USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 49
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man for seven terms, besides filling the offices of Assessor six terms and of road superin- tendent. He is an esteemed member of the Franklin County Agricultural Society. He and his wife belong to the Congregational church, which he serves in an official capacity.
John S. Taylor succeeded his parents, Elias and Lorinda M. Taylor, in the ownership of the Taylor estate, on which his entire life has been spent. His farm is one of the best cared for in the locality, and, with its excellent buildings and their neat surroundings, is in- dicative of the thrift and prosperity of the owner. He is here carrying on general farm- ing, supervising the management of his one hundred and seventy acres with exceeding skill. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and has served his town as Assessor at two different times. He is one of the oldest citi- zens of the town of Shelburne, his birth having occurred on the farm where he now resides, May 6, 1817. He was married on December 18, 1852, to Sybil Nims, who was born in Shelburne, September 5, 1819. Their only child, a son, James E. Taylor, was born March 25, 1855, and is still a resident of the paternal home. Mrs. Sybil N. Taylor died on December 19, 1891. She was a most estima- ble woman and a conscientious member of the Congregational church. Mr. Taylor is not connected with any religious denomination, but is liberal-minded and high-principled, believing in the universal fatherhood of God.
HARLES A. MOULTON, a farmer and lumber dealer of Northfield Farms, Franklin County, Mass., was born in Athol, Worcester County, January 24, 1840, son of Proctor and Patience (Thayer) Moulton. Mr. Moulton's grandfather, Nathan Moulton, was for many years a resident of
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Prescott, Mass., where he followed agricult- ural pursuits; but he died in Petersham. Proctor Moulton was born in Prescott, June 20, 1806. He was a carpenter and builder, and worked on the first iron foundry at Orange. He continued to follow his trade throughout his active life, which was not a long one. He died in Cooleyville, Mass., October 19, 1851, aged forty-five years. By his first wife, Patience Thayer, whom he married April 30, 1829, he had three children, namely : Samuel P., who died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving one son, Frank; Charles A., of Northfield Farms; and Harriet B., now de- ceased. The mother died April 11, 1846, at the age of thirty-three years. Proctor Moul- ton's second wife, Augusta A. Goodnow, died in Cooleyville, March 21, 1853, leaving no children, her only son, Elbridge P., having died on September 27, 1851.
Charles A. Moulton, being left an orphan at eleven years of age, resided for a time with a farmer in the neighborhood, and later went to live with his brother, for whom he worked by the month, attending school winters. He also received instruction at a graded school in Petersham. He subsequently followed differ- ent occupations in North Hadley, Mass., finally establishing himself there in business, which he conducted successfully for three years. He then went to North Dana, Mass., where he engaged in the broom business for a short time, and then stocked a store with gen- eral merchandise, which he carried on for one year. In 1866 he purchased a store in North- field, and settled down to mercantile life, in which he was successful for many years. He bought the building in which his store was located, and also a valuable farm in the vicin- ity. In 1879 he added the lumber trade to his other ventures, his stock including Southern pine, which he receives by the carload. Hav-
ing relinquished storekeeping in 1892, he is able to give more attention to the lumber business, which, together with his farm, now occupies his time. Mr. Moulton was for a number of years a Republican in politics, and as such voted for Abraham Lincoln, but has of late been independent, supporting the can- didates he considers most worthy and capa- ble of holding office. He was Postmaster for ten years, and has also served as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. He was station agent for eight years, and has served the public faithfully in various use- ful capacities.
Mr. Moulton has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded on August 27, 1862, was Emma L. Marsh, of Hadley, daugh- ter of Dwight L. Marsh; and she became the mother of three children, namely : Carrie L., who married J. P. Egan, of Miller's Falls ; Ella L., who died young; and Charles D., who married Gertrude Kimball, of Lawrence, Mass. Mrs. Emma L. Moulton died on April 4, 1886; and on November 16, 1887, Mr. Moulton was united in marriage with Mrs. Annie L. Blakelin, who was born in Methuen, Mass., daughter of Hugh Mills, of Lawrence. Her father was an early employee of the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad Company, and is now a very active man at the age of seventy-four years. Mr. Moulton is liberal in his religious views. Mrs. Moulton attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
HARLES W. LYMAN, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Erv- ing, Mass., and one of the leading dry-goods merchants of the place, his store being located on Main Street, was born in Northfield, Mass., December 9, 1849, son of Charles and Jane (Groves) Lyman, the former
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also a native of Northfield. Charles Lyman, after working on a farm, in his early manhood went to Templeton, Mass., where he was employed in a woollen factory. On his return to Northfield he took up the occupation of wire-weaving, which at that time was a ncw industry, and made the first sievc and corn popper manufactured there. After a few years' residence in Northfield, Charles Lyman removed to Erving, where he was engaged as a mechanic in the match-shops and also in the piano works. He died in Erving, at the age of sixty-four. His wife, Jane Groves, was born in Williamsburg, Mass. ; and they reared one son, Charles W., and an adopted child. Mrs. Jane G. Lyman also died in Erving, in her sixty-fourth year.
