USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 19
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lumbering with good results. He is superin- tendent of construction upon a section of the State road, his portion of which is a creditable piece of work. Mr. Packard is a Republican in politics and has served in different positions of public trust, having been a Selectman, As- sessor, and Overseer of the Poor for six years, and Town Clerk for two terms.
On October 14, 1875, Mr. Packard was united in marriage to his first wife, whose maiden name was Vesta C. Dresser, and who was a daughter of George Dresser. She died in 1879, aged twenty-four, leaving two chil- dren - Edward W. and Lawrence A. Mr. Packard wedded for his second wife, Septem- ber 20, 1883, Abbie Z. Wakefield, daughter of John Wakefield, of Reading, Mass., and has five children, as follows: Lurane, Henry W., Rachel, Arthur W., and Frances E. Mr. and Mrs. Packard are members of the Congrega- tional church.
HARLES L. HOSFORD, proprietor of Terrace Grove, Williamsburg, and a veteran of the Civil War, was
born in Williamstown, Berkshire County, Mass., November 12, 1839, son of Arad and Sophia (Bardwell) Hosford. Mr. Hosford's grandfather, Stephen Hosford, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He followed agri- culture in Plainfield, Mass., for some time, and later moved to Goshen, where he became a prosperous farmer.
Arad Hosford, Mr. Hosford's father, was born in Plainfield in 1795. At the age of twenty-one he entered mercantile life in Will- iamstown as a clerk; and after continuing in that capacity for several years he purchased a farm, upon which he settled. He became an extensive real estate dealer and was a progres- sive citizen. He was a Captain in the State militia and a Whig in politics. He died in
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1857. His wife, Sophia Bardwell, was a daughter of Obediah Bardwell, a veteran and a pensioner of the Revolutionary War, who died at the advanced age of ninety-six years. She became the mother of eleven children, four of whom died young. Those who reached matu- rity were: Harriet, Calvin C., Chester B., B. Frank, William A., Charles L., and Mary. The mother died in 1872, aged sixty-four years.
Charles L. Hosford was educated in the dis- trict schools of Williamstown; and at the age of eighteen he went to Winsted, Conn., where he was engaged as a clerk for four years. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company E, Second Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, for three months' service ; and at the expiration of that time he re-enlisted and was commissioned a Lieutenant.
He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain, and participated in several impor- tant battles. He resigned his commission in 1863, and returning to Winsted engaged in the retail boot and shoe business. In 1871 he sold his business and came to Haydenville, where he secured a position at the brass works, in which he later became overseer of his department. He remained there until 1885, when failing health caused him to retire. In 1887 he bought the William Skinner farm of sixty-three acres, which was comparatively unimproved, with the exception of twelve acres of meadow land ; and he proceeded to clear the neglected portion into a state of cultivation. He erected a handsome house and spacious barns, with all modern conveniences; and upon the completion of the electric road from North- ampton he beautified and fitted up a fine grove of stately pines and oaks for amusement purposes.
Mr. Hosford has spared neither pains nor expense in making Terrace Grove an attractive picnic ground. It contains a platform seventy
by thirty feet, covered by a canvas awning and capable of seating two hundred people, with kitchen conveniences connected equal to the preparation of an elaborate dinner. There is an oven for clam-bakes, with ample space for lawn tennis, base-ball, company drill, and all other out-of-door exercises. Special pains have been taken to make the grove popular as a resort for chowder and clam-bake parties, basket picnics, and evening parties; and a pleasant dressing-room is provided for ladies. The grove is reached by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, and the electric cars from Northampton run to a point within two minutes' walk of the entrance. Although Terrace Grove has been opened but a short time, it is already appreciated by many, and is a popular resort for summer outing parties. Mr. Hosford's enterprise merits all the success to be anticipated.
On September 22, 1864, Mr. Hosford was united in marriage to Harriet I. Pierce, daugh- ter of Amos Pierce, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Winsted, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Hosford had seven children, namely : Nellie, who died in infancy; Alice, who resides at home; Howard, who married Lillian Van Slyke, and is a travelling salesman for the brass works in Haydenville; Mary, a talented singer, who resides at home; Frank B., a machinist of Williamsburg; Robert, who died young ; and Charles, who resides at home. Mr. Hosford is a member of St. Andrew's Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Winsted. He is a Democrat in politics and liberal in his religious views.
