USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Franklin County, Massachusetts .. > Part 9
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ings on the estate, besides bringing the land into a high state of cultivation. He keeps a choice dairy of Durham cows and a numerous flock of sheep, besides some fine horses, and is regarded as one of the most flourishing agri- culturalists in the town, his farm being the largest in the vicinity, and giving employment to quite a number of laborers. In politics Mr. Gale is a Republican, and in religion a Unitarian. He is noted for his genial and charitable disposition, and is a man who has. many friends. As yet he has not married; but, as he is still in the prime of life, perhaps Cupid and Fate are but procrastinating.
OHN H. SMEAD, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of the town of Charle- mont, Franklin County, son of Elihu and Judith (Hatch) Smead, was born on the place where he now resides, May 29, 1829. He is a lineal descendant of William Smead, one of the carly settlers of Deerfield.
Elihu Smead was born in Deerfield, Mass., on February 12, 1788. He served as a private in the War of 1812, and at its close he settled in Belchertown, Mass., where he lived until 1820, when he removed to the farm where his son, John H. Smead, now resides. He was a successful and progressive farmer, and among other improvements on his place he built a good barn. He died at eighty-eight years of age. His wife, Judith Hatch Smead, was a daughter of Harris and Deborah (Chamberlain) Hatch, the former of whom was profitably engaged in the varied occupations of hotel- keeper, brick manufacturer, and farmer, in Pembroke and Belchertown. In politics Mr. Hatch was a Whig, and he rendered good ser- vice as a patriot soldier of the Revolutionary War. He died at the age of sixty-six, and his wife in her eighty-second year. Mrs.
Deborah Chamberlain Hatch, it will be noted, was the maternal grandmother of the subject of this sketch. She used to tell her grandson, in his younger days, as he well remembers, that she was a descendant of John Turner, who came over in the "Mayflower " in 1620. Such was her respect for the name that she called one of her sons Turner. Some future geneal- ogist, it is to be trusted, will make clear the line of descent. John Turner and his two sons are recorded as having died at Plymouth within a few months after their arrival. A daughter of Mr. Turner is said to have come later to New England, and to have been married in Salem, Mass. The children of Harris and Deborah C. Hatch were ten in number ; namely, Deborah T., Polly, Judith, John, Har- ris, Turner, Nancy, Fanny, Maria, and Nancy H. Mrs. Smead bore her husband the follow- ing children : a son born in 1813, who died in infancy ; Sidney S., born July 3, 1814; Debo- rah S., born May 9, 1816, who died at the age of twelve years; Catherine B., born May 3, 1818, died at thirty-two years of age; Nathan- iel N., born October 12, 1820, died in his third year ; another son who died in babyhood ; Nancy M., born March 21, 1827, now the wife of J. Crosby ; John H. ; and Edward P., born in 1832, who died at the age of four years. Sidney S., above mentioned, has been thrice married, his first wife being Miss Eliza A. Clark, the next Miss Ruth T. Thayer, and his present wife Miss Kate Sanderson. He has held the office of Deacon, also Justice of the Peace. Both parents were active and con- sistent members of the Congregational church, of which the father served as Deacon several years. In politics he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, which he afterward supported.
John H. Smead grew to manhood on the old homestead, receiving a good practical educa-
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tion in the schools of the town ; and at twenty- one years of age he secured a position in the tool-shop in Conway, Mass., where he was employed during the following three years. At the end of that time, returning home to care for his parents during their declining years, he bought the homestead, to which he added by the purchase of one hundred and fif- teen acres of land, and there he has since resided. In 18SS he tore down the old house, which had been erected more than one hundred years pre- vious, and built a new one on nearly the same site, affording an excellent view of the beauti- ful Deerfield valley. He is successfully en- gaged in general farming and carries on a choice dairy, besides raising sheep and horses.
On September 14, 1853, he was married to Miss Lydia J. Montague, who was born in Montague, one of the eastern towns in Frank- lin County, December 11, 1826, daughter of Noadiah and Mary (Jones) Montague, the former of whom was a son of Medad and Ruth (Dinsmore) Montague. Medad Montague, who was a native of Sunderland, Mass., bought and cleared a farm in Montague, where he was a successful and popular man, and rendered efficient service in various town offices. He and his wife, Ruth Dinsmore Montague, were the parents of the following children : Huldah, Esther, Samuel, Rufus, Zebina, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Medad, and Noadiah. The family were members of the Congregational church. Noadiah, who was born August 1, 1796, spent his life on the old homestead in Montague, where he died at the age of sixty-one. His first wife, Mary Jones Montague, who lived to be but thirty-one years old, bore him four children : Harriett L., Emma E., Lydia J., and Horace N. He married for his second wife Miss Lucretia Ward, and of this union four children were also born: Henry W., Mary J. (deceased), Mary J., and Helen M.
