USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 38
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Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage in October, 1883, to Miss Addie A. Fay, only daughter of Benjamin Fay, his late partner in business, who was formerly a farmer in Mil- ford, Worcester County. Mr. Fay died at Montague, at the age of fifty-seven years. Mrs. Fay, whose maiden name was Jane H. Presho, was a native of Pelham. She became the mother of three children, as follows: Addie A .; B. Frank, who died at the age of thirty-three years; and Henry C. Mr. Fay served on the Board of Selectmen of Montague for some time. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church, and served
on the parish committee. Mrs. Fay, who now resides with her daughter, is also a mem- ber of that church. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett, and they have been called upon to mourn the death of two - Rob- ert F. and Walter. Their home is brightened by two promising boys - Benjamin P. and Richard H.
Mr. Bartlett is well advanced in Masonry, being connected with Bay State Lodge at Montague and Franklin Royal Arch Chapter, Titus Strong Council, and Connecticut Valley Commandery at Greenfield; and he has held some of the important offices in the Blue Lodge. He is a charter member and was the first Secretary of the grange at Montague. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett are active members of the Congregational church, in which he occu- pies an official position, and has been super- intendent of the Sunday-school.
ENRY E. GOODELL, whose por- trait is presented on the opposite page, is a member of the firm of Goodell Brothers, of Greenfield, manufacturers of light hardware specialties, including auto- matic screw-drivers and drills, of which these enterprising gentlemen are the inventors and patentees. 'Mr. Goodell was born October 12, 1848, in the town of Whitingham, Vt., being a son of Anson Goodell, a native of Connecticut, who was born in 1805.
Anson Goodell, when a young man, removed from his native State to Vermont, and, buy- ing a tract of land in Whitingham, Windham County, carried on general farming there with much success for many years. Later he sold that farm, and removed to Buckland, Franklin County, Mass. He was an industrious man, not afraid of hard work, and rounded out a full period of years, passing to his rest in
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May, 1892. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Ricc, and who is now eighty-scven years of age, is living at Shelburne Falls. Of their marriage, which covered a period of sixty-five happy years, twelve children were born. As into every life some sorrow comes, so they, too, had troubles hard to bear, having been called upon to part with several of their children; namely, two who died in infancy, a daughter at the age of seven years, a son five years old, and two after reaching adult life. The latter were: Helen, who died in 1873 on the home farm at Buckland; and Hiram, who died in 1877, aged forty-six years. The record of the surviving children is thus given: Anna, the widow of David Lanfair, who died in 1878 at Conway, leaving her with seven children; Dexter W., of the firm of Goodell Brothers in Greenfield; Al- mina, widow of Clark Cary, living in Cole- rain, where he died in 1894, at the age of fifty-eight years, leaving two children; Albert D., a manufacturer of hardware at Shelburne Falls; Henry E .; and Mattie, wife of Emer- son Hicks, of Shelburne Falls. Mr. Anson Goodell took a prominent part in political and religious affairs in his town, being a Repub- lican in politics, serving in various offices, and, with his wife, belonging to the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was an official member.
Henry E. Goodell was reared to agricult- ural pursuits on the parental homestead, where he lived until eighteen years old, when his mechanical talent asserted itself, and hc began the manufacture of wood specialties, principally chair stock, with his brother Albert, in Buckland. Two years later they changed to hardware specialties, retaining the same factory; but this they sold a year later to the Miller Falls Manufacturing Company, in whosc cmployment they were engaged the
succeeding cighteen years. In June, 1888, these brothers again embarked in the hard- ware business, opening a factory at Shelburnc Falls, and carried it on together under the firm name of Goodell Brothers for some three years, when Albert D. sold out his share to his partner, who continued alone for a few months. In November, 1893, Mr. Henry E. Goodell removed to Greenfield, and, taking into partnership his brother Dexter, erected their present factory, which is of brick, two stories high, one hundred feet by thirty feet, and is situated north of Main Street, on the Boston & Maine railroad tracks. They give steady employment to about twenty hands, turning out some thirty thousand dollars' worth of goods every year; and this product is sold to the United States and the European trade, articles of their manufacture having a wide reputation for excellence on two continents.
