USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 7
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tics. For many years he has been a member of the Masonic Lodge of Northfield, in which he has held the office of Secretary and Treas- urer. He attends the Unitarian church.
MMETT F. HASKINS, of Charlemont, Deputy Sheriff, is one of those intelli-
gent, energetic, and courageous men who have attained success in life through sheer persistency. He was born among the hills of Savoy, Berkshire County, August 23, 1854. The first of his ancestors of whom we have any knowledge were his great-grand- parents, Shurdick and Betsey Haskins, of Savoy, who died there in advanced years. They reared five children, as follows: Levi, Samuel, Ira, Mary Ann, and Lydia.
The next in line of descent was Levi Has- kins, who spent his entire life in the quaint town of Savoy. Like his father, he was en- gaged in farming pursuits, although, the larger part of his land being heavily wooded, he derived a good income from cutting the timber and manufacturing it into lumber, he being the owner of a saw-mill, with which he carried on an extensive business. Besides till- ing his land, he made a specialty of buying wood lots in the vicinity, and in the winter season cleared them and sold the lumber. He was a Democrat in politics; and both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Julia Bul- lard, were faithful members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of nine chil- dren ; namely, Julia Ann, Hubbard, Diantha, Alvin, Cornelia, Henry, Octavia, Jane, and Tyler. Hubbard Haskins, who from the order in which they are recorded appears to have been the eldest son, was born in Savoy in 1826, and there grew to manhood, working at home, milling and lumbering, for many years. He married Elizabeth Russell, who bore him
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two children, Emmett F. and Emerson F., the latter of whom died at the age of seventeen years. When these sons were quite young, both parents died, leaving them to the care of their grandparents.
Emmett F. Haskins remained with his grandfather until twelve years old, when he went to work at farming for an uncle, with whom he lived two and one-half years. He became a wage-earner at the age of fifteen years, being very capable and industrious, and during the six summer months received ten dollars per month. The next season he was engaged by another neighbor, who appreciated his good qualities, and offered him thirteen dollars a month, but in the end failed to give him a penny. Not being discouraged, how- ever, he kept at farm labor until nineteen years old, when he went into a shop to work at making scythe snaths, an occupation which he followed nine years. Mr. Haskins afterward assisted for two years in the delivery of ore from the Davis sulphur mine, and since then has had constant and paying employment, a man of his willing disposition, marked ability, and exemplary habits, bcing always needed. Having been wisely economical from his youth, in good time he accumulated enough money to buy a lot on Main Street in Charle- mont, and thereon he has erected the finest house in that part of the village. In Febru- ary, 1893, he was appointed to his present office of Deputy Sheriff, and has discharged its duties to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned and with credit to himself.
An important step in the career of Mr. Has- kins was his marriage with Hattie A. Wells, the nuptials having been celebrated October 10, 1875. Mrs. Haskins was born in New Ashford, August 3, 1858, being a daughter of Alcxander and Lydia (Bliss) Wells, the for- mer of whom was a silver-plater by trade, and
a life-long resident of New Ashford. He died in 1893, aged sixty-five years, leaving four children; namely, Charles A., Hattie A. (Mrs. Haskins), Mary E., and Carrie A. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have two children : Lilla E., born February 26, 1879; and Arthur M., born October 2, 1885. Mr. Haskins affil- iates with the Republican party in politics, and with the liberals in his religious views.
RTHUR FRANCIS SLATE, a promi- nent architect and contractor of Frank- lin County, was born at Manchester, Conn., December 29, 1842, a son of Thomas F. and Eliza (Parker) Slate. The Slate fam- ily have been known and honored in New Eng- land for several generations, more especially in Vermont and Connecticut. John J. Slate, father of Thomas F., was born and bred in the Green Mountain State. During his younger years he was there engaged in farming, but later in life removed to Manchester, Conn., where he carried on a successful business as a hotel-keeper. He lived to the age of seventy- four years, and was an active worker in relig- ious circles, being a Deacon of the Congrega- tional church. He married Julia Bryant, a daughter of William C. and Hannah (Gurley) Bryant, the latter being a member of the Gur- ley family who played such an important part in the settlement and upbuilding of the great city of Chicago. Six children were born of their union; namely, Sophia, Roxanna, Mary, Juliet, John J., and Thomas F.
