USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 37
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On October 19, 1857, Mr. Cook was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of this county and daughter of Levi and Fanny (Hayes) Smith, the latter being a sister of ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes. Mr. Cook was elected in 1880 and re-elected in 1881 to represent the county in the Senate. He has since been prominent in official life, serving his constituents with credit to himself and benefit to them. He has always taken an
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active interest in the welfare of his native town and county. He has been Assessor, Selectman, was for thirty years chairman of the School Committee, and has held his pres- ent office of County Commissioner for fourteen years. Politically, he is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party and one of its most influential members. He is a Trustee of the Northampton Institution for Savings, and was one of the first Directors of the bank at South Hadley Falls. Relig- iously, both Mr. and Mrs. Cook are valued members of the Congregational church of Granby.
TEPHEN H. RHODES, a veteran of the Civil War, who is now a prosperous resident and an exten- sive real estate owner of Pelham, was born in that town, June 14, 1836, son of Joel and Lucy (Allen) Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes's father, who was the son of Zebulon Rhodes, was born in Leyden, Mass., and was employed in lum- bering. He also worked at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a greater part of his active period. He settled in Pelham, where he resided for the remainder of his life, and died July 6, 1864. His wife, Lucy Allen, who was born in Pelham, became the mother of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Of these four are now living, namely: Caroline, widow of Nelson Horr, of Enfield; Nancy, widow of Lorin Woods, of Enfield; Stephen H., the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest son; and John, a resident of Enfield. The mother died in 1891.
Stephen H. Rhodes was educated in the district schools of his native town; and, after completing his education, he learned the carpenter's trade. When a young man, he started as a carpenter and builder upon his
own account; and that has been his principal business through life. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company C, Thirty-first Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He partici- pated in several important battles of the Civil War, receiving injuries from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He was honorably discharged in May, 1864, and, re- turning to Pelham, resumed his former occu- pations, which he has followed since. For the thrift and industry he has practised he now can show his large farm in Pelham of four hundred acres, besides valuable real estate in Amherst and Holyoke.
In March, 1874, Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Lizzie Benjamin. She was born in Pelham, daughter of Peter and Lorisa Ben- jamin, the former of whom is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes had seven chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Bertie A., Joseph E., Mertie E., Edward H., Nina L., and Alice C. The mother died June 22, 1885. Mr. Rhodes is independent in politics and liberal in his religious views.
HAUNCEY H. PIERCE, a prominent insurance agent and real estate dealer of Northampton, was born in Am- herst, Mass., May 16, 1848, son of Chauncey and Florilla Cooley Pierce. Some of the best blood of the early Puritans of New England courses through his veins. He is a descend- ant of John Pers, a weaver, who emigrated from England in 1654, and settled in Water- town, Mass.
Chauncey Pierce, father of Mr. Pierce, was a native of Amherst, born in 1816. He was a well-known carriage-maker, and died in 1849. His wife, who was a native of Sunder- land, bore her husband four children, as fol-
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lows: Jane W., who died when thirteen years old; Edwin H., who marricd, located in Springfield, and dicd in 1886, aged forty-five years ; Ellen M., the wife of Ira A. Harvey, of Northampton; and Chauncey H., the sub- ject of this article, and with whom the mother, a bright and intelligent woman of eighty-eight years, makes her home.
Chauncey H. Pierce began his career as a self - supporting member of society when twelve years old, entering Marsh's book store as a clerk, and remaining five years. He was next employed as a salesman in Merritt Clark's clothing store, and was afterward en- gaged in the insurance office of Allen & Pratt for six months. Becoming familiar with the insurance business, he became general agent for the Union Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, giving his entire attention to that busi- ness for a year. Mr. Pierce was then offered by A. Perry Peck a half-interest in his fire insurance agency, which he accepted. They began business in 1871, under the firm name of Peck & Pierce. After ten years Mr. Peck retired, leaving Mr. Pierce to conduct the business alone. Mr. Pierce has dealt exten- sively in mortgages, besides being largely interested in various monetary enterprises. With A. McCallum he organized the North- ampton Electric Light Company, and for sev- eral years was its Manager and Treasurer. He holds the office of Treasurer still. He is also one of the Directors of the Northampton National Bank, a Trustee of the Academy of Music, was a member of the last Board of Se- lectmen of the old town, a President of the Common Council of the new city for three ycars, and is now one of the Committee of Trust Funds.
