USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 55
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Chester W. Smith was born March 30, 1848, in Williamsburg, Hampshire County, son of George W. and Philena (Wrisley) Smith, the former a native of Deerfield, born in 1818, the latter a native of Conway. George W. Smith was a man of many re- sources, being a blacksmith, butcher, and farmer. He lived in Williamsburg and in Colerain, and died at Little Falls, N. Y., in 1890; his wife passed away in 1866. Chester W. Smith has worked at several kinds of busi- ness, but for the past twenty-five years has fol- lowed agriculture. He has charge of Mr. Wilson's farm, which is the largest in town, and carries on the work with good judgment and practical skill. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had eight children, and have six living. Wal- ter D., born October 9, 1871, died June 3,
1872; and Royden C., born April 1, 1889, died March 1, 1890. The living children are : Willie W., born April 18, 1874; Sadie P., born October 11, 1875; Clifton N., born Sep- tember 27, 1877; Gertrude M., born Septem- ber 30, 1881 ; Grace A., born November 17, 1884; and Gladys E., born September 13, I891. Mr. Smith votes the Republican ticket, and he and his wife hold liberal views on the subject of religion.
REDERIC A. BALL, President of the Shelburne Falls Savings Bank and sup- ply agent of the Lamson & Goodnow Cutlery Company, was born in Princeton, Mass., April 1, 1828, son of Amos and Betsey (Stratton) Ball, and grandson of Aaron and Rachel (Cheever) Ball. Aaron Ball was a native of Boylston, Mass., and settled in Princeton, where he purchased a farm, Rachel Cheever Ball being the first white person boru in Princeton. In politics Aaron Ball was a Whig. He died at the age of eighty-four, his wife living to be one year older. Amos Ball, son of Aaron, was born in Princeton, and there received his education. He learned the trade of shoemaking, but, being accustomed to farm life, preferred the pursuit of agriculture, and purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of land for a homestead. In politics Amos Ball, like his father, was a Whig. His wife was a consistent member of the Congregational church. He passed away at the age of seventy-five. Amos and Betsey Stratton Ball were the parents of ten children: Charles, Martha, William F., Frederic A., Emeline, Calvin, Martin, Frances L., Mary E., and Martin V.
Frederic A. Ball was educated at the dis- trict school in Princeton and at Williston Academy. Later in his youth he learned the
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shoemaker's trade, never, however, making much practical use of his knowledge in that direction. After some experience in teaching he came to Shelburne Falls in December, 1848, and was engaged as clerk in the store of Lamson & Goodnow for one year. Acting for a while as assistant book-keeper, he was soon given full charge of the books, and in 1852 he became cashier. In 1866 he was made treas- urer and accountant of the branch stores in Vermont, New York, and Chicago, a position which he held nineteen years. At the end of that period he resigned, and since then has had charge of the buying of stock and supplies for the Lamson & Goodnow Company, being a director since 1874 and corporation clerk from 1874 to the present time. This business was established in 1842 by N. and E. G. Lamson, and, A. F. Goodnow joining in 1844, the firm name became Lamson, Goodnow & Co. They manufacture cutlery of all kinds and handle tons of the finest steel, with large quantities of brass, ebony, ivory, rosewood, and cocoawood. Mr. Ball has the management of all these sup- plies, and in part charge of the building, which covers nearly seven acres, and in which two hundred and thirty men are employed. The firm has a capital of three hundred and eighty- one thousand five hundred dollars.
On March 22, 1852, Mr. Ball was united in marriage with Lucretia, daughter of Selah and Hannah (Putnam) Severance, and four chil- dren have blessed the union, namely : Charles H., who married Vienna Rankin and lives at Shelburne Falls, being shipping clerk for Lamson & Goodnow; Willie F., who died in childhood; Carrie E., wife of H. A. Olendorf, who lives in Taunton, Mass., and has one child, Ruth E. ; Wilfred S., who married Cora E. Crittenden, is cashier for Lamson & Good- now, and has three children - Stanley C., Esther L., and Dorothy M.
In politics Mr. Ball is a Republican. He has been President and Trustee of the Shel- burne Falls Savings Bank since October, 1866, President of the Cemetery Association twenty years, and Clerk and Treasurer of the same several years. He is also Past Grand of Alethian Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He holds the confidence and respect of all with whom he is associated, and posi- tions of trust are naturally accorded him and filled by him with judgment and integrity. Mr. Ball and his wife are members of the Bap- tist church, where he is at present clerk of the church and superintendent of the Sunday- school. Their handsome residence, on the corner of Bridge and Severance Streets, is one of the finest in Shelburne Falls.
