Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .., Part 39

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 678


USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 39


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diciary, Patents, Pacific Railroads - also being chairman of the Committee on Naval Expenditures in the Forty-second Congress, and chairman of the Committee of Civil Ser- vice Reform the following term.


Since his retirement from Congressional life he has resumed the practice of law, and has been in the front rank of his profession. He drew up the bill, and was very active in procuring its passage, for organizing the National Guard to take the place of the State militia, and was appointed Colonel of the Sec- ond Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, in 1864, and after two years' service was pro- moted to be Brigadier-general of the Guard, but resigned his position while in Congress. Stephen. W. Kellogg married in 1851 Lucia Hosmer Andrews, grand-daughter of Chief Justice Hosmer, of Connecticut, and daughter of Major Andre Andrews, a lawyer of Buffalo, N.Y., who, with his wife, died of cholera during the scourge of 1833. Seven children have been born to them, and six are now liv- ing. The eldest son, Frank Kellogg, is a Lieutenant in the navy; and the other two are in their father's law office in Waterbury, Conn. John is married, and has one child. The three daughters are married, and have families.


Ai Kellogg, who resides on the paternal homestead, carries on general farming in a systematic and successful manner. He has ninety acres of rich land, all under good cul - tivation and well improved. In May, 1862, he was united in marriage with Adaline Clark, of Barre, Mass., who died April 19, 1864. The only child born of their union was a daughter, Emma Eliza, who lived but ten months. In politics Mr. Ai Kellogg is a stanch Republican.


John Kellogg, third son of Jacob P., was graduated from West Point with honors in


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1849, and afterward entered the Third United States Artillery as Second Lieutenant, and served his first campaign in the Indian Ter- ritory with great bravery. He was subse- quently stationed at Portland, Me., under General Anderson, going thence to Fort Snelling, Minn. From 1854 to 1861 he served on the frontier in Oregon and Wash- ington with great credit, being in command of a company a portion of the time, in the Ind- ian war of that section in 1857. In 1861 he was promoted to be captain in the commis- sary department, and after the battle of Bull Run he entered the volunteer service as Colo- nel of the Third California Regiment, so as to have a more active part; but, contrary to his wishes, he was transferred to the commis- sary department again, and sent to San Fran- cisco. In 1864 he returned to Baltimore, and was placed on General Sheridan's staff as Chief Commissary, remaining with him through his campaigns of 1864 and 1865. Colonel Kellogg's duties were severe, and he had many narrow escapes from capture and death. The work was too arduous; and he died from overwork and exhaustion in the final campaign ending in Lee's surrender at City Point, Va., April 25, 1865.


Sarah P. Kellogg, the youngest member of the parental household, enjoyed in her girl- hood the superior educational advantages afforded by Mount Holyoke Seminary and a school in New Haven, and for a few terms after graduation was engaged in teaching. A woman of cultivated taste, gifted with literary talent, she is now living a quiet life with her brother in Shelburne, occasionally exercising her pen as an acceptable writer for the press. When quite young, Miss Kellogg began to express her thoughts in verse; and a volume of her productions, showing true poetic merit, was published in 1886.


LVAN SANDERSON, one of the most highly respected citizens of the town of Ashfield, who is living retired from the active pursuits of life, was born in the house he now owns and occupies, Septem- ber 29, 1817. He is the son of Asa and Rebecca (Childs) Sanderson; and, tracing his line of ancestry back a few generations, we see that he is a lineal descendant of Joseph and Ruth (Parker) Sanderson. Joseph San- derson, who was born in Groton, Mass., August 30, 1714, settled in Canterbury, a district in Whately, in 1752, and there spent the remainder of his days, living until 1772. The following children were born into his household: Ruth, Esther, Isaac, Thomas, Abraham, David, John, Asa, Isaac, and James. The next in line of descent is the grandfather of our subject, Thomas Sander- son, who was born March 16, 1746. He was reared a farmer, and also learned the tanner's trade. He married Lucy Wright, and in 1803 settled at Indian Hill, in Whately, being one of the pioneers of that district. Thomas Sanderson reared the following chil- dren : Martha, Mariam, Thomas, Asa, Alvan, Elijah, Lucy, Silas, Eli, and Chester. Asa, the fourth child in order of birth, was the father of our subject. His brother Alvan was the founder of Sanderson Academy, one of the finest schools of the kind in Massachusetts, which is noted for its superb schools. Alvan Sanderson was born in Whately, December 13, 1780. A very ambitious student and eager to secure a good education, he worked his way through Williams College by teach- ing, and graduated from that institution in 1802. He was popular and successful as an educator, and as a preacher of the gospel met with eminent success, winning the love of all during his eight years' pastorate in Ashfield. Always intensely interested in the education


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of the young, in 1816 he started a school in Ashfield, and later established the Sanderson Academy. He died before his work was fully accomplished, his brief life embracing but thirty-six years.


