USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
Politically, Mr. Cowing believes firmly in the principles of the Democratic party, has held several offices in the county, and is much respected by all who know him.
ERRIAM KING, an energetic farmer of Prescott and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in New Salem, Mass., July 6, 1834, son of Joseph and Joanna (Vaughn) King. Mr. King's grand- father, Samuel King, was an early settler in New Salem, where he cleared and improved a good farm, upon which he resided for the re- mainder of his life. His family consisted of six children - three sons and three daughters - all of whom have passed away.
Joseph King, father of Mr. King, was born and reared on the farm. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed that occupation in connection with farming. He was an in- dustrious and progressive man and a useful
153
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
citizen. His latter years were passed upon the present farm of his son Merriam in Pres- cott, and he lived to the age of eighty-four years. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but later supported the Republican party. His wife, Joanna Vaughn, who was a native of Shutesbury, Mass., became the mother of nine children, seven of whom grew to matu- rity. Of these two are now living, namely : Lavonia, widow of Varnum V. Vaughn, who resides in New Salem; and Merriam, the sub- ject of this sketch. Those deceased were : Clarissa, Merrill, Joseph H., John M., Maria, Sanford R., and Emory S. The mother lived to the age of eighty-four. Mr. King's parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Merriam King grew to manhood in New Salem, and received his education in the schools of that town. At the age of fifteen he commenced life for himself by working in a box factory at fifteen dollars per month. After remaining there for a time, he engaged in various employments until July 26, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company H, Twenty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers, under Captain Rice, and served six months in the Civil War. He was honorably discharged December 31 of the same year on account of injuries received in a railroad acci- dent, from which he has never fully recovered. After leaving the service, Mr. King returned to his native State, and engaged in different occupations until 1885, when he purchased his present farm in Prescott, where he has since resided. His property consists of ninety acres of well-improved land; and, being thrifty and energetic, his farming operations have yielded satisfactory results. He is a Republican in politics, and has served with ability as a Selectman, Assessor, and Over- seer of the Poor for the past five years.
Mr. King has been twice married. On No- vember 26, 1856, he wedded for his first wife Samantha Haskins, a native of New York State, who died January 25, 1857. On No- vember 26, 1863, he married for his second wife Laura A. Warner, daughter of Cullen and Lucy (Cooley) Warner. Cullen Warner was born in Sheffield, Mass., December 22, 1797, was a carpenter and a farmer, and resided in Greenwich for more than fifty years. He was prosperous in business, a Democrat in poli- tics, prominent in public affairs, and served as Selectman, Assessor, Town Clerk, and Representative to the legislature. He died in Greenwich, October 25, 1877. His wife, who was born in Brookfield, November 14, 1795, had eleven children. Seven of these are now living, namely: Mary, George, Eliza, Ann W., and Phoebe M., who are residents of Greenwich; Jennie, who resides in Spring- field; and Laura A., now Mrs. King. Those deceased were: Lucy A., Caroline, Maria, and Frank M. The mother died in Green- wich, December 10, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. King have one daughter, named Leona M., who was born December 30, 1885. Mrs. King is a member of the Congregational church.
ATHANIEL W. FARRAR, druggist in the employ of C. J. Smith at East- hampton, Mass., was born in Steu- benville, Jefferson County, Ohio, on July 26, 1839, son of Oscar Chandler and Elsie Ann (Patterson) Farrar.
John Farrar, his great-grandfather, was a patriot soldier of the Revolutionary War. His son Nathaniel removed in 1828 from the East to Ohio, where the last years of his life were passed. He died in Madison, eighty- three years of age, leaving one son and three daughters. His son, Oscar Chandler Farrar,
154
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
father of Mr. Farrar, was born in Shelburne, Mass., December 25, 1817, and now resides at Eric, Pa. Osear's wife was born in Gaines- ville, Wyoming County, N.Y., and had by him five children, as follows: Nathaniel William; Chestcr Hinsdale, deeeascd; Orrell D., a machinist, residing in Columbus, Ohio; Myra, the wife of John Seott, of Harbor Creek, Erie County, Pa .; and Alma, mar- ried to John Stephenson, and now living in Toledo, Ohio.