EACON J. MASON ARMSTRONG, a highly esteemed resident of Sun- derland, where he follows the trade of a carpenter, was born in Wendell, Novem- ber 21, 1833, son of Martin and Mary (Bent) Armstrong. Deacon Armstrong's grandfather, Timothy Armstrong, was a native of Wendell, and there occupied himself with agricultural pursuits during the entire period of his active life. He was a prominent man in the commu- nity, and reached the extreme age of ninety-six years. Martin Armstrong, son of Timothy, was reared to farm work, but in early manhood learned the trade of carpenter and wheel- wright, which he adopted as an occupation and followed many years in his native town. At the age of sixty he moved to Montague, where he continued active until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one years old. His first wife, the mother of J. Mason Arm- strong, was a daughter of Joel Bent, a farmer of Wendell. She became the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters,
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among whom may be named: Timothy M. ; J. Mason; and Celinda, widow of Richard Dud- ley. The mother died in Wendell at the age of forty-two years; and Martin Armstrong wedded for his second wife Almira French, by whom he had two children, William R. and Lucy A.
J. Mason Armstrong received his education in the district schools of his native town, and at the age of twenty-one years went to Am- herst to work by the month. He visited the Western States, and, after remaining there for a time, returned to Wendell, where he was married and then moved to Amherst. A year later he came to Sunderland, and in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in the Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteers, in which he served nine months. After his discharge he came to Sunderland, where he has since followed the carpenter's trade with successful results, hav- ing been closely identified with the building interests of the town.
In 1859 Deacon Armstrong was united in marriage to Helen Leach, daughter of Elisha W. and Laura B. (Beaman) Leach, who were early settlers of Wendell. She became the mother of seven children, as follows: Edwin M., who died aged eleven years ; Minnie H., a graduate of the Northfield Seminary, now a successful teacher in a graded school at Will- iamstown, Vt. ; Ella, who died at the age of four years; Agnes M., also a graduate of Northfield Seminary, and now a student at Smith College, Northampton; Herbert J., a student in the Massachusetts State Agricult- ural College at Amherst ; Harry E., a graduate of the high school; and Lewis M.
Deacon Armstrong was formerly a Republi- can in politics, but recently has voted with the Prohibition party. He has served as Town Treasurer fifteen years, has been a Selectman and member of the School Committee three
years, Collector about twelve years, and has acted for many years as Constable. He has been a Deacon of the Congregational church for twenty-two years. Mrs. Armstrong and her three eldest children are also members of the Congregational church. She is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Ladies' Dorcas Society, a missionary association.
G EORGE W. HALLIGAN, President of the Board of Trade of Shelburne Falls, was born in this town, Au- gust 19, 1861, son of Joseph and Ellen (Tor- doff) Halligan, and grandson of James S. and Hannah (Austin) Neil-Halligan. His great- grandfather, Joseph Halligan, a native of England and long a resident in that country, was a man of liberal education, having been trained to the law, but followed teaching for a livelihood. His children, when they grew up, emigrated to this country ; and after the death of his wife he also came to America, settling in Greenfield, Mass., where he taught evening school. At the age of sixty-four he was as active as a boy, and, when running upstairs one evening for some books, dropped dead from heart disease. His three children were named, respectively, Mary, James S., and Joseph. Mary is still living, a resident of California.
James S. Halligan passed his early life in England, after his marriage keeping a market in Leeds. In 1844, with his wife and chil- dren, he came to America and went to work in a woollen-mill in Pennsylvania. In 1852 he removed to Shelburne Falls, where he found employment in the cutlery works and was soon given charge of a department. In 1875 he retired from active business. He was an enterprising and successful man, and owned the handsome residence with fine grounds at the corner of Summer and Conway Streets,
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besides the three adjoining houses. He died in 1884. His wife, who was a daughter of John and Ann Austin, of Leeds, England, passed away in 1882, at the age of seventy-five.
