USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 4
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REDERICK NEWTON KNEELAND, Cashier of the First National Bank of Northampton, was born in that city on September 8, 1850, son of Isaac Newton and Frances Maria (Strong) Kneeland.
The Kneeland family were originally na- tives of Norway. They removed to Scotland in the tenth century ; and in 1631 some of the descendants came to Salem, Mass., making the voyage, according to tradition, in a vessel laden with grain for the Pilgrims. Edward Kneeland, the great-great-grandfather of Fred- erick Newton Kneeland, was born about the year 1700. He removed from Boston to Roy- alton, Vt. ; and there, when he was about eighty years of age, he and his sons, Joseph and Edward, were captured by the Indians. Joseph was killed; while Edward, who was then but eight years of age, was adopted by the savages and roamed with them over their hunting grounds during the next ten years. He was finally purchased from the Indians by a French trader, who took an interest in the boy and desired to adopt him. Some time after, he had settled in Hadley and was en- gaged in farming. He married Miss Eliza- beth Peck, of Rehoboth, Mass. ; and they reared four sons and three daughters, all of
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whom lived to marry and have families. His son Joseph Kneeland, who was also a farmer, married Miss Lydia Champion, of West Springfield, who was born on December 20, 1791. After her death, which occurred on November 4, 1828, he married her sister, Lora Champion. Of his children the living are : Mrs. Laurietta Russell, of Amherst, Mass .; and Mrs. Josephine Stone, a widow, residing in Brooklyn, N. Y. His son, Isaac Newton Kneeland, dicd in 1860, when but forty years of age. He was at one time a clothing mer- chant in Northampton, and also followed the business of photographer. His wife, for- merly Frances Maria Strong, to whom he was married on August 19, 1841, was born in Northampton on February 4, 1821, and was a daughter of Seth and Phœbe Strong. Seven children were born of their union, two sons and five daughters, of whom Frederick Newton Kneeland and two sisters reached adult life.
Frederick N. Kneeland acquired a good practical education. At fifteen years of age he left the high school to enter a jeweller's store as clerk, after which he worked for a time in a clothing store. In March, 1869, he secured a position as clerk in the First National Bank; and, beginning at the foot of the ladder, he has worked his way up, so that for the past eighteen years he has filled the position of Cashier with credit to himself and satisfaction to the patrons of the bank. He is also a man of literary ability, and has pub- lished a work on Northampton entitled, "Northampton, the Meadow City." On De- cember 9, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Frances Dyer, who was born at South Abington, Mass., on December 9, 1855. Their union has been blessed by three children, namely : Doris, born December 6, 1889, who died when she was but seventeen
months old; Mary Frances, born January 2, 1882; and Robert Strong, born April 26, 1 883.
Mr. Kneeland is a faithful adherent of the Republican party. For over thirty years he has been a member of the Edwards Church, of which he has been Director and Treasurer. He also served as assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school for fifteen years, and has been superintendent for the past three years. In 1882 he purchased the four-acre lot on Paradise Road, near Elm Street, and erected the substantial brick house which has been the family residence since January 1, 1883.
RASTUS JAMES INGHAM, the enter- prising proprietor of the old Ingham homestead in Middlefield, was born on June 10, 1828, son of Erastus John and Vesta (Dixon) Ingham. His paternal grand- parents, Erastus and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Ingham, were both born in Connecticut. In the latter part of their married life they removed to Middlefield, Mass., and purchased the farm now owned by their grandson. The grandfather, besides being a successful agri- culturist, devoted considerable attention to public affairs, and took an active interest in politics. He was well known and quite prominent, serving in various offices, among which may be mentioned that of Justice of the Peace and Representative to the State legislature.
Mr. Ingham's father was about twenty years of age when his parents settled in Middlefield. He, however, remained with them, helping in the cultivation of the farm. Upon his father's death he purchased the homestead and lived there for the remainder of his life. He con- fined his attention chiefly to his farm work, and was quite successful in his management.
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His wife, Vesta Dixon, bore him six children, as follows: Milton, who married Miss Mileta Ballou, both deceased; Samuel, who married Miss Clarissa Alderman, both also deceased ; Maria and Mary (twins), respectively married to Romeo Alderman and Walter Pease; An- drew, who died at fourteen years of age; and Erastus James. All the children were edu- cated in a select school. The father was a Republican and an active politician. Both parents were influential members of the Con- gregational church, the father serving as Trus- tee and always taking a keen interest in the work of the organization.
