USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 3
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Cyrus M. Graves, the father of Melvin L. Graves, was born in Leverett. He had a nat- ural aptitude for the trade of a mechanic, and worked for several years in his father's shop. When nineteen years old he embarked in the manufacture of hoes, rakes, etc., building up a large business in the town of North Leverett. He was skilled in all branches of his business, and a very ingenious workman. He was the first man to fasten the nib on a scythe snath with a screw. In 1854, in the month of Octo- ber, he moved to Northampton to take charge of the factory of the Bay State Manufacturing Company, and remained in that position until the firm failed. In 1857 he went to Colum- bus, Ohio, where he had charge of the shops at the State Penitentiary for four years. Re- turning then with his family to his home and property in this city, he became an employee of the gun and cutlery works here until within two years of the time of his death, which occurred at his home on Washington Avenue, January 12, 1886.
The maiden name of his wife was Jane Gunn, a native of Montague, being the daugh- ter of Samuel Gunn. She and her daughter, Lucy J., still occupy the old home. She has reared five children, as follows: Myron W., who is in business with the subject ; Melvin L. ; C. M., a railway freight clerk in North-
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ampton : Lucy J., a teacher ; and Herbert R., book-keeper for the firm of M. L. & M. W. Graves, and a dealer in bicycles.
Melvin L. Graves attended the high school in Columbus, Ohio, and after returning to Northampton studied at the high school here for a while. At the age of sixteen years he entered the gun works as an inspector of bayo- nets, remaining there three years. He left then to continue his studies in the Springfield Business College, later taking a post-graduate course there. He subsequently became book- keeper for Thayer & Sergeant, dealers in grain, flour, etc., including broom corn, con- tinuing with them until the dissolution of the firm. Then, in October, 1875, forming a partnership with his brother Myron, he con- tinued the business, renting the property for the first five years, and then purchasing the entire plant, including store and mill. The firm in this way established conducted an ex- tensive and profitable business until March 27, 1894, when the entire plant was destroyed by a disastrous conflagration, involving a loss of thirty-five thousand dollars, partially covered by an insurance of thirty thousand dollars. Since that time the firm has carried on busi- ness in temporary quarters, pending the deci- sion of the grade crossing question.
Mr. Graves was united in marriage October 18, 1870, with Miss Annie L. Leonard, of this city, the youngest child of the late Archellas and Emeline (Alvord) Leonard, the latter of whom is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard were the parents of five children, as follows : Henry, a volunteer in the late Civil War, who died at the age of twenty years; Sarah, who died soon after the death of her brother; Chester, an employee of the govern- ment, residing in Hartford; Mary, married to Stephen D. Sprague, of this city; and Annie L., Mrs. Graves. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are
the parents of three children, as follows : Leonard M., a shoe dealer in Greenfield, carrying on an extensive business; Mabel G., who was graduated from the high school in 1894, living at home; and Myron H., a clever youth of fifteen years. Mr. Graves is very active and influential in political, social, and educational circles. He belongs to the Legion of Honor, of which he has been Treas- urer since its organization, in 1880. He has also been a member of the Board of Education since the incorporation of the city, being the oldest member in point of service. He has been an elector and Auditor of the Smith Charities for several years. He has likewise been Treasurer of the Northampton Co-opera- tive Bank since its establishment. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have a delightful home at 40 Washington Avenue, where they take genuine pleasure in welcoming their many friends, entertaining them with true New England hospitality.
Myron W. Graves was born in North Lever- ett, Mass., August 27, 1845, and has been in business with his brother Melvin since 1875. On December 6, 1871, he married Melvina E. Jepson, formerly of Ashfield, and one of three children born to the late George R. Jep- son and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Leach. The other children were : Lyman A. Jepson, and Lewis E., deceased. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Graves, one of whom died in infancy. The others are : Lewis E., a carpen- ter of this place; Cyrus M., a plumber of Northampton; Edith M., an accomplished young lady ; and Anna Marion, seven years old. In politics Mr. Graves, like his brother, is a stanch Republican, and has been a Council- man two years. Religiously, he is a valued and conscientious member of the Baptist church. He and his family occupy a pleas-
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ant residence at 101 West Street, he having purchased the house before his marriage. They are much esteemed by their neighbors.
