USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 57
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largely in sheep. Finally disposing of his farm property, he conducted a livery business in Shelburne Falls for a brief period, and then established himself in the marble and granite business, in which he was very successful, retiring therefrom in 1884. He bought the property situated at the corner of Church and Mechanic Streets, and also owns three tene- ment-houses in the immediate vicinity, which he rents. Although he has nearly completed his eighty-first year, he is still strong and active. As a citizen he is accorded the respect due to his venerable age and his many years of useful activity.
In 1837 Mr. Slate married his first wife, Melinda Sweet, who was a daughter of Henry Sweet. Mrs. Melinda S. Slate died at the age of seventy-three years, having been the mother of five children, as follows: Charles E., who married Fidelia Fisk and resides in Greenfield, having two children; Elizabeth, who died at the age of forty-two; Julia, who died aged sixteen months; Ida, who married Henry Patterson and resides in New York City; and Ella, who died at the age of four years. In 1888 Mr. Slate married his present wife, Mrs. Lois Allen, daughter of Sylvanus Peterson. Mr. Slate is a Republican in poli- tics and a Baptist in his religious views. Mrs. Slate is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
MOS BLODGETT, an enterprising resident of Orange, Mass., his native town, has been prominently identi- fied with the business development of the place and its higher interests since old enough to realize the importance of good citizenship. He was born March 12, 1832, a son of Nelson and Betsey (King) Blodgett, both natives of Franklin County, the father having been born in 1804, in New Salem. Nelson Blodgett was
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a farmer by occupation, and pursued that peaceful work during his long and busy life of seventy-eight years. Ilis wife preceded him to the brighter land, dying in the prime of womanhood, having scarcely reached the forty- seventh milestone of life. They were the par- ents of seven children : Emeline, Amos, Marble, Carrie, Mary A., Alfreda, and William.
The subject of this sketch received a fair common-school education and at an early age began to be self-supporting, working at any- thing he could find to do, being largely con- fined to farm labor. He subsequently learned to operate a saw-mill, and in 1864 formed a partnership with the late Rodney Hunt, with whom for some ten years he carried on an extensive lumbering business, buying large tracts of timber, which they cut and prepared for market, selling the lumber at good rates. In 1874 Mr. Blodgett sold out and established a contract business, doing masoning, stone work, sewering, and moving buildings. He built up a very profitable business, employing many men and many teams therein. In his capacity of stone-mason he built the founda- tion for nearly all the large machine-shops of this locality and for many of the other promi- nent buildings of the place, continuing that kind of work until 1892. Since then he has devoted his time to lighter work, being largely interested in real estate. At the south end of the village Mr. Blodgett bought one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he laid out into village lots, making streets and walks, and has there built and sold some dwelling-houses. He likewise owns several tenement-houses, the rent of which brings him a certain annual income. He holds the office of inspector of cattle and superintendent of the village sewers.
Mr. Blodgett has been twice married. His first wife, formerly Susan Merriam, was a |
daughter of Rufus and Polly (Thompson) Merriam, her father being a well-to-do farmer. She died at the age of sixty years, leaving no issue. Mr. Blodgett subsequently married Mrs. E. M. Horton, widow of the late James A. Horton, who was a jeweller by occupation. Mr. Horton died November 24, 1882, aged fifty - three years, leaving three children, namely : Nellie M., who married W. C .. Blakely, of Orange, and has one child, Helen ; Arthur L. ; and Belle B. Horton. Mrs. Blodgett is a daughter of the late Josiah and Martha (Joslin) Bacon. She has one brother, George O. Bacon. Their father was a pros- perous farmer. In politics he is a most de- cided Republican. Both he and his wife are valued and consistent members of the Congre- gational church; and he was largely instru- mental in the building of the new house of worship, giving generously of his time and money, and being the chairman of the building committee.
AVID W. TEMPLE, an extensive dealer in marble and granite in Shel- burne and a leading man in the town government, was born in Heath, December 24, 1854, son of David and Caroline (Christie) Temple, and grandson of Nathaniel and Polly (Stone) Temple. His great-grandfather, Solo- mon Temple, was one of the early settlers in Heath, buying there one hundred and thirty acres of land, which he cleared and trans- formed into a good homestead, building a com- fortable house and large barns. Nathaniel Temple, son of Solomon, was a well-to-do farmer. He bought the estate now known as the Gleason home, and there in 1820 built a house which is still standing. He was a public-spirited and patriotic man, seeing active service in the War of 1812, and taking a deep interest in the welfare of his town,
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though he refused to accept an official posi- tion. He and his wife lived to an advanced age, regularly attending Sabbath worship at the Congregational church. They had eight children, four boys and four girls.
