USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 51
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During these years of excessive labor and privation he was constantly dreaming of and aspiring to a higher calling, and was often censured for having a book or a paper in his hand while at work. Happening to visit the studio of the Knowlton Brothers one day, while admiring specimens of their photographs, it suddenly occurred to him that such a busi- ness would be most congenial to him; and act- ing upon this suggestion he made inquiries of the proprietor, who offered to give him three months' instruction in the art for the sum of twenty-five dollars. This proposition he ac- cepted after consulting his parents, and paid fifteen dollars down, that sum being the extent of his worldly possessions. He remained at the studio for a period of four months, during which he applied himself to the acquisition of all knowledge possibly obtainable in the art ; and at the termination of that length of time he returned to Leeds, where he resumed work in the yards of the silk-mill, later finding employment in the spool shop of that concern at one dollar per day.
In 1874, when the memorable flood swept over the Mill River district and caused the industries to cease operations for an indefinite period, the Knowlton Brothers did an exten- sive business in taking views of the devastated landscape, necessitating the employment of extra hands; and Mr. Schillare again sought and obtained a position in their gallery, where he made himself so useful and agreeable that, when the rush of business slackened and the extra help was dispensed with one by one, he was retained. His employers took an interest in his desire to progress, and finally placed him in charge of their branch gallery, where he is at the present time conducting an exten- sive business on his own account. He was thus enabled to tenderly and bountifully pro- vide for the comforts of his father during his
declining years, and also to afford even a luxu- rious home for his aged mother.
Since the tide of success turned so effect- ually in his direction Mr. Schillare has made rapid advancement in his art, and is now the leading artist photographer in Hampden County, enjoying the patronage of the very best class of residents together with the major- ity of the college students. He has been in business on his own account for the past ten years, and his patronage has increased to such an extent that five assistants are constantly kept busy at his studio. He makes a specialty of views and crayon portraits ; and, although he has laid aside his palette in order to attend to the more lucrative part of the business, he still retains his love and admiration for the higher branches of art. For years his leisure hours have been spent in repairing the neglect which his youth suffered in the way of education, and he has succeeded in enriching his mind with knowledge gathered from useful books, of which he has accumulated a large and exceed- ingly interesting collection.
In 1882 Mr. Schillare was most happily married at Florence to Miss Edwardina L. Mondor, of Salem, daughter of Amand and Ellen (Theiren) Mondor, both of whom were natives of Canada. Her father died at Salem in 1882, aged fifty-eight years ; and her mother is now residing in Northampton. Of their twelve children, but two sons and two daugh- ters now survive. Mrs. Schillare's brother Edward enlisted in the United States Navy on board the ship "Baltimore," and is supposed to have been lost at sea; Albert J. Mondor is a grocer at Lawrence, Mass. ; and her sister is now Mrs. Oscar Lacroix, of Northampton. Mr. and Mrs. Schillare have an interesting family of two sons and two daughters, namely : Laura E., born June 21, 1883 ; Conrad, born August 16, 1887; Leon J., born February 8,
HENRY R. CHASE.
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1889; and Eugenie M., born June 4, 1893. The family reside at their pleasant home at 39 Union Street, which Mr. Schillare purchased in 1892, at a cost of about five thousand dol- lars. He has also invested in other real estate, situated on Graves Avenue, upon which he erected a block of three tenements as a speculation.
ICHAEL E. COONEY, proprietor and manager of the Florence Hotel, at Florence, Mass., was born in Haydenville, July 1, 1849, son of Michael and Rosanna (Martin) Cooney, both of Irish birth.
Mr. Cooney's father was a stone mason by trade. He came to this country in 1844, locating at first in Holyoke, Mass., where in 1 848 he married Rosanna Martin. They set- tled in Haydenville, where he carried on a teaming business for several years, and where his death occurred in October, 1882. His wife survived him ten years, dying at the age of sixty-six. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are deceased. Of these latter, two died in infancy; Kate died when fourteen years; and Rosina, wife of William Larkin, of Williamsburg, died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one daugh- ter, Rosanna.
