USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 28
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ILLIAM A. FALES, a prosperous farmer and a successful stone-cutter of Pelham, was born in that town July 5, 1828, son of Abijah and Mary (Woods) Fales. Mr. Fales's grandparents were Sewell and Lois Fales, the former of whom was a native of Holden, Mass. He settled in Pel- ham in 1803, and owned a farm in the north- west part of the town, which contained a great deal of valuable timber. He followed agri- culture with satisfactory results until his death, which occurred at a good old age. He raised a family of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, but are now deceased. His wife, who was a member of the Methodist church, died at an advanced age.
Abijah Fales, father of Mr. Fales, followed agriculture as his principal occupation. He settled upon the Wood farm, where his son now resides, and conducted it successfully. He also engaged in quarrying stone, which, as it developed into a profitable business, he con- tinued until his death. He married Mary Woods, daughter of William Woods, who was a native of Hardwick, Mass., and became an early settler in Pelham, where he cleared and improved a good farm. Both he and his wife died in Pelham at an advanced age. Abijah Fales died at the age of eighty-one years. He was a Whig in politics and a Congregationalist in his religious belief. His eight children were as follows: Henry J., who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; William A., the subject of this sketch; Lois, wife of Samuel Wesson, of Worcester, Mass. ; Lyman G., a resident of Easthampton; James M. ; Anthea H., who lives at the old homestead; Caroline A., who also resides there; and John T., who resides in Newport, R. I. The mother died at the homestead in Pelham.
William A. Fales was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town, and resided at
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home until his majority. He then went to Amherst, where he was engaged in farming and in the stone business. In 1864 he moved to his present farm, consisting of sixty-five acres of fertile land. His house is a land- mark of the town, over one hundred years old. In addition to farming he has conducted an extensive and profitable business in quarrying stone.
On April 15, 1856, Mr. Fales was united in marriage to Emma A. Ballou, born in Rhode Island, daughter of Silas Ballou. Mr. and Mrs. Fales had eight children, as follows : Anna, who died at the age of sixteen; Mary L., wife of Frank Roberts, of Adams, Mass. ; Charles D., of Springfield, Mass. ; Clara W., who resides at home; Jane E., wife of Leonard Ball, of Northampton; Emma A., wife of Edward Still, of Pelham; Kate B. and Sarah, who reside at home. Mr. Fales is a Republi- can in politics.
ASPER E. LAMBIE, at the head of the enterprising firm of J. E. Lambie & Co., the leading dry-goods house of Hampshire County, is one of the foremost business men of Northampton. He was born in Hammond, N. Y., in August, 1843. His father, John Lambie, was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1800. He was a son of the manu- facturer of the celebrated Paisley shawls, and was reared to that business in his native land.
In 1821 John Lambie emigrated to America, settling in New York State. After coming to this country he married Ellen Morris, a native of Scotland; and they had a family of eight children, of whom three have departed this life, namely: Jane, who died at the age of thirty-nine years; Robert M., at one time en- gaged in the dry-goods business at Easthamp- ton, Mass., but later a manufacturer in New York City, where his death occurred in 1892;
and Margaret, Mrs. Otis Gardner, who died the past year. The following are the living children : Christiana, the widow of F. W. Blackmore, residing in Hammond, N. Y. ; William M .; John F .; Jasper E., of North- ampton; and Martha M., wife of George L.
Manchester, of Easthampton. The father passed from earth in 1884, and the mother some three years later at the age of fourscore years.
Jasper E. Lambie, eagerly seizing the oppor- tunities afforded him in his youth for obtain- ing an education, after leaving the district school pursued the higher branches of learning at Gouverneur Academy and at St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y. In August, 1864, be joined the Ninety-first New York Volunteer Infantry, personally enlisting thirty-three men for his company. Mr. Lambie was appointed to a position in the commissary of musters department, being stationed at Baltimore until the close of the war. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Lambie first embarked in a mercantile career with his brother Robert, opening a store in Easthampton, where he continued for seven- teen years, doing a thriving business alone after his brother went to New York City. Coming to Northampton in 1883, Mr. Lambie, bought out the establishment of E. G. South- wick & Co., and three years later took his brother John into partnership. They have a large store at 92 Main Street. The original building in which he began business was but seventy feet deep, and is still in the posses- sion of the former owner. The additions, which include a three-story brick building, fifty-two by one hundred and ninety-two feet, have been erected and are owned by Mr. Lambie. Their business, which is conducted on the department plan, gives employment to twenty-five salesmen and saleswomen, the vari- ous departments embracing all kinds of dry goods, notions, and millinery.
