USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 31
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Mr. Ross is a Republican in politics, and his son also votes the Republican ticket.
ILLIAM WATSON DAVENPORT, a prosperous farmer and one of the most highly respected citizens of Leyden, Franklin County, was born there August 7, 1841, son of Calvin Newton and Lucy (White) Davenport, the former of whom was also a native of Leyden, where he was born June 4, 1805.
The Davenport family is of English origin,
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tracing their ancestry back to Thomas Daven- port, who came from England to America about the year 1635, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. Oliver Davenport, the great-grand- father of our subject, was a native of Little Compton, R.I., born in 1714, and his son, Oliver Davenport, Jr., the grandfather of William Watson Davenport, was born in Cov- entry, Conn., in September, 1760. He was one of the early settlers in Leyden, Mass., and was successfully engaged in business as a drover, besides dealing quite extensively in cattle, which he drove on foot to Boston and Rhode Island. He also followed the vocation of a builder, or carpenter, and erected many of the old buildings that still stand in Leyden. His wife died July 1, 1842, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Harriet, born September 28, 1791 ; Sophia, born April 28, 1793; Calvin, born June 10, 1795; Lucy, born June 28, 1797; Clarissa, born June 7, 1800; Oliver (third), born September 8, 1802; Calvin N., born June 4, 1805. Oliver Davenport, who resides with our subject, is the only one now living.
Calvin Newton Davenport, who inherited good business capacities, followed the vocation of a farmer, and, like his father, was also suc- cessfully engaged as a drover and cattle dealer. His life was spent in Leyden, where he died September 25, 1852. In politics he was an ardent advocate of Democratic principles. In religious belief he and his wife, Lucy White Davenport, were Universalists. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five are still living. The record is as follows : Charles Newton, born October 20, 1832, who graduated from Glenwood School of Brattleboro, Vt., studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1854, and became a well-known lawyer; he died April 12, 1882, at Brattleboro, Vt. Martin
V., born September 26, 1834, is a farmer residing in Bernardston. George W., born June 14, 1839, resides in Bernardston. Will- iam Watson is the subject of this sketch. Stephen T., born September 14, 1843, is a successful lawyer of Brattleboro, Vt. Edgar Henri, born November 21, 1845, is engaged in law practice at Wilmington, Vt., and also in farming. Three died in early childhood, namely : Harriet, who passed away November 15, 1833; Sarah A., born June 21, 1837, who died August 1, 1837; and Delason S., born August 22, 1848, who died June 20, 1849.
William Watson Davenport received his education in the schools of Leyden, not in the ordinary manner, however; for from birth his sight was defective, and, as he was unable to see to read, he was dependent upon his hearing. But from listening to the recitations of the other children, he acquired considerable practical knowledge. He earned his first dol- lar at fifteen years of age, by sawing wood and threshing for David Mowry. When sixteen years of age he turned his attention to farming, purchasing his first parcel of land in Leyden, for the whole of which he was obliged to get credit. He afterward bought the homestead and lived there a number of years. Though deprived of sight, he was possessed of excep- tional business capacities, and at one time owned as many as a thousand acres of land. He now owns in the neighborhood of four hun- dred acres in Leyden, Mass., and in Vermont. In addition to his general farming interests, Mr. Davenport is engaged in buying and selling stock and farm produce, and is to-day one of the largest stock dealers in Franklin County, handling about two hundred thousand pounds of wool in a year, and from one hun- dred to two thousand head of cattle. He is considered one of the best judges of the weight and condition of cattle in the town. Mr. Dav-
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enport goes to Boston and New York on busi- ness, and, though unaccompanied on these trips, has never met with a mishap.
