USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 69
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pendent in politics, and has served as Select- man, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor.
Mr. Thayer's first wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Sanderson, died, aged thirty-two years; and his second wife, Clementine Mc- Donald, died in 1890, at the age of forty- eight, leaving three children, namely: Lucy, wife of Charles Spear, of Peterboro, N.H., having one child, Earle C .; Florence M., who resides at home; and Ernest C., who married Lena Bosworth, and died aged twenty-three years, leaving one child, who died young.
AMES A. McKENNA, a well-known contractor and builder of Orange, and one of its prominent business men, was born in this town, April 3, 1861, son of Pat- rick and Bridget (Leahy) McKenna. He is of respectable Irish ancestry and parentage, his grandfather, John McKenna, having been born and reared in County Kerry, Ireland, the date of his birth being 1794. For many years he was prosperously engaged in trade there, but sold out in 1850, that he might come to America to join his son Patrick, who had sent home glowing accounts of our country. He came direct to Orange, where he lived until his demise in January, 1871. He was a gen- ial, warm-hearted Irishman, and by his invari- able courtesy won the friendship and respect of all. His wife, whose maiden name was Johanna Brown, was born in County Kerry in 1800, and died in Boston, January 4, 1885. The following children were born to them, all well known to the older residents of Orange: Patrick, Mary, Catherine, Ellen, Nonie, Anna, Dennis, John, and Martin.
Patrick McKenna, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Kerry, February 19, 1821, and lived there until 1849, when, animated by the spirit of enter-
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prise and the love of liberty characteristic of so many of his countrymen, he came to the United States, disembarking at Boston. Proceeding thence to Vermont, he had for several years the charge of a portion of the Vermont Asylum for the Insane, performing his duties with rare fidelity and satisfaction to every one. His last years were spent re- tired in Orange, where he departed this life June 15, 1880, beloved and esteemed by a large circle of warm friends. At Otter River, Mass., May 23, 1853, he married Bridget Leahy, daughter of David Leahy, pro- prietor of the Killarney race course and hotel, near the beautiful lakes of Killarney, Ireland. Nine children were the fruit of their union, namely: John A., born March 12, 1854; Thomas F., born January 29, 1856; Anna M., born July 19, 1857; Martin M., born February 13, 1859; James A., born April 3, 1861; George S., born January 19, 1863; Ed- ward and Stephen, born June 4, 1865, now both deceased; and Dennis, who was born De- cember 1, 1867, and died September 22, 1869. Mrs. Bridget L. McKenna is still living, and is a resident of Orange, Mass.
James A. McKenna was educated in the common schools of Orange, and began his self-supporting career by working three years in the New Home Sewing Machine factory. His health becoming impaired, Mr. McKenna was advised to try a change of climate, and went to Kansas, where, in order that he might have out-of-door work, he learned the carpen- ter's trade. Returning to the place of his na- tivity, he has since been engaged in contract- ing and building, and has carried on a large business in real estate, buying land, on which he has erected substantial buildings, and then sold. The beautiful residence of Mr. Grout, the new centre school building, the New Home Company's brick storehouse, the Lamb
Block, the Weymouth mansion, and several other of the more prominent buildings of the locality were constructed under his supervi- sion, and are a credit to his ability and good taste and an ornament to the town.
On January 1, 1888, Mr. McKenna married Miss Mary E. Stack. She was born February II, 1861, in Amherst, Hampshire County, and is the daughter of Patrick and Eliza (Sul- livan) Stack, the former, who died at the age of forty-six years, having been a successful agriculturist. His widow is now an active and finely preserved woman of seventy years. Four children have come to hallow the union of Mr. and Mrs. McKenna, namely: Marie, born October 14, 1888; Gertrude, born Sep- tember 23, 1890; Alice, born April 5, 1894; and Roland, whose life on earth was but brief, he having been born October 3, 1892, and the 10th of the following March borne by the Angel of Death to his heavenly home. In political, social, and business affairs Mr. McKenna has ever taken an active interest, being a leading member of the Democratic party, a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and one of the Directors of the Orange Co-operative Bank and of the Board of Trade. He has never sought official honors, but has served satisfac- torily for two years as Town Assessor.
