USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 45
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Mr. Allen is an active supporter of the Re- publican party. He is Deputy Sheriff for Hampshire and Hampden Counties, and has been Constable for several years. He has been a Trustee of the Whiting Street Fund for the past six years. In Masonry he has advanced to the Commandery, and he is a member in good standing of the Red Men and of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.
On May 15, 1865, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Josepha M. Stanton, who was born in Huntington, September 29, 1846, daughter of Joseph Stanton, Jr., a prosperous farmer of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have two children, namely: Harry Edward, who was born February 24, 1874; and Grace S., who was born February 9, 1879. Both parents are members of the Baptist congrega- tion, and are actively interested in church work.
BRUNO F. RUDER.
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B RUNO F. RUDER was a native of Saxony, Germany, born June 26, 1848; but from 1863 until the time of his decease. April 17, 1895, he was a re- spected resident of Northampton, Mass. He was a son of John Frederick and Caroline (Papp) Ruder, both natives of Saxony. The father was a locksmith by trade, following it uninterruptedly through the years of his activ- ity, which were comparatively few, his death occurring when only thirty-three years old. His widow subsequently emigrated to Amer- ica, coming hither at the instigation of Rob- ert Ruder, who had settled in Holyoke prior to that time.
Bruno began earning his own living as soon as he came to this country, having learned the trade of a tool-maker and locksmith while in the Fatherland, being thus enabled to secure a position in the machine shop of the Arms Pocket-book Manufacturing Company, with whom he worked industriously for several years. In 1870, having saved some money, he married Katharina C. Chandler, a native of Northampton, a daughter of Pomeroy Chandler. Soon after their union Mr. and Mrs. Ruder opened a restaurant at 46 King Street, which proved attractive to the public; and in the course of a few years they built up an extensive and remunerative business. In 1872 he bought the restaurant and the lot on which it is situated; and some years later, in 1885, he purchased his fine residence property at 378 Elm Street, and built the commodious house in which he lived until his death, and which his widow and her family still occupy. Mr. Ruder was an energetic, capable, and honest man of business, highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact, and quite active in social life, being an official member and Trustee of Steuben Lodge, D. O. H., and one of the founders of the Independent Club
of Northampton, which at one time had a very large membership of Germans.
Seven children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ruder, two of whom, Nellie and Frederick, each died when fifteen months old. The record of the five living is as follows : Emma S. is the wife of Evon F. Huebler, of Northampton; Annie M., a young lady, at home; Louis F., a promising young man of nineteen years, now studying pharmacy; Si- donia, sixteen years old; and Caroline, twelve years of age. These children constitute a bright and intelligent family, and have inher- ited in a marked degree the musical talent of their father.
Evon F. Huebler, the husband of the eldest daughter, was born in Saxony, Germany, and came here with his mother when a child of three years, in 1867, joining his father, Frank Huebler, who had emigrated to this country the previous year. He is the eldest of seven living children born to his parents, who have buried five children, two having died in Ger- many and three in this country. Mr. Hue- bler attended the district school until twelve years old, when he began the battle of life as a clerk in a grocery store, remaining one year. He then became a printer's devil in the office of the Hartford Daily Times, where during his seven years' apprenticeship he served as compositor much of the time, occasionally acting as foreman. On arriving at years of maturity, Mr. Huebler formed a partnership with John H. Van Keuren, under the firm name of Van Keuren & Huebler, and started the Wethersfield Weekly Farmer, which they published for a year and a half. Then, in company with several others, he organized a stock company for publishing the Winsted Daily Evening Citizen, and was engaged as business manager and general superintendent of the company until October, 1894, when he
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came to Northampton, where he now resides. He is still a stockholder in the company, which is well established, the stock being valued at fifteen thousand dollars. His happy union with Miss Emma Ruder was solemnized on March 28, 1894.
A lifelike portrait of Mr. Bruno F. Ruder is herewith presented.
ANIEL W. DICKINSON, who since 1889 has been successfully engaged in the wholesale meat and provision business in Amherst, Mass., where he is a highly respected citizen, was born in South Amherst, December 6, 1851, son of Waitstill and Mercy J. Dickinson, both of whom were natives of Amherst.
