USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 51
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During the first seven years after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel E. Russell re- sided in Greenfield. In 1844 they removed to New York City, where they lived a score of years, Mr. Russell being a member of the firm of J. Russell & Co., the largest manufacturers of cutlery in the United States, he having control of their New York office. In 1864 Mr. Russell and his wife returned to Green- field, making their home in the pleasant resi- dence now occupied by Mrs. Russell, at 20 High Street, living there until his decease, February 10, 1884. A man of broad views and progressive spirit, he was specially inter-
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ested in the cause of education and of relig- ion, and was in hearty sympathy with all en- terprises of a beneficent nature calculated to promote the common weal. He was a gener- ous contributor toward the support of the Con- gregational church, of which he was a regular attendant, and of which Mrs. Russell is an esteemed and active member.
EORGE W. JENKS, a prominent man in business and political circles in Shelburne Falls, was born in Cheshire, Mass., January 14, 1840, son of Jesse A. and Ann Eliza (Smith) Jenks, and grandson of Jesse Jenks, a native of Provi- dence, R. I., whose wife was a Morey. Shortly after his marriage Jesse Jenks moved his household goods with an ox team to Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass., where he bought three hundred and twenty acres of new land, upon which, after clearing a portion of it, he erected some good buildings. He prospered as a stock-raiser and dairy man, and his long life of ninety years was a useful and successful one. A strong man mentally and physically, he was a stanch Whig, unswerving in his po- litical convictions. His wife also lived to an advanced age, passing away at eighty-five.
Jesse A., the youngest of their seven chil- dren, was born in Cheshire, in December, 1807, and received his education in the dis- trict school. In company with his brother he purchased a grist-mill and cotton-mill at Cheshire Harbor, which he conducted for a few years, finally selling, and purchasing the homestead, upon which he built new barns and made many improvements. Upon this farm he lived forty years, carrying on general farming and keeping an average of fifty head of cattle. In 1863 he retired from business and went to Cheshire village to live, there passing away
at the age of eighty-three. His wife, who was a daughter of Timothy Smith, died at seventy-one. In politics Mr. Jenks was a Republican ; and in religion he followed the teachings of the Methodist church, of which his wife also was a member. They had two children, one of whom, named Francis L., died at forty-six years of age.
George W. Jenks is now the only survivor of the family. In boyhood and youth he at- tended the district school, Wilbraham Acad- emy, and Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After graduating he taught school for a while, then was employed as clerk and book-keeper of the tannery and store of H. Richardson in Cheshire, a position which he held for three years. At the end of that period he bought the store, which he con- ducted for a short time. Finally, after mak- ing two or three changes in search of a favorable opening, he bought the boot and shoe business of A. H. Fisher at Shelburne Falls, and to-day has the largest shoe store in Frank- lin County, the central telephone office also being located in his store. In 1882, in com- pany with Paul Mooney, he opened a store in Miller's Falls, carrying in stock footgear, dry goods, and ready-made clothing. It is a com- plete general store and has a thriving trade. Mr. Jenks `owns the homestead in Cheshire, which covers three hundred and twenty acres, and keeps forty-five fine dairy cows. He owns a handsome home on High Street, which he has remodelled, and which is surrounded by a fine lawn and beautiful shade trees.
His first wife, whom he married in 1865, Abbie L., daughter of J. G. Northrop, died in 1886, aged forty, leaving two children : Charles E., clerk in his father's store; and Mabel L., at home. Mr. Jenks subsequently married Mrs. Mary E. Blanchard Greene, daughter of George W. Blanchard.
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In politics Mr. Jenks is a Republican. He was Representative for his district in 1892, and in the town has been Assessor, Town Clerk, and Treasurer. Wide-spread confi- dence in his integrity is shown by the fact that he has held the position of treasurer in all of the following bodies : Board of Trade, Fire Department, Alethian Lodge, Encampment, Corporation, Canton, and the Universalist Society. He has also been Past Grand of the Alethian Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Jenks is connected with the Universalist church, of which his wife and children are also members.
