USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 39
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Oren B. Smith began to work for a living
when but a boy of eight years. His first em- ployment was in the cotton-mill at Holden, Mass., where his childish labor was valued at twenty-five cents per day. He gradually made his way upward step by step, until finally he became General Manager of the Boston Duck Company, in which position he continued for twenty years. He is now a stockholder in the Chicopee Manufacturing Company, the West Ware Paper Company, and the United Electric Light Company of Springfield, Mass. Mr. Smith came from Palmer to Northampton in 1890, where he purchased the Wood property, together with three and one-half acres of land, a portion of which was a swamp. Upon this, after filling it in and grading it, he erected seven houses, which to-day are a valuable piece of property. After selling the frontage on Elm Street at a considerable profit, he still has a valuable estate left.
Mr. Smith has been thrice married. His first wife was Miss Roxana Moody, of Palmer, Mass., to whom he was married October 3, 1848. She was a daughter of Joseph Moody (deceased), and she died October 15, 1857, leaving two children: Clara E., the wife of Frank A. Packard, of Indian Orchard, Mass., who has two daughters; and Charles N. Smith, a builder and contractor residing in Savannah, N. Y., who has three sons and three daughters. Mr. Smith's second union was with Miss Elmina A. James, of Palmer, Mass., who died April 3, 1868, at forty years of age. She bore him two sons: Frank O. Smith, a purchasing agent at Battle Creek, Mich., who is married and has a son and daughter, Clar- ence and Genevieve; and George N. Smith, a book-keeper for the Valley Falls Paper Com- pany of Holyoke, Mass., also married and father of one son, Claud H. Smith. Mr. Smith's third wife was Miss Hattie Buckland before marriage, of Chicopee, Mass., a daugh-
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ter of Ashbel Buckland (deceased). She died at Northampton, May 4, 1894, fifty-eight years of age. A son and daughter survive her : Oren Barron Smith, Jr., a student in the In- stitute of Technology of the class of 1897; and Gertrude L. Smith, a young lady residing at home with her father. At the time of her mother's death she was an art student in Smith College, and she is also a musician. It is a remarkable coincidence that Mr. Smith's three wives should each have lived ten years after marriage and that each left two children. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, and, though not a man who aspires to office, was, nevertheless, chosen as a member of the legis- lature in 1884, and for three years has served most acceptably as Selectman. He resides at 15 Massasoit Street.
YMAN M. MORTON, one of Enfield's prosperous farmers, was born in his present home, March 8, 1825, son of William and Mercy (Jourdan) Morton.
The first representative of the family in this country was Robert Morton. He came from England and settled in Salem, Mass., where William Morton, the grandfather of Lyman M., was born in 1740. William Mor- ton removed from there to Enfield, May 26, 1764, a date in the early days of the latter town, and settled on the farm now owned by his grandson. His father had previously pur- chased the land with the intention of settling here himself; but, on his return to Salem to make the necessary preparations for removal, he was taken sick and died. When William Morton settled on this farm, which then con- sisted of a large tract over a mile in length, the forest which covered it had never re- sounded to the blows of the woodman's axe. He was, undoubtedly, the first to clear any
portion of the land. A sturdy pioneer, despite the danger from hostile Indians and the hard- ships incident to a newly settled country, he soon had a comfortable home and a portion of the land under cultivation. The house he then built is now occupied by his grandson and is the oldest in the town. Happily, the woods abounded with game of various kinds, and fresh supplies of meat were easily obtain- able. He continued to live there throughout the remainder of his life, dying in 1818, sev- enty-seven years of age. In company with two of his brothers he served his country for three years in the Revolutionary War. Both his brothers were killed on the field of Tren- ton, and had a soldier's burial on the ground where they fell. He married Miss Esther Thurston, of Pelham, who reared him a family of three children; namely, Robert, Margaret, and William. Both parents were attendants at the Congregational church.
William Morton, the younger son, was born on the old homestead, June 9, 1780. As soon as he was old enough he began to assist his father in the farm work, and continued doing so until the latter's death. Then he took full charge; and, besides carrying on the usual work, he continued that of clearing the land. He took much interest in whatever pertained to the advancement of the town, but declined to serve in office. He died May 21, 1856. His wife was born in North Brookfield in 1785. Five children were the fruit of their union, but Lyman M. Morton is now the sole survivor. Those deceased were: Bathsheba Rice Morton, born November 18, 1813, who died April 11, 1867; William Wells, born September 13, 1818, who died October 18, 1849; Esther Thurston, born June 30, 1820, who died September 5, 1866; and Mahalah Alma, born May 6, 1823, who died October 2, 1840. Their mother died August 2, 1858.