Mr. and Mrs. Smead have one son, Edward P., born August 26, 1856, who married Miss Addie A. Hamilton, and has one daughter, Nellie I. Smead. This son lives with his father on the farm, which they successfully carry on in partnership. In political affilia- tion Mr. Smead is a Republican. He and his family are all active and influential members of the Congregational church, of which he has served as Deacon, also clerk and treasurer, for thirty years. Mr. Smead is also President of the Oak Tree Association, of which his son's wife is Secretary.
LBERT B. NELSON, a successful farmer and life-long resident of Cole- rain, was born in this town July 25, 1814. He is a son of Obed and Elizabeth (Sturtevant) Nelson, his father having been a native of Colerain and his mother of Vermont. William Nelson, father of Obed, formerly re- sided in Brimfield, Conn., but moved from that State in company with his two brothers, Edward and John, Edward settling at Leyden, Mass., John in Whitingham, Vt., and William finding a home at Colerain, where he was an industrious farmer and a most worthy citizen, residing there until his decease, which oc- curred at about the age of eighty years. His wife, who also lived to reach a good old age, was the mother of six children, named as fol- lows : Obed, Jesse, Betsey, Polly, Abigail, and David, all of whom became heads of families and have passed away, their ashes reposing in the cemetery at Colerain.
.Obed Nelson settled upon the farm where his son Albert now resides, quietly pursuing the occupation of his ancestors, and continued to enjoy prosperity as the result of his diligent labors during his long and useful life, which came to a close at the age of seventy-six years.
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He was known as an honorable and upright citizen, who possessed many estimable qual- ities. Politically he was a Democrat. Mr. Nelson was inclined to be liberal in his relig- ious ideas. His union with Elizabeth Sturte- vant, who lived to attain the ripe age of eighty-six years, was blessed with four chil- dren, who reached maturity, namely : Orpheus, who settled in the State of Michigan, where he became a prosperous farmer, and died at the age of sixty-four years; Albert B., of this sketch; Austin, who followed agricultural pursuits in the town of Buckland, where he died at the age of sixty-eight years; and Myron, who died in the State of Illinois at the age of fifty-five years.
Albert B. Nelson attended the district schools of Colerain, where he obtained a good knowledge of the ordinary branches of educa- tion. By purchasing the interests of the other heirs, he succeeded to the possession of the homestead, and tenderly cared for his parents during their declining years. He owns a very productive farm, consisting of about one hun- dred and thirty acres, and, although well past the fourscore limit, still gives his personal attention to the farm duties, being stronger and more active, both mentally and physically, than some of his younger neighbors.
On November 9, 1847, he was united in marriage at Somers, Conn., to Miss Mary C. Prouty, who was born in Boston, Mass., No- vember 26, 1822, daughter of Asa and Sally Prouty. Mrs. Nelson passed from earth on January 28, 1890, at the age of sixty-eight years, having been the mother of six children, five of whom still survive: Whiting G., who was born December 11, 1848, and is now a merchant in the State of Michigan; Orrasville L., who was born May 7, 1852, now the widow of Jacob Lovell, residing in Spring- field; Arabelle E., born November 6, 1854,
now the wife of Edward Mitchell, of Green- field; Laura, born February 24, 1857, who was the wife of Emerson Peck, of Greenville, Mich., and died December 14, 1882; Asa Obed, born December 11, 1859, who owns and resides on the large farm formerly owned by Milo Miller; and Olive Nellie, who was born July 29, 1865, and is the wife of William Tilton, of Boston.
Mr. Nelson is a Democrat in politics, but has never taken an active part in public affairs beyond casting his vote and attending to the duties of some minor town offices which he has been called upon to fill. He is a very hos- pitable gentleman, a kind and thoughtful neighbor, charitably inclined, and is one of the best - known citizens of the town, there being at the present day but few residing there who have reached a more advanced age.
