USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 72
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Jotham O. Carpenter was born in Leyden in 1808, and followed the avocation of farmer. When thirty-six years of age, he was accident- ally killed, September 7, 1844. His wife, also a native of Leyden, born in 1810, bore him a son and five daughters, all of whom are now living except Charlotte J., who, having married William Smead, died when about twenty-eight years of age. The survivors are: Joseph O .; Eliza M., wife of Warren Badger, of Leyden; Cynthia P., widow of Alexander Morse, who resides in Jacksonville, Vt .; Angeline, widow of Josiah Brooks, who lives in Worcester, Mass .; and Mary, the wife of Jonathan Brooks, of Leyden.
Joseph.O. Carpenter, who received a good practical education in the district school, after his father's death took charge of the family. He first bought land in Guilford, Mass., where he resided four years. Then he sold it, and bought a farm of sixty-five acres in Leyden. Here he had lived fifteen years when he sold this farm, and purchased a saw and grist mill situated in the southern part of the town, and which he operated for nineteen years. In 1889 Mr. Carpenter bought the place where he now resides, a farm
of one hundred acres, devoted to general agriculture. In conjunction with his other occupations he has followed the trade of a carpenter for years, and has built a good proportion of the buildings now standing in Leyden.
When the Civil War opened, Mr. Carpenter enlisted June 20, 1862, in Company K of the Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, and served with this company and regiment six months. He was then transferred to the Forty - first Regiment, which six months later was reorganized and mounted, and from that time was known as the Third Massachu- setts Cavalry. Of the twenty-nine engage- ments in which his regiment took part Mr. Carpenter was in twenty-seven, among which may be mentioned the battle of White Plains, second battle of Bull Run, Warrington, Thor- oughfare Gap, Port Hudson, Cain River, Irish Bend, Red River campaign, Pleasant Hill, Sayburne Cross-roads, and Winchester. In the latter battle, which was fought September 19, 1864, under General Sheridan, he re- ceived a wound which disabled him for further service at the front; and he was thencefor- ward employed in hospital work. He re- ceived his honorable discharge June 5, 1865.
Mr. Carpenter was married March 30, 1852, to Miss Harriet Brooks, a native of Colerain, where she was born January 11, 1826, daugh- ter of Salmon and Hannah (Jones) Brooks, both deceased. She died October 20, 1891, having had nine children, as follows: Charles B., a farmer of Guilford, Vt .; Anna A., wife of T. Rockwood Sheaver, of Colerain, Mass .; Nellie, wife of George Field, of Northampton, Mass .; Miles Sheridan Carpen- ter, of Ashburnham, Mass .; and Carrie Car- penter, residing in Shelburne, Mass .; Mary E., who died at twenty-one years of age; Jotham E., who died in his thirty-sixth year ;
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and Jotham O. and Lorentha, both of whom died in babyhood.
Mr. Carpenter is a Republican, takes an active interest in political affairs, and has rendered efficient service as Constable, School Committeeman, Surveyor of Wood and Lumber, and in other capacities. He is a Past Commander of Greenfield Post, No. 174, Grand Army of the Republic. His re- ligious belief is Universalist.
ILLIAM H. BRACKETT, a prom- inent farmer of Franklin County, born in West Hawley, June 26, 1840, is a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Raw- son) Brackett.
Jonathan Brackett was born in Lynn, Mass., December 9, 1792. When young, he learned the shoemaker's trade, the leading in- dustry of the town, and there worked at it until after his marriage, when he emigrated with his bride to the western part of the State. He located in the town of Buckland, where he bought one hundred acres of land, put up a house and barn, and made a clearing, with a view to farming operations. Besides tilling the land, he made and repaired the shoes for the few families who had dared the dangers and privations of life in a district not yet much better than the wilderness. By hard work he had made many improvements; and, when later settlers began to come to the neighborhood in greater numbers, he was able to sell his land at a handsome profit. He then moved to Hawley, the adjoining town, where he bought the farm now owned by E. Sears. On this he worked energetically, im- proving it by building and cultivation until his death, July 22, 1867. His wife, Sarah Rawson in her maidenhood, was born March 17, 1797, and lived until February 22, 1877.
Both were sincere Christians and active and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Broad-minded people, they gener- ously aided in building the Congregational church at West Hawley, and afterward con- tributed liberally toward its support. They reared eight children, namely: Jonathan, born February 22, 1825; Luana, born March 25, 1827; Sarah M., born June 13, 1828; Allen, born May 2, 1830; Freeman, born February 7, 1832; Mary E., born December 15, 1835; Emily G., born November 18, 1837; and William H., the subject of this notice.