On November 7, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary Green Knox, who was born in Jacksonville, Ill., daughter of Milton and Mary C. (Green) Knox. Milton Knox was born in Blandford, Hampden County, Mass., December 7, 1814, and was there engaged in agriculture for many years. The latter part of his life was spent in Missouri, and he died in Hannibal, that State, May 30, 1862. I politics he was a Republican; in religious views, a Congregationalist. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary C. Green Knox, was born in West Springfield, Hampden County, Mass., September 21, 1812, and died at St. Louis, Mo., January 20, 1846. She, too, was a member of the Congregational church. She was the mother of three chil- dren, namely: Sophia E., born April 20, 1840, who died April 1, 1843; Mary G., born October 24, 1842; and Milton H., born in St. Louis, Mo., August 5, 1844, who died October 4, 1844. By his second wife Mr. Knox had six children, as follows: Olivia A., born December 4, 1848; John R., born October 3, 1852; Franklin, born January 1, 1855; Joseph H., born September 14, 1856; William H., born September 25, 1858; and John M., born September 4, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport have reared two sons and two daughters : Stephen Tabor Knox Davenport, born Septem- ber 1, 1871, a stock dealer and farmer, and at the present time a member of the School Com- mittee of the town of Leyden, where he re- sides; Mary Lucy, born December 27, 1874, living with her parents; Charles Milton Dav- enport, born September 8, 1877; and Sarah Bertha, born October 6, 1881.
In politics Mr. Davenport is affiliated with the Democratic party, and has filled acceptably
many offices. He has served as Selectman three years, and is at present a member of the board. His wife has been a member of the School Board for four years. Mr. Davenport is liberal in his religious views, and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. In Mr. Davenport Franklin County possesses a citizen of whom she may well be proud, one who by honesty and business sagacity, de- spite the unusual difficulties under which he has labored, has raised himself from the foot of the ladder to the rounds of prosperity and success.
HARLES A. MARCY, a conspicuous factor of the mercantile interests of the town of Colerain, is a native of Franklin County, his birth having occurred July 19, 1849, in the town of Leyden. His parents, Andrew H. and Lovilla (Peck) Marcy, were natives of this county, the father having been born in 1807, in Leyden, and the mother in 1811, in Colerain. Mr. Marcy's grand- father, Thomas Marcy, was one of the original settlers of Leyden, where he worked as a miller and millwright for several years. His last days were spent in Colerain, where he died in middle life, regretted as a valued citizen of the place. Politically, he was a strong member of the Whig party. His wife, whose maiden. name was Amy Henry, attained the age of seventy-seven years. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Andrew H. Marcy followed the trade of his father, residing in the place of his birth until 1856. In that year he removed to Charle- mont, where he bought a grist-mill, which he operated until within a few years of his death. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, dying in 1891. His wife died in 1895. In politics Mr. Marcy was a warm advocate of the princi- ples of the Republican party from the time of
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its formation. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Thirteen children were born to their home circle, eleven of whom grew to maturity, and nine are now living, of whom we record the follow- ing : Andrew M. resides in Leyden; Elvira (Mrs. Rogers) in Colerain; Thomas E. in Blue Rapids, Kan. ; Addie M. (Mrs. Darling) in Leyden; Charles A. is the subject of this brief sketch: Gilbert H. resides in Charle- mont ; Ella J. (Mrs. Pierson) in Grand Cross- ing, Ill. ; Isabel C. (Mrs. Van Ness) in Ashfield; Mary C. (Mrs. Sheldon) in Spring- field. The names of the deceased are as fol- lows: Frank P., a soldier in the late Rebell- ion, who was killed at the battle of Pittsburg Landing; Alvin; Arathusa (Mrs. Darling) ; and Thomas, who died at the age of four years.
Charles A. Marcy passed the first fifteen years of his life in the place of his nativity, and there received a good education in the public schools. When sixteen years of age he removed with his parents to Charlemont, where he began his mercantile career by ped- dling tinware on the road, preferring this life to working in the mill with his father, as he had done in his younger days. In June, 1871, Mr. Marcy established himself in business at his present stand in the village of Colerain, forming a partnership with C. H. Wilcox, with whom he remained in company two years. In 1873 he bought his partner's interest in the business, and has since successfully carried it on alone. His large store contains a complete assortment of household furnishing goods, tin- ware, and furniture, and with true business enterprise he caters to the demands of his cus- tomers, endeavoring to please them in the quality and variety of his stock. He also deals in wagons and carriages, being in com- pany with Mr. John D. Miller in this depart-
ment of his business, and having a large trade in the town and in the surrounding country.
On January 2, 1872, Mr. Marcy was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Donelson, a daughter of Samuel and Louisa Donelson. Mr. Donelson, who was a farmer in Colerain, died some time since. His wife is still living in that town.
In political and social circles, as well as in the business world, Mr. Marcy is quite promi- nent. He is a stanch Republican, and for seven years has been one of the Selectmen of the town, being at the present time chairman of the board. He and his wife are liberal in religious belief, and are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are quite active in society, and their pleasant home is a centre of genial hospitality.
