USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 5
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George F. Alexander is a Republican, and a man who takes an active interest in all po- litical matters. He has served as Selectman four terms, and has likewise held the office of Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He is a prominent Mason, having joined, in 1851, Eureka Lodge, No. 243, of New York City, of which he was Master, and later the Lodge in Northfield, of which he has been Master three times; and he was instrumental in the organi- zation of the Orders of the Eastern Star in the latter place, his wife being among the first to join the Lodges. He was formerly Master of the Northfield Grange, having been one of the leaders in its formation. Mr. Alexander is an attendant of the Unitarian church.
ORACE A. SMEAD, one of Green- field's progressive farmers, was born at his present homestead in this town, February 6, 1842, son of Jonathan and Lucy B. (Adams) Smead. His great-grand- father, Jonathan Smead, who was born in 1735, and was a soldier in the French and Indian War, was one of the earliest pioneers of Greenfield, settling here when the Indians were still numerous in this part of the country
and remaining till his death, in 1814. His son Jonathan was born in 1773, and reared on this farm, where he was a life-long resident. He died August 25, 18.50, when he was sev- enty-seven years of age. He was one of the large farmers of his time, owning some three hundred acres, which required the hard labor and untiring energy which he so conscien- tiously put into it. He and his wife were both members of the First Congregational Church. They had a family of two sons and four daughters, none of whom is now living. Their son, Jonathan Smead, father of Horace A., was also born on this same farm, April 8, 1812; and here he grew to manhood. In 1838 he built the present house, was married, and settled with his father. In 1846 the farm was divided between himself and his elder brother, Charles Lewis, he taking the east part, where Charles B. Wells now lives. He faithfully followed his business as farmer through life; and here he died January 21, 1866, at the age of fifty-three years. His wife was born Feb- ruary 28, 1813, in West Haven, Rutland County, Vt. She was a great-grand-daughter of the Rev. Edward Billings, the first minis- ter of Greenfield, and lived to be seventy-eight years of age, dying December 1, 1891. They were both members of the Congregational church, and his party affiliations were with the Republicans. They had a family of four sons and one daughter : Charles L. Smead, who died when twenty-two years of age; Jona- than H., residing in New Bedford, connected with the United States mail service; Horace A., our subject; Sarah P., for many years a teacher in the public schools of Greenfield ; and Edwin B., of Hartford, Conn., principal of Watkinson Farm School.
Horace A. Smead received his education in the schools of Greenfield, and afterward moved to Vineland, N.J., where he bought a farm,
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and was engaged in fruit-raising for a number of years, when he went into business in Tren- ton, N. J., where he remained eight years. In 1877, selling his fruit farm, he moved back to Greenfield; and in 1884 he purchased the old farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, where he now carries on general farming, fruit farming, gardening, and dairying.
Mr. Smead was married November 28, 1867, to Anna J. Fisher, of Vineland, N. J., who was born October 25, 1845, in Gouver- neur, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., daughter of Isaac Preston Fisher and Lydia L. (Johnson) Fisher. Mr. Fisher was born in Rupert, Vt., March 14, 1820, and his wife November I, 1823, in Griswold, Conn. He was engaged in farming and also in mercantile pursuits. His wife died July 14, 1862; and Mr. Fisher with his second wife (she that was Mrs. Clara Robertson), of Gouverneur, N. Y., now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Smead. He had four children, Mrs. Smead being the eldest : Mary, who became Mrs. Seymore, resides in Putney, Vt. ; Louisa Maria died at thirteen years of age; and Ogden at eleven months. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were both members of the Con- gregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Smead have two children of their own, and have adopted two. The eldest son, Horace P. Smead, was born October 6, 1871, is a graduate of the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College, and resides at home. Louis N. Smead was born November 28, 1876, and also lives at home, attending school at Mount Hermon. Mr. and Mrs. Smead are both members of the First Congregational Church.
OSWELL BAKER, a conspicuous member of the agricultural community of Franklin County, owns and occu- pies a fine homestead property in the town of
Hawley, which is the place of his nativity, the date of his birth being March 16, 1817. He is the son of Hollister and Rebecca (Crowell) Baker, and comes of patriotic stock, his grand- father, Timothy Baker, having served in the Revolutionary War.
