USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 3
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The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wright was also blessed by the birth of two children : Henry D., born January 18, 1872, who married Miss Grace Chilcott ; and Lucius G., who was born February 3, 1875. Their mother died at the age of thirty-eight years. In January, 1877, Mr. Wright was again married to Miss Joseph- ine A. E. Day, daughter of Stephen P. and Sarah E. (Darby) Day. The second Mrs. Wright died at forty-two years of age. Mr. Wright is independent in politics. He has
ELISHA ALEXANDER.
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held various offices, and has rendered good ser- vice as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, as well as in other offices. At the present time he is Town Auditor, and for four years has served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen.
RS. ADALINE M. D. ALEX- ANDER. of Northfield, widow of the late Elisha Alexander and daughter of Timothy and Adaline (Maynard) Dutton, was born at the old Dutton homestead in the town of Northfield. Her great-grand- father, Timothy Dutton, was a native of He- bron, Conn., who settled at Northfield in 1796, and erected, on the land adjoining Mrs. Alexander's present home, a residence which was at that time the most elaborate house in the town, and which still stands in a good state of preservation. Mr. Dutton was a pros- perous merchant, and occupied a prominent position in the community, holding different offices of public trust. He died in 1814, at seventy-eight years of age. His son, Timothy B. Dutton, Mrs. Alexander's grandfather, was born in Hebron, removed thence to Northfield, and, like himself, was an active and influen- tial citizen. He died in 1821, at the age of forty-five years. (Further particulars in re- gard to the Dutton family may be found in the sketch of Miss Mary T. Dutton on another page.)
Mrs. Alexander's father, Timothy Dutton, who was born March 23, 1805, passed his boy- hood in Northfield, and in early manhood went to Illinois, settling in Edgington, Rock Island County, where he became identified with public affairs, and served as Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace for many years. He died at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife was a daughter of John Maynard, of Leominster, Mass; and she had four children,
of whom Adaline M. (Mrs. Alexander) and Mrs. Lucy Woodruff, widow of the late Sam- uel Woodruff, of Hartford, Conn., are the only survivors. The mother died at the age of twenty-seven years. She was a member of the Congregational church.
Adaline M. Dutton was educated in the schools of Northfield; and, after completing her studies at Groton, she taught in the schools of Massachusetts and Illinois. In 1872 she was united in marriage to Mr. Elisha Alexander, son of Major Elisha Alexander and a representative of a prominent Northfield family. The first of this name in the records of the town was George Alexander, who was born in Scotland, and who, coming to New England, settled in Windsor, Conn., before 1644; removed to Northampton, Mass., in 1655, and to Northfield in 1673. Several of his descendants saw active service in the early Colonial wars and in the Revolution. The late Mr. Alexander was a successful agricult- urist. He was a Republican in politics, and served as a Selectman and Deputy Sheriff and in other positions. His death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Alexander was a philanthropist in the truest sense, and did a great deal for the community, the poor finding in him a friend at all times. His portrait shows the benevolent features of a good man, whose memory will long be grate- fully cherished. He was an active member of the Congregational church, in which Mrs. Alexander is also an earnest worker.
YMAN G. GOULD has been a resident of Shelburne since 1879, and within that time has placed himself among the solid men of the town, where he has been actively and prosperously engaged in his business as a farmer and dairyman, and
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has improved a good farm. A native of Franklin County, he was born June 12, 1835, in Heath, being of good old Colonial stock. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Gould's paternal grandfather, Eli Gould, removed from Amherst, his birthplace, to Heath during the early days of its settle- ment. He possessed the true patriot's spirit ; and, although but a boy when the Concord fight and the battle of Bunker Hill occurred, he shortly enlisted as a private in defence of' his country's liberty; but, being too young to enter the ranks, he was detailed to take charge of General Washington's horse. Later he was a shoemaker by trade, and continued at that employment through his years of activity, residing in Heath until his demise at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Bernice Johnson, also lived to a ripe old age.