William H. Brackett was educated in the public schools. Brought up on the farm, lie acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture. Remaining at home, the management of the farm in time devolved upon him. He also cared for his parents in their old age. After their death he succeeded to the ownership of the estate, which is finely located, and con- tains one hundred acres of fertile and valuable land. He also owns an equally large tract near by. His chief occupation is general farming; but he also has a large dairy, hav- ing ten choice cows, besides some fine young stock. Continuing the improvements begun by his father, he has brought his land to an excellent condition. He also raises stock, and deals somewhat in lumber. In politics he is a stanch Republican, never changing his principles. Religiously, he belongs to and heartily supports the Congregational church, being one of its most active and worthy members.
On the 4th of November, 1865, Mr. Brack- ett was united in marriage with Melinda Lar- kin, a native of Ballston, Saratoga County, N. Y., being the daughter of Liber and Mabel (Moore) Larkin, who were for many years thriving farmers of Sand Lake, Rensselaer
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County. Mr. Larkin died at the age of threescore and ten years, and Mrs. Larkin at the comparatively early age of forty years. She bore her husband seven children: John C. Larkin. Sarah, Lewis, Ira, Daniel, Melinda (Mrs. Brackett), and Almira. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Brackett has been blessed by four children, as follows: Ida, born Septem- ber II, 1868, the wife of Fred Legate, and mother of one child, Harry F .; Freeman H., born July 9, 1869, superintendent of the Hawley town farm, married to Alice Barber; John A., born December 28, 1871, a mason ; and William A., born March 29, 1873.
AYETTE SNOW, a highly respected resident of Rowe, Franklin County, was born in the town of Dover, Nor- folk County, Mass., May 9, 1836, son of Levi and Nancy (Rice) Snow. His grandfather, Levi Snow, Sr., who was a native of Spencer, Mass., owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Somerset, Bristol County, where he was profitably engaged in stock-raising and general farming. Among the improvements made by him was the erection of a substantial set of buildings. He also built a store, which he stocked and successfully conducted. He was popular and influential among his neigh- bors. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church and a Republican in politics. He died in Somerset in his sixty-seventh year, and his wife died at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : Horatio, Joseph, Betsy Ann, and Levi.
Levi Snow, Jr., father of Mr. Snow, who was born in Spencer, Mass., purchased in Somerset, near his father's home, a farm of two hundred acres, a part of which he after- ward cleared and settled upon. He, too, was indued with the spirit of progress, and the old
farm-house and barns were soon replaced by new ones of more modern construction and greater convenience. Besides cultivating his land he was also engaged in stock-raising and, to a limited extent, in dairying. He was an adherent of the Republican party, and served his town acceptably as Selectman and Assessor. He died on his farm at sixty-seven ; and his wife, Nancy (Rice) Snow, at seventy-five years of age. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children; namely, Henriette, Annette, Durette, Jeanette, Juliette, Lorette, Julian, and Fayette. Both parents were mem- bers of the Universalist church.
Fayette Snow remained at home until twenty-two years of age, receiving a good practical education in the schools of Somerset. He learned the trade of carpenter, at which he was employed during the following six years. At the end of that time, in 1866, he removed to Rowe, Mass., where he purchased the Cogs- well place, consisting of a house and ten acres of land. There he built a shop, in which he carried on a good business in carriage and wagon making for several years. Samples of his workmanship, which is commended for durability and quality, are to be found on some of the best farms in that vicinity. At the present time he is principally engaged in car- riage ironing and painting.
On February 13, 1864, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Amy (Goodell) Russell, a daughter of Harvey Goodell. Their home was brightened by one child, Ada R., born Octo- ber 25, 1865, and married to Edward Thayer, by whom she had a son and daughter, Forrest and Ethel. After Mr. Thayer's death she was again married, becoming the wife of Orland Rice, of Bernardston Farms.
Mr. Snow, who is highly esteemed for his honesty and uprightness of character, is a Re- publican in politics. He is liberal in his re-
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ligious views, while his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
RANKLIN FIELD, a successful farmer and a well-known and highly respected resident of the town of Montague, was born in Sunderland, Franklin County, Mass., March 25, 1820. His father, Walton Field, was born in the town of Leverett in the same county, where his grandfather, Jonathan Field, carried on a farm for many years. In 1835 Jonathan Field removed to Hatfield, Hamp- shire County, where he resided during the remainder of his life.
