USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 32
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Charles H. Boyden received a substantial common-school education. He left school at the age of fourteen years to assist on the home farm, whereby he became familiar with farm- ing in the course of the following five years. From that time until attaining his majority Mr. Boyden worked by the month on a neigh- boring farm. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed three years. In 1876 he came to Northampton, securing work with the Northampton Emery
Wheel Company. He was box-maker at first, afterward a workman on the wheels, and subse- quently foreman of the Crystal Emery Wheel Company. This position failing health obliged him to give up after five years. Mr. Boyden then bought the restaurant and confec- tionery business of A. Pitringer. He built up a very large and lucrative trade; and before selling to Daniels & Kellogg, seven years later, he required the assistance of thirteen persons. In 1893 Mr. Boyden embarked in a new branch of business, opening a store at 197 Main Street, for the wholesale and retail sale of foreign and domestic fruits and produce, oc- cupying two floors. In connection with this he conducts an ice-cream and confectionery parlor. On March 10, 1894, Mr. Boyden took in, as a partner, Alfred C. Prescott; and these gentlemen have since carried on an extensive business, their annual sales amounting to from seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Boyden is a member of the order of Knights Templars.
T HOMAS F. CLARK, senior member of the firm of Thomas F. Clark & Sons, and a highly esteemed business man of Ware, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in April, 1832, son of Michael and Mary (Far- ley) Clark.
His father was a weaver by trade and for many years was successfully engaged in that business for himself, using hand looms and employing four or five men in the work. He manufactured coarse and fine Irish linens, blankets, frieze jacket cloths, and similar fab- rics. He died in Ireland in 1840, when about sixty years of age. His wife, Mary Farley, reared him four sons and two daughters. Of these, Ann became the wife of James Reilly, by whom she had two children. During
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a fever epidemic in Dublin she, her husband, and children all died in a hospital there. The rest are: Margaret, who came to America when a young woman, and died in Globe Vil- lage, Mass., thirty-five years of age; Patrick, who came to this country about 1850; James, residing in Ware, where he is employed by the Otis Company, is married, and has a family of children; Thomas F .; and Thaddeus, a weaver, who is also married and has a family. Their mother died in Ireland in 1878, nearly one hundred years of age. She was a woman of more than ordinary ability, and retained a good degree of bodily health until her last days. Her aunt, whose maiden name was Dunn, lived to the remarkable age of one hun- dred and twenty years.
Thomas F. Clark began as a mere child to have some part in his father's weaving estab- lishment. He was able to weave at an early age. When eighteen he came with his elder brother Patrick to America, making the voyage in thirty-four days. On his arrival the first work he secured was on a farm in South- bridge, Mass. After a few weeks spent there he obtained a position in the print works in Ware, which has since been his home. He began in one of the mills of the Otis Com- pany. Here he soon proved himself a skilled weaver; but, though he operated three looms, he received only eighteen dollars per month. Board, however, was proportionately cheap at this time, it costing but six dollars per month. Within two years he was able to earn one dollar per day; and gradually advancing he became in turn overseer of the different de- partments from beaming to weaving, and finally of the finishing-room, where for some time he made as high as two dollars and seventy-five cents per day. He gave complete satisfaction during the thirty-five years that he was connected with the company. The
company now employ two of his sons in posi- tions of importance. . The firm of Thomas F. Clark & Sons was organized in 1882, and is composed of Thomas F., and his sons, James and Henry M. They have stores in Ware, Warren, and, until it was destroyed by fire July 4, 1895, in Hudson, Mass. They do an extensive and profitable business.
Mr. Clark was married when about twenty- one years of age to Miss Ann Dailey, whose birth occurred in Ireland in the town where he was also born, and where they played together as children. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. They are as follows: John Clark, superintendent of finishing in the cloth-room of the Otis Com- pany, who is married and has five sons and two daughters; James Clark, also a superintendent in one of the departments of the Otis Com- pany, who is married and has two sons and three daughters; Thomas F. Clark, Jr., in charge of the store at Warren, who is married and has one son; Henry M. Clark, manager of the stores in Ware and West Warren; Mary Clark, residing at home, a saleslady in Ware; and Katie Clark, who has been her father's housekeeper since her mother's death. The mother died in October, 1882, when she was fifty years of age. The family are members of All Saints' Catholic Church. Mr. Clark has occupied his present residence on North Street, nearly opposite the church, for the past twenty- five years.