Mr. Pierce was married October 13, 1870, to Isabella D. Lewis, of this city, a daughter of Lucius and Arabella (Warner) Lewis, both
natives of Suffield, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Picrcc have two children: Mabel A., born October 16, 1872, who is an accomplished pianist, having graduated under the private instruction of the eminent Professor Blodgett ; and Alvin L., born January 15, 1880, who is a pupil of Williston Seminary. Mr. Pierce has gained a high standing in the community.
ILLIAM E. SMITH, a prominent contractor and builder of Amherst and chairman of the Board of Se- lectmen, was born in New Salem, Mass., April 17, 1836, son of Nathan and Lydia (Merriman) Smith. Mr. Smith's ancestors figured prominently in early Colonial history. His grandfather, Bradwyl Smith, was born in the vicinity of Boston, and was a blacksmith by trade. He became an early settler in New Salem, where he owned a farm, and followed agriculture in connection with his trade until his death, which occurred when he was ninety-one years old. He raised a family of five sons and three daughters.
Nathan Smith, Mr. Smith's father, was born in New Salem, where he was a prosper- ous farmer for many years. He moved to the town of Gill, where he resided for a number of years, and died in Clinton, Mass., aged eighty-four. Nathan Smith during his earlier years was a Democrat in politics. His wife, Lydia Merriman before marriage, who was born in Northfield, June 10, 1809, became the mother of three children, as follows: William E., the subject of this sketch; Maria R., wife of Frank E. Field, of Clinton; and Nathan W., a resident of Miller's Falls, Mass. The mother, who still survives, resides in Clinton. Mr. Smith's parents became members of the Universalist church.
William E. Smith passed his boyhood in
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MERITT F. SAMPSON.
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Gill and Bernardston, and was educated at the Goodell Academy. He taught school for a time, and then went to Greenfield, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. After work- ing as a journeyman for some time, he became a master builder, taking contracts and erect- ing many buildings in different sections of the Connecticut valley. In 1862 he located in Amherst, where he has since conducted a large and successful business. Mr. Smith is independent in politics. He is at the present time chairman of the Board of Selectmen, in which capacity he is serving his second term, is chairman of the Board of Health, and has been Assessor for the past five years.
On November 13, 1861, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to his first wife, whose maiden name was Sarah E. Hyde, and by this union he has three daughters, namely: Minnie H. and Alice M., who are married; and Eliz- abeth S. Mr. Smith's first wife died in 1878. On January 29, 1895, he wedded for his sec- ond wife Mrs. Ellen M. Howes, formerly Miss Draper, widow of Charles O. Howes, late of Amherst. Mr. Smith has reached his present position of prosperity by close appli- cation to every detail of his business. His quiet, unassuming, yet straightforward, manner has won the confidence of all who know him; and he is looked upon by his fellow-townsmen with the highest respect and esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Congregational church.
ERITT F. SAMPSON, a highly esteemed citizen of Hatfield, Mass., a successful agriculturist, is a native of Vermont, having been born in the town of Stamford of that State, June 25, 1846. He is a son of Chester and Rhoda A. (Nash) Sampson, and a grandson of Calvin and Polly (Millard) Sampson.
The Sampson family are of English origin, their first representatives in America having been among the early Plymouth colonists. Henry Sampson came over in the "Mayflower" in 1620. His brother Abraham, ancestor of the branch now being considered, is recorded as living in Duxbury, Mass., in 1643. Isaac, a descendant, who was born in Plympton and who served in the French and Indian War, settled in Middleboro, Mass., where his son Jacob was born in 1760. At twenty years of age Jacob Sampson went to New Salem, Mass., but later removed to Stamford, Vt., and there purchased a large tract of wild land. He died in 1842, eighty-two years of age. Calvin Sampson, son of Jacob, was born in New Salem on May 31, 1783. He went with his parents to Vermont, where his life was spent in farming. When twenty-two years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Polly Millard, and they had three sons and two daughters; namely, Thankful, Chauncey, Chester, Almira, and Calvin T.
