USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 59
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Elias Ford Bradford received a good practi- cal education in the district schools of the town. As he grew to manhood, he assisted his father more and more in carrying on the farm; and later on he purchased the home- stead, which contains one hundred and fifty acres of good farming land. He has since successfully engaged in general husbandry, but makes a specialty of dairying. Aside from the time he was engaged in the Civil War, in which he rendered three years of faithful service as a soldier of the First Massa- chusetts Cavalry, and two years devoted to travelling in the West prior to the war, his life has been spent on this place, which is known as Cloverfield Farm.
Mr. Bradford's first wife, whom he married in 1860, Lottie Howe, daughter of Artemas Howe, of Barre, Mass., died when but twenty- five years of age. In 1862 he married his present wife, formerly Miss Fannie E. Flagg, who is a daughter of Samuel Flagg, of Conway, Mass. Four children have been born of this union ; namely, Lottie J., Mary R., Samuel F., and Walter L. Mr. Bradford has always been a stanch Republican. He is a charter member of the Farmers' Club of Conway, and is also a charter member of F. A. Clary Post, No. 164, Grand Army of the Republic, of Con- way, in which he has served as Commander. Mr. Bradford and his estimable wife are active and influential members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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ENRY CLAY JOY, a retired resi- dent of Shelburne Falls, was born in Hawley, Franklin County, Mass., August 5, 1823, son of Noah and Persis (War- ner) Joy, the former of whom was a native of Plainfield, Hampshire County, Mass., where his birth occurred February 27, 1782. Noah Joy acquired such an education as the public schools of Plainfield afforded, and, on attain- ing manhood, settled in Hawley, where he bought one hundred acres of land and engaged in farming. He later added to the acreage of his farm and became one of the thriving agri- culturists of Franklin County. He also at- tained prominence in the State militia, becoming Colonel of his regiment. Politi- cally, he was a Whig, and was Selectman of his town for fifteen years. He died May 23, 1843. His wife, Persis Warner, was born August 17, 1784, and died October 27, 1853. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : Laura, Annis, Eliza, Hannah, Merrick, Lorenzo W., Nelson, Henry C., and Maryett.
Henry C. Joy in his early years attended the district schools of Hawley, and made the best of his limited opportunities for securing an education. He remained at home and assisted his father on the farm until the age of twenty- six years. Two years later he went to Green- field, where he found employment as clerk in a grocery store, continuing thus for four years. He then went to Newport, Wis., where for three years he was engaged in the grocery business on his own account, after that remov- ing to Washington, D.C., and engaging in the hotel business. This was during the Civil War. Finding hotel-keeping profitable, he continued in that occupation for about twenty- five years. Coming to Shelburne Falls in 1885, he purchased the handsome residence at 5 Severance Street, which his brother was build-
ing at the time, and has since resided here, retired from the active duties of life, but tak- ing a keen interest in the welfare of the com- munity and ever ready to lend his influence and assistance to the support of every good cause. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Joy was first married on October 15, 1849, to Jerusha King, daughter of Ezra and Jerusha King, the former of whom was a well- to-do farmer, who died in 1841 at the age of fifty-seven years, survived many years by his wife, whose death occurred in 1882, at the remarkable age of ninety-four years. They had twelve children, namely: Hiram, Mercy V., Joanna, Chloe R., Esther, Olive B., Ezra B., J. Warriner, Sylvia L., Abigail, Mahalath G., and Jerusha G .- a good old-fashioned New England family. It would be well for the country if there were more of them nowadays. Mrs. Jerusha K. Joy, who was born July 12, 1829, died in 1888.
On January 2, 1890, Mr. Joy was married for the second time to Gertrude E. Morley, daughter of Asahel M. and Ruth (Cadwell) Morley, of Hartford, Conn. Mr. Morley was in his early days a general store-keeper, but in later years became a broker and dealt quite largely in real estate. Neither he nor his wife is now living. He died at the age of sixty years, and his wife when forty-six years old. They had three children : Wilbert N., who died when a child of six years; Gertrude E. ; and Franklin A., who married Mae F. Clark, and is engaged in the insurance busi- ness in Hartford, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Joy are good substantial New England people of the old school, and their home presents an appearance of thrift and neatness cheerful to behold and indicative of comfort and well- earned prosperity.
CHARLES PARSONS. JR.