HERON O. HAMLEN, an enterpris- ing merchant and the Postmaster of Cummington, Mass., was born in that town on April 9, 1842, son of Theron A. and Clarinda (Orcutt) Hamlen, and a grandson of Isaac Hamlen.
Theron A. Hamlen was also a native of
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Cummington, where he acquired his education. After completing his studies at the academy there he engaged as a school-teacher. Later he was employed for several years as post rider between his native town and Northampton. In 1848 he went to Bleecker, Fulton County, N. Y., where he first engaged in tanning. This employment, together with lumbering, made an extensive business, which he carried on until 1860, when he removed to Glovers- ville in the same State. There he became a contractor and speculator, buying land, erect- ing houses on it, and then selling. In this business he continued for the remainder of his life. His politics were Republican, and while a resident of Bleecker he served in the office of Town Supervisor. His wife, Clarinda Orcutt before marriage, was a daughter of John and Hannah (Richards) Orcutt. Her father was an enterprising and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Cummington, Mass., besides being an extensive wool buyer. She bore her husband one son, Theron O. Hamlen. After her death Theron A. Hamlen married Miss Mary A. Orcutt. Of this second union three children were born, namely: Flora C., who lives at Gloversville, N. Y. ; Ida H., who died at twenty-three years of age; and John R., a resident of Gloversville, N. Y.
Theron O. Hamlen received his education in Bleecker, N. Y., and at Kingsboro Acad- emy. He began his business career as assist- ant in the post-office at Gloversville, where he remained for five years. Following this he was engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods store for three years. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he secured a position as travelling salesman for the firm of C. B. Smith & Co., dealers in fruits and fancy groceries. After nine years profitably spent in this way he joined his father at Gloversville, N. Y., in the building business, and three years later came
to Cummington, Mass., and served as clerk for Mr. Lyman. Not long after, in 1883, he pur- chased of D. W. Lovell a house and store on Main Street in Cummington, and opened therein a general store. Ten years later, in 1893, the business having outgrown the origi- nal quarters, he erected a new store, where he keeps a full assortment of such goods as are generally demanded in a country district. At the same time he built a house and barns.
On May 5, 1881, he was joined in marriage with Miss Hattie L. Lovell, a daughter of Jacob and Laura A. (Barrus) Lovell, and their union has been blessed by a son and daughter, namely : Esther L., born November 11, 1891; and Harold E., born February 5, 1893. Mr. Hamlen was appointed Postmaster in 1885, and has held the office continuously since that time. He is also the Secretary and clerk of the Cummington Creamery Company. His wife is an active and influential member of the Congregational church.
IRICK N. SPEAR, the well-known book-seller and newsdealer of Am- herst, Mass., who enjoys the dis- tinction of having been engaged in business here longer than any other merchant in the place, is a native of Shutesbury, Franklin County. He was born on July 28, 1825, and is a son of Eliphalet and Martha (Paul) Spear. His grandfather, Luther Spear, was an early settler of Shutesbury; and he also resided in other places in Massachusetts. He was a hard-working and successful farmer, and reared a large family of children, nine sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and married. He lived to be nearly eighty-eight years of age.
Eliphalet Spear was born in Shutesbury on February 28, 1789. Like his father he turned
MIRICK N. SPEAR.
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his attention to agriculture, which he followed for several years in his native town. About the year 1824 he moved to North Amherst, where he purchased land. He was a man of industrious habits and successful in his chosen vocation. He died on December 15, 1865, about twenty-five years after the death of his wife, which occurred on July 31, 1840. Her maiden name was Martha Paul; and she was born in Shutesbury on July 23, 1791. They reared six of the seven children born of their union, but two only are now living ; namely, Mirick N. and David C. The latter was born March 23, 1830, and resides in Easthampton, Mass. The departed are: Lusanna T. ; Har- riet A., who was born June 28, 1817, and died July 3, 1854; Mary Sophia, born October 25, 1819, died December 16, 1837; Martha E., who was born February 13, 1822; and Eben- ezer, their eldest child. Both parents were members of the Baptist church. Eliphalet Spear voted the Whig ticket until the forma- tion of the Republican party, with which he afterward affiliated.