Thomas F. Slate was born at Manchester, Conn., in 1822, and was reared to farming pursuits, remaining at home until twenty years old, when he learned the tailor's trade, which he continued to follow as long as his health permitted, becoming very proficient at this work, and having a large patronage. He mar-
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ried Eliza Parker, and died at the early age of thirty-two years, leaving his young widow with one child, Arthur Francis, of whom we write. Mrs. Eliza P. Slate was born in Holden, Mass., January 31, 1823, and was a daughter of Jeremiah and Dorcas (Smith) Parker. Her father was a prosperous farmer, and she was one of a family of seven children ; namely, Jeremiah, George, Aaron, Hannah, Columbus, Margaret, and Eliza P. Margaret Parker married Rodney Hunt, and bore three children : Hobart, Julia, and Solon, not one of whom is now living. She departed this life in the fifty-fourth year of her age, and Mr. Hunt afterward married his sister-in-law, Mrs. Eliza P. Slate. Of this union no children were born.
Rodney Hunt was born, in 1810, at Ash- burnham, Mass., a son of Peter and Keziah (Hobart) Hunt, and a worthy descendant of William Hunt, of Yorkshire, England. He was an energetic, industrious, and determined young man, beginning his career as a clerk in a hotel, where he saved three hundred dollars of his scanty wages, with which sum he raised the mortgage on his father's farm. After this was accomplished, Mr. Hunt learned the wheelwright's trade, and subsequently estab- lished himself in the business of manufactur- ing chairs and pails, at Wilton, Mass., but met with reverses, losing his entire property. Leaving his family, he came to Orange and began working as a wood-chopper at one dollar a day, which enabled him to supply the neces- sities of his family, and finally to bring them to this town. Although he had lost his money, his credit was still good; and he had no difficulty in borrowing money to buy a saw- mill at Warwick. This mill he remodelled, and by having good management, succeeded in placing it in a good paying condition. He sold the entire plant for three thousand dollars,
a large advance on the original cost, which was six hundred dollars. Having paid his in- debtedness, Mr. Hunt had enough left to again start in business; and, after working for a while at his trade in Orange, he formed a part- nership with two gentlemen, and they began manufacturing water-wheels and different kinds of machinery, under the firm name of Hunt, Waite & Flint.
Mr. Hunt had mechanical genius and a fer- tile brain, and later invented the turbine water-wheel, which brought him a fortune. The firm with which he was connected was eventually dissolved, and a stock company formed, incorporated under the name of the Rodney Hunt Machine Company, Mr. Hunt being President. This office he held up to the time of his death, in the eightieth year of his age. In politics he was a stanch Republican. He served with fidelity as Selectman and Assessor of Orange, and for three terms repre- sented his district in the State legislature. Religiously, he was a firm believer in the tenets of the Baptist church. Personally, Mr. Rodney Hunt was a man of tender feeling and open-handed generosity, heedful of the wants of the poor and needy, never forgetting the time when he himself was in humble circum- stances. In 1845 he built a fine house in Orange, and this is now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Eliza P. Hunt, a lovable woman, bearing with ease her many years of life, and held in high esteem by her friends and neighbors.
Arthur Francis Slate received a practical education in the public schools of his native town; and, being gifted by nature with mechanical ability, he learned the carpenter's trade when quite young. He had scarcely completed his trade when the tocsin of war re- sounded throughout the land; and, although a beardless youth of eighteen years, he loyally
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responded to the call for volunteers. On Sep- tember 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Russell, and served in that company until October 25, 1864, hav- ing been promoted for brave and meritorious conduct on September 1, 1862, to the rank of Corporal, and again June 1, 1864, to that of Sergeant of the company. On October 25, 1864, Mr. Slate was appointed, by General A. H. Terry, First Lieutenant of Company G of the same regiment, and June 19, 1865, was commissioned, by General John Gibbons, Cap- tain of the company. His regiment went out in the Burnside expedition; and he was an active participant in all of the battles of any importance in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, being at Hilton Head, at the second battle of James Island, and for three months under a steady fire at Fort Wagner. He was also at the front during the bombard- ment of Fort Sumter. Although in the midst of danger a great part of the time, Captain Slate escaped serious injury, four wounds which he received being but slight. On August 31, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and on the 4th of September he returned to the scenes of his childhood. Since then, with the ex- ception of three years that he was engaged in the coal business at Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Slate has worked at his trade. In 1891 he settled in Orange, where he is carrying on an extensive and lucrative business in designing, contracting, and building. The Memorial Hall, and several beautiful dwelling-houses in Orange which have been erected under his su- pervision, are a standing monument to his good taste and mechanical skill. At present he is working on a large and handsome hall at Cole- rain, which will be an ornament to the place.
