USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 5
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Horace H. Vaughn passed his boyhood and youth in Prescott, and was brought up to a practical knowledge of farming. He com- menced his education in the district schools. After completing his studies at the New Salem Academy, he taught school for some time. In April, 1861, he settled in Green- wich, where, with the exception of one year, he has since resided. He purchased his pres-
JOSEPH W. GREEN, Jr.
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ent farm of one hundred and nine acres in 1869, and for the past twenty-six years has conducted general farming, making a specialty of raising poultry, with satisfactory results. He has worked industriously and energeti- cally, and his present prosperity is fully mer- ited. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and he has been prominent in the order of Good Templars.
On February 5, 1861, Mr. Vaughn was united in marriage to Lydia Locke. She was born in Wendell, Mass., January 11, 1837. Her parents were Ephraim and Nancy Locke. The father was a native of Wendell; and the mother was born in Dover, Vt. Ephraim Locke followed agriculture as an occupation during his entire life, and was known as a prosperous farmer and an upright citizen. He lived to the age of seventy-one years, and his wife to the age of seventy-two.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn have one daughter, Jennie L., who was born in Greenwich, Janu- ary 9, 1862. She married Henry I. Glazier, and they reside with Mr. Vaughn .. Mr. Glazier is engaged in lumbering in connection with farming, and is well known as an active and industrious man. Mr. and Mrs. Glazier have three children; namely, Leta Mabel, Elsie L., and Earl H.
Mr. Vaughn and his wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been superintendent and teacher of the Sunday-school for forty years, and is at the present time one of the Stewards.
OSEPH W. GREEN, JR., of whom a portrait is seen on the opposite page, is the Treasurer of the Glendale Elas- tic Fabric Company at Easthampton and a well-known and influential business man. He was born in the quaint old town of Marble-
head, Mass., in 1848, son of Joseph W. and Abbie T. (Girdler) Green, the former of whom was likewise a native of that place, born in 1823.
His grandfather, who first borc the name of Joseph W. Green, was born in Marblehead in 1795. Though hardly more than a boy at the time of the War of 1812, he, nevertheless, bore his share in that struggle. He became a fish merchant and exporter, and did quite an extensive business both in Marblehead and in Boston. Alive to the commercial interests of his town and the benefits to be derived from a local banking institution, he was one of the leaders in the founding of the National Grand Bank at Marblehead. He was interested in governmental affairs, and was at one time a member of the State legislature. He married Miss Hannah Goss, and they reared twelve of the fourteen children that were born of their union - five sons and seven daughters. Five are now living, namely: Joseph W .; Charles W., who is a merchant in Boston; Sarah L., the wife of Henry R. Chadbourne, of East Watertown, Mass .; Charlotte, who is unmar- ried, and also resides at East Watertown; and Harriet G., the widow of Thomas Courtis, living at Salem, Mass. Their father attained the goodly age of eighty-four years, and their mother lived to be eighty.
Joseph W. Green, second, was an apt scholar, and pursued his studies at the schools in Marblehead and in the academy at Andover, qualifying himself for a teacher. When the news came of the discovery of gold in Califor- nia, being among those who were filled with a desire to try their fortunes in that El Dorado, he went thither with the forty-niners; and his life since has been one of varied experiences and fortunes. At the present time he resides in Ranier, Ore., whither he went in 1880, and in recent years has been successfully en-
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gaged in teaching. He married Abbie Gird- ler, a daughter of Lewis Girdler and Hannah Turner Girdler, the former of whom was a merchantman. Of the three children born to them one son, Lewis G. Green, who was an accountant, and unmarried, died in 1876, at twenty-cight years of age. The living are: Ellen T. Green, who was educated in Marble- head, where she is now a successful teacher; and Joseph W. Green, Jr., the subject of the present sketch.
Joseph W. Green, Jr., received his educa- tion at Marblehead and in Boston, graduating from the Eliot School in that city in the class of 1862, being then but fourteen years of age. He was employed at his grandfather's place of business in Boston for about four years, work- ing there during his vacations until he left school; and at eighteen years of age he se- cured a position with the house of Nichols & Farnsworth, dealers in shoe manufacturers' goods, with whom he remained for twelve years. In the winter of 1878 he came to Easthampton, where he entered the position he now holds, Treasurer and Manager of the Glendale Elastic Fabric Company, which was established in 1863 by Samuel Williston, H. G. Knight, and E. H. Sawyer. Mr. Green is also interested in the Easthampton Rubber Thread Company and the Nashawon- nock Manufacturing Company.