Mirick N. Spear grew to manhood on his father's farm in Amherst, receiving a good practical education in the schools of the town. A farm life, however, did not accord with his inclinations; and in 1850 he established him- self in mercantile business in Amherst, which he has followed continuously since that time. He was the first newsdealer and stationer in the town, and from a very small beginning his business has steadily grown until he now car- ries a large stock of books, periodicals, station- ery, and school supplies, and also wall paper and fancy goods, keeping a first-class store, one that, it is hardly necessary to say in this educational centre, is well patronized.
He was married on May 27, 1847, to Miss Sarah A. M. Whitney; and after her death in 1860 he married for his second wife Mrs.
Della O. Washburn. He has buried two sons, Edward M. and Henry F., and has one son living, William N. Spear, who is employed as a hotel clerk in Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Spear is a representative man of the town and an active and influential citizen. He is a Democrat in politics. Socially, he is a member of Pacific Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Amherst, and was formerly identified with Wells Lodge, No. 140, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which has since disbanded. In religious views he is liberal.
To make the acquaintance of Mr. Spear one should meet him among his books. A portrait on a neighboring page shows his features, but without the familiar surroundings.
OSEPH RAYMOND SMART GOULD, a veteran of the Civil War and a resi- dent of Belchertown, where he was for many years engaged in mercantile business, was born in Bristol, England, January 3, 1833. His father, Joseph Gould, and his grandfather, Isaac Gould, were natives of Bristol, England. His father and an uncle emigrated to America, and, as far as is known, were the only mem- bers of the family to cross the ocean, except Joseph R. His uncle is supposed to have set- tled in Boston.
Mr. Gould's father, who was a cabinet- maker by trade, married when quite young, and soon after that event came to the United States. After residing for a period of eight months in New York he settled at Coventry, Conn., where he was employed as a carriage- maker by Lyman Hyde for thirteen years. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company H, Twenty-fifth Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He served for a little more than a year, his term of enlistment, and participated in several memorable actions. Subsequent to
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his discharge he returned to Coventry, where he continued to reside until the death of his wife. He then came to Belchertown and passed the remainder of his days with his son, his decease occurring at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife's name before marriage was Mary Ann Raymond. She was a daughter of Olson and Mary Raymond, re- spectively natives of England and Scotland. Olson Raymond died in his native land. Mrs. Raymond subsequently came to the United States and resided at Coventry until her de- cease. Mrs. Gould's mother, who died at the age of fifty-two years, reared seven of her twelve children; namely, Jane, Joseph, Mary, Martha, Olive, Sarah, and Julia.
Joseph Raymond Smart Gould attended the public schools of Coventry. At the age of nine years he commenced to earn his own liv- ing. Until he was fourteen he was employed much of the time in and about the glass works. He then began an apprenticeship of seven years at the house-painter's trade, which he subsequently followed until 1862. On August 8 of that year he enlisted in the same company and regiment that his father had joined, and was present at the battles of Irish Bend, Port Hudson, and Fort Donelson, and participated in the eventful Red River campaign. He was honorably discharged from the service August 16, 1863. Returning immediately to Coven- try he purchased a water-power, established a carriage factory, and conducted it for a period of five years. He then moved to Belchertown, where he purchased a farm. After managing this successfully for five years more he sold it and purchased property in the village, whither he removed for the purpose of entering mercan- tile life. He first established a meat market, later adding a stock of groceries. This vent- ure proved most profitable. He secured a very large patronage, which he steadily main-
tained until 1893, when the building and stock were destroyed by fire. Immediately follow- ing upon the disaster he purchased the Leach corner, which adjoined his property. Upon this he erected a handsome block, seventy feet front, having a depth of fifty feet in one part and of thirty-five feet in the remainder. The ground floor is occupied by merchants, and the upper floors are used for offices and as the headquarters of the Grand Army of the Republic.