Chester Sampson, the father of Meritt F. Sampson, was born in Stamford, Vt. He was brought up on the home farm, and engaged in agricultural labors in his native State until 1848. He then removed to Williamstown, Mass., and purchased a farm on which he lived for ten years. From that place he went to North Adams, where he became interested in gardening. He died on May 29, 1878, when sixty-one years of age. His wife's death oc- curred on February 16, 1885, in her sixty- fourth year. She left three children ; namely, Mary, Meritt F., and Carrie. Their father was a Republican in politics, and he was a member of the Baptist church.
Meritt F. Sampson received a good practical education in the schools of Williamstown and North Adams. When a young man he went to work in a shoe factory. But as the con-
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finement indoors proved detrimental to his health, he gave up that occupation and en- gaged in the more heathful vocation of farm- ing. In 1863 he enlisted in the Fourth Regi- ment of Massachusetts Cavalry, in which he had served two years, when he was mustered out of service in December, 1865. He then re-enlisted in Company D of the Nineteenth United States Infantry Regiment, and served in the regular army, being stationed the greater part of the time at Pine Bluffs, Ark., until honorably discharged on May 3, 1869. In 1893 he came to Hatfield, Mass., and pur- chased the place of M. Billings on Main Street. He has made extensive alterations in it since, and now it is one of the finest resi- dences in the village. He also owns about twenty-two acres of choice meadow land.
Mr. Sampson was married October 22, 1878, to Miss Isadore H. Kenney, a daughter of Lorenzo and Maria Kenney, of Greenfield. Their union has been blessed by two daugh- ters, namely : Mary A., whose birth occurred on their wedding anniversary, October 22, 1882; and Bessie S., who was born May 15, 1886. Mr. Sampson is numbered among the loyal adherents of the Republican party. He is a member of the C. L. Sanford Post, No. 79, Grand Army of the Republic, of North Adams. On religious questions he holds lib- eral views.
A portrait of this representative citizen of Hampshire County will be seen on a neighbor- ing page.
ALTER H. THAYER, an exten- sive and eminently successful hard- ware manufacturer of Williamsburg, Mass., was born there on September 5, 1862, son of William E. and Harriet E. (Dickinson) Thayer.
William E. Thayer's birth took place in
Peru, Berkshire County, on October 11, 1816. His parents were Eliphalet and Mary (Sears) Thayer, the former of whom was a son of Oliver Thayer, and was born in Braintree, Mass., in 1776. When Eliphalet was a child his parents moved to the northern part of the town of Williamsburg, where they purchased a farm, which is now owned by A. W. Alexan- der. The son also followed the life of an agriculturist. He married Miss Mary Sears, a descendant of one of the first families of Ashfield; and both lived to a good age. His death occurred in 1840, when sixty-four years of age. Seven of the ten children born to them grew to maturity, and were: Marietta, Rhoda, Ezra, Williston, Louisa, Roland, and William E. At the age of twelve years Will- iam E. Thayer came from Peru to Williams- burg to work as a clerk in the store of his brothers, Ezra and Williston Thayer. Later on he travelled for about five years selling clocks, after which he entered into partnership with his brother Ezra in the manufacture of steel pens, to which they afterward added the manufacture of hardware, kitchen utensils, and furniture. In 1856 they separated, he taking the hardware branch of the business to the old stand that had previously been used as a button and buckle manufactory, and which, with its water-power, he had purchased of D. W. Graves. Five years later he took down the old buildings and erected the present structures, together with tenement-houses and other nec- essary buildings. The factory gives employ- ment to twenty- five men, and its products won for its proprietor a reputation throughout the New England and the Western States of a first-class manufacturer. In addition to his factory he conducted a large general store, which received a large share of the patronage of the surrounding country. About 1842 he bought the fine brick house on Main Street
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built by his brother Ezra. In his political re- lations he was a Republican; and he served most acceptably as a Selectman of the town. He contributed largely toward the support of the Congregational church, and was in all walks of life a man whom to know was to re- spect. On October 20, 1840, he was joined in marriage with Miss Maria H. Dickinson, of Saybrook, Conn. Three of the five children born to them grew to maturity; namely, Fred- erick W., Alice M., and George D. Their mother died on August 14, 1859. On Decem- ber 25, 1860, Mr. Thayer was again married, this time to Miss Harriet E. Dickinson, of Saybrook, Conn., a daughter of Captain John Dickinson, who followed the sea in his early life, but spent his last years on a farm. Three children were the fruit of this second mar- riage; namely, Walter H., Edith E., and H. Winifred. The latter is the wife of E. C. Clark, who is engaged in the insurance and real estate business at Northampton and Hol- yoke, Mass. Mr. Thayer died in 1893, and his widow now occupies the old homestead.