Walton Field was one of seven children. He attended the district schools and was brought up to follow agriculture, and con- tinued with his father till he purchased a farm in Hatfield, when he settled there and spent the rest of his life on his own place. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Wiley. She was a daughter of Ebenezer Wiley, of Sunderland, where her father carried on farm- ing. She became mother of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living, namely: John William, residing in Amherst; William, living in Con- way; Franklin; and Elizabeth, widow of Zacharias Crocker, of Sunderland. Mrs. Eliz- abeth W. Field died in Sunderland, at the age of forty years. The parents belonged to the Congregational church.
Franklin Field lived in Sunderland till he was eleven years old, and after that was with his father in Hatfield till reaching the age of sixteen, when he learned the trade of broom- making, which occupation he carried on suc- cessfully in Hatfield for some years. He then gave up that employment and removed to his farm of one hundred acres in Montague, where he has since made his home.
In 1842 Mr. Field was married to Miss Alma Scott, daughter of Oretas and Nancy Scott. She was one of a family of thirteen children, and was born in Westfield, where her father was a farmer and spent his later years. Mr. and Mrs. Field reared four chil- dren, as follows: Minerva, wife of Irving B. Crofts, a farmer of Montague and a soldier of the late war; Frank, a railroad station agent at Gardner, Mass. ; Nancy S., a graduate of the high school in Montague, and now an experienced teacher at Wesley Hills, near Berlin; and Fred E., who is further mentioned below. The capable and amiable mother of this family died May 7, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven.
A Unitarian in religion, as was his wife, Mr. Field was formerly a Republican in politics, but is now an independent voter. He held the office of Assessor seven years, while living in Hatfield, his eldest brother, Horace N. (deceased), having been Assessor of that town twenty-five years and also Tax Collector. Although Mr. Field has given up most of the farm cares to his, son, he is still energetic and takes an active interest in social and town matters, and in the exercise of hos- pitality to neighbors and friends.
RED E. FIELD, a well-known and progressive young farmer of Montague, residing about one and a half miles from the village of Montague City, was born in Hatfield, Hampshire County, November 7, 1860, and was but a child of tender years when his father, Franklin Field, removed from that town to Montague. His life since that time has been spent in this picturesque local- ity. He was educated in the public schools, and when he came of age he took the superin- tendence of the farm off his father's hands,
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and has since conducted it himself. The farm consists of one hundred acres, and is mainly devoted to dairying. Mr. Field makes a spe- cialty of fine stock, his herd of Holstein cattle being of the best. His house and grounds are noted in the neighborhood, presenting a fine appearance, betokening good care, and very attractive to the passing traveller.
In 1889 Mr. Field was married to Miss Rosa Small, a native of Machias, Me., where her father was a fisherman. They have one child, named Kenneth Coy. Mr. Field is in- dependent in politics, and is a member of the Legion of Honor of Turner's Falls; and both Mr. and Mrs. Field are members of the Uni- tarian church, taking part in its activities and identifying themselves with the social life of the community.
UTHER A. BRIGHAM, a respected resident of Colerain, who departed this
life August 10, 1895, was born Oc- tober 7, 1832, in Ware, Mass., and was the son of Dr. Luther and Betsey (Ayres) Brig- ham, both natives of North Brookfield. Dr. Brigham was a graduate of Philadelphia Medi- cal College, and was a practising physician in good standing, residing at different times in Ware, Lowell, and Chicopee. He was a man of liberal culture, a fine speaker, and often delivered lectures and other public addresses. In politics he was a Whig, and in religion an attendant of the Congregational church. He died at North Brookfield when seventy-three years of age. His wife, who also was a mem- ber of the Congregational church, died in Chicopee in 1840. They had eleven chil- dren, two only of whom are now living: L. H. Brigham, a manufacturer of Chicopee and also of Ludlow, a very successful business man, who resides in Palmer; and Hannah, wife of George Holt, of Chicago.
The greater part of Luther A. Brigham's early life was spent in Chicopee, Hampden County; and he attended the public schools in Westfield. In his boyhood he engaged in farm work, and as he grew older learned the machinist's trade, entering the employ of the Dwight Manufacturing Company in Chicopee in 1848, and remaining with them fourteen years. While in Chicopee, Mr. Brigham married his first wife, Josephine Chapin, who died after giving birth to a daughter, the lat- ter shortly following the mother to the silent land. In 1864 he bought the estate at Elm Grove, upon which he henceforth resided, and carried on general farming, gathering bounti- ful crops from his sixty-five acres.