Timothy Baker was born in 1748, and in 1772 removed with his family from Sunder- land, Mass., to Conway, being one of the early settlers of this section of Franklin County. Three years later he settled in the town of Hawley, buying the hundred-acre farm now owned by M. Cressy. It was then in a state of primitive wildness; and he was obliged to clear a space for the small log cabin, which was his first place of residence. He improved a good farm, becoming prosper- ous in the pursuit of his chosen calling, and was numbered among the most valued citizens of the town. He was a conservative Whig in politics, and religiously was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Congregational church. He lived to a good age, dying April 3, 1836. Mrs. Baker, whose maiden name was Abigail Kibbe, survived her husband, dying in 1844, at the venerable age of ninety-four years. She was a woman of great force of character, well fitted for the wife of a pioneer, and was said to be the first white woman to settle in Hawley. He and his wife reared eleven chil- dren, giving them the following names : Rufus, Hollister, Sophia, Abigail, Ephraim, Sarah, Clarence, Julia, Harnena, Timothy, and Sophia.
Hollister Baker, the second son named above, was born in Hawley, February 4, 1777, and as soon as old enough to use the axe or hoe began to assist his father in the work of redeeming a homestead from the wilderness. After his marriage he bought the home farm, which he managed most judiciously, making a good deal of money in his business transac-
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tions; and this he invested from time to time in other land, finally becoming the owner of one thousand acres. He was known as one of the most thrifty and prosperous agriculturists in this section of the State, doing more to advance its welfare than any one person since that time. He erected a large brick residence and substantial barns, and in addition to farm- ing was interested in mining iron ore, which was then abundant on his farm, and in his work burned a great deal of charcoal. He paid much attention to the raising of good stock, keeping as many as thirty cows and a hundred sheep. He was a stanch Whig in politics, and was a public-spirited and progres- sive citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Crowell, was born October 22, 1799, at Dennis, and died at Hawley, May 16, 1860. Their household circle included ten children ; namely, Horace, Harvey, Rebecca, Ephraim, Elisha, Harriet, Noah, Roswell, Charles, and Ereda.
Roswell Baker made good use of his early educational advantages, and, although not col- lege-bred, is a well-read and well-informed man, possessing in an eminent degree the good judgment and requisite business tact to insure material success. After leaving school he worked with his father until attaining his ma- jority, when he hired for one year the farm he now lives on, and found it so suited for his purposes that he then bought it, and has since conducted its interests in a thorough and skil- ful manner. The place originally consisted of sixty-five acres; but Mr. Baker has bought other land, his homestead now containing two hundred well-cultivated acres. The house in which he lives is nearly a century old, being one of the first frame buildings erected in the town ; but under his care and improvements it compares favorably with the most modern-built residences. He has built new barns and other
buildings; and his farm is one of the best- equipped in the vicinity, showing evidences of the enterprise and sagacious management of the owner. Mr. Baker has taken much inter- est in stock-raising, and has a choice dairy and about forty sheep; and, although not owning as much land as his father did, he is consid- ered the model farmer of the vicinity, being skilled in all branches of agriculture.
Mr. Baker was united in marriage October 17, 1839, to Miss Bathsheba C. P. Carter, a native of Buckland, born January 17, 1821, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Toby) Carter. Mr. Carter was born May 28, 1773, in Leom- inster, Mass., and became one of the first settlers of Buckland, where he cleared and im- proved a valuable farm. In 1823 he removed with his family to Hawley, and there resided until his demise in 1832. In politics he was an active member of the Whig party, and he worshipped at the Congregational church. His widow survived him many a long year, passing away in 1870 at the age of eighty- eight years and six months. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Milo T .; Asbel W. ; Cordelia W. ; Ann Eliza; Deborah F. ; Elias S. ; and Bathsheba C. P., the wife of Mr. Baker. The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Baker was enlarged by the birth of five chil- dren, three of whom tarried but a short time on earth, not surviving the period of infancy. The two living are: Ereda, born January 4, 1841, now the wife of S. B. Budington and mother of four children - Ellen M., Robert A., Ethel H., and Walter C .; and Edwin Baker, born January 18, 1843, a popular and successful druggist at Shelburne Falls, who married Emma I. Bannister. In his political views Mr. Baker favors the Republican party. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Congregational church and active workers in that denomination.
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DWARD R. CANEDY is a young and energetic resident of Dell, in the town of Heath, where he conducts a pros- perous business as a blacksmith and general wheelwright. His birth occurred at Jackson- ville, Vt., July 25, 1865; and he is the son of Dennis and Jane C. (Lake) Canedy. His grandfather, John Canedy, a prosperous farmer of Colerain, who wedded Susan Stowe, also a native of that town, raised a family of eight children, as follows: John, Susan, Louise, Roxanna, Lucy, Joel, Levi L., and Dennis. John Canedy died at the age of fifty and his wife at the age of seventy-five years.
