USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 48
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Mr. Albee's first wife, Mary L. Austin, was born in Erving, Mass., being a daughter of Louis Austin, who was a native of Norton, Mass., but had taken up the occupation of farmer in Erving, where he died at eighty-two. The Austin family are lineal descendants of a sister of William Penn, to whom Pennsylvania owes so much and whose name will ever be honored in the pages of our country's history. Mrs. Mary L. Albee, who died in Erving at sixty years of age, was the mother of three children : D. Lucena, widow of Oscar R. Cush- man, a farmer of Worthington, who died in Miller's Falls; Mary A. ; and Hudson E., of Orange. Mrs. Cushman was educated at Shelburne Falls Academy, and is a member of the Congregational church at Miller's Falls, of which she is treasurer. Mary A. Albee, the wife of the subject of this sketch, was edu-
cated in Powers Institute, Bernardston, and her whole life has been spent in Franklin County with the exception of eight years in Worthington, Hampshire County.
Mr. and Mrs. King have had four children, of whom two are now living: N. Augusta, the wife of John A. Taggart, who bought the liv- ery stable business of his father-in-law, and who has three sons - Deane P., Bert, and an infant as yet unnamed; and Carl Hudson King. The deceased were Albert J. and Mary C. King. Mr. and Mrs. King are both believers in Republican principles; and he takes an active part in town affairs, and has held among other offices that of Selectman eight years. He is now serving his fourth year as Commander of Armstrong Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Montague, and is also a member of the Knights of Honor of Greenfield. He and his wife are active and prominent members of the Congregational church. Mr. King has served as superintend- ent in the Sunday-school, in which his wife is a teacher ; and she also holds the office of clerk of the church.
HARLES H. JENNISON, a young and prosperous farmer residing in Wendell, near Lock's Village, was born on the farm where he now lives, July 21, 1862. He is the son of Lowell F. and Lucy Ann (Greenwood) Jennison, the former of whom was a native of Natick, Mass. The grandfather, Arthur Jennison, was also a na- tive of that place. Lowell F. Jennison was reared a farmer and followed that vocation dur- ing the greater part of his life, commencing when a young man by working out by the month. In 1857 he moved to the present home of the subject of this sketch, purchasing what was then known as the old Ballard Hotel.
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He died here September 13, 1893, at the age of seventy-one. In political matters he was a supporter of the Republican party. His wife, Lucy Ann Greenwood, was a daughter of Moses Greenwood, a farmer of Needham, Mass. She reared a family of five children, namely : Edward; Charles H. ; Ida, who be- came the wife of Oliver Carter, a farmer of Amherst, N. H. ; George; and Fred A. The mother now resides with her son, Charles H. Both parents were members of the Methodist church, the father taking an active interest in the work of the church and especially in its
Sunday-school. Charles H. Jennison is the present owner of the old homestead, which contains two hundred acres of land, which he devotes principally to dairying. He also cuts a large quantity of lumber ; and he has besides a large sugar bush, which turns out about two hundred gallons of syrup annually. He was united in marriage August 29, 1894, to Miss Nellie Groves, daughter of the Rev. W. B. Groves, of West Brimfield. Mr. Jennison is a member of the New England Order of Protec- tion, of Orange, Mass. ; and in politics he is a Republican.
ENNIS E. FARLEY, a member of the Farley Paper Company, manufact- urers of paper, pulp, and cardboard, whose mills are located in the village of Far- ley, Franklin County, Mass., was born at Colerain, in the northern part of the county, June 12, 1852, son of Lyman and Hannah (Call) Farley. His great-grandfather emi- grated from England, and became an early settler in Colerain. Joel Farley, Mr. Farley's grandfather, who was born in Colerain, owned an extensive tract of land in that town, which he cultivated, becoming a prosperous farmer. He was Colonel in the State militia, a Repre- sentative to the legislature in 1834, and a
prominent man of his day. Colonel Farley married a Miss Bradford, of "Mayflower" Pil- grim ancestry.
Their son, Lyman Farley, was brought up on the home farm and was early trained to agricultural labors. He resided with his par- ents until his marriage, when he took charge of the farm owned by his wife's mother, where he continued to reside during the re- mainder of his days. He became a successful farmer and died at the age of forty-seven years. Lyman Farley married Hannah Call, a native of Colerain, her family having been early set- tlers there; and she has passed all her days upon the old Call homestead, where she is now living at the age of seventy years. She is the mother of five children, namely : Joseph B. ; Oliver, who married J. W. Stowell, of Putney, Vt .; Dennis E., of Farley; Lilla ; and H. I. Farley, who is engaged as foreman in his brothers' mill.