ENRY W. MONTAGUE, farmer, an influential resident of Northfield Farms, Franklin County, Mass., was born in the adjacent town of Montague, October 15, 1833, son of Noadiah and Lu- cretia (Ward) Montague. His great-grand- father, Daniel Montague, son of Samuel Montague, was a native of Sunderland, Mass., where he followed agriculture. Medad Mon- tague, son of Daniel, was born in Sunderland, which is in the southern part of Franklin County, and settled in the North Parish thereof, now Montague, previous to the incor- poration of this town in 1753. After serving in the Revolutionary War, he became a pros- perous farmer, and was a Selectman twenty years, besides representing his district at the General Court for several terms. He died at the age of eighty-two years. He was three times married, and was the father of nine chil- dren.
T
CHARLES B. WELLS.
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Noadiah Montague, Mr. Montague's father, was born in Montague, and, after completing his studies in the district schools, assisted his father upon the home farm, of which he event- ually became the owner, and resided there until reaching the age of fifty-eight years. He then purchased the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Henry W. ; and here he died three years later. Noadiah Montague married Lucretia Ward, a daughter of William Ward, a lawyer and a lumber dealer of Shutes- bury. She became the mother of four chil- dren, of whom Henry W., with whom she passed her last days, is the only survivor. Mrs. Lucretia W. Montague died at the age of eighty-two years.
Henry W. Montague passed his boyhood in attending the district schools of his native town, and remained with his parents until reaching the age of twenty-one, when he com- menced to learn the carpenter's trade. Three years later he returned to the parental roof, and after the death of his father succeeded to the possession of the home farm, which he has since conducted with success. In 1866 Mr. Montague was united in marriage to Mary E. Field, daughter of Horace F. Field, of North- field. The fruit of this union is one son, Frank H. Montague, who resides with his par- ents. He has a good education, having at- tended successively in his youth the schools of Northfield, the seminary at New Salem, and the Albany Business College.
Mr. Montague is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Northfield. He is a Republican in politics, has served as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for nine years. In 1882 he represented his district in the State legislature, and he was for four years Post- master at Northfield Farms. For the past eleven years he has discharged with ability the duties of the office of Justice of the Peace in
Montague, having his first appointment thereto from Governor George D. Robinson and his reappointment from Governor William E. Russell.
HARLES BARNARD WELLS,
whose portrait appears on the opposite
page, a well-known and highly re- spected farmer of Greenfield, was born Decem- ber II, 1829, in Rowe, Mass., another Frank- lin County town. His great-grandfather, Joel Wells, was one of the early settlers of Green- field, which at that time was a part of Deer- field. In his day Indians and game abounded throughout this part of the country, and the pioneer settlers required skill in the use of the musket as well as the axe and hoe. He mar- ried Hannah Bascom, and followed the occupa- tion of farmer till his death, which took place in Greenfield. His son, also named Joel and also a tiller of the soil, resided at different times both at Greenfield and Rowe, but died at North Adams, Mass., at the age of eighty-five. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Abi- gail Hawks, and who died somewhat younger than he, were members of the Unitarian church. They had five sons and two daughters who grew up, all of whom are now deceased.
Alpheus Wells, son of the foregoing and father of Charles Barnard Wells, was born in Greenfield in 1789, and grew to manhood, and received his education in the schools of that town. When a young man he moved to Rowe, where he secured a good farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was industrious and progressive, to which qualities he owed his success. He married Content Nash, who was born in Greenfield about 1789, daughter of Daniel and Abigail (Atherton) Nash. Daniel Nash was an early settler of Greenfield, and was actively identified with the affairs of his town, including religious matters, being a
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member of the First Congregational Church. Alpheus Wells was liberal in his religious views, while his wife faithfully adhered to the church of her father. In politics Mr. Wells was a Republican. He died at the age of fifty- seven years, his wife having lived to the age of forty-nine. They had two sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Sarah Ann, who died at seven- teen years of age; Isabella G., born in Rowe, July 13, 1825, and now living with her brother, Charles Barnard ; George Nash, who died at the age of seventeen years; and Charles Barnard, the immediate subject of this biography.