Dennis Canedy, who was born at Colerain in 1828, purchased a farm at Whitingham, Vt., when a young man, and after conducting it successfully for some years sold the prop- erty for the purpose of entering mercantile business at Jacksonville, Vt. His enterprise prospered ; and, although the building and his stock were at one time totally destroyed by fire, he rebuilt, and continued to carry on an extensive trade. He later sold out to good advantage, and for the next few years engaged in teaming from Jacksonville to Greenfield, Mass., employing some extra fine draft horses. He subsequently purchased a farm of two hun- dred acres in the town of Heath, now owned and occupied by his son, Orian D. Canedy. Here he resided for a period of fourteen years, at the expiration of which time he retired from active labor. He is now passing the sunset of his days in ease and comfort at Shelburne Falls. His wife, who was a daughter of Bor- den Lake, passed to another life at the age of sixty-three years. She was the mother of seven children, namely; John D .; Ira; Her- bert, who died at the age of seventeen; Orian ; Nettie, who died at the age of nine; Nellie; and Edward R. Dennis Canedy has been quite a prominent man in public affairs during
his long life, and at one time served as Town Clerk at Heath. He is liberal in his relig- ious views.
Edward R. Canedy was educated in the pub- lic schools of Heath, and at the age of twenty- two years purchased the homestead, which, after successfully conducting for a period of four years, he sold. He then went to Shel- burne Falls, where he acquired the trade of a blacksmith and wheelwright, and subse- quently established himself in business at Jacksonville, Vt. Later he purchased the William Pennington residence and blacksmith- shop at Dell, which were erected by Samuel Barber. The estate is a fine one, including six acres of land; and, since taking posses- sion, Mr. Canedy has remodelled the house and otherwise improved the property, and is doing a profitable business.
On June 9, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Maley, of Westboro, Mass., daughter of John and Mary Maley. The latter died in 1875, at the age of fifty-one years. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Canedy are as follows: John, Hannah, Mary, Katie, Emma, Charles, and Elizabeth B. Mr. and Mrs. Can- edy have one son, named John D., who came to them on April 6, 1895. Mr. Canedy is inde- pendent in politics, and is liberal in his relig- ious views.
APTAIN SAMUEL H. STOWELL, an experienced and skilful farmer of Franklin County, owns and occupies a valuable homestead in the town of New Salem, not far from the village of that name, and is known as one of its most respected citi- zens. He is a native of that county, having been born February 16, 1821, at Shutesbury, and is descended on both sides of the house from worthy English stock. His grandfather, John Stowell, was born and reared in Peters-
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ham. Worcester County, where he acquired a better education than was usually given to the boys of that day, and later was engaged in teaching. Having accumulated some money, he invested in a farm in Petersham, where he lived quite a number of years, and where his children were born. He afterward sold this farm, and bought a good property in Shutes- bury, to the cultivation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty. Lois Eames, who became his wife, belonged to a family noted for longevity, and lived to be ninety-six years of age. The fol- lowing children were born to them: John, Henry, Peter, Luther, Sally, Lucy, and two that died at an early age.
Peter Stowell, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born December 23, 1790, at Petersham, and spent the earlier years of his life as a farm laborer, working by the day or month until he had by prudence and economy saved enough money to buy a good farm. He then purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land in Shutesbury, on which he made many improvements, including a good set of build- ings, and placed a large part of it under cult- ure, being one of the foremost agriculturists of the town. There he spent the remaining years of his earthly life, passing away Septem- ber 24, 1868. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy Fisk, was born in Worcester, Octo- ber 22, 1792, daughter of Samuel and Olive Fisk, and for some years was a resident of Shutesbury. Samuel Fisk, who was a well- to-do farmer, was twice married. His first wife, Olive Fisk, died when quite young, leav- ing four children : John, Lucy, Sally, and Betsey. He afterward married Pamelia Webb; and they became the parents of four children : Olive, James, George, and Samuel Fisk. Mrs. Lucy F. Stowell died January 28, 1871. She reared but two children,
namely : Franklin, born April 15, 1818, who is a resident of Shutesbury; and Samuel H. Peter Stowell and his wife were active mem- bers of the Congregational church, and politi- cally he was a strong Republican.