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Both she and her husband were attendants of the Congregational church of Enfield.
Lyman M. Morton, who grew to manhood on the old Morton farm, received his early ed- ucation in the district schools. He was pre- pared for college at Williston Seminary, but his education went no further. After leaving the seminary he took up teaching. He fol- lowed this profession successfully for about forty terms. He then engaged in mercantile business for three years. In 1865 he pur- chased the farm of about one hundred acres on which he has since resided, and conducted general farming with profit.
On July 6, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Wells Scott, born in En- field, November 5, 1832, a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Phephs) Scott. Mrs. Morton died on May 30, 1884, leaving no chil- dren. In politics Mr. Morton is independent of party. For a number of terms he has served as Assessor of Enfield. He is broad- minded and liberal in his religious views. He is held in high respect, an unusually well-read man, possessing a remarkably good memory, and is withal a very pleasant man to meet.
LIHU P. BARTLETT, an old resident of Westhampton, was born there, March 19, 1825, son of Elihu and Sarah (Hurlburt) Bartlett, the former a native of Westhampton, the latter of Southampton. The Bartlett family has been well known in the locality since the latter part of the last century, when Mr. Bartlett's grandfather re- moved from Northampton to Westhampton. He was then a young man, was many years a resident of the town, and engaged, like his neighbors, in farming.
The elder Elihu Bartlett, father of Elihu P., also engaged in agriculture. He lived in
the western part of the town till he was sixty- five years of age, when he went to reside with his son Elihu P. He died December II, 1866. His wife had passed away nine years before, on October 12, 1857. Their home was brightened by eight children, namely : Mary, deceased; Elihu P., the subject of this sketch ; Asaph H., now in Leavenworth, Kan .; Christopher C., who lives near his brother Elihu; Horace C., Diana D., and two daughters named Sarah A., all of whom died some years ago.
Elihu P. Bartlett received a fair education in the schools of Westhampton. Living on the farm he necessarily became familiar with farm work. When twenty years of age he went to work in Westfield for a season, and later was employed in Springfield for a year. In 1848 he rented the farm which he now oc- cupies, and which in course of time he was able to purchase. At first it comprised one hundred and fifty acres. Since then Mr. Bart- lett has added to it, and now it is one hundred and eighty acres. He has made a great many improvements, carries on general farming in an intelligent and progressive way, and derives from his bountiful crops an ample income.
On June 14, 1850, Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage with Elsie E. Kingsley, who was born in Westhampton, daughter of Orrin and Emily (Hooker) Kingsley. Orrin Kingsley, who was a farmer in Westhampton, died in Northampton in December, 1876. Mrs. Bart- lett died in 1855, and the place left vacant by her decease has never been filled, her husband remaining faithful to her memory. She left two children, Edward A. and Emily H. Edward A. married Emma Jessamine, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they are the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Elsie K., Ruby B., and Clifford M. He lives with his father, his wife superintending the house-
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hold. Emily H. is the wife of Henry Warner, of Leeds, Mass. In politics Mr. Bartlett was originally a Whig, and is now a Republican. He has a comfortable home, and the goodly acres which surround it are the rec- ompense of a life of honest and persevering labor.
EXTER R. BARNES, formerly a lumber dealer, now an enterprising and well-to-do farmer, diligently pursuing his occupation in the town of Granby, is a native of Hampshire County, born October 8, 1842, in the town of Pelham. He is a son of the late Ansel Barnes, who was born in Hardwick, Worcester County, and there worked for many years as a machin- ist. Ansel Barnes removed to Pelham while in the prime of a vigorous manhood, and there carried on general farming until his death on August 12, 1878. He married Deborah Churchill, a native of Cornish Flat, N.H., and they became the parents of eight chil- dren, namely: Susan; Lewis, deceased; Lu- cretia, deceased; Martha, deceased; Louise; Lois, deceased; Dexter R .; and Hosea.
