USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 52
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J OHN C. HOLSTON, an enterprising and prosperous agriculturist residing in Wendell, Mass., on what is known as the old Howe farin, located between Wendell Depot and Wendell Centre, was born in Port- land, Me., June 21, 1822, son of John and Mary (Hants) Holston. John Holston, who was a native of Sweden, followed a maritime life; and, as his voyages were principally to foreign ports, he naturally saw much of the world and made many acquaintances. He was a Mason and visited lodges in seven different countries. Mr. Holston lost his life while in the performance of his duties, by being blown from the jib of a brig on which he was en- gaged during a gale in the Gulf of Mexico, off New Orleans. His wife, Mary Hants, was a daughter of William and Mary Hants, the former of whom was a native of Portland, Me., where her last years were passed. William Hants served seven years in the Revolution, and after the war was over returned to Port- land, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-eight. To John and Mary (Hants) Holston four children were born, and the two still living are: John C. ; and Mrs. Martha Ann Potter, whose home is in the town of Milford, N. H. The mother died in Ports- mouth, N. H., aged sixty-two years. She was a communicant of the Episcopal church.
John C. Holston spent his boyhood in Frye- burg, Me., receiving his education in the dis- trict schools and at Fryeburg Academy. He subsequently removed to Conway, N. H., where, after he was sixteen years old, he was engaged as a clerk in a hotel until he reached his majority, when he went to Saco, Me., and was there employed in a cotton-mill. He then secured a position in a factory at New Market, N. H., and from that place went to Lowell, where during the next fifteen years he ran a folder in a cotton-mill. When the
Civil War broke out, Mr. Holston enlisted at Lowell in the volunteer service, as a member of the First Company of Andrews's sharp- shooters, with which he fought in a number of engagements ; but after the battle of Antie- tam, where he received a severe wound, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and with that he remained until his honorable discharge at the close of the war, after a ser- vice of three years and eight months. He returned to Lowell, but shortly afterward, in 1866, came to his present farm, which consists of one hundred and fifteen acres.
Mr. Holston was married July 2, 1849, to Ann M. Jackson, daughter of Benjamin Jack- son, who for several years followed the voca- tion of a tailor in South Berwick, Me., where she was born. Mr. Jackson died at the early age of thirty-seven ; and his wife, who after his death made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Holston, lived to be sixty-three years of age. She was a member of the Methodist church. Of the six children born to them, two are now living : Ann M. and Mrs. Abby T. Jenkins. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson two children have been born, but the only one now living is John Devin Holston, a farmer in North Orange, who married Mary Dudley, of Leverett, Mass., and has one child, Leslie Emmons. The other, a daughter, Abby Ann, died aged eight years.
In political affiliation Mr. Holston is a Re- publican, and the numerous public offices of trust to which he has been elected are ample testimony to the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen. He has served on the School Committee, has held the office of Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor twelve years, Tax Collector eight years, and has served as Justice of the Peace twenty-eight years, having received his appointment for the latter office from the governor, his fifth com-
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mission bearing date January 17, 1895. For many years he has been a member of Post No. 17, Grand Army of the Republic, of Orange.
LANSON W. WARD, a thriving grocer of Shelburne Falls, was born in Buck- land, a few miles from his present home, January 16, 1827, son of Josiah and Sally (Perkins) Ward, and grandson of Jere- miah and Hannah (Ward) Ward. His great- grandparents were John and Mary (Torry) Ward, the former of whom was a son of John, son of William, son of John, who came to this country from England.
John Ward, great-grandfather of Alanson W., was born in Mendon, Mass., September 14, 1730. In 1773 he came to Buckland, Franklin County, and bought a tract of wild land of two hundred acres. This he cleared in part and became the possessor of a good farm, now owned by H. A. Smith. His death occurred in 1805, when he was seventy-five years old. His children were: Josiah, Susan, Luke, and Jeremiah. The latter was born in Mendon, Mass., in 1765, and came into pos- session of the homestead, caring for his parents in their old age. Besides farming, Jeremiah Ward carried on the trade of cooper. He and his wife Hannah were active members of the Congregational church. They had the follow- ing children : Josiah, Jane, Sumner, Jeremiah, John, Hannah, and Luke. Mr. Ward was a Whig in politics and held several town offices. He died in 1847, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife having preceded him to the other world in 1833, aged fifty-nine years.