ATTHEW STEBBINS SEVER- ANCE, an energetic farmer of Leyden, was born in that town August 6, 1836, son of Matthew and Maria T. (Stebbins) Severance. His father was born in Leyden, August 9, 1807, and his mother in Greenfield, August 20, 1808. (For a more extended account of the ancestral history of the family, the reader is referred to the sketch of Dr. W. S. Severance. )
Matthew Severance, the father of our sub- ject, who followed at different times the occupation of tanner, shoemaker, and farmer, resided twenty years in Central New Jersey, where he was engaged in shoemaking. From there he went to Wisconsin ; and he passed his last years in the State of Georgia, where he died on August 2, 1867, at the age of sixty. He was an honest and industrious man, who won the respect of all with whom he was asso- ciated. In politics he was a Democrat; in religious belief, a Methodist. His wife,
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whose maiden name was Maria T. Stebbins, lived to be sixty-eight years of age, dying on October 9, 1876. Their family consisted of four children, two of whom are now living, namely : Maria T., widow of George A. Space, born August 7, 1829, who resides in New Brunswick, N. J. ; and Matthew S., the subject of this article. Ellen E. died July 10, 1832; and Ellen (second) died August 17, 1836.
Matthew Stebbins Severance passed his boy- hood and youth in various places, moving with his parents from Leyden to New York State when about a year old and residing there until ten years of age. He subsequently spent five years in New Jersey and two in Wisconsin, later returning to New Jersey. He received his education in Leyden and in Shelburne Falls, being sent there by his parents for that purpose. After completing his studies he was employed in the rubber works in New Jersey until 1859, when he went to Savannah, Ga. He entered the Confederate service during the Civil War, enlisting as a private in August, 1861, in the Home Guards, for a period of one year. He served two, however, having been conscripted for the war. He saw a great deal of severe fighting, serving under Generals Lawton, Early, Gordon, and Stonewall Jack- son, and participating in the seven days' fight, the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and other memorable engagements. He was never discharged from the Confederate ser- vice, but entered the Union lines at Gettysburg in 1863 and voluntarily surrendered. He was confined at Fort Mifflin, seven miles below the city of Philadelphia, and succeeded in smug- gling letters to his father, who visited the fort and provided him with a supply of United States currency, by the aid of which he effected his escape in broad daylight, and, after secreting himself in a cornfield until
night, swam the Delaware River to Camden under cover of the darkness, at length reaching New Brunswick, N. J., in safety. For a short time before the termination of the war he was engaged in making copper-nailed shoes at the latter place; and later he was for a period of two years employed on the Camden & Amboy Railroad, finally returning with his parents and family to Georgia and settling near Union Island, where he found mercantile employ- ment, eventually becoming manager of the Hilton Timber and Lumber Company's store - a position which he held for twelve years. In 1882, on account of ill health, he resigned his position and returned to his native town, purchasing the farm on which he now resides, which comprises about one hundred and thirty- three acres of valuable land. There he has since been engaged in general farming with prosperous results.
On April 4, 1865, Mr. Severance married Harriet M. Belknap, who was born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1847, daughter of James and Mary (Hillyer) Belknap, the former of whom was a native of New York State, the latter of New Jersey. James Bel- knap died in Pennsylvania. His widow is still residing in that State. They had six chil- dren, two of whom are living: Edwin E., who now lives in Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Sever- ance. Tlie Belknap family also was well rep- resented in the army at the time of the Civil War. Edwin E. served in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. John was killed at Antietam, September 22, 1862, cut off in the flower of his youth, being but twenty - two years of age. Nathaniel E., who was a member of the One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, was taken prisoner by Mr. Severance's own division, and conducted to Libby Prison. He died January 17, 1880. Angelina Belknap died at the age
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of fourteen years, and Mary E. died at the age of twenty-two.
Mr. and Mrs. Severance have had a family of seven children, as follows: George M., born at New Brunswick, N. J., February 25, 1866, now a successful contractor and builder in Newark, N. J., who married F. E. Allen, and has one child, Agnes M. ; James W., born July 22, 1867, who died in infancy; Frederick J., born in McIntosh County, Georgia, De- cember 16, 1869; Robert N., born in Georgia, May 29, 1875; Ella M., born in McIntosh County, Georgia, October 2, 1877, now the wife of W. S. Davis, a resident of Shelburne, Mass., and the mother of one son, Frederick William: Lettice E., born in Darien, Ga., May 8, 1879; and Harriet B., born March 24, 1887, in Leyden, Mass.