RS. MARTHA A. LYMAN LORD, widow of the late Jotham Lord, Jr., for many years an esteemed citizen of Orange, Franklin County, Mass., was born June 18, 1837, at Royalton, Vt., her paternal grandparents, Eliphalet and Mary (Lee) Lyman, having removed to that place from Lebanon, Conn. They were hard-work- ing people, like other progressive farmers and housekeepers of that early day, and there passed the remaining days of their lives, Grandfather Lyman dying at the age of three- score and ten years, while the grandmother lived to the advanced age of eighty-six. They reared six children, on whom they bestowed the following names: Mary, Elias, Gardner, Storrs L., William L., and Daniel.
William L. Lyman, the father of Mrs. Lord, was born October 21, 1799, at Royal- ton, and there May 25, 1826, married Polly Woodward, who was born in the same place, June 19, 1803, and died January 9, 1844. He was a very successful agriculturist, being the owner of a large farm, and was very shrewd and far-sighted in business matters. While yet in the vigor of manhood, February
18, 1855, he passed to the undiscovered coun- try, from whose bourn no traveller returns. He was a valued citizen, active in politics, being a stanch Whig, and a great worker in religious circles, a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To him and his wife seven children came; namely, Harriet, Frederick, Francis, William A., Mary A., Martha A., and Charlotte.
Martha A. was next to the youngest daugh- ter of the parental household, and remained at home until her marriage, January 1, 1859, to Jotham Lord, Jr. He was born in Orange, on the Merriam place, August 30, 1824, being one of the ten children of his parents, Jotham, Sr., and Julia (Allen) Lord, the others being : Hiram, Ethan, Sabra, Emery, Ira, Absalom, Allen, and two that died in infancy. His father and mother were natives of Athol. After their marriage they settled on the old Lord homestead, near the brickyard, in the northern part of Orange, but later bought a farm on what is now South Main Street, where they passed the twilight of their days, he liv- ing to the age of eighty-four years, her life numbering one year less. When a mere boy Mr. Lord began earning his living on the farm of Robert Carpenter, being engaged in lumber- ing and farming; and when less than twenty years of age he went to work in Mr. Whitney's pail manufactory.
Mr. Lord subsequently became personally identified with the manufacturing interests of Orange, and for two years, in company with A. J. Clark, carried on a thriving business in manufacturing baby carriages and toys. The partnership being then dissolved, Mr. Lord as his share took a wood lot, which he cleared and made into lumber. The next year he was engaged in the dry-goods business with Mr. Fisher, whose interest was at length bought by Emery Lord, who continued with him in
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the dry-goods trade for eighteen months, when their entire stock was exchanged for a com- plete line of groceries. This business Mr. Lord carried on for eight years, in the Lamb Block. in the store he had formerly occupied. We next hear of Mr. Lord at Rochester, N. Y., in the stereoscopic view business, in company with Charles Woodward, with whom he con- tinued a year and a half. In 1875 he returned to Franklin County, and in the spring of 1879 he bought the two-hundred-acre farm in Orange formerly owned by Samuel P. Rice. He entered into agricultural labor with the same energy and ability that had characterized his other efforts, being untiring in his im- provements and making his place one of the most attractive in this vicinity.
Four children were born of the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Lord; namely, Alice L., Albert L., William A., and Martha L. Since the death of Mr. Lord the home farm has been ably managed by the enterprising sons, Albert L. and William A., an arrangement contribut- ing greatly to the comfort and enjoyment of their mother and sisters, and relieving the for- mer of many cares. Amiable in disposition, prepossessing in looks and manners, Mrs. Lord is much respected and beloved.
DSON J. PRATT, a skilled mechanic and general contractor connected with the Miller's Falls Company, residing at Miller's Falls, is a man of exemplary habits and sterling character, and well merits the high regard in which he is universally held. He is a native of Franklin County, born August 29, 1853, at Mill River, in the town of Montague, being the son of Samuel G. P'ratt, who was born on the homestead of his father, Jeremiah Pratt, at the mouth of Mill River.
Samuel G. Pratt was reared to the occupa- tion of a farmer, and, after becoming of age, took possession of the homestead of his par- ents, and there engaged in mixed husbandry for several years. He subsequently sold out, and purchased a small estate at Northfield Farms, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying February 8, 1888, aged sixty-eight years. He was a man of much intelligence and energy, respected for his many noble qual- ities, and ever took an active part in local affairs. While in Northfield Farms he served acceptably three or four years as Selectman, and ably represented his district in the State legislature. In politics he was an uncom- promising Democrat, uniformly casting his vote in the interests of that party. The maiden name of his wife was Lucy L. Strat- ton. She was the daughter of Samuel Strat- ton, a thriving farmer of Gill. Two children were born of their union, namely: Edson J. ; and his sister, Elnora, who married Thomas B. Stratton, of Miller's Falls. The mother, an active woman of seventy-five years, now lives with her daughter.