Erastus James Ingham lived with his par- ents until their death, caring for them in their old age. He then purchased the old home- stead, and has since carried on general hus- bandry, while devoting considerable attention to dairying. On February 4, 1850, his marriage with Miss Julia Pease was performed. She was born in March, 1830, daughter of Daniel Pease, who was among the earliest settlers of Hampshire County. She has borne her hus- band four daughters, as follows: Alida, a successful teacher, who died at seventeen years of age ; Lillie, the wife of Wayland F. Smith, a prosperous farmer residing in West Springfield, Mass .; Elnora, who died aged one year and nine months; and Nora, who married J. T. Bryan, a successful farmer resid- ing in Middlefield.
Mr. Ingham is actively interested in politi- cal matters and a loyal supporter of the Re- publican party. Appreciating his zeal for the welfare of the town, the citizens have from time to time elected him to various offices of trust and responsibility. For several years he has served as Selectman. He and his family are communicants of the Congrega- tional church, in which they are prominent workers.
RIVILLE W. PROUTY, a well- known mechanic of North Hadley and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts, October 5, 1844, and is a son of A. Warren and Hannah H. (Livermore) Prouty. Mr. Prouty's father was a native of Spencer, Mass., and followed the occupations of farmer and shoemaker in his native town until 1860, when he purchased in New Salem a farm which he personally conducted for several years. After his wife died, he relinquished active labor, and resided with his children in Wendell, Mass., until his death. His wife, who was a native of Paxton, Mass., became the mother of eleven children, named as follows: Cleora D., Ori- ville W., Ariel H., Viola M., Oriana T., Halsey H., Helen A., Clifford H., Chester W., Marion, and Eva.
Oriville W. Prouty was educated in the pub- lic schools, and at the age of fifteen was first employed in farming. He later engaged in shoemaking, an occupation which he followed until 1862, when he enlisted in the Thirty- fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He participated in fifteen different engagements, some of them the most important of the Civil War, and received his discharge in Readville, Mass., July 6, 1865. Mr. Prouty then re- sumed attendance at a school in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., but was unable to continue owing to his feeble health and he returned to his home. After regaining his health he followed vari- ous occupations until the spring of 1867, when he went to Hadley, and for the succeeding two years was employed in a carriage shop. After this he resided for one year in Clarendon, Vt., and then went to Bennington, Vt., where he engaged in manufacturing chairs, and became the owner of some property, which was later destroyed by fire. He subsequently returned to Hadley, and after working again in a car-
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riage shop until 1873, came to North Hadley, where he opened a wagon repair shop upon his own account. In 1876 fire again swept his property away ; but he rebuilt and resumed the repairing business, which he continued until visited some ten years later by a third confla- gration. He then went to work in a manufac- tory of broom-maker's tools. He is at present a carpenter and millwright.
Mr. Prouty is a Republican in politics, and has filled with marked ability several offices of public trust. Since 1888 he has been elected to the Board of Selectmen, and he has been chairman of that body since 1893. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in May, 1891, has served as Constable two years, and was a Trustee of the Smith Charities of Northamp- ton for a like period.
On June 14, 1871, Mr. Prouty was united in marriage to Martha A. Hurd, of Hadley, daughter of Thomas D. and Zilpha (Crosier) Hurd, both of whom are now dead. Mr. and Mrs. Prouty are members of the Congrega- tional church, and take an active interest in church work. Mr. Prouty is a Comrade of E. M. Stanton Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Amherst. He was chairman of the executive committee which perfected the ar- rangements for the Hooker reunion in Had- ley, on May 7, 1895 ; and he delivered the ad- dress of welcome on that occasion.
RANCIS LOOMIS, a lifelong resident and a thrifty and enterprising farmer of Williamsburg, Mass., was born on the place that he now owns, April 6, 1833. He is son of William and Lucinda (Thayer) Loomis, and grandson of Jonathan and Zilpha (Field) Loomis.
