USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 20
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OHN VOGEL, a well-to-do farmer re- siding in Northampton, is a native of Germany and was born February 17, 1823, in Würtemberg. His father, George Vogel, was a baker; and his entire life was spent in his native land. At his death he left his widow with a number of young children.
John Vogel was deprived of his father's care at an early age, and in consequence had little time given him to attend school. When but ten years old he was employed on his uncle's farm, where he was obliged to work for many hours each day, gaining little more than a hard familiarity with farm labor. After fifteen years spent in this way he married Mary Waltz, and with her sailed for America, March 17, 1847. He landed in New York City after a voyage of thirty-seven days. After he had been in the city four days Mr. Vogel chanced to meet Mr. Porter Nutting, of Northampton, who proposed to employ him in his brickyard at ten dollars per month with board. The offer was gladly accepted. On arriving here, May 14, 1847, Mr. Vogel found himself eigh-
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teen dollars in debt. This he soon paid off. He continued in Mr. Nutting's employment twenty-one years, his wages having risen from ten dollars to one hundred dollars a month, as his services became more valuable. During the last nine years of his connection with the place he superintended the large plant in the capacity of foreman.
Mr. Vogel was not only energetic and indus- trious, but was very sensible in his expendi- tures, investing his money in a cosey home, comprising a house and lot, which he bought in 1850, for seven hundred and fifty dollars. The lot contained an acre and a half. Since then he has bought twenty acres of adjoin- ing land, and in 1874 he built his first barn. Unfortunately, this was struck by light- ning, and he had to rebuild it in 1883. Be- sides this property Mr. Vogel has two lots of meadow land, one five and one-half acres and the other seven acres, which he farms. He keeps a few fine horses, has two cows, and a fine Jersey bull, a thoroughbred. In the caring for his land and stock he finds much pleasure as well as profit.
Mrs. Vogel departed this life September 3, 1874, aged fifty-five years, leaving two chil- dren, as follows: John, a resident of this city, married to Annie Rocky, and the father of three children, two daughters and a son; while Caroline is the wife of Edward Clark, Jr., the superintendent of the street railway, and has two children, a son and a daughter. In his po- litical principles Mr. Vogel is perfectly indepen- dent, and in religion he is bound by no creed ; while he belongs to no clan, club, or secret organization.
RANKLIN H. BRYANT, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Chesterfield, Mass., was born in this town March 9, 1842, son of Holly and Elmira (House)
Bryant, both natives of Chesterfield. Holly Bryant was born on December 18, 1798, in the house where his son now lives. He was a well-to-do farmer and passed his life on the estate, dying March 3, 1856. His wife, who was born February 18, 1804, died June 10, 1889, her last days being spent with her son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Holly Bryant were the parents of nine chil- dren, namely : Emily, born December 6, 1826, who married Woodbridge Clapp, and died Feb- ruary 15, 1869, having been the mother of six children, all now deceased; Levi, born April 2, 1828, who married Julia Baker, and lives near his brother Franklin H. ; Ellen E., born October 9, 1829, who married William Allen, and died October 30, 1858; Zeruah, born July 12, 1831, wife of George Rice, a resident of Minnesota, who has three children - George, Willie, and Mary; Samuel W., born April 5, 1833, who died December 5, 1844; Austin G., born March 1, 1835, who died August 10, 1859; Philetus, born January 30, 1837, who died November 24, 1865, leaving a widow, now living in Chesterfield; Henry, born July 29, 1839, who died November 2, 1849; and Franklin H., our subject.
Although Franklin H. Bryant was but four- teen years of age when his father died, he soon assumed a man's responsibilities, aiding mate- rially about the farm and helping his brother until his majority. He then moved to another farm, where he was profitably engaged in agri- cultural pursuits till the death of his brother, when he returned to the parental roof and for two years was engaged in tilling the home fields. He then took charge of the whole estate, which comprises eight hundred acres, about two hundred being under cultivation, and is now the owner of the property. He carries on general farming on an extensive scale, and raises some fine stock. Diligent,
FRANKLIN H. BRYANT.
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energetic, and thrifty, he has made many improvements on the farm and has richly earned the prosperity he enjoys.