Charles Barnard Wells resided in his native town of Rowe seventeen years, and then re- moved to Greenfield, where he has lived ever since. Having worked out at farming and lumbering a number of years in early manhood, in 1875 he bought the farm which he now oc- cupies ; he also owns a tract of twenty-five acres in Leyden. A hard-working man, by his undaunted energy and practical sagacity he has attained to a fair degree of success. He has never married, but lives with his maiden sister, Isabella G. Wells, on the old Smead farm. Miss Wells is a faithful and valued member of the First Congregational Church of Greenfield, while her brother holds liberal views in religion, and is guided by Re- publican principles in politics. As will be gathered from the brief record above given, they are the last of their immediate family ; and it is, therefore, a happy circumstance that the likeness of Mr. Wells is herewith pre- sented for safe keeping, to be viewed with in- terest by the present and future generation of readers.
SA PHELPS, a prosperous farmer and prominent man of Monroe, was born in this town, July 27, 1823, son of Dana and Prudah (Bullock) Phelps. His
grandfather, Francis Phelps, was a native of Guilford, Vt., and settled in Halifax in that State, where he engaged successfully in agri- culture. Ile was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and drew a pension for his military services. In politics he was a Whig. He died at the age of seventy-five years, highly respected by all his neighbors. His children were : Francis, Barney, Porter, Jonathan, and Dana.
Dana Phelps was a very active man, and in his younger days surpassed all the farmers in his neighborhood in the amount of farm work accomplished. Although not ordained, he was active in evangelical work, and for years preached the Universalist doctrine, minister- ing to souls in Monroe, Mass., in Readsboro, Vt., and in Florida, Mass. In Monroe he was a prominent man and held most of the town offices. His wife, who was a woman of rare capability, strong in mind and body, was the mother of thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, whom she clothed with the products of her own deft hands, carding, spinning, and weaving the wool and flax for their garments during the first twenty years of her mother- hood.
Asa Phelps was educated in the district schools and at Whitingham Academy, and at the age of nineteen began teaching school, which occupation he continued for six terms. He then bought a farm of thirty-two acres, known as the Phelps place; but after a short time he sold it and purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which he im- proved and upon which he erected a substantial dwelling. Later he built a small store, which he conducted for some time with fair success. His farm is well stocked and has a small but good dairy, and his place presents the thrifty appearance of the well-kept homestead of a typical New England farmer. Mr. Phelps is
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a man of influence in his town, and his opin- ion carries weight in public affairs. He is independent in politics, and has served as Jus- tice of the Peace for seven years, also as Se- lectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, has been a member of the School Committee for twelve years, and has twice served on traverse jury in the Superior Court.
On July 3, 1845, he was married to Miss Lydia S. Bassett, daughter of Erastus and Lydia (Yaw) Bassett, well known and es- teemed citizens of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are the parents of the following chil- dren : Leonard A., born August 15, 1846, who married Sarah Crocker, and has two chil- dren; Homer A., born October 6, 1853, who married Cora D. Phelps, and has one child, Edna M. ; Lydia C., born December 16, 1855, who died in early childhood, April 1, 1860; and Edna S., born March 2, 1861, who died at twenty-four. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps stand high among the people of the town of Monroe for their many sterling qualities, which they have doubtless in part inherited from their sturdy New England ancestors. They may well be regarded as representative citizens of Franklin County.
OSIAH P. DAY, a retired blacksmith of Bernardston and a veteran of the late war, was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, August 4, 1837, son of Robert and Adeline (Pomeroy) Day. The Days trace their ancestry back to Robert Day, who in April, 1634, came to this country and settled in Newtown, now Cambridge, Mass., and later moved to Hartford, Conn., where he died. His name may be found recorded on a monument in that city erected to the memory of the first settlers. His son, Thomas Day, was the founder of the Springfield branch of
the family. John, the son of Thomas, was the first of the family to make his home in West Springfield. His son John was born in West Springfield, as were also his grandson Joel, James, son of Joel, and Robert, son of James and father of the subject of this memoir.