His grandparents on both sides were among the early residents of that town; and in many respects the history of their lives is somewhat similar, as both were leading farmers, Cap- tains in the State militia, and prominent in town affairs. His maternal grandfather, Enos Dickinson, was sent as a Representative to the State legislature in 1836; and Oliver Dickinson, his paternal grandfather, also acted as a Representative. The latter died in Amherst, at seventy-one years of age. Enos Dickinson's death occurred at eighty-three years of age. The latter took a prominent part in religious movements, and was a mem- ber of the Congregational church. In politics he was a Whig.
Waitstill Dickinson, who was born March 19, 1814, was a lifelong resident of Amherst. For many years he was a merchant and Post- master in South Amherst, where he kept a general store, and did a successful business as long as his health permitted. When that failed, he was obliged to give up his business at a heavy loss. He was an attendant of the
Congregational church, and in political con- tests he cast his vote with the Republican party. In 1849 he was sent as a Representa- tive to the State legislature; and he served his town as Selectman for seven years, as Assessor for five years, and was also a member of the School Committee. He was married on April 20, 1837, to Miss Mercy J. Dickin- son, who was born April 7, 1816. They had eleven children, who, with the exception of one, reached maturity. Eight are now living; namely, Joanna T., Henry C., Dwight E., Lucy M., Daniel W., George W., Sidney O., and Robert M. The others are: Lyman E., who died when three years old; Edward M., who lived to be thirty-five years of age; and Julia L., who died at twenty-three years of age. Mr. Dickinson died on March 10, 1884; and she is now living with her son, Daniel W. Dickinson.
Daniel W. Dickinson acquired a good prac- tical education in the schools of Amherst. He began to assist his father in the store when a mere boy, and continued with him until shortly after his marriage. He then moved to Rocky Hill, Conn., where he started a general store for himself, and during the succeeding ten years did a successful busi- ness. He then went to Meriden, and thence to Hartford, Conn., remaining in the latter place about four years. While there, he was engaged as a commercial traveller, and carried a line of wholesale flour and provisions. In 1887 he came to Amherst, and purchased the old Lieutenant Dickinson farm, on which he now resides. It contains forty acres of land. In addition to cultivating this, he conducts a wholesale meat and provision business, in which he has been successfully engaged for the past six years.
His marriage with Miss Jennie Prince was performed May 20, 1873. She was a daugh-
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ter of George H. Prince, who was born in Amherst on December 12, 1827, and a grand- daughter of Asael Moody and Mahala (Ar- nold) Prince, the former of whom was born in New York State, and the latter on August 30, 1797, in Belchertown, Mass. Her grand- father came to Hampshire County when but seven years of age, and from that time Am- herst became his home. He chose the occu- pation of an agriculturist, in which he was quite successful, and became one of the lead- ing farmers of the town. He was also active in religious work as a member of the Congre- gational church. In political opinions he was a Whig. He died March 13, 1836; and his wife died in 1858 in Williamsburg, Mass. Three of their four children are now living, as follows: Simeon D., born June 7, 1820, now residing in Chicago, Ill., the proprietor of the Prince House; George H. ; and Emory L., born January 23, 1831, who resides in Jamestown, Kan., where he is a successful grain, feed, and coal dealer. A brother, after whom the last mentioned was named, was born June 18, 1822. and died October 8, 1830.
George H. Prince received his education in the Amherst common schools. He then en- gaged in farming and lumbering, and is still interested in the latter. He owns the old Prince farm, which he purchased from his brother, and has now retired from active busi- ness, having acquired sufficient means for his support during the remainder of his life. He was married on May 17, 1849, to Miss Sarah E. Nash, who was born in Amherst on June 30, 1829, and is a daughter of Luther and Sabra (Pomeroy) Nash, who were early set- tlers of Amherst. Luther Nash died, seventy- seven years of age, and his wife when nearly eighty-five years old. Their seven children all grew up, and two are now living, namely : Charlotte, the widow of Joshua Powers, who |
resides in Hadley, Mass. ; and Mrs. Prince. Both parents were members of the Congrega- tional church. Mr. and Mrs. Prince had six children. Four are now living, namely: Liz- zie E., born June 10, 1850, the wife of Will A. Dickinson, of South Amherst; Frank M., born July 23, 1854, who is married, resides in Minneapolis, Minn., and is Vice-President of the First National Bank of that place; George H., born July 16, 1861, who lives in St. Paul, Minn., where he is Cashier of the Capi- tal Bank; and Walter L., born June 24, 1866, who is married, and lives in Stillwater, Minn., Assistant Cashier of the First Na- tional Bank. The deceased are: Jennie E., born December 12, 1852; Charles W., born December 12, 1863, who died August 22, 1894, at Minneapolis, where he was employed as a book-keeper in a bank. Both parents are liberal in religious matters, and in politics the father is a Republican. He has served acceptably as Selectman of the town. Mr. Dickinson's wife died on May 9, 1882, leav- ing no children. He has liberal views as to religious matters, and is a Republican in poli- tics. He is quite prominent in town affairs, and has served in the official capacity of Selectman since 1893 and also in other minor offices.