Dennis E. Farley received a good educa- tion, first attending the schools of his native town, and completing his studies at Shelburne Falls Academy. At the age of eighteen years, he went to Bellows Falls, Vt., where he was employed in the mills, and obtained the first knowledge of his present business. He was next engaged in the ready-made cloth- ing business at Westfield, Mass., for a Brook- lyn concern, in which he continued for three years, and then spent some time in travelling through the New England States, opening branch stores. He finally purchased a store at Orange, Mass., which he successfully con- ducted for several years ; and after selling out in 1881, he, in company with his brother Joseph, established a paper-mill at Wendell, which they conducted with satisfactory results. Their plant was twice destroyed by fire; and after the second conflagration they purchased a tract of land situated about ten miles from
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Wendell, where they constructed a large dam and erected their present extensive mills, giving life to a section previously undeveloped. They constructed a bridge over the river, erected a hotel, and tenement-houses for the accommodation of their employees, secured the location of a post-office, and have prevailed upon the Fitchburg Railroad Company to make the settlement a regular stopping-place, thus establishing a thriving little village, which less than ten years ago was unknown.
In 1890 Mr. Farley laid the foundation of the knitting-mill, which is conducted under the name of the Orange Knitting Company, Mr. George R. Ruffle becoming associated with him in the enterprise. This has ex- panded into large proportions; and, although at the present time they are producing several hundred thousand dozen pairs of mittens annu- ally, their business in this line is constantly increasing. Mr. Farley is also Treasurer of the Frick Piano Case Company, which is located near by, the other members of the company being Messrs. J. B. Farley and George Frick. The Farley Brothers' Paper Mill is producing ten tons of superior paper per day, and ten complete piano cases is the ordinary daily output of the Piano Case Com- pany. Mr. Farley attends personally to the selling of their products; and, as he is an expert in that particularly exacting department of an industrial enterprise, goods are kept constantly upon the move.
In 1876 Mr. Farley married Clara A. Chap- man, daughter of David A. Chapman, a well- known building contractor of Greenfield. Mr. Farley is well advanced in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge in Orange, the Chapter in Greenfield, Orange Commandery, and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Boston. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Encampment, the Order of Red Men and the Ancient Order of United Workmen - in all of which he stands very high. He is indepen- dent in his political views, and has several times been a candidate for Representative to the legislature. He has served several years as Selectman, and is now in office. Both he and his wife are liberal in their relig- ious views.
ILBERT L. RIST, a leading merchant of Turner's Falls and one of the largest dealers in boots, shoes, and clothing in that part of the State, was born in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Mass., July 28, 1838, son of Ezbon and Emeline (Taylor) Rist. Mr. Rist's great-grandfather and his great-great-grandfather were residents of Read- ing, Middlesex County, Mass., about 1735-36. They were farmers, as was his grandfather, Thaddeus Rist, who was born in Uxbridge, and was a life-long resident of that town.
Ezbon Rist, the father of our subject, was also a native of Uxbridge, born on his father's farm; and his life, too, was devoted to agri- culture. He died under the old homestead roof at the age of forty years. His wife, Emeline Taylor, was the daughter of the Rev. Amasa Taylor, a well-known Methodist cir- cuit rider, who had several extended circuits under his charge, in one of which Uxbridge was situated. She is a well-educated lady, a graduate of the Wesleyan Seminary at Wilbra- ham. Mr. and Mrs. Rist reared three chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity. Their names were respectively : Gilbert L., Fred- erick, and Mary. The latter is the wife of George Prouty, of Petersham. Mrs. Rist is now seventy-eight years old, and is quite active and well-preserved. She makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Prouty. She is a member of the Methodist church.
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Gilbert L. Rist attended the Uxbridge schools and academy, finishing his studies at the Wesleyan Seminary at Wilbraham. He commenced work at the age of seventeen, en- gaging in boot and shoe making at Athol; and in 1860 he became associated in business with Captain A. W. Caswell, at Gardner. Captain Caswell was in active service during the war, and Mr. Rist then conducted the business alone. In 1868 he sold his interest to the Captain, and one year later removed to Tur- ner's Falls, where he established his store, at first on a side street, putting up a small build- ing and stocking it with boots and shoes. In 1873 he built another store adjoining, and three years later added clothing to his stock. He also erected the large building he now occu- pies, which is sixty by forty-five feet and three stories in height, and has an annex twenty by sixty feet. Here he carries a full and com- plete stock of clothing, gentlemen's furnish- ings, hats, caps, boots, shoes, and rubbers, the most extensive stock found in this section of the State.