Edson J. Pratt acquired a substantial educa- tion in the public schools of his native town and at Bernardston Academy. When a youth of eighteen years he began the battle of life on his own account, being energetic and enter- prising and of an independent spirit. He first entered the employment of the Miller's Falls Company on March 15, 1872, being then boy of all work; and, with the exception of six months in 1876, when all unmarried men were laid off, he has continued in their ser- vice, having been promoted from time to time until he is now contractor in the shop. His long term of employment bears strong evidence of his sterling integrity and trustworthiness, as well as his ability and usefulness. As a citi- zen, evidently no man in the place stands
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higher in the estimation of his fellow-towns - men, by whom he has been elected to various offices of honor and trust, he having served as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Selectman for seven years, besides having filled the offices of Tax Collector and Constable several terms. Since 1892 he has been Deputy Sheriff, faith- fully performing his duties as such. In poli- tics he is a stanch member of the Democratic party ; and in his religious faith he follows the dictates of his reason and conscience, being very liberal.
An important step in the career of Mr. Pratt, and, as it has proved, a happy one, was his marriage in 1877 to Annie A. Hastings, a daughter of Henry A. Hastings, of Erving, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Hastings was born in Gill, and there reared to agricultural labor. He subsequently removed to Illinois, where his two children, Annie A. (Mrs. Pratt) and Philip H. Hastings, a mechanic in Orange, were born. But one child has come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pratt; namely, Hazel E. Socially, Mr Pratt is a member of the Bay State Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Mon- tague, and of the Knights of Honor; and he and his wife are much esteemed throughout the community, being genial, agreeable, and hospitable, ever extending a hearty welcome to their friends and ever mindful of the needs of the poor and afflicted.
RS. LUCY J. WILLIAMS, of Ashfield, is a daughter of Levi W. and Mercy (Hamblin) Herrick, and widow of the late Daniel Williams, whose portrait, a fine steel engraving, is seen on the opposite page. Daniel Williams was born in Ashfield, February 7, 1814, son of Deacon Daniel and Sally (Eldridge) Will-
iams, the former of whom was a son of Ephraim and Mercy (Daniels) Williams and a native of Ashfield. (The Williams genealogy is further traced in sketch of Frederick H. Smith. )
Deacon Daniel Williams upon attaining his majority received a farm from his father, each of his brothers having a similar start in life. Subsequent to his father's decease he suc- ceeded to the ownership of the old homestead, upon which he erected a substantial brick resi- dence and made other improvements. He en- gaged extensively in lumbering, and at one time owned over eight hundred acres of land. He was a large stock-raiser, keeping as many as thirty-five cows, three hundred sheep, and a great number of horses, also successfully con- ducting a large saw and grist mill. He was widely known as a public-spirited man, was a Whig in politics, and in his religion was a Congregationalist. He died in 1863, when well advanced in years; and his wife was called to rest in 1862.
Daniel Williams, the younger, began his education in the common schools and com- pleted his studies at Sanderson Academy. After his marriage to his first wife, Almira, daughter of Chester and Anna (Ellis) Sander- son, Mr. Williams purchased a farm in the eastern part of the town of Ashfield, where they resided for a year; and he then assumed charge of the Sanderson farm and cared for his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson, until their decease. Mrs. Almira S. Williams died at sixty-three years of age, having been the mother of five children, all of whom are now deceased. On June 22, 1881, Mr. Williams married for his second wife Miss Lucy J. Her- rick, who, after ten years of wedlock, was called to mourn his death, which occurred on July 17, 1891.
Mrs. Lucy J. Herrick Williams was born at
Tamil Williams
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Dalton, Mass. Her father, Levi W. Herrick, was a son of Isaac and Jerusha (Brown) Her- rick, the former of whom was a native of Worthington, Mass., and for many years fol- lowed agriculture in this State, later moving to Ohio, where he engaged in the same occu- pation. Isaac Herrick was a highly esteemed and progressive man, a Whig in politics, and a Presbyterian in his religious faith. His death occurred at the age of seventy-eight. He and his wife had seven children : Levi W., John, Isaac, Olive, Mary, Amanda, and Martha.