PAYSON LYMAN, a prominent citi- zen of Westhampton, Mass., where he is engaged in general farming, was born in the house he now occupies, May 27, 1834, son of Sereno and Deborah (James) Lyman. Sereno Lyman was born in the same house, February 2,- 1788, and his wife was born in Chesterfield, Mass., December 6, 1789. His father, Rufus Lyman, was engaged in farming and stock-raising on this estate, and there he died June 6, 1807; and his mother, whose maiden name was Martha Burt, passed away August 1, 1827. They reared eleven children; namely, Jerusha, Asahel, Rufus, Martha, Enoch, Tryphena, Nancy, Se- reno, James Harvey, John Burt, and Liberty.
Sereno Lyman, father of E. Payson Lyman, spent his entire life, with the exception of a few months, on the farm now owned by his son. In 1814 he was drafted for military ser- vice at Boston, and having received the rank of Sergeant returned to Westhampton at the end of two months. He was one of the most prominent farmers in. the district. His death occurred December 26, 1877. Sereno Lyman was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united September 16, 1813, was Mary Clark, of Southampton. She died January 13, 1818. She was the mother of two children : Asahel, who, born July 22, 1815, died Sep- tember 11, 1856; and the other child died in infancy. His second wife, Deborah James, was the daughter of Thomas James, a native of Cohasset, born July 11, 1758. He was a sea captain, and spent part of his life in Ches- terfield, Mass., and in Westhampton, dying in the latter place March 1, 1834. Mrs. Lyman
passed away September 6, 1868, in her seventy-ninth year. She was the mother of five children, namely : Sereno Dwight, born September 10, 1822, who was married Septem- ber 5, 1849, to Lucy B. Williams, and died April 7, 1850; Mary C., born May 22, 1825, who died November 1I, 1856; William James, born June 28, 1827, who lives near his brother, the subject of this sketch, and mar- ried Arethusa Parsons, who died December 29, 1886; Francis Oscar, born July 7, 1830, who was killed in a wind storm in Wisconsin, July 24, 1851 ; and E. Payson, the youngest of the family.
E. Payson Lyman was reared on the farm, and, as his father was lame, many of the duties requiring an active worker devolved upon him. His father bequeathed the home- stead to him, and he has since been sole pro- prietor. One of many improvements made by him was the clearing of several acres of timber. It is now one of the best farms in the county, and comprises about three hundred and fifty acres, forty of which are under culti- vation.
In politics Mr. Lyman is a stanch Repub- lican. He has served as Selectman and filled other offices, but has refused several positions offered to him, not caring to act further in a public capacity. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and takes an active interest in church work. Westhampton boasts many old families, and Mr. Lyman's is one of the oldest among them, while he is personally a worthy representative of a sturdy race.
UGENE G. KELLEY, an enterprising and successful merchant of Greenwich and Postmaster of that town, was born in Greenwich, January 25, 1857, son of George S. and Delia S. (Edson) Kelley.
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Mr. Kelley's great - grandfather, George Kelley, who was born December 23, 1755, was the original ancestor of the family to locate in Greenwich. He followed agriculture as an occupation during his entire life, and died in Greenwich, December 14, 1819. His wife, Hoxia Kelley, became the mother of nine children: Rebecca, Rhoda, Sampson, Elias, Olive, Sylvia, Chloe, Seth, and Smith. She died August 30, 1826. Smith Kelley, Mr. Kelley's grandfather, was a resident in Greenwich from the time when he was a young man until his death. He owned a good farm in the north-west part of the town, which he conducted successfully. He died at the age of seventy-eight years. He married for his first wife Caroline Titus, who died in 1832, leaving one son, George S. His second wife was Lydia Childs, and she became the mother of three children, namely: Adelia C., who died at the age of thirty-two; Sophia, who became Mrs. Sly, and is now living in Athol, Mass. ; and Mary, who died aged eighteen. Smith Kelley's second wife died September 23, 1879.