Their son David was born in Heath, April 1, 1809. In boyhood he entered upon the labors of farm life, and, after attaining his majority, purchased the J. Chapin farm, an estate of one hundred and eighty-six acres, building a good house and barn and prospering as the years went on. In politics he was a Democrat and very active in town affairs. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1829, and held the office thirteen years, also filling minor offices ; and he was often called upon to settle estates. Mr. David Temple was a man of strong constitution and lived to be eighty- three years old. He was twice married, his first wife, Martha Christie, passing away at the age of thirty-one, leaving three children : Martha J., Hiram, and William. His second wife, Caroline Christie, was the mother of David W. and John C. Temple.
David W. Temple attended the district school, making the most of his opportunities, and at the age of twenty-one engaged as a sales- man for White & Haven, marble dealers in Rutland, \'t. He was employed in selling marble and granite eight years, spending three years with White & Haven and five years with Everson & Co. in Rutland. He then went into business at Shelburne Falls with his brother, John C. Temple, buying out Russell & Ritchie, marble and granite dealers; and under the management of the Temple brothers the business has prospered to such an extent that they are now the largest dealers in this part of New England, having branch stores in Greenfield and Pittsfield, Mass., and Rutland, Vt., John C. conducting business in the latter place. The firm has an average output of two
thousand pieces a year, and employs ninety- five men - cutters, finishers, clerks, book- keepers, and travelling men. They have cut and set some fine and costly work, including the soldiers' monuments at Warren, Mass., and at Huntington, and the handsome monu- ments of Mr. Woods at Granville, N. Y., Wells brothers at Greenfield, Percy Clement at Rut- land, Vt., Newell Snow in Shelburne Falls, and many others. They have a reputation for first- class work and honest dealing with their pa- trons, which in itself is an exhaustless capital.
In. 1874 Mr. Temple was united in mar- riage with Mary I. Warner, daughter of New- ton Warner, of whom an extended notice will be found under the name of Henry M. Warner, of Charlemont, on a neighboring page. Mr. and Mrs. Temple have welcomed to their home three children: Ruth, born September 19, 1883; Wayne N., born August 8, 1888; and Robert D., born August 3, 1890.
In politics Mr. Temple is a Democrat and a leading man in town affairs. He is chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, and for the past nine years has been Assessor and Poor Master. He is also active in fraternal associa- tions, being a member of the Knights of Pythias and of Rutland Lodge, No. 79, A. F. & A. M. (Vermont), and Past Grand of Ale- thian Lodge, No. 128, Shelburne Falls. On religious matters his views are liberal. He has a fine residence on Main Street, Shelburne Falls, surrounded by beautiful grounds, and is actively interested in the improvement of the village.
T HOMAS R. SHEARER, of Shelburne, is a very industrious and successful farmer, who was born in this town June 24, 1838. He is a son of Wallace L. and Jane (Handy) Shearer, natives of Colerain, his father having been born July 17, 1806, and his
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mother on September 17, 1808. His grand- father, Thomas Shearer, was born at Palmer, Mass., in 1749, and his grandmother Shearer, whose maiden name was Annie Workman, was born at Colerain about the year 1752.
Mr. Shearer's great - grandfather, James Shearer, who was of Scotch ancestry, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born in 1678. He was the progenitor of the family in America and settled in Union, Conn., about the year 1720, moving from there to Palmer, Mass., then called the Elbows, in 1726. He was an industrious farmer, successful in his day. He died at his home in Palmer in 1745, aged about sixty-seven years. He had three sons : John; James, Jr. ; and William. James Shearer, Jr., and his wife Jane reared a fam- ily of ten children : John, Joseph, William, Thomas, David, Jonathan, Noah, Daniel, Jane, and Betsey. Thomas, the fourth son, previous to his marriage settled upon a tract of wild land in the south-eastern part of Colerain, which he purchased of a Mr. Wilcox, of Bel- chertown. After erecting a temporary habi- tation of logs, he proceeded to clear a farm from the almost trackless wilderness, which abounded in game and was infested with hostile Indians, a constant terror to the early settlers, who were often obliged to leave everything and flee to Fort Lucas, two miles away, for protection, sometimes carrying with them the half-baked bread from the old Dutch ovens, in order to save it, cereals being scarce at that time.