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AMES F. TEMPLE, editor and pub- lisher of the Deerfield Valley Echo, was born in Waverly, Ia., June 8, 1869, son of William H. and Helen (Martin) Temple. An extended notice of his grand- father, David Temple, will be found in the sketch of D. W. Temple in this volume.
William H. Temple was born in Heath, Franklin County, Mass., September 12, 1842. He learned the trade of tinsmith and plumber, and for some time worked at Greenfield and Athol. In 1876 he went to Waverly, Ia., and there worked at his trade some ten years. The ten years following he was engaged in the marble and granite business, but eventually resumed his trade, and is now doing a success- ful business. In 1862 Mr. Temple enlisted for the defence of the Union, being enrolled in Company B, Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, and served eleven months. In pol- itics he is a Democrat, and active in local political circles. Mr. Temple has two sons : James F. ; and Claude R., a plumber, in busi- ness with his father.
James F. Temple graduated from the Wa- verly High School, and at the age of sixteen entered a printing-office to learn the mysteries of the "art preservative." In 1892, while on a visit East, he bought out F. I. Bartlett & Co., publishers of the Deerfield Valley Echo. This paper was started in March, 1891, and, like many other papers that came to existence in that vicinity, received very small encourage- ment. Mr. Temple, thoroughly understanding his business and being energetic and hopeful, soon put new life into the enterprise. Com- mencing in April, 1893, with a very small circulation, he has made the Echo one of the best and most interesting weekly papers in the county, and is now printing eight hundred copies weekly. It is independent in politics, giving a fair show to both parties, and is win-
ning such universal approbation that the sub- scription list is monthly increasing.
Mr. Temple is an honorary member of Typo- graphical Union No. 42 of Minneapolis, of the League of American Wheelmen of Boston, also a member of the Hampshire and Franklin County Press Club. He is a Knight of Pyth- ias, a member of the S. S. C. C., and of the Knights of Maccabees of Waverly, Ia. In religious views he is liberal. On July 15, 1895, Mr. Temple purchased the job printing- office formerly owned by J. L. Goldsmith, and at present he has the only printing-office in the town.
HARLES PARSONS, JR., the sub- ject of the following sketch and the accompanying portrait, is a promi- nent agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen of Conway, Franklin County, Mass., where he was born April 2, 1839, son of Charles and Sylvia (Boyden) Parsons. He is a representa- tive of one of the oldest, most widely known, and influential families in the Connecticut valley, descendants of two brothers, Joseph and Benjamin, of English birth, who were among the first-comers to this region, the name being on the Springfield records as early as 1636. A few years later both Benjamin, the direct ancestor of Mr. Parsons, and his brother, "Cornet " Joseph, removed to North- ampton. Benjamin Parsons married in 1653 Sarah Vore (or Voar), of Windsor, Conn., and died in 1689. One or more of their children settled at Enfield, Conn. Samuel Parsons married Miss Hannah Hitchcock, and they reared five children. Their second son, Joel Parsons, who was born in Somers, Conn., Jan- uary 28, 1753, in early manhood removed to Conway, Mass., where he successfully engaged in agriculture and blacksmithing, and here passed the remainder of his life. At twenty-
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two years of age, on July 31, 1775, he was united in marriage with Miss Tryphena Booth. The birth of their son Charles occurred in Conway on June 22, 1798. Like his father, he turned his attention to farming, and with grati- fying results. He rendered faithful service to his town as Selectman and Assessor and took an active part in various public enterprises, among others the organization of the Conway National Bank ; and he was a liberal contrib- utor toward the support of schools and churches. He and his wife, Sylvia Boyden Parsons, whom he married on October 30, 1820, had five children, namely : Adeline; Nancy ; Tryphena B. ; Charles L., who died when six weeks old; and Charles, Jr., who continued to live under the parental roof after reaching manhood.
Having received his education in the com- mon schools and in Conway Academy, when twenty-three years of age he received from his father an interest in the homestead; and for three years they conducted the farm in partner- ship. From that time Mr. Parsons the younger took entire charge and cared for his parents until their death, after which he be- came the owner of the homestead and has since continued to carry it on with profit. The farm contains four hundred acres. In 1867 Mr. Parsons, in connection with general farm- ing, began to breed full-blooded stock, and is now known as one of the most successful stock - raisers in Massachusetts. His barns are models of convenience and comfort, and his residence one of the finest in this vicinity. On October 29, 1862, Mr. Parsons was united in marriage with Miss Helen A. Wickham, a daughter of D. M. Wickham, of Albion, N. Y. Their union has been blessed by the birth of five children, a son and four daughters ; namely, Mary Adeline, Charles Lyman, Lizzie, Lois, and Sylvia B.