Mr. Farrar received his education in Ohio and at the schools of Beloit, Roek County, Wis. In 1858 he engaged in teaching, but forsook it after a short time. On August 24, 1861, he enlisted in the ranks of Company G of the Thirteenth Wiseonsin Regiment, and served in the Civil War for four years and five months, after which he was honorably dis- charged. For the larger part of that time he was detailed to the hospital service. On the 12th of May, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda S. Midlam, of Albany, N.Y. They have a daughter, Olive Louise, who is a teacher, and lives at home. He eame to Easthampton in May, 1873, and since that time has been engaged in his present position, giving satisfaction not alone to his employer, but to their numerous patrons.
The Republican party eounts Mr. Farrar as one of its most faithful adherents. He is a member of Lake Erie Lodge, No. 347, of Girard, Pa., A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of Post No. 166, Grand Army of the Republie, in nearly all of the offices of which he has served.
HARLES N. DYER, merchant, Post- master, and Town Clerk of Plainfield, was born in that town, January 7, 1850, son of Newell and Mary Ann (Whit- marsh) Dyer. Mr. Dyer's grandfather, Jesse
Dyer, was a son of Christopher Dyer, Jr. Jesse Dyer was a native of Abington, Mass., and settled in the town of Ashfield about the year 1790. He bought a traet of one hundred aeres, which he improved into a good farm, first building a small house and later a larger and more substantial residenee. He was the first settler in that part of Ashfield, and he became a well-to-do farmer. He died in 1854, aged eighty-five years; and his farm is now owned by B. M. Dyer. On October 4, 1795, he married Sally Pool; and she became the mother of the following children: Jared, Oakes, Bela, Albert, Sarah, Samuel, and Newell. The mother died in 1852, aged seventy-three years.
Newell Dyer, Mr. Dyer's father, was born in Ashfield, January 23, 1818. He sueeeeded to the ownership of his father's farm, which he condueted for five years. Selling the property, he moved to Plainfield, where he bought the Deacon Richards farm of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres, which he improved to a considerable extent. He resided there for eight years, at the expiration of which he sold, and purchased the farm which is now owned by J. W. Sears, together with an ad- joining farm and some outlying lots. He was a successful farmer, a Republican in politics, and a Congregationalist in his religious be- lief. He died at the age of fifty-four. His first wife, Mary Whitmarsh before marriage, was a daughter of Jacob Whitmarsh. She be- came the mother of one son, Charles N., the subject of this sketeh. She died in 1866, aged forty-seven years. Newell Dyer wedded for his second wife Mrs. Lydia Sears, who survives him, and is now the wife of Lemuel Cross, of Ashfield.
Charles N. Dyer was educated in the schools of his native town, and at the age of sixteen became a clerk in a general store in
155
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Hadley, where he remained for one year. He then taught school for seven succeeding win- ters, his summers being occupied in agricult- ural pursuits. He then went to Northamp- ton, where he worked at the machinist's trade until the death of his father caused him to return to Plainfield. He conducted the farm for ten years, and then engaged in mercantile business in the store which is now occupied as a residence by J. W. Sears. After con- ducting a successful business for seven years, he sold this store: and, purchasing a lot of land adjoining the town hall, he erected his present place of business, which he opened in 1887. He carries a large and varied stock of general merchandise, and enjoys a liberal pat- ronage. Mr. Dyer is a Republican in poli- tics, and is prominent in local affairs. He was a member of the School Committee for twelve years, has been Town Clerk and Treas- urer since 1876, Justice of the Peace since 1884, and was appointed Postmaster in 1889, a position which he still holds to general satisfaction.
On October 6, 1872, Mr. Dyer was united in marriage to M. Antoinette Ford. She was born in Hinsdale, Mass., April 2, 1852, daughter of William R. and Cornelia (Worth- ington) Ford, the former of whom is a pros- perous farmer of Peru, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer have three children, namely : Albert F., born August 2, 1873; Genevieve L., born June 7, 1880; and Frederick C., born August 16, 1882.
Mr. Dyer has compiled and issued a com- plete history of the town of Plainfield from 1785 to 1891, including biographical sketches of twenty-three of the early settlers, with their family genealogy. The work, which was published in 1891, contains one hundred and eighty-seven pages, is well illustrated, and bound in cloth. Five hundred copies
were printed, and the book was sought for and highly prized by residents of the town.
LIVER DRAGON, partner in the firm of La Famboise & Dragon, black- smiths of Northampton, is a native of Canada, and was born in the town of St. Denis, on the Richelieu River, March 26, 1842.