In spite of the many drawbacks, Thomas Shearer by his industry accumulated a very comfortable competency, at the time of his decease, which occurred in 1819, being the owner of a very large and valuable tract of land. He served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and was a Democrat in politics. He and his wife, who was a daughter of John
Workman, attended the Congregational church. Her father came from the old country when a small boy, grew to manhood in Deerfield, and became a pioneer hotel-keeper in the eastern part of Colerain. His decease occurred in that town at a good old age. His wife also lived to be well advanced in years. The family of Thomas Shearer consisted of eight children, all of whom have passed away, namely : James, who married Ann Caldwell; Jennie and Bet- sey, both single women; Thomas, who married Margaret Miller; Philena, who became the wife of John Baldwin; Clark D., who married Lucy Smith; Philander, whose wife was Julia Warren; and Wallace L., who married Jane Handy, as above indicated.
Wallace L. Shearer was educated in the dis- trict schools of Colerain and settled upon a portion of the old homestead which he inher- ited, becoming a very prosperous farmer and a well-known man in the community. His wife, whom he married on August 31, 1837, was born at Colerain, September 17, 1808, daughter of Charles and Mary (McCrillis) Handy, her father having settled in that town as early as the year 1785 and followed agri- culture as an occupation until his decease, at the age of seventy-two years, in 1842. Her mother, who was a member of the Congrega- tional church, lived to the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Handy was a Whig in politics and a Congregationalist in his religion. Their ten children, of whom Mr. Shearer's mother is the only survivor, were as follows: John, Achsah, Charles, Polly, Roswell, Silas, Will- iam, Elizabeth, Levi, and Jane. Wallace Shearer died July 10, 1882; and his wife, who survived him, still resides at the home- stead with her son, Thomas R. She was the mother of four children, namely : Thomas R. ; Mary, who was born November 12, 1845, and is now the wife of Samuel Johnson, of Cole-
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rain ; Charles A., who died February 26, 1887 ; and Annie E., who died March 22, 1875.
Thomas R. Shearer resided with his parents until reaching manhood and received a good education in the common schools. During the Civil War he furnished large quantities of meat to the government, buying as many as four hundred head of cattle per month for a period of one year and supplying the Connecti- cut troops with beef through the contractor, W. F. Rockwell, in lots as high as one hun- dred and twenty-four head at a time. Mr. Shearer has a fine farm, consisting of one hun- dred and ninety-five acres, increased from his original purchase of twenty acres; and he is still actively engaged in general farming, hav- ing been very successful both as a farmer and as a dealer in meat and produce, which he has sent to Boston and New York markets.
On February 22, 1894, he married Miss Annie Carpenter, who was born in Leyden in 1860, daughter of Joseph O. Carpenter, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer have one son, named Charles Raymond. Mr. Shearer is a Republican in politics, having been quite active in public affairs; and both he and his wife are liberal in their religious views.
His cousin, Earl Shearer, who was born June 14, 1840, served as Selectman in Cole- rain for a period of fifteen years, and repre- sented his district in the legislature during the session of 1885. He married Harriet S. Don- nelson, of Colerain, and died February 17, 1892, leaving a widow and two children, Elizabeth and Alfred, now residing at Shirley, Mass.
Sumner. His grandfather also was named Levi, and was a farmer who had a large prop- erty in Vermont. Levi Sumner, Jr., was born in Jacksonville, Vt. ; and there his youth was passed, attending school in his boyhood and working at farming as soon as he was able. When about twenty-four years of age he bought a farm in Stamford, Vt., on which he spent three years, subsequently purchasing the one on which his son Oscar resides in Heath, which was called the Enoch Harris place and covers one hundred acres. He made many extensive improvements, built a new house and barn, and
" There, marking, o'er his farm's expanding ring, New fleeces whiten, and new crops upspring,".
gathered the harvests of many years, passing from the scene of his earthly toils on March 15, 1871, at the age of sixty-eight. In poli- tics Mr. Sumner was a Democrat, and in re- ligion he held liberal views. His wife was eighty years old when she laid down the bur- dens of life. They had nine children, five girls and four boys.