He was married on September 30, 1889, to Mrs. Hannah C. Richmond, née Courtis, a daughter of Stacey and Hannah (Green) Cour- tis. Her first husband, Mr. James H. C. Richmond, died in the prime of life, leaving her with five children, as follows: Fred C. Richmond, who resides at Schullsburg, Wis., where he is engaged in zinc and lead mining; Stacey Courtis Richmond, who is engaged in the banking business with Spencer, Trask & Co. of New York City; and James H. C.
Richmond and Catherine C. Richmond, who are twins. The former, who is a stock clerk and accountant with the Glendale Fabric Company, was cducatcd at New Bedford and Providence, and resides at homc; and the lat- ter, who was educated at New Bedford, Mass., Providence, R.I., and Boston, Mass., is an accomplished kindergarten teacher at Boston, making a success of her chosen vocation. Clifford Ambrose Richmond, the youngest child, was educated at New Bedford, Mass., Schullsburg, Wis., and Easthampton, Mass., and is a weaver in the Glendale Fabric Com- pany, and is a man of keen intellectual powers.
The Republican party counts Mr. Green among its faithful and loyal adherents. He has considerable musical talent, and for many years has been actively interested in church choirs and many musical organizations. About 1890 he purchased the pleasant resi- dence on Park Street which he and his family have since occupied.
DWARD B. NIMS, M.D., who has charge of the Hospital for the Insane at Northampton, Mass., is a native of New Hampshire, born April 20, 1838, in Sullivan, Cheshire County, son of Seth and Maria (Frost) Nims.
Among the early settlers of Deerfield, in this county, we find the name of Godfrey Nims. The house he built and subsequently lived in still stands at the corner of Main and Academy Streets. It has but recently passed out of the Nims family, after an owner- ship of one hundred and eighty years. God- frey Nims was prominent among the pioneers of the town, and his name is engraved on the memorial tablet in the new hall. Some of his descendants settled in New Hampshire, and
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became leading citizens of that State. One of them. David Nims, great-great-uncle of the subject of this sketch, was the first Town Clerk of Keene, N.H. The paternal grand- father, also named David, was born in Rox- bury, N. H., about 1776, and died in 1814. He married Abigail Carter, who survived him, living to the venerable age of fourscore years. She bore her husband eight children - four sons and four daughters -all of whom, with one exception. married, and reared families. One of the sons, Seth, having been brought up a farmer, continued in that occupation after reaching manhood. He entered into matri- mony with Maria Frost, whose parents were esteemed members of the farming community of Sullivan. There were born of the union three children, namely: Edward B .; Ellen E., wife of Henry C. Rawson, of Sullivan; and Augustus F., of the same town. The mother died in October, 1865, aged fifty-eight years. The father subsequently married Hannah Dodge, with whom he is still living in his New Hampshire home, hale and vigorous yet, although ninety-two years old.
Dr. Nims was reared on the home farm until sixteen years old, when he was sent to the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N.H., to be fitted for college. He made good use of the opportunities here. He was ad- mitted to Williams College in 1858, and grad- uated four years later. He subsequently entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Vermont at Burlington. In May, 1864, he accepted an appointment as Assistant Sur- geon of the First Vermont Cavalry, and was in active service in the Civil War under Gen- eral Sheridan until May, 1865, when he was prostrated with fever. After this his regi- ment was distributed along the Canadian frontier; and he was mustered out of service August 9, 1865. Dr. Nims then continued
his medical studies, taking a full course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York City, and received his degree at the Vermont University. After practising his profession for a short time, he was appointed Assistant Physician in the Vermont State Asylum at Brattleboro. He filled this position from February, 1866, until December, 1868, when he accepted that of Assistant Physician in the Northampton Asy- lum, under Dr. Pliny Earl. He was ap- pointed Head Physician, his present office, October 21, 1885, when Dr. Earl was retired. He is assisted in his onerous duties by Dr. J. A. Houston, Dr. C. M. Holmes, and Dr. Jane R. Baker, all of whom stand high in the medical fraternity. The hospital receives about two hundred patients annually, who come from the counties of Hampden, Hamp- shire, Franklin, and Berkshire. The build- ing is of brick, very handsome and capacious, four stories high, with a frontage of seven hundred and twelve feet, and is delightfully located, on an eminence overlooking the sur- rounding country.
