USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 31
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ENRY M. WOODS, a resident of Greenwich and prominent in town affairs, was born in Belchertown, Mass., January 19, 1828. His grandfather, John Woods, was a native of New Braintree, where his father, the great-grandfather of Mr. Woods, was a pioneer. John Woods, who was a farmer, was one of the brave patriots of the Revolution. At the first call to arms he left his plough and joined the Continental army, and did not return to his peaceful fields till the war was over. He had the honor of serving under the personal command of Gen- eral Washington himself. His discharge, signed by General Washington, is still pre- served by his grandson. Mr. Woods died on the farm at an advanced age. He was twice married, and reared four sons and several daughters, all of whom have passed away.
Zenas Woods, born in New Braintree, Mass., in 1798, who was the third son of his parents, left home at the age of sixteen to learn the clothier's trade at North Brookfield, and served an apprenticeship of five years, remaining until he was twenty-one. For the greater part of his life he worked at his trade, but his last years were spent in the cultivation of his farm in Belchertown. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, who was a
native of East Town (now Bridgewater), born in 1796, had passed away many years before, dying in her fifty-third year. Mr. Woods cast his first vote with the old Whig party, and his last with the Republicans. On religious matters he held liberal views, while his wife was a member of the Congregational church. They had three sons and one adopted daughter, namely: Joseph E., who died at the age of sixty-seven, July 3, 1891; Cyrus F., who is now living in Enfield, retired from active busi- ness; Henry M., the subject of this article; and Eliza J., widow of the late Mr. Wilson, of Madison, Wis.
Henry M. Woods grew to manhood in Bel- chertown, receiving his education in the dis- trict schools. He was reared to farm life, but spent some years in the woollen-mills. He worked three years in the mills of Enfield and one year in those of Granby, where he was eventually promoted to the position of over- seer. On the death of his mother he returned to the home farm, where he remained until his fifty-fourth year, caring for his father and attending to the general work of the place. During this time he purchased other land, after which he owned in all about one hundred acres in Belchertown and Enfield. In 1882 he sold the home farm and moved to Enfield. Here he resided some four years, and then, in 1886, located in Greenwich on the estate which he now occupies.
April 27, 1848, Mr. Woods was married to Sarah F., daughter of Joel and Eunice Whip- ple, of Greenwich, where Mrs. Wood was born October 24, 1825. Two sons were born of this union : George E. and Charles M. The former, who was born December 26, 1853, is a resi- dent of Guilford, Vt., and has a family of three children : Mattie A., Sadie J., and George N. Charles M. Woods, who was born January 6, 1855, died at the age of twenty-seven.
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In political matters Mr. Woods favors the Republican party. Since taking up his resi- dence in Greenwich he has given most of his time to public affairs, attending closely to the duties of his office as Selectman and as Overseer of the Poor, positions which he has held for many years. He is also a member of the Cemetery Commission. Mr. Woods was for over forty years a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, to which his wife still belongs; but he is now connected with the Congregational Society.
ENRY B. ANDERSON, an able and practical agriculturist residing near Ware, was born in that town, May 28, 1853, son of Nathaniel H. and Lavasta (Ruggles) Anderson.
His great-grandfather, William Anderson, whose birth occurred in 1749, came to Ware as a young man and took up a half-mile square tract of heavily timbered land. He married Miss Sarah Holmes, of New Braintree, Mass. ; and there, in a region that might well be called a wilderness, they reared a family of three sons and three daughters. Many and stern were the hardships they suffered. These were caused not only by the newness of the country, but also by the hostility of the Ind- ians, whose descents more than once caused them to flee for safety to the fort near by. The price paid for the land was two cents per acre By diligent work he soon had a portion of it cleared and producing crops of grains and vegetables. Both he and his wife lived to a good age, his death occurring when he was eighty-three years old, and that of his wife in her seventy-fifth year. They are buried at Ware Centre. Their son, Nathaniel H. An- derson, was married to Miss Salome Snell, a daughter of Thomas Snell, of Bridgewater,
Mass. He took his bride to the old home- stead; and there they spent their lives, he in clearing the land and tilling the soil, and she occupied with her household duties. Five children were born of their union, two sons and three daughters. Of these, one daughter, Louisa, died at eight years of age. Susanna A., the wife of Emory G. Howard, died in 1891, seventy-eight years of age; another daughter died unnamed in infancy; and Eras- tus died when twenty-five years old, in the second year of his college course at Williams- town. Their mother was orthodox in her re- ligious belief. Both parents died in early life, she in 1825, when but thirty-three years of age, and he in 1827, at forty-four.