Dexter, who was next to the youngest of the family, acquired a good common-school educa- tion in the place of his nativity, and was nineteen years of age when, on August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, under Cap- tain George Bliss, Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The regiment, com- manded by Colonel Greenleaf, was assigned to General Banks's division; and Mr. Barnes, with his comrades, took part in many of the important battles that followed, being present at Jackson, Miss., Irish Bend, and at the siege of Port Hudson, where Captain Bliss, who was then standing within four feet of him, was fatally shot. He was also in other skirmishes and in the great gunboat expedi-
tion. After receiving his discharge at Green- field, he returned to Pelham, being sick for some six months afterward. Coming to this locality on his recovery, he worked for some time as a farm laborer, but in 1864 went home again, and was there similarly engaged for a year. During the next six months Mr. Barnes owned and operated a saw-mill, being quite successful therein, and then resumed his agricultural labors, continuing about a year, when he embarked in the lumber busi- ness. We next hear of him in Holyoke, where he was employed about six months in a sash and blind factory. Once more he re- turned to the home farm, and while there, on October 17, 1868, was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Kellogg, whose parents were Mr. and Mrs. David Kellogg.
After his marriage Mr. Barnes came to the town of Granby, and purchased a farm, which he conducted for six months, when he sold it at an advance, and bought another estate, on which he lived a year. Having an advantageous offer, he sold that also, and then removed to the village of Granby, where for three years he was successfully engaged as a dealer in lumber, hay, and straw, finally re- linquishing the business to take possession of the farm he now owns and occupies. He has a snug property of thirty-five acres, which he carefully tills, the improvements that he has made being of a most excellent character. Politically, Mr. Barnes is a strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and is earnestly interested in the welfare and ad- vancement of his adopted town. He has served with ability in many of the local offices, having been Constable several years, Selectman two years, a Tax Collector, and at the time the State road was built a Road Com- missioner. At present he is serving as cattle inspector for the town of Granby. Socially,
DEXTER R. BARNES.
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he belongs to the E. J. Griggs Post, No. 97, Grand Army of the Republic, and also to the Granby Grange, of which he is Overseer.
The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes has been enlarged by the birth of six chil- dren, as follows: Nellie, who died in infancy ; Agnes; Henry; Addie; Chester, who lived but twelve years; and Forest, whose life on earth was but brief. In his religious views Mr. Barnes is quite liberal, and Mrs. Barnes is a conscientious and esteemed member of the Congregational church.
A portrait of this active and influential citizen of Granby is here given.
ILLIAM M. THIEME, an esteemed resident of South Hadley Falls, having been connected with its manufacturing interests for forty years, was born in Saxony, January 6, 1831. Mr. Thieme's father, Benjamin T. Thieme, also a native of Saxony, born April 24, 1795, was a prosperous manufacturer, owning a woollen- mill, and was quite an influential man in the place where he resided. His death, October 4, 1851, was considered a public loss. In 1822 he married Elenora Yehnig, also a native of Saxony, born April 15. 1799. She died January 18, 1834, having borne her hus- band five children, as follows: Julia Augusta, deceased; Henrietta Amelia and Amelia Therese, both living in Germany; William M., the subject of this sketch; and a child that died in infancy.
William M. Thieme received a substantial education in the public schools of the Father- land, and began the battle of life when twenty years of age. His father dying at that time, he assumed charge of the woollen-mill, and held it in partnership with the other heirs for four years. With a desire to better his con-
dition, he then bade good-by to his relatives and friends, and embarked in July, 1855, on board the ship "Atlantic " for this country. After landing in New York, he came directly to this county, took up his residence in Northampton, and worked in a woollen-mill until the following January. He next ob- tained employment in a cotton-mill at Chico- pee until March, 1857, when he came to South Hadley Falls to fill a position in the Glasgow Cotton Mill. Being an industrious and faithful workman, it was not long before he was made an overseer. After this, when the occasion served, he was promoted to the responsible position of superintendent of the mill. He resigned this position some years ago, after spending twenty-eight years in the employment of the firm, and bought the Hol- yoke Journal, the German newspaper of this village. He conducted this publication alone for some time. Subsequently he took a part- ner; and the firm is now known as the Ger- man-American Publishing Company, of which Mr. Thieme is the President. In 1893 he retired from active participation in business. Under his administration the name of the paper was changed to the New England Rund- schau, its circulation was greatly increased, and it became the leading German paper of this section of the State. He is also presi- dent of the water company of his town.