R. MERRITT A. BOWEN, the leading physician of Charlemont, Mass., was born in Readsboro, Vt., December 7, 1848, son of Lorenzo and Beulah D. (Blanchard) Bowen. His paternal grand- father, James Bowen, was born in Rhode Isl- and, and when a young man settled in Ver- mont, eventually purchasing a farm at Reads- boro, and in course of time becoming one of the most extensive farmers in the vicinity.
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He was a public-spirited man, and took an active interest in politics, voting with the Whigs. He died at the age of sixty-two.
Lorenzo Bowen, son of James, was one of six children. He was born in Monroe, where his father first settled; and he learned the shoemaker's trade, but worked at it very lit- tle, shortly becoming a merchant at South Readsboro, where he conducted a successful business for ten years, and afterward engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He was successful in his various ventures, and accumulated considerable property, his real estate aggregating five hundred acres. In politics a stanch Republican, he was very prominent in town affairs. He died at the age of seventy-one; and his wife, Beulah, lived to be three years older. They had ten children.
Merritt A. Bowen attended the common schools in Vermont, and studied at Powers Institute, Bernardston, finishing his education at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City. While attending college, he taught school for several terms in Jackson- ville, Vt., his salary aiding materially in de- fraying his expenses; and, before starting an independent practice, he studied with the emi- nent Dr. Hawkes, of North Adams, Mass., and with Dr. Scott and Dr. Bemis in Ver- mont. His first office was opened in Savoy, Mass., in 1873; and there he practised for seven years, coming to Charlemont in 1880. Dr. Bowen's professional training was of the best; and, with a receptive mind, a quick eye, and a skilful hand, he is one of the most reliable and popular physicians in Western Massachusetts. He has a large practice, em- bracing the towns of Charlemont, Hawley, Savoy, Rowe, Monroe, Heath, and Buckland. His home on High Street was formerly the Whitman residence; and, after buying the
estate, Dr. Bowen built a new barn and made other notable improvements, so that now it is one of the handsomest places in the town.
On February 25, 1875, Dr. Bowen was mar- ried to Cora E., daughter of Erastus and Julia (Robinson) Allen, of Cummington, the former a prominent merchant in that place. Dr. and Mrs. Bowen have one child, Nina Cora, born June 3, 1876. In politics the Doctor sup- ports the Democratic platform. He takes an active interest in educational projects, and has been School Commissioner for some time. In religious views he is tolerant and liberal. Socially, he is a member of Unity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Jacksonville, Vt., where he taught school when a student.
LBERT S. STRATTON, a wealthy farmer of Northfield, Mass., was born in this town on November 10, 1823. He is the son of Albert Stratton, also a native of Northfield. His grandfather, Asa Stratton, who was born in 1758, son of Eleazer Stratton, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, died on March 17, 1818. Mrs. Asa Stratton, whose maiden name was Lucy Woodbury, became the mother of eight children, of whom Albert Stratton was the youngest. He was born in April, 1831, was educated in the district schools, and acquired the trades of mason and shoemaker, which, after becoming of age, he followed for some time. Later he purchased a mill in the vicin- ity of Northfield Street, which he operated; and he also carried on a farm, upon which he passed thirty years of his life, subsequently retiring to the residence of his son Albert S., where he died at about seventy years of age. His wife, whose name before her marriage was Lucy Stimpson, was a native of North- field, daughter of Charles Stimpson, a life-
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long resident of the town and a cooper by trade. She became the mother of two chil- dren, namely: Albert S. ; and Lucy, who died at the age of sixteen years. The family at- tended the Unitarian church. The mother died at the home of her son, aged seventy- three years.
Albert S. Stratton received a good educa- tion in the schools of his native town, and assisted his father both upon the farm and in the mill, continuing to reside with his parents until the mill was sold,, when he moved to his present home. He has a large amount of capital invested in real estate both here and elsewhere, owning valuable residences and considerable farm property in different States; and the management of this requires the greater part of his time and attention, his foresight and sound practical judgment caus- ing his speculations to be attended with satis- factory financial results.
In 1850 he married Miss Drake, daughter of Tisdale and Ruth (Davis) Drake and a native of Maine. Her mother, who was a daughter of Joseph Davis, of that State, bore eight children, seven of whom are still living, and are as follows: Mrs. Stratton; Sarah, who married Frank Turner, of Northfield; Will- iam; Martha, postmistress at Athol, wife of Edwin Horton; Hattie, wife of Edwin Atwood; Almira, wife of George Manning, of Warwick, Mass. ; and Ellen, who married Samuel Walton. The mother lived to the age of seventy-five years, her death occurring at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Strat- ton; and the father, who was a farmer in Northfield for many years, died at the age of eighty-one years.
Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have three children : Ella, who married Eugene Brown, teamster in Winchester, and has two children, Mabel and Nettie; Carrie, wife of Dwight Preston,
a farmer in South Vernon, who has two chil- dren, Ella and Albert; and Ernest E., a jew- eller, who marricd Dora Stearns, of Hinsdale, and has two children, Eva and Ida. The chil- dren are all graduates of the high school in Northfield, and two of the grandchildren have passed through the high school in Winchester. Mr. Stratton is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office. He is an attendant of the Unitarian church, and contributes generously toward its support.
LBERT J. AMSTEIN, a well-known and highly influential citizen of Buck- land, Mass., was born in Green- field, September 22, 1857, son of Valentine and Jennie L. (Reif) Amstein. Mr. Am- stein is of German descent, his grandfather, George Amstein, having been a lifelong resi- dent of Germany, born in Waldorf, in the town of Meiningen, Saxony. He was a wealthy miller, and was popular in local po- litical circles. He died at the age of seventy- six, his wife at sixty-seven.
Their son, Valentine Amstein, was also born in Waldorf. He worked in the mill with his father till 1852, when he emigrated to America. Securing employment in the woollen mills in Factory Hollow, near Green- field, he spent some time there, and later worked for J. E. Russell & Co. as a me- chanic. In 1859 he was engaged by Lamson & Goodnough, and worked in the forge depart- ment of their cutlery manufactory at Shel- burne Falls until 1879, when he retired from active business. He dealt somewhat in real estate, and owned his home on School Street, which he improved and remodelled. He died of heart disease at the age of seventy-five. His wife was a daughter of George Reif, a miller of Meiningen, Saxony. Mrs. Amstein,
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who inherits a remarkably strong constitution, is now sixty-six years of age. Mr. Amstein voted the Democratic ticket. He was a mem- ber of the German Harigari, D. O. H., of Shelburne Falls, and of the Turnverein. Both parents were members of the Congrega- tional church. They reared the following children: Frederick W., who married Bar- bara Thearinger, and has one child - Florence M .; Albert J., the subject of this sketch; and Andrew, a clerk in G. W. Jenks's shoe store in Shelburne Falls.
Albert J. Amstein was educated at Shel- burne Falls Academy, and, as a first essay at earning a livelihood, entered the employ of C. Sauer, boot and shoe dealer in Turner's Falls, as clerk. Later he worked for Joel Thayer, of Shelburne Falls, spending five years in his employ, with the exception of a short time when he worked on cutlery. In 1879. in company with his brother Frederick W., he opened a store for the sale of groceries and crockery on the first floor of the Methodist church building in Buckland. This is the only store of the kind at present in Buckland, and the Amstein brothers have a large and thriving business.
Mr. Amstein has been twice married. His first wife, Mary March, daughter of Lucius March, died at the age of twenty-three, her only child also, Juliana, passing away while yet an infant. His second wife, formerly Miss Hattie Glasgow, is a daughter of David and Mary (Small) Glasgow. She was for fif- teen years a teacher in the schools of Buck- land and Shelburne Falls, and has been for many years one of the leading music-teachers in the vicinity. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Amstein is brightened by one child, Alberta H., who was born February 23, 1885.
Politically, Mr. Amstein is a Democrat. He was nominated for Representative by the
Democratic party in 1885, and in a strong Republican town lacked only twenty-five votes for election. He has served as a County Committee, and has been chairman of the Town Committee ten years, chairman of the Board of Selectmen four years, Justice of the Peace four years, and foreman of the fire de- partment. He is Past Chief and Patriarch of Alethian Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Shelburne Falls, a prominent Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Turn- verein, to which his brother Frederick Will- iam also belongs, both being likewise mem- bers of the Congregational church. Mr. Am- stein has a handsome residence on Ashfield Street, which he built in 1894.