Grandfather Loomis was a resident farmer of Whately, Mass. He served in the Revo-
lutionary War, and during the last ycars of his life was in receipt of a pension from the government. He and his wife, Zilpha Field, were the parents of five children: Jonathan, Lconard, Luther, Sally, and William. Will- iam Loomis, father of Francis, was born in Whately. In his early manhood he learned the trade of a carpenter and bridge builder; and examples of his work may now be seen in Chicopee Falls, Miller's Falls, and West Springfield, Mass. He first established a home for himself in Whately; but about the year 1822 he purchased in Williamsburg a farm of eighty acres, on which he erected new barns, besides remodelling the house. While he supervised the work of his farm, his atten- tion was chiefly devoted to his trade, at which he met with good success. He was a com- municant of the Congregational church and in political affiliation a Whig. He died in 1853, at the age of sixty-four years. His first marriage was to Miss Mary Waite, who died, leaving him with three children; namely, Luther, Maria, and Jane. His second and last union was with Miss Lucinda Thayer, who dicd in 1872, at seventy-seven years of age, leaving five children: Rebecca, Mary, Leonard, Francis, and Elizabeth. His son Luther, now dead, kept the Haydenville House, and had two children, one of whom survives.
Francis Loomis remained with his parents and cared for them during their old age. At their decease he purchased the farm, which then had very little cultivated land. Having cleared away the bushes, timber, and stone with which it was encumbered, he has in it now one of the best-cared-for farms in the town. He has also set out a nice variety of fruit-trees, and made improvements in the house and barns. Besides he carries on gen- eral farming, raising good crops of grain and
SAMUEL L. PARSONS.
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tobacco; and he keeps a dairy of choice cows. On June 1, 1853, he was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah Hillman, a daughter of John Hillman, of Charlemont; and they have reared four of the six children born of their union. The two who died in childhood were Wilbur and Hattie, and the others are: Henry, born September 23, 1854; David C., who married Miss Fanny Rhood, lives in Haydenville, and has two children, Ethel and Charles; George F., married to Miss Helen Rivard, having one child, Edward F., and residing at home; and William G., born October 16, 1877, also living at home. Mr. Loomis casts his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of Hampshire Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and he and his wife and family are active and influential members of the Congregational church.
AMUEL L. PARSONS, whose por- trait appears on the adjoining page, is the owner of a fine agricult- ural estate in Northampton, and has long been a conspicuous factor of the farming com- munity, but is now, owing to ill health, living somewhat retired from active pursuits. He is the worthy representative of one of the very earliest pioneer families of this part of Hamp- shire County, the first birth recorded in North- ampton being that of Ebenezer Parsons, who was born May 1, 1655, and was the fifth child of Joseph and Mary (Bliss) Parsons. This couple were wedded in November, 1646, at Hartford, Conn. They are further mentioned elsewhere in these pages in connection with others of their name and lineage. Their eldest son bore the name of Joseph, and was known as "Esquire Joseph," or Judge Par- sons, the father being "Cornet Joseph."
Phineas Parsons, born January 9, 1750, a
great-grandson of Esquire Joseph and Eliza- beth (Strong) Parsons - as we learn from the Rev. Solomon Clark's interesting work on "Northampton Antiquities, Historicals, and Graduates" - was the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch. In 1772 Phineas Parsons married Mary Bakcr, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Lanckton) Baker, settling on the estate conveyed to him by his father-in-law, his house standing within a few rods of what is now 58 West Street, and here engaged in general farming until his death, in 1825. He and his wife reared threc daughters and four sons, of whom Samuel, born September 17, 1793, was the youngest.
Samuel Parsons became one of the leading farmers of this part of the county. He was a man of good judgment and sterling integrity, and prominent in public affairs, serving as Selectman several years, and as a Representa- tive in the General Court in 1832 and 1833. His wife, to whom he was united November 20, 1821, was Caroline Russell, a native of this town. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom, with the exception of Sydenham Clark Parsons, formerly a druggist in Northampton, are now living, the father's namesake being the eldest child.
Samuel L. Parsons was born November 20, 1823, on the old Parsons homestead, abovc mentioned, and was therc reared and educated. He remained beneath the parental roof-trec until his marriage, gaining a practical knowl- edge of various branches of agriculture. He inherited a portion of his father's estatc, and now owns a valuable farm of two hundred acres, one of the very best in the vicinity. He has here carried on general farming with eminent success, raising about a thousand bushels of corn annually on the uplands; and on the bottom lands he cuts about two hun- dred tons of hay each season. He makes a
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specialty of fattening cattle, keeping twenty or more, and turns to good account each acre of his fertile land.