George S. Kelley, Mr. Kelley's father, was born in Greenwich, March 9, 1832. During his childhood he received injuries which crip- pled him for life; and when a young man he learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed as an occupation for some time. In 1862 he moved to Greenwich Plains, where he purchased a small farm of four acres, and, re- linquishing his trade, devoted his time and attention to market gardening, in which he became very successful. He erected a sub- stantial residence and other buildings; and his barn, which he built in 1890, is one of the finest in that part of the town. By judicious management he made his small property pay so well that he was able to invest in land in different parts of Greenwich, and this he de- voted to the cultivation of grain. He also
engaged quite extensively in dairying. He continued to reside upon the original four-acre farm, however, and passed the remainder of his life there. He died May 21, 1892. In his religious views he was liberal, and in poli- tics he was a stanch Republican. His wife, Delia S. Edson before marriage, who was born in Hartford, Conn., August 4, 1837, was a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Towne) Edson. Her father was a native of New Braintree, Mass. ; and his parents were Elijah and Nancy (Barr) Edson, the former of whom was also born there. Elijah Edson raised a family of eight children: Marshall, Sally, Lucinda, Cordelia, Lorinda, Harvey, Samuel, and Nancy. Samuel Edson, father of Mrs. George S. Kelley, was a prosperous farmer, a Repub- lican in politics, and spent the greater part of his active life in Greenwich, where he died at the age of forty-three. His wife, Sarah Towne in her maidenhood, was a native of Greenwich; and her parents, Jonathan and Betsey (Stratton) Towne, raised a family of six children, who were named: Jonathan, Truman, Eliza, Rufus, Orrin, and Sarah. Samuel and Sarah (Towne) Edson, Mrs. George S. Kelley's parents, raised a family of five children, as follows: Delia; Harriet A. ; Julia M. ; Ella M. ; and Clarence P., who is no longer living. The children of Mr. and Mrs. George S. Kelley are as follows : Eugene G., the subject of this sketch; Lillian H., who was born February 3, 1859, and resides at home; and Nellie M., who was born June 2, 1862, and is now employed in her brother's store. The mother is still living, and is en- gaged in carrying on the farm.
Eugene G. Kelley was educated in the schools of his native town, and at an early age commenced to assist his father in farming and gardening. He continued in that occupation until 1884, at which time he began a mercan-
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tile business in Greenwich Plains. He now conducts a general country store, in which he carries a large and varied stock of merchandise. His aim is to sell the best quality of goods at nominal prices. He has created for himself an enviable business reputation, and is a very successful merchant. He also does a large business in the buying and selling of country produce. He is actively interested in church work. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1884 was appointed Postmaster, a position which he has since filled with marked ability.
On May 25, 1881, Mr. Kelley was united in marriage to Carrie Lyman, his first wife. She was born in Granby, Mass., daughter of George J. Lyman, who resides in Hartford, Conn. She died November 18, 1892, leaving four children, as follows: Lewis S., who was born June 25, 1882 ; Ambrose, born April 17, 1884; Marion, born January 22, 1886; and Raymond, born May 28, 1888. His second wife, whom he wedded June 6, 1894, was before marriage Cora E. Hunter. She was born in Waterbury, Conn., daughter of George L. and Susan E. (Wheeler) Hunter.
George L. Hunter was born in Prescott, Mass., February 9, 1847, son of William J. and Hannah (Shaw) Hunter. Mr. Hunter's grandfather, William Hunter, was an early settler in Prescott, where he became a prosper- ous farmer and resided for many years. His latter years were passed in Hardwick, Mass., where he died at an advanced age. He was the father of six children, two of whom are still living ; namely, Mrs. Ann Root and Mrs. Fanny Smith, both residing in Greenwich.
William J. Hunter, Mr. Hunter's father, was born in Prescott in 1817, and was a life- long resident of that town. He was a success- ful farmer and stock dealer, making a specialty of importing Canadian horses. He was a well- known and energetic business man, and owned
a good farm, which he cultivated with satisfac- tory results during the active period of his life. He was a Republican in politics. His wife, Hannah Shaw in maidenhood, who was born in Prescott, April 25, 1819, became the mother of five children, two of whom are now living, namely: Eliza, wife of Austin Jami- son, a resident of Prescott; and George L., who is the youngest.
George L. Hunter was educated in the schools of Prescott ; and at the age of eighteen he began farming upon his own account, in which he continued for three years. He then : went to Greenfield, where he engaged in the fish business for a time; and from there he went to Waterbury, Conn., where he remained for one year. He then returned to Prescott ; and, after spending some time in farming, he was employed in a bucket factory in Swanzey, N. H., for seven years. He next resided for a short time in Natick, Mass. ; and in 1885 he returned to Prescott, where he has since lived. He engaged in selling tinware upon the road for a time; and in 1889 he built a blacksmith shop, which he has since conducted with profit. He resides upon the old Hunter farm in Prescott, employing assistants to carry it on. He is also engaged in handling agricult- ural implements and standard fertilizers, and, in company with his son, conducts a general mercantile business in Prescott.