Mr. Goodell was united in marriage May 13, 1873, to Miss Alice S. Gaines, a native of Montague, and daughter of Benjamin A. and Lydia (Kendal) Gaines, now residents of Greenfield. Mrs. Goodell was educated at Bernardston Academy, and prior to her mar- riage was a successful and popular teacher, being a general favorite in society. Two children have been born of their union, namely: Harry G., a fine young man of twenty-one years, who married Lizzie Doo- little, a daughter of Andrew Doolittle; and Josie M., who is a graduate of the Greenfield High School. Mr. Goodell is a man of much stability of purpose and integrity, and by his untiring energy and enterprise has reached his present place among the successful men of the period. Although physically frail, he is known as a rapid and enthusiastic worker, doing more actual labor than any of his em- ployees, and at the same time superintending
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his extensive business. In politics he is a strong adherent of the Republican party; and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Epis- copal church, he being an officer therein. They have a fine new home at 31 Main Street, which he built in 1893.
R EUBEN H. NIMS, a thrifty and en- terprising agriculturist. owning and managing a well-improved and finely equipped farm at Montague Meadows, was born in the town of Colerain, Franklin County, Mass .. January 15, 1832. His par- ents were William and Phila (Gunn) Nims, the former a native of Colerain, the latter of Montague. The father was a cloth dresser, and worked at his trade in his native town and in Heath, his last days being spent in the latter place. His wife was the daughter of Asahel Gunn, a successful farmer of Mon- tague, where his birth occurred November 10, 1757, and his death in November, 1834. Four of the five children born to William Nims and his wife grew to mature years, and two are still living, namely: Reuben H., the subject of this biographical record; and Mary, who married L. O. Gunn, of Erving, a sketch of whose life may be found elsewhere in this volume, and in connection with it a more extended history of the parents of Mr. Nims.
Reuben H. Nims was left an orphan at an early age, his father having died when the boy was scarcely more than an infant, and his mother when he was only nine years old. He subsequently made his home with his uncle, Rodney Gunn, who was a farmer, and was educated in the district schools and at Shel- burne Falls. He became early acquainted with the mysteries of farming, and became a farmer by choice, finding the occupation pleasant and profitable. In 1860 he made his
first purchase of land, buying a farm in North - ampton, where he lived four years. Selling that property in 1864, Mr. Nims took up his residence on the farm which is now his home. It was then occupied by his uncle and aunt, who required his care, and who bequeathed him the property when death called them home. There he has since carried on general farming in a practical and progressive man- ner, meeting with excellent results in all of his operations; and he is an important mem- ber of the agricultural community of this section of the county.
Mr. Nims has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was wedded November 22, 1859, was Miss Mary E. Edwards, a native of Northampton, the daughter of Thomas Edwards, a gardener of that place and an esteemed resident. She was a most estimable woman and a consistent member of the Con- gregational church. She died August 2, 1876, leaving three children, of whom the fol- lowing is chronicled: Willie died at the age of twenty-one years; Hattie H., the wife of William Wright, agent for the Adams Ex- press Company, residing at Greenfield, has three children - Martha O., Mary E., and Harold I .; and Charles, who assists his father on the farm, married Lucy F. Webber, a native of Old Hadley, they having one child - Homer Willis. On June 4, 1879, Mr. Nims was united in marriage to Miss Belle Farrington, a daughter of George W. Farrington, a Vermont farmer. Mrs. Far- rington's maiden name was Clara Marsh. She was a native of Vermont, born February 23, 1831, and a life-long resident of that State. Her death occurred in the town of Walden, September 10, 1856. She was the mother of two children - Carl D. and Belle (Mrs. Nims). Mr. Farrington is yet living, but is quite feeble. Mr. and Mrs. Nims are
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the parents of three children - Clara Edith, Annie, and Mary - who are now enjoying the happy days of school life. 4
In polities Mr. Nims is a straight Republi- can. He and his wife are esteemcd members of the Congregational church.
VERY J. DENISON, a representative mechanic and farmer of Leyden, Franklin County, Mass., was born in this town, November 24, 1829, son of Arad J. and Prudence (Burrows) Denison. His first ancestor in this country was William Denison, who was born in England in 1 586, and came to America in 1631, settling in Roxbury, Mass., with his wife, Margaret, and his three sons - Daniel, Edward, and George.