Charles W. Lyman lived with his parents up to twenty years of agc, gaining a practical education in the district school, and then went to work in the door and sash shop at Erving, going from there to Springfield. For two and a half years he was engaged as a clerk for Mr. E. W. Dickinson, and later for Mr. Walker in the sash and blind shop; and then, after six months' employment in the Boston & Albany Railroad shops, he went to Greenfield, where he was again engaged in the sash and blind business. Continuing in the same line, he next secured a position in Holyoke, Mass. From the latter place Mr. Lyman returned to Erving, where during the succeeding ten years he was employed by Mr. Stone in the piano business, and was subsequently engaged for a short time by the Wason Car Company of Springfield, Mass. He then came to Erv- ing again and worked in the chair-shop, and later on entered a grocery store, but not to remain there long. After spending a year as an inspector for the Miller's Falls Company, and another year as a travelling salesman for the Greenfield Bakery, Mr. Lyman, in com-
pany with Mr. F. W. Loveland, a previous em- ployer, purchased the Erving House, which they ran for two years and then sold; and on June 17, 1887, he purchased the business of Mr. M. M. Stebbins, in his present store, which has proved a profitable investment. He afterward added a meat market, which he ran in connection with the store until 1894, when he sold that branch. Mr. Lyman is also en- gaged in the ice business, being the retail dealer of the village; and during the past year he has erected a large ice-house at Reynolds Pond.
In 1872 he was united in marriage with Myra J. Martin, daughter of George P. Mar- tin, of Montague City, where she was born and where her father was engaged in agricult- ure. Mr. Martin was twice married, Mrs. Lyman being a daughter of his first wife, who bore him four children. Both parents died in Montague. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman has been blessed by the birth of three children -- Cephas B., who is with his father in the store; Carl E., who is engaged in the telephone business; and Myrtle L .- all of whom were educated in the schools of Erving and Orange.
Mr. Lyman is a gentleman of high social standing and has a wide circle of friends. He is a prominent Mason, and since 1871 has been a member of Orange Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Chapter and Commandery at Orange, the Scottish Rite, which is the thirty-second degree in Masonry, and the Mystic Shrine. Among the other organizations with which he is connected are the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and the Erving Social Club. He and his family are attendants of the Congrega- tional church, toward whose support they contribute.
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RS. NANCY I. BROWN, of Rowe, widow of Hezekiah Brown, is a daughter of Araunah and Olive (Gleason) Ide, and was born at Rowe, Frank- lin County, Mass., in March, 1821. Her grandparents were John and Anna (Short) Ide, the former of whom was a native of Attleboro, Mass., and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. At the close of the war he settled on a small tract of land and devoted himself to farming, which occupation he followed the rest of his life. His wife, Anna Short, was a daughter of Ebenezer and Abigail (Balkom) Short.
They resided in Attleboro until their chil- dren, Araunah and Nancy, had reached matu- rity. With the design of benefiting his wife's health, which had failed after the birth of the younger child, Nancy, John Ide pur- chased a farm in Rowe, where Mrs. Ide had a sister living. The journey was made in the winter, during bitter weather, when the roads were well-nigh blocked with snow. Nancy, who was not well, was left behind for a time, a good pair of stout horses bringing father, mother, and son, with all their worldly goods, not forgetting the family dog, to their new home. They stuck fast in the snow before reaching their journey's end, and had to be dug out by a rescue party with shovels. The
poor dog fared the worst, having its feet frozen. The farm Mr. Ide purchased con- sisted of one hundred acres, and was long and narrow. It proved not to be the most produc- tive land in the town, but he built a good barn and went to work to improve the property. The daughter Nancy was later sent for and joined the family circle. She taught school for some time in Rowe, and later became the wife of William Haynes, a merchant and son of Dr. Haynes. She died in 1821, at the age of twenty-seven years. John Ide died Octo-
ber 22, 1824, aged seventy-two years; and his wife, who survived him, reached the advanced age of ninety-two.