T HOMAS O'KEEFFE, proprietor of the O'Keeffe Hotel at Miller's Falls, and a well-known and popular citizen of this community, was born in Erving, on the other side of Miller's River, September 15, 1857, being the son of Michael and Mar- garet (Hassett) O'Keeffe. His grandfather was a lifelong resident of Ireland, where he followed the occupation of a laborer. Michael O'Keeffe was also a native of Ireland, but at the age of twenty-four he came to America to try his fortunes on this side of the water. He located at Miller's Falls on a small farm, where he still resides. His wife, Margaret Hassett, was, like himself born in Ireland; but their marriage took place in America. Six of their eight children are now living. The record is as follows: David; Jerry; Thomas; Margaret (deceased); Mary; Annie (deceased); and Michael and John, who are engaged in the hotel with their brother.
Thomas O'Keeffe spent his early life up to twenty years of age in Miller's Falls, receiv- ing his education in the district school, and
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afterward working as a polisher in the factory of the Miller's Falls Company. Seven years later he secured a position in Winchendon, Mass., to labor at the same occupation for Goodspeed & Wyman, with whom he remained one year, and then went to Chicago, where he was similarly engaged for a time. Returning to Massachusetts, he worked for a year at Winchendon; and for a short time after leav- ing the latter place he was an employee of the New Home Sewing Machine Company of Orange. Mr. O'Keeffe next engaged in the saloon business at Miller's Falls, which he followed three years, and in 1892 purchased his present hotel, an attractive house and one of the best equipped in Franklin County. Mr. O'Keeffe is a most genial and popular host, and aims to make each and every guest feel at home. An intelligent and ready talker, by his cordiality and other personal merits he has won a wide circle of friends, and is doing a successful business.
On April 19, 1892, Mr. O'Keeffe was united in marriage with Kate Moroney, a na- tive of Becket, Mass., and daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth Moroney, the former of whom is a general workman and farmer. Two chil- dren have come to brighten their home: John Phillip; and Margaret, who died when a year old. Mr. O'Keeffe is an adherent of the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in all political matters. He and his wife are devoted Catholics in religion, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
LARENCE A. SMITH, a successful meat dealer and highly esteemed citi- zen of Conway, Franklin County, was born in Buckland, Mass., son of Simeon C. and Claney (Look) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Hawley, Mass.
Simeon C. Smith worked in a manufactory during his younger days, but later on he suc- cessfully engaged in agriculture in Buckland; and in connection therewith, during the pe- riods when his farm work was not pressing, he employed his spare time in selling jewelry. He afterward sold his farm, and removed to Haydenville, Mass., where he secured a posi- tion in a meat shop; but not long after he purchased a farm in Northampton, and moved thither, again engaging in the vocation of a farmer, and in addition thereto conducting a meat market with good results. A few years later he went to the centre of the town of Northampton, where he purchased a meat mar- ket, and for a time successfully engaged in that business exclusively. He afterward sold out, and returned to farming in Northampton, remaining there until his death, at fifty-four years of age. His wife, Claney Look Smith, who was reared in Becket, Mass., is a daugh- ter of Cheeney Look. She bore her husband two sons: Herbert C., employed as book- keeper by the Northampton Beef Company of Northampton, Mass .; and Clarence A. Their mother is still living, being now in her sixty- fifth year.
Clarence A. Smith remained with his par- ents during his youth, receiving a good prac- tical education in the public schools. He assisted in carrying on the farm in Northamp- ton; but soon after his father's death he went to Florence, Mass., where he obtained a posi- tion in the meat shop of Main Brothers. At the end of a year he left there to take a posi- tion in the Haydenville Brass Works, in which place he remained two years. He was next employed for about three years in the Florence Sewing Machine factory; and fromn there he came to Conway, and was employed by H. W. Hopkins in a meat market for five years. At the expiration of that time he pur-
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chased the business of Mr. Hopkins, and has since carried it on at the same stand, where he does a thriving business, keeping three carts on the road the greater part of the time. He purchases his supplies of beef and other meats from the stock-growers of the surround- ing country. On May 22, 1884, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Anna Whit- ney, who is a native of Somerville, Mass., where she was reared and received her educa- tion.
HESTER H. PLYMPTON, an enter- prising farmer and respected citizen of Locks Village, in the town of Wendell, Mass., was born in Sturbridge, De- cember 2, 1854, his parents being William H. and Lucinda (Perry) Plympton, the former also a native of Sturbridge. That town was likewise the birthplace of Jabez Plympton, his grandfather, who was a well-known man, and followed the vocation of a farmer. Will- iam H. Plympton carried on shoemaking in Sturbridge, where he died while yet in the prime of life, being but forty-five years of age. His wife, formerly Lucinda Perry, who survives him, is the daughter of John Perry, a farmer, who passed his life in Garland, Me., where she was born. She bore her husband three children, two reaching adult life: Chester H. and Charles, the latter a resident of Nebraska. Mrs. Lucinda P. Plympton is a member of the Methodist church, to which her husband also belonged.