Josiah P. Day came to Bernardston when but twelve years of age, and received the ad- vantages of the district schools of the town and also of the Goodale Academy. He began to learn the blacksmith's trade when seventeen years of age, and served three years, at the end of which time he found employment as a jour- neyman blacksmith in different places. On August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, which was in the following battles: in 1862, siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks (two battles), Charles City Cross-roads, Glen- dale, Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Fredericks- burg; in 1863, the Mud Campaign, St. Mary's Heights, Salem Heights, Franklin Crossing, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, and Mine Run; in 1864, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. Mr. Day's record was an event- ful one, and he saw much hard service. His first battle was Antietam ; and in all he par- ticipated in fourteen or fifteen engagements, having two narrow escapes from death. At Salem Heights they had driven the rebels into the woods and received orders to halt and lie down. Mr. Day was on his knees, arranging his knapsack, and just dropped on his face as a ball struck the knapsack and lodged in his underclothing. At another time he was on one knee with his gun before him, when a ball from a sharp-shooter struck the gun-barrel di- rectly in front of his face, cutting the gun strap and stock in two and glancing off. He was honorably discharged from the service July 1, 1864. At the close of the war he re-
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turned to Bernardston and re-engaged in the blacksmith business ; but owing to poor health, brought on by the hardships of army life, it was several years before he was well able to stand the wear and tear of his work. For twenty-two years, however, Mr. Day could be found most of the time at his forge in the shop that he purchased in 1867. His untiring in- dustry was attended with success ; but at length he was obliged to give up this labor on account of rheumatism, and now, retired from active business, is spending his time in rest and quiet at home.
He married, January 2, 1868, Lucy A. Haskell, who was born in Montague, Mass., daughter of Abram K. and Esther (Kellogg) Haskell. The father was born in Shutesbury, Mass., and the mother in New Salem, Mass. Mr. Haskell was a mechanic by trade, but during the last years of his life he worked as a farmer. He died at the age of seventy-four years. His wife is still living in Bernardston. Mr. and Mrs. Day have a daughter, Josephine E., who graduated from Powers Institute in 1891, and also graduated in shorthand, type- writing, and book-keeping from Childs's Busi- ness College in June, 1893. Mrs. Day is a member of the Congregational church. Polit- ically, Mr. Day is a Republican. He belongs to the Edwin E. Day Post, No. 174, Grand Army of the Republic, of Greenfield, Mass.
R° OLLIN C. WARD, M.D., a promi- nent physician of Northfield, Mass., was born at West Rutland, Vt., April 6, 1838, son of Aaron and Olive B. (Southworth) Ward. Dr. Ward's great-grand- father, Jabez Ward, born in 1735, married Je- mima Allen, a near relative of Colonel Ethan Allen of Ticonderoga fame, and took a leading part in local public affairs in the Colonial pe-
riod. He died in 1786, at his home in New Marlboro, Berkshire County, Mass., at the age of eighty-two years. His son Jabez married Eleanor Warner, of New Marlboro, and re- moved to Rutland, Vt., where he was for some years a prosperous farmer, and died there at the age of sixty-six. The immigrant pro- genitor of this branch of the Ward family in America was William Ward, who received a grant of land in Sudbury, Mass., in 1639, and represented that town in the General Court in 1644. He was great-great-grandfather of the first Jabez here named.
Aaron Ward, son of the younger Jabez, was educated in the district schools, and trained to agricultural pursuits, which he followed through life. He succeeded to the possession of the old Rutland homestead, but, after resid- ing there for a few years, sold it to his brother, and for some time conducted a large boarding-house in the neighborhood of the quarries in West Rutland. Aaron Ward died at the home of his son, Rollin C. Ward, in Orwell, Vt., aged seventy-seven years. He and his wife were members of the Congre- gational church. Mrs. Aaron Ward was a daughter of Isaac Southworth, a prominent farmer and an old resident of West Rutland, who was active in church affairs in that town. She died at the age of eighty-five years, hav- ing been the mother of twelve children, of whom four are now living; namely, Lorenzo, Silas, Selah, and Rollin C.
Rollin C. Ward received his education in the schools of his native town, including the select school, the Castleton Seminary, and the Troy Conference Academy. Beginning to teach at the age of seventeen, he taught in both the district and select schools for several years, also doing some farm work during that time. On May 17, 1861, he enlisted as a Union soldier, and was made Fifth Sergeant
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in Company B, Second Vermont Volunteer Infantry, which on being mustered into service was attached to the Sixth Army Corps; and, passing upward from rank to rank until De- cember 20, 1862, was then promoted to that of Captain. He led his company through many memorable engagements, and received a gun- shot wound in each thigh at the battle of Spottsylvania, which confined him in the hos- pital for some time, and eventually incapaci- tated him for further service. He was dis- charged at Berryville, Va., but attached him- self to the forage department of the army at City Point, and remained until the close of the war. Returning to Vermont, he purchased a small farm at Orwell, which he conducted for a short period ; and it was at this time that he first entered upon the study of medicine, devoting to it all the leisure hours he had when not employed in teaching.
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