Mr. Hunter was married in May, 1868, to Susan E. Wheeler, of Prescott, daughter of Thomas and Susan Wheeler, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer. Mrs. Hun- ter's parents are no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have two children, namely : Charles H., who is in mercantile business in Prescott; and Cora E., who is now Mrs. Eugene G. Kelley. Mr. Hunter is an active and able business man, and is now enjoying a well-earned prosperity. He is a Republican
DAVID W. CRAFTS.
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in politics, and is at present serving as Tax Collector.
Mr. and Mrs. Kelley possess a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and socially they are very popular in the community.
AVID WHITE CRAFTS, superin- tendent of the Northampton Gas Light Company, is an old and hon- ored resident of the city, having, with the exception of seven years spent in Eastern Massachusetts, lived here since 1834. For thirty-five years he has been connected with the gas works, being its President, a stock- holder, a Director, and the superintendent at the present time. He was born February 17, 1821, in the town of Whately (in that portion known as the straits), Franklin County, his father, Chester Crafts, having been born in the same town in 1783.
Mr. Crafts traces his ancestry to Lieutenant Griffin Crafts, who came to Massachusetts in 1630, and was the first of the name to settle on American soil. He made his home in Roxbury. The line of descent is as follows : Griffin, John, Thomas, John, Thomas, Joseph, Chester, David White- the subject of the present sketch being of the eighth generation from the emigrant. The Genealogy of the Crafts family, in which the original name is spelled Craft or Kraft, an octavo volume of eight hundred and three pages, was compiled by James M. Crafts, of Orange, and William F. Crafts, of Boston Highlands, and printed in Northampton in 1893, Mr. David W. Crafts being the president of the association while the work was in preparation.
Joseph Crafts was born November 6, 1745, in Hatfield, Mass., and died October 18, 1815. He served in the Revolutionary War, and afterward devoted his time to tilling the
soil. He married Mrs. Roxana White, daugh- ter of Gideon and Mary (Parsons) Warner, her father also having been a Revolutionary sol- dier and in many of the important battles of that war. Grandfather Crafts settled in Whately, and was noted as being a great pedestrian. His last walking trip, taken when seventy years of age, a short time before his .decease, was from Boston to Whately, a dis- tance of ninety-eight miles, which he accom- plished in two days. He and his wife had a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters.
Chester Crafts, son of Joseph, was reared to pioneer life, and assisted in improving a farm from the wilderness in which his parents located. In 1809, on March 16, he was united in marriage with Phila Jewett, a daughter of Reuben Jewett, who moved from the eastern part of the State to Deerfield at an early day, and there reared his family. Nine children were born into their household, and of these five are now living : Josephus; Sylvia, widow of Alvin S. Field; David White; Roswell P., of Holyoke; and Albert W., a merchant and farmer in Ashfield. The father died of con- sumption, September 27, 1827 ; and the mother subsequently married again, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, dying July 2, 1880, at the home of her son, David W.
David W. Crafts attended school rather irregularly from the age of five years until six- teen, his schooling ranging from six weeks to four months a year, in the typical district school-house. This rude log structure, with a huge fireplace occupying nearly the whole of one end of the building, the floors being of puncheon, the window-panes probably of greased paper, was in marked contrast to the well-equipped buildings of this day and gen- eration. David was but six years old when his father died, and the large family of chil-
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dren were scattered. He spent his early life in Whately, Deerfield, Montague, Holyoke, and Northampton. In 1843 he went to Bos- ton, where he stayed six years, being prosper- ously engaged as a hairdresser on Court Square; but the salt breezes from old ocean were trying to his lungs, which were never very strong. On his return to Northampton Mr. Crafts engaged in mercantile pursuit. He accepted his present position in 1861, as before stated, and has faithfully performed its duties since.
