USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 56
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The marriage of Mr. Bryant and Miss Lucy Ballard Rogers was celebrated October S. 1862. Mrs. Bryant is a native of Ashfield, born June 22. 1844, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Cranston) Rogers. Her paternal grand- parents were Moses and Mehitabel (Sears) Rogers, the former of whom was killed, when young, in a saw-mill, leaving four small chil- dren : Elmira. Elias, Ahira, and Polly. Elias Rogers was born August 9. 1805, in Hawley, where his parents were pioneer set- tlers. Having grown to manhood, he settled on a farm in Ashfield, where he and his wife both lived under their own roof until death called them to their eternal home, he dying in the eightieth year of his age and she when one vear older. He was a Whig in politics, and both he and Mrs. Rogers were esteemed mem- bers of the Orthodox church. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Charles, born September 4, 1832; Ebenezer, born Sep- tember ;. 1834; Abigail and Nathan. who died in infancy: Ellen: Lucy B., wife of Mr. Bryant : and Moses S., born January 15, 1850.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have but one child, George N., who was born August 21. 1875, and resides at home. Mr. Bryant is an active and capable business man, possessing excellent judgment. and is amply endowed with sterling qualities which constitute him a good citizen and have secured for him the respect and regard of his fellow-men. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has served ably in many official positions, having been Deputy Sheriff and the incumbent of several town offices, besides being Tax Collector for seven- teen years. He is orthodox in religion, and is a valued member of the Congregational church. We are happy to present herewith a portrait of this worthy scion of good old New i England stock.
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ARLOS BATCHELDER, President of the Conway National Bank. also of the Conway Electric Street Railway Company, and a public-spirited and highly respected citizen of Conway, Franklin County, is a native of this place, being a son of Kim- ball and Armenia (Sterns) Batchelder.
His grandfather, Amos Batchelder, was born in Wenham, Mass. Having grown to man- hood he removed to Francestown, N. H., set- tling there during the early history of the town, securing a tract of land on which he resided throughout the remainder of his life, successfully engaging in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in his eightieth year. Amos Batchelder married Miss Huldah Kim- ball; and their union was blessed by the birth of five sons and two daughters, as follows : Amos, Hulda, Israel, Kimball, Levi, Perkins, and Roxanna. Both parents were members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Batchelder was a Whig in political affiliation.
Kimball Batchelder, the fourth child of Amos, as named above, was born in Frances- town, N. H., and there resided until twenty- one years of age. The six years following were spent by him in the South, in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee; and at the end of that time he returned to Massachusetts, finally settling in the town of Conway, where he purchased a farm, on which he passed the remainder of his life, engaged in farming. He died at seventy- nine years of age. His wife, Armena Sterns, who was born and reared in Conway, was a daughter of George Sterns. They reared five children, a son and four daughters: Mary; Carlos and Caroline, who are twins; Amelia; and Roxanna. The mother's death occurred at seventy-seven years of age. Both parents were members of the Congregational church, and the father was a supporter of Repub-
lican principles in politics. He was a member of the Franklin County Agricultural Society.
Carlos Batchelder, who was born and reared on the old homestead in Conway, lived with his parents and cared for them during their declining years. After their death he came into possession of the farm, which he still owns, although he afterward purchased a lot in the village of Conway, on which he erected his present residence. In 1884 Mr. Batchelder was elected President of the Conway National Bank, in which office he has since served very acceptably. He is also, as mentioned above, President of the local Electric Street Railway Company. In May, 1846, Mr. Batchelder was united in marriage with Miss Minerva A. Forbes, a native of Buckland, Mass., daughter of William and Eunice Forbes, of that place. Two children were born of this union, Will- iam K. and Frederick C. William K. mar- ried Miss Josephine Foot, daughter of Emerson Foot, and has seven children: Mabel L., Anna S., William F., Minnie A., Mary J., Carlos, and Emerson F. He resides on the old homestead and is successfully engaged in gen- eral farming. Frederick C. married Miss Mary Vining, daughter of Doctor David and Emily Vining, and has been engaged as the agent of the Consolidated Railroad at Conway station during the past fourteen years.