Josiah Ward was born in Buckland, Frank- lin County, Mass., March 20, 1795. Follow- ing his father's example, he took care of his parents in their declining years and came into possession of the homestead. He served an
apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, in which he was extensively engaged during most of his life, besides following farming. He improved the farm by remodelling the build- ings, and increased its value in other ways. He was an esteemed resident of the town, and his death, at the age of sixty-four, was much deplored. His wife died at the age of fifty- six in Buckland. They had seven children : Sally M., Josiah P., Jeremiah S., Alanson W., Luke A., Samuel A., and Cynthia E.
Alanson W. Ward acquired a practical edu- cation in the district schools of Buckland, and at the age of twenty-one years commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for some time in company with his father. Failing health obliging him to change his occupation, he procured a horse and travelled the road for some time, selling articles of gen- eral use. He later came to Shelburne Falls, and, finding employment in a shop as wood- worker, remained thus engaged until 1867. Starting business for himself, he was twice burned out, but each time rebuilt his shop and continued taking all kinds of job work, includ- ing box-making. He finally sold his shop, and in 1867, in company with J. B. Frost, purchased a saw and grist mill, but was after- ward, on account of ill health, obliged to sell out his share and retire from active work for a time. While out of business he was honored by his fellow-citizens by being elected Repre- sentative, serving in the legislature in 1876 and 1877. He then bought a shoe store; but, after spending one year in that trade, he opened a general grocery store in the Odd Fellows Block in Buckland, and has continued in this business up to the present time. Early in 1895, that block being partially destroyed by fire, Mr. Ward removed to the Vice Block, on the Shelburne Falls side of the town line, his present location. Here he has a large, well-
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fitted store with a first-class stock, and is doing a very prosperous business, employing four clerks and using three delivery wagons.
He was married March 11, 1857, to Mrs. Betsy (Woodward) Brewster, daughter of Elia- phas Woodward. They have one daughter, Jennie M., born April 17, 1862. Two chil- dren died in infancy : Wendell Fay, aged about two years ; and Fred Clifton, aged three years and six months. An adopted son, Clar- ence W., who was born October 4, 1868, is employed as clerk in Mr. Ward's store; he married Sarah A. Shaw, and they have one child, Mildred S.
Besides engaging in the occupations men- tioned above, Mr. Ward has bought and sold real estate, and has a beautiful home at 9 Main Street, a fine brick house with all mod- ern improvements. He is one of the Trustees of the savings-bank and a member of the Shel- burne Falls Board of Trade. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and was Selectman® and Assessor in 1866. and 1867. Fraternally, he is a member of Mountain Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of the Franklin County Chapter, and the Connecticut Valley Commandery. He is a liberal in religion, and is a useful and esteemed citizen of his town.
EYMOUR ROCKWELL, one of Montague's intelligent and progres- sive farmers, residing about one and one-half miles from the village, was born in this town on February 8, 1837, son of John Rockwell. The father, who was a farmer, and had also followed the trade of a clothier in his early days, passed the latter part of his life in Montague, where he died at the age of sixty years. He married for his second wife Mrs. Nancy Bissell Burnett, a native of East Windsor and widow of David Burnett. She
had had three children by her first marriage ; and by this union she reared a family of four children, of whom Seymour Rockwell is the only one now living. Mrs. Nancy B. Rock- well, who was a member of the Congregational church, died at the age of seventy-six years.
Seymour Rockwell after acquiring his edu- cation in the district schools of his native town and the academies at Deerfield, Mass., ,and at Westminster, Vt., taught school in Montague and other towns during the school season, devoting his summers to farming. He resided with his parents until attaining his majority, and has since lived in Montague, where he has given his attention to agricult- ural pursuits. Mr. Rockwell is independent in politics, and has with ability served in the local town government both as Selectman and Assessor, and has also rendered valuable ser- vice as a member of the School Board from 1859 to the present day. He was made a Mason at Greenfield in 1861, and in 1874 became one of the charter members of the Montague Lodge. He has held all of the important offices in the Blue Lodge, and has been Deputy Grand Master of the Thirteenth Masonic District, which includes Montague, Northampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Green- field, Orange, and Northfield. He is also a member of Franklin Chapter and Connecticut Valley Commandery, of Greenfield.