Nathaniel H. Anderson remained on the old homestead, which he inherited after his par- ents' death ; and his life has been spent there in successful farming. On March 20, 1845, he was joined in marriage with Miss Lavasta Ruggles, of Enfield, Mass., a daughter of Ben- jamin Ruggles. She bore her husband five sons and a daughter. The daughter, Elizabeth F., is the wife of Joel Nutting, who resides on the adjoining farm. Albert Carey, one of the sons, died in 1870, twenty years old. Edward N., another, born August 27, 1857, a young man of marked musical talent and possessing a fine tenor voice, having studied in Boston and London, taught both vocal and instru- mental music, first in Ware, where for a number of years he acted as leader of the Congregational church choir, and later at the Union and Central Church in Worcester, at the Elms in Springfield, at the Hartford The- ological School, and in Boston, where he had pupils. He was also a composer of music. His early death on April 1, 1894, at the age of thirty-six years, was a deep regret to all who knew him ; and he had many friends and admirers. William Augustus, who is also a
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musician and a professor of vocal culture, received his musical education under his brother's instruction. He still follows the vocation of teacher in Ware. George Wal- ter died aged twenty months. Both parents are members of the Congregational church, of which the father is senior Deacon, having served over forty years. In politics he is a Republican, but votes the Prohibition ticket. He served acceptably on the School Commit- tee, and also as Selectman.
Henry B. Anderson received a good practi- cal education, graduating from the Ware High School. Later on he studied music in Boston ; and, though his life work has been that of an agriculturist, he has given much time to music. He succeeded his brother Edward as choir leader in the Congregational church at Ware. He was married on February 27, 1884, to Miss Mary E. Bowdoin, who is a graduate of Ware High School, and who prior to her marriage was successfully engaged in teaching. She is a daughter of Jabez E. and Maria E. (Marsh) Bowdoin, the former of whom was born in Belchertown in 1825. He is a son of John Bowdoin, who was born in Ware in 1791, son of William Bowdoin. William Bowdoin followed with success the two-fold vocations of carpenter and farmer, and for many years served as Justice of the Peace, in which capacity he came to be known as "Squire Bowdoin." He married Miss Eunice Hixon, who became the mother of six children. After her death he again married, his second wife being a widow, Mrs. Nell Tyler Brigham; and she also bore him six children. He died in 1831, seventy-one years of age. His son, John Bowdoin, married Miss Hannah Lewis, who was born in Dedham, Mass., daughter of Jesse Lewis. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Jabez E. was the third in order of birth. Four are
now living, namely: William, residing in Colorado; Jabez E .; John A., living in Springfield, Mass. ; and Emily H., who lives on the old homestead with her brother. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two sons, namely : Arthur B., born June 4, 1888; and Herbert H., born August 19, 1893.
In politics Mr. Anderson is a Republican. The family reside on the Bowdoin homestead.
RED MERWIN SMITH, President of the Griffith, Axtell & Cady Company of Holyoke, Mass., was born at South Hadley, September 19, 1862. He is a son of the late Hiram Smith and Harriet S. (Coney) Smith. His father was born at South Hadley, July 24, 1824, and his mother at Ware, Mass., October 2, 1826. Hiram Smith was a busi- ness man and Postmaster at South Hadley Falls for a long period, he having held the post-office for thirty years. He died there in 1890, his widow, who still survives at the age of sixty-nine years, having been the mother of four children, two of whom, Hattie and Dwight, died in infancy. The remaining two are Fred M. and J. Belle, wife of Elwyn D. Newcomb, of South Hadley.
Fred M. Smith received his early education in the public schools of South Hadley and at the Williston Seminary in Easthampton, and, after finishing his studies there in 1880, entered Amherst College, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1884. Immediately upon completing his collegiate course he entered the office of the Springfield Union, while Joseph S. Shipley was editor of that newspaper ; and, after being engaged in jour- nalism for two years, he became Assistant Treasurer of the Valley Paper Company of Holyoke, where he continued for a period of three years. He then became Treasurer of the
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Griffith, Axtell & Cady Company of Holyoke, which position he held until May 1, 1895, when he retired from the active management of the company, but is now its President. This company conduct a very large business in fine printing, engraving, and embossing, and maintain a constant force of about thirty skilled workmen, who are kept busy filling their many extensive orders, which come from all parts of the world, the company's reputa- tion for this particular branch of industry hav- ing reached far beyond the boundaries of the United States. He is also a Director of the Holyoke Paper Company of Holyoke.
