USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 67
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1884, when he retired from business. He has since made this farm his permanent abid- ing-place. In 1884 he built a fine barn ; and he has remodelled and added to the house, which was erected in 1782 by his wife's people, and is a substantial and well-built structure, so that now he has a handsome country seat. Mr. Bar- ber has practically retired from active business. He employs help to carry on the work of the farm and to attend to his stock, which com- prises some fine varieties.
Mr. Barber's first wife, Celestia M., daugh- ter of Samuel Potter, a prominent farmer in the vicinity, died when scarcely thirty years of age. His second wife is Martha A., daughter of Alexander P. and Sarah (Temple) Maxwell. On the paternal side Mrs. Barber's earliest American ancestor was Hugh Maxwell, Sr., a native of Ireland, but of Scotch descent, who emigrated to Massachusetts about 1733, with his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Cor- bett, and their infant son, Hugh, Jr., known afterward as Colonel Maxwell, and settled in Bedford, Middlesex County. Their son Ben- jamin, the grandfather of Mrs. Barber, was born in Bedford, Mass., March 17, 1737 (O.S.); and in early manhood he settled in Heath, where in course of time he became an extensive real estate owner. He was Lieuten- ant of a company of minute-men in the Revo- lution, and was also, with his elder brother, Colonel Hugh, one of Colonel Rogers's rangers. Benjamin Maxwell lived to be ninety-two years old. His wife, whose name before marriage was Ann Winslow, died in middle age, leaving nine children, including six sons; namely, Benjamin, Jr., William, Sylvanus, Winslow, Frazier, and Alexander Park. The latter, who was born in Heath in 1786, was heir to a part of the old homestead in Heath; and he bought land in Charlemont near the town line, his estate covering some
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three hundred acres. He was progressive and thrifty, and erected new buildings on his place, keeping everything in good condition. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a public-spirited man, taking an active interest in the welfare of the town and filling various official positions with merit, being a Justice of the Peace for years. Mr. Alexander P. Max- well died at the age of seventy-eight, his wife living to be three years older. They were both members of the Congregational church.
In politics Mr. Barber is a Republican. He is Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Tax Collec- tor, and Registrar. He has always taken an interest in the furtherance of education in the town of Heath, and is at present agent for school supplies. Having travelled extensively in the West and South, and spent so many years in the metropolis, he has acquired a large amount of practical knowledge, and is a valuable citizen to the town, questions of pub- lic importance being frequently referred to his judgment.
EORGE R. FESSENDEN, M. D., is an eminent physician of Ashfield, well known throughout the length and breadth of Franklin County, his extended practice embracing all classes of people. He was born at Rochester, N. H., December 6, 1849, son of James M. and Eliza (Tibbets) Fessenden.
James M. Fessenden was born and bred in Arlington, Mass., and, when a young man, be- came versed in the mechanical arts. In com- pany with a Mr. Woodruff he established a manufacturing business at West Cambridge, Mass., where they continued for some years, but later removed their plant to Rochester, N. H. In 1869 Mr. Fessenden sold out his property there, and removed to Beaver Falls, Pa., where, in company with Mr. E. J. Blake,
he made the first machine for cutting files that was ever manufactured in the United States, a business in which he was engaged until failing health obliged him to retire from active pur- suits, his death, at the age of sixty-nine years, occurring soon after. He was a very success- ful man, accumulating considerable property, among his real estate being a valuable plan- tation in Mississippi. He was a stanch adherent of the Republican party, was public- spirited, and served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen. He was also active in relig- ious circles and a member of the Presbyterian church. His widow died in 1885, beloved and respected by the many friends whom she had attracted and retained by her noble and womanly qualities. Four children were born to her, namely: William C., a resident of Beaver Falls, Pa., who married Jessie Hos- mer; James and Alice, who died at an early age; and George R., of whom we write.