In 1858 Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Corbit, of Palmer, Mass. He has three children : Mary, William, and Henry R. Mary married G. B. Demorest, of Hackensack, N.J., and has one daughter, Sarah B. William wedded Gertrude Allen, and has one daughter, Florence G. Henry R. married Blanche Bridgman, and has three chil- dren, namely: Joseph R. S., Henry R., and Frances Lilly.
Mr. Gould is a member of Vernon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., a.comrade of J. Griggs Post, No. 97, Grand Army of the Republic, and is connected with Richardson Grange. He has invariably supported the Republican party since its formation. He has served the town very acceptably as Road Commissioner, and was for eleven years a Selectman. He resides at his very pleasant home on Jabez Street, both himself and wife being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
HARLES F. A. WALSH, M.D., a practising physician of Hadley, was born in Boston, January 5, 1863, son of Richard W. and Helen Walsh. Richard W. Walsh, who is a native of Ireland, has always followed literature and journalism as a profession, and is at the present time con- nected with the New York Recorder. His
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wife, who died when Dr. Walsh was very young, was the mother of six children, of whom John W. and the subject of this sketch are the only survivors.
Charles F. A. Walsh accompanied his par- ents to New York at the age of nine years, and received his education in the schools of that city and Brooklyn, and at Manhattan College. He began life by entering the newspaper busi- ness, later engaging in mercantile pursuits, in which he continued for some time, and then commenced the study of medicine. After graduating from the Long Island Medical Col- lege he located in Brooklyn, where he had a good practice until March, 1895, at which time he removed to Hadley. He has since established himself among the physicians of the town, and has succeeded in securing a large and lucrative practice.
In 1894 Dr. Walsh was united in marriage to Louisa Case, of New York City, and has one son, named Harold Towsley. Dr. and Mrs. Walsh are members of the Congrega- tional church.
OHN T. BROSNAHAN, a successful merchant and undertaker of Ware, on Bank Street, opposite Ware Savings Bank, was born in the town August 25, 1857, son of Benjamin and Ann (Lynes) Brosnahan, and grandson of John Brosnahan, a skilful physician and the son of a lawyer. Grand- father Brosnahan had six children, of whom three reached adult life, namely: Ellen, who married a Mr. Brosnahan (not a relative), and went with him to Australia, both being cult- ured people and in good circumstances ; Mary, who came to America, where she married Gar- rett Fleming, and spent the remainder of her life in Thompsonville, Conn. ; and Benjamin Brosnahan, father of the subject of this sketch.
Benjamin Brosnahan was born in Ireland in 1815, and he came to this country about the year 1850. He followed the vocation of a school-teacher for many years, both in Ireland and in the country of his adoption, but never accumulated much property. He was married after coming to America to Miss Ann Lynes, the ceremony having been performed in Ware in 1851. She was also a native of Ireland, and came hither from County Kerry shortly after he did. Seven children were born of their union, of whom one son and three daugh- ters are now living, namely : Mary Brosnahan, residing in Westfield, Mass. ; John T. Brosna- han; Ellen Brosnahan, residing in Ware; and Margaret, who also resides in Ware. Mary Brosnahan follows the occupation of a seam- stress, and her sisters are mill operatives. Their father died in 1878, and their mother two years later, fifty-six years of age.
John T. Brosnahan received a limited com- mon-school education. At the age of nine years he went to work in the old brick mill as doffer, at a salary of about forty cents per day. He was employed in this way for two years, attending school during the winter months. When he was sixteen years old he commenced to work the year round, and secured a position in the Stephens Mill; but he afterward re- turned to the old brick mill, and for six years worked there as a weaver. He wove some of the blue drilling shown at the Centennial Ex- hibition of 1876. He next became a clerk in the store of J. Keefe & Co., dealers in general merchandise, who also carried a line of cas- kets and undertakers' supplies. The store was managed by a brother of Mr. Keefe until his death. This event happened four years ago, when Mr. Brosnahan became manager. He acted in this capacity up to September, 1895, at which time he resigned and formed a co- partnership with Samuel Rohan. The busi-
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ness so prospered under Mr. Brosnahan's man- agement that four persons are now employed where two were formerly sufficient ; and there are now but two or three larger general mer- chandise establishments in Ware, while the house does the largest undertaking business in that section. Mr. Brosnahan possesses natural talents for business. His pleasing address, joined to his perseverance and his habit of close attention, are sure to succeed anywhere. In his new venture he has the best wishes of the business men of Ware. On June 26 last he was granted a diploma from the Oriental School of Embalming at Boston, Mass., certi- fying that he is well qualified as a competent embalmer of the dead.