In 1864 Mr. Rockwell was united in mar- riage to Hattie A. Ward, of Montague, a daughter of Captain Jonathan Ward, who was for many years a manufacturer of and dealer in confectionery, he himself journeying quite a good deal in the interest of his business, being a popular commercial traveller of that time. He died at the age of eighty-six years. His children were: Hattie A. ; and Truman E., who served in the Civil War as a member of the Twenty-seventh Regimental Band, and
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who died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell have one child, Florence Ward, who attended the schools of Montague, and after a special preparatory course entered Smith College, where she remained two years. She then engaged in teaching for the following three years. In 1894 she entered Radcliffe College, but, owing to failing health, was obliged to relinquish further studies. She is a bright and ambitious young lady, and, with improved health, will doubtless successfully accomplish a worthy purpose in life. Mr. and Mrs. Rock- well attend the Unitarian church.
EORGE M. WHEELER, a gentleman of enterprise and good business abil- ity, the owner of a box manufactory at Brush Valley in Warwick, Mass , was born in this town, October 25, 1849, son of James S. and Zarina (Ball) Wheeler. His father was a native of Hubbardston, Mass., of which town his grandfather, who was in all probabil- ity a wheelwright, was a resident. James S. Wheeler when a young man went to work in what was then a chair-shop, and later on became its owner and carried it on as a brush woods factory, continuing thus engaged up to the time of his death, at the early age of fifty- six. The wife of James S. Wheeler, Zarina D. Ball before marriage, was the daughter of Mrs. Lydia Walker Ball, a native of Royalston. Their union was blessed by the birth of two chil- dren who grew to maturity, namely : a daughter, Addie J. ; and a son, George M., who at the early age of two years was bereft of a mother's care, her death occurring at this time.
George M. Wheeler, who, it will be ob- served, is further represented in these pages by a lifelike portrait, remained with his father after his mother's death, acquiring a district - school education in Warwick and
Orange, Mass., and assisting his father in the mill, where he acquired a knowledge of the details of the business. After his father's death he continued to run the mill as a brush woods factory for some ten years, or up to 1882, when he changed the machinery and started out in the manufacture of all kinds of wooden boxes, in which industry he is still engaged, working up the lumber from plank, having an excellent water-power and in con- nection with it a steam-engine. His mill has a capacity of five hundred thousand boxes per year, the product being shipped to New York and Boston. On June 20, 1876, he was mar- ried to Esther S. Forbush, of Warwick, though Palmer, Hampden County, was her birthplace. Her father died in her childhood.
Politically, George M. Wheeler affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served his town as Selectman two years, also as Over- seer of the Poor and Assessor. He is highly popular in social circles and is a much re- spected citizen, being a forwarder of every good enterprise. He is connected with sev- eral Masonic Lodges, among them the Blue Lodge of Orange, Orange Commandery, and Crescent Chapter of Orange. He and his wife are attendants of the Universalist church at Orange.
OHN B. LAIDLEY, M. D., a success- ful physician and highly esteemed citi- zen of Conway, Franklin County, was born in Westhampton, Mass., February 25, 1858, son of Hugh B. and Lydia (Brown) Laidley. His paternal grandfather, George Laidley, came from Scotland to this country, settling in Northampton, where he followed with marked success the vocation of a gardener. He married Miss Marion Baine, who was born and reared in Scotland, and who lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years.
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Hugh B. Laidley was born in Northampton and remained with his parents up to the time of his marriage. Previous to leaving home he learned and successfully followed the vocation of a brick-mason. He then purchased a farm in Huntington, Mass., and profitably spent several years in agriculture. Afterward he sold his farm and removed to Conway, where he passed the last years of his life. During the Civil War he was a faithful soldier in Com- pany A of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers. After the war was over and the fraternal order known as the Grand Army of the Republic was instituted, he became an honored member of Francis A. Clary Post. He died when but fifty-six years of age. His wife, Lydia Brown Laidley, was a native of Huntington, Mass., and a daughter of Spencer Brown, of that place. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, three sons and a daughter: namely, John B., George H., Lula M., and Edward J.