In politics Mr. James S. Halligan was a Republican, and for several years was Justice of the Peace and Quorum, besides filling minor offices. A public-spirited man, he took a deep interest in the welfare of the town. He and his wife attended the Baptist church. The children were as follows: Thomas Neil, of Greenfield, a son by Mrs. Halligan's first mar- riage, who served in the Civil War, a member of Company A, Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, and who died August 11, 1895, leaving a wife and two children - Walter E. and Fannie E. Gaines; William, who also served in the war, a member of the same regi- ment, Company E, afterward married Mary Kellett, and now lives in Connecticut ; Maria, who became the wife of Fred Tanner, of Heath, Mass. ; Joseph, father of George W. ; James, who married Flora Strong and lives in Shelburne Falls, and who was in Company K, Sixtieth Massachusetts Regiment, during the late war; Hannah, wife of John Rowland, of Shelburne Falls; John A., who married Hat- tie Allard, of Shelburne Falls, and also has a war record, having served both in Company E, Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, and in the Sixtieth Regiment; Sarah, who resides at the old homestead; and Martha, who died at the age of four years.
Joseph Halligan, son of James S., was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, May 4, 1837, and came to this country with his parents. For some time he was employed in the cutlery works, and became so proficient at his trade that he was made overseer of a department. Carefully husbanding his earnings, he was en- abled to retire from active work in 1883. From that year until the time of his death,
which occurred in 1890, he was a silent part- ner in the grocery business conducted by his son, George W. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religion he followed the teach- ings of the Baptist church. His first wife, Mrs. Ellen T. Halligan, died in 1883, at the age of forty, leaving two children, Ernest and George W. ; and he subsequently married her sister, Sarah Tordoff, by whom he had one son, Earl, who died at the age of about two years and six months.
George W. Halligan, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, received a good education, attending the Shelburne Falls High School, and was later graduated from East- man's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was employed as a clerk in Amstein's store in Shelburne Falls for over two years, and later found employment with Swan & Vincent as book-keeper. He purchased an interest in the business of the latter firm; and in 1883, in company with his father, he bought the entire business. The enterprise has prospered in his hands, and his stock of groceries and crockery is one of the finest and most complete in this vicinity. On May 18, 1887, Mr. Hal- ligan was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Cowen, of Ashfield, daughter of B. Cowen, a well-known citizen of that place.
Mr. and Mrs. Halligan have two children, Burdett J. and Mervil G. Mr. Halligan is a stanch Republican, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of the town. For three years he has been President of the Board of Trade. He is also prominent in social matters, being Worshipful Master of Mountain Lodge of A. F. & A. M. In 1893 he and his brother Ernest bought a corner lot on Bridge Street and erected two dwelling- houses, one of which he now occupies with his family, his brother Ernest and their step- mother, Mrs. Sarah Halligan, residing in the
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other. Both Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hal- ligan are members of the Baptist church, in which he is an official.
HARLES M. HEMENWAY, an in- telligent and successful young farmer of North Leverett, was born upon the estate he now owns and occupies, March 23, 1860. His father, Elihu Hemenway, was born at New Salem, December 28, 1818, and his paternal grandfather, also named Elihu, was a native of Holliston, Mass., and was son of Josiah Hemenway. Grandfather Elihu Hemenway moved to a farm at Bushy Moun- tain with his parents when he was eighteen ; and there his father, Josiah, died in 1808, at the age of seventy-four years. Elihu Hemen- way, the first of the name, was one of a family of sixteen children. He was a black- smith by trade and followed that occupation for many years, finally relinquishing it for agri- culture, which he successfully pursued during the remainder of his life, dying at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, Bethiah Thayer, was a daughter of Deacon Thayer, of Milford, Mass. They were married on August 8, 1781, and became the parents of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity.
Elihu Hemenway, the younger, son of Elihu and Bethiah, has resided at his present home since he was two years old. In his boyhood he was diligently trained to farm life; and he also acquired the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for some time, eventually succeeding to the possession of the family homestead. He has now retired from active labor, having reached the age of seventy-six years. He is a life member of the Home Mission Society, and also of the Massachusetts State Conven tion. He married for his first wife Sophia Ripley, daughter of Nathan Ripley, of Mon-
tague; and the two children of this union and their mother are now deceased. His second wife, whom he married on June 8, 1857, was Hepsibeth M. Loring, daughter of Abel Lor- ing, of Petersham. She was the mother of two children : Charles M., first mentioned above; and Herbert L., who is a resident of Providence, R. I., where he is manager of the branch office of Norcross Brothers contractors and builders. The mother passed onward to her rest in 1882, at the age of fifty-seven years, having been a member of the Baptist church.