George R. Fessenden fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, in the class of 1869, received his bachelor's degree at Har- vard in 1874, and four years later was grad- uated from the Medical School of that univer- sity. After some months' study and experi- ence in the hospitals at Pittsburg, Pa., Dr. Fessenden came to Western Massachusetts, first settling in Plainfield. A year and a half later, in 1879, he embraced the opportunity to buy out the residence and practice of Dr. J. R. Fairbanks, in Ashfield, where he has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession, by his thorough knowledge of medicine and his untiring devotion to his work winning the confidence and esteem of the peo- ple, and establishing an enviable reputation as a skilful practitioner. It is a striking fact, and one which speaks well for his ability and success as a guardian of health, that in twenty- one of the families that are in the habit of
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calling him when needing medical attention, there is either a father or mother, or both, be- tween the ages of eighty and ninety-five years.
The marriage of Dr. George R. Fessenden and Miss Kate M. Pratt, daughter of Frank P. and Jane K. (Fisk) Pratt, of Southbridge, was celebrated December 4, 1885 ; and of this happy union two bright and promising children have been born: George R., Jr., the date of whose birth was June 28, 1887 ; and Margaret S., whose infant life began September 20, 1891. Since coming to Ashfield Dr. Fessen- den has remodelled and enlarged his house and office and rebuilt the barns. He has one of the finest collections of antique furniture and curios to be found in the county, his home being one of the most attractive and hospitable in the vicinity. Although a stanch Republi- can in politics, the Doctor has always been obliged to decline official honors, but has served as chairman of the Republican Com- mittee. He is a fine speaker; and the free lectures on anatomy and physiology which he gives each season at the academy are largely attended, the size of the audience being lim- ited only by the capacity of the hall. Dr. Fessenden is President of the Ashfield Library Association and an esteemed member of the Morning Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was President of Franklin District Medical Society for two years. He is liberal in his religious views, in sympathy with the broadest-minded and most advanced thinkers of the day, his wife being an earnest and sincere Christian woman, a faithful member of the Congregational church.
REE LIBRARY, Field Memorial Hall Building, Ashfield. This institution is an outgrowth of the old Sanderson Academy, and a history of the library neces- sarily includes an account of the growth of the
academy, which was established in 1816, by the Rev. Alvan Sanderson, and was probably the first school of advanced grade in the town. Mr. Sanderson was born in Whately in 1780. He graduated from Williams College in 1802, and at once took up the work of teaching, expressing, it is said, "much satisfaction in the business of instructing youth." But at that time, as to-day, there were more teachers than positions, and Mr. Sanderson finally decided to study divinity. He was licensed to preach by the Berkshire Associa- tion, and for four years labored among the destitute churches in New York, Northern Vermont, and Maine. In February, 1808, he was invited to preach at Ashfield as colleague of the Rev. Nehemiah Porter, who was then eighty-eight years old, and, accepting the call, was ordained June 22. A full account of his faithful pastorate is given in Dr. Packard's History of the Churches of Franklin County, and in the Panoplist and Missionary Herald published in 1818, now on file at the library of the missionary rooms in Boston. Mr. San- derson was finally obliged through failing health to resign his charge, and in 1816 he opened a grammar and classical school in the village. A small one-story building, formerly occupied as a store, which stood on the hill just west of the cemetery, nearly opposite where Mrs. Wright now lives, was bought and set upon his land, directly in front of where the present academy stands. Esquire White shared with Mr. Sanderson the expense of fit- ting up the building, and afterward gave his share to the corporation. Scarcely a year was the frail teacher spared to do his work; for he passed to the world beyond on June 22, 1817. He left a will bequeathing a large part of his property to establish and endow an academy, and appointing trustees, who faithfully car- ried out his wishes.
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The history of the academy from that time to the present is given fully in an interesting address at the dedication of the New Sander- son Academy and Field Memorial Hall Build- ing, Ashfield, July 24, 1889, by Frederick G. Howes, of Ashfield, one of the present trustees of the library, which address has been pub- lished in pamphlet form. Mr. Howes men- tions the names of many distinguished men who have been connected with the academy, either as teachers or pupils. As the endow- ment fund dwindled, the institution fell into decline; and in 1877 the building was dilapi- dated, and the yard was made a refuge for piles of wood and lumber. In that year two emi- nent men of letter's, Professor Charles Eliot Norton, of Cambridge, and the Hon. George W. Curtis, of Staten Island, N. Y., who had established summer homes in the town, en- deavored to resuscitate the academy, each subscribing a liberal sum. Others followed ; and a permanent fund of over seventeen hundred dollars was raised, and the school was soon in good working order. As the population of the town increased, houses were built close to the school building, and trouble arose between residents and students ; and the selectmen were called upon to pro- hibit ball-playing and other games in the street ncar the academy. In 1885 Mr. John W. Field, of Philadelphia, also a summer resi- dent of Ashfield, hearing of this trouble, pre- sented the academy with three and a half acres of land, near the village, for a play- ground, which was called the "Field of Ashfield."
