He married Eunice Smith, also a native of this town, daughter of Oren and Keziah (Shep- ard) Smith, the former born on March 21, 1747, the latter on October 22, 1778. Oren Smith was one of the early settlers of Cole- rain, where he established a reputation as a lawyer; and he knew as much about raising crops as about knotty points in law. When the trouble with the mother country came to a crisis in the American colonies, Oren Smith joined the Continental army, and took an active
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part in the Revolution. On his return from the war he settled on a farm in Colerain, where he died on May 14, 1823, survived nearly fourteen years by his wife, who passed away in April, 1837. They had nine chil- dren, all of whom grew to adult years and are now deceased.
Robert, son of Thomas and Eunice (Smith) Miller, was born in Colerain on June 21, 1806. He spent his days in Colerain and Leyden, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was an enterprising and industrious man. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and on the subject of religion his views were liberal. He died on November 3, 1861. His wife, who was born in Leyden on February 5, 1814, is still living, making her home with her son, Thomas R., bright and active in her eighty- second year, and for sixty-five years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Leyden Centre. They had ten children, five of whom are now living, namely : Martha Frances, Mrs. Young, in Greenfield; Thomas R., in Colerain; Netta L .. , Mrs. Denison, of West Leyden; Ozias E., in the same town ; and Hattie E., Mrs. Frizzell, in Greenfield. Fanny, Robert M., Harriet, Frank C., and J. Milo are deceased, Robert having been drowned in Green River, April 11, 1842. Frank C. Miller enlisted in the Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, and served as a sol- dier in the War of the Rebellion.
Thomas R. Miller received his schooling in Leyden and Colerain, and early took up the routine of farm work. He has resided at his present home thirty-nine years, and owns the old farm and fifty acres besides, his real estate covering about one hundred and fifty acres. He carries on general farming, and is exten- sively engaged in stock-raising. The farm is in good condition, its fine appearance being the result of many a hard day's labor on Mr.
Miller's part. The dwelling-house is substan- tial and comfortable, and has many antique and valuable articles of furniture, among them a clock which has been in the family seventy- seven years. Mr. Miller also owns some rare old books. He has never been married. In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican, and he belongs to the class of liberals in religion. He is a good business man, socially agreeable, and esteemed by all with whom he has trans- actions.
DDISON JOHNSON, a retired farmer and mechanic of Northfield, was born in this town on October 13, 18II,
son of Calvin and Mary (Carey) Johnson. Mr. Johnson's grandfather, Richard Johnson, resided in Old Haddam, Conn., and was a Revolutionary soldier. He settled in Green- field, Franklin County, Mass., at a time when there were scarcely any houses in that town, and resided there until his death, which oc- curred November 22, ISII, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Calvin Johnson, Mr. Johnson's father, was born in Old Haddam, but passed his boyhood in Greenfield, where he was reared to an agri- cultural life. He attended the old district schools, and remained with his parents until becoming of age, when he commenced work for himself as a farm laborer in Greenfield. After his marriage to Mary Carey, of Mon- tague, he moved to Northfield, where he con- tinued to follow agricultural pursuits until his decease, which occurred at the age of seventy- six years. Of their ten children, but two are now living, namely: Addison, the subject of this sketch ; and Charles, a resident of Marl- boro, Vt. The mother was an attendant of the Baptist church. She died in Northfield at the age of eighty-six years.
Addison Johnson received his education in
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the district schools, and at the age of twenty- one abandoned the parental roof for the pur- pose of commencing life for himself. He was employed during the succeeding two years in the manufacture of sashes and blinds in a fac- tory, which was the first of the kind established in the locality. He then built a factory in the vicinity of his present residence, and, after conducting it successfully twenty-one years, purchased the farm on which he followed agri- culture until about ten years since, when he retired from active labor.
Mr. Johnson's first wife, whom he married in 1837, was Almira Bascom, daughter of Henry Bascom, of Gill. She was born in Greenfield, and died in 1875, aged fifty-seven years. Four of their seven children are still living, namely: Jennie E., who married Eli Sherwin, and has two children; Cora B., who married Omer Maris, and has three children - Bertha, Eli, and Henry; Harry, who lives in Indiana; and Mary L., who married Nelson G. Hilliard, a farmer. Henry H. was killed in the army, at the age of twenty-four years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard are as follows: Almira M., who married Frank T. Rice, a machinist of Warren, and has one child - Harold ; Alfred A., who married Emma Underwood, and is a civil engineer in In- diana; Josie A., who married Irving Fisk for her first husband, by whom she had one child, Herbert N., married for her second husband Horace C. Wood, by whom she has two chil- dren - Alfred A. and Arthur F. ; Mira A., who died at the age of ten years; and Belle, who married Luther Tracy, of Chicago, and died in 1882, leaving one child - Mary. Mr. Johnson married for his second wife Mrs. Lydia T. Bigelow, daughter of Ephraim Houghton, a resident of Greenfield.