His grandfather, Hypolite Dragon, was a native of France. When a young man, he emigrated to Canada, where the rest of his life was spent. He was the father of sixteen children, of whom twelve grew to maturity. Of these a number lived to an advanced age. One son, Andrea Dragon, died when within but three years of being a centenarian. Lewis Dragon, the father of Oliver, was born in St. Denis in 1793. His life was spent in his native town, where he was a prosperous farmer. His death occurred when he was seventy-four years of age. He married Miss Mary Louise Lefebvre, who bore him thirteen children, and of the eight that reached matu- rity four sons and one daughter are now living, namely: Lewis, in Kansas City, Mo .; Nel- son, in Northampton; Theodule, in Holyoke; Joseph, in St. Louis, Mo .; Philomena Gou- let, who lives with her parents in St. Denis; and Oliver, the subject of this sketch.
Oliver lived at home until he was sixteen years of age, by which time he was familiar with farming. That, however, was not his choice of an occupation. He preferred to be a blacksmith, and he then left home to learn that trade by serving an apprenticeship of three years. His wages during that period were: first year, one dollar per month; sec- ond year, one dollar and a quarter per month ; third year, one dollar and a half per month, including board. In 1867 he went to Chi-
156
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
cago, Ill., where for three years he worked at both his own trade and that of a carpenter. He went to Kansas City in 1870, and was employed in blacksmithing alone for about two years. After this he came East, and set- tled in Northampton.
He first worked as a journeyman for four years. Then on July 1, 1875, in partnership with Mr. La Famboise, he established his present thriving business. They undertake all kinds of blacksmith work, but they make a specialty of horseshoeing.
In Canada, on May 20, 1868, Mr. Dragon was joined in marriage with Miss Angele Levitre. Fourteen children were the fruit of their union, and ten are now living. They are as follows: George J., a drug salesman and pharmacist in Springfield, Mass., mar- ried, and the father of one daughter; Ida, a dressmaker in Springfield; Eva and Emma, who live at home, and are engaged in dress- making; Oswald, a young man of eighteen years, employed in his father's shop; Raoul, Lorenzo (aged fourteen years), Anna (aged eleven), Bernadette (aged nine), and Roderick (aged seven), attending school.
In political matters Mr. Dragon is not a party man. He has served twice as a mem- ber of the Common Council, being elected on an Independent ticket. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the St. John the Baptist Society, of which he has been Treasurer for fifteen years. The family are members of the French Catholic church, and he is one of its Trustees.
ILLIAM COOLEY DICKINSON, of Hatfield, proprietor of the Con- necticut River Stock Farm and an extensive tobacco grower, was born in this town, September 8, 1853, son of William
Henry and Angelina (Waite) Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson is a descendant of Nathaniel Dickinson, who emigrated from England, and settled in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1637. He became a prominent man in the colony, and served as Town Clerk and Representative to the General Court. In 1659 he moved to Hadley, Mass., where he died in 1676, leav- ing several children. Two of his sons, Aza- riah and Joseph, were killed by the Indians in King Philip's War, Joseph being slain with Captain Beers on September 4, 1675. Na- thaniel Dickinson, second, son of Joseph, was born in 1670, and died in 1745. His son, Obadiah Dickinson, was born in Hadley on July 28, 1704, and died June 24, 1788. He settled in Hatfield, where he became a large land-owner, and was for many years a Deacon of the Congregational church. He married for his second wife Martha Wait; and his son Elihu by this marriage was the great-grand- father of William Cooley Dickinson. The children of Elihu Dickinson were as follows: Cotton D., Israel, William, Pamelia, Silas, Clarissa, and two who died in infancy.
William Dickinson, third son of Elihu, was born in Hatfield, June 13, 1783. He in- herited the homestead, and became the largest real estate owner in the town. He was pos- sessed of a strong constitution, and continued active until within a short time previous to his death, which occurred December 29, 1870. He married on January 20, 1814, Fanny Smith, a daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Smith, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. William Dickinson were the parents of three children: John, Mary, and William Henry. The mother died February 21, 1853, aged sixty-five years and six months.
William Henry Dickinson was born at the ancestral homestead in Hatfield, March 4,
WILLIAM H. DICKINSON.