On December 1, 1864, Mr. Bryant was mar- ried to Annette W., daughter of Daniel C. and Mary Ann (Wilder) Baker. Mrs. Bryant was born in Chesterfield, December 1, 1842. Mr. Baker was a native of Chesterfield, and here spent his life, engaged in farming. His wife was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., and became a resident of Pittsfield when quite young. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have three adopted children, namely : Frederick Allen, born July 12, 1871, who married Alice Flagg, of Connecticut, and resides near Mr. Bryant; William Francis, born January 15, 1878; and Fannie M., born May 15, 1881, both of whom reside with their foster-parents. Mr. Bryant has given his chil- dren the best of educational advantages, send- ing them to the best schools in the county.
In politics Mr. Bryant is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He served as Se- lectman five years, and has also been Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He is one of the leading citizens of Chesterfield, and has a very pleasant home, his dwelling, which is roomy and substantial, suiting well the ample grounds which surround it, and well expressing the owner's large-hearted hospitality. The ac- companying portrait of Mr. Bryant will be recognized and appreciated by many friends and acquaintances.
DWIN COOK CLARK, JR., superin- tendent of the Northampton Street Railway Company and a highly re- spected citizen of Northampton, was born in Southampton in 1856, son of Captain Edwin Cook and Emily L. (Hines) Clark, the former of whom is a native of Northampton.
Allen Clark, the grandfather of Edwin Cook Clark, Jr., who was born in 1787, was likewise a native and lifelong resident of Northampton. During the active period of his life he was suc- cessfully engaged in agriculture on his farm, which was located in the section through which Harrison Avenue now runs. He died in 1849, at the age of sixty-two years. He married Miss Sophia Cook, and their union was blessed by the birth of four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Two are now living, namely: Captain Edwin Cook Clark, and his sister, Pamelia, widow of Heman Smith, who resides in Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Clark died seventy-four years of age.
Captain Edwin Cook Clark, who has now retired from active business life, is well known in Northampton and vicinity. He assisted his father in carrying on the farm. After four or five years spent in California and in New York City, he helped in establishing the firm of E. C. Clark & Co., in which for several years he successfully engaged in the manufact- ure of lumber. He was also superintendent of the Street Railway Company, in which capac- ity he rendered most acceptable service from 1877 up to 1888, when he was succeeded by his son. His wife, Emily L. (Hines) Clark, a native of Becket, Mass., has borne him two sons and two daughters: Ida Beebe, wife of Joseph Carhart, President of the State Normal School of St. Cloud, Minn .; Edwin C., Jr. ; Mary, who married E. V. Mitchell, a grain merchant of Hartford, Conn. ; and William Clark, a coal dealer in Lansingburg, N. Y.
Edwin C. Clark, Jr., received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Northampton, and completed his studies at the Mount Pleas- ant Private School of Amherst. He then en- gaged in the livery business with his father until 1882, when he secured a position as con-
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ductor on the street railway. Since then he has been in the employ of that company in different capacities, from trackman up to his present position as superintendent, which he has filled since 1888. In this office he has the supervision of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, and the charge of seventeen miles of street tracks.
On December 5, 1877, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mona Vogel, of North- ampton, a daughter of John Vogel. They had three children, as follows: Ida Mary, who died in 1887, eight years of age; Annette Isa- bel, aged fourteen years, who is attending school ; and Edwin Cook Clark, a lad of six years. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is esteemed for his business ability and manly characteristics.
LBERT N. GURNEY, a prominent farmer and produce dealer of Plain- field and a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Cummington, Mass., April 6, 1847, son of Rush and Cordelia (Joy) Gurney.
Mr. Gurney's great-grandfather, Benjamin Gurney, was a native of Abington, Mass., and settled upon a tract of wild land in Cumming- ton in 1770. He cleared and improved the farm which W. E. Tower now owns, and re- sided there during the remainder of his life, which was prolonged to an advanced age. His son, Asa Gurney, Mr. Gurney's grand- father, was born in Abington in 1758, and was twelve years of age when his father moved to Cummington. He assisted in clearing the land, and resided at home until the com- mencement of the Revolutionary War, when he enlisted as a private in the Continental army. After his discharge he returned to Cummington, and bought his father's farm,
which he later sold. He then purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he settled, and cleared a productive farm. He erected a substantial house and other farm buildings, which have stood since 1808, and are now oc- cupied by John W. Gurney. He received a pension of ninety-six dollars per year for his services in the war. Asa Gurney died in Cummington at a good old age. He married Polly Reed, and she became the mother of ten children: Reed, Charles, Zenus, Lydia, Charlotte, Alonzo, Rush, Betsey, Lydia (sec- ond), and Polly. She died in Cummington at an advanced age.