Mr. Batchelder is actively interested in political matters, especially in whatever con- cerns the welfare of his town; and among the offices of trust and responsibility which he has held are those of County Commissioner for fif- teen years and Selectman for ten years. He represented his town in the State legislature of 1870, and voted on the motion, which was carried, to allow towns to return to the dis- trict school system, providing there was a two- thirds vote favoring such action.
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OUIS T. HAIGIS, a very capable young business man of Shelburne Falls, Franklin County, Mass., Secretary of the Board of Trade, was born in the neigh- boring town of Buckland, Mass., July 10, 1865, son of Louis and Emma (Calvert) Haigis, and grandson of John L. and Hannah M. (Gsell) Haigis. The latter were both natives of Würtemberg, Germany, where the grandfather successfully engaged in trade as a butcher. Ile died there at sixty-seven years of age, and his wife at seventy-one years. They reared eight children, three sons and five daughters : Barbara, Mary, Margaret, Christi- ana, Louis, Jacob, Rose, and John G.
Louis Haigis was born in Würtemberg, Germany. In 1834 he came to America, tak- ing passage to New York City, and thence wending his way, doubtless by stage, to Shel- burne Falls, where he secured employment in the Lamson & Goodnow cutlery manufactory, and remained there for seventeen years as a mechanic. Mr. Haigis then opened a market on Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, which he conducted for twenty-one years, and built up a first-class trade, handling only the best grades of meats and poultry. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His death oc- curred in 1891, at fifty-seven years of age. His wife, Emma Calvert Haigis, who was born in Leeds, England, was a daughter of Thomas Calvert, who emigrated from that place to America, first settling in Factory Hollow, Greenfield, and later in Shelburne Falls, where he secured a position in the cut- lery manufactory. He died at Shelburne Falls. To Louis Haigis and his wife five children were born, namely: Rose, the wife of H. E. Woodward, who lives in Reading, Pa., and has two children - Harold and Mildred ; Louis T. ; Emma, George, and Grace, who reside at home with their mother. In politics
Louis Haigis was a Republican. Fraternally, he was a member of Mountain Lodge of A. F. & A. M., Alethian Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, D. O. H. Lodge, and also of Turnverein Lodge, all of Shelburne Falls. In religious views both parents were liberal. The mother now resides in the pleas- ant home erected by her husband on Bridge Street.
; Louis T. Haigis, having received his early education in Buckland, pursued the higher branches of learning at Shelburne Falls Acad- emy and at the Arms Academy. He then began to work for his father in the market, and continued there as an assistant until the father's death, at which time he took full charge of the business and has since conducted it for his mother. The market is in the Ott & Hosley Block at 15 Bridge Street, and continues to be well patronized, four men being constantly employed by Mr. Haigis in supplying the wants of his customers.
On October 11, 1891, Mr. Haigis was joined in marriage with Miss Altie R. Avery, daughter of John D. and Eliza (Waite) Avery. Their union has been brightened by the birth of one son, Carleton Haigis, who was born January 26, 1893. In political affiliation, like his father, Louis T. Haigis is a Republi- can. He is a member of Masseamet Lodge, Knights of Pythias, in which he is Vice-Chan- cellor, and is also a member of the Board of Trade, serving as Secretary of the latter. Mr. Haigis is liberal in religious views.
USTICE B. FROST, one of the most enterprising citizens of Shelburne Falls, a large grain dealer and a well- known livery man, was born in Buckland, Franklin County, December 28, 1821, son of Elmer and Mary (Brackett) Frost. His grand-
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father, Joseph Frost, was born near Boston, but early in life settled as a farmer in Charle- mont. there passing the rest of his days. He died when about seventy-five years of age. Joseph Frost was the father of seven children, five boys and two girls.
His son Elmer was born in Charlemont. He learned the carpenter's trade, and, settling in Buckland, there followed his chosen occupa- tion thirty years. He then bought one hun- dred acres of land, and erecting good farm buildings devoted the rest of his life to general farming. He died at the age of sixty-five. Elmer Frost was a Democrat and prominent in town affairs, serving as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. In religious belief he was a Methodist. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Brackett, was the daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Leonard) Brackett, na- tives of Braintree, Mass., who settled in Buck- land. Samuel Brackett owned a farm of two hundred acres, and was known as a progres- sive and thrifty farmer. He served in the Revolutionary War, and late in life received a pension for his services. In politics Samuel Brackett was a Whig. He died at the age of ninety, and his wife lived to be eighty-six. They were members of the Congregational church. Elmer and Mary (Brackett) Frost were the parents of the following children : Justice B., Mary A., Sarah, Amelia, and Joseph.