On November 23, 1859, Mr. Thieme was united in marriage with Paulina Otto, who was born October 25, 1840, in Saxony, being the daughter of Ludwig and Johanna (Denz- ler) Otto, neither of whom is now living. The union has been blessed by the birth of five children, as follows: Paulina, who died in 1891 ; Emma, the wife of Robert Johannis, of Holyoke; Morris William, who lives in South Hadley Falls; Alfred Hermann, a painter, who resides in New York City; and
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Edward Frank, a plumber, in South Hadley Falls. Mr. Thieme has taken a warm interest in the prosperity of his adopted town. His approval and support have been given to all worthy efforts to promote its interests. For some years he was a member of the Prudential Committee, and he has been President of the local Turner Hallc Society. In politics he is bound by no party ties, but votes for the men and measures he deems best. Although neither Mr. nor Mrs. Thieme is connected with any religious organization, their children have been regular attendants at the Congrega- tional church.
RANKLIN C. POWERS, a well-to-do farmer of Greenwich, was born in that town, December 3, 1838, son of Cyrus and Hannah B. (Cone) Powers. Mr. Powers is a descendant of Walter Powers, who settled in Concord, Mass., previous to 1694; while the first of the family to locate in Greenwich was Abijah Powers. His son, Abijah, Jr., Mr. Powers's grandfather, who was born March 13, 1761, was a carpenter and builder, an occupation which he followed in addition to farming in Greenwich. He owned and occupied the present farm of his grandson, and was an industrious and successful man. He died in Greenwich, November 1, 1814. He married Eunice Alden, who was born November 13, 1766, and they had six chil- dren; namely, John, Sally, Benjamin, Hor- ace, Alvah, and Cyrus. The mother died May 17, 1854. Mr. Powers's grandparents were members of the Congregational church.
Cyrus Powers, father of Mr. Powers, was born at the old homestead in Greenwich, De- cember 16, 1804. He was a brush-maker, an occupation which he followed together with farming for the greater part of his life. A
good, practical farmer, his agricultural vent- ures generally yieldcd a satisfactory profit. He was liberal in his religious views and a Democrat in politics. He dicd February 24, 1877, aged seventy-two years. His wife, Hannah B. Conc before marriage, whom he married May 21, 1828, made him the father of six children, as follows: John, who was born February 25, 1829, and died in the hos- pital at Rome, Ga., October 30, 1865, from injuries received during the Civil War; Sarah C., born November 6, 1830, and now the wife of Isaiah Merrill, of Athol, Mass .; Lovina C., born November 26, 1832, residing at home; Franklin C., the subject of this sketch; Wal- ter O., born February 21, 1841, who died October 12, 1842; and Austin H., born Au- gust II, 1849, who is now a resident of Orange, Mass. The mother, who still sur- vives, resides at the old homestead.
Franklin C. Powers received his cducation in the district schools of Greenwich, and grew up familiarized with farm work upon the old Powers farm. He also learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, and has followed that occupation as well as general farming. He owns two hundred acres of well-improved land, which he cultivates with gratifying suc- cess. Mr. Powers is one of our representative farmers. He is a Democrat in politics, comes of a good family, and has the reputation of an industrious, conscientious, and liberal-minded man.
LFRED CLARK PRESCOTT, of the firm of Boyden & Prescott, wholesale and retail dealers in foreign and domestic fruits, produce, and confectionery in Northampton, was born in Holden, Mass., in 1864. His father, William M. Prescott, now a resident of Northampton, was born in 1820 in West Boylston, Mass.
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Alfred C. Prescott was graduated from the Clinton High School in 1881, being then seventeen years of age. For the succeeding five years he worked on his father's farm. He then came to this city, where he found employment with his present partner, Charles Henry Boyden. After working for four years here, he was admitted into partnership, under the firm name already mentioned. These . gentlemen have one of the finest stores of the kind in Western Massachusetts. Since open- ing it, on April 1, 1893, they have built up a very large business both in wholesale and retail trade. They are enterprising, very active and progressive, showing in everything the business ability and tact so requisite to success.
R EV. GEORGE M. FITZGERALD, pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Haydenville, was born in Westminster, Mass., October 28, 1857, son of Michael and Ann S. (Cohen) Fitzgerald.