Mr. Smith is an active Republican in poli- tics, and is at the present time Treasurer of the town of South Hadley, having now for five years held that office, in which he succeeded his father. He has served upon both the School Committee and Water Board for six years, and has been chairman of the Republi- can Town Committee for the last five years, it being a notable fact that the town of South Hadley introduced the Australian system of conducting caucuses a year previous to its hav- ing been adopted by the State. He is Past Master of Mount Holyoke Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also a member of Mount Holyoke Chap- ter and Council, Springfield Commandery, and of Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Boston.
On April 28, 1892, he wedded Miss Evelyn H. Bardwell, of Shelburne, Mass., who was born July 19, 1861, and is the daughter of Orsamus O. and Helen (Packer) Bardwell, both of her parents being now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child living; namely, Winthrop Hiram, born June 30, 1893, their second-born, Rachel Evelyn, whose birth oc- curred September 17, 1894, having died Janu- ary 16, 1895. They reside at 54 North Main Street, South Hadley Falls, and are members of the Congregational church of that town.
YLVANUS C. DAMON is promi- nent among the substantial and pro- gressive agriculturists and business man of the western part of Hampshire County. He is a well-known resident of the town of Chesterfield, where he is the owner of a fine farm, which gives ample evidence of the skill and good taste with which it is managed, the homestead presenting a beautiful picture of quiet country life. Mr. Damon is a native of Chesterfield, born February 6, 1838, his par- ents, Salma and Hannah (Torrey) Damon, having been lifelong residents of this place. The paternal household was large, consisting of fourteen children, namely: Malintha; Fi- delia; Lucretia; Emeline; Sylva; Rachael ; Oliver; Ephraim; Nelson ; Ann; Julia; Eliza- beth; Sylvanus C .; and Lucretia, who died in infancy. The father was a farmer, and reared his children to the same healthful and independent occupation.
Sylvanus C. Damon was educated in the dis- trict schools and early initiated into the mys- teries of agriculture; but, not finding the till- ing of the soil quite congenial work, he drifted from the old homestead to Springfield when nineteen years of age, and found employment in a barber shop. He continued thus engaged for twelve years, being in business alone a part of the time. On May 23, 1861, while yet a resident of Springfield, Mr. Damon enlisted in Company F, under Captain Lom- bard, Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Briggs. With his regiment he went to the front and took an active part in the engagements at Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, and Antietam. He fortunately escaped being wounded, but spent some weeks in the hospital at Washington, D.C., and afterward received his honorable discharge at Downsville, Md., in November, 1862.
Returning from the field of carnage to
S. C. DAMON.
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Springfield, Mr. Damon continued at his trade of a barber until 1865, when he came back to the place of his birth, and for the next two years rented a farm, carrying it on with such marked success that he then decided to make agriculture his future occupation. He accord- ingly purchased his present property, which consists of one hundred and twenty acres of choice land, the larger portion of which he has under excellent cultivation and on which he has made the greater part of the improvements. He is also the owner of Damon's Pond, a famous fishing resort for the sportsmen of Springfield, Boston, and other cities, who make a point of coming here each season to camp out and fish. The pond is one of the most picturesque in this region and covers one hundred and seventy-five acres. Mr. Damon is largely identified with the manu- facturing interests of Chesterfield, owning and operating a saw-mill and a whip-butt manu- factory, both located near his farm.
On November 21, 1857, Mr. Damon was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Elizabeth J. Burt, a native of Longmeadow, Mass., daughter of Anson and Ann Burt, both of whom spent their last years in Springfield. Nine children have been born of their union, namely: Frederick W., who married Grace Pearl, is a farmer, and resides not far from the parental homestead; Charlie, who died in in- fancy; Eva L., the wife of Francis Barker, of Cheshire, Mass. ; Leon S., who married Sadie Hamel, and lives near his parents; Herbert S., living at home; Lillian J., the wife of Clarence Emerson, of Springfield; Nellie A. ; Sylvanus C., Jr. ; and Ernest Lester. All were educated in the public schools. Mrs. Damon is a much esteemed member of the Congregational church.