On November 20, 1844, Mr. Parsons was united in wedlock with Sarah A. Kingsley, a daughter of Edwin and Mary B. Kingsley, of Northampton, the place of her birth being the site now occupied by the Academy of Music. Of this union two children have been born : a daughter, Harriet; and a son, Samuel Baker Parsons. Harriet married Hubbard M. Ab- bott, present Register of Probate for Hamp- shire County; and they have two sons and a daughter, Edwin Kingsley Abbott being a clerk in the Northampton Bank, and James Trumbull and Harriet P. being yet in school. Samuel Baker Parsons, who resides near his parents, married Ella B. Gorham, and suc- ceeds his father in business. An active mem- ber of the Republican party in politics, ever deeply interested in the public weal, Mr. Parsons has served as Selectman eight years; and during two terms he represented his dis- trict in the State legislature. He is a gen- tleman of pleasing address, his cordiality inviting acquaintance, and his intelligence and evident sincerity winning respect and confidence.
EV. FRANKLIN G. MORRIS, a man of prominence in the educa- tional, business, and religious cir- cles of Northampton, was born in East Salis- bury, Essex County, November 19, 1841, being a son of John and Eliza (Brown) Mor- ris. He is descended from English and Ger- man ancestry, distinguished on both sides for vitality and longevity. His maternal grand- mother was a member of the Old South Church of Boston from the time when she was eight years old to the date of her death, when she had nearly completed a century.
John Morris was a scaman, and most of his sons followed in his footsteps in their liking for a sea life. He belonged to the United States Navy, and at the time of his death, in January, 1876, was the oldest boatswain in the service, being then in the ninety-first year of his age. He had a very strong and rugged constitution. When eighty-nine years old, he one day remarked that, had he taken proper care of himself, he might live to a good old age. He was twice married, rearing twelve children by both unions. His second wife, mother of the Rev. Mr. Morris, was Mrs. Eliza Brown, née Jennison, who bore him four sons and one daughter, Franklin G. being the fourth child. Of the remaining children Charles Henry was the only one that grew to maturity. He was lost at sea in 1864, the craft on which he sailed never having been heard from after leaving port. One of his elder sons, George, a half-brother of Franklin, also found a watery grave, having been sail- maker's mate on board the "Cumberland," which went down in the fight with the "Mer- rimac," March 8, 1862. The mother died very suddenly of heart disease in 1869, aged sev- enty years. The father buried his wife and eleven of his twelve children before he, too, passed to his final reward. This occurred at the home of his surviving son in Watertown, Mass.
Franklin G. Morris was reared to manhood in Ipswich, Mass., where his parents lived twenty-two years, and where the remains of both now rest in the beautiful cemetery. After concluding his studies at the public schools, he attended the Wilbraham Academy, from which he was graduated in 1861. He was one of the first volunteers that responded to the first call for three months' men made at the beginning of the Civil War, but he did not go to the front. Mr. Morris is of a deeply
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religious nature, the fundamental principles of Christianity having been instilled into his heart by his honored parents; and at the early age of seventeen years he began teaching and preaching the Methodist doctrine. For seven- teen years he was a member of the New Eng- land Conference and a most devoted and effi- cient pastor of the ten churches over which he has presided. Among them was the Saratoga Street Church of East Boston. In 1882 he was located in Easthampton. In 1876 the de- gree of A.M. was conferred on him by the Wesleyan University of Middletown, Conn. Beginning to study shorthand in 1867, Mr. Morris is now an expert in the art, and for the past seven years has been the official ste- nographer of Hampden County. He was one of the four reporters of the General Confer- ence in 1888; and he has since reported five murder trials. accomplishing, with the aid of his staff of writers, a plain hand transcript of each day's proceedings by the ensuing night.
Mr. Morris was first married November 24, 1864. to Lucy A. Morley, who died three years later, leaving two children: Emma, a teacher in the public schools; and Charles Edward, who died in 1887, aged twenty years. In 1869 Mr. Morris was again united in marriage with Miss Georgia A. Waterhouse, a native of Lynn, Mass. He was a member of the State legislature, representing the dis- trict of Watertown in 1875, where he was then located. At the same time he had charge of a church, and was equal to the undertaking. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which his late father was a Master Mason. He is a very influential and prominent brother, having united with the organization thirty years ago. He has taken the Scottish rite degrees, has been at the head of the Royal Arch degree in his Chapter, and has the distinction of being one of the three
Grand Chaplains of the Massachusetts Grand Chapter.