Araunah Ide resided at home until he was thirty-seven, when he took on shares a small farm in the western part of the town, to which he moved with his family and where he re- mained two years. He then purchased a farm of about one hundred and twenty-five acres, known as the McCloud farm, where he spent the remainder of his days engaged in agricult- ure. He died March 14, 1843, at the age of fifty-five. He was a well-known and highly esteemed citizen, serving the town as Select- man and figuring prominently in public affairs. He was a Congregationalist in religion and a Republican in politics. His wife died April 2, 1831, at the age of forty-two years. She was the mother of six children : Nancy; Mary ; Fanny; Araunah, who was later known as "John A."; John; and Laura. The two younger died, each at the age of two years - John on April 15, 1831, and Laura, February 22, 1832. Fanny died August 29, 1841, aged seventeen years. On the death of the father the farm came into possession of the three remaining children - Nancy, Mary, and John A. (formerly Araunah). The two latter were teachers, Mary being a graduate of the Normal School at Westfield.
John A. Ide studied medicine at Pittsfield, Mass., and then went West to Michigan and Illinois, and later to Iowa, where his sister Mary resided, the wife of Levi H. Mason. During the Civil War he enlisted and for a time served in the hospitals as nurse. After the Civil War he returned to Iowa and bought a farm of eighty acres near Marion, Linn County, later buying sixty more near Cedar River. He subsequently sold his Marion property and purchased seven acres near Mount Vernon in the same county, and cared for his
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sister Mary after her husband's death, the latter dying from sickness contracted in the army at the siege of Vicksburg. He also cared for many returned prisoners of Ander- sonville. John A. Ide was much respected for his many sterling qualities. His death took place in February, 1868. He left a family of several children.
Mrs. Brown's grandparents on the maternal side were Stephen and Sally (Goodnoe) Glea- son, who had four children; namely, Olive (Mrs. Araunah Ide), Sally, Hannah, and Stephen. Stephen, Sr., was one of the first Universalists in Rowe, and his son was brought up in the same faith. The latter passed his last days in Woodford, Vt. Four of his nine children survived him; of them, Stephen E. was a soldier in the Civil War, and Eugene, the youngest, is now a farmer in Missouri.
Nancy Ide and Hezekiah Brown were mar- ried on February 1, 1843. Mr. Brown was born in Rowe, in May, 1818, and was a son of James and Lucretia (Healy) Brown. His father was a native of Attleboro, Bristol County, Mass., a man well known and promi- nent in local affairs, serving as Selectman and Trustee of his town. He was a Whig in poli- tics, and in religious belief a Unitarian. He died at the ripe age of ninety-one years. His wife, who was called to rest from earthly toil at the age of forty-seven years, left a family of eight children; namely, Deborah, Lemira, Dexter, James, Lucretia, Bethiah, Hezekiah, and Mary. The first year of Mrs. Brown's married life was spent with her husband's fam- ily ; but at the end of that time Mr. Brown purchased a portion of a farm, which, com- bined with her own property inherited from her father, made about seventy acres. Mr. Brown then devoted his attention to the dairy- ing and stock-raising business, which he car- ricd on to a considerable extent, buying and
selling cattle and horses, of which class of stock he was an excellent judge. After living on their small farm several years, Mr. Brown exchanged it for one of about one hundred and twenty-five acres, which was, however, encum- bered with a mortgage. This farm was in poor condition and the buildings in want of repair, but it had the advantage of being nearer the business centres. In the course of a few years Mr. Brown purchased back the small farm, and at the time of his death, which occurred June 20, 1868, at the age of fifty years, he owned both farms unencumbered, together with a good supply of stock.
He was a Republican in politics, and was Selectman of the town for two terms. In religion he held liberal views, and stood high in the estimation of his fellow-townsmen as a useful and exemplary citizen. The family record of Mr. and Mrs. Brown includes the following children : a son, William H., who died in infancy ; John H. ; William Dwight ; Mary Theresa; James A .; Nancy; Ida; and Ide. The last named manages the farm on which his mother resides. Mrs. Brown comes of excellent New England stock. A woman of marked intelligence and character, faithful to her duties as wife and mother, she is solaced in the waning years of life by the memory of days well spent, the affection of her children, and the esteem of neighbors and friends.