David Gould, son of Eli and father of him of whom we write, was born February 20, 1797, in Heath, where he spent his entire life, dying in 1869. He began the world as a poor boy, a farmer by occupation, and grad- ually acquired a good property. After work- ing by the day until he had saved some money, he invested it in land, and before his death was the owner of a good farm, besides other property, all of which he had accumulated by his own industry. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Green, was a native of Will- iamstown, Mass., born November 24, 1802. The fruits of their union were twelve children, five of whom have joined the silent majority ; namely, Mrs. Caroline Davenport, Henry D., Mrs. Sarah A. Hunt, George G., and Mrs. Frances A. Merrifield. The seven now living are : Bernice J., the wife of George S. Sage, of Greenfield; Hannah J., wife of Horace C. Cummings, of Amherst ; Lyman G., the
subject of this sketch; Louisa E., wife of Hugh Maxwell, of Heath; Willard E., of Shelburne; Ann E., wife of Amos Temple, of Shelburne Falls; and Charles A., of Shel- burne Falls.
Lyman G. Gould acquired a common-school education in the town of his nativity, and remained on the parental homestead until after the death of his parents, his mother having survived his father fourteen months. He was reared to agricultural labor, and made his first purchase of land in the town of Wendell, where he carried on mixed husbandry seven years, and was numbered among its most enter- prising and public-spirited citizens. He was influential in politics, being a decided Demo- crat, and prominent in local affairs, having been Town Treasurer, Clerk, member of the School Board two years, and Postmaster while he was there. Moving from Wendell to New Salem, Mr. Gould lived there two years, com- ing thence to Shelburne in 1879 and buying the farm where he has since resided. It con- tains one hundred and sixty acres, which he has tilled with excellent success, his practical ability and good judgment assuring him con- tinued prosperity. Within the last three years, however, his activities have been les- sened by failing health.
Mr. Gould was married March 24, 1868, to Mrs. Roxanna O. Weed Kingsbury, who was born in Manchester, Vt., November 8, 1838. In early womanhood she married A. A. Kingsbury, who died, leaving her with two sons, Arnold O. and Oscar B. Kingsbury. Of her union with Mr. Gould one son has been born ; namely, David O. Gould. During their residence in Shelburne Mr. and Mrs. Gould have established most pleasant relations with their neighbors and associates, and are held in high regard throughout the community, being esteemed for their modesty, probity, and gen-
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uine worth. Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational church.
B ENJAMIN CUMMINGS is classed among the intelligent and thor- oughly wide-awake farmers who are contributing so much to the material prosper- ity of Franklin County, being the owner of a valuable farm in the town of Orange, where he makes a specialty of gardening and dairy- ing. A son of Daniel and Nancy (Maccolley) Cummings, he was born in Leverett, a town on the southern border of the county, October 23, 1848. His paternal grandfather, Benja- min Cummings, was a farmer in comfortable circumstances at Leverett, and lived to be fourscore years of age. He reared a family of five children : Luther, Daniel, Salisbury, Fanny, and Almira.
Daniel Cummings was born in Leverett, February 6, 1803, and was a life-long resident of that place, being a hard-working and pros- perous agriculturist. After the death of his parents he bought the old homestead, to which he added many substantial improve- ments, rendering it one of the finest and best- cared-for estates in the locality. His wife was the daughter of Samuel Maccolley, who was long interested in farming pursuits in Wendell. She died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving the following children : Anna M., who married George Barnes, and both of whom died, leaving two children - Herbert and Ella Barnes; Benjamin, the subject of this brief sketch; and Ira L. The parents were worthy Christian people and faithful members of the Baptist church.
Benjamin Cummings received a limited edu- cation in the common schools of his native town, and at the early age of eleven years was put to work for Joseph Nourse, with whom he
lived four years. He subsequently continued general farming in Leverett, going from there to Hardwick after his marriage, and a short time afterward removing to Dana, where he carried on his chosen occupation for ten years. Then, after being similarly engaged for five years at Athol, Mr. Cummings migrated to Yonkers, N. Y., and for thirteen years carried on an extensive and profitable business in dairying and gardening. In 1893 he came to Orange, and, buying the one hundred and twelve acres of land included in the A. P. Rice farm, has since carried on general farm- ing. In his large market garden he raises some of the finest and earliest vegetables of the season, the sale of which brings him in a good annual income; and his dairy, consist- ing of twenty choice cows, which are among the best in the State, and for which he has refused large prices, yields milk of so rich a quality that he has won a reputation for delivering to his customers, private families in Athol, the purest and best grade ever fur- nished to them.