JOHN L. MATHER.
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On September 9, 1875, Mr. Lambie was united in wedlock with Henrietta E. Bryan, a daughter of Dr. Bryan, of New York City. Sorrow and joy, the common lot of mortals, have been theirs since marriage, three of the beautiful children born to them having been taken from earth. A son and a daughter brighten their pleasant home at 37 Phillips Place, the daughter Margaret being nine years old and the son Morris a sturdy lad of seven years. In politics Mr. Lambie is a stanch Republican, and has served two terms as Alderman and one term as Mayor. Socially, he is a Chapter Mason, being Past Master of the Ionic Lodge, Easthampton.
AMUEL P. ROHAN, of Ware, Mass., a member of the grocery and provision firm of Rohan & Brosna- han, formerly Rohan Brothers, was born in Enfield, Mass., August 29, 1858, son of Pat- rick and Johanna (McCarthy) Rohan.
Patrick Rohan, who was born in Limerick County, Ireland, in 1824, came to America when sixteen years of age, making the voyage hither in a sailing-vessel. On his arrival he went to Enfield, Mass., and engaged in farm- ing. Some time after he moved to Belcher- town. He was married in Enfield in 1844, when twenty years of age, to Miss Johanna McCarthy, who was two years his junior, and, like himself, a native of Ireland. He died in Enfield, leaving his widow with three sons and a daughter ; namely, Samuel, David, William, and Nellie. The three sons were formerly members of the firm of Rohan Brothers. Their sister Nellie, who is book-keeper in the store, is a practical young woman possessed of much common-sense and business ability.
Samuel P. Rohan received a good education in the grammar and high schools of Enfield.
At the age of twenty-five years he engaged in selling goods for C. Hitchcock & Co., in Ware, a connection which lasted over eight years. On February 1, 1892, the firm of Rohan Brothers started in trade at the present stand of Rohan & Brosnahan. Business in- creased rapidly, and they soon had a patronage that ranked only second in magnitude to the largest obtained in the town. Samuel P. Rohan was married December 31, 1889, to Miss Julia Shugrue, of Hardwick, Mass., a daughter of John and Mary (Splarn) Shugrue, the former of whom is a successful agricultu- rist. Her mother died in 1888, leaving three sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Rohan have no children.
In his political relations Mr. Rohan is a stanch Democrat ; while he and Mrs. Rohan are consistent members of All Saints' Catholic Church. They reside at 64 North Street, the attractive and comfortable home erected by Mr. Rohan in 1891.
J OHN L. MATHER, mason, contractor, and builder of Northampton, was born in Amherst, Mass., January 9, 1851, son of William E. and Henrietta (Lyman) Mather. He is a scion of an ancient and honored New England family, the founder of which was the Rev. Richard Mather, a gifted divine of Dorchester, Mass., who was born in Lowton, Lancashire, England, in 1596, stud- ied at Oxford, was ordained, and engaged in the work of the ministry before coming to Boston in 1635. He died in Dorchester, April 22, 1669. He was a son of Thomas Mather and a grandson of John Mather, of Lancashire, England.
The Rev. Eleazer Mather, one of the sons of Richard, was the first settled pastor in Northampton. He was born in Dorchester.
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Mass., May 13, 1637, began to preach in Northampton in 1658, and was ordained in June, 1661. John L. Mather, the subject of this sketch, is a descendant of the Rev. Rich- ard Mather's son Timothy, who was of the fourth generation from John, the next in line being successively the Rev. Samuel Mather, of the fifth; Dr. Samuel Mather, of the sixth ; Dr. Samuel Mather, Jr., of the seventh ; Elisha Mather, of the eighth, born in 1740; William Mather, of the ninth; and William E., of the tenth.
William Mather, son of Elisha, was an able farmer, possessing a farm on Pleasant Street, where is now the crossing of the Consolidated Railroad, and extending back to Hawley Street. He died August 5, 1835, aged fifty- nine years; but his wife, whose maiden name was Annie Clark, lived to be seventy-eight, dying March 22, 1854. They reared four sons and two daughters. The youngest, Sarah Ann Mather, was a teacher in Virginia some fifteen years, and died in St. Augustine, Fla., at the age of seventy-six.