In politics Mr. Damon is an active and earnest Republican, uniformly casting his bal-
lot in the interest of that party. He has served with faithfulness in various offices, in- cluding that of Road Surveyor. Socially, he is a comrade of Baker Post, No. 86, Grand Army of the Republic, of Northampton. A portrait of this loyal and useful citizen of the republic is presented on a preceding page of the " Review."
EREMIAH C. BYRNS, of the firm of Byrns & Crowley, clothiers, and the popular and efficient Postmaster of Ware, was born in Westboro, Mass., on De- cember 7, 1852, son of Jeremiah and Catha- rine (Murray) Byrns.
His father, Jeremiah Byrns, was born in Ireland in 1823. In 1845 he was joined in marriage with Miss Catharine Murray, and soon after they set out for America. Arriving here after a voyage of eight weeks, they settled in Boston, where Mr. Jeremiah Byrns engaged in business as a baker. About 1856 he came to Ware and established himself in the same business, which he successfully conducted up to the time of his death. He died April 2, 1890. His wife died seven years previously, in 1883. Six children were born of their union, of whom three sons and two daughters are now living. These are: William F. Byrns, M. D., residing in Washington, D.C., a graduate of Holy Cross College and of the Georgetown Medical College; James A. Byrns, a successful baker in Ware, the succes- sor of his father in that business; Jeremiah C. Byrns; Mary, the widow of Phillip L. Keefe, residing in Ware; Elizabeth A. Byrns; and John Joseph, the latest-born, who died when two years old.
Jeremiah C. Byrns received a good practical education in the public schools of Ware. At the age of sixteen years he engaged in the bak-
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ery with his father, remaining until he attained his majority. He then secured a position as salesman in the clothing store of F. N. Hos- mer, by whom he was employed for six years. From there he went to Philadelphia, where he held a similar position, and thence to Wash- ington, and later to Chicago in March, 1881. In Chicago he was employed for eighteen months in the Putnam Clothing House, and during the following two and a half years he worked for Wilson Brothers. On account of failing health he returned to the East on Janu- ary 10, 1885, and in March, 1886, he was appointed Postmaster of Ware. He entered upon his duties in June of that year, and held the position for four years. On December I, 1890, in company with A. G. Crowley, he embarked in his present business of a dealer in ready-made clothing and gentlemen's furnish- ing goods, under the firm name of Byrns & Crowley; and they are now doing a thriving business.
Mr. Byrns is a Democrat in his political views. In June, 1893, he received his second appointment as Postmaster, and has acted in that capacity since July I of that year. He and his family are members of the All Saints' Catholic Church of Ware.
RANCIS C. MONTAGUE, an enter- prising and progressive farmer of West- hampton, was born August 5, 1859, on land now included in the present estate of the family, son of Alfred D. and Sophia (Clapp) Montague. Alfred D. Montague was born and reared in Westhampton, where he also received a substantial education. He began his career as a school-teacher, at the same time carrying on general farming. The best years of his life were spent on the farm where he now lives. He always took an interest in whatever
related to the moral or educational advance- ment of the town that came under his notice, and for many years was an efficient member of the School Committee. Besides Francis C. Montague he has four children, as follows : Edward H., who lives near the old homestead, married to Susan E. Parsons; Lovisa J., resid- ing at home; Alfred D., Jr., now a member of the local School Board, married to Mrs. Emma F. B. Montague, and residing on the old Bridgman farm; and Harriet F., also living with her parents.
Francis C. Montague, the eldest child of the family, was educated in the best schools of the 'county. Having been bred to the occupation of a farmer, he has since made that his prin- cipal business. He is, however, a man of versatility, and can turn his hand to various kinds of labor. He began his agricultural career on his father's farm. In 1890 he pur- chased the Medad King farm, situated near the old home estate. In the management of this property he has been very successful. It has yielded him a good income, which has en- abled him to make further purchases of adja- cent land, so that now he is the owner of three hundred acres of as well-improved and highly cultivated land as can be found in this section of the State. Besides tilling the soil he is also engaged in stock-raising, and is an agent for the sale of sundry articles needed in agri- culture. Among the latter are the fertilizer manufactured by the Chittenden Fertilizer Company, the McCormick harvesting machine, made in Chicago, and the newly invented Mc- Cormick corn binder, which has met with such a ready sale this year throughout the corn-rais- ing States of the Union. Mr. Montague is a far-seeing and broad-minded man, generously endowed with persistence and enterprise.