ENJAMIN C. BRAINARD, chair- man of the Board of Selectmen of South Hadley Falls, is a son of Benjamin C. and Eunice P. (Ashley) Brain- ard, and was born in that town, May 19, 1841. The father was a native of South Had- ley Falls, and followed the trade of a black- smith for several years. He established a factory for the manufacture of agricultural tools at Chicopee, Mass., and personally con- ducted it for fifteen years. He then engaged in the grocery business as a member of the firm of Day & Brainard. After carrying this on for some time, he retired from the firm, and was appointed Postmaster, a position which he held until two years before his death, which occurred November 19, 1866. He was a representative man of South Hadley Falls, and occupied a prominent position in the community. His wife, who was born in West Springfield, Mass., became the mother of four children, as follows: Joseph, who died in infancy; Ann S., who married A. W. Fay, of Barre, Mass., and now resides in South Deerfield; Benjamin C., the subject of this sketch; and Mary J., principal of the Bridge Street School in Holyoke. She died Decem- ber 27, 1892.
Benjamin C. Brainard had received a good common-school education at the age of four- teen, when he became errand boy in the office of the Glasgow Company in South Hadley Falls. He gradually worked his way up from one position to another until he was made superintendent and finally general agent of the company. He then went to New Jersey, where he was placed in charge of the Wash- ington Mills, the largest enterprise of its kind in that State. He remained there for several
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years, and then returned in 1890 to South Hadley Falls, where he has since resided. He is widely known and is in much demand as an expert in all matters pertaining to cot- ton-mills and their machinery. Mr. Brainard is a Republican in politics, and has served with distinction in various positions of public trust. He was first elected a Selectman in 1884. He has also been Chief Engineer of the fire department, a member of the School Board, for several years a Water Commis- sioner, Treasurer of the Water Board, and in 1893 was Representative of his district in the legislature, when he served as a member of the Committee upon Election Laws. Among the non-political offices he has held were those of Treasurer of the Cemetery Association and Vice-President of the Mechanics Savings Bank of Holyoke. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was one of the organ- izers of the Lodge in South Hadley Falls.
In 1868 Mr. Brainard was united in mar- riage to Sarah Abbie Bickford, of Saco, Me. Her parents, now deceased, were: Thomas Bickford, a native of Massachusetts; and Lydia (Bean) Bickford, who was born in New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard have one daughter, Florence A., who has received a liberal education, and is now assistant prin- cipal of the South Hadley Falls High School. Mr. Brainard is a generous contributor to movements designed for the benefit of his na- tive town. His present position of prosperity can be justly credited to his own energy and industry.
ORACE H. VAUGHN is a prosperous farmer of Greenwich. He was born in Prescott, Mass., November 15, 1832, and is a son of Josiah and Susan (Shaw) Vaughn. His grandfather, Nathan Vaughn, a native of Middleboro, Mass., was an early
settler in Prescott. He was a sturdy pioneer and a successful farmer, and lived to the age of eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Fry, bore him nine children, all of whom became heads of families. She also attained an advanced age before she died. Both husband and wife were members of the Baptist church.
Josiah Vaughn, Mr. Vaughn's father, was born in the place now called Prescott, October 15, 1791. He was a Baptist minister during his early manhood, but later engaged in agri- culture. He owned a farm of one hundred acres in Prescott, which he managed success- fully. An industrious man and an earnest Christian worker, he was much respected by his neighbors. He was a member of the Masonic Order for over forty years, and reached a high degree in the fraternity. His wife, Susan (Shaw) Vaughn, who was born in Middleboro, Mass., September 2, 1791, made him the father of eleven children, of whom three are living, namely: Chloe F., who is now Mrs. Russell, of Athol, Mass. ; Hollis, a resident of Wendell; and Horace H., the subject of this sketch, who is the youngest. The others were: Josiah N., Susan L., Nathan, Lois, Mary, John W., Rhoda P., and Laura, all of whom, except the last two, reached maturity before they died. Both parents lived to the age of seventy-four years, and but four hours intervened between their deaths.
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