William E., son of William and Annie (Clark) Mather, was a farmer in Amherst, owning a farm in that town some fifteen years. His term on earth comprised fifty-eight years, ending January 20, 1862. On June 15, 1848, he was united in marriage with Henrietta H. Lyman, of Hockanum, Hadley, Mass., daugh- ter of Enos and Lydia (Wadsworth) Lyman, of Ellington, Conn. Enos Lyman was a farmer in moderate circumstances, and was a Captain in the militia. He died some years before his wife, whose death occurred in 1875, at the age of seventy-four. Mrs. Mather was born March 31, 1818, and was the eldest of ten children, and the only daughter. She lived through many years of widowhood, passing away May 19, 1890. She was a model wife and mother, a practical Christian, and was
a member of the Edwards Congregational Church. Two of her four children are living, namely : John L. ; and Charles Dwight, a car- penter and builder residing on Pleasant Street, Northampton. George Howe died in early childhood; and Frank C., who was a mason by trade, died in August, 1892, at the age of forty-three, leaving a widow.
John L. Mather attended school at Amherst, Hadley, and Northampton. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to Daniel R. Clark to learn the mason's trade, remaining until twenty-one. He received five hundred dollars of the Oliver Smith Fund, and on at- taining his majority bought his employer's business. From that time to the present the business has prospered under his management ; and he has established a reputation for good workmanship and honest dealings that adds new prestige to the honorable name of Mather. One of his first contracts was the building of Cos- mian Hall; and in the spring of 1874 he built the main building and the president's house of Smith College. He also erected the Hillyer Art Gallery of the college and many fine resi- dences and school-houses in the vicinity, his business amounting to as much as one hundred thousand dollars in a year.
On February 25, 1891, Mr. Mather married Mrs. Ella K. (Child) Warnock, daughter of Henry Child, of Northampton, and widow of William Warnock. Mrs. Mather has two sons by her former marriage, Henry C. and Will- iam Harold Warnock, aged respectively seven- teen and fourteen. One daughter, Esther Henrietta, born October 25, 1893, is the fruit of her union with Mr. Mather.
John L. Mather is a Republican in political views. He has served as Councilman, and is now one of the Board of Aldermen of North- ampton. In Masonic circles he is prominent, being a Master Mason. His home is a hand-
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some brick dwelling-house at 275 Main Street, which he erected in 1882 and moved into in 1883, installing as mistress his mother, whose gracious presence came to be missed a few years later in the spacious rooms now brightened by the smiles and voices of wife and children.
TRUS F. WOODS, a successful busi- ness man of Enfield, was born in Belchertown, December 23, 1825, son of Zenas and Abigail (Forbes) Woods. Mr. Woods's grandfather, John Woods, served as a Corporal during the Revolutionary War; and his discharge from the Continental army, signed by General Washington, is now in the possession of his grandson. The family is of early Colonial origin. Mr. Woods treasures an old document relating to his ancestors, which bears the date of 1694. Zenas Woods, Mr. Woods's father, was a native of New Braintree, Worcester County, Mass .; and his mother was born in Bridgewater, Mass.
Cyrus F. Woods commenced his education in the schools of his native town, and com- pleted his studies at the Quaboag Seminary in Warren. At an early age he went to Springfield, Mass., where he was employed in the dry-goods store of Samuel Bailey, with whom he remained for four years. Then, in company with others, he engaged.in the same line of trade. After an experience of a few months in this enterprise he disposed of his interest, and went to New York City, where he was a clerk in a wholesale dry-goods es- tablishment for one year. In 1851 he re- turned to Enfield, started a general mercantile business, and successfully conducted it until 1866, when he sold out again, and went back to New York City. He next engaged in stock - broking in Wall Street, becoming familiar with the business methods of that centre
of finance. Subsequently he was for some time Vice-President of the New York Mining Exchange and President of the Consolidated Clearing-house connected with that institu- tion. He also interested himself in the con- struction of railroads, making contracts to build sections of Cayuga Lake Railway, the Rochester & Pittsburg line, and sections of the New York Central. He was successful in all of his business enterprises, and continued to reside in New York City until 1884, when he once more returned to Enfield, which has since been his home. He is now engaged in the lumber business, and, in company with A. J. N. Ward, is conducting an extensive and profitable enterprise. He is a stanch Re- publican in politics, and during the years of 1864 and 1865 he served as a member of the Board of Selectmen of Enfield.