Walter H. Thayer received a good practical education in the schools of Williamsburg and at the academies of Easthampton, Mass., and Cheshire, Conn. He also took a business course at the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Manchester, N. H., where he gradu- ated in 1881. He then went into his father's store as a general assistant, and travelled as a representative of the manufacturing depart- ment of the business a portion of the time. At his father's death he took full charge of the factory, put in new machinery, and made vari- ous other improvements. He has met with much success; and, though a young man, he ranks among the leading business men and manufacturers of the State.
Mr. Thayer casts his vote with the Repub- lican party. He is connected with several fra-
ternal organizations, among which may be mentioned the Hampshire Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Northampton Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and the Northampton Com- mandery of Knights Templars. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his religious views he is liberal.
HINEAS PENDLETON NICHOLS, D. D. S., a popular and promising young dentist of the city of North- ampton, was born April 19, 1860, in the town of Searsport, Me. The family are of English origin. The American ancestors, having emi- grated to the United States, were early settlers on the coast of Maine. James Nichols, the great-grandfather of Dr. Nichols, was born in Searsport in 1733, and there spent his entire life. Ship-building was then in its infancy ; and he became interested in the trade, finally adopting it as his life occupation. He was one of the founders of this industry in Maine.
William Nichols, the grandfather of the Doctor, was a well-known ship-builder of Searsport. His union in 1802 with Nancy Pendleton, a daughter of Alexander Pendleton, strengthened the tie between two of the most prominent families of that town. They reared five sons and three daughters, of whom Will- iam G. Nichols became the father of the sub- ject of this sketch.
William G. Nichols was born in Searsport, April 5, 1833, and has since continued a resi- dent of the place of his nativity, becoming one of its most respected and esteemed citizens. On September 28, 1857, he was united in mar- riage to Lillias Pendleton, a daughter of Cap- tain Phineas and Wealthy (Carver) Pendleton. The Carvers are lineally descended from Sir John Carver, who was first Governor of Massa- chusetts, his descendants having located on the
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Penobscot at an early day. The Carvers, Nicholses, Pendletons, and Griffins are very prominent in business and marine circles, being sea captains or ship builders. It is claimed they captain and control one-tenth of all the deep sea ships of the United States.
Dr. Nichols is one of two children born to his parents. The other child, a daughter, died in infancy. Ample opportunity was afforded him for obtaining an education, and after leaving Williston Seminary he was gradu- ated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1881. He began the practice of his profession in the place of his nativity, and during the eight years he remained there he met with flat- tering success. Desiring a more extended field Dr. Nichols came to Northampton in 1891, and formed a partnership with Dr. R. D. Brown. Three years later he bought out Dr. Brown's interest, and has since carried on the business independently. Dr. Nichols's prac- tice is large and lucrative. He has earned a high reputation for skilful work.
On the 28th of January, 1891, Dr. Nichols was united in marriage with Maud McCready, a daughter of J. E. B. and Maud (Frieze) McCready, of St. John, N. B., where her father is well known as the editor of the St. John Telegram. Mrs. McCready died in early life, leaving two children, Mrs. Nichols and a son, Ernest W. McCready, who is on the editorial staff of the New York Herald. The only child born to the Doctor and his wife is a little daughter, Lillias Louine, born in 1895. Like her husband, Mrs. Nichols is finely edu- cated, being a college graduate, and is the pos- sessor of much artistic talent and taste. In politics the Doctor is a stanch Republican. He is a Knight Templar, and quite prominent in Masonic life, having joined that organiza- tion when twenty-one years old. He takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to
the progress of the city or county, and is held in high regard in business and social circles. In the spring of 1895 he purchased his elegant residence on Elm Street, which is one of the finest in the vicinity.