159
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
1820. He received his education at Hatfield and the Leicester Academy, and succeeded to the ownership of the home property. He be- came a land and stock speculator, owning land in Iowa, and is largely interested in native- bred cattle. He has likewise been an exten- sive farmer and tobacco grower, possessing some fine land upon the Hatfield meadows, which is especially adapted for that purpose. In 1875 he erected a new and handsome three- story house to replace the old Dickinson resi- dence, which had been the birthplace of four generations; and he has built modern farm buildings. Besides his family dwelling he owns three tenement-houses. He is a Direc- tor of the Hampshire County National Bank, and is President of the Board of Trustees of Smith Academy, and one of the Trustees of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
William H. Dickinson is a Republican in politics. He represented his district in the legislature in 1853 and again in 1859. Dur- ing the Civil War he served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen. and rendered valuable aid to the government in procuring recruits for the army. His wife, Angelina Waite, whom he wedded November 30, 1842, was born October 14, 1822, daughter of Justin and Olive (Cooley) Waite. Her father was a na- tive of Hatfield and a representative of a highly respected family. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam H. Dickinson have had four children, of whom only one, William Cooley, is now liv- ing. James W., born October 24, 1844, died November 10, 1868; he married Avie M. Wood, and they had a daughter, Mary J. Mary S. Dickinson, born October 14, 1847, died August 13, 1849. Sarah E., born November 23, 1851, became the wife of E. A. Bardwell, and died August 10, 1876, leaving one child, James D. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Dickinson are among the most
prominent and highly esteemed residents of Hatfield.
William Cooley Dickinson has been in these later years closely identified with his father's business ventures. He is now largely interested in the cultivation of to- bacco, and devotes much time and attention to the breeding of fine horses, being the owner of some excellent and speedy animals, including Electmont, one of the best-bred stallions in the county. His stables are equipped with all modern conveniences for boarding and training horses, and in that busi- ness he has been very successful.
Mr. Dickinson was married on November 4, 1891, to Clara L. Graves, who was born Oc- tober 9, 1867, daughter of Thaddeus and Mary H. (Hubbard) Graves. Thaddeus Graves is a prosperous farmer and a leading business man of Hatfield. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have two children; namely, William H. and Mary G. Mr. William C. Dickinson is a Republi- can in politics. His father, Mr. William Henry Dickinson, a portrait of whom is pre- fixed to this partial record of the family, is of the seventh generation from the first Nathan- iel; and he has two great-grandchildren, who represent the tenth generation from that emi- grant ancestor.
IRAM TAYLOR, who is a well-to-do farmer of Middlefield, was born in this county, December 16, 1818, son of Worcester and Phoebe (Loveland) Tay- lor. The father, who was a native of the county, throughout his life was engaged in farming, in which he was unusually success- ful. He was Captain of a military company ; and he died on June 6, 1826. His wife, also born in the county, died on the same day and month, but fifty-nine years later, having at-
160
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
tained the age of cighty-ninc. Their union was made happy by the birth of four sons and a daughter: Worcester, Hiram, Lewis, Caro- line, and Royal. Both parents were members of the Congregational church, in which they were zealous workers.
Hiram Taylor, who at his father's death was but eight years old, was then put out with the family of Deacon Gamwell, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he got possession of the old homestead by purchasing the rights of the other heirs, and with his mother he has re- sided there since. He deals quite extensively in stock, and makes a specialty of fattening and shipping cattle to market. His stock is mostly short-horn and Hereford. He now -owns about seven hundred acres of land, the larger part of which is divided between past-
urage and meadow. Not until after his mother's death and he was well advanced in years did Mr. Taylor seek a wife. On No- vember 1, 1889, he was married to Miss Car- rie Porter. She was born on September 17, 1853, and is a daughter of Theodore Porter, a native of Hatfield, Mass., who is now resid- ing in Florence, where he is profitably en- gaged in farming.
Mr. Taylor is a loyal Republican and an ar- dent advocate of the principles of his party. Among the offices of trust and responsibility which he has filled may be mentioned those of Constable and Collector for eight years, As- sessor for six years; and for three years he has served as a delegate to the State Board of Agriculture. In 1893 he was sent by his district as a Representative to the State legis- lature. For upward of fifty years Mr. Taylor has been a communicant of the Congrega- tional church, which for a long time he has served as Deacon and Trustee, and has always been one of its most liberal supporters.