Oscar A. Sumner received his early educa- tion in the schools of Heath. He came into possession of the farm at his father's death, and cared for his mother in her declining years. In 1888 he bought one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Whitingham, Vt., and now runs the two farms, dealing largely in stock, horses and sheep more especially, and receiving quite an income from his dairy of choice Durhams. He is a progressive man, keeping well up with the times, and is con- sidered one of the best farmers in the town of Heath.
On January 1, 1872, Mr. Sumner was united in marriage to Miss Kate Kinsman, daughter of Bliss and Betsey (Temple) Kinsman. The
SCAR A. SUMNER, an extensive farmer in North Heath, was born in the house where he now lives on July 1, 1846, son of Levi, Jr., and Deborah (Waste) first of Mrs. Sumner's family in this country
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was Robert Kinsman, a native of England, who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1635, and married, it is said, a daughter of Thomas Bore- man. Samuel Kinsman, the paternal grand- father of Mrs. Sumner, was a resident of Southboro and later of Heath. Her father, Bliss Kinsman, was born in Heath, on the homestead of his father, May 1, 1804. In his youth he was engaged in teaming, travelling between here and Boston, and later was en- gaged in the manufacture of bricks, besides cultivating a farm, upon which he built a brick house for a family residence. He was an enterprising and successful man, a Republi- can in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Betsey, daughter of Nathaniel and Polly (Stone) Temple, who was born October 3, 1830, and is still living, bright and active at sixty-five years of age. Seven children were the fruit of this union, Mrs. Sumner being the youngest.
Mr. and Mrs. Sumner have three children, namely : Alta B., born July 15, 1874, wife of Justice W. Stetson, a young and popular miller in Heath; Arthur O., born May 9, 1875; and Austin E., born August 22, 1882.
Oscar A. Sumner is a stanch Democrat, prominent in town affairs, and has served with credit in various capacities, holding the office of Assessor several times. On the subject of religion he is liberal in his views and tolerant of the opinions of others.
ILLIAM H. BURRINGTON, a pro- gressive farmer in Heath, Franklin County, Mass., was born in this town on May 14, 1842, son of John and Susan (Canedy) Burrington. His paternal great- grandfather was born in Rhode Island and settled early in Colerain, where, prospering as a farmer, he became a large land-owner,
His son William, the first of the name here to be considered, bought a tract of wild land in Colerain, which he cleared and converted into a comfortable homestead, he, too, prosper- ing in worldly affairs and becoming a promi- nent man in the town. He was a stanch Whig, and fought in the Revolutionary War, serving the town also as Selectman and in other capacities. In religion he followed the teachings of the Baptist church. He married Mary Burrington, who, though bearing the same name, was not, so far as known, in any way related to him. They reared four chil- dren : Robert, Caroline, Lucinda, and John.
The latter, already named as the father of our subject, was born in Colerain, October 26, 1810, and while yet a boy went to work in the stone quarry in Quincy, Norfolk County, near Boston, saving his earnings until he had accumulated two hundred dollars. With that sum he made a payment on two hundred acres of land in the northern part of Heath, incur- ring a debt of two thousand six hundred dol- lars for the balance. By carefully husbanding what he received from the dairy products, the crops, and the live stock of his farm, in ten years he was able to pay off every cent ; and he sold this farm and purchased the Asa Ken- drick estate, which covers one hundred - and fifty acres. There he made some radical changes, erecting new buildings and remodel- ling old ones. His undertakings prospered to such an extent that when his children became of age he gave to each one one thousand dol- lars. In politics a Whig, he served the town as Selectman for several terms; and he was very active in religious work. He died at the age of seventy-six. On December 2, 1835, he married Susan, daughter of John and Susan (Stowe) Canedy, who was born May 31, 1818. John Canedy, who was a native of Colerain, was a well-to-do farmer. He died at the age
WILLIAM H. BURRINGTON.
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of fifty and his wife lived to be seventy-five. They reared eight children, four boys and four girls. Mrs. Burrington is still living, resid- ing with her son and enjoying the sunset of a well-spent life. She retains her faculties and has a remarkable memory. Her children are as follows : Susan J., wife of E. P. Thompson ; William H. ; A. John ; and Horace W.