Mr. Severance is a Democrat in politics, and has held various offices in the town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Severance belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
ORACE KEMP, a prominent farmer in West Leyden, was born in Shel- burne, August 17, 1835, son of Lawrence and Mary S. (Stewart) Kemp, his father being a native of Shelburne and his mother of Colerain. Mr. Kemp's grandfather, Lawrence Kemp, was born in Shelburne, his father being one of the pioneer settlers there. He was a farmer, leaving his plough to fight in the War of 1812, and on the declaration of peace returning to his quiet pastures and furrowed fields. He died at an advanced age, his wife also living to be quite old.
Lawrence Kemp, the father of our subject, was also engaged in farming in Shelburne, where he remained all his life. He was an industrious and successful man, thorough in all his undertakings. Casting his first vote
in the Democratic ranks, he later changed his views and joined the Republican party. He died at the age of forty-nine. His wife out- lived him many years, passing away when seventy-seven years old. They had seven children, six of whom reached maturity. Three are now living, namely: Mary Ann, who became Mrs. Matthews, and lives in Brookline, Mass. ; Sumner, residing in Alden, Ia. ; and Horace, our subject. Lucretia M., Charles S., and Elsie C., are deceased.
Horace Kemp's boyhood days were passed in Shelburne; and there he attended school until twelve years of age, when he went to work on a farm, receiving six dollars for his first month's labor. For ten years he worked for other people, saving his earnings until he had enough to buy some land, when he purchased the property in Leyden now owned by Bridg- ham Martin, consisting of seventy acres. On this farm he lived for three years. He then sold the land and moved to Colerain, where he spent eleven years. In 1872 he bought the estate where he now resides, which covers about three hundred acres and is fitted with substantial and convenient buildings, which Mr. Kemp has remodelled since purchasing. His farm is in good condition, and everything about the place bespeaks the careful hus- bandman.
On April 22, 1858, Mr. Kemp was married to Eliza A., daughter of Walter and Salome (Shepherdson) Bell, who was born on June 7, 1835. Mrs. Kemp is of English descent, her first ancestor in America being James Bell, an Englishman, who was one of the pioneer set- tlers in Colerain, where he cultivated a farm. He was commonly known as Lieutenant Bell, and was an energetic and prominent man, hold- ing office in the town at various times and fill- ing the position of Town Clerk for years. He died in Colerain at an advanced age. His son
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Walter, the grandfather of Mrs. Kemp, was born in Roxbury, Mass., and was taken to Cole- rain when a young child. He, too, followed agriculture, and owned a good farm in the east- ern part of the town. Though small in stat- ure, he was noted for his courage. He fought bravely in the Revolution, receiving a pension for his services. In politics he was a Whig. On the subject of religion his views were lib- eral. He died at the homestead at an advanced age. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Crouch, also lived to a good old age. They had eleven children, Mrs. Kemp's father, Walter Bell, being the fifth child. He also took up the pursuit of agriculture, and was besides a successful business man, taking con- tracts for roads and other public works. A Republican in politics, he took an active part in town affairs and was a prominent citizen. He died at the Bell homestead. His wife, who was a native of Leyden, died August I, 1882. She was an active member of the Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Kemp have five children, namely : Elsie S. B., wife of M. D. Miner, of Leyden ; Ida G., wife of Charles D. Miner, of Colerain; Walter H. Kemp, who married Mae S. Martin and lives in East Colerain ; William S., in Brookline, Mass. ; and Harvey L., in Colerain.
Politically, Mr. Kemp is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose affairs he takes an active part. They have a pleasant home and are prominent people in the town.
RIAH T. DARLING, a highly respected and prosperous farmer of Leyden, Franklin County, was born there June 1I, 1836, son of Uriah T. and Caroline (Williams) Darling. His grandfather, Moses
Darling, was a native of Vermont and a suc- cessful farmer of Guilford in that State, where he died at an advanced age. He was the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom three are now living : Mrs. Lestina Scott, of Vermont; Oren E. Darling, of Springfield, Mass. ; and John Darling, of Hartford, Conn. Moses E., Elmira, Uriah T., and Lucinda have passed away.