In February, 1865, Mr. Brigham was mar- ried to Nellie Temple, daughter of Jabez and Mary Boardman Temple. Mrs. Brigham is a native of Whitingham, Vt., and is a well- informed and talented lady. She is widely known as a public speaker, for the past nine- teen years having been engaged in lecturing on Spiritualism in New York City, winning golden laurels. Mr. and Mrs. Brigham have one son, Clarence L., born in Colerain, April 6, 1866, who at present resides in Claremont, N.H., but contemplates a speedy return to his native town. He is a teacher of music, and has won some fame as a composer. He was married in December, 1887, to Lizzie March, of Shelburne Falls, who was born in 1868. They have three children: Warren L., Ar- thur, and Rose Marie.
Mr. Brigham was an Independent in poli- tics, and on religion he held liberal views. On Wednesday evening, August 7, he was taken ill with what at first appeared to be a bilious attack, but which proved to be a stroke of apoplexy. He passed away the fol- lowing Saturday at 5 P.M. Mr. Brigham was a man possessing a very genial nature, and
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will be greatly missed by a very large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was of a kind and generous disposition, and the hungry and needy were never turned from his door. He was buried in the family lot at Maple Grove Cemetery, Chicopee, Mass., where rest the remains of his father, mother, and others near and dear.
NDREW JACKSON HART, a farmer of Conway and a veteran of the Civil War, was born at Colerain, Mass., May 20, 1827. He is the son of Alexander Hart, a native of Scotland, who came to America when a young man, and first settled at Cambridge, N. Y., where his uncle, whose name was Klen, resided. Alexander Hart re- moved from New York State to Colerain, Mass., and after his marriage, which occurred in the last-named town, he resided in various places. He married Betsey Hart, daughter of Peter Rine Hart, a farmer of Colerain, and she was, in all probability, a native of Sutton, Mass. Peter Rine Hart, who was of German ancestry, died in Colerain. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hart became the parents of seven children.
Andrew Jackson Hart was educated in the schools of his native town, and resided there until 1854. He then went to Boston, where he was engaged for the next few years in different kinds of employment, and in the autumn of 1861 enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Twenty-fourth regiment, Massachu- setts Volunteer Infantry. The Regiment was ordered to the front during the month of December of that year, and participated in the battles of Roanoake, Newbern, Goldsboro, and Kingston. He was in detached service for nearly one year, but with that exception accompanied his regiment in its various
marches, and after his discharge, in 1864, re- turned to Boston. In the autumn of that year he went to Colerain, three years later remov- ing to Conway, where he bought a small tract of land, and in 1870 purchased the farm on which he now resides. Aside from general farming Mr. Hart deals in live stock and makes a specialty of raising Southdown sheep, Chester pigs, and Hambletonian horses.
In 1854 Mr. Hart was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Forbes, daughter of George and Olive Forbes, of Colerain. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have six children, as follows: George H., Daniel W., Emma, Sarah, Jennie, and Olive.
T HOMAS SMEAD, one of Colerain's prominent farmers, was born at Green- field, Mass., July 30, 1837. He is a son of Warren and Abigail G. (Sage) Smead, both of whom were natives of Greenfield. Mr. Smead's paternal grandfather, whose baptismal name was Thomas, and who was an officer in the State militia, was born in Green- field, December 12, 1768, and was a son of Lemuel Smead, an early settler in that town. Captain Thomas Smead was both a tanner and a shoemaker, which occupations he followed in connection with farming, residing in Green- field during his entire life. He was a very industrious man ; he was actively engaged in life's labors to the moment of his decease, which was the result of an accident. He died April 30, 1837, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Hinsdale, was also a native of Greenfield; and she became the mother of nine children, as follows: Ira, Esther, Sarah, Thomas, Mehita- ble, William, Harriet, Amelia, and Warren. She died April 14, 1836, at the age of sixty- two years.