Rush Gurney, Mr. Gurney's father, was born in Cummington in 1804. He resided with his parents until their death. He suc- ceeded to the ownership of the homestead; and, with the exception of a short time passed in the village, during which he leased it, he resided there until his death, on April 22, 1856. He left the farm enlarged by forty acres of adjoining land. He was an Aboli- tionist, casting the first antislavery vote in Cummington, and was a Methodist in his re- ligious belief. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Amelia Cowen, died in 1841, aged thirty-two years, having been the mother of five children: Sarah A .; John W .; Amelia; and two others who died in infancy. Rush Gurney married for his second wife Cordelia Joy, and his chil- dren by this union were: Justus W .; James F .; and Albert N., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1847.
After his mother's death Albert N. Gur- ney, who was then but five months old, was taken in charge by his aunt, Emeline Joy, of Plainfield. She was the daughter of Leonard and Polly (Warner) Joy, who were old resi- dents and highly respected farming people of Plainfield, owning a good farm on High
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Street. It was here that Mr. Gurney was reared to manhood. When capable, he as- sisted on the farm; and during the declining years of his aunt and her aged parents he pro- vided for them every comfort that could be ex- pected. He succeeded to the ownership of the Joy farm, and has since remodelled the house, and built new barns. He keeps ten choice cows and sixty head of sheep, besides a number of horses and young stock. In 1875 Mr. Gurney engaged in handling feed, grain, and flour; and in 1880 he commenced the buying and shipping of country produce, dressed hogs, beef, etc. Both enterprises proving profitable, he continues them. He
also keeps a grocery store that is doing a good business, and which he stocks by exchanging his produce for groceries. He purchased some time ago the Campbell property in Plain- field village, which he now uses for an office and business headquarters, the finest location in town. Mr. Gurney is a Republican in pol- itics, and has been a Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for eight years, five of which he has served as chairman of the board. He has also held other town offices.
On June 7, 1868, Mr. Gurney was united in marriage to Sarah O. Dunham, to whom as a life partner Mr. Gurney largely attributes his success. She was born in Savoy, Mass., January 16, 1849, daughter of Oren and Rox- anna (Stiles) Dunham, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of that town. He died in 1887, aged eighty years; and his wife still survives, at the age of eighty-one. She is the mother of nine children: Warren, James, Ann S., Eliza M., Sarah O., Fannie L., Henry W., Augusta M., and Charles F. All but one are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney have one child, named Bertha B., who was born February 3, 1870. She married Henry C. Packard, a well-to-do farmer of
Plainfield, and has two children; namely, Lillian G. and William A. Bertha B. re- ceived a common-school education, and was a successful teacher for several terms before her marriage.
ARQUIS F. DICKINSON, a pros- perous farmer and an old resident of Amherst, was born in that town, January 4, 1814, son of Walter and Lydia E. Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson's ances- tors were among the early settlers of Am- herst; and his great-grandfather, Nathaniel Dickinson, first located upon the present Dickinson farm, and owned a large tract of land. He dicd in 1806, leaving one son.
Mr. Dickinson's grandfather, Nathaniel Dickinson, was born in Amherst, September 9, 1750. He graduated from Harvard Uni- versity in 1772, and was for many years thc only lawyer in that part of Hampshire County. He became prominent in public affairs, was a Justice of the Peace, and for thirteen years Town Clerk. He resided with his parents, whom he assisted in managing the farm, and died at the age of fifty-two years. Nathaniel Dickinson was a Unitarian in his religious belief. He married Sarah Marsh, who was born July 20, 1753, and she became the mother of two children, namely: Susannah, who died October 8, 1836; and Walter, Mr. Dickinson's father. The mother died in 1801.
Walter Dickinson was born at the home- stead in Amherst, May 2, 1784. He was a well-to-do farmer, and always rcsided upon the Dickinson farm. He was independent in politics and liberal in his religious views. He died April 9, 1851. His wife, who was born in North Amherst in 1791, became the mother of ten children, as follows: Sylvester; Frederick E., who resides in Leverett, Mass .; Marquis F., the subject of this sketch; N.
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Albert; Lydia E., who resides at the old homestead; Nehemiah; Leander M. and Amy S., who are now deceased; Walter M., a resi- dent of Georgia; and Sarah M., wife of Jona- than Cowls. The mother died March 21, 1828.