ENRY CLAY MILTON HOWE, one of the leading farmers of En- field, was born there on January 10, 1823, son of John and Rhoda B. (Babbett) Howe and grandson of Solomon and Polly (Holmes) Howe.
Solomon Howe's birth occurred on Septem- ber 14, 1750. He studied for the ministry, and graduated from Dartmouth College. After that he became a Baptist preacher, and had pastoral charges in several New England towns, among which was Enfield, then Green-
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wich, where he resided a number of years. He died in New Salem, November 18, 1835, eighty-five years of age. His wife also lived to a good age. They were the parents of nine children ; namely, Abigail H., Hannah, John, Nancy, Solomon, Jonah, Jedidiah, Silas W., and John Milton.
John Howe, the eldest son, was a native of Brookfield, Mass., where he was born Decem- ber 20, 1783. Throughout his life he devoted considerable attention to agriculture. He also engaged in the printing business, pub- lishing hymn-books and spelling-books, and in 1804 issuing the first number of Howe's Genuine Almanac, for which he made the astronomical calculations. It was one of the leading almanacs at that time, and he con- tinued to publish it up to 1826. The last years of his life were spent in Enfield, on the farm that is now owned by his son, and which he purchased in 1841. His death on Febru- ary 16, 1845, closed a very successful life. In politics he was a Democrat. He was much interested in the welfare of his town, which he served as Assessor and in other capacities. On matters relating to religion he had liberal views. His wife died on September 13, 1837. Six children were the fruit of their union. They were: John H., Myra M., Frances M., Henry C. M., Bolivar J., and- Fenelon W.
Henry Clay Milton Howe, who is now the only survivor of those who in his boyhood days made up the family circle, received a good practical education in the public schools of Enfield. He then turned his attention to agriculture, and has continued to reside on his present farm, the same to which his par- ents moved when he was eighteen years of age. It is one of the most productive farms in Enfield, and contains about one hundred acres, including the pasturage and tillable
land. Mr. Howe carries on general farming and dairying.
On July 20, 1848, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Theolocia Ann Johnson, who was born in Dana, Worcester County, on April 20, 1824, and is a daughter of Nathan- iel and Martha (Joslyn) Johnson. Her father was one of the leading men of Dana, and for many years was a teacher in the public schools. During his residence there he held in turn nearly every office within the gift of the town. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and as a Representative in the State legislature. He died in Dana, seventy-nine years of age. His wife bore him four chil- dren, of whom, besides Mrs. Howe, there is now living but Nathaniel L. Johnson, a prom- inent citizen of Dana, who has served as State Senator and Representative, and is now Presi- dent of the Barre Bank. The deceased were : Eliza Mann Johnson, a spinster; and Char- lotte Augusta, who married Sylvester Lin- coln. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had four children, of whom three are still living, namely: William F., born November 17, 1855, a prosperous merchant of Enfield, at one time Postmaster of Enfield, married to Miss Harriet Hubbard, and father of two sons and a daughter - Grace L., Theodore L., and Warren F .; Edwin H. Howe, the present Postmaster of Enfield, graduated by Eastman College at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1882, mar- ried to Miss Annie A. Williams, and father of one son, Donald Williams Howe; and The- olocia Lillian, wife of Hiram Weyant, of Bos- ton. Henry Johnson Howe died when he was but four years and nine months old.
Mr. Howe is a supporter of Democratic principles. He has several times served his town as Assessor, and for a number of years has filled the office of Surveyor. His views on matters pertaining to religion are liberal.