In 1863 Mr. Rist was married to Miss Martha Hammond, of Ashburnham, Worcester County, Mass., daughter of John Hammond, a carpenter of that place. Mrs. Rist's mother was a native of Fitchburg. Mr. and Mrs. Rist are the parents of four sons: Albert, Wal- ter, Frank, and George - all of whom received a good education and studied at Wilbraham Academy. Albert, who is a graduate of the commercial department of Wesleyan Academy, is in business with his father. He married Miss Agnes McDonald, of North Adams. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being treas- urer of the branch of the Masonic order at Turner's Falls; and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows Society. Walter Rist lives with his parents. Frank is a clothier in Han- over, N. H. George is in the wholesale boot
and shoe establishment of McIntosh & Co. in Springfield, Mass.
Mr. Rist is President of the Turner's Falls. Savings Bank, with which he has been con- nected many years, serving as a Trustee, as a member of the Board of Finance, and as Vice- President. He is an attendant of the Congre- gational church, occupying a leading position in the business circles of Turner's Falls; he also participates in the social life, in which his family is prominent.
RS. ALMEDA CARPENTER, of Greenfield, is the widow of Ira Carpenter, formerly a prominent citizen of the town, who died November 6, 1882, at the age of sixty-two. His parents were David and Mary (Wallace) Carpenter, the father being a native of Landgrove, Vt. The grandparents were David and Mary (Allen) Carpenter, the former a native of Con- necticut and a Revolutionary soldier. His wife was related to Ethan Allen, the famous Revolutionary leader. They were pioneer set- tlers in a wild and uncultivated part of the State, and endured many hardships incidental to life in the woods far away from the settle- ments. When their first child David was a young babe, the mother had to place him in a large bake-oven to keep him from freezing during a bitter cold night. They met with a fair degree of success, and gradually acquired the necessaries and later some of the comforts and luxuries of life.
David Carpenter had but a limited education, but was a man of much natural intelligence, and became a sort of legal counsellor in his town; though knowing nothing of the law pro- fessionally, his advice was generally found to be worth following, as it was based on the principles of justice and sound sense. He
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became a leading man in public affairs and acquired considerable property. For some years before his death he resided in Keene, N. H., where he was the most wealthy citizen ; and it was said of him that "what land he didn't own he had a mortgage upon." He died in his fine brick mansion at Keene, in 1845, when he was about eighty-three years of age. His widow survived him about six years, and died at the age of eighty-eight. They reared five sons and two daughters, who all became heads of families.
Of these children, David, Jr., father of Ira, became a farmer, and was married to Mary Wallace in 1816. They resided in different towns in New Hampshire, Vermont, and in the Connecticut valley, and came to Green- field, Franklin County, Mass., in 1832, set- tling on a farm of two hundred acres on the old stage road. He was a man of intelligence and some education, having been educated for the Baptist ministry, though never occupying a pulpit. They were the parents of several chil- dren, the eldest being a son David (third), a bright and promising young man, who went to Nunda Valley, N. Y., and died there from exposure shortly before he was to have been married, about 1844. The second child, Mary M., married and went to Illinois, and thence to Wisconsin, where they had property. She survived her husband and died in Fond du Lac, Wis., April 26, 1889, leaving a large estate.
The third child was Ira, who became the husband of the lady whose name commences this sketch. Their marriage occurred Septem- ber 20, 1845, and Mr. Carpenter settled on his farm of one hundred acres, three and one-half miles north of Greenfield, in 1855. This was known as the old Severance farm; and, when Mr. Carpenter took it, it was in a poor state of cultivation, but at his death was one of the finest and best farms in the town, he having
greatly improved the place by building a dwell- ing-house and good barns, and cultivating the orchard, and in other ways increasing the value of the property. As might be inferred, he was a man of much energy and persever- ance, and from small beginnings built up a fortune of some ten thousand dollars. He was of a generous disposition and lived as much for the good he could do to others as for what he could accumulate for himself. He met one day with a very painful accident in conse- quence of his team running away, being thrown out of his wagon, breaking both his thighs. His physicians considered that he had scarcely more than one chance in one hun- dred to live; but the careful nursing of his faithful wife and his^ strong constitution en- abled him to recover, after being confined to his bed for one hundred and forty days; and he lived for many years afterward, still active and strong.