Asa Sanderson, the father of our subject, was born February 8, 1779, in Whately, and there passed his carlier years. He learned the tanner's trade, and established himself in Conway, where he was very successful in his business. He eventually sold out, and later bought a tannery in Ashfield, which he con- ducted with profit for some years. This tan- nery was located on the site now occupied by F. A. Cady's barn. Mr. Sanderson's next investment was the purchase of the farm adjoining the tannery. This he cultivated until his demise in 1862. The house in which he lived in Ashfield he bought from Dr. Nash, who had it built in 1800. Asa Sanderson was a man of much intelligence and sound wisdom, and exerted a beneficial influence in the building up of his adopted town, giving material aid when it was needed; and, though no office - seeker, he served acceptably in several public offices. In church matters, also, he was active, and for more than a score of years was Deacon of the Congregational church and treasurer of the same. His wife, the mother of our sub- ject, whose maiden name was Rebecca Childs, lived to celebrate the eighty-second anniver- sary of her birth. She reared a family of seven children; namely, Louisa, Nancy, Lemuel C., Rebecca S., Asa W., Alvan, and Lucy W.


Alvan Sanderson, the subject of this sketch, acquired his education in the academy founded by his uncle, Alvan Sanderson, which is still partly supported by his endowment. His life has been spent in the old home; and for many years prior to the death of his parents he


tenderly cared for and watched over them, devoting himself to the interests of the farm. He has made many improvements on the prop- erty, remodelling the old house, and laying out a portion of the estate into village lots, for which there is always a ready demand, and has had the pleasure of seeing the land on which he spent so many days of hard labor in his earlier years occupied by beautiful resi- dences, surrounded by green lawns. Al- though not married, Mr. Sanderson has a pleasant home, and a host of friends value him for his many sterling qualities of heart and mind. He has ever been among the fore- most of the active citizens who are interested in promoting the welfare of the town and county, encouraging all enterprises tending to benefit the public.


LIHU C. OSGOOD, a successful farmer of Greenfield, was born in the town of Wendell, Franklin County, Mass., November 7, 1823, son of Elihu and Ruth (King) Osgood. Mr. Osgood traces his pedi- gree back to one John Osgood, who was born in England, July 23, 1595, and settled in America with his family, dying in Andover, October 24, 1651. Elihu Osgood, the grand- father of our subject, who was born in 1762, and died August 27, 1834, was a hard-work- ing and progressive farmer. He was a promi- nent member of the Baptist church, and officiated as Deacon for many years. His wife, Polly Osgood, was born May 28, 1762, and died December 22, 1834. They had three sons and one daughter, all of whom raised families of their own, and have now passed from the scenes of earth. Their namcs were: Elihu, Sumner, Polly, and Warren.


Elihu Osgood, the father of our subject, was a farmer, residing in the town of Wendell


ROBERT AND ELIZABETH B. STRANGE.


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during the active period of his life, and fol- lowing his calling with great success. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and held at various times many town offices, such as Selectman, Town Treas- urer, etc. He, too, was an earnest member of the Baptist church. The declining years of his life were spent at the home of his son Elihu, where he died December 1, 1875. His wife died November 14, 1874. They had five children, four of whom grew up, and two are now living, namely : Samuel M., who was born October 23, 1818, and now resides in East Milton, Mass., retired from active life; and Elihu C., the subject of this sketch. Mary, Sophia D., and Dolly have passed to the world beyond.


Elihu C. Osgood spent the years of his boyhood in Wendell, receiving part of his education in the schools of that town, and afterward attended the New Salem Academy. When eighteen years of age, he began to teach school, but after three terms of teach- ing, he turned his attention to farming. The first land he purchased was in Wen- dell, and at one time he owned one hundred acres of Wendell property. Over twenty years of his life were spent in that town. In 1853, having sold his Wendell property, he invested in the land that constitutes his pres- ent place in Greenfield; and he now has ninety acres in that town and one hundred and twenty in Bernardston. He carries on general farming to quite an extent, raising some small grain and tobacco, and also runs a dairy. By working early and late he has reaped a goodly reward, and is counted as one of Greenfield's successful farmers.