Michael E. Cooney was the eldest child of the family. Having obtained a good education in the place of his nativity, he learned the brass-finisher's trade, at which he subsequently worked in various places for some thirteen years. In 1881 he removed with his family to Florence ; and the following year he purchased the Florence Hotel, which he has since con- ducted with signal success, winning popularity as a host who understands well how to cater to the tastes and wants of his guests. He has also devoted a portion of his time for the past
few years to farming and raising tobacco. He has a pleasant dwelling-house on South Main Street, which he took possession of last year.
Mr. Cooney was married in February, 1879, to Margaret Mahoney, a native of Ireland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mahoney, who emigrated to the United States in 1870. Neither of her parents is now living. Mrs. Mahoney died in July, 1889, agcd seventy- three years, and Mr. Mahoney in November, 1893, at the venerable age of fourscore years. They were the parents of five children, namely : James, who is in the electric business in Bos- ton; William, a brass finisher in Lorain, Ohio; Bridget, the wife of Robert Tranor, of Fall River, Mass. ; John, a mechanic of Hay- denville; and Margaret, the wife of Mr. Cooney. The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Cooney has been enlarged and enlivened by the advent of three bright and healthy chil- dren, namely: William, an active lad of six- teen years, in school at Northampton; Mi- chael, a strong lad of thirteen years; and Theresa Maria, an interesting little girl of nine years. On political questions Mr. Coo- ney follows the lead of the Republican party, but has never sought or held office, devoting his time and attention to his private affairs.
TENRY R. CHASE, whose portrait accompanies this brief sketch of his honorable career to the present date, enlisted as a private in the Civil War, and during his three years of service was gradually promoted till he reached the rank of Major. - He is now a commercial traveller, residing at Northampton, Mass., and is widely known as a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic and as a prominent Knight Templar. He was born January 26, 1838, in the town of Guil- ford, Vt., and there reared to a sturdy man-
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hood. His father, Henry S. Chase, who was born in the same place, December 12, 1811, was a son of Jonathan Chase, a native of Pom- fret, Conn., born November 24, 1776.
His grandfather was three times married, his first two wives having been sisters bearing the name of Stuart; and his last wife was Sophia Houghton. Two sons and five daugh- ters were born of his marriages, all of whom grew to mature years, the youngest to die being Caroline, who passed away when but sixteen years old. Three of his daughters married Universalist ministers, one, Mary, being the wife of the Rev. Levi Ballou, a nephew of the Rev. Hosea Ballou, the "Father of Universalism." Jonathan Chase was a prosperous farmer, and spent the larger part of his fourscore years of life in Guilford, where his death occurred in January, 1856.
Henry S. Chase received an excellent aca- demic education, and was engaged as a teacher for nearly eighty terms. He was also superin- tendent of schools for many years, and served in the other town offices. He was strongly interested in military tactics, and organized a company of militia, of which he was chosen Captain. In 1836 he married Lucy M. Weatherhead, a daughter of Ira Weatherhead, a carpenter of Guilford, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Lucy Ann and Henry R., twins; and a daughter named Ellen, who died in infancy. Lucy Ann Chase passed to the higher life when seventeen years old. The mother died in 1842, being but twenty-nine years of age; and the father after- ward married Martha Ward, a daughter of Henry Ward. Six children were born of this union, two of whom are deceased, Elizabeth having died when five years old, and Albert at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife, now deceased, and one daughter. The record of the four living is as follows: Eliza P. is
the wife of John E. Treveres, of Springfield ; Jennie M., wife of Albert R. Willard, of Greenfield; Mary E., wife of Henry Rugg, of Brattleboro, Vt. ; and Etta E., the wife of David A. Young, of Brattleboro. The father departed this life February 24, 1892; and his widow a few weeks later, March 5, 1892.