Mr. Field dying in 1887, his remains were buried in the cemetery near his summer home; and on July 27 of that year the trustees of the academy received a letter from his widow, Mrs. Eliza W. Field, proposing to present them with seven thousand five hundred dollars
for the purpose of erecting a permanent memo- rial of her husband. Her letter states: "I wish that with this sum a memorial building, to be called the 'Field Memorial Hall' of the Sanderson Academy, should be erected under your charge, suitably designed and arranged to afford proper accommodations to the academy for the library, for the existing museum and such other collections as may be added to it, and for such other cognate objects as it may seem wise for you to provide for. I trust that arrangements may be made by which the li- brary shall be free to all who may wish to make use of it, and shall be open whenever in your judgment it can be of service. My hus- band had very much at heart free libraries. I purpose at some future time to add to the library the bulk of the collection of books belonging to my husband and myself, a large collection of photographs, many interesting oil paintings, and our collection of bronzes." The building was accordingly erected, the three-acre lot given by Mr. Field being deemed the most suitable site; and, as the original sum was found to be inadequate, Mrs. Field supplied the deficiency, her generous gift finally amounting to over ten thousand dollars.
The first library organized in Ashfield of which we find record came into existence in 1815, and was called the Second Social Library of Ashfield. It passed through vary- ing fortunes ; and in 1866 the number of mem- bers had decreased to ten, many shares having lapsed through non-payment of annual dues. In that year Professor Norton and Mr. Curtis were instrumental in forming a new organiza- tion, which was called the Ashfield Library Association. The old society was dissolved, the volumes being divided among the mem- bers, most of whom entered the new associa- tion with their books. These, with liberal
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donations from Messrs. Norton and Curtis, formed the nucleus of the present library. The institution has had many liberal patrons, one of the most active being Alonzo Lilly, of Newton, the donor of a fifteen-hundred- dollar fund. In 1867 it received by will of Addison Graves a legacy of one hundred dollars, and in 1868 fifty dollars from George C. Goodwin. In 1886 the Library Associa- tion decided to allow the pupils of the acad- emy to use books for reference under certain regulations. In connection with her letter proposing the new building, Mrs. Field com- municated her proposition to the Library As- sociation, which fell in with her plans; and in November, 1887, an arrangement was made with the town, by which, on condition of the payment of a certain sum annually by the town, the library is made free to the townspeople.
Shortly after, the library was placed in the room provided for it in the new building, which has a shelf capacity for five thousand volumes. The gymnasium has been suitably furnished, and a liberal sum placed in the hands of Dr. G. Stanley Hall provides the school-room with apparatus and other equip- ment. The museum connected with the acad- emy was originated by Dr. Hall. It shows the past history of the town in its industrial pursuits, and contains botanical and mineralog- ical products of the vicinity. So from the small school, established eighty years ago in a little one-story building, has arisen a noble institution ; and the prayers of Alvan Sander- son that God would raise up benefactors to complete his work have been answered.
EXTER F. HAGER, a prominent farmer of Whately, was born at Wendell, Mass., May 4, 1840, son of Charles and Myra H. (Felton) Hager, the
former of Wendell, the latter of New Salem. His grandfather, Martin Hager, who was a native of Marlboro, settled upon a farm in Wendell immediately after marriage, and resided there for many years. In 1855 he moved with his son Charles to Deerfield, where he died a few months later, at the age of seventy-six. For a more extended account of the family history the reader is referred to the History of Marlboro, Mass.