John B. Laidley, the eldest son, grew to manhood in the parental home, receiving his early education in the common schools, and later taking an academic course in Powers Institute at Bernardston, Mass., from which he was graduated in the class of 1878. He then took up the study of medicine at Long Island College in Brooklyn, N. Y., completing the course there with the class of 1883. That same year he engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Conway, where he has since continued in his chosen profession, and is meeting with good success. On January 1, 1884, Dr. Laid- ley was joined in marriage with Miss Mary R. Tingley, who was born in Milford, Mass., and here grew to womanhood. She is a daughter of the Rev. E. S. Tingley. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Laid- ley, a son and two daughters : Marion L., Malcolm E., and Alice W.
In politics Dr. Laidley is a supporter of Prohibitionist principles ; and fraternally he is affiliated with the Morning Sun Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Sons of Veterans. He is now serving as Secretary of the Conway Electric Street Car Company. Dr. Laidley and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church of Conway.
HARLES F. CLARK, of the firm of Richards & Clark, dealers in groceries and general merchandise, and a prominent citizen of Erving, was born in this town, July 16, 1856, son of Horace and Mary (Buss) Clark. Josiah Clark, the father of Horace, was born in Royalston, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time ; but in 1810 he came to Wendell and purchased a farm, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died at the age of sixty-six.
Horace Clark, who was the second of the seven children born to his parents, first saw the light of this world December 24, 1819. He remained on the home farm in Wendell with his father until his freedom birthday, after which he learned the trade of a cabinet- maker and later that of a glazier. About the year 1845 he removed from Wendell to Erv- ing, where he lived the rest of his life, follow- ing his trades. He became an influential citizen of Erving and took an active interest in its welfare, serving as Tax Collector and Constable for a number of years. He died in his seventy-second year, while his mental fac- ulties were yet well preserved. His wife, Mary Buss, was a daughter of Mason and Mary Buss, being one of four children, and a native of Sterling, Mass., where her father was en- gaged as a farmer and also as a chair-maker. She bore her husband four children, three of whom grew to maturity : Edward S., a painter
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and glazier in Erving; Abbie J. ; and Charles F. Mrs. Mary B. Clark was a member of the Baptist church. She died in her forty-sixth year.
Charles F. lived at home until he was twenty- two years of age, beginning to work at his father's trade as soon as old enough. He then went into the chair-shop, where he was em- ployed about seven years, at the end of which, with the accumulated savings of those years, he joined Mr. Richards, his present partner, in the purchase of the business of Turner, Hanson & Co. At that time the stock in trade consisted of groceries and meat ; but they have since added dry goods, boots, shoes, and clothing, so that their present stock is double what it was when they com- menced business, and includes a much larger variety.
In 1888 Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Mary E. Spaulding, daughter of V. L. Spaulding, of Bridgewater, Vt., where she was born. The five children born to her parents are as follows : Anna, who married Dr. E. W. Hart, and lives in West Gardner, Worcester County ; Emma, who married Henry Rey- nolds; George; Villa, who married Wellman Townsend, of Vermont, and is now living in Iowa; and Mary E., Mrs. Clark, with whom the father is now making his home. The mother died in October, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have one son, Clarence Henry.
In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is prominent in the fraternal societies, being a member of Orange Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Crescent Chapter, both of Orange, hav- ing served as Junior Warden in the Blue Lodge. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Orange, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both he and Mrs. Clark attend the Congregational church.
BENEZER R. GOODNOW, a retired farmer, who in the autumn of life is enjoying the harvest of his long sea- son of industry and wise economy, is one of the best-known and most respected citizens of Charlemont. He was born May 28, 1816, in the town of Rowe, son of Thomas and Charity (Hinckley) Goodnow, and grandson of Thomas Goodnow, Sr., a pioneer settler. The latter was born in Shutesbury, where he lived the early part of his life. Some time after his marriage he removed to Rowe, bringing his wife and children with him, and bought a large tract of wild land, they being one of the first families to settle in that locality. He cleared a good farm, on which, with the excep- tion of a few years spent in the State of Ver- mont, he resided until his decease, at the age of seventy-one years, his wife living fourscore years. In religious faith they were Unita- rians. They had a large family of children, several of whom died young, the three that lived to rear families being: Thomas, Eber, and Abner.