USTIN GEER, who is successfully en- gaged in general farming and dairying in the town of Worthington, was born within the borders of that town on Octo- ber 18, 1821, being a son of Luther and
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Joanna Geer, the former of whom was a native of Peru, Mass., and the latter of Chesterfield, Mass.
Luther Geer followed the different occupa- tions of carpenter, farmer, and shoemaker, the last named only to a limited extent. In 1810 he settled in Worthington, purchasing about one hundred acres of land, but little of which had been cleared and brought into a state of cultivation. Later on he added to it by the purchase of forty acres. The last years of his life were spent on his farm, where he died in April, 1854. His wife's death occurred over twenty years previously, in January, 1832, leaving nine children : Roxana, Sherman, Warren L., Rosilla J., Lucy, Austin, Dolly Ann, Clarinda, and Maria D. Of these but two, Austin and Rosilla, are now living. Their father subsequently married Miss Lydia Bisbee, of Chesterfield, Mass., the ceremony being performed on May 30, 1832. Marietta Geer, the only child born of the latter union, died when but twenty years of age. In poli- tics Mr. Geer was a Whig.
Austin Geer continued to live with his par- ents for a year after he attained his majority. He then for two years followed the business of a pedler with good success, but was taken sick with a fever, which laid him up for about a year. When again able to work he accepted a position in a store in Pittsfield, where he remained for eight months. He next engaged in agriculture, and, being possessed of good business ability and prudence, his enterprises have prospered so that he is now the owner of over five hundred acres of land. He carries on general farming, raises a good quantity of such standard New England products as corn, oats, and potatoes, and also engages mod- erately in dairying. On October 9, 1849, Mr. Geer was joined in marriage with Miss Lucy Ann Osgood, whose birth occurred in New
Lebanon, N. Y., December 27, 1823. Her parents, Safford and Olive (Abby) Osgood, were respectively natives of New Hampshire and New York. They came to Massachusetts in 1830, first settling in Peru, and later on re- moving to Worthington. Her father was a mason by trade, and also followed agriculture with success. He spent the last years of his life in Worthington, where he died February I, 1890. His wife died many years previously, on February 22, 1864. Both are buried in Worthington. Mr. and Mrs. Geer's union has been blessed by four children, as follows: Ann Jane, born August 13, 1850, living at home; Millard Henry, born April 4, 1852, who died March 24, 1854; Charles Preston, born Au- gust 3, 1856; and Addie F., born November 5, 1861, who died May 27, 1865. Charles Preston Geer, who has made his home with his parents, is, like his father, a successful farmer ; and in connection with that avocation he de- votes some time to that of pedler. On Sep- tember 15, 1892, he was married to Miss Lemira Edith Pelton, who was born in Spring- field, Mass., July 10, 1864. She is a daugh- ter of John Winfield and Lemira Phoebe (Kingsley) Pelton. The father was born June 23, 1821 ; and the mother's birth occurred in Plainfield, Mass., May 29, 1829. Mr. Pelton was a carpenter and builder throughout his life. He died April 3, 1866, and is buried in Springfield, Mass. He was the father of the following children: George F. ; Francis G .; Louis D .; Franklin E .; Charles S .; John W., Jr. ; Lemira Edith; and Martha I. Lemira Edith and John W., Jr., are the only survivors. The latter, who is a travelling salesman for a Boston firm, was mar- ried October 23, 1886, to Miss Lizzie Jones Bartlett, of Hartford, Conn., and has two chil- dren : Alice Frances and George Bartlett. Mrs. Pelton lives with her daughter.
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Mr. Geer is a Republican in politics, and has always been an ardent advocate of the prin- ciples of his party. During the past twenty years he has rendered faithful and efficient ser- vice as Highway Surveyor. He served accept- ably as Selectman in 1891, and has also acted as Overseer of the Poor.
HARLES E. BROOKS, a leading farmer of Goshen and one of the town fathers, was born in Williamsburg, Mass., October 1, 1850, son of Horatio and Elizabeth C. (Chapman) Brooks, and grandson of Nathan and Eunice (Weeks) Brooks. The grandfather, Nathan Brooks, who was born in Rehoboth in 1779, was a well-to-do farmer. He died in 1856; and his wife, who was three years younger, passed away in the same year. They reared six children; namely, Eunice, Nathan, Horatio, Rhoda, Levi, and Samuel.