The latter, who was born in England in 1618, married Bridget Thompson, of Roxbury, who died in 1643; and after her death he re- turned to England, and served under Cromwell in the Parliamentary army, winning the title of Colonel. He was wounded at the battle of Naseby, and was nursed at the house of John Borodell, whose daughter Ann ministered to the comfort of the suffering soldier. A mut- ual affection being thus engendered, on regaining his strength George Denison mar- ried Ann Borodell, and with her returned to Roxbury, Mass., later settling in Stonington, Conn. He has been described as "the Miles Standish of the settlement "; but he was a more brilliant soldier than Standish, having no equal in any of the colonies for conducting a war against the Indians. In emergencies he was always in demand, and he held many important positions.
William Denison, son of George, was born in Stonington in 1655, and, spending his life on the homestead, died March 26, 1715. His son George, who was born February 28, 1692,
was also a life-long resident therc. The next in linc, David Denison, was born January 29, 1736, in Stonington, but in carly manhood lived in New London. Hc was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and lost most of his property when Arnold, the traitor, burned that town. In 1785 he moved to Rindge, N.H., and thence to the southern part of Guilford, Vt., which was then an uncultivated and sparsely settled district. He died Janu- ary 24, 1808. His wife, Keziah Smith Deni- son, by whom he had eleven children, was a native of Groton, Conn. She died June 28, 1815, and was buried at Beaver Meadow Cemetery, at Leyden, Mass. Their. son George, born in 1769, grandfather of Avery J. Denison, migrated to Fabius, Onondaga County, N. Y., contracting a fever while transporting the State militia to Sackett's Harbor. He died in 1813, leaving his wife, Lucy Babcock, daughter of Peleg Babcock, of Leyden, a widow with five children.
Arad J. Denison was born March 28, 1807, in Fabius, N. Y., and in 1813, the year of his father's death, came to Leyden, Mass., to make his home with his grandfather, Peleg Babcock. He was a mechanic by trade, and lived to be nearly seventy, dying August 10, 1876. On April 12, 1827, he was united in marriage with Prudence Burrows, who was born July 6, 1807, in Guilford, Vt., and died April 7, 1872. They had the following chil- dren, seven of whom are now living, namely: Willard Arad, born February 2, 1828; Avery Josiah, the subject of this sketch; Amy Sophia, born March 4, 1833; Lydia Louisa, born September 9, 1834; George Washing- ton, born January 30, 1837; Charles Kinyon, born February 2, 1842; Andrew Richard, born May 6, 1843; and Adelaide Lucy, born October 6, 1847.
Avery J. Denison was educated in the pub-
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lic and select schools of Leyden. In early life he showed an inclination for mechanics, in which he sought always to excel. For some time he worked with his father, and subsequently he was employed as a clothier, a workman on sashes, doors, and blinds, a millwright, a carpenter and joiner; and finally he took charge of a grist-mill and saw-mill, with wood-working machinery. At present Mr. Denison is engaged in general farming, which he conducts in an intelligent and pro- gressive manner. On May 4, 1859, he was married to Emma Stewart, who passed away on April 2. 1861 ; and on June 7, 1869, he was united to his second wife, Harriet Frances, daughter of Cyrus C. and Freelove (Packard) Miner, who was born in Leyden, October 12, 1842.
The Miner family trace their descent from three brothers who came to America in early Colonial times, and settled in Connecticut. Mrs. Denison's grandfather, Cyrus Miner, was born in Stonington, Conn., April 3, 1777. He lived in Halifax, Vt., for some time, later moving to Leyden. Grandfather Miner was a hard-working and prosperous farmer, and was famed for generosity and hos- pitality. In politics he was a Wig; and in religion he was liberal, looking on every man as his brother. He died in West Leyden, November 12, 1845. His wife, Fanny Clark, was born in Hopkinton, R.I., September 1I, 1781, and became Mrs. Miner on December 23, 1802. She died in May, 1877, at the advanced age of ninety-six. They had twelve children, one of whom died in childhood. At the present time three are living, namely : Martha, widow of Robert Miller, in East Colerain; Mary, widow of Madison Noyes, in Guilford, Vt .; and Ozias L. Miner, in Brat- tleboro, Vt.
