USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 43
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ORACE S. TAYLOR, a progressive agriculturist of Granby, was born March 19, 1866, son of Frederick and Mary I. (Cowles) Taylor. Mr. Taylor began the battle of life when a youth of eigh- teen years. He first obtained employment as a clerk in the store of J. S. Preston & Co., gentlemen's furnishing goods, in Holyoke. Afterward he occupied a similar position in the store of Brown Brothers. Having re- mained in Holyoke three years he went West, and spent a season visiting in Chicago and in the neighboring city of Rockford. Returning East in 1889, he was employed in the cream- ery for two years. After this he bought his present property, formerly known as the Steb-
bins farm, which he has since conducted very successfully. It contains one hundred and sixty acres of land. The larger part of it is in a high state of cultivation, and gives fine crops of corn and hay each season. He also keeps a large dairy, selling the milk to the creamery, of which he is a Director.
On February 15, 1893, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Jessie May Bell, a native of Bethel, Conn., and a daughter of the Rev. R. C. Bell, pastor of the Granby Congregational Church, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are estimable members. Po- litically, Mr. Taylor is an adherent of the Republican party. A worthy and valued mem- ber of society, his reputation for integrity and honorable dealing is unblemished.
RS. EUNICE MARIA BLAIR, a highly esteemed resident of Ware, is the widow of the late Francis Blair, who passed away at his home on West Street, on August 3, 1883, when but forty- seven years of age. He was born in the west part of the town of Ware, and was a son of Ambrose ang Sarah (Dunbar) Blair, the former of whom was a native of Warren, Mass. His father was a successful farmer, spent his life in cultivating the land, and died in 1886, eighty-four years of age. His wife, who was a daughter of Seth Dunbar, of Ware, reared him a son and daughter, respectively named Francis and Almira. The latter died at the home of her brother's widow in 1893, when fifty-four years of age. She was a lady of the most amiable disposition. For many years she gave the most tender care to her invalid mother, who died in 1879, when about sixty- five years of age.
Mrs. Blair is a daughter of Deacon Milton and Maria (Snell) Lewis, respectively natives
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of Dedham and Ware, Mass. Her father was a well-informed man, and taught school both before and after his marriage. The latter part of his life, however, was chiefly spent in agri- culture, on his farm in the West Parish of Ware. He was a zealous member of the Con- gregational church, in which he served for many years as Deacon. On April 6, 1831, he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Snell, who bore him eight children. Of these a son died in infancy, and Nelson C. who lived but seventeen years. Thomas A., whose death occurred when he was thirty years old, was a graduate of Amherst College in the class of 1859. and had prepared for the ministry. He served as chaplain in the Civil War; and at the time of his death, in 1865, was engaged to be married. William E. died in 1891, at Lake Geneva, Wis., leaving a widow and seven children. He enlisted for service in the Civil War as a private in Company E of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, with which he shared in many hard-fought battles, and was wounded in the last. When mustered out of service he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was a man of fine in- tellectual ability, an earnest Christian worker, and was associated at one time with D. L. Moody. For fourteen years he was connected with the Young Men's Christian Association, and was beloved and highly esteemed in the West. He served as State Secretary, and was at one time a member of the legislature. The next in order is Eunice Maria, the subject of this sketch. Martha M., the wife of Dr. C. B. King, of Belchertown, died in March, 1891, aged forty-nine years, leaving one son. Henry M. died when two and a half years old ; and another child died in infancy. Their father's death occurred on September 26, 1885, at the age of seventy-seven years; and their mother died three years later, in the eighty-
first year of her age. They rest in the West Parish burial-ground in Ware.
Eunice Maria Lewis received a good com- mon-school education, and prior to her mar- riage was successfully engaged in teaching. On September 13, 1866, she was united in marriage with Francis Blair. He was a man of superior business ability, and in addition to managing his farm, he devoted much time and attention to other business and to town affairs. He dealt quite largely in real estate and mortgages, and at his death left besides his farm the present large farm-house and barn erected by him in 1862. He was interested in the Otis Company, to whom he proved a valu- able assistant. Though not a member of any church, his influence was always on the side of uprightness, integrity, and truth. In politics he was a loyal Republican, and for several years he was Selectman and Road Commis- sioner. After their marriage he and Mrs. Blair took up their residence in the house now occupied by her alone. She lost two infant daughters. A son and two daughters are liv- ing, namely: Lewis Monroe Blair, residing on the farm and conducting it, who has a wife and two sons; Mary Estella, who recently graduated from the Ware High School; and Alice Gertrude, fourteen years of age, who is now attending the high school. Mrs. Blair and her children are the last representatives of the family, with the exception of an uncle, Royal E. Blair, who resides in Springfield, Mass.