Mrs. Carpenter's name before marriage was Almeda Scott; and her parents were Solomon and Diaffa (Andrews) Scott, the former being the son of Moses Scott, a Revolutionary sol- dier, who was one of the early settlers in the town of Gill, arriving there at an early day with some old comrades of the war, ancestors of the Greenes, Hastings, Goodriches, and other families now residing in the vicinity. Almeda was the third of six daughters born to her parents, all of whom are living but Eunice, who was the wife of Henry Pardeu. Mrs. Carpenter's father died in Gill at the age of fifty-one years on the old home farm where his father settled in 1842; the mother died in 1846, in her fiftieth year. They were Congre- gationalists in religious belief, and were people highly esteemed and honored for their many sterling qualities.
Mrs. Carpenter lost one infant daughter, Vaulora M. Her other children are : Marrion
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D., Nancy B., and Orra A. Miss Marrion D. Carpenter taught her first school at the age of eighteen, and continued teaching for some years, but, since her father's death, has lived retired with her mother at their pleasant home at 83 Federal Street. Nancy B. is the wife of John P. Chapin, of Buffalo, N. Y. Orra A. Carpenter has followed teaching for many years in the public schools of Greenfield, and is now teaching in the Carew Street Gram - mar School of Springfield.
OSEPH W. WHITING, a well-known citizen of Shelburne Falls, was born in Buckland, Franklin County, Mass., February 4, 1827, son of Welcome and Susan (Wight) Whiting, the former of whom was also a native of Buckland.
Jacob Whiting, father of Welcome, was born in Billerica, Middlesex County, Mass., January 1, 1762. Upon the death of Mr. Ross Wyman, an elderly gentleman with whom he had lived up to twenty-one years of age, Mr. Jacob Whiting received a tract of land in Buckland, which was a portion of what is known as the Wyman Grant. There he set- tled ; and, as his labors were prospered, he pur- chased adjoining land until his farm contained three hundred acres. His death occurred there at seventy-four years of age. His wife was Lydia Putnam, a daughter of Lieutenant Will- iam Putnam, who was a patriotic soldier of the Revolutionary War. Five children were born to them ; namely, Welcome, Emery, Hannah, Danforth, and Patty. The mother died July 6, 1822, at forty-three years of age.
After his father's death Welcome Whiting purchased the interests of the other heirs, and thus became the owner of the old homestead, which he carried on with good results until sixty years of age. Then, desiring to retire
from active labor, he sold the farm and went to Shelburne Falls to live with his son, Joseph W. Whiting. He died there at eighty-two years of age. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Susan Wight Whiting, a daugh- ter of Joseph Wight, had seven children, as follows: Joseph W., Susan E., Lydia A., Amanda, William P., Harris W., and Mary E. Their mother, who was a consistent mem- bér of the Congregational church, died at forty-two years of age. Mr. Whiting's second marriage was to Miss Mary Newton, daughter of Deacon Newton, of Hawley, Mass. She died April 17, 1848, leaving no children. In political affiliation Mr. Whiting was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, which he afterward supported. He took an active interest in town affairs; and his fellow- citizens showed their appreciation of his integ- rity and his sagacity in affairs by choosing him to represent them in various offices of respon- sibility and trust, including that of Selectman many years and Assessor. He also served acceptably as a member of the School Com- mittee.
Joseph W. Whiting remained at home and assisted his father in carrying on the farm until the year 1852, when he went to Cali- fornia, where he was successfully engaged as a superintendent of tunnels and mines for three years. He then returned to Buckland, Mass., and soon after purchased the place in the vil- lage of Shelburne Falls where he now resides. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifty- second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, under Colonel H. S. Greenleaf, and went to Louisiana, where he served in the General Banks expedition, being at the capture of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. After the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson he returned home, making the trip on the first boat up the Mississippi River, and was mustered out, after
JOSEPH W. WHITING.
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nearly a year's service, as Sergeant of Com- pany E.