In politics Mr. Parsons is a Republican. He rendered efficient service to his town as Selectman from 1880 to 1885, and later on served three years more in the same office. He has acted as chairman of the Board of Town Commissioners for several years, is now serving his second term as chairman of the Road Commissioners, and has also acted one year as a member of the School Committee. For many years he has filled the office of Jus- tice of the Peace. Mr. Parsons took a promi- nent part in the establishment of the Conway Creamery, which was started in 1887, and has since been connected with it, acting as director of the company most of the time, and serving as secretary and treasurer between three and four years, during a year and a half being also engaged as the business manager. The cream- ery is second to none in New England, both as to quantity and quality of butter produced. Mr. Parsons is now a stockholder in Conway National Bank, one of the Trustees of the Con- way Savings Bank, and a Director of the Con- way Electric Street Railway Company. He was superintendent of construction in the erec- tion in Conway village of the town hall, the site of which was given by him to the town.
The building is one of the finest in this part of Franklin County, and was erected at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. The founda- tions of the structure are forty-eight by sixty feet in dimension, and it is two stories in height. One-third of the first floor is used for a public library, which contains a fair-sized collection of instructive and interesting books. The remainder of the first floor is devoted to rooms for town officials and a soldiers' memo- rial hall. The upper floor is used as an audi- torium for lectures and entertainments. Its acoustic properties are excellent. It is sup- plied with comfortable chairs and is con- structed with a good stage, well equipped with
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scenery, which was placed there by private sub- scription, the seating capacity of the hall being enlarged by a gallery which will accon- modate about forty persons.
Fraternally, Mr. Parsons is connected with the Franklin County Agricultural Society, and is a prominent Mason, being a charter member of the Morning Sun Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Conway, and its first Worshipful Master, also a member of Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and the Connecticut Valley Commandery, Knights Templars. He is like- wise Past District Deputy of the Grand Lodge. In religious views Mr. Parsons is orthodox, is a member of the Congregational church of Conway, and for twenty years was connected with the choir.
HARLES B. NEWELL, a leading citizen of Rowe, prominent in politics and in agriculture, was born in Whitingham, Vt., October 3, 1839, son of Baxter H. and Rachel (Briggs) Newell, and grandson of Joshua and Dorcas (Lyon) Newell. Joshua Newell was born in the eastern part of Massachusetts in 1809. Removing to Vermont when a young man, he bought a tract of wild land in Whitingham, comprising fifty acres, which he converted into a comfortable home- stead, prospering as years rolled on and adding to his property until it covered two hundred and fifty acres. He built substantial frame buildings, and at his death, which occurred when he was fifty years old, left a valuable property. In politics he was a Whig, and in religious belief a Universalist, his wife attend- ing the same church. They had nine children.
Baxter H. Newell was born in Whiting- ham and spent his life on the home farm, car- ing for his parents in their declining years. He bought one hundred and fifty acres adjoin-
ing the homestead, which, added to the origi- nal property, made a vast estate. In 1868 he sold this property to his son Chester, and, retiring from active business, bought a home in Shelburne Falls, where he died at the age of seventy-nine. His wife passed away at sixty-two. Baxter H. Newell, having cast his first votes with the Whigs, later supported the Republican platform ; and for twelve years he was Selectman, Assessor, and Poor Master. He was a public-spirited and patriotic man and actively assisted in raising troops at the time of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter H. Newell had five children, as follows : Charles B., John L., Chester V., Luana R., and Herbert.
Charles B. Newell attended the public schools in Whitingham, finishing his educa- tion at the Whitingham Academy and at Townshend Seminary. At the age of twenty- two he went to work at Charlestown, Mass., where he was employed for five years. He then went into business with his brother, John L., who had a general store at Shelburne Falls, and was there engaged for twelve years, with varying fortune. The business paid well; but the store was burned in 1875 and
had to be rebuilt, and Mr. Newell's health failed, so that he felt constrained to retire from mercantile life. In 1883 he bought the Barrett farm in Rowe, a property of two hun- dred and fifty acres, and has remodelled the house and barn and established a fine farm. He has a choice dairy, keeping forty-five head of cattle, and has been engaged to some extent in sheep-raising. Besides his home property he owns the Hunt farm, which covers one hun- dred and ninety-three acres, and the Brown farm, an estate of one hundred and sixty acres.