In 1867 Mr. Cummings was united in mar- riage with Mary. S. Peckham, who was born in Dana, Mass., December 4, 1847, a daughter of Archibald and Submit (Stone) Peckham. Mr. Peckham, a stone mason and farmer, was born in Petersham, Mass., March 12, 1820, and lived to the age of fifty-three years. He was twice married, his first wife, Polly Stone, dying young, and leaving him one child, Eme- line, who married A. V. Fletcher, of Athol, and has two children: Edith L. and Carleton A. His second wife, the mother of Mrs. Cummings, was one of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Stone, of Dana; namely, Prudence, Jerome, Ursula, Polly, Submit, Car- oline, Fordyce, Charles, and two children that died in infancy. Of Mr. Peckham's second marriage there were five children, as follows :
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Emery A., a farmer, living in Yonkers, N. Y., who married Emeline Hart, and has one child, George E. Peckham; Mary S., Mrs. Cum- mings; John, deceased; Nelson, a resident of Athol, who married Mary Howe; and Darius, residing at Worcester, Mass., who married Susie Peckham.
The wedded pathway of Mr. and Mrs. Cum- mings has been brightened by the advent of three children into their home, two of whom are living. The elder, Carrie, born May 14, 1868, in the town of Hardwick, is the wife of Nathaniel Lawrence, a progressive and pros- perous farmer, living on an adjoining farm, and has two children : Harold and Lillian. The other, Edna L. Cummings, was born at Yonkers, N. Y., January 31, 1888. Their youngest child, the pet of the household, Alice, died at the tender age of one year. Mr. Cummings's course as a business man has demonstrated that he has excellent talent, and is clear-headed and far-sighted in the man- agement of his affairs. In politics he is a decided Republican, and he is of liberal re- ligious belief.
A DELRA H. WOOD, formerly assistant superintendent of the Griswoldville Manufacturing Company's cotton- mills, and now a prosperous merchant at Griswoldville, in the town of Colerain, was born at Rutland, Jefferson County, N. Y., December 22, 1850. He is a son of Eli A. and Nancy (Crook) Wood, both of whom were born at Champion, Jefferson County, N. Y., the former in 1823 and the latter in 1829. Mr. Wood's grandfather, John Wood, who was a native of Connecticut, was an early settler at Champion, journeying thither with an ox team and establishing his home in the wilderness at a time when but few
white people were there and Indians roamed through the forests, who were, however, friendly toward them. He erected a log house, and succeeded in clearing a good farm, upon which he resided for the remainder of his life. John Wood was a strong, energetic, and thoroughly upright man, known by his neigh- bors as honest John Wood. He was noted for his total abstinence from the use of alcoholic stimulants and tobacco, which has also char- acterized his descendants to the present day. Mr. Wood served throughout the War of 1812. Politically, he supported the old Whig party. He died at about the age of forty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Gardner, and who was also a native of Connecticut, was called to rest at the age of ninety-three. She was the mother of thirteen children, three of whom are now living in Lewis County, New York, namely: Arvin, who resides at Pinck- ney; Eli A., a farmer of Montague; and Will- iam, who resides at Harrisburg.
Eli A. Wood was reared to an agricultural life, and on attaining his majority settled in Jefferson County, where he followed farming and resided some years, later going to Lewis County, where he has passed the greater part of his life. He is a practical, progressive, and very successful farmer. Politically, he is a Republican. While residing in Jefferson County he married Nancy Crook, who faith- fully performed the duties of wife and mother. She died on December 16, 1869, having raised a family of four children, three of whom are living : Arthur E., who acquired the trade of a silver and nickel plater, died in Spring- field, Mass., at the age of thirty-eight; Adelra H. is the subject of the present sketch ; Fannie is the wife of M. C. Harwood, a clerk in Swain's store at Charlemont, Mass. ; and Carrie is the wife of A. J. Ashton, of Griswoldville.