Cyrus Clark Miner, Mrs. Denison's father,
who was born in Halifax, Vt., January 20, 1804, was a well-to-do farmer and fruit grower, owning the farm in West Leyden known as the Peleg Babcock place. With the exception of a few years spent in Hatfield and in Halifax, Vt., Mr. Miner's life was passed in Leyden, where he was one of the first to engage in fruit growing on an extensive scale. He prospered in his undertakings, and spent his last years in retirement in Leyden Centre. A Republican in politics, he held many town offices, serving for some time as Selectman. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church, to whose support he liberally con- tributed. Mr. Miner died January 22, 1887. He was married October 30, 1827, to Free- love Packard, who died November 26, 1894, at the home of her son, M. Dayton Miner, in her eighty-eighth year. They had nine chil- dren, of whom six are living, namely: Oliver S., a carriage-maker in North Adams; Charles P. C., a farmer and apple dealer in Charlemont ; William L., a farmer in Hud- son, S. Dak., who served three years in Company I, Forty - first Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was wounded in the battle of Shiloh; Harriet F., Mrs. Denison; M. Day- ton, a mechanic and farmer; George Harlan, a book-keeper in North Pownal, Vt. Ange- line A., wife of I. N. Thorn, a druggist of Brattleboro, Vt., died March 27, 1856; Cyrus E. died August 15, 1852; and Anson D., who was principal of Drury Academy and superintendent of schools in North Adams twenty-eight years, died February 25, 1894.
Mr. and Mrs. Avery J. Denison have two children - Carroll A. and Helen C. The former, who was born in Leyden, June 9, 1870, is a mechanic, and resides with his parents. He was married September 28, 1892, to Millie Hall, a native of Springfield, Mass., but at that time a resident of Green-
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field. They have one child, Ruth Freelove Denison, born April 30, 1894. Helen C., who was born July 16, 1875, also resides in Leyden.
Avery J. Denison has always voted the Re- publican ticket, having cast his first vote for John C. Frémont. In 1869 he was a member of the State legislature, representing seven towns; and he has served as Selectman, As- sessor, and Overseer six years, besides filling minor offices, declining two appointments as Justice of the Peace, accepting the third, and serving seven years, declining to serve an- other term. In the discharge of his official duties Mr. Denison was fearless and indepen- dent, taking what he deemed the right course, regardless of public opinion. He has ever felt an earnest desire to promote the welfare of society, believing that all permanent civil- ization is based on morality as taught in the Bible. Mr. and Mrs. Denison are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are noted for their generosity and hospitality.
ENRY H. ROOT, a successful mer- chant of Montague, was born in this town, on what is known as Federal Street, September 8, 1856, his father, Harri- son F. Root, and his grandfather, Erastus F. Root, having been natives of the same place, both occupying the old homestead, where the latter spent his entire life. Harrison F. Root was reared to farm work; and, after receiving his education at the district schools and in Williston Seminary at Easthampton, he bought the home farm, and tenderly cared for his parents during their declining years. He is a Republican in politics, and promi- nent in public affairs. His wife, whose name before marriage was Hannah G. Stratton, is a daughter of Arad Stratton, of Northfield.
Four children were born to them, as follows: Arthur, a farmer, residing in this town; Har- riet S., wife of Austin Lawrence, of Miller's Falls, who is now travelling through Canada, having previously visited all places of interest in the United States; Henry H., of whom more is written below; and Charles, who died at the age of six months. Mr. Harrison F. Root has been eminently prosperous in agricultural pursuits, and now enjoys a very comfortable competency. He and his wife are members of the Unitarian church.
Henry H. Root passed his boyhood upon his father's farm. He received a good educa- tion in the district schools and at Wesleyan Academy, and at the age of sixteen entered the employ of Wright & Bangs as a clerk. After remaining with them two years, he went to Westfield, Hampden County, Mass., where he was employed in the same capacity by D. L. Gillett, a dry-goods dealer, for one year, and then, returning to Montague, ac- cepted a position in the general store of Mr. I. Cheney, being there employed for a period of four years. At the expiration of that time he purchased Mr. Cheney's interest, and, after successfully carrying on the business for two years more, sold to the former proprietor, later purchasing the building which was located on the site of his present store, to- gether with one adjoining. These buildings, including a large stock of goods, were de- stroyed by fire July 4, 1885, causing him to sustain a severe loss, from which, however, he speedily recovered. He immediately com- menced the erection of his present well- appointed establishment, and at the end of four months, with a fine stock of goods, re- sumed business, which he has since continued with the most satisfactory results.