Michael Fitzgerald was born in County Cork, Ireland, in November, 1829, and ac- quired the trade of a blacksmith in his native land. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to the United States, first coming to Boston, where he remained but a short time, and from which city he went to Westminster, Mass., where he found steady employment at his trade. He became well known as a competent and reliable workman; and, being a man of intelligence and good character, possessing naturally a high-minded disposition, he not only realized success in a business way, but enjoyed the respect and hearty good will of his large circle of acquaintances. After a long and prosperous business career he retired from active labor, and now resides in Worces- ter, Mass. Michael Fitzgerald has reached a degree of affluence through his energy and
ability; and, being determined that his chil- dren should be properly prepared for their life work, he has given them a liberal educa- tion. His wife, Ann S. Cohen before mar- riage, was born in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, June 24, 1835. When young, she came to America, and resided in Montreal, where she was employed as a seamstress. She later moved to Fitchburg, Mass., where she met and married Michael Fitzgerald, the ceremony having been performed by the Rev. Father Gibson. She has been the mother of seven children, as follows: Maria, who died at the age of three years; George M., the sub- ject of this sketch; Mary, who is now a teacher; Ella, who resides at home; Sarah, who died aged two years; Edward, who is now assistant rector of Holy Name Church in Chicopee, Mass .; and Charles, who is a stu- dent at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of New York City.
George M. Fitzgerald commenced his edu- cation in the public schools of Worcester. He pursued his classical studies at St. Mi- chael's College in Toronto, Canada, from which he graduated in 1879, and was ordained a priest in Montreal in 1882. His first appointment was as assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Hinsdale, Mass., where he remained for two years. He then officiated in a similar capacity at St. Jerome's Church in Holyoke for four years, and on August 15, 1889, was appointed by Bishop O'Riley, of Springfield, to succeed the Rev. William L. Long as pastor of St. Mary's Church in Hay- denville. This church was erected in 1868, and the Rev. Father Callahan was the first to celebrate mass in Haydenville. The church was founded by Messrs. P. Larkin, W. Hickey, M. Ryan, P. Hamilton, T. Ryan, and E. Grace. The first pastor was the Rev. Father P. V. Moyce, of Northampton. Since
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taking charge of St. Mary's Parish, Father Fitzgerald has built an addition to the vestry of the church, enlarged the gallery, put in a large pipe organ and steam-heating apparatus. He has also purchased land adjoining the church, upon which he has built a handsome, three-story parochial residence; and the grounds have been graded into lawns and otherwise beautified. The cemetery has been fitted up under his direction, and these im- provements have necessarily made Father Fitzgerald a very busy man since his arrival in Haydenville. St. Mary's Parish numbers about twelve hundred souls, and the Sunday- school has a membership of two hundred and fifty. Connected with the church are the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Sacred Heart So- dality, and the St. Mary's Rosary Society.
Father Fitzgerald is a public-spirited man and actively interested in all progressive movements which may be beneficial to the general community. He is very popular in Haydenville, as he formerly was in Holyoke; and he is looked upon by all classes with the highest respect and esteem.
G EORGE F. THOMSON, M.D., a well-known physician of Belchertown and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Belchertown, Mass., January 9, 1833. His father, Dr. Horatio Thomson, was born at Tolland, Conn., October 6, 1804; and his grandfather, Gideon Thomson, also a physi- cian, was born at Mansfield, Conn.
Dr. Gideon Thomson was a well-known physician and surgeon at Tolland, where he practised until his decease. The maiden name of his wife, Dr. Thomson's grand- mother, was Elizabeth Steele. Dr. Horatio Thomson turned his attention to the study of
medicine at a very early age. Subsequent to following the occupation of an educator for a time, he commenced his preparations for pro- fessional life by studying with his father. Later he attended lectures at Yale College. He graduated from the medical department of that university in the year 1827, and settled in Belchertown, Mass., where he continued in active practice until his decease. This event occurred in his fifty-sixth year on the anniver- sary of his birth. His first wife, who died at the age of twenty-nine years, was before mar- riage Cordelia Chapman, of Tolland, daughter of Eliakim and Nancy Willes Chapman. She had two sons, namely: Charles H .; and George F., of this article. Charles H. be- came an attorney, and died at Corning, N.Y. The second wife was Lucy Maria Doolittle, daughter of the Hon. Mark Doolittle, of Bel- chertown. She bore him four children, all of whom died in infancy.
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