On September 22, 1846, Mr. Osgood was united in marriage to Mary Stone, daughter of Eliab and Dolly (Armstrong) Stone, both natives of Franklin County. Mr. Stone was


a hard-working farmer of Wendell. After bearing her husband company on life's voyage for nearly forty-six years, Mrs. Osgood died, January 26, 1892. They had three sons and four daughters, as follows: Abbie J., born November 17, 1847, died October 1, 1850; Henry M., born November 14, 1849, died July 13, 1890; Sophia S., now the wife of Mark Bullard, a farmer of Greenfield, was born October 27, 1851; Emma J., born August 23, 1855, became the wife of Hollis E. Connable, and resides in Greenfield; John E., born February 12, 1859, is a manufact- urer, residing in Greenfield; Minnie K., born October 26, 1863, died April 11, 1877; Charles S., born September 12, 1869, is a farmer, residing with his father.


In politics Mr. Osgood is a Republican. He has held different town offices, serving as Assessor in 1887 and 1888, and as Selectman four years consecutively, being elected the first time in 1888. In religious views he is liberal, but has always supported the Baptist church. He has a host of friends, and is highly respected by the community at large.


OBERT STRANGE, whose portrait, together with that of his wife, is pre- sented in this connection, is a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen of Leyden, Mass., a veteran in the industrial ranks, one who early enlisted in the army of toilers, and has not fallen out by the way, having been neither a shirk nor a laggard, and who is fairly entitled to a place among the winners of life's battle. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, February 28, 1829, son of Hugh and Catherine ( Youngs) Strange. Both parents were natives of the northern part of Ireland, and, being of Scotch descent, be- longed to the class known as Scotch-Irish.


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Hugh Strange followed the vocation of a mechanic in the old country, and was also successfully engaged in manufacturing. It was about the year 1859 that he and his wife came to America, and settled down to agri- cultural pursuits in Leyden. Of the children born to them three sons are still living : James Strange, who resides in the north of Ireland; Robert, of Leyden; and William Strange, of West Northfield, Mass. Both parents were members of the Scotch Presbyte- rian church. The father died in Leyden, at the age of sixty-six, and his wife in her seventy-second year.


Robert Strange grew to manhood and was educated in Ireland, acquiring a good part of his learning after he left the day school, as he was of a studious disposition; and his even- ings were spent in study at home or at the night school. At ten years of age he began to learn the trade of linen weaver, and suc- cessfully followed this occupation the greater part of the time he lived in Ireland. Late in the summer of 1848 he set sail in the " Ara- bian," a three-masted sailing-vessel, under the captaincy of James Crangle ; and a month later, on October 3, he landed in New York City. Thence he came to Leyden, Mass., where he was shortly engaged to work on a farm for Aaron Budington. He received for the first three months the sum of six dollars per month, and remained with Mr. Budington a year and a half. The succeeding three years he was employed in a similar capacity by other parties; and, being frugal as well as industrious, though his wages were so small, at the end of that time he was enabled to buy a small farm in Leyden, containing about twenty acres of land. After occupying that farm six years, he sold it, and purchased a part of the farm where he now resides, to which from time to time he has added land,


so that he now owns in the neighborhood of four hundred and eighty acres.


On March 17, 1849, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Black, who is like- wise a native of Ireland. Their union has been blessed by the birth of eight children, six of whom are now living, namely: Eliza- beth ; Margaret W .; Catherine H .; Willie R., who spent four years in California; Frank J. and Fred H., who are twins - all of whom live at home with the exception of Elizabeth, the wife of Andrew Campbell, of Leyden, and Frank J., who is successfully engaged in the confectionery business at Springfield, Mass. The deceased are: Martha; and Anna M., who was a school-teacher.


Robert Strange in political affiliation is a Republican, and is now serving as Highway Surveyor, which office he has held for several years. He was formerly a member of the School Board. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active interest, and which he has served as Steward and Trustee for many years, and for ten years has acted as class leader. He contributes freely toward the support of the church, and the neighbor or friend in need can also vouch for his liberality and Christian sympathy.