Charles M. Hemenway in his boyhood at- tended the schools of his native town, and, after completing his studies at Powers Insti- tute in Bernardston, resided with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-one years. After his marriage he resided with his wife's family, eventually returning to assist his father in carrying on the farm, which consisted of about sixty acres. He assumed charge of the property in 1891, his youthful energy giving new life to the old homestead.
In 1881 Mr. Hemenway was united in mar- riage to his first wife, whose maiden name was Susan E. Dickinson, and who was a daughter of Ely Dickinson, a prosperous farmer of Leverett. After having become the mother of one child, Lillian S., Mrs. Susan E. Hemenway died suddenly at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Hemenway wedded for his second wife Miss Nellie Pierce, daughter of Sanford Pierce, a resident of Leverett ; and this union has been blessed with two daughters, Ruby M. and Pluma. In politics Mr. Hemenway has of late supported the People's party in national issues. He is a member of the School Board of the town, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Montague Grange, of which he is Master. He is also a member of the local lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars.
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] SAAC W. STETSON, a prominent farmer in Heath, was born in Colerain, February 8, 1839, son of Thomas and Mary D. (McClellan) Stetson. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin F. Stetson, was born in Rhode Island and settled in Leyden, Mass., in
the latter part of last century. He married Susan Church, a native of Rhode Island, and their son Thomas was born in Leyden in 1799. Thomas Stetson was a skilful mechanic and also a competent farmer. He bought a farm in Colerain and established a good home for his family, passing away at the age of fifty-six. In politics he was a Whig. His wife, who was a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Duncan) McClellan, lived to be ninety-one. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson were members of the Congrega- tional church, and reared their children in that faith. These children were: Mary M., who married Ruel Donaldson; Sarah C., wife of Ruel Cobb; Robert M., who married Sarah E. Barber ; Melinda M. and Orinda A., twins, the former the wife of Horace Todd, the latter the wife of Chauncey Lincoln; Jane M., wife of Franklin Legate; George D., who married Mary Burrington ; Elizabeth T., wife of Hiram Young; and Isaac W., whose life story in brief is given below.
Isaac W. Stetson attended school at Cole- rain and up to the time of his marriage helped about the farm, when he rented the Azel Hawkes farm in Heath. This property com- prises one hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land, and Mr. Stetson made such good use of his means and opportunities that in a few years he was able to buy the estate. He is now the owner of some of the best farming and grazing land in the vicinity, and has made several profitable investments, buying land which he put into good condition and sold at a fair margin. He has about thirty cows, a fine flock of sheep, oxen, and good horses, and
considerable young stock. The house in which he lives, which was built by Reuben Porter about 1805, has been remodelled and improved by Mr. Stetson and is a comfortable and handsome home. He has built a barn forty by seventy feet with modern conven- iences, and all together his property is one of the best-fitted and most completely stocked farms in Heath.
Mr. Stetson's wife is a native of West Dover, Vt. ; and her name before marriage was Melissa Worden. She is a daughter of Rufus and Susan (Powers) Worden, and grand-daugh- ter of Asa and Louisa (Hale) Worden. Grandfather Worden was born in Stonington, Conn., and early in life settled in Marlboro, Vt., there carrying on several kinds of busi- ness, working at shoemaking, blacksmithing, and farming, and operating a saw-mill. He owned some two hundred acres of land and lived to be eighty-eight years old. In politics he was a Whig, and he belonged to the Uni- versalist church. He reared ten children.
Rufus Worden, father of Mrs. Stetson, was born in Marlboro, Vt. His first venture in real estate was the purchase of a farm of one hundred acres in West Dover, upon which he lived for some time; but he finally returned to Marlboro and bought the saw-mills, carrying on an extensive and lucrative lumber business. He was a Whig in politics, and was a public- spirited and popular man, hale and hearty up to the time of his death, which occurred in his eighty-sixth year. Mrs. Worden died at the age of sixty-three. They were members of the Universalist church, and carefully reared a family of eight children.
Mr. and Mrs. Stetson have been blessed with nine children, as follows: Della M., born January 13, 1864, wife of Fred E. Glec- son, a prosperous farmer of Heath, and mother of two children; Henry E., born September
CALVIN BRYANT.