Mr. Johnson was formerly a Methodist in his religion, but is now connected with the
Congregational church, of which his wife is also a member. A Republican in politics, he has never been an aspirant for public office. Firm in principle, brave in action, Mr. John- son may well be proud to-day of the fact that he was an "old-time abolitionist," and during long years fought the good fight for freedom, being one of the conductors of the "under- ground railroad " in the day when, to aid the 'escape of a fugitive slave, was to be liable to a one thousand dollar fine.
" Then to side with Truth is noble, When we share her wretched crust, Ere her cause bring fame and profit, And 'tis prosperous to be just."
RED E. ALLEN, of the firm of Allen Brothers, dealers in clothing, gentle- men's furnishing goods of all kinds, trunks, and travelling bags, doing business in Turner's Falls, Franklin County, Mass., was born in Sutton, Worcester County, in this State, January 18, 1855, son of John Allen. Mr. Allen's paternal grandfather, Abner Allen, was born in Sutton in 1753. He was a farmer, and reared a large family there, of whom his son John was the third child.
John Allen attended school during his early life, and at home was trained to farming pursuits. Later he entered on a mercantile career, and carried on a large general store for several years. The latter part of his life was spent in Gardner, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. He married Miss Hannah Maynard, a native of Shrewsbury, Mass., a daughter of Silas Maynard, a respected resi- dent of that town. She became the mother of seven children, six of whom are still living, as follows: Clara, wife of E. D. Howe; Frank W .; W. F .; Fred E .; Myron B., in business with his brother, Fred E. Allen; and Charles
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D. Allen. Mrs. Hannah Maynard Allen died in Gardner in 1881, at the age of fifty-eight years. Both parents were attendants of the Congregational church.
Fred E. Allen spent his early years in Gardner, going to that town with his father when four years of age. He attended the pub- lic schools, finishing his course of study at the high school, and then began life as a clerk in one of the dry-goods stores of the town, chang- ing later to work in a large store in Worcester, which carried supplies of dry-goods, gentle- men's furnishings, etc., in which place he remained ten years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with that line of business. In ISSI Mr. Allen went to Turner's Falls, and in partnership with his brother, Myron B. Allen, established their present attractive and flourishing place of business. After six years, finding it advisable to establish themselves in more commodious quarters, they removed again into a new and handsome building which they had erected for the purpose. This building is three stories in height, and measures twenty- five by ninety feet on the ground plan, and gives space for their full assortment of first- class goods, suiting the requirements of the large and growing trade from the immediate neighborhood and the surrounding villages and farms.
In 1877 Mr. Allen was married to Miss Fastena Buck, a daughter of Charles M. Buck, of Southboro, Mass. ; and they became the par- ents of two children, Elizabeth A. and Ruth B. The family are attendants of the Congre- gational church, taking active interest in its various departments of work. Mr. Allen is a Republican in his political principles, and is wide-awake to all the improvements which concern the welfare of the town, giving, how- ever, most of his attention to the business which the enterprise and ability of the firm
have made one of the noteworthy establish- ments of Turner's Falls, the manufacturing centre of this part of the State.
AMES B. CROMACK, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Colerain, was born in this town, February 6, 1833, son of John and Antis R. (Walkup) Cromack, the lat- ter a native of Colerain, the former of Leyden. Mr. Cromack's paternal grandfather, James C. Cromack, was born in North Leeds, England, and came to Massachusetts in 1796, engaging in the manufacture of woollen fabrics in Frank - lin County. He was an industrious man, gifted with considerable business ability, but was cut off in his prime, being murdered and robbed while on a trip to New York. He was then but forty years old, and his widow and eight children were left with scanty resources.
His son, John Cromack, went to live as a bound boy with James Barber, remaining with him until eighteen or twenty years of age. He then started out in the world for himself, settling finally in Colerain, where he bought land, and in 1838 established the homestead which is now the family residence. Mr. John Cromack was a hard-working man, and by his industry and integrity won the respect of all who knew him. He held various town offices, including that of Selectman; and he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living, namely : George W. and James B., both of Colerain; Eunice, now Mrs. Stetson, of Greenfield; Henry C., Charles, and Albert, all in Colerain. John, Charlotte (Mrs. Potter), and Angelia (Mrs. Hicks) are deceased. The father died in 1858, the mother in 1884.