On March 4, 1867, Mr. Slate married Ellen A. Larkin, who was a native of Unionville,
Conn., a daughter of John and Maria (Fuller) Larkin, respected members of the agricultural community of that town, neither of whom is now living, Mr. Larkin having passed away at the age of threescore and ten years, and his wife at the age of seventy-one. They were the parents of three children : Charles, Ellen A., and Jennie. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Slate was a daughter, Estella, whose stay upon earth was but nine short years. Mother and daughter are now united, the death of Mrs. Slate having occurred in Philadelphia on October 25, 1877. On June 14, 1886, Mr. Slate was married to Mathilde Minugh, of Long Branch, N. J. She was born in Jersey City, February 1, 1862, being one of nine children of George and Mary (Hoag) Minugh, the former a prominent man at Long Branch. Mr. Slate has no children by his second marriage.
Mr. Slate is a zealous advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and takes an intelligent interest in the affairs of his adopted town, where he is now serving as Assessor. He is prominent in military circles, and be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post of Orange.
BED S. ARMS is a boot and shoe dealer of South Deerfield, Mass., who has occupied his present place of busi- ness for the past forty years. He was born in this village, August 13, 1830, where his father, Josiah Arms, was also born on March 15, 1800. The latter was a son of Eliphaz Arms and grandson of Thomas Arms, both of whom were also natives of Deerfield. The family, so far as known, is descended from William Arms, who was born in the Island of Jersey. Its genealogy was published in 1877, by Edward W. Arms, at Troy, N. Y.
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Eliphaz Arms, who was probably a farmer, passed his entire life in this village. His son Josiah established a shoe manufactory in Deerfield, where for a period of eighteen years he produced fine, hand-made goods, of a superior quality. He died at the age of forty years. Josiah Arms married for his second wife Abigail Squires, of Bernardston, Obed S. Arms being the only child of this union. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Abigail S. Arms married Asa Edwards, of South Deerfield, with whom she moved to Southampton, where she died in 1869 at the age of fifty-nine years.
Obed S. Arms, after attending for some years the schools of his native town, spent six months as a student at the Shelburne Falls Academy, and then became a clerk in a store in Greenfield, where he remained for about two years. Returning to South Deerfield at the expiration of that time, in 1854 he here went into business on his own account as a re- tailer, and also began manufacturing shoes in a small way, occupying a dwelling-house for that purpose. In 1855 he opened his present store, where he has since continued to carry on a successful business, and, with a single ex- ception, is the only tradesman in Franklin County who has remained in one place of busi- ness for such an unusual length of time. His mercantile career has extended over a long period, only two merchants now doing business in Deerfield having been thus engaged longer than he. Mr. Arms has always enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, whom he has well and faithfully served. He relin- quished manufacturing some time since, and now devotes his time to the retail trade, carry- ing a complete and varied assortment of his line of goods.
Mr. Arms has been thrice married, his first wife, whom he wedded in 1852, having been
Julia Wrisley, a resident of Northfield Farms, who died in 1860, aged twenty-eight years, leaving no children. His second wife was Leeta A. Lovejoy, of Augusta, Me., who died leaving one child, Carrie L. ; and his present wife was before marriage Elizabeth Babcock, of South Deerfield. Mr. Arms is a Republi- can in politics. He officiated as Postmaster at South Deerfield a period of twenty-four years, from Lincoln's administration to the first term of President Cleveland, has held the office of Town Treasurer seven years, and has acted as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public for twenty years. He is a Master Mason, having joined the craft in 1861, and is a member of the Congregational church, as was also his second wife. He has been treas- urer of the church for fourteen years, and has been otherwise active in church work for many years.
RANCIS R. PRATT, Treasurer of the H. H. Mayhew Corporation, manufact- urers of mechanics' tools at Shelburne Falls, Franklin County, Mass., was born in Charlemont, a few miles away, April 3, 1835, . a son of Josiah and Catherine (Hall) Pratt. His grandfather, Josiah Pratt, Sr., who was a native of Mansfield, Mass., after marrying bought a farm in Buckland, in this county, and, besides attending to the cultivation of the land, worked at carpentry. He subsequently sold his Buckland property and removed to Shelburne Falls, where he remained but a short time. As old age crept upon him he retired from active work, and, returning to Buckland, there passed away at the age of eighty-seven. In politics Josiah Pratt was a Whig. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church, and for many years was Deacon. He was the father of six children, four sons and two daughters.
