USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 41
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Mr. and Mrs. Sloan have three children liv- ·ing, as follows: Jennie, wife of F. A. Hobbs, residing in South Lee, Mass .; Fred W., who is married, and assists his father in the store, 6
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residing in Amherst; and Lizzic A., living at home. They lost two children by death, namely: Charles L., who died when three years old; and Emma M., at the age of eigh- teen years.
Captain Sloan is a Republican. For about eighteen years he has rendered most accept- able service to his town as Constable. He is a member of Pacific Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Amherst; also of the Edwin M. Stanton Post, No. 147, Grand Army of the Republic, of Amherst, of which he was the first Com- mander, a position held by him for over ten years. He is a member of the Universalist church, and his wife of the First Congrega- tional Church.
DWARD T. BARRUS, a leading mer- chant and real estate owner of Will- iamsburg, was born in the town of Goshen, Mass., October 13, 1861, son of Theron L. and Czarina N. (Robinson) Barrus. Mr. Barrus's grandparents, Levi and Almeda (Stearns) Barrus, moved from Salem, Mass., to Goshen, and settled upon four hundred acres of land. Levi Barrus was a very pros- perous farmer and a highly estcemed citizen. He was originally a Whig in politics, but later joined the Republican party. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist church. He died at his homestead in Goshen at the age of seventy- three years. His children were: Hiram, Lorin, Charles, Alvan, Laura, Jane, and Theron L.
Theron L. Barrus, Mr. Barrus's father, was born at the homestead in Goshen, September I, 1829. He attended the select school three winter terms, working during the summer in the turning shop of Ranney & Gage, and also at plane-making. After finishing his studies he taught school for nine winters, his summers
being occupicd in farming and working at plane-making in Swift River. He purchased what is known as the red house property, a farm of twenty acres, situated in the vicinity of his present residence, and devoted his sum- mers to agriculture and his winters to the manufacturing of ladders, which he sold through the surrounding section. He later bought the Cushman place of eight acres, and still later the Parsons farm, which consists of one hundred acres; and he has since resided upon that property. He carries on general farming and dairying. He has remodelled the farm buildings, keeps ten choice cows, and is in good circumstances. He is a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the School Board for twenty years. He united with the Congregational church in young man- hood, and at the age of twenty-five was chosen a Deacon, a position which he still holds. In 1852 Theron L. Barrus married Czarina N. Robinson, born December 27, 1831, and daughter of James and Adeline (Randall) Robinson. She became the mother of five children : James L., William A., Edward T., Mary A., and Lida E. The mother died May 6, 1895.
Edward T. Barrus commenced his studies in the schools of his native town, and completed his education at the Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, Mass. At the age of twenty years he began work as a wood polisher in the shop of the Crosby Manufacturing Company in Swift River. After remaining there for one year he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he pursued a course at Eastman's Business College. He then went to Boston as a book- keeper in the wholesale clothing house of C. N. Mellen & Co., and after remaining there for a time resigned his position in order to devote his attention to teaching. He later returned to mercantile pursuits, and after act-
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ing as travelling salesman for a short time purchased an interest in the general store of J. H. Godfrey in Goshen, where he remained in business for six years, at the expiration of which time he retired from the firm. In I S90 he came to Williamsburg and purchased the stock of S. K. Waite, which included buildings and the adjoining land on Main Street. He refitted the store and put in an extensive stock of general merchandise, so en- abling himself to supply a large and con- stantly increasing patronage. He employs a force of five men, and four teams are kept busy in delivering goods. He also runs a provision store in Holyoke. Mr. Barrus is President of the Williamsburg Co-operative Creamery Association, which is proving a most profitable enterprise. He purchased the Kingsley shop on South Street, which he has enlarged and fitted up for storage purposes. He has also found it necessary to build an ad- dition to his store. He has invested in a valu- able piece of real estate on Main Street, which he has subdivided into building lots for resi- dences, and in many other ways has displayed a spirit of energy and enterprise, which will, without doubt, insure his future prosperity.
On May 18, 1887, Mr. Barrus was united in marriage to Mary L. Graves, daughter of Sam- uel and Sarah (Bartlett) Graves, of Southamp- ton, Mass., and has one son, named Roger E., who was born May 16, 1893. Mr. Barrus is one of the brightest and most progressive young business men in Hampshire County, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.