ONATHAN COWLS, a retired farmer of North Amherst, was born in that town, May 4, 1822, son of Jonathan and Esther (Graves) Cowls. Mr. Cowls's grandfather, David Cowls, was born August II, 1741, and was one of six brothers, who settled in that part of the State. He was an
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carly settler in North Amherst, and clearcd a good farm from the wilderness. He followed agriculture successfully, and dicd November 18, 1817. He was a prominent citizen of the town, honorable and upright in all his deal- ings, and was a leader of the church choir for many years. His wife, Sarah Eastman before marriage, was born in Hampshire County, January 28, 1744, daughter of J. Eastman. She became the mother of five children : David, Sally, Joseph, Silas, and Jonathan. She died August 14, 1815.
Jonathan Cowls, father of Mr. Cowls, was born in North Amherst, December 2, 1781. He succeeded to the possession of the home- stead. He educated himself, studying nights by the light of a pine knot, and in his young manhood taught school. He became an exten- sive farmer, owning over three hundred acres of land, and was prominent in public affairs, being chairman of the Board of Selectmen for some years. He possessed sound judgment, and his advice was often in demand. He was a Congregationalist in religious belief and a liberal supporter of that church in North Amherst. Jonathan Cowls died at the old homestead in North Amherst, January 18, 1866. His wife, whose maiden name was Esther Graves, was a native of Sunderland, Mass., and became the mother of eight chil- dren, as follows : Justin, Erastus, Lois, Ira, and Esther, all of whom died young; Sarah, who married George Bridgman, and resides in Michigan; Ransom, a prosperous farmer of Amherst; and Jonathan, the subject of this sketch. The mother died June 20, 1868.
Jonathan Cowls grew to manhood at the Cowls homestead in North Amherst. He commenced his education in the schools of his native town, and completed his studies at Bel- chertown and Lee. He adopted agriculture as an occupation, residing with his parents
until their death, after which he took charge of the home farm, and conducted it success- fully for many years. He was an extensive dealer in stock, and also devoted considerable attention to dairying. He carried on lumber- ing operations for several winters, and in all of his undertakings has displayed a commend- able spirit of energy and perseverance. He retired from active labor in 1893, at which time. he removed to his present residence. Mr. Cowls is independent in politics, and is a supporter of President Cleveland. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen, and has held other town offices.
On July 1, 1851, Mr. Cowls was united in marriage to Sarah M. Dickinson. She was born in Amherst, March 3, 1828, daughter of Walter and Lydia (Dickinson) Dickinson, both of whom were old residents of Amherst. Mr. and Mrs. Cowls have five children, namely: Walter D., born June 30, 1852, residing at the homestead; Newton E., born April II, 1854, a farmer in California; Abbie Grace, born August 21, 1856, who died Octo- ber 24, 1865; Sarah Janette, born December 17, 1858, married to Francis Frary, and resid- ing in Minneapolis; and Nellie G., born December 31, 1866, married to Edwin Dick- inson, and residing in North Amherst.
Mr. and Mrs. Cowls are members of the Congregational church, in which Mr. Cowls is an active worker and now Trustee.
AMES D. ATKINS, a venerable and honored resident of Florence, Mass., is living in pleasant retirement with his wife at their beautiful home, 18 Pine Street, excepting when they are travelling or sojourn- ing for the winter in the sunny South, whither they are driven by the chilly moun- tain breezes that sweep across Western Massa-
JAMES D, ATKINS.
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chusetts. He was born in Boston, February 17, 1817. His father, John Atkins, a native of Nova Scotia. born in 1795, was for many years a resident of that historic locality known as the North End, once inhabited by the leading families of Boston. John Atkins married Jane Dunn. of Maine, the daughter of a Commissary-general in the Revolution- ary War, and reared nine children, five sons and four daughters. James D. and his brother John, Jr .. late of Boston. now living with a daughter in Canada, are the only survivors of the family.