On September 5, 1867, Dr. Edward B. Nims was united in marriage with Elizabeth E. Delano, of Ticonderoga, N.Y., being the daughter of Asa P. Delano. The only child born of their union, a son, named Edward Earl Nims, died at this institution, July 26, 1877, at the age of seven years.
AMES D. BARNES, a progressive farmer of Prescott, born in Pelham, Mass., August 27, 1827, was son of Dwight and Violet (Mellen) Barnes. Mr. Barnes's great-grandfather, Eli Barnes, was an early settler of Hardwick, Mass., where he became a prosperous farmer and resided for the remainder of his life. He raised a family
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of nine children, respectively named : Dwight, Harvey, Horace, Lucius, Eli, Lyman, Sophia, Minda, and Fanny. Of these the only one now living is Lucius Barnes, a resident of Ware, Mass.
Dwight Barnes, father of Mr. Barnes, was born in Hardwick. He first settled in Bel- chertown, and later in Pelham, where he owned and successfully managed a good farm. He possessed a strong constitution, was a tireless worker, a Democrat in politics, and lived to the age of sixty-four years. His farm is now occupied by Arthur Barnes. His first wife, Violet (Mellen) Barnes, died at the age of thirty years. His second wife was Lois King- field, who passed her declining years at the home of James D. Barnes. Mr. Barnes was the father of three children, as follows: James D., the subject of this sketch; Estus H., who died aged sixty-five; and Joseph M., a resi- dent of West Ware.
James D. Barnes received his education in the schools of Pelham, and at an early age commenced life as a farm boy, receiving for wages thirteen dollars per month. He con- tinued to work as an assistant upon different farms until 1860, when he purchased the prop- erty on which he now resides. The farm, situated upon high ground, overlooking a considerable portion of the surrounding coun- try, is conducted upon modern principles. Its appearance, together with the excellent condition of the buildings, tells the sterling qualities of the owner. He has no specialty ; but, while conducting general farming opera- tions, he is seldom found without some fine cattle. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served the town with ability for two terms each as Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Road Commissioner. He is a Master Mason and a member of Bethel Lodge.
On November 25, 1858, Mr. Barnes was
united in marriage to Mary J. Upton. She was born in Prescott, and was a daughter of Otis and Minerva (Shaw) Upton. Both par- ents were natives of Prescott. The father's occupation was that of stone mason, and he was over eighty when he died. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have had five children, namely : Addie Leola, who died at the age of eighteen; Eugene and Herbert W., who are in the meat business in Prescott; Allie L. and Clarence, who are engaged in farming. Mr. Barnes is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, and his sons are well and favorably known in the community as bright and active business men.
ENRY A. PARSONS, a successful business man at Westhampton, where his pleasant and accommodating disposition makes him a favorite with his fel- low-townsmen, was born in Easthampton, March 16, 1856. His father, Joseph Parsons, a lifelong resident of Easthampton, is a thriving farmer and an influential citizen. He is a leader in public affairs, and has served as Selectman for several years. He married Cecilia Clark, also a native of East- hampton, and they became the parents of eight children, three of whom died; namely, Sarah, Louisa, and Julius. The surviving children are: Joseph E., a contractor in Meriden, Conn .; Henry A., the subject of this sketch; Mary C., wife of L. S. Janes, who is engaged in the dairy business at Easthampton; Anna, wife of F. E. Searle, of Easthampton ; and Carrie M., a teacher in Northampton.
Henry A. Parsons was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and assisted on the home farm until he was thirty years of age, when he entered upon a mercantile ca- reer. Coming to Westhampton in 1887, he bought his present store, and has since car-
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ried on a flourishing business in general mer- chandise. For a time he was Assistant Postmaster in this village. Being an ener- getic and enterprising man and honest and upright in his dealings, Mr. Parsons has built up a large trade in the village and surround- ings. In politics he affiliates with the Re- publicans, while taking an active and intelli- gent interest in promoting the general welfare. He is a charter member of the Knights of Honor, and belongs to Hope Lodge, No. 1184.
Mr. Parsons was united in marriage Decem- ber 12, 1878, to Miss M. Jennie Keene, who was born in England, being a daughter of James Keene, a leading merchant of East- hampton, where he is still carrying on a suc- cessful business. Three children have been born to them; namely, Lillian M., Emily L., and Annie K. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are ac- tively identified with the religious movements of the community, being valued members of the Congregational church. He is a member of the parish committee and the superintend- ent of the Sunday-school.