On May 11, 1841, Mr. Crafts was married to Wealthy C. Munyan, a native of this city, daughter of Joseph Munyan, a carpenter of Boston and Northampton, and the father of twelve children, of whom two are now living, namely : Mrs. F. A. Willey, a widow residing in Pittsfield; and Mrs. George Chapin, of this place. Three children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crafts, but they all with their mother have passed from their earthly home to the more perfect life beyond. The eldest, Edward C. Crafts, born in 1842, died in this city in 1874, leaving a widow and two sons, who have since lived with Mr. Crafts; Ger- trude Eliza died at the age of three years ; and Louisa Elizabeth, an accomplished young lady, died at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Crafts died of heart failure on May 31, 1895, after an ideal wedded life of upward of half a century, she and her husband having cele- brated their silver wedding in 1866, and their golden wedding on the 11th of May, 1891. Although free from superstition, the old tradi- tion that May marriages are unfortunate has been brought to the notice of Mr. Crafts and his family, as three of the deaths therein have occurred during that month, his son's on May 12, one daughter's May 13. Mr. Crafts has a pleasant home at No. 23 Crafts Avenue, where he settled in 1872.
In Masonic circles Mr. Crafts is very active and prominent, having taken the thirty-second degree, and being Past Master of Jerusalem Lodge, Past High Priest of Northampton Royal Arch Chapter, Past King of the Massa- chusetts Grand Chapter, and a Past Eminent Commander of the Northampton Commandery, and Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He is also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Red Men, belonging to the Daughters of Pocahontas, and a member of the Delphi Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and is a Knight of Pyth- ias. Politically, he is an advocate of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. For many years he has been a communicant of the Epis- copal church, and he has served much of the time as Vestryman. An excellent likeness of Mr. David W. Crafts will be noticed on the page opposite the beginning of this brief biography.
OHN W. BRADBURN, a prosperous farmer of Worthington, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Manches- ter, N. Y., April 14, 1828, son of James and Delancy (Smith) Bradburn. Mr. Bradburn's father was born in Massachusetts, of Irish an- cestry. He was a sailor in early manhood, but finally relinquished the sea and engaged in farming. He was twice married. The chil- dren of his first marriage are George and James ; and those of his second marriage are : John W., the subject of this sketch; and Anson W., who is a machinist and resides in Preston, Minn.
John W. Bradburn was educated in the dis- trict schools, and resided with his parents until he reached the age of nineteen. Having been trained to farming, he followed that occu- pation for a time. Then he became a sailor, and made voyages to Africa and the south seas.
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Abandoning sea life, he served for some time as a brakeman on the railroad between Bridge- port and Winsted, Conn., and afterward engaged in various kinds of work. In Sep- tember, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, which participated in the North Carolina campaign, and was present at the battles of Kingston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, and several minor en- gagements. While in Newbern he contracted a severe illness, which confined him to the hospital for two months, after which he was sent North, and received his discharge July 29, 1863. Mr. Bradburn has constantly suf- ered from poor health since, a result of his war experience. When partially restored, he resumed work, taking employment in a wood- turning shop. After spending two years at this he came to Worthington, where he pur- chased a farm consisting of forty acres, and has since resided there, dividing his time be- tween agriculture and carpentering. He is a Republican in politics, while he is an unbe- liever in any of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
On December 4, 1851, Mr. Bradburn was united in marriage to Sarah C. Morse. She was born in Dalton, Mass., August 4, 1833, daughter of Alonzo and Betsey C. (Thayer) Morse. Mrs. Bradburn's parents were natives of Massachusetts. Her father was a harness- maker by trade. He died December 30, 1881, aged seventy-nine years; and his wife died in October, 1889, at the same age. Mr. and Mrs. Bradburn have had seven children, as fol- lows: Wallace J., who married Mary Etta Chandler, and resides in Chesterfield, Mass., where he is engaged as a basket-maker and a photographer; Martha Jane, who married Charles Markham, and resided in Pittsfield, Mass., died July 27, 1876; Marshall John, who is engaged in farming; Elva Maria, who
died July 7, 1879; Lura Amanda, who mar- ried Eugene Rhodes, and has six children ; Flora Ellen, who wedded Alvin Buck, and died January 5, 1884; and Celia E., who died July 13, 1880.
Mrs. Bradburn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church Mr. Bradburn has made a special study of astronomy and navigation for the past forty years, much assisted by a fine telescope which he possesses. He takes much pleasure in conversing upon these subjects, regarding which he exhibits a remarkable knowledge.
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