James D. Atkins received but a limited education in the public and private schools of his native city. being bound out at the age of seventeen years to learn stereotypography at the office of the University Press in Cam- bridge, Mass., where he worked eight years. When the constitution of the Florence com- munity was being printed there in 1842, Mr. Atkins was favorably impressed by its resolu- tions, and decided at once to cast his lot with this energetic and enterprising people. Ac- cordingly, before the close of that year he journeyed to Florence by way of Wilbraham. He was soon after engaged by the Northamp- ton Educational Association to learn the dyer's trade of the Englishman then in charge of that department of the silk industry, they being desirous that a member of the commu- nity should fill the position. Mr. Atkins became a thorough master of that business, which was then in its incipiency here, and for two years managed it alone. After that he had to have assistants, the force being grad- ually increased from time to time. His pay was also advanced as his labors and responsi- bility became greater, so that during his last years of service he received an annual salary of twenty-five hundred dollars. He had always commanded good wages, and, when a
young man, would save up a hundred dollars or so, and then take a trip somewhere for pleasure or in the interest of his work, having thus been able to come to this place. The first hundred which he saved after coming here Mr. Atkins invested in stock in the silk com- pany for which he was employed, afterward buying more, and was a Director in the works for several years, until selling out his stock in 1887.
On entering the factory to learn his trade, Mr. Atkins found many young women em- ployed in the Nonotuck Silk Works; and the first of these to whom he was introduced was a winsome maiden, named Octavia Melvina Damon. Both were mutually attracted; and the acquaintance thus formed ripened into love, and culminated in the marriage of the young couple on September 13, 1844. Fifty years later, assisted by their children, grand- children, kinsfolk, neighbors, and friends, they celebrated their golden wedding, about six hundred guests participating in the festiv- ities of that happy occasion, and the Rev. Mr. Hinckley reading an original poem of fifty- four lines. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, the following being a brief record: George D., who is in charge of the Nonotuck Silk office in Boston, married Carrie Eaton, of Chaplin, Conn., and they have one son and two daughters. Effie D. is the wife of George A. Willey, for many years a teacher, but now agent of the new Old South Church property in Boston; they are the parents of two sons and a daughter. Frederick T., a dyer in the silk works, resid- ing next door to his parents, married Lillian Graves, of this place; and they have two daughters.
In 1846 Mr. Atkins purchased his present home estate, giving one hundred dollars for the two acres, and soon after erected a modest
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cottage, which has since been enlarged and improved. It is situated in the centre of a large and finely shadcd lawn, his lot being about three hundred feet front, and extending from street to street, the house being back from the dust and din of the roadway. In politics Mr. Atkins was for many years iden- tified with the Republican party, but of late has voted independently, and has always steadfastly refused all official honors. So- cially, he is a Mason of thirty-four years' standing, belonging to Jerusalem Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Northampton.
On another page of the present volume is given a portrait of this veteran artificer, whose many years of diligent and skilful application entitle him to rank among the "captains of industry."
OHN MANLEY TURNER, general agent of the Equitable Life Assurance Society and a resident of Northampton since 1866, was born April 22, 1829, in Mansfield, Conn., son of Benjamin and Desire (Calkins) Turner.
Mr. Turner is of Puritan ancestry, being a lineal descendant of John M. Turner, one of the courageous band that landed on Plymouth Rock from the historic "Mayflower " in 1620. He did not survive the rigors of the first New England winter he experienced, but died before spring, leaving three sons, one of whom was the progenitor of the subject of this sketch. The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Turner was Seth Turncr. His son, Prince Turner, was a well-known resident of Mansfield, Conn., being an innkeeper on the old turnpike for many years. He married, and reared two children, Benjamin and Eu- nice Turner. Eunice lived about sixty-eight years. Prince Turner died quite suddenly at the age of fifty-six years. His widow sur-
vived him, dying at the age of seventy-seven years.
Benjamin Turner was a well-to-do farmer, and also carried on an extensive wholesale and retail mercantile business. He resided in Mansfield, and was a shrewd business man. His wife was a daughter of James and Betsey (Dunham) Calkins, and their wedding was celebrated in 1803. She was of Scotch ante- cedents, her grandfather, the Rev. James Cal- kins, having emigrated from Scotland, the country of his birth, to Connecticut, where he was put in charge of the Presbyterian church of Willington. Her parents were lifelong residents of Willington, both living to good old age, and leaving two sons and two daughters.