On November 1, 1862, Mr. Newell was united in marriage with Lucy J., daughter of John P. and Jane (Green) Dix, of Whiting-
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ham, Vt. Mr. Dix was a farmer and lived to a good age. Mrs. Lucy J. Newell died in 1874, at the age of thirty-two. She left four children, as follows: Bradley C., now of Jack- sonville, Vt., who married Ellen Allard and has three children; Carrie J., at home with her father; Alice M., who married John S. Hunt and lives at Miller's Falls; Flora L., who married Charles O. Peck and has one child.
In politics Mr. Newell is a Republican and was Representative for this district in 1891. In the town he has been Selectman, Assessor, and Poor Master, serving also on the School Committee ; and for two years he has been President of the Agricultural Society of Charlemont. In religion Mr. Newell holds liberal views.
ARREN F. TOWER, a leading farmer and influential citizen of Monroe, Franklin County, was born in Florida, Berkshire County, Mass., April 23, 1828, son of Martin and Fanny (Clark) Tower, and grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fuller) Tower. According to the genealogi- cal record in the History of Hingham, Mass., the original progenitors of the Tower family in America were Robert and Dorothy (Damon) Tower, residents of Hingham, England, whose son John came to this country and settled in Hingham, Mass., in 1637. John's son Benja- min was the father of Thomas and grandfather of Shadrach, who married Miss Ruth Cobb. Thomas, the second, who married Elizabeth Fuller, was son of Shadrach and Ruth, and hence was of the fifth generation in America; and Warren F. Tower, the subject of this sketch, represents the seventh. It has been said that the name was originally Tour, which later became Tore, and finally Tower.
Thomas Tower was the first to remove to the western part of the State. He came from Ashfield, Mass., and settled in Florida, of which town he became a progressive farmer. He first purchased one hundred acres of new land, all of which he cleared, and built thereon a substantial house and barn; and later on he bought two hundred acres additional. He was a popular and influential citizen, and in politi- cal affiliation a Republican. He and his wife, Elizabeth Fuller Tower, were the parents of the following children : Lucy, Thomas, Mar- tin, William, Betsy, Chester, and Polly.
Martin Tower, who was born in the town of Florida, Berkshire County, August 8, 1790, chose the vocation of an agriculturist and pur- chased a farm in his native town. He was a well-read and highly intelligent farmer and an influential and prosperous citizen. In poli- tics he was a Republican and served acceptably in various town offices. He died at the age of seventy-seven years; and his wife, Fanny Clark Tower, lived to be but fifty-seven years old. Their union was blessed by the birth of sixteen children : Alvin, Calvin, Orrin, Fanny, Phila, Lucy, Harry, William (de- ceased), Warren F., Calista, William, Hough- ton, Eli, Sidney, Miles, and Miner.
Warren F. Tower remained with his parents until he reached his majority, acquiring a good practical education in the district school. He then purchased one hundred acres of what is known as the Dunbar lot in the town of Monroe, and later on bought forty acres addi- tional. He is a successful agriculturist, and aside from his general farming and stock-rais- ing he has been largely interested in lumber- ing. In 1888, his house having been destroyed by fire, he erected a substantial new one. Mr. Tower served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1862 in Company B of the Fifty-second Massachusetts Regiment, under Colonel Green-
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leaf, and took part in the battle of Port Hud- son and other engagements, returning home after eleven months' service. In 1853 he was married to Miss Nancy Roberts, who died when but twenty-six years of age. His second wife was Miss Elzada Polley, of Savoy, who died at the age of forty-nine years. This union was blessed by the birth of eight chil- dren, namely: Nancy, who died young ; Sarah, the wife of Dexter Bailey, of Whitingham, \'t., who has one child, Eva; Emma and Etta, residing at home; Minnie, who married Mel- vin H. Stafford, of Readsboro, Vt., and has two children - Elva and Clifton; Willis H. and Nellie, who live with their father; and Eddie, the seventh-born, who died young.
Mr. Tower is a Republican and a man of sterling character, who has been frequently chosen by his townsmen to fill offices of trust and responsibility. He has served very ac- ceptably as Selectman for ten years, also as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and as a mem- ber of the School Committee. In religious views he is liberal.