Levi W. Herrick was born at Worthington, and on attaining his majority settled in Lee, later moving to Dalton, where he followed agricultural pursuits and also engaged as a lime burner. He conducted business in the towns of Lee, Worthington, and Dalton, and died at Williamstown on April 2, 1886, aged seventy-nine years. His children were: Will- iam, Ardilla, George, John, Lucy J., Levi, Charles, and Mary Amanda.
In the death of Mr. Daniel Williams his wife lost a kind-hearted, congenial companion, and the town an exemplary and valued citizen. He was a faithful and earnest member of the Congregational church ; and as a fitting memo- rial of his piety and true Christian worth, and as a beneficent use of her means, Mrs. Will- iams in 1894 generously remodelled and re- built the Congregational house of worship at Ashfield, refurnishing it, enlarging the library, and effecting other improvements, at a cost of over three thousand dollars. She also gave one-half of the parsonage to the parish, the property having been formerly owned by Mr. Williams and others. This estimable lady continues to make her home in the pleasant residence purchased and renovated by her hus- band, and in which they lived after his retire- ment from business.
ERBERT NEWELL, a leading citizen of Shelburne Falls, proprietor of a large hardware store in Buckland, was born in Whitingham, Vt., April 2, 1855, son of Baxter H. and Rachel (Briggs) Newell, and grandson of Joshua and Dorcas (Lyon) Newell. Joshua Newell was born in the east- ern part of Massachusetts, and became a resi- dent of Colerain when a young man, working there for his uncle until of age. He then went to Whitingham, Vt., and bought fifty acres of wild land, which he cleared in the usual way, burning off the timber and making potash from the residue. This he packed in hogsheads, taking it to Boston by team, the trip occupying from two to four weeks, and traded it for groceries and other needed com- modities that he could not raise. His first dwelling was a log house, but, as time went on and he prospered in worldly affairs, he built a frame house and barn, and added two hun- dred acres of land to his estate. A brave and patriotic man, he fought in the War of 1812, and in politics was a stanch Whig. He died at the age of fifty, leaving eight children.
Baxter H. Newell, son of Joshua, was born in Whitingham, Vt., August 1, 1813. Being obliged to leave school when quite young and go to work, when he attained his majority he had saved enough to buy the homestead. There he resided until fifty years of age, re- modelling the buildings and improving the land. He finally moved to Shelburne Falls and assisted his sons in the hardware trade, purchasing a share in the business in 1879. In politics a Republican, Mr. Newell was a leading man in the town, serving as Select- man and School Committee seven years in succession. He passed away when seventy- nine years of age. His wife, who was a most estimable lady, laid down the cares of life when sixty-nine years of age. Their children
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were : Charles B., Chester B., John L., Luana R., and Herbert, who has been already named above.
Herbert Newell attended the public school, completing his education at Franklin Academy and Williston Seminary at Easthampton. At twelve years of age he took up the duties of clerk in his brother's store, in that way occu- pying his time when not in school. Two years later he began to keep books in the store, and at sixteen was given full charge of the ac- counts. When he reached his majority, he bought the interest of his brother Charles B. ; and in 1879 his brother John L. died. At that time the father bought the share of the deceased partner, and the firm became B. H. Newell & Co. In 1892 the father died, and Mr. Herbert Newell became sole owner. The store was originally in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Block; but the building caught fire and Mr. Newell was obliged to remove his goods, which were badly damaged, to a storehouse. He had a temporary structure built for the transaction of business, and is now erecting a fine modern brick building, fifty by eighty feet, two stories high, on the site of the one which was burned - that is, opposite the river bridge. He will have one of the best and largest hardware stores in Franklin County, carrying in stock, besides the usual line of goods, paints, paper, agricult- ural instruments, and seeds.