Samuel H. Stowell grew to manhood in the place of his nativity, and, having received a good education, was employed for several win- ters in teaching school, working at farming during the spring and summer seasons. About 1846 he purchased a farm in Shutesbury, where he lived for some time, making many improvements on the place, including the erection of a new house and barn. He after- ward sold the property at an advantage, and bought another farm in the same town, which he worked on for a while, and then disposed of. In 1871 he bought the Royce farm of one hundred acres in New Salem, where he has since resided. To this he has added by pur- chase, till he is now the possessor of two hun- dred and sixty-five acres of valuable land. Here he has carried on general farming with success, making somewhat of a specialty of raising fine stock. He has placed the land under high culture, and, having set out or- chards of peach, pear, and apple trees, raises an abundance of fruit. He has built a new barn; and the house, which has withstood the wear of a century, is kept in fine repair, the neatness and thrifty appearance of the prem- ises being strongly indicative of careful man- agement and prosperity.
On September 9, 1846, Mr. Stowell was united in marriage with Mary A. Chandler, who was born in Shutesbury, August 22, 1824, being a daughter of Aaron and Mary (Clark) Chandler and a grand-daughter of William and Lovina (Shumway) Chandler, of Petersham. William Chandler was engaged as a black- smith and farmer in Petersham, and afterward moved to Shutesbury, where he followed the
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same occupations. Hle and his wife both lived nearly fourscore years. They left the follow- ing children : Eunice, Clark, Lucy, Aaron, William, Benjamin, Wealthy, and Louisa. Aaron Chandler was born February 23, 1797, at Petersham, where he passed his boyhood days. He afterward moved to Shutesbury with his father, and became one of its most successful agriculturists. In 1850 he moved to Wendell, in this county, and afterward came to New Salem, and buying a good farm lived here until his demise, seventeen years later. Five children were born to him and his wife; namely, Mary, Charles, Willard, and two that died in infancy.
The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Stowell has been brightened by the birth of four chil- dren, of whom we chronicle the following : Mary E., born November 1, 1853, is the wife of Henry P. Billings, of Ware, and has one child - Bertha E. ; Ellen F. died February 20, 1891 ; Edwin F., born January 19, 1857, a merchant and Postmaster at New Salem, married Cora J. Eaton, and they have two children - Ralph E. and Carl E. ; Dwight A., born August 2, 1859, is in the store with his brother. Mr. Stowell has long been num- bered among the valued citizens of his adopted town, and has contributed his full share toward the advancement of its agricultural interests. In politics he is a zealous Republican, and has served as Selectman, Assessor, and Over- seer of the Poor, both in his native town and in New Salem. He has also been a member of the House of Representatives in the Mas- sachusetts legislature, and has been a Justice of the Peace for more than thirty years. Al- though he and his wife are well advanced in years, they are still hale and hearty, with an abundant capacity for enjoying the good things of life. Both are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EACON ISAAC T. FISKE, one of the substantial citizens of Shelburne, owns and occupies a well-kept and highly improved homestead, where he is carry- ing on agricultural pursuits with marked suc- cess. He was born on this farm, July 27, 1824, and has here spent the major portion of his long and useful life, noting with keen in- terest the many changes that have taken place in his native town, and, as one of its most enterprising and progressive inhabitants, con- tributing largely to its advance and prosperity. The Fiskes are of English origin. The first of the family in America settled in Salem, Mass., in 1637. In 1761 Ebenezer Fiske, the great-grandfather of Deacon Fiske, settled in Shelburne, on what is called Pattern Hill; and there Pliny and Fidelia Fiske were born.
Ebenezer Fiske, Deacon Fiske's father, was the son of Ebenezer Fiske, third, who was a well-to-do farmer. Succeeding to the occu- pation of his ancestors, he bought the present homestead of the family in 1820, and here car- ried on mixed husbandry with good results. The farm, which contained one hundred acres, was partly improved at the time of the pur- chase; and to these improvements he added each year, living here until his decease. He married Hannah Terrill, a native of Abington, Mass., and they became the parents of nine children, of whom five are deceased; namely, Clarissa, Levi, Francis, Pliny, and Henry. The four living are: Ebenezer, of Adrian, Mich. ; Daniel T. Fiske, D. D., of Newbury- port, Mass., who has been a Congregational minister there for forty years, and is still doing parish work; Charlotte, widow of Frank Slate, of Bernardston; and Isaac T., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Isaac T. Fiske grew to manhood on the paternal homestead, receiving his elementary education in the district schools and afterward
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HARTLEY HALE.