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Mrs. Howe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
VERY R. CUSHMAN, a prominent manufacturer of North Amherst, was born in that town, June 22, 1831, son of John R. and Rhoda (Crafts) Cushman. Mr. Cushman is a direct descendant of Robert Cushman. one of the organizers of the "May- flower " Pilgrims, and who came to America on board the ship to arrive after the " May- flower." Robert Cushman was a minister and a prominent man among the colonizers of Massachusetts. Mr. Cushman's grandfather, Ephraim Cushman, was born in Middleboro, Mass., February 20, 1754. He served in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the suppression of Shays's Rebellion. He first located in Pelham, Mass., later moving to North Amherst, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker, and also engaged in farming. He was an industrious man, and highly es- teemed by his neighbors. He raised a large family of children, all of whom became useful members of society. Ephraim Cushman died in North Amherst, February 20, 1832. He was a Congregationalist in religion.
John R. Cushman, son of Ephraim Cushman and father of Mr. Cushman, was born in North Amherst, September 6, 1803. In early man- hood he was connected with the business of manufacturing paper, and in 1834 he estab- lished the cardboard manufactory in North Amherst. This he conducted in company with his brother Ephraim until 1864, when his son, Avery R. Cushman, purchased Ephraim's interest in the business. John R. Cushman was originally a Whig in politics, but united with the Republican party at its formation, and became prominent in public affairs. He served upon the Board of Select-
men, and was a member of the legislature for one term during the Civil War. He was a thorough business man, and stood high among his associates for his honorable and upright character. He was a member of the Congre- gational church, and contributed liberally toward its support. John R. Cushman died in North Amherst in 1883. His wife, who was born in Whately, Mass., October 7, 1803, became the mother of six children, as follows : George H., deceased; Carrie, deceased, who married Mr. Julius Hall; Avery R., the sub- ject of this sketch; Moses E., a resident of North Amherst; John E., who resides in North Amherst; and Edward P., who resides in Lynn, Mass. The mother died in 1878.
Avery R. Cushman was educated in the public schools of North Amherst, and at an early age commenced to learn the paper-mak- ing business. He became familiar with every branch of the trade, and in 1864 entered into partnership with his father. He has since conducted a successful business, and now owns the Cushman Mills, which are devoted to the manufacture of cardboard, producing a large amount annually, and employ from twenty to twenty-five skilled workmen. He is an energetic and capable business man, who has reached his present state of prosperity by hard work. Mr. Cushman is a Republican in politics, and has filled important town of- fices, and represented his district in the leg- islature of 1871.
On May 18, 1854, Mr. Cushman was united in marriage to Augusta M. Smith. She was born in Enfield, Mass., May 14, 1832, daugh- ter of John W. and Augusta (Rathburn) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Cushman have four children, namely: Carrie A., who was born December 19, 1855, the wife of Albert S. Stevens, of Amherst, and mother of one daughter, Edith M .; Avery Fayette, born
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August 28, 1860, is now a lawyer in New York City; Charles Smith, born October 31, 1865, married to Stella L. Shaw, and father of one daughter, Stella May; and Stephen Percy, born September 20, 1873, now a law student in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Cushman's children are well advanced upon the road to success. Avery F. is connected with the law firm of Goodrich, Deady & Goodrich at 59 Wall Street, New York City. He married Mary Hedden, and has one daughter, named Carolin. Charles S. is engaged in the paper- manufacturing business in North Amherst with his father.
Albert S. Stevens, who married Carrie A. Cushman, was born in Pelham, Mass., Febru- ary 17, 1852, son of Abial and Maria (Smith) Stevens. Mr. Stevens's father was born in Gill, Franklin County, Mass., in 1804. He was a successful railroad contractor for many years, and upon his retirement from business he settled in Amherst. He died July 31, 1876. His wife, Maria Smith, who was born in Pelham, Mass., June 2, 1817, became the mother of two children, namely: Lorenzo S., who resides in Ogden, Utah; and Albert S.
Albert S. Stevens received a good educa- tion, and has devoted his time and energies to railroad contracting and engineering. He has also been engaged in the construction of public works to a considerable extent, in which he was successful ; and he is now living in retirement in Amherst. Mr. Stevens is a Republican in politics.
SAAC H. STEELE, superintendent of T the Cummington Co-operative Cream- @ ery, was born in Cummington, Novem- ber 28, 1843, son of Hiram and Rebecca (Witherell) Steele.