Mr. Woods has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded in 1873, was Jo- sephine K. Crane. She died in 1884, and in 1893 he married for his second wife Caroline D. Jones. He is a member of Dr. Hall's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City; and Mrs. Woods is a member of St. James Church in Philadelphia, of which the Rev. Dr. Blanchard is pastor. They oc- cupy a handsome residence in the village, and Mr. Woods is a citizen of whom Enfield has every reason to be proud.
AMES R. ANDERSON, general fore- man of the Montague City Rod Manu- factory in Pelham, was born in Lowell, Mass., March 27, 1859, son of Hugh and Isabella (Stuart) Anderson. Mr. Anderson's father was born in Ayrshire, Scotland; and in 1846, when he was eighteen years of age, he emigrated to the United States. He was a carpet weaver by trade, and followed that
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occupation during his carly manhood. He finally located in Belchertown, where he pur- chased a farm, and resided on it for the re- mainder of his life. He was energetic and industrious, and became a prosperous farmer. He was a Methodist in his religious belief and a Republican in politics. Hugh Ander- son died at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, also a native of Scotland and daughter of a peasant residing upon a large cstate, became the mother of two children, of whom one, James R., reached maturity, the other having died at the age of six years. The mother, who survives, now resides with her son.
James R. Anderson passed his boyhood in Springfield, Mass., and received his educa- tion in the schools of that city. In 1883 he was engaged as a book-keeper by the Mon- tague City Rod Manufactory in Pelham, and later was advanced to the position of foreman of the Pelham factory. His thorough knowl- edge of the business, together with the energy and decision he displayed in the performance of his duties, was appreciated by his em- ployers ; and in 1885 he was appointed general foreman of the entire enterprise.
Mr. Anderson is a Republican in politics, and is prominently identified with public affairs. He is chairman of the Board of Se- lectmen and of the Board of Assessors and a member of the School Board. In 1890 he was a candidate for Representative to the leg- islature, and has been chairman of the Repub- lican Town Committee since 1886. He is a member of Pacific Lodge of Free Masons in Amherst.
On September 8, 1885, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Mary M. Brainard. She was born in Pelham, daughter of John L. and Fidelia L. Brainard. Mrs. Anderson died August 10, 1889, leaving one child,
named Fidelia L. Mr. Anderson is a rising young business man, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.
OHN J. KIDGELL, the well-known freight agent of the Boston & Maine Railroad at Ware, Mass., was born in the town of Pittsfield, Berkshire County, October 4, 1853. His parents were John and Mary (McCarthy) Kidgell, the former of whom was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1825.
John Kidgell came to this country in 1848. On his arrival here he secured work as a la- borer in the construction of the Western Rail- road, now the Boston & Albany Railroad, and subsequently in a paper-mill at Middlefield, Mass. After his marriage he purchased a farm in that town, and on it he passed the remainder of his life. He died January 18, 1892. His wife, to whom he was married on January I, 1852, was also a native of Ireland. She came to this country with her widowed mother, brothers, and sisters. She bore her husband eleven children. Four sons and two daughters grew to adult life. They were: John; Frank H., a painter, living at Gardner, Mass .; George, a locomotive fireman; Ed- ward, a railroad employee, residing at Gard- ner, Mass .; Mary, who died at twenty-four years of age; and Elizabeth, who lived to be twenty-two years old. Their mother, who is now sixty-eight years of age, is living in Gardner.
John J. Kidgell received but a limited edu- cation. After reaching the age of ten years, he was able to attend school only during the winter months. When sixteen years of age, he went to work on the Boston & Albany Railroad, where he was employed for three years. He then went to Miller's Falls, Mass., as a telegraph operator for the Fitch-
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burg Railroad Company. Eighteen months later, in company with a Mr. Conway, he opened a general merchandise store in Mid- dlefield. where they conducted a successful business for two years under the firm name of Kidgell & Conway. At the expiration of that time he sold his interest to his partner, and went to Greenfield as operator for the Fitch- burg Company. He was transferred a year later to Gardner, and soon after entered the employ of the Boston, Barre & Gardner Rail- road Company as telegraph operator and clerk. In 1882 he secured employment with the Long Island Road at Huntington, Long Isl- and; but in a brief time he returned to Gard- ner as agent of the Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad. He had held this position three years when compelled by illness to abandon it. When after four months he was able to resume work, he found employment with the Long Island Company at Manhattan Beach and with the Boston & Lowell Railroad at West Boylston, Mass., for short periods. He then, in 1888, came to Ware to take his present position with the Boston & Maine Railroad. Having slighted none of his opportunities, he has become a most competent railroad man.