Justice B. Frost attended select schools at Buckland, and at the age of sixteen went to work with his father at carpentry. . He applied himself diligently to his trade, was energetic and skilful, and became well known as a car- penter and builder. For several years he was in partnership with Samuel Toby; and they conducted a large business, employing twenty men at a time. Many of the buildings in Buckland and Shelburne Falls were erected by
Frost & Toby, notably the Congregational church, which they built in 1852, the brick school-house in Shelburne Falls, the school- house in Buckland, and many of the business blocks and handsome residences in Shelburne, including the fine house in which Mr. Frost and his family live. Mr. Frost has taken an active part in enlarging and improving the vil- lage, one of his most important achievements being the introduction of the water from Mountain Springs. In 1861 he retired from the building business, and, purchasing a farm and saw-mill in Buckland, carried on general farming and lumbering for ten years. Re- turning to the Falls, he built the saw-mill and grist-mill for Lamson & Goodnow, and, in company with A. W. Ward, took charge of the mills, conducting the business until 1875, when Mr. D. C. Bartlett bought Mr. Ward's interest ; and this firm continued until 1895. Establishing an office in the basement of the Stone Hotel, of which building he is part owner, Mr. Frost went into business as a wholesale and retail dealer in flour and feed. In addition to this he has conducted a livery twenty-five years, and owns thirty fine road- sters and some of the best turn-outs in this part of the county. He also owns and carries on two large farms, one being the Wilcox farm of two hundred acres in Shelburne, which is well fitted with new buildings, erected by Mr. Frost. He has here a dairy of fifteen cows, with other stock and three good horses. His other farm, which is in Conway, is principally pasture land.
In 1846 Mr. Frost was united in marriage to Eveline, daughter of Lyman and Myra Wood; and the following children have blessed their union : Ida, who passed away at the age of eighteen; Ernest C., who married Bertha Winterhulder and has one daughter, Dorothy. Ernest is with his father as a clerk. Mr.
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Frost is a member of the Republican party, and is one of the leading men in town affairs, having served as Selectman, Assessor, and Collector. On religious subjects his views are liberal.
RANKLIN L. WATERS, one of the most respected and progressive citizens of Orange, now retired from active business, was for many years among the fore- most merchants of the town. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born at Champlain, Clinton County, June 14, 1829, at the home of his parents, John and Olive (Richardson) Waters. His great-grandfather, John Waters, Sr., who was born and bred in England, was a seafaring man, and the first of his family to come to America, Providence, R. I., being his abiding-place during his re- maining years. He married Hannah Newman ; and the only child of their union was a son, who bore his father's name.
John Waters, Jr., was born at Providence, R. I., August 20, 1777, and lived there until fifteen years old, when he removed to Deer- field, Mass., in this county. Here he engaged in farming, and in 1798 married Huldah Rob- bins, who was born in Deerfield in 1772, daughter of John and Hannah Robbins. A few years later he and his wife with their two elder children, John and Asa, moved to Clinton County, New York, performing the weary jour- ney with an ox team and sled. The two youn- ger children, Levi R. and Huldah, were born in New York. He bought a partly improved farm of eighty acres, on which he lived for a short time, and then sold it and purchased a tract of wild land of the same extent. His first labor was to make an opening in which he could erect the customary log house to shelter himself and family, not only from the wind and weather, but from the wild beasts
that infested the forest. Here the energetic pioneer cleared and improved a fine home- stead, and in the course of a few years a substantial frame house and a commodious barn had taken the place of the primitive log build- ings which had answered his purpose at first. While attending to his own interests he was not unmindful of the welfare of his adopted town, but assisted in its development and ad- vancement, filling various offices with fidelity. He had also a good record as a loyal and patri- otic citizen, having served with honor in the War of 1812. He was broad-minded and charitable and a firm believer in the Uni- versalist doctrines, while his good wife was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Waters, the third of the name, was born in Deerfield, in February, 1800, and was but four years old when his parents removed to Champlain, Clinton County, N. Y., which was thence afterward his home. He became a practical and progressive farmer, and, having succeeded to the ownership of the old home farm, added many and valuable improvements, rendering it one of the best and most desirable estates in the locality. His first wife, whose maiden name was Olive Richardson, died at the age of forty-one years, leaving the follow- ing children : Elvira D., the widow of James Pitts, of Clinton, Mass. ; Franklin L. ; El- virus A., deceased; Pliny F., who married Mariette Vantyne, and now lives in Ohio; Byron, deceased; Hannah J., the wife of H. G. R. Waters; and Sarah, the wife of T. Douglas. The father subsequently married Sarah Robbins, who passed away at the age of sixty years, leaving one child, William J. Waters, a resident of Oregon.