Horatio Brooks, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Huntington, Mass. When quite young he learned the blacksmith trade, and for some years worked as a journey- man, spending some time in Hatfield. He then bought a shop in Williamsburg and car- ried on a very successful business until 1863, when, deciding to retire, he bought the Abells farm in Goshen. This estate contained one hundred acres of good land. Mr. Brooks much enhanced its value by making many improvements and repairing the buildings. He died at the age of sixty-four; his wife's death occurred when she was sixty-two. In politics Mr. Brooks was a Republican, and in religious belief he and his wife were Advent- ists. They had but one child, who is the subject of this sketch.
Charles E. Brooks received his education in the common schools of Williamsburg. He remained on the farm until twenty-three years
of age, when he started to earn a livelihood for himself. At the end of three years, however, he returned home and took charge of the farm, which has been under his management up to the present time. He carries on general farm- ing and keeps a small dairy of choice Hol- steins. From both sources he derives a com- fortable income.
Mr. Brooks was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united in 1878, was Jen- nie S., daughter of William S. Packard. She died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving two children : Harry W., born July 21, 1880; and Raymond E., who was born June 3, 1889. Mr. Brooks's second wife was Laura Barrus, daughter of Charles Barrus, of Springfield. She is the mother of one child, Marion A., born March 21, 1892.
In politics Mr. Brooks is a Republican. He has served as Selectman for ten consecu- tive years, and is one of the superintendents of the work on the macadamized State road, now being constructed in the town of Goshen. In this employment he spares no pains in forward- ing the work. In religious belief Mr. Brooks and his wife are Congregationalists.
WIGHT A. HORTON is an exten- sive dealer in wood, coal, and fertil- izers at Northampton, and was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, June 5, 1830. His father, Ansel Horton, who now resides at Savoy, Mass., hale and hearty at the age of eighty-nine years, was born on May 28, 1806, and is a son of Asahel Horton, whose birth occurred at Rehoboth, Mass., in 1771. Asahel Horton settled in Windsor, Berkshire County, Mass., when a young man, and fol- lowed agriculture there during the remainder of his life. He was a very eccentric charac- ter, and was known as Uncle Horton. He
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married Jemimah Aldrich; and she was the mother of three sons and one daughter, of whom two sons are still living, namely : Aaron, who now resides at Leverett, aged seventy-nine years ; and Ansel, Mr. Horton's father. Asahel Horton's wife died at the age of ninety-three years.
Mr. Horton's mother was before her mar- riage Hannah Thompson, of Windsor. She was a daughter of Samuel and Mary Thomp- son, residents of Cummington. Ansel Horton was a carpenter by trade, and reared his eight sons to the same occupation. He was a promi- nent builder in this section, and during his six years of apprenticeship worked for one year upon the first United States Hotel at Saratoga Springs. The Baptist and Methodist Epis- copal churches in Savoy were erected by him, as were also the first glass works building and the blast furnace at Cheshire, Mass. He pos- sessed three large farms at Savoy and Windsor, the last of which he sold in 1893. He was a Methodist in religious belief ; and his wife, who died in 1867, at the age of sixty-two years, was a Baptist.
Dwight A. Horton attended the district schools in his boyhood, and at the age of four- teen years commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed that occupation until 1860, when he went to St. Charles, Mich., and assumed charge of a lumber business. In 1862, with ninety-eight others, he went to Lansing, Mich., for the purpose of enlisting for service in the Civil War, but was rejected on account of disability. Returning East he again sought to enroll himself among the Union's defenders, but met with the same difficulty. . He has been an extensive contrac- tor and builder, and among his enterprises in this direction are the Schimmerhorn House at Lenox and the Northrop Block at Lee. Mr Horton is a Master Mason, having been Secre-
tary of the Lodge, and is a Republican in politics. He was for nine years an Assessor in the town of Hadley, was a member of the Common Council at Northampton two years, during one of which he was chairman of that body, and has been a member of the State Board of Agriculture for the past seven years. He was a charter member of the State Grange, and has held the office of Deputy Grand Master of two local Granges, having also been a member of the State Dairy Bureau since its organization.
On August 24, 1854, Mr. Horton was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Mason, a school-mate, daughter of Edward and Maria Mason, of Savoy. Of their six children one died in infancy; the others are as follows : Frederick, who for the past eighteen years has been a prominent railroad official at Vera Cruz, Mexico, having a wife and one son, Fred- erick D. ; Helen L., wife of H. L. Phelps, of West Springfield, Mass., having three daugh- ters and one son; Ralph M., a salt dealer of Northampton, who resides at old Hadley, hav- ing a wife, two sons, and three daughters ; Susan P., wife of Eugene Dickinson, turnkey at the Hampshire County Jail, having two daughters; and Dora, a graduate of the Saxon River Academy, who was married September 25, 1895, to Dr. J. H. Roberts, a veterinary surgeon of Northampton, and with her husband lives at her father's home. Mrs. Horton died on May 20, 1893, at the age of fifty-nine years. Mr. Horton is a Baptist in his relig- ious belief, and the family attend that church.