Marquis F. Dickinson received his educa- tion in the public schools of Amherst, and grew to manhood at the Dickinson homestead. He engaged in the manufacture of brooms in North Hadley, following that occupation for some time during his early manhood. After a residence in North Hadley of a few years he returned to Amherst, and, in company with his brother Sylvester, built a grist-mill in that town, which they operated for some years. In 1844 he engaged in agriculture upon the farm where he now resides, built the residence, and has enjoyed a long period of prosperity. Mr. Dickinson is a Republican in politics, and was for many years actively interested in the town government. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen for seven years, during which he served as chairman. He was also Assessor for several years. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity, and is the oldest member of Pacific Lodge.
On November 20, 1838, Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage to Hannah Williams. She was born in Shutesbury, Mass., Novem- ber 9, 1817, only daughter of Asa and Pru- dence Williams. Asa Williams was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was an early settler in Shutesbury, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. He died in Shutes- bury, aged seventy-six; and his wife, who lived to the age of ninety, died at the home of her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson had ten children, namely: Jane, Mary, and Wal- ter, who are deceased; Marquis F., born July 15, 1840, a lawyer of Boston; Sarah A., born October 8, 1848, the wife of F. L. Pope, an
electrician of Great Barrington, Mass. ; Roxy E., born April 5, 1851, wife of E. Holbrook, a shoe manufacturer of Holbrook, Mass .; Asa W., born October 24, 1853, a lawyer of Jersey City, N.J .; Walter M., born April 5, 1856, a Lieutenant in the United States Army, and for the past three years military instructor at the Massachusetts Agricultural College in Amherst; Julia A., born June 7, 1859, wife of the Rev. Charles S. Nickerson, a Univer- salist preacher of Abington, Mass. ; and Han- nah F., born September 28, 1861, wife of Professor Joseph B. Lindsey, of the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are the oldest mar- ried couple in their neighborhood, and have celebrated both their silver and golden wed- dings. Mrs. Dickinson is a member of the Congregational church.
EACON SAMUEL SMITH, a well- to-do farmer of South Amherst, was born in Middlefield, Mass., August 5, 1826, son of Samuel and Lucy (Metcalf)
Smith. Mr. Smith's ancestors emigrated from England in 1634; and in the year 1700 some of them settled in East Haddam, Conn., where their descendants still reside. Mr. Smith's grandfather, who served in the Revo- lutionary War, became one of the early set- tlers of Middlefield, Mass. He was a hard- working and successful man, and died there, over eighty years old. He raised a family of six children, of whom Samuel Smith, Sr., Mr. Smith's father, was the youngest.
Samuel Smith, Sr., was born in Middlefield in 1797. He was reared to agricultural occu- pations, and succeeded to the ownership of his father's farm. He always resided in Middle- field, and was a prosperous farmer. In poli- tics he was originally a Whig, but was later
WARREN E. TOWER.
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identified with the Free Soil and antislavery parties. He was a member of the Baptist church. Samuel Smith, Sr., died in Middle - field, aged eighty years. His wife, Lucy Metcalf, who was born in Middlefield in 1800, became the mother of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity; and six are now liv- ing. They were: Joseph, Ann, and Edward, who are now dead; Lucy, Sarah, Samuel, John, Azariah, and Judson. The mother died at the age of fifty-nine.
Samuel Smith, Jr., commenced his educa- tion in the schools of Middlefield, and com- pleted his studies with a year's course at the Williston Academy. At the age of twenty- two he settled upon a farm in Middlefield, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres, which he purchased entirely on credit. By diligently applying himself to the task he not only cleared it from debt in fifteen years, but also had some capital to spare. In 1867 he moved to South Amherst, and bought the farm of sixty acres where he now resides. He conducts general farming, in which he has been successful; and, although he is nearly seventy years of age, he is still actively at- tending to his farm duties. He has well earned the prosperity he now enjoys. Politi- cally, he is independent, but his sympathies are with the Prohibition movement.