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14, 1866, interested in his father's farm, mar- ried to Cora L. Jeffords, and father of one child; Justus W., born October 24. 1868, a well-to-do miller in Heath, married to Alta B. Sumner; a son born June 28, 1870, who died in infancy; Minnie L., born September 9, 1871, who died August 1, 1873; Effie, born June 25, 1874, wife of Arthur C. Baker, of Erving : Frank E., born February 2, 1876, living with his parents; Lilly L., born April 14, 1878, who died June 26, 1880; and an infant, born August 15, 1880, deceased. In politics Mr. Stetson is a Republican, and he has held office in the town at different times, serving as Selectman and Assessor for several terms. He and his wife attend the Congrega- tional church.
ALVIN BRYANT, an eminently use- ful and highly esteemed citizen of Franklin County, Massachusetts, is an important member of the agricultural community of Ashfield, owning and managing the fine farm on which his birth occurred, and where he has since made his home and en- gaged in the work of life. Mr. Bryant is the descendant of one of the earliest pioneers of the town, his grandfather, Lieutenant Zebulon Briant, as the surname was then spelled, hav- ing settled here in 1763.
Zebulon Briant was born April 16, 1741, in Bridgewater, Mass., and there lived until attaining his majority. Thinking that far more rapid strides in the accumulation of property could be made in a new country, he then boldly pushed his way on foot from his ancestral home to Ashfield. He selected seventy acres that are now included in the Bryant farm named above; and, while clearing a space on which he might erect the customary log house for his bride, he boarded with Aaron Fuller, the only settler in the vicinity. In
1767 he returned to Plymouth County, and on September 18 was united in marriage with Mary Connent, who was born in Bridgewater, February 17, 1740. They began their married life in the log cabin, and by diligent and per- severing toil improved a good homestead. For many years they lived on the productions of their own land or the game to be found in the woods, and the energetic wife clothed her household in garments of her own manufacture, carding, spinning, and weaving the material therefor. Grandfather Bryant was a stanch patriot, and during the time of the Revolution bravely served as Lieutenant of a company. He died at his home in Ashfield at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. To him and his wife eight children were born, as follows : Ruth, July 2, 1768; Naomi, March 31, 1770; Nathan, February 27, 1772; Lemuel, March 21, 1773; Lydia, May 10, 1776; William, October 7, 1778; Nabby, April 21, 1780; Lucy, August 7, 1782.
William Bryant, the third son, was born in the primitive log cabin of his parents, and received a limited education, trudging a long distance through the woods to the school-house in his efforts to acquire a knowledge of the three R's. He remained with his parents, assisting in the management of the home farm, which after their death became his. He was very successful as a farmer, making substantial improvements on the homestcad, building a new house and barns, and purchasing more land till he was the owner of a fine estate. When a young man he married Hannah Ham- mond, who died in early life, leaving him with four small children: Betsey, born July 6, 1806; Lemuel, born March 20, 1809; Mary, born April 27, 1811; and Nabby, born June 10, 1813. His second wife, mother of Mr. Calvin Bryant, was Sarah Maynard, who was born May 5, 1790, daughter of Calvin and
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Anna (Moulton) Maynard, and the descendant of Simon Maynard, who is thought by some to have come over in the "Mayflower, " but whose name is not given in the list of passengers in the first voyage. Savage mentions a Simon Maynard, of Marlboro, born in 1668, grandson of John, of Sudbury. Mrs. Sarah M. Bryant was a woman of noble Christian character. kind and benevolent. and a devoted mother to her children, who were nine in number. the following being their names and the dates on which they were born : Hannah. November 16, 1816: Nathan. December 20. 1819: William. December 27, 1821 ; Charles and Chauncey. twins. September 28. 1823; Asa and Albert, twins. November 25. 1826: Henry, June 30, 1829: and Calvin, March 22, 1833-
Calvin Bryant was a studious and industri- ous lad. and. always remaining at home. early became familiar with farming pursuits. When fourteen years of age he had the misfortune to lose his father: and thenceforth a good deal of care was laid upon his shoulders, his mother depending in a great measure upon him, her youngest. for help. He continued the improve- ments already begun, added more land to the estate, being now the owner of one hundred and seventy-five choice acres. and on this he carries on his chosen occupation after the most approved modern methods, being a scientific and practical agriculturist. He has enlarged the house and barns, which in point of equip- ments rank among the best in the locality. He is specially interested in his dairy, keep- ing a choice lot of Jerseys, besides two valu- able cows that are descended from cattle raised on this farm in Ises. During the summer season Mr. Bryant entertains guests from the city, having his house, which readily accom- modates thirty persons, filled with boarders, all of whom speak in the most commendatory terms of his hospitality and kindness.
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