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attending the Goodell Academy at Bernardston and spending one term at Amherst Academy. He began teaching school when quite young, and was thus engaged four winters. Remain- ing beneath the parental roof for several years longer, Mr. Fiske engaged in farming, which has been his principal occupation through life, if we except nine years when he carried on an extensive lumbering business at Guilford, Vt. On the death of his brother Levi he returned to the place of his birth, and buying the old home farm has since managed it with gratify- ing success. It contains one hundred and fif- teen acres of fertile land, and besides this property he has other lands in Colerain.
On June 17, 1847, Deacon Fiske was united in wedlock to Hannah Parsons, of Ver- non, Vt. ; but their married life was brief, she having passed to life immortal at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one daughter, Ella, the wife of Albert Wright, of Hardy, Neb. On the 15th of September, 1858, he married Rose Crosby, who was born in Granby, Canada, being a daughter of Hopkins and Sarah (Frost) Crosby. Mr. Crosby was a native of Brattleboro, Vt., but went when a young man to Canada, where he married Sarah Frost, who had moved there when a child with her parents from Keene, N. H. He was a blacksmith; and both he and his wife spent their remaining years in Canada, he dying at the venerable age of ninety-three years and she at the age of eighty eight years.
Of Deacon Fiske's second union five chil- dren have been born, of whom we chronicle the following: Charles S. Fiske, a farmer, lives in Shelburne; Levi L., a farmer, resides in Greenfield; Alice B., a teacher, lives at home; Frederick F., a farmer, resides on the homestead; and Rosa B. is the wife of Edward Cutting, of Colerain. Deacon and Mrs. Fiske are among the oldest and most respected resi-
dents of the town of Shelburne, and in their pleasant home are enjoying the comforts of life and the society and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. Both are members of the Congregational church, he having united with it thirty-five years ago, and for many years has served faithfully as Deacon of the church and as superintendent of the Sunday- school. In politics he is a stanch Republi- can, uniformly voting that ticket.
ARTLEY HALE, a prosperous farmer, miller, and dealer in agricultural im- plements, residing in Bernardston, Mass., was born in this town, May 27, 1845, son of Increase S. and Abigail (Nelson) Hale. Increase S. Hale was a native of Bernardston, his father, John Hale, having been among the early settlers here. John Hale was a hard- working and successful farmer; he had a vig- orous constitution, and lived to a ripe old age.
Increase S. Hale was a carpenter and joiner, and also an owner of a saw-mill, and showed good practical sense in all his business trans- actions. His death took place at his home in Bernardston, November 2, 1886; but his wife, who was born in Leyden, in December, 1807, still survives him, living with her daughter, Mrs. L. A. Bullard. Mr. and Mrs. Increase S. Hale had seven children, one of whom died in infancy, and the following four of them are now living: Mary, the wife of J. H. Clark, residing in Gill; Laura, widow of Luke Bullard, of Greenfield; Hartley Hale, the subject of this sketch; Lucy, the wife of David Chapin, residing in Bernardston. Hartley, Esther, and Sarah, who became the wife of Newell Snow, of Greenfield, are all deceased. Increase S. Hale was a Republican in politics and a liberal in religion. He had a brother who was in the War of 1812, and
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his grandfather was a Lieutenant in the State militia.
Hartley Hale was educated in the public schools of Bernardston. When only twelve years old he began working in his father's mill, and, being intelligent and energetic, as his years and strength increased, so did his capability, till he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the business. At twenty years of age he started out in life for himself at farming ; and one year later he engaged also in milling, which two occupations he has hap- pily combined ever since. He has a farm of seventy acres and a tract of woodland of one hundred acres, both in the town of Bernards- ton. His first mill was a mile and a half from the village and was run by water-power. Finding the stream inadequate to his purpose, he put in a steam-engine, and used this power for some years, when he moved his plant to the vicinity of the railway station in Bernards- ton. In 1880 he located in his present com- modious quarters, where he has the largest saw and grist mill in town, equipped with the latest improved machinery and run by water- power. The grist mill has a daily capacity of four hundred bushels, the average output being two hundred bushels. Mr. Hale deals in all kinds of feed, also in fertilizers, coal, and farming implements, his stock in which embraces a wide range, from spades and pitch- forks to the latest high-grade mowers. The buildings which he owns and occupies were built under his own supervision in 1880. In 1892 he put up his grain elevator; and in 1893 he built the present dam, which is a solid, substantial piece of masonry, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars.
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