On October 27, 1879, Mr. Newell was mar- ried to Addie M., daughter of Charles R. and Fanny A. (Patterson) White. Charles R. White was born in Buckland, Mass., February 22, 1824. He learned the carpenter's trade, following it for some time, then worked for a while on cutlery. In 1863 he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-second Regiment, and was in active service for eleven months, returning home on receiving his discharge, and going to
work in the cabinet-shop of Swan & Co., where he was employed at the time of his death. Mrs. White, who was a daughter of Calvin Patterson, passed from carth in 1893, at the age of seventy. In politics Mr. White was a Whig and a Republican, and he was a strong advocate of temperance. He was a member and Past Grand of the Alethian Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Shelburne Falls. Mr. White and his wife attended the Congregational church. They had three children : Charles E., Carrie, and Addie M. (Mrs. Newell). Mr. and Mrs. Newell have a son and daughter : Baxter H., born January 12, 1880; and Gertrude F., born April 8, 1883.
Mr. Newell is a Republican, and at present is the Representative for his district. He has been Town Auditor for some time, has been connected with the savings-bank as Trustee and Secretary since 1873, has been a Director in the National Bank for several years, and is now its Vice-President. He belongs to Moun- tain Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Shelburne Falls, Connecticut Valley Commandery of Greenfield, Alethian Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Shelburne Falls, and Encampment and Canton Tabor, of which he was Captain several years. He is Past Grand and Past Chief Patriarch of Alethian Lodge and Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Newell attend the Congregational church. Their home is the old White home on Bridge Street, Shel- burne Falls, and is very pleasantly situated.
YRON F. SAMPSON, a general merchant of Warwick, was born at New Salem, October 28, 1859. His father, John F. Sampson, was a native of the same town, as was also his grandfather,
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Seneca Sampson. The latter there followed agricultural pursuits until his decease, which occurred at the age of seventy-five years. John F. Sampson was an only child, and at home received early training in various branches of farm work. He preferred other employment, however; and, after reaching his majority, he became engaged as a stage driver on a line running between North Prescott and Amherst and from the former place to Orange, an occupation which he continued for some twelve years in all. On relinquishing it he purchased a store at North Prescott, which he conducted for a period of six or seven years, and then, selling that, bought another at Wen- 'dell, an adjacent town in Franklin County. This farm he successfully carried on until within a short time of his decease, which occurred at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, Lydia Fish Sampson, who died at North Prescott aged forty-one, was a daughter of Joel Fish, a farmer of New Salem, her father hav- ing been among the early settlers of that town, passing a greater portion of his life there. She became the mother of four children, as fol- lows: Alice, who married George E. Felton, of Orange; Ella A., who married George Sprague ; Albert J., a merchant at Richmond,
N. H. ; and Myron F., of Warwick. Mr. Sampson's parents attended the Unitarian church ; and his father served as Town Treas- urer of Wendell, and Postmaster at both North Prescott and Wendell for some years, being a well-known and highly esteemed man and a trustworthy public official.
Myron F. Sampson passed his boyhood with his parents and received a common-school and academic education. He assisted his father in the store, thus obtaining at an early age con- siderable practical experience, which has since proved valuable to him. At the age of seven- teen he left home and entered a store at Hard-
wick as a clerk. After remaining there a year and a half he went to Orange, where he was employed for the succeeding five years in the New Home sewing-machine factory, at the expiration of which time he again entered mer- cantile life. One year later he came to War- wick, where he purchased the store of Frank E. Stimpson, which he successfully carried on for a period of five years, and then, selling it to A. D. Jennings, remained out of business for one year. He next bought an interest in the general store conducted by Mr. Hastings, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work, and, having been associated with him for the space of one year, secured his partner's interest in the business, which he has since conducted with signal ability and gratifying success. His largely increased trade making more spacious quarters necessary, in 1894 he crected his present store, which is well stocked with goods carefully chosen to meet the varied needs and tastes of his numer- ous customers.
In November, 1877, Mr. Sampson was united in marriage to Miss Jennie H. Chamber- lain, daughter of William H. Chamberlain, of New Salem, her father being a prosperous farmer and the representative of an old and prominent family, her grandfather having been a popular medical practitioner in the commu- nity. Mr. and Mrs. Sampson have one child, Grace M. Mr. Sampson has advanced in Masonry to the Royal Arch Degrec, being a member of the Lodge at Northfield and the Chapter at Orange, and has held the offices of Senior Warden and Secretary of the Blue Lodge. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Postmaster at Warwick for five years. He is a well-informed man on general topics, being a reader of books as well as of news- papers and an attendant of the Unitarian church.
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