On March 5, 1855, Mr. Whiting was united in marriage with Miss Deidiama E. Rich- mond, a daughter of Elijah Richmond; and this union was blessed by the birth of two sons and two daughters. Alma E., the eldest, was born January 4, 1856, and died June 12, 1882. She was the wife of Samuel E. Elmer, and the mother of one child, Maud V. The next. Charles W., born October 19, 1861, married May 20, 1890, Miss Minnie Barrett ; and they have one child, Howard J. Susa A., the second daughter, born September 9, 1865, married June 11, 1890, A. C. Bray, and is the mother of two children, Dean W. and Frances R. Edgar R. Whiting, born March 5, 1870, is an optician in Bangor, Me. Mrs. Deidiama E. Whiting, mother of these chil- dren, died December 19, 1884.
Mr. Whiting is actively interested in politi- cal matters and lends the weight of his influ- ence to whatever in his judgment is conducive to the welfare of his town. He has for some years been a Director in the Shelburne Falls National Bank. He at one time had charge of the public roads, and has filled many other offices very acceptably, among which may be mentioned those of Selectman, Assessor, Con- stable, and Collector. A portrait of this loyal and useful citizen will be seen on another page.
EORGE E. TAYLOR, an extensive stock-raiser, a public-spirited and prominent citizen of Shelburne, widely known and respected, was born August 12, 1832, on the old Taylor homestead, now owned by his brother, John S. Taylor, which has been in the possession of the family for five generations, and is one of the landmarks of the town. Mr. Taylor is a son of Elias and
Lorinda (Moody) Taylor, the former of whom was born on the old homestead, June 24, 1785 ; and the latter, a native of South Hadley, was born December 14, 1790.
The first member of the Taylor family of whom we have any authentic record was John Taylor, of Northampton, who was killed by the Indians in 1704, being then a man of about sixty-three years. His son Samuel, born August 13, 1688, was the great-great- grandfather of George E. Taylor. Samuel's son John lived in Deerfield several years after his marriage, coming from there to Shelburne in 1759. He was one of the very first settlers here, there being but two other families in the vicinity. He erected a log cabin for himself and family, and for the first few years sub- sisted principally on the productions of his own land and the game to be found in the forests. In the French and Indian War he was sent, under the command of Colonel Hawkes, on the expedition to Canada.
One of his children, John Taylor, Jr., was born in Deerfield, July 31, 1752. He was but seven years old when his parents removed to Shelburne, where he lived to the age of fourscore years, being one of the leading citi- zens of the town and closely identified with its agricultural interests. His wife, formerly Mary Woodward, was a native of Taunton, Mass., born June 15, 1759. Three of their children grew to adult life, namely : Elias, the father of George E. ; Ebenezer ; and Sarah.
Elias Taylor was born, reared, lived, and died on the home farm, which had been wrested from the wilderness by his paternal ancestors. He succeeded to its ownership, and during his life, which numbered sixty- three useful years, he added to the improve- ments already begun on the property, being a successful and able farmer. He was a strong Whig in politics, and he and his wife were
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members of the Congregational church. He married Lorinda Moody; and they became the parents of five children, three daughters and two sons, the former of whom are deceased, Lorinda Taylor having died when a girl of fifteen years, and Mary W. and Harriet N. after they were married. The sons are John S. and George E., both named above.
George E. Taylor was reared a farmer and still continues actively and prosperously en- gaged in agriculture. In the spring of 1860 he bought and moved on to the farm where he now resides. In addition to tilling the soil, Mr. Taylor is much interested in stock- raising, his cattle being mostly full-blood Durhams, his famous herd containing from twenty-five to thirty head. He also makes a specialty of raising swine, and has some very fine specimens of the Berkshire hog. His handsome place of two hundred acres is amply supplied with substantial buildings and well- equipped with all the latest and most improved machinery for carrying on his business after the most approved modern methods.
On May 27, 1856, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Victoria A. Green, who was born June 30, 1837, in Bernardston, daughter of Ruggles and Amanda Green, both deceased, he having died in the prime of life, being but fifty-five years of age, and the mother at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor is George E. Taylor, Jr., who was born June 10, 1871 ; he is a graduate of Amherst Agricultural College, and resides with his parents. He married Eliza Harrington, a native of Amherst, their nuptials being solemnized September 27, 1893. Mr. Taylor is a representative citizen of the town and a prominent member of the Republican party. His ability as a man of affairs is recognized by his fellow-citizens, whom he has served satisfactorily as Select-
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