ORACE K. PARSONS, whose por- trait appears on the page opposite and an outline of whose course in life as a very capable man of business and a patri- otic citizen of the Republic is given below,
HORACE K. PARSONS.
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died after a lingering illness, in Florence, Mass., on June 8, 1891, at fifty-six years of age. His widow, Mrs. Sarah A. Parsons, still resides at the pleasant home in this village where they had lived together nearly twenty years. Mr. Parsons was born in Enfield, Conn., and was a son of Josiah and Lucy (Markham) Parsons, and a grandson of Josiah, Jr., and Demias (Kellogg) Parsons. His grandparents had one son and two daughters; and the son, Josiah Parsons, Jr., died in 1845, in the prime of life, leaving two sons, Russell D. and Horace K., and one daughter, Mrs. Fidelia Fairman, of Enfield, Conn. Russell D. Parsons died in 1883, leaving three sons and a daughter. He was a painter by trade, and met his death by a fall while engaged at his work.
Horace K. Parsons received his education at Wilbraham Academy, and taught school a few terms in early life. After his marriage he settled in Thompsonville, Conn., where he lived until he volunteered for service in the Civil War in the fall of 1861. He entered the Tenth Connecticut Regiment, of which Henry Clay Trumbull was Chaplain, and served at first in the ranks, but was afterward detailed as Commissary Sergeant and later was promoted to the position of Quartermaster of the regiment. He was present at the surren- der of Lee, being soon after joined by his wife at Richmond, and was mustered out at Hartford, Conn., in August, 1865, having served about four years. In January, 1866, he came to Florence, Mass., as agent for the Florence Mercantile Company, which he man- aged successfully for ten years, the company then closing up its affairs. Mr. Parsons con- tinued in mercantile business during the re- mainder of his life. His marriage with Miss Sarah A. Levitt was solemnized on March 4, 1860.
Mrs. Parsons is a daughter of William and Agnes (Hurd) Levitt, and was born in Eng- land. Her parents and an uncle came to this country about 1842, and settled in South Had- ley, from which place they afterward removed to Thompsonville, Conn. Her father was a manufacturer of textile fabrics. Mrs. Parsons has two sisters and four brothers, namely : Elizabeth, the wife of Clifford Parsons, living in Bristol, Conn .; George Levitt, who served in the Civil War, married in Virginia, and has two children; Thomas Levitt, living in Bris- tol, Conn. ; Robert Levitt, residing in Wes- terly, R. I. ; Mary, who married William Ful- ton, of Florence, Mass. ; and Willie Levitt, of Ellington, Conn. Their mother died at fifty- three years of age, and their father twenty years later, in 1887, at seventy-seven years of age. Their remains rest in Windsorville cemetery, two miles from their home at Broad Brook, Conn.
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons became the parents of eight children. They lost their only daughter in infancy and a son Freddie at the age of twenty-one months. The six living children are as follows: Lincoln Horace Parsons, who was born on the day of President Lincoln's in- auguration, is married, and is engaged in busi- ness as a meat dealer in Florence; Charles O. Parsons, the successor to his father in trade and at one time Postmaster of Florence, who married Miss Mary Dilworth, of Belfast, Me., and has one daughter; Royal A. Parsons, un- married, residing at home; George K. Parsons, a plumber and tinsmith in Springfield, Mass., who married Miss Lucy German; Harry M. Parsons, a young man nineteen years of age, at home and engaged in the jeweller's trade ; and Robert F. Parsons, a promising lad of fifteen years, attending school.
Mr. Parsons was a stanch Republican. He served as Alderman, and was Postmaster at the
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time of his death. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic Order, and also of the William L. Baker Post, No. 86, Grand Army of the Republic. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was one of the founders, the first meetings being held at his home. Mrs. Par- sons is now a firm believer in Christian Sci- ence. She is a woman of fine physical and remarkable mental ability. Her husband was a clear-headed business man, and left a goodly estate. In 1873 he erected their fine home on his little fruit farm, which he purchased soon after coming to Florence, and the store, post- office building, and substantial barn were all built before his death.