On September 24, 1884, he was joined in marriage to Miss Sarah Barrett, born in Can- ada, a daughter of Morris Barrett and his wife, whose maiden name was Rollins. Both her parents are now dead. She has borne her husband six children, as follows: John, nine years old; Mary, who is seven years of age; Mildred, two years younger ; Rose, three years of age; Walter, who is two years old; and Agnes Catherine, an infant. Mr. Brosnahan casts his vote with the Democratic party. He has served his townsmen six years as Overseer of the Poor, and is a member of the Democratic Town Committee. He is a member of the Visiting Committee of the An- cient Order of Hibernians, with which he is affiliated; and he and his wife are worship- pers at the Catholic Church of All Saints'.
J OHN L. BOSWORTH, a representa- tive farmer of Southampton, was born March 31, 1826, in Montgomery, son of Nelson and Mary (Gorham) Bosworth.
Nelson Bosworth was by birth and occupa- tion a farmer, which vocation he successfully
pursued until his death in 1871. His wife was born in Poultney, Vt. The marriage ceremony was performed in Montgomery, and her death occurred in Southampton in 1881. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Nelson A., of Westfield; John L., the subject of this sketch; Amelia A., de- ceased; Reuben E., of Southampton; Adeline C., now residing at Hoosick Falls, N. Y .; Caroline D., deceased ; Harriet A., of Bellows Falls, Vt. ; and Lycratus K., of Huntington.
In common with his brothers and sisters John L. Bosworth got his education in the district schools of his native town, and, soon after entering his teens, began to be self-sup- porting. He was very industrious and eco- nomical, and before he had attained his majority he had paid his father six hundred dollars of his earnings, the greater part of which he had obtained by cutting wood at fifty cents a cord. When twenty years of age he applied himself to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he subsequently worked for six years. He then invested a portion of his savings in a team, and began the business of teaming and freighting in Conway, at which he continued for three years. Mr. Bosworth then disposed of that business and bought out a livery stable. He conducted this place for eighteen months, when he traded it for real estate in Conway. Later he sold this property to his father-in- law, Eliphaz Morse, and removed to Spring- field, where he was employed in the United States Armory, under the supervision of Gen- eral Whitney. From there he came to South- ampton in 1859 and purchased the farm on which he has since resided. This estate con- tains one hundred acres of land, sixty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Bosworth gives it his time and attention unstintedly, and in the manner most conducive to success. Mr. Bosworth was first married February
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16, 1854. to Sarah S. Morse, a native of Con- way and a daughter of the late Eliphaz and Sarah Morse. She departed this life August 10, 1877, leaving no children. On February 16. 1878, Mr. Bosworth was again united in marriage with Susan A. Hawley, a native of Amherst, Mass., and a daughter of Horace and Sarah Hawley. Her father is deceased, and her mother is still a resident of Amherst, mak- ing her home with her children. Of this union two children have been born : Nelson E. and Edna S. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and while in Conway served his fel- low-townsmen as Constable, Collector of Taxes, and in other offices. Both he and his wife are sincere Christian workers in connec- tion with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Easthampton, of which society they are valued members. Mr. Bosworth has been Trustee of the church for many years.
J OHN C. THORPE, a respected and popular farmer and dairyman at Moun- tain Park, Northampton, was born in his present home March 19, 1832, son of Sher- lock D. and Hannah (Allen) Thorpe, the for- mer born on this same farm in 1804, the latter a native of Holyoke.
William Thorpe came from England and settled in the New Haven Colony in Connecti- cut in 1638. His descendant, Timothy Thorpe, great-grandfather of Mr. Thorpe, was a farmer; and he removed from North Haven, Conn., with his son Collins about one hundred years ago. The latter, who was born about 1776, was a cooper by trade, and on the farm made many barrels, which were in much de- mand for cider, cider brandy, and vinegar - leading commodities in those days. He died in his sixty-fifth year. The wife of Grand- father Collins Thorpe was before marriage
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