OHN T. KEATING, a rising young lawyer of Northampton, was born in that town, July 20, 1864. He is of Irish ancestry and parentage, and has inherited in an eminent degree the sterling traits of
character that distinguished his father, the late Michael Keating.
Michael Keating was born July 10, 1828, in Limerick, Ireland, son of Owen and Mary Keating. He was one of a family of six chil- dren, all of whom, except one who died in in- fancy, grew to manhood, and, after the death of their father, came with their widowed mother to America. The long voyage was made in a sailing-vessel in 1849, and occupied seven weeks. After a short stay in New York City the family located in Northampton, where Michael learned the trade of a mason and bricklayer. He afterward became one of the leading contractors and builders of the city; and for nearly thirty years he was em- ployed by the government, doing all work needed from time to time at the hospital grounds. He counted among his friends Dr. Earle, who was for so many years the beloved superintendent of the asylum. Michael Keat- ing was a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence and ability. He was honored by his fellow-townsmen by being elected a member of the first City Council. In this capacity he served three years, being the presiding officer one year. He was also the incumbent of sev- eral other offices of trust and responsibility. His death, on July 14, 1891, was a loss to the city, as well as to his family. On August 21, 1853, he married Mary Maloney, who came to America from Limerick, Ireland, in 1848 with her father, John Maloney. Of their five chil- dren three died very young. The survivors are : John T., above named; and Michael J., who has succeeded his father in business. The mother lived but one short year after the decease of her husband, dying July 14, 1892.
John T. Keating is a man of scholarly at- tainments, having been graduated from the Northampton High School in 1883 and four years later from Amherst College. Mr. Keat-
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ing subsequently entered the law office of Judge Bassett, and on June 18, 1889, was ad- mitted to the bar of Hampshire County. In the following October he was admitted to part- nership with Judge Bassett ; but since October, 1890, he has been in practice in his own office, at 102 Main Street. He is very active and influential in politics. He has been chairman of the Democratic City Committee for four years. He likewise served as Clerk of the Common Council for five years. Mr. Keating is a very fluent and ready speaker, and, during the Presidential campaign of 1892, made some of the most effective stump speeches of the time, including many ad- dresses in French - a language with which he is very familiar. He is a very popular man in all circles, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight of Pythias.
On September 17, 1892, Mr. Keating was united in marriage with Annie I. Cooney, a daughter of Michael Cooney. Mrs. Keating is a very bright and capable woman, and, with her sister, Ella Cooney, is engaged in the mil- linery business in Northampton. In 1892 Mr. Keating was prominently mentioned as an eligible candidate for Mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Keating have a beautiful home at 94 State Street, a house erected by his father in 1884 for John T. Dewey, who afterward sold it to the builder.
HE STANTON FAMILY, of Hunting- ton, have long resided in Hampshire County ; and many of its members are well known in that section of the State. They are descendants of Thomas Stanton, who emigrated from England to the Colony of Vir- ginia in 1636. Thence he went to Boston, and later to Hartford, Conn., where in 1637 he settled, and established a trading - post.
He married Ann Lord and became the father of twelve children. He died December 2, 1676. His second son, Captain John Stanton, was born in Hartford in 1641, and was edu- cated for the ministry. He served as Captain in King Philip's War, and became prominent in framing the laws of the colony. He died October 13, 1713. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Thompson, became the mother of six children. John Stanton, Jr., first son of Captain John Stanton, was born May 22, 1665. He received land from his father, upon which he resided until his death. He raised a family of eleven children, and his seventh son, Jabez Stanton, was born De- cember 19, 1718. He resided in Preston, Conn., and died March 2, 1804. His wife, Sarah Morse, was the mother of eleven chil- dren. Abel Stanton, fourth son of Jabez Stanton, was born December 29, 1748. When a young man he settled upon a tract of land in Norwich, Mass., where he followed agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1821. He married Olive Reed, and had a family of twelve children, as follows: Abel, Jabez, Thomas, Asher, James, Joseph, Waldon, Deb- orah, Sarah, Peleg, Daniel, and Seth.