Warren Smead followed agricultural pur-
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suits in Greenfield during his whole life, and was known as a good farmer and reliable in all his dealings. He was a Democrat in politics, and an attendant of the Baptist church. He died on January 1I, 1853, aged thirty-eight years ; and his wife, who long survived him, was called to the home above on May 14, 1891. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, namely: Thomas; S. Maria, who was born June 20, 1839, married H. W. Wood, of Deerfield, and died March 30, 1892; Charles W., a resident of Greenfield, who was born June 6, 1841 ; George A., born January II, 1844, who served in Company A, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, during the Civil War, and died May 17, 1875; Char- lotte R., who was born February 17, 1846, married C. M. Carpenter, and died October 8, 1881 ; Dwight E., born August 13, 1849, and now residing at Shelburne; and Clarence A., born February II, 1852, now a resident of Colerain.
Thomas Smead received his education in the common schools of Greenfield, where he grew to manhood, and at an early age engaged in farm labor, receiving seven dollars per month for his first season's work, when he was but fourteen years of age. He continued thus employed for three or four years, carefully sav- ing his earnings and never losing a day's time, in which manner he was able to accumulate quite a sum of money; and for his last six months' work he received one hundred dollars, which was considered the best of wages in those days. After the death of his father he lived at home, assisting his mother in supporting and educating his younger brothers and sis- ters; and, when the homestead was sold five years later, he became the purchaser, but sub- sequently disposed of it and bought the farm at Shelburne where his brother now resides. Having conducted it for five years he sold that
property and moved to Brattleboro, where he bought a farm which he sold in the time of the Civil War, at a large advance over the amount he had paid for it. After a residence of one year in Greenfield and two years at Shelburne Falls he exchanged his property in the latter place for a farm in Charlemont, which he sold in 1872, again purchasing the old home farm where he was born. Here he has since re- sided. He has about one hundred and forty acres of land, which he devotes principally to dairying interests, keeping a herd of twenty cows; and he is also engaged to a considerable extent in raising fruit.
On March 13, 1862, he was married at Brat- tleboro, Vt., by the Rev. George P. Tyler, to Miss Persis E. Clark, who was born at Ley- den on March 13, 1837. She was a daughter of Thomas and Polly (Makepeace) Clark, the former of whom was a farmer, who died in Leyden at the age of sixty-four, his wife hav- ing passed away at fifty-four. Thomas Clark was twice married, and had one son by his first and six children by his second marriage : Henry W., who resides in Nantucket ; Charles P., and Elisha A., both deceased; Persis E .; William S., a resident of Greenfield; Mary, wife of Lemuel Bennett, of Amherst; and Thomas, who was killed in battle during the Civil War, while serving as a member of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers.
Mr. and Mrs. Smead have six children, namely : Ada M., born at Shelburne, April 16, 1863, and now the wife of Henry S. Chap- man, of Deerfield; Frank W., born at Colerain, December 26, 1864, and now residing there ; William C. H., born in Greenfield, February 5, 1867, and now residing at Leyden; Lena Lenora, born at Shelburne Falls, March 14, 1869, who died June 5, 1872; Charles A., born at Charlemont, November 3, 1871, and residing at home; Florence D., born at Cole-
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rain, June 2, 1875, and now the wife of C. O. Hawes, of West Northfield. Mr. Smead is a Republican in politics, and both himself and wife are liberal in their religious views.
HARLES KEITH, for many years a prominent merchant of Greenfield, of which town he was a native, was born September 27, 1828, and died on Febru- ary 20, 1895. He was a son of Alexander Keith, Jr. His grandfather, Alexander, Sr., was born about the year 1745, and was a na- tive of New England, but of Scotch ancestry, being a son of Daniel Keith, a Scotsman who emigrated to this country in the first half of the eighteenth century. The father of Daniel was Scott Keith. Alexander Keith, Sr., married Hannah Lathrop, whose parents came from England, and were engaged in farming in Bridgewater and Greenwich suc- cessively. She became the mother of five sons and three daughters, all of whom grew up and became the heads of families. Grand- father Keith died in 1830, at the age of eighty-five, and his widow in 1855, at the venerable age of ninety-nine years and seven months, having retained her physical and mental powers to a remarkable degree until within five years of her death.
Their son, Alexander Keith, Jr., chose for his wife Sally Billings, of Belchertown, Mass., their marriage occurring in 1808. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Sally (Morgan) Billings, formerly well-known resi- dents of Hatfield. Mr. Keith varied the oc- cupation of farming with that of a butcher, and proved a good provider for his family, which, besides his wife, consisted of eight children - five sons and three daughters - Charles Keith being the youngest of the fam- ily. His sister Sarah M. is now the only sur-
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