James B. Cromack grew to manhood and received his schooling in Colerain. At the
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age of twenty he hired himself out as a farm hand, working eight months for thirteen dol- lars a month. He was then engaged by a firm in Troy, N. Y., to sell tinware and Yankee notions on the road, a business which he fol- lowed for four years. After the death of his father he bought out the other heirs, and now owns the old home farm, to which he has added land until the estate covers three hundred and twenty-five acres. He carries on general farming and fruit-growing, and also receives quite an income from his dairy products.
On November 14, 1861, Mr. Cromack was married to Ellen Boyd, of Wilmington, Vt., daughter of Abraham and Amanda (Moore) Boyd, the former a well-to-do farmer in Wil- mington, who died at the age of fifty-eight. His widow was again married to Jehiel Swift. Mrs. Swift is yet living, a resident of Wil- mington. She is eighty-four years old, and, though so advanced in age, still keeps up her connection with the Universalist church. Mr. and Mrs. Cromack have seven children : Frank E., John B., Arthur B., Nellie A., Sidney A., William I., and Antis A. Mr. Cromack is a stanch Republican. He and his wife are liberal in their religious views, and attend various churches. One of the oldest families in this part of the town, they hold the regard and esteem of their neighbors. Mr. Cromack spares neither pains nor labor in his agricultural work, and he has a fine farm and good buildings.
OHN SANDERSON, of Bernardston, a retired farmer and ex-State Senator, was born July 10, 1814, in the town of Petersham, Worcester County, Mass., son of John, Sr., and Lydia (Morton) Sanderson, the former of whom was also a native of Peters- ham, where he was born May 21, 1769. Mr.
Sanderson's grandfather, Jonathan Sanderson, was born in Worcester County, September 6, 1740, in the early days of its settlement, before the Indians had all departed from their old hunting grounds. He was a farmer by occupation, and resided in Petersham. He was a man of keen intellect and shrewd busi- ness sense, and was often intrusted with the settlement of large estates. Though orthodox in his theology, he was liberal-minded, and was a Whig in politics. He died at the age of ninety-two years. The following is a copy of a document now in possession of his grandson, which is interesting as a relic of the olden time and a memorial of an outgrown custom :
APRIL 20, 1803.
Article of Agreement between Jonathan Sanderson and his son, Curtis, of the first part, and Samuel Stevens of the second part, whereby said Stevens is to build and erect a building in decent and good manner, and in consideration of which said Jonathan Sander- son and son, Curtis Sanderson, is to pay said Stevens the sum of $340.00, $200.00 of said amount to be paid in cash and the balance in one year; and it is also further agreed that said Stevens is to have sixteen gallons of New England rum and also sugar to sweeten the same.
The name of Jonathan Sanderson's wife before marriage was Mary Curtis. She was born March 12, 1745, and was about ninety years old at the time of her death. They were the parents of six children, all of whom reached maturity, namely: John, Susanna, Curtis, Sarah, Mary, and Joel.
John Sanderson, the eldest son of Jonathan, grew to manhood in Petersham, and was edu- cated in the schools of that place. After learning the tanner's trade, he started a tan- nery in Petersham, where he did a profitable business in addition to farming, as he also
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owned a good farm in Petersham. He was a man of good business ability, and was of indus- trious habits. Like his father, he was fre- quently called upon to settle estates, which indicates that he possessed in a large degree the confidence of those who knew him. He was liberal in his religious faith, and in poli- tics was a Whig. He died July 20, 1831. His wife, Lydia Morton, who was born in Athol, Mass., died in October, 1872. They had two sons, of whom John is the only one living. His brother, Horatio M., died at the age of sixteen years.
John Sanderson, the special subject of this sketch, spent the years of his boyhood in Petersham, and was educated in the common . schools of that town. Being seventeen years of age at the time of his father's death, he took charge of the business, and carried it on until 1837, when he sold his possessions in Petersham, bought about one hundred acres of land in Bernardston, and commenced farming, in which occupation he has remained up to the present time, having bought other lands since his first purchase. Mr. Sanderson has a repu- tation for raising fine-blooded cattle and horses, and has some very fine stock on his farm. He is naturally proud of the fact that he raised the largest ox ever put on the market, according to best information ob- tainable. The ox was known as "Constitu- tion." His gross weight was three thousand, eight hundred and sixty pounds ; and his net weight, when killed at six years of age, was greater in comparison with his gross weight than that of any other beef ever butchered that has a record. In all respects he is an intelli- gent and progressive man, and takes a leading place among the agriculturists of this vicinity. He has resided on the place where he now lives since about 1842, and has a fine residence with good out-buildings. In addition to his
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