ILLIAM T. RICHARDS, a re- spected citizen and thriving mer- chant of Erving, senior member of the firm of Richards & Clark, dealers in groceries and general merchandise, was born in this town, June 15, 1863. He is a son of God- frey and Mary (Manning) Richards, the former of whom was a native of Canada, where he fol- lowed the occupation of a laborer. Godfrey
ANSON K. WARNER.
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Richards came to Erving about 1859, and con- tinued in the vocation he had followed in Can- ada. He died at the early age of twenty-nine. His wife, Mary Manning, bore him two chil- dren, William F. and John G. The latter is en- gaged in the grocery business at Mount Auburn, near Boston. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Richards became the wife of Alexander W. Smith. She still resides in Erving.
William T. Richards lived with his mother until her marriage to Mr. Smith, and attended the public schools of the town. He first found employment in a chair-shop, after which he was engaged for three years on telephone construction work. In 1886 he and his pres- ent partner, Mr. Charles F. Clark, purchased the grocery and provision store of Turner, Hanson & Co., which they have since con- ducted, constantly enlarging and increasing their stock, which, in addition to the lines carried by Turner, Hanson & Co., now in- cludes dry goods, boots and shoes, and cloth- ing. Mr. Richards was married in October, 1888, to Jennie C. Lord, daughter of Hiram Lord, a farmer of Lebanon, Me., in which place both her parents still reside. Mrs. Richards was one of three children. She is the mother of one son, George W.
In politics Mr. Richards supports the Demo- cratic party, and, although not an office-seeker, has served as Constable for two years, and since 1893 has held the office of Postmaster. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Orange. He is an attendant of the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Richards is a member.
RS. ESTHER M. WARNER, a native resident of Greenfield, widow of the late Anson K. Warner, whose portrait accompanies this brief record of
the family, was born in 1831, daughter of Syl- vanus and Esther (Hudson) Nash. Anson K. Warner was born in Gill, Franklin County, Mass., but from a very early age resided in Greenfield. His father, Anson Warner, set- tled upon a large farm which was situated on Silver Street in the North Parish. He was a native of Glastonbury, Conn., where he married his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Kilburn. She was also of that town, and their two children were: Jeannette, widow of Scott Woodworth, and now a resident of Cali- fornia; and Anson K. Warner. Mrs. Mary Kilburn Warner died in the prime of life, and the father wedded for his second wife Eunice Kingsbury, of Halifax, Vt., his last union being blessed with two daughters: Mary, wife of Charles Davenport, of South Hadley Falls; and Kate, who married Albert Kenney, a resi- dent of Milford, Mass. Anson Warner was a good Christian man; he died at Greenfield in the month of April, 1851, aged forty-five years, leaving an estate of considerable value. His remains were buried in the High Street Cemetery, one of the oldest burial-grounds in Western Massachusetts, where his sons were also interred, their resting-place being marked by a monument erected by Mrs. Warner.
Anson K. Warner was for many years an extensive farmer in the north part of Green- field, where he owned a valuable piece of prop- erty, which through his untiring energy was brought to a high state of cultivation. Deeply interested in scientific agricultural improve- inent, he was for some years New England agent of the Bradley fertilizers, and was for a period of four years President of the Agricult- ural Fair Association, and one of its most active promoters. He followed general farm- ing with satisfactory results until 1880, when he retired from active labor and moved into the village, where he occupied the pleasant
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home at 40 School Street, in which Mrs. Warner now resides. Mr. Warner was Vice- President of the Crocker Bank at Turner's Falls and a Director of the Conway Bank. Aside from being financially concerned in the business development of the town, he was a Representative to the legislature during the year 1867, and served as Selectman of his town for several years, being Chairman of that body at the time of his death. He was also a Justice of the Peace from the year of his majority. He died at fifty-six years of age, April 15, 1886, from injuries received eight days previously at the Bardwell Ferry acci- dent. The community mourned the loss of a good man, one who had been notably faithful in the discharge of public trusts. A useful and honored citizen while he lived, having very much at heart the common weal, Mr. Warner will also long be remembered as a public benefactor, at his death having be- queathed quite a large sum of money to the town for educational purposes.
Mrs. Warner's father, Sylvanus Nash, was a native of Greenfield; and her mother was born in Dummerston, Vt. Sylvanus Nash was a miller, and one of three brothers who erected their mill and operated it for many years. He died in 1835, at the age of fifty- three years, leaving a widow and three chil- dren, one of them being Joel Nash, a retired farmer of Bernardston.