AJOR CHARLES S. SHAT- TUCK, a prominent manufacturer of Hatfield and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Sheldon, Franklin County, Vt., June 5, 1840, son of Richard A. and Mary (Smith) Shattuck.
Major Shattuck's great-grandparents were Samuel and Sarah (Clesson) Shattuck, the former of whom was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. His second wife was Chloe Field. His children were: Samuel, Chloe, Consider, Seth, Lydia, Jessie, Robert, and Chester. Major Shattuck's grandfather, Con- sider Shattuck, was born in Greenfield, Mass .;
and in early manhood he settled in Sheldon, Vt., where he bought three hundred acres of wild land, which he cleared and improved into a productive farm. He followed agriculture successfully in the town of Sheldon, and died from the effects of an accident. Consider Shattuck was a generous, public-spirited man, a Whig in politics, and an Episcopalian in religious belief. He married Anna Atherton, and raised a family of three children ; namely, Alvah, Zania, and Richard A. His wife wedded for her second husband Elihu Good- sill, and her six children by this union were: Eliza, Barnard, Frank, Mary, Chloe, and John.
Richard A. Shattuck, Major Shattuck's father, was born in East Sheldon, Vt., March 28, 1801. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, an occupation which he followed for a time. He was appointed Collector of Customs for the district of Alburg Springs, Vt., where the office was located. He became a prominent man in the town, and ably filled several important positions of public trust. Richard A. Shattuck died December 6, 1873. His wife, Mary Smith before marriage, was born in Sheldon, August 14, 1805, daughter of Daniel Smith, of that town. She became the mother of twelve children, as follows: Helen M., DeForest E., J. Clesson, Emeline E., Barnard G., Eliza H., Daniel S., Norman L., Charles S., Arthur L., Helen M. (second), and Anna A. The mother died December 14, 1871.
Charles S. Shattuck was educated in the schools of Sheldon; and at the age of seven- teen he entered mercantile life as clerk in a hardware store in Burlington, Vt., where he remained for three years. On July 16, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Sixth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, for three years' service in the Civil War. He was
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immediately raised to the rank of Sergeant ; and on September 19, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of First Licutenant of his com- pany. Hc was made Captain of United States Volunteers on February 22, 1865, and in July of that ycar was promoted to the rank of Brevet Major of Volunteers, his com- mission being signed by Abraham Lincoln. After his retirement from the service, Janu- ary 1, 1866, he returned to Vermont, and in company with E. O. Wires resumed mercan- tile business in Burlington. He dealt in crockery and glassware, paper hangings, etc., carrying on a wholesale and retail business for three years, at the expiration of which time he sold his interest to William Wood. He was appointed to take the census of the county in 1870, and on January 1, 1871, accepted a position with the Wilcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company in New York City. He remained for one year in New York, and was then sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the interest of the company. In 1874 he resigned his position with the Wilcox & Gibbs firm, and engaged in the manufacturing of pistols at Springfield, Mass., under the firm name of Hyde & Shattuck. The business proved a profitable one; and on February 1, 1877, the plant was moved to Hatfield, where the manu- facturing of single-barrel breech-loading shot- guns was added to the enterprise. In 1880 Major Shattuck became sole proprietor of the establishment, and has since conducted its affairs with success. He has of late given his attention solcly to the manufacturing of shot- guns, and produces four different patterns. He employs a force of thirty skilled workmen, and enjoys a steady patronage. Major Shat- tuck purchased a handsome residence on Main Street, built by Ashley Bardwell in 1874; and he also owns the substantial brick house situated directly opposite, formerly the home
of Henry Bardwell, and the Curtis place on Pleasant Street.
Major Shattuck is a Republican in politics, and has been chairman of the Republican Committee for twelve years. He was elected a member of the legislature of the Third Hampshire District in 1895. He is Town Auditor, and takcs an active interest in all matters relating to the attractiveness and im- provement of the village. He is particularly interested in fine horses, and has bred some excellent roadsters.
On September 2, 1884, Major Shattuck was united in marriage to Addie M. Doolittle. She was the daughter of Otis Doolittle (her mother's maiden name being Howard), and died in 1885, aged thirty years. She was the mother of two children, twins, both of whom died in infancy. Major Shattuck is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. Aside from his honorable army record, he is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen as an enter- prising and energetic citizen, who has the general welfare of the community at heart.