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Josiah Pratt, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Mansfield, Mass., January 17, 1802. lle was for twenty years engaged in the manufacture of axes at Charlemont, doing the work mostly by hand, as was customary at that time, and conducting a good business. In 1843 he removed to Shelburne Falls, where he had a thriving trade, and in 1865 he sold his business and retired. His workshop was on the river bank, and was destroyed by the flood in 1869. Josiah Pratt died in 1887, at the age of eighty-five. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion he held liberal views. He was a member of Mountain Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Hall, was the daughter of Joel Hall, one of the original charter members of Mountain Lodge, A. F. &. A. M., which was instituted at Rowe, Mass., in 1802. She was a member of the Unitarian church. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were the parents of the following children : Frank J., who for some time was associated with his father in business at Shel- burne Falls; Mary H. ; Catherine A. ; Francis R .; Julia M .; George B .; Ellery C .; and Anna I.
Francis R. Pratt finished his education at the Shelburne Falls Academy, and up to the age of twenty-seven he was engaged in the axe business with his father. In 1862 he entered the employ of W. H. Maynard & Co., tool manufacturers, and remained with them until 1867, just previous to which date W. H. Maynard & Co. were succeeded by H. S. Shep- ardson & Co. The next five years Mr. Pratt spent in Worcester, Mass., in the office of W. H. Maynard & Co., wholesale grain dealers. In 1872, following his original bent, he re- turned to Shelburne Falls, and again associated himself with manufacturing interests by ac- cepting the position of superintendent with H. S. Shepardson & Co., manufacturers of me-
chanics' tools and hardware specialties, and has remained with this concern and its successors ever since. In 1876, following the death of Mr. Shepardson, the business was sold out to H. H. Mayhew & Co., Mr. Pratt still acting as superintendent and manager. Later a stock company was formed, under the name of H. H. Mayhew Company, tool manufacturers, which employed a force of thirty-five men. Mr. Pratt became Assistant Treasurer of the com- pany in 1886, and on the death of Mr. May- hew, in 1894, was made Treasurer.
Mr. Pratt was married in 1863 to Lydia A., daughter of Caleb and Mary (Burnett) Taft, the former a progressive and well-to-do farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have one son, William M., who is Treasurer of Goodell Brothers Company, manufacturers of hardware specialties at Greenfield, Mass. He married Emma C. Richardson, and has two children : Ethel A. and Francis W. His residence is in Greenfield, Mass.
In politics Francis R. Pratt is an indepen- dent Democrat. He is one of the trustees of the savings bank and a member of the in- vesting committee. Socially, he belongs to Mountain Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In relig- ious views he is liberal, and his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. They have a pleasant home, shaded by fine old maples.
ARDING G. WOODARD, whose portrait accompanies this brief me- moir, was for many years a prosper- ous business man of Greenfield, Mass. He was born in New Braintree, in this State, August 14, 1822, son of Freeman and Mary (Green) Woodard. Freeman Woodard's na- tive place was Dana, Mass., the date of his birth being April 13, 1798. He worked as a mechanic the greater part of his life, and died
HARDING G. WOODARD.
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at the home of his son, Harding G., in Green- field, March 14, 1862. His wife, Mrs. Mary Green Woodard, was born May 20, 1804, in the town of Barre, Mass., and died at the son's home in Greenfield on Christmas Day, ISSI.
Mr. Harding G. Woodard learned his trade of butcher in Worcester, Mass., and made a specialty of dressing and dealing in veal. In 1847, after having lived in various places in Massachusetts, he removed to Greenfield, and here went into business as a wholesale dealer in veal, beef, poultry, hides, and tallow. He was the leading man of the place in this trade, which he conducted on an extensive scale and carried on for twenty-five years. Mr. Wood- ard's successful career is a good illustration of what energy and perseverance can accomplish. He began life a poor boy, buying his time of his father for three hundred dollars ; and at his death he owned the home, with some twenty- five acres of land and other property, valued in all at fifty thousand dollars.