Thomas Goodnow, Jr., was born in Shutes- bury, Mass., and accompanied his parents to Rowe, where he subsequently bought land and engaged in farming, living to a ripe old age. He was a Whig in politics, and with his wife belonged to the Baptist church. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom two, Har- riet and Watson, died when young. Those growing to maturity were: Elizabeth ; Persis ; Lewis; Olive; Russell; Roanna; Laura ; and Ebenezer R., of the present sketch.
Ebenezer R. Goodnow was reared and edu- cated in the place of his nativity, and, being the youngest member of the parental home- stead, he remained at home, assisting on the farm and caring for his parents until twenty- four years old. Then, on April 15, 1840, he was united in marriage to Louisa Gould,
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daughter of Daniel Gould, a farmer of Cole- rain. She was born in 1815, and proved a most admirable helpmeet and counsellor during their many years of happy wedlock, departing this life August 3, 1887. Mr. Goodnow sub- sequently married Mrs. Mary (Smith) Goodell, widow of W. Goodell and daughter of Simeon and Amanda (More) Smith, of Halifax, Vt., where Mr. Smith died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, and his wife at the age of eighty-nine years.
At the time of his first marriage Mr. Good- now bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, making a cash payment of five hundred dollars, which he had accumulated solely by his own exertions. This land is now owned by the Davis Sulphur Company. After en- larging and repairing the buildings and erect- ing a new residence, he bought other land, increasing the number of acres to two hundred and eighty-five. Besides tilling the soil he devoted a good deal of time to raising cattle, horses, and sheep; and by dint of hard labor, keen foresight, and practical sagacity he ac- cumulated a fortune. Thinking he had earned a desired rest, he sold his farm and removed to Charlemont, buying a house in the village, where he lived a short time, when he traded for the estate now known as the Cooley farm ; and for six years he successfully carried on his former occupation. He then sold that place and bought his present house, which was built by Justin Beckwith in 1850, and has always been kept in excellent repair. Mr. Goodnow has made important alterations in it, and built a new wagon-house, having now one of the most attractive and desirable residences in the neighborhood.
Since coming here he has been prominently identified with the highest and best interests of the town, and in 1893 began the agitation of the building of a town hall, an improvement
greatly needed. He was appointed one of the building committee, and, finding it impossible to raise a sufficient sum to erect a suitable building, he gave eight thousand dollars toward it, he to have the use of the interest at five per cent. during his life, thinking that this sum would complete the building. Find- ing that it would not, another subscription was raised, he again giving generously ; and Good- nów Hall, which was named in his honor and stands as a memorial of his liberality and pub- lic spirit, is an ornament and a credit to the town. It is a substantial brick structure, sixty by seventy-two feet, finely located, the land having been the gift of Professor J. White, of Williams College, in memory of his father, whose homestead formerly stood on the spot. It is finely furnished, the work of the Young People's Dramatic Club, and has sev- eral well-fitted office rooms. An old resident of Charlemont, now living in New York, pre- sented the clock.
Mr. Goodnow is a steadfast Republican, and has served his town in various local offices, having been Selectman, Assessor, and Over- seer of the Poor. His financial ability is rec- ognized, and for the past ten years he has been one of the Directors of the Shelburne Falls Bank. In 1894 Mr. Goodnow gave six thou- sand dollars to Williams College for the edu- cation of poor students, he to have the use of the interest at five per cent. during his life. He also gave twelve hundred dollars to the Methodist Episcopal church, of Shelburne Falls, for buying a parsonage.
ANIEL W. BENJAMIN, an exten- sive lumber dealer of Miller's Falls, was born at Wendell, September 27, 1835. His father, Ivers Benjamin, was a native of the same town ; and his grandfather,
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Joel Benjamin, was born at Hardwick, in 1760. Joel was a son of Caleb Benjamin, who was born at Watertown on May 26, 1729, and lived in Wendell for many years. In 1769 he came to Miller's Falls, then but a small par- ish, where he purchased a large tract of land, some five or six miles in length, for which he paid two copper pennies per acre, and, after clearing about three hundred and fifty acres for himself, sold the eastern portion of his pur- chase to his brother Abel. He passed the re- mainder of his life in this vicinity, and died at his home, which was located about three miles from the residence of his grandson.
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