Mr. Steele's grandparents were Stephen
and Chloe (Hubbard) Steele. Stephen Steele was born in Tolland County, Connecticut, from which State he went to Weathersfield, Vt., and later to Windsor, where he became a prosperous farmer. His death occurred in middle life. His wife, Chloe Hubbard before marriage, lived to an advanced age, and was the mother of ten children: Stephen, Lucius, Eliakin, Hiram, Charles, Chloe, Gratia, Emily, Mary J., and Hiram. Mr. Steele's father was born in Weathersfield, Vt., January 5, 1799. When a young man, he went to Watertown, Mass., where he learned the trade of finishing broadcloth, becoming an expert in that occupation. He later worked in Leeds, Mass .; and in 1838 he came to Cummington, where he purchased the Melvin farm, consist- ing of one hundred and fifty acres. He built a new barn, and remodelled the other build- ings, and was a well-to-do farmer when he died in Cummington, at the age of ninety-two years. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the House of Representatives in 1846 and 1847, and a member of the Meth- odist church. His wife was a native of Ches- terfield, Mass., daughter of Elisha Witherell. They had three children, as follows: Lucius; Mary J., who married for her first husband P. A. Bryant, and for her second J. D. Stall; and Isaac H., the subject of this sketch. The mother died at the age of eighty-two.
Isaac H. Steele attended the district and select schools of Cummington. At the age of nineteen years he went to Northampton, where he worked upon guns in the Bay State shops. He later entered the hoop factory in Chesterfield, where he remained for nine years, and then, in company with Joseph Cud- worth, his wife's father, purchased two hun- dred acres of land. They carried on farming for eleven years, keeping graded Durham cows and making a specialty of raising, matching,
JASON WILLCUTT.
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and breaking steer. Mr. Steele returned to the shops in Chesterfield for three years, and in 1886 came to Cummington. Here he assisted in finishing the new creamery, after which he was appointed superintendent. The association started with twenty-five dairies, and now disposes of the products of one hun - dred and forty-five. It markets upward of twenty thousand pounds of butter per month, chiefly in the surrounding towns and cities. A portion reaches New York and Boston, where it has secured a high reputation. The Cummington Creamery is noted for the supe- rior quality of its commodities - a fact to be largely credited to Mr. Steele's management. Their supply of water is obtained from a con- stant spring, and the machinery is run by a twelve-horse power engine. The grounds are neatly laid out and covered with shade trees.
On December 24, 1868, Mr. Steele was united in marriage to Alice A. Cudworth, daughter of Joseph and Arelia (Todd) Cud- worth. They have two children, namely : George W., born June 21, 1873; and Frank D., born February 3, 1879. Mr. Steele is a Republican in politics, and liberal in his religious views.
ASON WILLCUTT, whose portrait is here given, a prosperous farmer of Cummington, Mass., was born in the adjoining town of Goshen, December 5, 1822, son of William and Betsey (Daniels) Will-
cutt. Mr. Willcutt's grandparents were Zeb- ulon and Mercy (Litchfield) Willcutt, who moved to Goshen from Cohasset, on the south shore of Massachusetts Bay. Zebulon Will- cutt acquired a tract of two hundred acres of wild land, and cleared and improved a good farm, erecting substantial buildings. The estate is now owned by Emily Willcutt. He
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and long survived to enjoy the freedom he had helped to win, attaining the advanced age of ninety-three years. In politics he was a Democrat and in religion a Baptist. His wife, Mercy Litchfield, became the mother of the following children: John, Jesse, Joseph, Minerva, Noah, William, Francis, Serviah, and Louis.
William Willcutt, Mr. Willcutt's father, was born in Goshen, and resided with his par- ents until 1832. He learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and followed that as an occupa- tion, but was also a Methodist minister, and did a great deal of Christian work. William Willcutt died at the age of seventy-one. He married Betsey Daniels; and they had eight children : Jackson, Jason, Elvira, Hester, Harriet, Eliza, William, and Lorenzo. The mother died at the age of seventy-nine.
Jason Willcutt, having grown to manhood, purchased the D. Richards farm of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres, situated on the line between Goshen and Cummington, re- modelled the house, built a new barn, and otherwise improved the property. He is a painstaking and progressive farmer, as is shown by the neat and orderly appearance of his premises and the general air of thrift and good management, his farm being one of the best in this locality. He is engaged in gen- eral husbandry and dairying, keeping twelve cows and some valuable young cattle. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as Selectman.
Mr. Willcutt and Elvira Shaw, daughter of Ebenezer Shaw, were united in marriage on April 16, 1840. They journeyed together through life's sunshine and its storms more than fifty years. Of the five children who came to brighten their home two, Sylvanus and Guilford, were soon taken away. Those
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