UGENE B. BLAKE, a dealer in wood and coal and agent for the Adams Express Company, is one of the thriving and able business men of Greenfield, and has been numbered among its esteemed residents for upward of thirty years. He was born in the town of Hill, Merrimack County, N.H., December 5, 1845, and is a son of Horatio K. Blake, a native of the same town, born in 1810. The latter was a son of Green- leaf Blake, a respected member of the farming community of Merrimack County.


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Horatio Blake removed from his native town to South Royalton, Vt., where his last years were spent, his death occurring in 1864, soon after passing the milestone that marked his fifty-fourth year. He was twice married; and three children were born of his first union, two of them being twins. The follow- ing is recorded of them: Horatio C. is living at South Royalton, Vt .; William Francis, who was a railroad man, died in the West, leaving a wife and daughter; and Henry S., also a railway employee, died in Minneapolis, Minn., where he left a family. Horatio Blake's second wife, the mother of our sub- ject, was Rebecca WV. Berkley, a native of Franklin, N.H .. daughter of Cyrus Berkley, a man of prominence in the town. She was born in 1816, and became Mrs. Blake in 1837. She is now residing at South Royalton, Vt., an active woman of nearly fourscore years. Eight sons and two daughters were born to her and her husband. The daughters and five of the sons are now living, as follows: Cyrus O., a manufacturer, resides at Bowling Green, Ky .; Eugene B. is the subject of this sketch; Don W., a locomotive engineer, lives at St. Albans, Vt .; Edric A., a telegrapher, is a resident of Roanoke, Va .; Alice Belle is the wife of Charles Daggett, of South Royalton; Mattie G. is the wife of Frank Bradstreet, of the same place; Jed G. resides at Seattle, Wash. Edric died in infancy. Launcelot Kelley Blake was a soldier, doing gallant ser- vice during the late Civil War, serving as a Corporal, and was wounded in battle. He was subsequently killed April 24, 1866, on the Vermont Central Railway, on which he was a trainman. Charles G. Blake died in Rio Janeiro in 1875, leaving a wife, but no issue. He also served in the late war, enlist- ing in 1862 in the Thirty-fourth Massachu- setts Volunteer Infantry as a private, and


coming out with the rank of Lieutenant and as Commander of his company.


Eugene B. Blake attended school until sixteen years of age. Then, inspired by the patriotic zeal that caused five of his brothers to enlist in defence of their nation's flag, he volunteered his services, enlisting from Roy- alton in Company E, First Vermont Cavalry, and went out as a servant to his uncle, Samuel P. Rundlett. After a little more than a year's service he returned home-in the autumn of 1862 -- and shortly after his arrival entered the telegraph office at Moore's Junc- tion, N. Y., where he remained about two years. In March, 1864, he obtained a posi- tion in Greenfield as operator and baggage master on the Connecticut River Railway, and for twenty-eight years was connected with the railway service, acting as ticket agent from 1869 until 1878, and then as freight agent of the Troy & Greenfield Railway, and depot master, until 1892. Mr. Blake then embarked in the coal and wood business, buy- ing out A. N. Hall. He now has a substan- tial and extensive trade, and in addition thereto has held the agency of the Adams Express Company for the past two years. Mr. Blake possesses excellent business capac- ity and tact, and has the confidence and respect of all his patrons.


In 1869 he was united in marriage to Clara M. Haywood, who bore him three children, two of whom died in infancy. The other child, Mabel H. Blake, is a graduate of the Greenfield High School, and for a short time was engaged in teaching, but is now an assist- ant in her father's office. After a few years of pleasant wedded life, the mother died, in 1879; and six years later Mr. Blake married Miss Elmina B. Mason, a daughter of Silas and Elmina (Ballou) Mason, and a grand- daughter of the Rev. Hosea Ballou, the noted


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Universalist minister. One child was born of Mr. Blake's second union - Ralph M. - now a bright and active boy of five years.


Mr. Blake is a man of influence and promi- nence in local matters, and has served as Se- lectman two years, having been elected on the Republican ticket. Socially, he is a Knight Templar and Past Master of the Republican Lodge. He and his wife are valued and con- scientious members of the Unitarian church.