Deacon Joseph Stanton, sixth son of Abel Stanton, was born in Connecticut, July 18, 1783. He came to Huntington in youth with his father, resided there during the remainder of his life, and died at the old Stanton home- stead, March 12, 1870. His wife, who before her marriage was Grace Winchell, of Chester, became the mother of eight children ; namely, Luke W., Jabez, Harmon, Fannie, Henry, Joseph, Adeline, and Catherine. She died in November, 1875. Luke W., first son of Dea- con Joseph Stanton, was born in Huntington, April 17, 1806. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., and became a prac- tising physician in Amenia, N. Y., where he
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died February 5, 1869. He married Harriet Paine. Jabez Stanton was born July 16, 1808. He became station agent for the Boston & Albany Railroad in Huntington, a position which he satisfactorily filled for many years. He died November 14, 1872. He married Rachel Hatch, and was the father of two chil- dren ; namely, Atherton and Adeline. Ath- erton is now manager of a brewery in Pittston, Pa. He has been twice married ; and his sec- ond wife, who was Ella Collins, has borne him one son, Wilson. Adeline married H. Wilson Munson, and resides in Huntington. Harmon, third son of Deacon Joseph Stanton, was born December 4, 1810. He followed agriculture in Iowa for a time, and later moved to Oakland, Cal. He married for his first wife Catherine Stevens, who died; and he wedded for his second wife Hannah Elder, who bore him two children, namely, James E. and Emma A. Harmon Stanton died in California. His widow is still living. Fan- nie M. Stanton, daughter of Deacon Joseph Stanton, was born February 12, 1813. She married for her first husband Hiram Chapman, by whom she had three children, namely : Henry S., now of New York; Emerson, who died in Salisbury Prison while a soldier ; and Irving, of New York. Her first husband hav- ing died, she wedded for her second Moses Fisk, and died in January, 1879.
Henry, the fifth child of Deacon Joseph Stanton, was born April 5, 1815. He engaged in the lumber business, which he followed for many years with varying fortune, but, on the whole, was fairly successful. He became prominent in public affairs, and represented his district in the legislature in 1853. He was an active member of the Baptist church, was deeply interested in church work, and was Deacon many years. Henry Stanton was ac- cidentally killed in Huntington by being
thrown from a load of logs, December 26, 1874. He married Rosamond F. Knight in 1840. She was born June 30, 1819, daughter of Erastus Knight, of Norwich. She died August 23, 1889. Henry Stanton was by her the father of nine children. Four of them were as follows: Ellen R., who died Novem- ber 3, 1854; Lowell M., who is a gardener in Springfield, is married to Mary A. Hill, and had three children, namely, Grace B. and Lowell E. (both deceased since 1882), and Walter D .; Flora Lucinda, born September 15, 1851, residing in Huntington; and Willie P., born February 12, 1854, who died Sep- tember 10, 1856.
Henry Ellsworth Stanton, the second child of Henry and Rosamond Stanton, was born in Knightville, January 23, 1846. At the age of seven years his parents moved to Middle- field, where he resided until 1861, when they removed to the old Stanton homestead in Huntington. On July 20, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Volun- teer Infantry, for one hundred days' service in the Civil War, and was discharged November IO of that year. In the spring of 1866 he went to Amenia, N. Y., where he took charge of his uncle's farm, and remained there for several months. He then learned the carriage- maker's trade; and returning to Huntington carried on that business until 1870, when he purchased the Huntington Mills. Later he sold the grist-mill, but still continued to oper- ate the saw-mill. Since 1885 he has engaged in contracting to a considerable extent. He constructed a portion of the water works at Springfield and at Meriden, Conn., and has built several miles of State roads. He was formerly a Republican in politics, but since 1885 has acted with the Prohibition party. He has served as Tax Collector and Constable for several years. He united with the Baptist
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church in 1865, and has been a Deacon since 1890. On November 21, 1871, he married Eliza A. Smith, who was born in Middlefield, Mass., May 20, 1846, and they had three chil- dren, namely: Emory E .; Robert H., who died September 27, 1877; and Luke W.
Frederick Potter Stanton, the sixth child of Henry Stanton, was born in Middlefield, Mass., March 21, 1858. He grew to manhood at the Stanton homestead in Huntington, and after the death of his father he opened a coal and wood yard. He subsequently dealt in ice, stone, brick, cement, etc., besides undertaking extensive contracts, in all of which enterprises he has been successful. He has always been an active Republican in politics, and is a member of the Baptist church. On May 7, 1888, he married Hattie L. Smith, who was born in Middlefield, May 8, 1859, and has two children ; namely, Helen L. and Louisa R. Albert H. Stanton, Henry Stanton's seventh child, was born January 23, 1860. He has always followed mercantile pursuits, and is now Auditor of the town of Huntington. Edward W. Stanton, the eighth, was born January 9, 1862. He is a professional book- keeper, and was a member of the School Board of Huntington. George Knight Stanton, the ninth, was born September 28, 1864. He learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for some time. He now owns the Stanton homestead, and devotes his energies to gardening and the milk business.