RS. HARRIET ELIZA PAR- SONS, residing at 7 Old South Street, Northampton, is the daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza (Hubbard) Sears, and widow of Enos Parsons, Esq., who died here, February 8, 1892, aged seventy-six years and eight months. A faithful likeness of Mr. Parsons appears on the opposite page. He was for many years a prominent lawyer of this city, being a partner with A. T. Crossley in the long-established firm of Parsons & Co. The name of Parsons has been honorably connected with the social and industrial de- velopment of this part of Massachusetts for two hundred and fifty years, the first of the name in these parts having been Joseph Par-
ENOS PARSONS.
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sons, who, tradition says, emigrated from Great Torrington, England, with a brother Benjamin about 1630, probably coming in the same vessel with William Pynchon. It is known that he was in Springfield, Mass., in 1636, and then called himself sixteen years of age. He was a tiller of the soil, and removed from there to Northampton in 1655. Seven years later he testified that he was a witness to a deed of the lands at Springfield, given July 15, 1636, and to the bargain between the Ind- ians and Mr. Pynchon, by which the latter was to give eighteen fathoms of wampum, eighteen coats, eighteen hatchets, eighteen hoes, and eighteen knives for the land.
As soon as Northampton was incorporated Joseph Parsons was chosen Townsman, or Se- lectman; but afterward he paid the town twenty shillings not to elect him to any office during the next year. He, however, served in official capacities seven years after that, and was one of the chief founders of the town. He was extensively engaged in the fur trade, and acquired a large estate. He was the first owner of land bought from the Indians in Squakeag (Northfield) in 1671, and was active in the settlement of that town. He married Mary Bliss, a native of Hartford, Conn., but later of Northfield; and they lived in North- ampton until 1679, when they removed to Springfield, where they died, he in 1683 and she in 1712. His home lot in Northampton contained four acres, and was bounded on the west by the highway (now Market Street), on the east by Pine Plain (now Cemetery Park ), on the north by the land of John Bliss, and on the south by Bridge Street.
Joseph Parsons was a large landholder, owning land in Springfield, Boston, and other places. He was one of the first persons in Northampton authorized to keep an ordi- nary, or tavern. He was cornet, or color
bearer, of a cavalry company, then an officer in rank, and was known as Cornet Joseph Par- sons. Of his seven sons and five daughters all grew to maturity but one; and the first birth of a white child recorded in Northamp- ton was that of his son Ebenezer, May I, 1655. In 1674 Mary, wife of Cornet Joseph Parsons, was accused of witchcraft, and volun- tarily appeared in court in Springfield that year, desiring to clear herself of such a hei- nous crime. She was indicted by the Grand Jury in Boston in May, 1675, and committed to prison to await her trial, being finally ac- quitted May 13.
Nathaniel Sears, the father of Mrs. Harriet E. Parsons, was of the seventh generation in direct descent from Richard Sares, an early settler of Yarmouth on the Cape, the emi- grant ancestor of the Sears family in New England. Nathaniel was a son of Rufus Sears, who was born in Yarmouth in 1770, and was left an orphan when very young, his father, Captain Nathaniel Sears, having been lost when on a sea voyage. Rufus became one of the well-to-do farmers of Hawley, where he settled after his marriage. He was a Deacon in the Congregational church. Na- thaniel Sears and Eliza Hubbard were married in 1824 at Williamsburg, where Mr. Sears was a prosperous manufacturer of woollen goods. Mrs. Eliza H. Sears died when only twenty- nine years old, leaving but one child, Harriet E., Mrs. Parsons. Mr. Sears subsequently married Miss Cordelia Morton, who bore him one child, Lorenzo, now Professor Sears, of Brown University. Mrs. Cordelia M. Sears, an intelligent and estimable woman of eighty- five years, makes her home with her son. In 1863 Mr. Sears moved to Northampton, and here lived retired until his death, in 1888. He had accumulated a good property through energetic industry and thrift.
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Sylvanus Hubbard, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Parsons, was likewise a tiller of the soil, locating at first in Sunderland, but re- moving from there to Williamsburg, where he improved a fine farm. He married Abigail Thayer; and they became the parents of six children - three sons and three daughters - one of whom is now living, Sylvanus, a resi- dent of Williamsburg.
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