He was first married November 28, 1844, to Sarah J. Ranney, who died October 11, 1861, leaving four children. He was again married January 6, 1863, to Martha Burnham, who lived but a few years. After her death, which occurred April 29, 1867, Mr. Woodard on March 10, 1868, married for his third wife Miss Lizzie Meriam, who was born May 21, 1839, in Keene, N. H., the daughter of Joshua and Nancy (Holbrook) Meriam. Her father was born at Ashburnham, Mass., and her mother at the same place. The Meriam fam- ily settled in Ashburnham during the Revo- lutionary War. They were a branch of the Marion family. John Marion was born in Eng- land, in 1620; and his son Samuel was born in Boston, in 1655. Ignatius Meriam, who was the first of the family to settle in Ashburnham, died April 3, 1799, and his wife on April 2 of
the same year. Joshua Meriam, their son and the father of Mrs. Woodard, was a shoemaker by trade, an energetic and industrious man, and a total abstainer from intoxicants. He was a member of the Methodist church and in politics a Republican. His first wife, Nancy Holbrook, died at Ashburnham, July 30, 1852. He had two children by this union, Mrs. Woodard being the only one living; but by his second marriage, to Roxanna Fassett, he had no children. Mr. Meriam married for his third wife Miss Jane R. Wood, of English birth ; and the result of this union was a daughter, Miss E. J. Meriam, who is a resident of Bos- ton ; and a son, Otis Bradford, who died aged ten months.
Harding G. Woodard was a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church and a stanch Re- publican. He died March 19, 1884, leaving a widow and seven children, six of whom are now living: Mrs. Sarah L. Johnson, of Springfield, Mass. ; Mrs. E. E. Baker, of Tol- land, Conn. ; J. Madison Woodard and New- man H. Woodard, both veal dealers of Green- field, carrying on the extensive business left by their father; Herbert Meriam Woodard, in the real estate business in Boston; Charles G. Woodard, in the lumber business in Green- field; and M. Mabelle, who died June 21, 1890, at the age of twenty-one years. Mrs. Jane R. Woodard still resides on the old Woodard place, enjoying its comforts and the many friends she has won to herself by her attractive graces of mind and character. She is a faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EVI PRESTON CHENEY, an enter- prising, progressive, and liberal- minded citizen of North Orange, owns and occupies one of the finest estates in Franklin County. Mr. Cheney was born June
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3, 1846, in the town of Orange, which was the birthplace of many of his ancestors, who were important factors in the settlement and up- building of this part of the county. His paternal grandfather, Levi Cheney, was born in Orange, December 2, 1751, and was long a leader in all enterprises tending to advance the prosperity of the town. He was a farmer, residing in the western part of the place, and a man of iron constitution. He rounded out nearly a century of years, living to the age of ninety-six; and even in old age his hand did not forget the cunning of youth, as he proved to the younger generation by going into the hayfield when his head was silvered by the frosts of ninety-two years, and there showing the men how to mow. He was active in poli- tics, and a stanch Whig. His views on relig- ious matters were clear and liberal, he being a conscientious follower of the Universalist doc- trines. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hill, died at the age of threescore years, leaving seven children, as follows : Esther, Mary, Levi, Peter, Stephen, Louis, and Alexander. He subsequently married Miss Sarah Ballou, who bore him two chil- dren, namely : Asula P. (Mrs. Goddard) ; and Preston Cheney, the father of the subject of this brief sketch.
Preston Cheney was born in Orange, July 7, 1823, and spent his entire life within its limits, dying October 13, 1855. Following in the footsteps of his honored sire, he became a farmer, and was a loyal and worthy citizen of the place, a valued member of the Republi- can party, and a strong Universalist in his religious beliefs. He married Mary A. Os- good, who bore him three children, namely : Levi Preston, of whom we write in the present sketch; George, born December 2, 1847, who died in November, 1892; and Charles N., born June 27, 1849, now a carpenter in Athol,
who married Mary Shannon, and has three children - Frank, Mary, and Sylvester.
Levi P. Cheney had the misfortune to be bereft of a father's care and counsel when a young lad; and, the home being broken up, he went to Athol, where he worked for John Kendall at farming and lumbering until twenty-two years old, attending school in the winter. Removing to Tully, Mr. Cheney worked for four years in a furniture-shop, an employment in which he took great pleasure. He lived in Warwick for twelve years, carry- ing on the farm of his father-in-law, but gave it up, that he might care for his aunt, Mrs. Asula Goddard, and look after her property in North Orange. He was next employed in a furniture-shop in Orange, where he remained until 1893, when he returned to North Orange to take possession of the home left him by his aunt at her decease. This is beautifully located, commanding one of the best long-dis- tance views to be found in many miles around, Tully Mountain being east, and a pretty pond not far away. It is finely improved, with com- modious residence and barn; and there he and his family enjoy all the comforts of life. During the summer season Mr. Cheney throws his house open to boarders from the city, being able to accommodate about twenty- five, who enjoy to the utmost the hospitalities of his house, and find rare delight in the pleas- ant drives of the locality, becoming refreshed and rejuvenated after a summer's stay.
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