John Manley Turner was a regular attend- ant at the district school until thirteen years of age, when he was placed under the instruc- tion of Dr. William H. Richardson, with whom he studied six years. When seventeen years old, before completing his education, he taught school for three terms, at the same time pursuing his studies. At the age of twenty he was appointed assistant superin- tendent of schools with the Rev. A. R. Liv- ermore in his native town, holding that office and still studying and teaching by turns. He was subsequently appointed the first Select- man of the town. He afterward taught in the graded school at Tolland, Conn., finally going to Rockville in 1855 as principal of the high school, and having the charge of all the schools. He retained this position eleven years, during which he acquired a high repu- tation as an educator. He looks back upon that period now as the most useful decade of his life. While in Rockville, he was clerk of the First Congregational Church and su- perintendent of the Sunday-school; and he became an honorary life member of the For-
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eign Missionary Society. He was noted in educational circles, and for several years was Vice-President of the State Teachers' Asso- ciation. In 1868 Mr. Turner established the firm of Turner, Walker & Co. in the general insurance business, which was carried on until 1876, when Mr. Turner retired. The following year Mr. Turner became general agent for the Equitable Life Assurance Soci- ety. He is also a large dealer in real estate, making, without doubt, some of the heaviest sales in that line ever made in this county. He has accumulated a fine property, and owns in Glenwood, Volusia County, Fla., an orange grove that produces three thousand boxes of oranges a year.
Mr. Turner was united in marriage at South Glastonbury, Conn., in 1850 to Elizabeth L. Sanders, who died in 1880. The only child born of their union was a daughter, Lizzie M., who became the wife of Gilbert A. Christie, and died childless January 8, 1892. Mr. Turner is a Master Mason, and is an esteemed member of the First Congregational Church.
OLCOTT HAMLIN, one of the old- est lawyers in Amherst, who was connected with the political centre at Washington during one of the most stirring epochs of the country's history, was born in Livermore, Me., November 4, 1823, son of Isaac and Mary (Wolcott) Hamlin, the former a native of Harvard, Mass., the latter of Bol- ton. His grandfather, Major Eleazer Ham- lin, who also was a native of Massachusetts, was an early settler on Cape Cod. He was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and re- ceived for his services grants of land in Ohio and Maine. His last years were spent in Westford, Mass., where he now lies buried. Major Hamlin was a man of considerable force
of character, a prominent citizen wherever he made his home. He was three times married, and reared a large family, all of whom have passed away.
His son, Isaac Hamlin, grew to manhood in Harvard, Mass., early becoming familiar with agriculture, and adopting farming for his occupation. The greater part of his life was spent in Livermore, Me., where he was a prominent man. His last days were passed in Dover, N.H .; and there he breathed his last when eighty years of age. In politics Mr. Hamlin was a Whig. In religious belief he followed the teachings of the Baptist church. Mrs. Hamlin, who lived to be seventy-six years old, also spent her last days in Dover, N.H. They had a large family, one of whom died in infancy. Eight children attained maturity ; namely, Isaac Green, Sam- uel B., Hannibal, Henry H., Mary, Lorinda, Augusta, and Wolcott.
Wolcott Hamlin, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest child of the family. He was reared on his father's farm in Livermore, Me., attending the district schools in boy- hood, and finishing his education at Kent's Hill Seminary. He taught school for a while, and also engaged in other occupations. After spending some time in Boston, he went to Andover, N.H. In this place he was en- gaged in mercantile business for some years. He then took up the study of law, reading under Samuel Butterfield, and was admitted to the bar of New Hampshire in 1852. In 1856 he removed to Dover, N.H., and was there appointed Solicitor for Strafford County, his term of service to be five years. Just be- fore its expiration he resigned, and in 1861 went to Washington, D.C., where for nine years he was engrossing clerk of the Senate. In the mean time he was elected Representa- tive from the city of Dover, N.H., to the
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national legislature, and served in 1866 and 1867. In 1870 he was made Supervisor of Internal Revenue for the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, and filled the office until 1872, when the district was abol- ished. In the fall of that year he invested in a large tract of timber land in Connecticut, and for six years was engaged in lumbering; and in 1878 he moved to Amherst, and erected a large building for one of the college societies. In 1880 Mr. Hamlin again took up the work of his profession, and up to the present time has been actively engaged in legal practice.