Charles Hager, the father of Dexter F., was the second of six children born to his parents. He was reared to an agricultural life, and also acquired the trade of stone-cutting, which he followed for some years, finally assuming charge of the farm during his father's decline. He subsequently sold this farm, and, purchas- ing another piece of property in South Deer- field, resided there until his decease, which occurred in the month of July, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Myra H. Felton, was a daughter of Daniel Felton, a farmer of New Salem, who spent the latter part of his life in Deerfield, engaged in farming. Mrs. Hager was one of seven children. She became the mother of five, three of whom are still living, namely : Dexter F .; Lydia, wife of Lucien L. Eaton, who was formerly a merchant of South Deerfield; and Otis, who resides upon a farm adjoining that of his brother.
Dexter F. Hager commenced his education in the district schools, and after pursuing a course at the Deerfield Academy, completed his studies at Powers Institute at the age of seventeen years. He assisted his father upon the farm till he was twenty-one years of age. In the month of September, 1861, he was enrolled among the volunteers who responded to the call of their country for the preserva- tion of the Union, enlisting in Company D, Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry, as a
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Private. That regiment was attached to the Eighteenth Army Corps, which was under the command of General Burnside, and partici- pated in several memorable battles. Mr. Hager was in active service for a period of twenty months. Receiving a slight wound, he was discharged at Newbern, N.C., and returned to the homestead, where for some time he continued to assist his father in carry- ing on the farm. He also purchased the adjoining property, upon which he now re- sides. After the death of his father he, in company with his brothers, conducted the farm for a time. The property was later divided, each taking a certain part, as per agreement. The brothers also for many years conducted a very profitable lumbering enterprise. At pres- ent Mr. Hager is devoting his time and energy to agricultural pursuits, which he conducts with equal success, making a specialty of tobacco.
In 1869 he married his first wife, Abbie W. Perry, of Orange, daughter of William Perry, a farmer. Her parents moved to South Deerfield in 1856, and later to Vernon, Vt., where her father died. Mrs. Abbie W. Hager died May 20, 1887, in her forty-seventh year. She was the mother of five children, as fol- lows : Charles S., a student at Amherst Col- lege; William P., who assists his father upon the farm ; Myra O .; Mary W. ; and Myron E. These children all received a good education, the first four graduating from the Dickinson High School. Mr. Hager's present wife, whose maiden name was Harriet E. Wheaton, is a native of Warwick, daughter of Samuel and Elmina (Fuller) Wheaton, formerly of Winchester, N. H., and now of Rowe, Mass. She is the youngest of five children, four of whom are now living. Samuel Wheaton was born at Townshend, Vt. His life was devoted to farming, a great part of it being passed in
Orange, Mass. Mrs. Hager is the mother of one son, Robert D. Hager.
Mr. Hager is a Republican in politics. He has served as Selectman for three years, Trial Justice for six years, and for many years has been Justice of the Peace. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, having been Post Commander for eight years, and formerly belonged to the Grange. He is a member of the Congregational church, with which his family also are united, all being active workers in the Sunday-school. Mr. Hager has a pleasant home about half a mile from Sunderland Bridge. He is the posses- sor of a curious heirloom, an ancient time- piece which belonged to his first wife's great- grand-father, and which is said to have been running constantly for the past one hundred and thirty years.
J OHN GUSTAVUS JOHNSON, lawn artist and dealer in decorations, an extensive real estate owner in East Charlemont, was born in Colerain, Franklin County, Mass., January 25, 1844, son of Isaac and Ann (Willis) Johnson. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Johnson, Sr., was born on January 29, 1762. He was a prominent farmer in Colerain, tilling the soil and tend- ing his flocks contentedly, casting his vote on election days for the Whig candidates, and on Sundays donning his best suit of clothes and wending his way to the Baptist church to hear the word of the Lord. He died on February 13, 1842. His wife, to whom he was married on February 24, 1791, was Lydia Hastings, born November 19, 1764. She died April 13, 1860. They had eight children, six boys and two girls.