In 1851 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mary Bliss. She was born in West Spring- field, Mass., January 17, 1827, daughter of Hosea and Mary (Bagg) Bliss. Hosea Bliss was born in West Springfield, December 28, 1800, and married for his first wife Mary Bagg, who was born in West Springfield, April 14, 1802. She was the mother of four children, as follows: Huldah C. and Helen M., who are now dead; Malah E., wife of Noah Dickinson; and Mary M., Mr. Smith's wife. Hosea Bliss died July 23, 1869. He
attended the Congregational church. Mr. Smith's first wife died June 3, 1860. He wedded for his second wife Martha Stone, who died in February, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had three sons, namely: Hosea B., who re- sides in North Amherst; Percy L., a resident of the State of Wyoming; and Earnest B., who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Baptist church, of which he has been a Deacon for over twenty years.
ARREN E. TOWER, an enterpris- ing and thrifty farmer and one of the oldest and best-known residents of Cummington, Hampshire County, was born here on April 5, 1824. He is a son of War- ren and Rhoda (Tower) Tower, and is a repre- sentative of the seventh generation in direct descent from John Tower, a native of Hing- ham, England, who became a resident of Hingham, Mass., in 1637. The Tower genealogy is given in the recently published history of the latter town.
Nathaniel Tower, the paternal grandfather of Warren E., was a native of Hingham, Mass. About 1780 he settled in Cumming- ton, which was his home thereafter; and here he became a successful farmer and large land- owner. He took a prominent part in town affairs, and served as a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary War. His death occurred in 1810, at sixty-five years of age; and his wife, Leah, who was born in Hingham, November 14, 1747, died in January, 1847. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters; namely, Leah, Nathaniel, Peter, Ambrose, Roxy, and Warren.
Warren Tower, son of Nathaniel, was born in Cummington on January 9, 1789, and in his boyhood received only limited educational advantages. He learned the trade of a carpen-
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ter, and followed that trade in connection with farming. After living a short time on the place that he first purchased and which is now owned by Mr. Shipman, he sold it, and purchased the B. B. Lyman farm. He had got well started in farming on this place and in his carpenter work when he was taken ill, and died on May 26, 1834, at the age of forty- five years. His wife, Rhoda Tower, was a daughter of Stephen and Anna (Bowker) Tower; and her natal day was November 26, 1795. She bore her husband two sons and four daughters, as follows: Salome, born Oc- tober 9, 1817 ; Miriam, born January 5, 1819; Sabrina, born May 29, 1820; Elmina, born October 6, 1822; Warren E .; and Lorenzo H., born August 14, 1830. Mrs. Rhoda Tower died August 23, 1833.
Being left an orphan when but nine years old, Warren E. Tower went to live with Mr. N. Minor on a farm, and remained there for four years. He afterward made his home suc- cessively with his brother-in-law, E. T. Bart- lctt, and with Mr. Randall in the town of Windsor, Mass. While at the latter place, he worked at farming, and also learned the trade of a carpenter; but, having the misfort- une to lose one of his eyes by an accident, he was obliged to abandon his cherished plans, and consequently turned his attention from that time forward to agriculture. At twenty- six years of age he bought a farm of one hun- dred acres, the same now owned by H. Porter; and, after carrying it on for two years, he sold it, and bought another, on which he lived a few years. Selling the second piece of farming property, he purchased the place where he now resides, which contains sixty acres. This estate is known as the Rev. J. Briggs home and farm, having been first occu- pied by the clergyman of that name, who for forty-six years ministered to the spiritual
needs of the people of Cummington as pastor of the Congregational church. One of the first churches and the largest ever erected in the town was built on this farm. The present dwelling-house, although erected over a cen- tury ago, is still in good condition. Mr. Tower has, however, made substantial improve- ments in all the buildings since he came into possession of the place. He keeps a dairy, and is successfully engaged in general farming.
On November 27, 1852, he was joined in matrimony to Miss Agnes L. Lyman, a daughter of Benjamin Lyman. This union was blessed by the birth of a daughter, Edith M,, born April 22, 1857, who married Alfred C. Stevens, and died September 11, 1894, leaving two children, Walter L. and Clara L., another child having died in infancy. Mrs. Agnes L. Tower died in the fifty-seventh year of her age. On January 10, 1893, Mr. Tower again married, his second wife being Miss Margaret Jane Lavery, a daughter of John M. and Catherine E. (Hosier) Lavery. Her father was born on the Scottish border- land. After his marriage in England he came with his wife to America, where he fol- lowed the vocations of a gardener and a stone mason. Margaret was but three years old at the time of her mother's death. Having grown to womanhood, she became a trained nurse, and followed this profession with suc- cess until her marriage.
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