LBERT M. BELDEN, M.D., a resi- dent of Chesterfield and a leading physician of Hampshire County, was born in Whately, June 22, 1867, and in the same house where his father and grandfather had likewise been born. The Doctor's great- grandfather Belden, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War. On the cessation of hostilities he located in Whately, being one of its earli- est settlers. He bought the original Belden homestead, and there reared his children.
Elihu Belden succeeded to the ownership of the homestead property, and was one of the foremost agriculturists of this part of the county for many years. In addition to general farming he raised and sold large quantities of tobacco. He continued a resident of the town until his decease, November 13, 1882. He married Roxanna Leonard, who died Septem- ber 3, 1870. They became the parents of eight children, namely : Henrietta, deceased ; Franklin, residing in Whately; Elihu Leon- ard; Channing Snow, of Hartford; William Clifford, a resident of Springfield, Mass. ;
Rufus Howland, deceased; Albert Matson, the subject of this sketch; and a child that died in infancy.
Albert M. Belden attended the public schools in his early years. Before he had completed his schooling his father's death occurred. He pursued his medical studies with private tutors and at home, afterward entering the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, from which he was graduated with the class of March 15, 1888. He first opened an office in Cummington, where he practised eight months, and then came to Chesterfield, where he has since resided. He has built up an extensive practice, and in the discharge of his duties has won the approbation and confi- dence of the entire community.
On December 25, 1888, Dr. Belden was united in marriage with Mabel Marian Bick- nell, a daughter of the late Luke E. and Lu- cretia T. (Pierce) Bicknell, then residents of West Cummington. Her father was a soldier in the late war, having been mustered in as Lieutenant in the company of sharpshooters, and afterward promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Bicknell was wounded in battle, and subsequently died from the effects of the wound. Mrs. Bicknell survived him, and is now living in West Cummington. One child has been born to the Doctor and his wife, Roxanna Leonard, whose birth occurred February 21, 1892.
Dr. Belden occupies a place of prominence in local affairs, and has served in many offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. He was for three years a member of the School Board, and is now filling the position of Health Officer. His wife succeeded him in the School Board, where she ably assists in advancing the educational interests of the town. Politically, he is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work-
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men, Chesterfield Lodge, No. 175, of West Chesterfield, of which he is also the medical examiner. Religiously, he is a consistent member of the Congregational church.
EORGE D. HANNUM, an enterpris- ing farmer of Southampton, was born in Westfield, June 3, 1836, son of Theodore and Selemna (Stocking) Hannum. Mr. Hannum's father was born in Chesterfield, and there spent his earlier years. He subse- quently conducted a hotel in Huntington, and likewise paid some attention to farming. He removed to Westfield, where he again engaged in the hotel business, and in connection there- with successfully managed a livery business. His wife died in March, 1840, and he survived her but a few months, dying January 16, 1841. They had two children, of whom the first died in infancy. The other is the subject of this sketch.
George D. Hannum, left an orphan at the age of five years, was taken charge of by his grandfather, Jaius Hannum, of Agawam, where he was reared and educated. In 1851 his grandfather removed to Southampton, set- tling on a farm, which he operated success- fully until his demise, February 7, 1854, aged seventy-one years. Though but eighteen years old Mr. Hannum took charge of the estate, and continued to manage its affairs until 1866, when he purchased a part of the farm he now occupies. The rest of it he has since added to the original purchase, making a snug farm of sixty acres. All of it is under cultivation, and it shows many recent improvements. Mr. Hannum's operations are marked by ability and foresight, and are always successful.
On June 9, 1856, while living on the old homestead of his grandfather, Mr. Hannum was united in marriage with Eliza E. Strong,
born in this town May 9, 1837, daughter of Alpheus and Eliza Strong. Her parents were early settlers of the locality, and there spent their last years. Mr. and Mrs. Hannum had four children, as follows : Mabel, born August 2, 1858, who died July 16, 1860; Florence, born November 22, 1860, living at home; George A., born September 2, 1863, now em- ployed in an office in Hartford, Conn. ; and Clayton E., born October 22, 1865, living on the home farm, and assisting in its manage- ment. The latter is married to Julia B. Streeter ; and they have one child, Iola. In politics Mr. Hannum is a supporter of the Re- publican party. He was Selectman from 1876 until 1884, and has been Collector of Taxes for eight years.
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