RMAN C. MARVELL, a prosperous farmer of North Leverett, was born at his present home, November 22, 1856, son of Calvin Marvell, who was born at Shutesbury, Franklin County, Mass., Novem- ber 7, 1824. The grandfather, Jesse Marvell, was a native of the town of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Mass., and was a son of Pascal Mar- vell, whose birth occurred in an adjoining town. Pascal Marvell worked at both farm- ing and shoemaking. The latter part of his life was spent in Shutesbury, where he carried on a farm. Jesse Marvell, who was reared to agricultural pursuits, settled in Leverett in 1834, and spent many years there, success- fully engaged in farming. He died at the age of seventy-four. He was prominent in public affairs at Shutesbury, and served as a Selectman for several years, both in Shutes- bury and in North Leverett.


Calvin Marvell cared for his parents during their declining years, assisting in the man- agement of the farm, of which he eventually assumed charge, and now resides with his son, Orman C. Marvell, having retired from active labor. He is a Republican in politics, and has served the community faithfully as a Selectman and Overseer of the Poor. He was a charter member of Bay State Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Montague, and also of the Lever-


ett Grange. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Glazier, was a daughter of Eben- ezer N. and Mary (Spaulding) Glazier, and a member of one of the first families to settle in the town. She died July 25, 1893, at the age of sixty-five. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Marvell: Jane, widow of George Beals, who has one daughter - Lillian; Ella, who married Henry Fisk, and has two children -- Lucy and Lora; Ida, who married Charles Moore, and has seven chil- dren, as follows - George C., Myra, Jesse, Millie, Rhoda, Flora, and Hazel; Lelia, wife of Sidney Williams, who has one child -- Maud; Flora (deceased), who was the wife of Orrin Grant, and left three children - Wes- ton, Leroy, and Mabelle, the former of whom married Hattie Dresser, and has one child, Flora Ida; Mary, died in infancy ; and Orman C., our direct subject.


Orman C. Marvell received a good educa- tion in the schools of his native town. He has passed his entire life upon the farm, which consists of about one hundred and fifty acres of fertile and well-cultivated land, and is engaged in general farming, which he car- ries on in a progressive and intelligent man- ner, being thoroughly conversant with all branches of agriculture.


In 1877 Mr. Marvell was married to Miss Alice Church, daughter of Leonard and Jane (Barber) Church, of Buckland. Her parents were natives of Ashfield, Franklin County, Mass. ; and her paternal grandfather was born in Oakham, Worcester County, Mass. She is one of three children, the others being Gcorge B. and Lucy Church. Mrs. Marvell was educated at Ashfield, and taught nine years in that town and in Hawley, and two years in Leverett. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Marvell - a son, Ralph N.


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In politics Mr. Marvell is a Republican. He takes an active part in the town govern- ment. and has been Selectman five years, and served several years as Road Commissioner. He is a member of Bay State Lodge of A. F. & A. M. at Montague, and of the grange of that town; and he and his wife belong to the Independent Order of Good Templars. Mrs. Marvell has been a member of the School Board for the past four years. The entire family attend the Baptist church.


RASTUS F. GUNN, a retired farmer, residing in Montague, was born at Miller's Falls, Franklin County, Mass., August 21, 1819, son of Otis and Lucy (Fisk) Gunn. His grandfather, Asahel Gunn. who was a native of Massachusetts, settled upon a farm in Montague subsequent to his marriage, which occurred when he was nineteen years of age, and resided there until his decease. He erected the hotel at Miller's Falls, known as the Lake Hotel, of which his son Otis was afterward proprietor.


Otis Gunn, the father of our subject, was born on the farm in Montague. He took charge of the Lake Hotel after his marriage, and conducted it for twelve years, at the expi- ration of which time it was sold, and he returned to the old homestead. The latter property eventually passed into the hands of his son Erastus, who later disposed of it, and moved to his present farm, where his father died at the age of eighty-five years. Otis Gunn's wife, mother of Erastus F., was Lucy Fisk, of Wendell, in which town her father, Captain Zedekiah Fisk, was engaged in farm- ing. He served as an officer in the Revolu- tionary War, and was wont to tell of his terrible sufferings from the pangs of hunger and of being brought to the necessity of


devouring a pair of boots, which he described as having been a welcome meal under the cir- cumstances. Mrs. Gunn became the mother of six children, four of whom, between the ages of eight and eighteen years, died within a few weeks. The survivors are Erastus F., the subject of this sketch, and Otis B., a civil engineer, who resides in Kansas City. The mother passed her declining years with her son Erastus, and died at the age of ninety- three. She was a member of the Congrega- tional church.




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