OLSEY J. SEARLE, an experienced and efficient agriculturist occupying the fine estate known as the Park Hill Farm, in the Fourth Ward of Northamp- ton, Mass., was born in Huntington, Hamp- shire County, on April 29, 1849, son of Em- erson and Miriam (Sanford) Searle. His
grandfather, Joel Searle, who was born on No- vember 18, 1774, was a prosperous farmer of Huntington. He was married on January 24, 1799, to Miss Sophia Sheldon, who was born on January 29, 1777. Nine children were born of their union, four sons and five daugh- ters, all now deceased. Joel Scarle died on January 4, 1860, at eighty-six years of age, and his wife one year later at the age of eighty-four years and seven months.
Emerson Searle, who was reared to the voca- tion of a farmer, settled in the town of Hunt- ington on a farm containing one hundred acres, which he increased to four hundred acres. Later he disposed of a part of his property, and moved to Northampton to where his son now lives. At his death, which oc- curred on May 1, 1894, he left quite an estate. He married on January 18, 1844, Miss Miriam Sanford, who was born in Hunt- ington on September 18, 1812, and was a daughter of Holsey Sanford, of Saybrook, Conn. Her father was born on October 10, 1765 ; and at fifteen years of age he became a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as a sub- stitute for a brother who was taken ill while in service. There were four sons and three daughters born of this union, of whom a brief record follows: Jerusha Gertrude, whose birth occurred May 21, 1846, lived to be but nine- teen years of age, dying of diphtheria, January 24, 1866, in the week in which her wedding day was appointed; her sister, Julia Esther, who had died of diphtheria a few days before, on January 20, was eighteen years of age; Holsey J. Searle is the subject of the brief biography below; Miriam Adelia, born Octo- ber 22, 1850, is the wife of Wallace A. Mann, of 3 Smith Street, Northampton; George E. Searle, born June 9, 1852, resides in East- hampton; Abner Sanford Searle, born on Washington's Birthday in 1854, lives in Had-
HOLSEY J. SEARLE.
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ley, Mass. ; and Charlie P. Searle, born Sep- tember 10, 1856, lives on the old home- stead. Their mother died on July 13, 1894, at almost eighty-two years of age. Both par- ents were members of the Congregational church.
Holsey J. Searle acquired his early educa- tion in the district school, which was supple- mented by a course at Wilbraham Academy. He then turned his attention to agriculture, and for four years carried on a farm in Hunt- ington. Mass. Following that, he conducted a hotel for four years, after which he went to Nebraska, where he spent the following two years. He then came back to the Northamp- ton farm, for which his father paid the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, and in 1875 built thereon a fine large barn, eighty by fifty feet, with an L thirty-eight by forty feet, and three stories in height, with a basement underneath. The homestead is still a part of his father's
estate, of which he is the administrator. He is successfully engaged in mixed husbandry, and grows each year from six to fifteen acres of tobacco. The farm yields annually about one hundred tons of hay ; and he keeps thirty cows, the milk from which is marketed in Northampton by a brother who has a milk route.
Mr. Searle was married on May 8, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth Bassett, of Easthampton, a daughter of Joel L. and Phebe (Thompson) Bassett. Her father did an extensive business as a farmer, contractor, and manufacturer, and was very successful. He was thrice married, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Phebe Thompson, had three children, namely : Louise, who died when five years old; Justin H. Bassett, who died at the early age of twenty-nine years, leaving a wife and daughter ; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Searle. Mr. and Mrs. Searle have lost an infant daughter, and now
have two living children; namely, Gertrude Phebe, who is twelve years of age; and Joel Bassett Searle, a lad of five years.
In political principles Mr. Searle is a Re- publican. For two years he served as a mem- ber of the Common Council, and is now an Alderman. He is a member of Ionic Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Easthampton. An excel- lent portrait of this influential and valued citi- zen will be found on a neighboring page of this volume.