Chester lived with his parents in Stur- bridge until 1884, obtaining a good education in the common and high schools of that town, and working with his father at shoemaking, which pursuit he followed up to 1881, when he was engaged to run a stationary engine. In 1884 he moved to Wendell, or. to a place adjoining his present home, where he lived
for five years, or until 1889, when he pur- chased his present farm of eighty-five acres. He was united in marriage March 18, 1874, with Abbie L. Chickering, daughter of Henry Chickering, of Sturbridge. Her father died in 1881, her mother having died in 1861, when Abbie was but eleven years old. They had four children.
Mrs. Abbie L. Plympton is an intelligent, capable woman, being at the present time the postmistress of Locks Village, her husband carrying the mail from that village to Wen- dell Depot. Their home has been blessed by the birth of three children: Fred H., Nellie E., and Myra. In politics Mr. Plympton is a member of the Democratic party. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist church, and their home is one of the pleasant- est in this locality.
OHN D. PIERCE, a practical, pro- gressive, and prosperous agriculturist, residing at 88 Federal Street, Green- field, was born on this same street, near the Episcopal church, May 29, 1837. His pater- nal grandfather, Samuel Pierce, removed here from Middletown, Conn., in the latter part of last century. For many years prior to that time he had been engaged as a flat-boatman on the Connecticut River, poling and pulling his boat, which was freighted with salt, rum, and other merchandise, from Hartford to Cheapside, and returning with a load of potash, cooperage, and lumber. He brought with him his wife and only son, John J. Pierce, who was born in Middletown in 1797.
John J. Pierce was an infant when he came to this village with his parents. He learned the tinsmith's trade, and in addition to carry- ing that on was for a time engaged with "Billy " Richardson in the foundry business.
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He was a man of versatile talent, and remark- ably successful in his undertakings. Having a taste for mechanical pursuits, he formed a partnership with Richard Field, and opened a wagon and carriage manufactory on Federal Street, where they carried quite an extensive trade. He subsequently invested his money in land, buying two hundred and fifty acres from David Willard, a portion of which is the farm now owned and occupied by the sub-' ject of this brief sketch. This property has since been divided and subdivided into town lots, a large part of it being absorbed in vil- lage homes and factories, only sixty acres being retained in the home farm. He mar- ried Eliza Field, a native of the town of Gill, the house in which she was born being now occupied by the Mount Hermon school build- ing. Two of the children born to them died in early infancy, and three grew to mature life, namely: Anna, who resides in Green- field, the widow of Theodore D. Judah, of Pa- cific Railway fame; John D .; and Charles P. The latter responded to the first call for vol- unteers, joining the Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and being sent to the front as Orderly Sergeant of Company G on June 21, 1861. He was very active in several engagements, and after the battle of Will- iamsburg was promoted to the office of Assist- ant Adjutant, with the rank of Captain, and was ordered to report at Cairo, Ill. He was afterward sent to intercept Early in his raid on Covington, Ohio. On account of physical disability he resigned from the army; and from that time until his decease, in April, 1889, he drew a Captain's pension. Both of the parents lived far into the winter of life, and in the transition were not long separated, the father passing away from the scenes of earth in the month of March, 1881, and the mother in the following May, the former hav-
ing spent fourscore and four years on earth, and the latter seventy-nine. Mr. John J. Pierce was a very prominent and influential citizen, taking an important place in the man- agement of local affairs, serving as Assessor and Selectman, and, being one of the stanch- est members of the Democratic party, might have had any office he chose.
John D. Pierce received a public-school ed- ucation, completing his studies in the high school at Nash's Mills. He has been em- ployed in farming the greater part of his life, his father having sold the home in the village in 1843, and moved on to the farm. Sixty acres of land are included in the homestead, ten acres of which are covered with a grove of fine oaks. Mr. Pierce has replaced the small cottage in which he lived for a score of years by a commodious and conveniently arranged dwelling, into which he moved with his family in January, 1888. The old barn, built by his father a half-century or more ago, is still in excellent repair, as is the wagon-shop, in the office of which the Greenfield cannon was stored, the plug and wiper being still in the room.
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