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Adelra H. Wood received his early educa- tion in the district schools of New York State, and at the age of fourteen went to work as a farm laborer at six dollars per month, working during the summer and attending school in the winter. At the end of three years he secured a position at Watertown, N. Y., with Candee & Wooley, clothing merchants, and remained three years. While in their employ he had the privilege of attending the high school, and to the kindly advice and influence of Mr. Candee he owes much for his steady habits and successful business career. Being ambitious to enter professional life, he studied medicine with Dr. Faudry, of Barnes's Corners, N. Y., for a period of eight months, but was obliged to relinquish this on account of nervousness. In November, 1871, he came to Griswoldville, and entered the employ of the Griswoldville Cotton Manufacturing Company as an opera- tive. He was connected with this company twenty-three years, rising step by step, at length reaching the position of assistant super- intendent, which he held for seven years. In October, 1894, in company with Mr. H. H. Dennison he purchased the company's store ; and they are conducting a very profitable busi- ness, carrying the largest stock of general merchandise in the town and steadily main- taining their hold upon the public's patronage.
On April 2, 1873, he married Martha J. King, of Griswoldville, daughter of Jason W. and Sereptia (Hawkes) King, the former a native of Sunderland, Vt., the latter of Charle- mont, Mass. Mr. Wood is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Alethian Lodge, No. 128, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Shelburne Falls. His steady course, ex- emplary habits, and strict business integrity have won for him the esteem and confidence of his townsmen; and his long and honorable connection with the Griswoldville Manufactur-
ing Company places him in a prominent posi- tion in the community. To his abstinence from stimulants and tobacco he attributes his business success and a strong, vigorous constitution.
HRISTOPHER C. WHEATON, a well-to-do farmer of Rowe, in the north - west corner of Franklin County, Mass., was born in the town of War- wick, in the north-eastern part of the county, July 22, 1848. He is a son of Samuel D. and Elmina T. (Fuller) Wheaton, residents of Warwick. His grandparents were Reuben and Abigail (Partridge) Wheaton, the former of whom was a native of Leicester, Mass., and the latter was a native of Medway, Mass. After residing at Leicester for a time, Reuben Wheaton purchased a large farm in Townshend, Vt., which he conducted very successfully. .He subsequently sold his property in that town, and purchased a smaller farm at War- wick, Mass. But excessive labor had slowly but surely undermined his constitution, and he died at the age of fifty-two years. His wife was called to rest at the age of sixty-seven. Reuben Wheaton was a Republican in poli- tics. He was a very active and energetic man, and, having been well educated himself, provided in a like manner for his children, by educating them liberally for whatever profes- sion or occupation they chose to adopt.
Samuel D. Wheaton was born at Townshend, Vt., March 21, 1815, and was reared to an agricultural life. He purchased the family homestead at Warwick upon reaching man- hood, and for years was engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. February 11, 1840, he mar- ried Elmina T. Fuller, of Winchester, N. H., daughter of Benjamin, Jr., and Dorothy (Bliss) Fuller, the former of whom was a native of the last-named town. The latter
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was a native of Royalston, Mass. Benjamin Fuller was a son of Benjamin Fuller, Sr., who was born at Bridgewater, Mass., and settled upon a farm in Winchester, N. H., where he resided until his decease, which occurred at the age of sixty years. He was a Whig in politics. His wife, who was summoned from earth at the age of fifty-three years, became the mother of the following children : Daniel, Louise, Mehitable, Phebe, Sally, and Benja- min Fuller, Jr., Mr. Wheaton's maternal grandfather.
Benjamin Fuller, Jr., succeeded to the pos- session of the old homestead, the extent of which he later increased by the addition of one hundred acres, and became very prosper- ous. He finally sold the estate, and, purchas- ing a much larger farm, situated in the same town, continued successfully engaged in farm- ing until his decease, which occurred when he was sixty - seven years old. His wife had passed away at the age of forty-four. Their children were: Susan B., Elmina T., Caroline H., Harriet B., Emery G., Marinda E., Lu- cius A., and Caroline W. Benjamin Fuller, Jr., was a Republican in politics. He at- tended the Congregational church. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel D. Wheaton were named as follows: Julius D., Junius L., Julia E., Sarah A., Harriet E., Christopher C., and Williston W.