OBERT W. LYMAN, Register of Decds at Northampton, Mass., the shire town of Hampshire County, is a liberally educated gentleman, a lawyer by profession, and a representative of an old Co- lonial family well known in these parts for several generations. He was born on March 27, 1850, and is a lineal descendant of Rich- ard Lyman, who was born in High Ongar, England, and came to Massachusetts in 1631, bringing with him three sons: Richard, Rob- ert, and John. The elder Richard became one of the original proprietors of Hartford, Conn., and died there in 1640. His son John, born in 1623, settled at Northampton, Mass., in 1654, and was the father of Ben- jamin and grandfather of Benjamin, Jr., who after marriage settled at Easthampton. Lem- uel Lyman, born in 1735, son of the second Benjamin and grandson of the first of that name, was a soldier in the French and Indian War. He was in the expedition, under Sir William Johnson, sent in 1755 against Crown Point, and in the battle on September 8, known as Dieskau's Defeat, was wounded, and would have been killed had not the shot- pouch which he wore received the bullet aimed at his heart, and thus saved his life. The bullet and pouch are cherished as valued relics in the Easthampton Museum. Ahira Lyman, son of Lemuel and grandfather of Robert W., of the present sketch, was born at Easthampton in 1770, and died in 1836. His wife, Sally Pomeroy, of Southampton, was the daughter of a soldier of the Revolu- tion, one who took part in the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, 1775. Grandfather Lyman was an extensive land- owner, and had a saw-mill and a grist-mill on his farm, besides which he carried on a good business as a carriage manufacturer. He was industrious and thrifty, and at the time of his
R. W. LYMAN.
161
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
decease was one of the wealthiest men in his vicinity. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. The grand- mother died in middle life, leaving four sons : Roland, Pynchon, Ahira, Jr., and Quartus. The eldest son was a jeweller in Lowell, Mass .; and Pynchon was a manufacturer of flour and lumber at Easthampton. After his first wife's death the grandfather married a Miss Baldwin, who bore him two sons, one of whom died at twenty-one; the other, Jabez B. Lyman, was for many years a practising physician at Rockford, Ill., but died in Salem, Mass. The second wife died comparatively young ; and the grandfather then married Mrs. Hannah (Judd) Lyman, widow of Azariah Lyman.
Ahira Lyman, Jr., was born on the parental homestead in Easthampton in 1807, and died in 1888. He was a well-to-do farmer, and was also active in military circles, having been elected a Major in the State militia. In 1839 he was married to Theresa Lyman, a daughter of his stepmother by a former hus- band; and they became the parents of six children, one of whom, Arthur, died at the age of twenty-one years. The others are: Fannie B., wife of William P. Derby, living in Springfield; Albert A., of Northampton; Richard, also of this city; Robert W .; and William R., a commercial traveller, residing in Philadelphia, Pa. The father was previ- ously married, his first wife having been Frances Burt, who bore him three sons, of whom but one is living; namely, Gaius Burt Lyman, of Easthampton. Their first-born, Harry, who was a volunteer in the war of the Rebellion, died of disease contracted in the army at Newbern, N.C., and was buried at Easthampton. Mrs. Theresa Lyman is still living, and makes her home in Spring- field.
Robert W. Lyman was brought up on the farm, and assisted in its labors when not in school until seventeen years old. He was subsequently a student in the Massachusetts Agricultural College four years, being grad- uated from there in 1871. He inherited the military tastes of his ancestors, and was in the military department of the school four years, and after graduation was three years in the State militia, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. Mr. Lyman began his active ca- reer as a civil engineer and a teacher. Com- mencing the study of law with Bond Brothers & Bottom, he was admitted to the bar in 1878, and was graduated from the Boston University Law School the following year. He shortly began the practice of his profes- sion at Belchertown, Mass., remaining there very successfully engaged until January I, 1892, when he accepted his present responsi- ble position as Register of Deeds. His work in this department has been performed with great faithfulness and precision, and is duly appreciated.
On June 8, 1892, Mr. Lyman was united in marriage with Mrs. Diantha A. Bridgeman, a daughter of Captain Roswell Allen and the widow of the late Lyman Bridgeman. By her former husband Mrs. Lyman has two sons : Malcolm L. Bridgeman, manager of the Met- ropolitan Bicycle Company in New York City; and Paul Bridgeman. After his elec- tion to the office of Register of Deeds, Mr. Lyman settled in his beautiful home at II Linden Street, where he enjoys all the com- forts of a happy domestic life. Socially, he is a Knight Templar and a Past Master Mason. He is a Special Justice, being one of the three judges of the District Court of Hampshire. Politically, he is an adherent of the Republican party and an influential mem- ber of its ranks.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.