LANSON WELLS STACY, a large land-owner of Belchertown, was born upon the farm where he now resides, May 29, 1818. His father, Alanson Stacy, who was born in the same town, was a son of Mark Stacy; also a native of Belchertown, where his father, Moses Stacy, was, in all probability, a lifelong resident and a farmer. Mark Stacy, who married Julia Root, was also engaged in agricultural pursuits. He passed his entire life upon his farm, which was situ- ated in the locality known as Turkey Hill, where his three sons and three daughters were born. Alanson Stacy at the age of fourteen years went to reside in the family of Phineas B. Clark, a well-to-do farmer of the neighbor- hood, who had no children of his own. At the death of Mr. Clark, Alanson inherited the farm and resided there until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Delia Kelley, died at the same age as her husband, having been the mother of three children, of whom Mr. A. W. Stacy of this article is the only son.
Alanson Wells Stacy, subsequent to reach- ing his majority, was associated with his father for some years in carrying on the farm. He then became a resident of Springfield, where for a period of twelve years he was very successful in business. He then returned to Belchertown, having succeeded to the owner- ship of his father's property. This he has since increased so that at the present time he possesses over eight hundred acres of exceed- ingly valuable land.
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Mr. Stacy has been twice married. On the first occasion, which was in 1839, he was united to Eunice M. Kendall, of Ludlow, daughter of Selah and Betsey Kendall. She died in 1865. His second marriage, per- formed in 1869, was with Adeline Emma Barnes, of Hardwick, Mass., daughter of Har- vey Barnes, a farmer of that town. Eli Barnes, father of Harvey Barnes, also followed agriculture, and was, so far as known, a life- long resident of Hardwick. Harvey Barnes, who was reared to farm life, went to Boston when a young man, making the journey on foot and carrying all of his worldly possessions tied up in a handkerchief. He soon gained a footing in business, and, being very indus- trious, was able to advance rapidly. He embarked in a livery enterprise, which he suc- cessfully conducted for a period of ten years. Then disposing of it he returned to his na- tive town and purchased the old homestead, where he subsequently resided for many years. He passed the last three years of his life in Brookfield, where he died at the age of eighty- three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Gragg, a native of Boston, died at the age of seventy-six. She bore him four- teen children, eleven of whom grew to matu- rity. By his first marriage Mr. Stacy had one daughter, who died at the age of twenty years. His present wife has borne him two children ; namely, Avery Wells and Delia Estella. He has been a lifelong Democrat, but pressure of business has always withheld him from taking any prominent part in politics. He, however, served his fellow-townsmen one year as chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, and at its con- clusion informed them that he would present the town with the amount due him for his ser- vices on condition that he should never again be called into public affairs.
Mr. Stacy has had an eminently successful
career, attributable chiefly to his energy and his industry. He is reckoned among the wealthiest residents of Belchertown. Al- though nearing his fourscore years, he is still vigorous and active. He has a commanding appearance, stands five feet nine inches in height, and has weighed two hundred and forty pounds.
EORGE WILLIAM HUBBARD, M.D., a practising physician of South Hadley, was born in Hatfield, Mass., June 22, 1870, son of Charles E. and Julia E. (Dayton) Hubbard. Dr. Hubbard's father was a young man at the breaking out of the Civil War, and he enlisted in the Thirty- seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until mustered out, participating in several important engage- ments. After the war he visited the West, where he remained for a time. He then re- turned to Hatfield and purchased a farm, con- sisting of one hundred and fifty acres, which he has improved to a considerable extent. He is now busily and successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, making a specialty of tobacco culture. Charles E. Hubbard's wife was a native of Northampton. George William is their only son.
George William Hubbard commenced his education in the public schools. He subse- quently attended Smith Academy, from which he graduated in 1889, having won the first prize in oratory. He then studied medicine for one year with Dr. Fay, of Northampton, at the expiration of which time he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Balti- more, Md. After a three years' course in this institution he graduated with the class of 1894, and then spent some time in the Balti- more City Hospital. After this he returned to Hatfield, and a few weeks later began the
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practice of his profession in South Hadley. Since establishing himself in his present field of usefulness Dr. Hubbard has succeeded in acquiring a large and lucrative practice, and has won the respect and hearty good-will of his fellow-townsmen. He is a member and medical examiner of Lodge No. 2657, Knights of Honor, of South Hadley, and also a mem- ber of the medical staff at the Holyoke City Hospital. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church ; and, while a Republican in poli- tics, he takes no particular interest in political affairs beyond casting his vote.
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