On the 6th of December, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice R. Wood-
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ard, born in Halifax, Vt., September 6, 1862, a daughter of the Hon. L. M. Woodard, who served his district for two terms as Represent- ative to the State legislature. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other is Grace W., who was born January I, 1892. Mr. Montague supports the principles of the Republican party, and is one of the most active workers in the county. He has much public spirit, and spares neither time nor reasonable expense in advancing the wel- fare of his native town. Since attaining his majority he has been a member of the Repub- lican Town Committee, and for several years has served as its Treasurer. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen. He was again elected to the same office in 1892, and has continued in it since. He has not forgotten the religious teachings of his youth, and both he and his estimable wife are esteemed members of the Congregational church.
SMAN E. KNIGHT, a well-known farmer of Huntington, was born in Norwich, Mass., March 13, 1837, son of Whitman and Harriet (Park) Knight.
Mr. Knight's great-grandfather was born in Norwich, Conn., and settled in the village of Norwich, Mass., where he followed farming. He had a son Samuel, who was the grand- father of Osman E. Samuel Knight was born in Norwich, Mass., February 11, 1771. He married a Miss Wigat, and they had ten chil- dren. Of these, Whitman Knight, born May 19, 1798, was a wagon-maker ; and he followed that trade besides operating a saw-mill and a grist-mill. He also engaged in agriculture successfully, and became a prominent man in the community. He was a Whig in politics, and served as Town Treasurer. He was also Postmaster of Norwich for over twenty years.
He was an attendant of the Congregational church. Whitman Knight died December 20, 1867. His wife was born in Norwich, Mass, August 31, 1808, daughter of Levi Park, whose wife was Esther Hannum in her maiden- hood. Mr. Park cleared and improved the farm which Mr. Knight now owns and occu- pies, and resided there until his death. Mrs. Whitman Knight was the mother of five chil- dren, as follows: Angeline, deceased, who married E. T. Crosby; Julia A., deceased, who married Solomon L. Warner; Charles W., deceased, who married Lydia Leonard ; Osman E., the subject of this sketch; and Samuel Henry, deceased, who married Laura Greenwood. The mother died August 15, 1 867.
Osman E. Knight grew to manhood in Nor- wich and assisted his father in carrying on the mills. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time; but after his father's death he took charge of the home farm, and has since been engaged in agricult- ure, milling, etc. He devotes considerable time to the dairying, and raises some excellent stock. Aside from farming he operates a saw- mill and carries on a repair shop. Mr. Knight is a Republican in politics, and has always maintained an active interest in local ques- tions. He has been Postmaster of Norwich since 1868.
Mr. Knight has been. twice married. The first occasion was on June 15, 1862, when he was united to Ann M. Smith, born in Norwich in 1839, daughter of Horace and Martha (Perry) Smith. She was the mother of three children, namely: Adele, wife of J. B. Lyman, of Norwich; Gertrude J., wife of Marshall Smith, a farmer of Chesterfield, Mass. ; and Frank, who died young. She died January 10, 1871. On August 10 of the same year he wedded Mrs. Mary Miller, of Holyoke.
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Mr. and Mrs. Knight have two children, namely : Lillian, who died at the age of five years ; and William O., who was born May 30, 1876, and resides at home. Both parents are members of the Congregational church.
HARLES HENRY BOYDEN, senior member of the firm of Boyden & Pres- cott, wholesale dealers of fruit and produce at Northampton, is a native of Con- way, Mass., born February 10, 1852, a son of William and Maria H. (Bardwell) Boyden, the former of whom was born in the same place, on February 10, 1817, just thirty-five years before. The Boyden family have been among the well-to-do farmers of Conway for some generations.
William Boyden was reared on a farm, and succeeded to the occupation of his ancestors. He engaged in mixed husbandry until his de- cease, in October, 1874. In 1848 he married Maria H. Bardwell, who was reared in Whately and Chicopee Falls; and they became the parents of four children, all of whom mar- ried and have families. They are as follows : Cyrus James, a farmer living in Conway ; Charles H., the subject of this sketch; Var- num Taylor, a conductor on the electric cars in Springfield; and George William, a painter and farmer in Conway.
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