Franklin L. Waters received a practical education in the public schools, and began his business career in Massachusetts at the age of
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eighteen years, being employed for about a year and a half in turning pails at the factory of Reuben Harris in Winchendon, Mass. He was very energetic and capable, possessing ex- cellent judgment, and won the confidence of Baxter D. Whitney, an enterprising manufact- urer, to such an extent that he was engaged by him to go to Canada to establish a pail manu- factory. He remained in the employment of Mr. Whitney for several years, establishing factories for him in various localities. After that he was for a brief period a resident of Royalston, Worcester County, whence he came to Orange, where he was employed at mechan- ical labor for some time. Mr. Waters subse- quently worked several years as a millwright for Rodney Hunt ; but at length, finding that labor too arduous, he formed a partnership with T. E. Bridge, and they carried on a gen- eral mercantile business until 1863, when on account of failing health Mr. Waters sold out his interest in the business. Outdoor exercise being deemed advisable, he then ac- cepted the position of travelling agent for D. E. Cheney, and for three years was busily engaged in settling bounty land claims for the War of 1812. His health being greatly im- proved, he started anew in general merchandis- ing in Orange, following the business for about two years, when he sold out and again engaged with Mr. Cheney for three years, when he formed a partnership with Mr. C. I. Kellogg and once more entered mercantile life. About two years later he retired perma- nently from active business. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Waters was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. French, the daughter of Adams and Rhoda B. (Chaney) French. Mr. French was born in Vermont in 1802, but spent the greater part of his life in Orange, following his trade of a shoemaker. He was a thoughtful, strong-minded man, a
Democrat in politics, and a Universalist in religion. He and his wife, who is now liv- ing, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Waters, had six children, as follows: Albert and Amnos, who died when young; Adams, who married Abigail E. Kellogg; Mary A. (Mrs. Waters) ; Lysander, who married Julia A. Hunt ; and Moses C., who married Miss Kate Bishop. But two children have been born to Mr. Franklin L. Waters and his wife; and of these Byron died very young, and Her- bert P., born May 1, 1871, is a mechanic, living in Orange, where he married Miss Ada Morrell. Mr. and Mrs. Waters reside at 8 Mechanic Street, in the beautiful and com- modious house which he erected in 1871.
A man of fine character and high standing in the community where he is best known, Mr. Waters is a stanch member of the Repub- lican party and takes a warm interest in all that concerns the public welfare. He has served his constituents in various offices, hav- ing been Selectman, Overseer of the Poor, and Assessor six years ; he was elected to the same offices the seventh year, but resigned his posi- tion. During the years of 1887 and 1888 he represented his district in the State legislat- ure, and is at present filling his third term as County Commissioner. Socially, he is promi- nent in Masonic circles, belonging to Orange Lodge, A. F. & A. M., to the Crescent Lodge, Royal Arch Masons, and to the Orange Commandery. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Order of the Eastern Star Lodge, and are active workers therein. Mr. Waters was a charter member of the Ornage Savings Bank and is at present Vice-President of the same, also one of the Trustees and a member of the finance committee. He was one of the Water Commissioners at the organization of the water-works, of which he was one of the chief promoters and chairman of the board.
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OEL B. PAGE, son of Elijah and Keziah F. (Bardwell) Page, is a suc- cessful agriculturist and dairyman and a highly respected citizen of Conway, Franklin County, Mass. He lives on the ancestral homestead, his birthplace, whose original owner was his great-grandfather, Theophilus Page, who was one of the early settlers of the town of Conway, the land being a part of the additional territory granted to Deerfield in answer to the petition of the Rev. John Will- iams nearly two hundred years ago, the Massa- chusetts Colony at the time of the advent of the pioneers in these parts being under the dominion of King George II.