Esther M. Nash received a good common- school education, supplemented by several terms of study at a private school, and at the age of eighteen years became a compositor in the office of the Greenfield Democrat, where she remained until reaching the age of twenty- one, when she was united in marriage to Anson K. Warner, the ceremony occurring on April 6, 1852. Having early begun to do her part of the world's work, and at a time when
it was not so common as it is now for young women to become typesetters and journalists, Mrs. Warner, although not blessed with robust health, has led a remarkably active life. Being endowed by nature with a love and ca- pacity for art, she has in later years cultivated her talent in this direction to some extent, showing creditable proficiency in the execu- tion of many of her productions, both in oil and crayon, a portrait of Mr. Warner being especially meritorious on account of its truth- fulness to nature.
AX ANTES, a well-known farmer of Conway, was born in Baden, Ger- many, August 8, 1850, son of Phillip and Gertrude (Dienstberger) Antes.
His grandfather, Jacob Antes, was also a native of Baden, Germany, where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of hand-made knives and forks. In 1860 he came to America and here spent the remainder of his life. He died when seventy-eight years of age, and his wife in her seventy-second year.
Phillip Antes, father of Max, was born in Baden, Germany, and began, as soon as he was old enough, to assist his father in the manufacture of cutlery, remaining thus em- ployed until 1853, in which year he came to America, settling in Norwich, Conn. He re- mained in that vicinity during the succeeding ten years and then removed to Columbia, Conn., where he is now living at the age of sixty-nine years. He was married before coming to this country, and his wife, Gertrude Dienstberger Antes, a daughter of Lawrence Dienstberger, is also living. She is seventy- eight years of age.
Max Antes when a child of three years came to America with his parents, remaining with them until reaching the age of nineteen. He
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then started out for himself, and the following year was employed in a factory, but later gave up factory work for agriculture. In 1877 he rented the fine place where he now resides ; and five years after, in 1882, he purchased the farm. Since that time he has erected two large tobacco barns, each one hundred feet in length, and has also made various improve- ments in his residence. The farm, which contains three hundred and thirty-seven acres, is very productive; and Mr. Antes, who de- votes his attention principally to the raising of tobacco, is considered one of the most suc- cessful agriculturists of Franklin County On May 8, 1877, Mr. Antes was united in mar- riage with Miss Ellen T. Hall, a daughter of Enos and Sally (Sears) Hall. Mr. Hall was a prosperous farmer of Ashfield, Mass. He died at seventy-three years of age; and his wife, who was a daughter of Ahirah Sears, died in her fifty-second year. They had two children, Ellen T. and Hattie. Mrs. An- tes's paternal grandfather was Joseph Hall, of Ashfield, Mass., who died at the age of seventy-three years, his wife surviving until eighty-two years old. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Antes has been blessed by the birth of three children, two sons and a daughter ; namely, Joseph, Fred, and Gertrude.
In political affiliation Mr. Antes is a firm Republican. He is a member of the Deerfield Agricultural Society, and also of the Morning Sun Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Conway.
LINTON E. BARNARD, a promi- nent resident of Shelburne, was born on the farm where he resides, March 23, 1846, son of Moses A. and Clarissa (Long) Barnard, both natives of Shelburne, the former born in 1812, the latter in 1819. The first of the Barnard family to settle in these parts was
Francis Barnard, a maltster, who is recorded as living in Hadley in 1659 and in Deerfield in 1673. He died in Hadley, February 3, 1698, at the age of eighty-one. His wife, Hannah Marvin, who was born in 1617, had six children : Hannah, Joseph, Thomas, Sam- uel, John, and Sarah.
Joseph Barnard, born in 1641, was a tailor by trade, also a farmer and a surveyor ; and he was the first Town Clerk of Hadley. He died September 18, 1695, having lived through a perilous period of the country's history. By his wife, Bridget Cook, he had eleven chil- dren, one of whom, John, born in 1676, was a practising physician in Hadley, where he died on March 6, 1726. The first of the Bar- nards to settle in Shelburne was John Barnard, born in 1713. He fought in the French and Indian War, and moved to Shelburne about the time of the Revolution. In politics he was a Whig, and he belonged to the Congrega- tional church. He married on October 9, 1743, Ruth Catlin, of Deerfield; and they reared a family of nine children.
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