William H. Burrington attended both pub- lic and private schools, and at the age of twenty-two started to earn a livelihood, tilling the Fred Ward farm, which his father bought and gave to him. This farm covers one hun- dred and seventeen acres, and for three years he cultivated the soil with fair success. He then sold the estate, buying another near by, which hardly met his needs; and finally he purchased the homestead where he lives to-day, his property, which includes the first farm he cultivated, now covering four hundred acres. He has made some improvements on the old place, building in 1894 a barn forty- two by seventy-two feet and a wagon-house. He has a choice dairy of thirty cows, a large flock of sheep, young cattle, and some fine horses. He owns the largest tract of cul- tivated land in the town, very little of his prop- erty being timber land, and is the highest tax-payer in Heath. His agricultural work is conducted on scientific principles, and the results speak for themselves.
On December 6, 1870, Mr. Burrington was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Jonas and Angeline (Clapp) Ballard, and grand-daughter of Captain William and Elizabeth (Whitney) Ballard. Her father, Grandfather Ballard, was born in Lancaster, Mass. In early man- hood he bought a farm of one hundred and fif- teen acres on the river in Charlemont and built a brick house for a family residence, making the bricks himself. This farm is now owned and occupied by Charles H. Ballard, a
grandson. In politics William Ballard was a Whig. He was Captain in the State militia and was a member of the Congregational church. Jonas Ballard, his son, was born in Charlemont, and devoted his life to agricult- ural pursuits, developing the homestead farm, to which he added one hundred and twenty acres. A stanch Republican and a member of the Congregational church, his long life of ninety years was a useful and upright one. His wife passed away at the age of seventy.
Mr. and Mrs. Burrington have three chil- dren : Mary C., born September 1, 1874; Frank D., born May 13, 1876; and Charles B., born March 31, 1881. Mr. Burrington has served the town as Selectman. He and his wife are active members of the Union church. Mr. Burrington comes of good Colo- nial stock, being a descendant of early immi- grants and grandson of a Revolutionary patriot. His portrait on an adjoining page enhances the interest and value of this brief personal and family record.
ALVIN K. CHILDS, a successful ag- riculturist and well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Conway, Mass., was born in Ashfield, an adjoining town, also in Franklin County, July 31, 1847, son of Dennis `and Clarissa (Keyes) Childs, and grandson of Reuben Childs and of the Rev. Calvin Keyes.
Dennis Childs was. a native of Conway, but in early manhood he removed to Ashfield; and there he successfully conducted a general store. He afterward sold his business and returned to Conway, where for a few years he engaged in the manufacture of canes; but he subse- quently purchased the farm now occupied by Calvin K. Childs, and spent the remainder of his active life in its cultivation. He died at seventy-five years of age. His wife, Clarissa
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Keyes Childs, who lived to the age of eighty- three, was born in Lancaster, Mass., June 22, 1808, daughter of the Rev. Calvin and Reli- ance (Tolman) Keyes, the former of whom was a well-known Baptist minister. The par- ents of Mrs. Childs were married on February 22, 1785, and their union was blessed by the birth of twelve children, as follows: Clarissa, Calvin, Luther, Reliance, Lydia, Phila, Luther (second), Rhoda, Joel, Nancy, Mary, and Elmira. Mrs. Childs and her husband reared two sons and two daughters : Mary L., Dennis G., Calvin K., and Mattie W.
Instead of forsaking the paternal roof as soon as he was old enough to begin the work of life, Calvin K. Childs remained at home with his parents, whom he faithfully cared for in their old age. The homestead when he inherited it contained twenty acres; but he has since added to it so that he now has two hundred and sixty acres of good farming land, his farm being, it is said, one of the best in this vicinity. He also built a cattle and hay barn and improved the place in other respects. He makes a specialty of raising full-blooded Jersey cattle, and has taken premiums at many of the fairs and cattle shows where he has exhibited his stock. At the present time he has twenty fine Jerseys and makes a large amount of choice butter, for which he finds a ready sale at good prices in the private fami- lies of the surrounding villages.
Mr. Childs was married in 1873 to Miss Elizabeth Akers, who was born and reared in England. Mrs. Childs died on February 14, 1890, leaving four children, two sons and two daughters : Mattie W., Sarah J., Dennis H., and Raymond R.
Mr. Childs is widely known, being a mem- ber of many of the agricultural societies of the State. In politics he is a supporter of Repub- lican principles. His pleasant home is located
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