In July, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Cora M. Streeter, only daughter of
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H. L. Streeter, of Winsted, Conn., who for- merly carried on the lumber business in that town. Mr. Root is a member of Bay State Lodge. A. F. & A. M., is liberal in his religious views. and a Republican in politics. His business career has been thus far charac- terized by a degree of energy and ability that has insured his success, and his fellow- townsmen have every reason to expect a great deal of him in the way of developing the busi- ness resources of the locality.
ACOB P. KELLOGG, who died at his home in Shelburne, Mass., on October 6, 1843, was a worthy member of a family that has been represented in the Con- necticut valley more than two hundred years, its records including the names of not a few citizens of prominence in their day and gen- eration. The immigrant ancestor was Joseph Kellogg, who settled in Farmington, Conn., in 1651, and died in Hadley, Mass., in 1707 or 1708, having been one of the leading pio- neers of that place. The next in the line now being considered was his son, John Kel- logg, who died in Hadley between 1723 and 1728. The third child of said John Kellogg was Joseph Kellogg, who was born November 6, 1685, and was a resident of South Hadley, where his son Jabez was born February II, 1734. Jabez Kellogg removed to Hanover, N.H., in 1785, living there until his death, in 1791. One of his children, Julius by name, was the father of Jacob P., the princi- pal subject of the present sketch.
Julius Kellogg was born at South Hadley, September 27, 1765, and was a blacksmith by trade, following that occupation through his life, which terminated August 4, 1813, in Shelburne. He married Molly Poole, who was born in Shelburne, February 1, 1771, and
died here, September 7, 1833. She was a daughter of Lieutenant Jacob Poole, who died at Sainte Therese, Canada, in June, 1776, while serving in the Revolutionary War. Among the first pioneers of the town of Shel- burne were Stephen Kellogg and Samuel Poole, both of them grandfathers of Molly Poole, so that she was also partly of Kellogg descent. Mrs. Molly Poole Kellogg was a rarely gifted woman, of great mental power, and with her husband took an active part in promoting the growth and prosperity of the town, they being among the foremost citizens of their day. Julius Kellogg was a public- spirited man, and was a Representative in the State legislature in 1808. Both he and his wife were influential members of the Congre- gational church from the time of its organiza- tion and liberal contributors toward its sup- port. A family of ten children were born to them, none of whom are now living.
Jacob P. Kellogg, son of Julius and Molly (Poole) Kellogg, was born in Shelburne on February 16, 1793. Having learned his father's trade, he worked at general black- smithing, and also did a large business in the manufacture of hoes. He located in Shel- burne Centre, buying the estate on which his son and daughter now live, and making many improvements thereon, erecting the present commodious residence in 1834. A man of excellent judgment, intelligently interested in the common weal, he was often called upon to fill responsible stations, and, besides serv- ing as Selectman for several years, repre- sented his district in the State legislature in 1843. Although his life was comparatively short, it was filled with useful activity; and his death, in the autumn of that year, was a sad loss to the community, as well as to his immediate family. He married in 1820 Lucy Wright, a native of Ashby, Mass., born Au-
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gust 4, 1795, daughter of Stephen Wright, a native of Littleton. Mrs. Lucy W. Kellogg survived her husband many years, dying May 25, 1882. Four children were born of their union, three of whom are now living. A brief record is as follows: Stephen Wright, born April 5, 1822, resides in Waterbury, Conn .; Ai, born February 15, 1824, lives on the old home farm; John, born January 6, 1826, died April 25, 1865; and Sarah Pres- cott, born September 11, 1829, lives with her brother on the homestead.
Stephen W. Kellogg received his early edu- cation in Shelburne, and after leaving school was engaged in teaching four terms, continu- ing at work on his father's farm during the summer seasons. When twenty years old, he entered Amherst College, where he studied two terms, going thence to Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1846, taking one of the first three honors of his class. He subsequently accepted for a short time the principalship of the Winchendon Academy, but soon entered the Yale Law School; and, while prosecuting his studies there, he taught the classes in Greek in a classical school at New Haven. In June, 1848, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and has since been in active practice of his profession, residing most of the time in Waterbury. He was clerk of the Connecticut Senate in 1851, of which he was a member two years later, repre- senting the Waterbury district, and in 1856 was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, being chairman of the Judi-
ciary Committee. In 1854 he was appointed Judge of the New Haven County Court, and for seven years was Judge of the Waterbury District Probate Court. Judge Kellogg was elected a member of Congress in 1869, and re-elected in 1871 and in 1873. While there he served on important committees - the Ju-
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