Uriah T. Darling, Sr., was born in Guil- ford, Vt., December 30, 1802, and on his father's farm received practical instruction in agriculture. In early manhood he removed to Rowe, Mass., where he was successfully en- gaged in farming. About the year 1832 he located in Leyden, where he purchased a farm in the western part of the town; and in 1853 or 1854 he bought the homestead on which his son resides. He died there at eighty-five years of age. His wife is still living, and makes her home with Uriah T. Darling, Jr. In political affiliation Mr. Darling was a Re- publican. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of twelve children, all but one of whom are now living. They were named as follows : Henry A., Moses E., Charles W., Caroline L., Uriah T., Joseph D., Olive, George L., Mary J., John R., Amelia, and Elizabeth (deceased).
Uriah T. Darling, Jr., grew to manhood in Leyden, receiving his early education in the district school, and finishing his studies at Powers Institute in Bernardston. He taught for fifteen terms in the town of Leyden and in the States of New Hampshire and Vermont. On attaining his majority, he started on an independent career, and for some time was engaged in farming, subsequently entering the mercantile business at Leyden Centre, where he successfully conducted a general store for seventeen years. He then disposed of this
EZEKIEL L. BASCOM.
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business and bought the old homestead, where he now lives. His farm comprises one hun- dred and twelve acres of land, and he carries on general farming with good results. Mr. Darling is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted September 8, 1862, in Company B, Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, under Colonel H. S. Greenleaf. He served in the Commissary Department from that time until he received an honorable discharge, August 14, 1863.
On November 4, 1866, Mr. Darling was married to Miss Arathusa Marcy, daughter of Andrew H. and Lovilla (Peck) Marcy. Mr. Marcy was born May 1, 1807, and died August 12, 1891. His wife, who was born May 7, 18II, died January 1I, 1895. They were the parents of thirteen children, namely : Thomas J., who died at four years of age; Alvin J., who was eight years old when he died; Ara- thusa, who lived to be twenty-three years of age; Frank P., who died at twenty-four years of age, being killed April 7, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated as a soldier of the Forty-sixth Illinois Regiment of sharpshooters; Murvin A., a farmer residing in Leyden; Elvira L. (Mrs. Rogers), a resi- dent of Colerain, Mass .; Thomas E., who resides in Kansas; Adelaide; Charles A., a resident of Colerain, Mass. ; Gilbert H., of Charlemont, Mass. ; Ella (Mrs. Pierson), of Chicago, Ill. ; Isabella (Mrs. Van Ness), of Ashfield, Mass. ; and Mary C. (Mrs. Sheldon), of Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Darling died May I, 1869; and on January 8, 1871, Mr. Darling was married to her sister, Miss Adelaide M. Marcy, who was born November 26, 1847. She has borne two children, one of whom, Frank Marcy Darling, born January 19, 1880, died in infancy.
Mr. Darling is active in political matters and an ardent advocate of Republican princi-
ples. His townsmen have shown their appre- ciation of his sterling character by electing him to various positions of trust. For sixteen years he has filled the office of Town Clerk and Treasurer, and since 1883 has served on the Board of Selectmen, of which he has acted as chairman during the past four years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to Republican Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Greenfield.
RANK N. BASCOM is a very success- ful farmer, residing on the banks of Fall River, about three miles from Gill Centre. He was born on October 21, 1856, on the same farm he now occupies, and which was the birthplace of his father, Ezekiel L. Bas- com, whose portrait appears on the next page of this volume. Mr. Bascom's grandfather, Dorus Bascom, was also a native of Gill, hav- ing been a son of Moses Bascom, who was born at Greenfield, on May 15, 1761. The latter was the third in line from the original settler, Thomas Bascom, who located at Northampton, where his death occurred. (For a more ex- tended account of the family's early history the reader is referred to a complete genealogy published by William Parsons Lunt, of Bos- ton, in 1870. )
Moses Bascom first settled on the farm now owned by Frank N. Bascom, and reclaimed it from the wilderness, the original tract of land having been a very large one. He first con- structed a log cabin, in which he resided for a time, later erecting the present substantial farm-house, which is still in a good state of preservation ; and here he passed the remainder of his days. Dorus Bascom, son of Moses, resided in this house from his birth to his decease, and successfully conducted the farm. He became very prominent in local public affairs, holding the offices of Selectman and
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