On July 3, 1845, Mr. Hamlin was united in marriage with Miss Susan Westman, the ceremony taking place in Boston. Miss Westman, who was a daughter of Peter West- man, of Bath, Me., was born in the latter place, May 1, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin had a family of nine children, of whom the following are living: Edward F., who resides in Boston; Emma A., wife of Dr. Danforth, of New York City; John, a lawyer in Thomp- sonville, Conn. ; Mary, wife of Thomas Wood, of Utica, N. Y .; Frederick W., a physician in New York City; and Arthur W., who resides in Amherst.
In politics Mr. Hamlin favors the princi- ples of the Prohibitionists. He and his wife are members of the First Congregational Church, of which he has been Deacon, and is now Treasurer. Mr. Hamlin's career has been an eventful one. Engrossing clerk of the Senate during Lincoln's administration, when his distinguished relative, Hannibal Hamlin, was Vice-President, he was in close touch with the pulse of the nation during the Civil War. He was in Washington at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln and the attempted murder of Secretary Sew- ard, and his two years in the House of Repre-
sentatives were respectively signalized by the laying of the first Atlantic cable and the purchase of Russian America by the United States.
HARLES N. HARLOW, senior mem- ber of the firm of C. N. Harlow & Co., of Northampton, Mass., well- known contractors and builders, is a native of Cummington, Hampshire County, born May 13, 1836, son of Charles and Orissa (Mason) Harlow and grandson of Matthew Harlow, born in Abington, Mass., in the year 1770.
Matthew Harlow, having been reared in Abington, removed to Cummington, where he bought land, and became quite an extensive farmer. He was twice married. His first union was with Rachel Thompson, who died comparatively young, leaving him four chil- dren; namely, Matthew, Hattie, Hannah, and Lydia. He afterward married Persis Parker, widow of Benjamin Parker, and who had two children, Jacob and Benjamin Parker. Of this second union five children were born; namely, Charles, father of the subject of this sketch, Rachel, Asa, William, and Joseph, all of whom are now deceased. Grandfather Harlow died in 1842, having outlived both of his wives, who had passed away on the Cum- mington homestead.
Charles Harlow, born in Cummington in the ycar 1817, spent his early years on his father's farm. When old enough, he learned the tanner's trade of William Hubbard. In 184I he removed with his family to Amherst, Me., where he worked at his trade as an em- ployee for five years. He was afterward in business for himself for two years in tanning in Murival, Me., remaining there until he was burned out by a fire that was caused by lightning. In 1848 he returned to the place of his nativity, and, purchasing the William
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Hubbard farm. containing five hundred and twelve acres, engaged in the manufacture of lumber, using the mill on his farm for manu- facturing purposes. He also undertook bridge building, and erected thirty of the bridges that cross the Westfield River. Another of his enterprises was a barrel factory, which supplied the Berkshire Glass Works with bar- rels. He was an important factor in the industrial interests of Cummington, was esteemed for his business capacity and good judgment, and served the town as Selectman for ten years. In 1835 he was united in mar- riage to Orissa Mason, who was born in Cum- mington in 1819, being the daughter of Jesse Mason, another pioneer farmer and lifelong resident of Cummington. She had been a schoolmate of the Hon. Henry L. Dawes and of the beloved poet, William Cullen Bryant. Eight children were born to them, of whom a son died in infancy; and a daughter, Sarah J., died when twenty-one years old. Those living are as follows: Charles N., of this sketch: George W .; Ozro F .; Orrissa I., wife of F. E. Brown; Persis O., wife of Charles O. Gloyd; and Willis E. All are residents of this city. The brothers, who have inherited the mechanical ability of their father. are in the building business. Neither of the parents is living, the mother having passed away in 1881 and the father in 1886.
Charles N. Harlow received a substantial common-school education, attending the dis- trict schools in Amherst, Me., and in Cum- mington, Mass. He early turned his attention to mechanical occupations, working with his father until he came of age. Then he went to Detroit, Me., where he made and stamped leather for the F. Shaw Brothers and for the Detroit and Plymouth tanners. In 1859 he went to Roxton Falls, Canada East, and con- ducted a tannery for F. Shaw & Brothers for
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