Christopher C. Wheaton began his studies in the schools of Warwick and Orange, and after completing his education at the Apple- ton Academy in New Ipswich, N. H., entered the employ of R. Hunt & Co. of Orange, Mass. Serving a three years' apprenticeship, he acquired the trade of a mechanic, and be- came a journeyman. He purchased a house in Orange, where he resided until 1872, when he exchanged that residence for his present farm in the town of Rowe, which consists of two
hundred and twenty-seven acres, part of which is well-improved land. This property was formerly known as the Rice farm. He has remodelled the buildings, besides making many other noticeable improvements, and now conducts general farming and dairying. He has a large herd of cows, besides some very fine young stock, and is in every way a progressive farmer. Mr. Wheaton is First Vice-President of the Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society, and is a Director of the Charlemont Co-opera- tive Creamery Company.
On March 8, 1888, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza H. Newton, daughter of Healey and Roxanna (Thayer) Newton, of Hawley. Mr. Newton was a lumber manu- facturer and farmer, who owned and operated a saw-mill in that town. He was an active and enterprising man, but died when quite young, leaving three children; namely, Ed- ward N., John E., and Eliza H. Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton have two children : Bertha E., born June 23, 1889; and Sara L., born September 14, 1891.
Mr. Wheaton is a Republican in politics. He has served the town faithfully as Moder- ator, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, chairman of the School Committee, and is a Justice of the Peace. In his religious views he is inclined to be liberal.
RS. SARAH J. RAMSEY, widow of the late John Ramsey, of Orange, is a woman of culture and refinement, possessing qualities of heart and mind that endear her to a large circle of friends. Her husband was of New Hamp- shire birth, born in Marlow, August 3, 1814, son of James and Nancy (Tenney) Ramsey. His grandfather, James Ramsey, Sr., emi-
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grated from Scotland to this country, settling in Greenfield, N. H., where he carried on gen- eral farming, living to the age of seventy-eight years.
His son and namesake, James Ramsey, the father of John Ramsey, was born in Green- field, N. H. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and, when a young man, bought one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he improved by cultivation, erecting a good set of buildings. He subsequently disposed of this property, and moved to Alstead, Cheshire County, N. H., where his death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. His wife lived to the age of seventy-seven years. They were the parents of eleven children; namely, Cal- vin, David, James, Mary, John, Celinda, Luther P., Martin, Martha Ann, Mark, and Nathan. Of these, two died when young; and there was not another death among them for threescore years. Both parents were sincere Christians and esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics James Ramsey was identified with the Demo- cratic party.
John Ramsey, the husband of the subject of this biographical sketch, learned the trade of a carriage and sleigh maker, and, when a young man, came to Orange, where at the age of twenty-one years he took a contract to make one thousand dollars' worth of carriages of modern style, something comparatively new in the market at that time. This he com- pleted successfully and satisfactorily. He then established himself in business, building a fine house and a large shop back of it for his carriage manufactory, using the second story of the house as the painting-room, the whole being finished within two years after he had attained his majority. In the space of four years he was entirely free from debt, a record worthy of mention. After continuing
in the manufacture of carriages and sleighs for several years, Mr. Ramsey rebuilt the house, fitting it for a hotel, named it the Mansion House, and conducted it with success for some years. He finally retired from the active pur- suits of life, first letting the hotel and after- ward selling the entire property and purchasing a pleasant residence at 6 Grove Street. This he remodelled and beautified, making it one of the best and most attractive homes in the locality.
Mr. Ramsey was noted for his generosity, and his devotion to the highest moral and best material interests of his adopted town was well known and thoroughly appreciated. Some of the finest improvements of the village were due to his forethought and sagacity, among them the enlargement and adornment of the cemetery, which is one of the most beautiful in the county. Many of the shade trees orna- menting the village were set out by him or through his influence, and serve to perpetuate his name in a most pleasing manner. Of a deeply religious nature, he was held in high respect for his sterling virtues, and will be remembered as a kind-hearted neighbor and a benefactor to humanity, spending his seventy- two years of life in useful activity.
Mr. Ramsey was three times married. His first wife, Susan Bullar, died at the age of twenty-six years; and he afterward married Rachel Hawes, who died at the early age of twenty-eight years, leaving a daughter, Susan R., who passed to the higher life when a maiden of fifteen. In 1864 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Sarah J. Webber, who was born September 2, 1821, in Marlow, N. H., and is the daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Russel) Butler, the former of whom was a native of Lyndeboro, N. H, and the latter of Wilmington, Mass. Mrs. Ramsey's grand- father, Jonathan Butler, Sr., was a soldier in
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