Isaac, Jr., known as Colonel Johnson, was born in 1797 in Colerain, and was a successful
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farmer at the time of his marriage, but was persuaded to sell his farm and invest in the manufacture of cotton cloth in company with J. Hollister, at Shattuckville. Owing to dull times the company failed in business, and he lost every dollar he had invested. He then set up in business as a contractor for heavy masonry, and was considered authority in this line of industry. He was a stanch Republican and served the town in various offices, holding the position of Selectman for some time. He died on October 27, 1857. His wife, who was born in 1806, was a daughter of Major Daniel Willis, one of the early settlers of Colerain, who had a large farm and dealt extensively in wool. Mrs. Johnson died in April, 1867, at the home of her youngest daughter, Luana, wife of Morris Manning, of East Charlemont. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were members of the Baptist church. They had ten children, born between 1824 and 1844, eight living to grow up, three only now remaining. George C., the eldest of these, a veteran of the Grand Army, is now in his sixty-third year. He was in active service in the war of the Rebellion three years, was pro- moted from private to Sergeant, was in the battle of the Wilderness, also at the taking of Richmond.
He has recently united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Shelburne Falls, and is as zealous in his religious life as he was in serving his country. He is married and has a daughter and son, both married. Luana John- son, the youngest daughter, born in 1838, is married, having one daughter and son living.
John G. Johnson was educated in the public schools of Colerain and Deerfield Academy. He was thirteen years old when he hired out to work as a farm hand for Elisha Barnard, of Colerain, for seven dollars per month and board, for six months. Being of a hopeful,
sunny temperament, he made many friends ; always a willing worker, he was ready for any- thing that had a promise of bettering his con- dition financially. At eighteen years of age he was engaged as a farm hand for his uncle, Martin Winslow, of Putney, Vt. ; and at the close of his summer's work there was due him for service one hundred and five dollars. His cousin, Henry Winslow, remarked to him, "Which would you rather have, a pair of stags or one hundred and five dollars?" Looking up and then turning to his uncle, he replied : "Is it not a little risky to invest your all in an old pair of stags? Well, here she goes!" He took the cattle for his sum- mer's work, started on foot, and drove them two days' drive to old Deerfield, and sold them to James Stebbins for one hundred and fifteen dollars. He then engaged to work for Mr. Stebbins night and morning for his board, and go to the high school through the winter, tak- ing care of the stags he had sold him. Here his schooling ended. We now trace his footsteps to Griswoldville, Mass., where, on the farm of John McClellen, he hires three acres of land to work on shares, raising to- bacco, which proved a successful venture. Harvesting a good crop, he took it to New York City and sold it for twenty-five hun- dred dollars.
About this time Mr. Johnson took the agency for A. Burt & Co., of Springfield, for the sale in Franklin and Berkshire Counties of a steel-engraved portrait of the beloved martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. He proved a good salesman, literally flooding the two counties with pictures, making from eight to ten dollars a day, clear of all expenses. In 1865 he went to Long Neck, Staten Island, where he took charge of a large truck farm, and was given complete control of all the buy- ing and selling. Three years later he bought
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a grocery store; but, not having sufficient cap- ital to stem the current of hard times, he was at length forced to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. After that he was in the medicine business twenty-five years, sell- ing at wholesale, putting up his own medicine, Johnson's Headache and Catarrh Cure. In 1878 he bought land, and built him a fine residence on Park Avenue, Orange, N.J. In 1888 he bought the Riddle farm of fifty acres in the Deerfield valley, along the river, and fitted it up for a summer home, remodelling the house and barns and improving the land. This estate, with its majestic shade trees, velvet lawns, and green banks sloping to the river, is very beautiful; and Dr. Johnson, as he is known, makes it his permanent resi- dence. He has purchased one hundred acres more, and keeps a choice lot of cows, sheep, and horses. In 1895 he took up the business of landscape gardening on an extensive scale, employing several men to carry out the plans in his contracts; and he also has a number of men constantly employed about his farm.
On July 4, 1865, John G. Johnson was mar- ried to Cordelia F. Green, who was living with her parents in Shattuckville, Mass., when he first met her, but was born on Feb- ruary 19, 1844, in New Jersey, and is a daugh- ter of Phenix and Margaret Green, formerly of that State, where he found his wife. Mrs. Green makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Johnson, in East Charlemont. Phenix Green died in Deerfield, August 22, 1873. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson have had six children. Ann M., George I., William E., Alice W., and an infant unnamed have passed away. Alford G., born June 14, 1882, is with his parents, and is a bright and promising lad. In politics John G. Johnson is a Republican. He belongs to Union Lodge, No. 1I, A. F. & A. M., of Orange, N. J.
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