Theophilus Page here successfully engaged in agriculture. His death occurred in his seventy-fifth year. His son, Levi Page, was born on the Conway homestead; and, as soon as he was old enough, he began to help in the arduous labors of frontier farming. After his father's death Levi purchased the farm, which he continued to carry on with profit during the remainder of his life, dying at seventy years of age. His wife, Patty Gould Page, who was born in Russell, Mass., lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. They reared two sons and two daughters, namely: Nancy ; Levi; Elijah ; and Martha, who resides in New York State. Levi Page, Sr., was a loyal sup- porter of the Whig party, and he and his wife were members of the Congregational church.
Elijah Page, second son of Levi, was born in the year 1823, and received his education in the district schools of Conway and the Deerfield Academy. He followed with suc- cess throughout his life the hereditary occupa- tion of farming, and died in 1890, May 4, at sixty-seven years of age. His portrait here- with presented will be recognized with pleas- ure by many friends. His wife, Keziah F. Bardwell Page, who was reared in the town of
Shelburne, was a daughter of Joel Bardwell. She is still living and apparently enjoys good health, being a regular attendant of the Con- gregational church, of which she is a member. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children: Joel B .; Alice G., who married E. B. Vining and now lives in Chicago, Ill. ; Lyman R., who died aged about two years; and Mattie, who died at twenty-six years of age. Mr. Elijah Page was a Republican in politics; and he was an active and valued member of the Franklin County Agricultural Society, in which he served acceptably in many of the offices. He was an attendant of the Congregational church.
Joel B. Page grew to manhood in his native town and assisted in carrying on the home farm until his father's death, when he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs and became the owner. He is successfully en- gaged in general farming, making a specialty of dairying, also of the raising of thoroughbred stock. Mr. Page has been twice married. His first wife, Mary E. Hubbard, who became Mrs. Page in 1874, died at the early age of thirty-two years. His present wife, formerly Miss Clara A. Bradford, is a daughter of Lewis Bradford, who is a prosperous farmer of Williamsburg, Mass. She was born in Ver- mont ; but her parents afterward removed to Massachusetts, where she received her educa- tion and grew to womanhood. Their union has been brightened by the birth of one son, Robert B. Page.
Mr. Page is a stanch Republican, and takes a keen interest in town affairs. That his townsmen are not unmindful of his sterling character is evinced by the offices of trust to which he has been elected, he having served as Selectman for two years and Assessor for five years. He is a member of the Franklin County Agricultural Society.
ELIJAH PAGE.
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LARK SLATE, a retired resident of Shelburne Falls, was born in Deer- field, October 26, 1814, son of Jon- athan and Nancy (Jones) Slate. Mr. Slate's paternal grandfather, Timothy Slate, was a native of Bernardston, Mass., and became a well-to-do farmer as well as a patriotic and public-spirited citizen. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War, was a Whig in pol- itics and a Universalist in his religious views. Timothy Slate and his wife, each of whom possessed a strong constitution, lived to reach an advanced age. Their children were : Obed, Timothy, Jonathan, and Mehitable.
Jonathan Slate was born in Bernardston, Mass. He settled in Deerfield, and there fol- lowed farming for a short time, but later pur- chased a farm of one hundred acres situated in the town of Shelburne, and which is now owned by E. Ballou. He became a prosper- ous farmer, and died in Shelburne, aged seventy-four. He was a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church His wife, who lived to the age of eighty-two, became the mother of ten children : Horace; Nancy; Jane; Cynthia; Martha; Lucinda; Clara; Delia; George; and Clark, the special subject of this bio- graphical notice.
Clark Slate was educated in the schools of Shelburne Falls, and resided with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-one. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and purchased the old homestead, which he conducted in con- nection with an express and teaming business upon a route embracing the towns of Green- field, Shelburne, Charlemont, Hawley, Ash- field, Conway, and Buckland. He at length purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of land which adjoined his farm, and engaged extensively in the dairy business, keeping as many as fifty cows at a time, and also dealt
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