YRON SMITH, a farmer of South Hadley, Mass., was born in Groton, New London County, Conn., July 16, 1825, son of Erastus T. and Rebecca (Bar- ber) Smith. Mr. Smith's paternal grandpar- ents were Gilbert and Prudence Smith. A fuller genealogy is contained in a work en- titled, "The History of the Smith Family," a copy of which is now in the possession of Mr. Byron Smith.
Erastus T. Smith was born in Groton, Conn., June 24, 1789. In early manhood he engaged in mercantile pursuits, but subse- quently became a cotton and paper manufact- urer, conducting business for a number of years, first in Rochester, N. Y., and later in South Hadley, finally retiring and returning to Rochester, where he died. He was three times married. His first wife, Rebecca Bar- ber, was born in Groton, Conn., and was a daughter of John Barber, a prosperous farmer of that town. She died in South Hadley, No- vember 11, 1838. His second wife, Lucia Mills, of West Hartford, Conn., died in Rochester, .N. Y., in 1857. His third wife, Emily Perkins, of Litchfield, Conn., survives her husband and now resides in Rochester, N. Y.
By his first wife Mr. Smith had the follow- ing children : Erastus B., born in 1812, now
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deceased; Frances R., who married first Isaac Lyon, of Rochester, and, secondly, Wells Southworth, of West Springfield, but is no longer living; Gilbert Morgan, born in 1818, who married Eliza Ely, and died November 12, 1891, was Postmaster of South Hadley during Lincoln's administration and until his death, November 12, 1891; Prudence E., now de- ceased, the wife of Dr. H. W. Dean, of Roch- ester, N. Y .; Byron, subject of this sketch; Henry Walworth, born in 1827, and now de- ceased, who married Mary Hooker; William Avery, born in 1829, who met his death by drowning in Rochester, N. Y., in 1833 ; Helen F., born in 1833, who died in 1851.
Byron Smith, having received his education in Westfield, Mass., and at the public schools in South Hadley, at the age of twenty-two en- gaged in farming in South Hadley. He subse- quently erected a flour-mill upon his farm, which he conducted in company with his father for some years, giving it his chief attention. He finally abandoned the mill and returned to agriculture, devoting his energies to general farming and dairying, besides carrying on a considerable trade in eggs and farm produce. He has supplied the college at South Hadley with two hundred quarts of milk per day. His home farm consists of thirty acres of well- improved land, and besides this he owns other real estate in the town. Although he is now practically retired from active labor, he exer- cises a general oversight of his farm and per- forms some of the lighter duties connected therewith.
In 1847 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Nancy Dwight, of Belchertown, Mass., daughter of Justin and Eliza Dwight. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two chil- dren, namely: Rebecca Frances, who resides at home; and Erastus Gilbert, a graduate of Amherst College and Göttingen, Germany,
now a professor in the Beloit, Wis., College. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Congregational church, and take active part in church work. Mr. Smith is Republican in politics, having cast his vote with the Repub- lican party since its formation. During the Civil War he was a member of the Board of Selectmen of his town. He has always been greatly interested in the college, and has been their marshal for many years. He has also been prominently connected with all important improvements in the town during his time.
B. CURTIS, a general farmer and stock-raiser of Worthington, was
born in that town, November 4, 1820, son of Elijah W. and Polly (Benjamin) Curtis. Mr. Curtis's grandfather, Beriah Cur- tis, was an early settler in Worthington, and purchased a part of the farm where his grand- son now resides. He cleared and improved the property, and followed agriculture success- fully until his death, which was caused by the explosion of his gun while engaged in hunting. Beriah Curtis was the father of two children ; namely, Dillasy and Elijah.
Elijah Curtis, father of Mr. Curtis, com- menced to learn the trade of a carpenter at the age of fourteen; and when twenty-one years old he erected the house in which his son re- sides. He carried on the farm prosperously, and died September 13, 1847. He was a Re- publican in politics, and served as a Selectman for several years. Elijah Curtis was twice married. His first wife, now deceased, was a daughter of Samuel Morse, a resident of Worthington. His second wife, whose maiden name was Polly Benjamin, became the mother of six children, as follows: Mary, who died young; another child, who died in infancy ; A. B. Curtis, the subject of this sketch; Har-
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mony D., who married Milton Nash ; Betsey, who resides with Mr. Curtis; and Mary, who married John H. Tinker, a farmer of Chester, and has since died. Her death occurred March 13, 1860.
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