EORGE A. BERRY, a successful farmer and lumberman of Shutesbury, was born in Prescott, Hampshire County, Mass., April 13, 1837, son of Will- iam A. and Mary (Thrasher) Berry, his ances- tors having been among the first settlers of that town. His paternal grandfather, John Berry, who was a native of Prescott, was an energetic and industrious farmer, and accumu- lated considerable wealth. He died at the old Berry homestead in Prescott, at the age of over eighty years, and the farm is now occu- pied by four generations of the family. Will- iam A. Berry, son of John, was likewise a successful farmer and a resident of Prescott throughout his earthly life, he, however, attain-
ing only forty years of age. He was a Demo- crat in politics and liberal in his religious views. His wife, Mary Thrasher Berry, a native of New Braintree, became the mother of three children, as follows: William M., who died at the age of twenty-one; Mary J., who died aged five years; and George A., the subject of this sketch. The mother died at the age of seventy-seven.
George A. Berry grew to manhood in Pres- cott. He commenced his studies in the schools of his native town, and completed his education at the New Salem Academy. He taught in the public schools for several terms, and resided at home until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Shutesbury, where he now resides, and, having since acquired more land, his property at the present time consists of five hundred acres. He has conducted extensive lumbering operations, in which he has been successful, and now occupies a prominent posi- tion among the well-to-do residents of Shutes- bury. Mr. Berry is a Republican in politics, and is active and influential in public affairs. He is chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and has served as Collector and Town Clerk. In 1879 he was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives, and served the district with credit.
On May 7, 1859, Mr. Berry was united in marriage with Rebecca Vaughan, who was born in Prescott, December 12, 1836, and by whom he had four children, as follows: Mary A., who died aged thirty-two; Elmer A., a farmer and lumbernian of New Salem; Lura L. and Bessie J., who reside at hoine. Mrs. Rebecca V. Berry died December 9, 1883 ; and on May 7, 1885, Mr. Berry wedded for his second wife Mrs. Abbie S. Crossman (née Cowles). Mr. Berry is a liberal in religion, and Mrs. Berry is a member of the Congregational church.
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ILLIAM W. HUNT, a general mer- chant at Wendell Depot, was born at New Salem, May 15, 1842, son of Warren and Betsey (Stacy) Hunt. Mr. Hunt's grandfather, Gardner Hunt, resided in New Salem, where he followed agricultural pursuits and passed the greater portion of his life. Warren Hunt was born in New Salem and was reared to farm life; but, being nat- urally skilful in the use of tools, he relin- quished agriculture, preferring to follow the vocation of a mechanic. He worked several years in New Salem, and passed the last twenty-five years of his life in Leverett, where he died at the age of sixty years. His wife, who was a daughter of Ninfus Stacy, of Pres- cott, became the mother of three children, as follows: Jane, who married James F. Smith, and is now deceased; Wilson, a mechanic residing at Thorndike; and William W., above named. The mother died in Prescott, aged sixty-three years.
William W. Hunt acquired his education in the schools of New Salem, and after com- pleting his studies there engaged in the gro- cery business, which he conducted for a period of six years. He then moved to Wendell Depot and purchased the store now occupied by Mr. Graves, which he conducted success- fully for the succeeding two years, and in 1881 established himself in his present place, where, under his forceful energy, his business even in these days of driving competition has expanded into large proportions. Mr. Hunt has also succeeded, withal, in securing the firm friendship and good will of his fellow-towns- men, who regard him with the highest respect and esteem.
In 1863 Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Lucy A. Smith, daughter of Amos K. Smith, of New Salem, Mass. They are the parents of six children, as follows: Lewis
L., station agent at Wendell, who married Jessie Cobb, and has one child named Athe- line; Horace H., who wedded Eva L. Cobb, and is in business with his father; Annie B. ; Frank H. ; Eva J. ; and Angie L.
In politics Mr. Hunt is a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in public affairs, in which he is a prominent figure. He has served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen for the past six years, and in 1890 represented the Third Franklin District in the State leg- islature. He has also been Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for the past seven years. He very capably filled the position of Post- master at New Salem, and since coming to Wendell Depot has served the public in the same capacity, giving equal satisfaction. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and his son Lewis is serv- ing upon the School Board.
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