On June 10, 1890, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine L. Curley, of New London, Conn., a daughter of Peter Curley, who is a native of Ireland. Mrs. Kidgell has a brother in New London, Conn., and in New Orleans a sister, named Mary - in religion Sister Anthony, of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
Mr. Kidgell is a Democrat in politics, and he has been chairman of the Town Demo- cratic Committee for four years. He has also served his townsmen most acceptably as Se- lectman for three years, for two of which he was chairman of that board. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and has
served as Treasurer of that organization for three years. He and his wife are consistent members of All Saints' Catholic Church of Ware.
AVID A. JENNISON, proprietor of the Hampshire House in Ware, was born in Walpole, N.H., in 1837, son of John and Elvira (Russell) Jennison. His grandfather, who also bore the name of John Jennison, was a prosperous agriculturist. He married a Miss Moore, who bore him three sons and a daughter, as follows: Thomas, a farmer in Lancaster, N.H., who died past middle life, leaving two daughters; Ashley, who lived for a time in Lancaster, and after- ward in New York State, and also died when past middle life, leaving a family of sons and daughters; Mary, the wife of Mr. Lovejoy, a merchant in Walpole, N.H .; and John. Their father died in 1825. His widow died several years later.
John Jennison, Jr., who was born in Wal- pole, N.H., in 1809, was brought up to farm- ing; and he followed that occupation through- out his life in his native town. In 1829 he married Elvira Russell, a daughter of Thomas Russell, of Walpole. Nine children were born of their union, of whom seven sons and a daughter reached maturity. Six sons and the daughter are still living. They are: George, a successful farmer in Walpole; David A .; Charles, who served in the Civil War, and is now a commission merchant in Chicago, Ill., whither he went on his return from the war; Edwin, a carpenter in Walpole; Warren, who is also a carpenter, and resides in Athol, Mass .; Frank, living in Chicago; and Mary, the wife of Frank George, of Bel- lows Falls, Vt. John Jennison died in 1874, about forty years of age, leaving two sons and two daughters. The mother, after living to
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the advanced age of ninety-one years, died in January, 1894.
David A. Jennison received a good common- school education. At the age of eighteen years he started out for himself. At first he worked by the month on a farm. This he continued until 1858, when he came to Ware, Mass., to drive a wagon for his uncle, George Jennison, who had a prosperous grocery store and bakery. He had spent at this about three years, when in 1861, joined by Mr. Burns, a baker, he purchased the business of his uncle. During the succeeding three years they did a fairly profitable business. He then removed to Walpole, spent a year on a farm in West- minster, Vt., and conducted one of the Meadow farms for two years. When he gave up his last occupation, he moved to a farm of one hundred acres previously purchased by him in Walpole, and carried it on for three years. Selling this farm, he engaged in the sewing-machine business in Keene, N.H., for two years, after which he rented the Ludlow House in Ludlow, Vt. Having conducted the hotel for two years, he sold out in April, 1874, took a lease of the Summit House in Athol, Mass., in the following June, and managed that for four years. He then came to Ware, and purchased the Hampshire House, for which he paid the sum of twenty- seven thousand five hundred dollars. After running it for five and a half years, he sold the furniture, and gave a lease of it for ten years to John W. Lawton. Mr. Lawton died before the expiration of the lease; and in the winter of 1892 Mr. Jennison bought the in- tcrest of the estate, and has himself since that time conducted the hotel. It is a solid brick structure, three stories in height, contains thirty rooms, and is the leading hotel of the place. About the time Mr. Jennison leased the Hampshire House he purchased a farm of
one hundred and forty acres within the limits of the corporation, and resided there during a portion of the time that Mr. Lawton had charge of the hotel.
In February, 1861, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Louisa Brockway, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Pratt) Brockway. They have lost the only child born of their union; namely, Norman Jennison, who died in 1873, at seven years of age. Mr. Jennison is a faithful supporter of the Republican party, though he has never served in office. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In religious belief both he and his wife are Episcopalians.
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