Henry R. Chase was prepared for college at Powers Institute, subsequently spending one year at Middlebury College. He began teach- ing when a beardless boy of sixteen years, and taught much of the time thereafter until 1870, his first experience being in the district schools. Afterward he taught in the high school of Newport, N. H., and at Guilford, Vt. This position he resigned in 1862 to become a defender of his country, enlisting August II, in Company E, Eleventh Vermont Volunteer Infantry, as a private. On the organization of the company Mr. Chase was appointed Second Sergeant, being promoted September 6, 1862, to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and August 19, 1863, to the rank of First Lieutenant. In that month the regi- ment was changed to artillery; and on January 30, 1865, Lieutenant Chase was appointed Captain of Battery M. This was followed by still another promotion, he being made Major of the First Vermont Artillery, July 25, 1865. He was an active participant in many of the most important battles of the Rebellion, win- ning distinction by his brave and meritorious conduct. For eleven months he was a pris- oner, having been taken in front of Petersburg, and being confined from June 23, 1864, until July 3, 1864, in Libby Prison, whence he was taken successively to Lynchburg, Danville, and Macon, Ga., being in the last place from July 10 until August 25. He was next sent to Savannah, thence to Charleston, S.C., and from there to Columbia, Charlotte, and Ra- leigh, and thence to Goldsboro, where he was
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paroled on March 3, 1865. He, with a com- rade, Lieutenant Parker, made several ineffect- ual attempts to escape while en route to Charleston, having learned that they were to go there via Savannah. They agreed to jump the train near Fort Motte, and did so October 6, making their escape into the woods, but were recaptured. On March 8, five days after his parole, Major Chase reached Annapolis. He was given a month's furlough, which he spent at home. He rejoined his regiment at Danville, Va., where he was discharged, Au- gust 25, 1865, and was then sent to Burling- ton, Vt., on special duty, reaching his home on the 22d of the following month.
On April 11, 1865, while on his furlough, Mr. Chase was united in marriage with Mary L. Wheeler, of Guilford, a daughter of Deacon Stephen and Maria (Emerson) Wheeler, the former of whom died in December, 1887. Mrs. Wheeler is now a remarkably strong and active woman for her age, eighty-one years. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chase : Lucy M. and Charles H. Lucy M., who was a student of the Smith College and subsequently graduated from the Westfield State Normal School, is now a successful teacher at the Easthampton High School. Charles H., a resident of this city, married Josephine Thompson ; and they are the parents of one son, Leland Henry. Mrs. Mary L. Chase's married life was not of long duration, she having passed to the silent land in 1874, in the thirty-fifth year of her age. On August 19, 1875, Mr. Chase was united in wedlock with Elvira H. Wheeler, a sister of his former wife. The only child of their union is Mary Louise, an ambitious and faithful student of eleven years, who during the school years of 1894 and 1895, was neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed from school, a record worthy of note.
For twenty-three years Mr. Chase has trav-
elled for Springfield houses, the past two years representing the well-known firm of Forbes & Wallace. In 1885 he purchased his present home lot of two acres, erecting his fine resi- dence the same year. He is a steadfast Re- publican in his political views, and while in Guilford held the various town offices. Mr. Chase is a member of the First Baptist Church, of William L. Baker Post, No. 86, Grand Army of the Republic, and in Masonry has taken the thirty-third degree, and is Past High Priest of Northampton Royal Arch Chapter, and Eminent Commander of North- ampton Commandery of Knights Templars.
IRAM TAYLOR, of Northampton, has a wide reputation as a railway contractor, having been identified with the work on many of the New England roads and several of the Southern roads. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in June, 1835, in Schoharie County, son of Hiram Taylor, Sr., who was born in Con- necticut in 1796.
The father was a lawyer, and after his ad- mission to the bar settled in Schoharie County, New York, practising in Livingston- ville, where his death occurred when sixty- three years of age, in 1859. He married Susan Ingram, a native of Albany ; and of the ten children born to them, five sons and four daughters grew to years of discretion. The six following still survive : McKay, a farmer, residing at Wellsbridge, N. Y. ; James, like- wise engaged in farming, a resident of Dur- ham, N. Y. ; Hiram, the subject of this short biography; Alfred, in California, if living ; Mrs. Beulah Snyder, of Oak Hill, N. Y .; Phœbe, a resident of Wellsbridge, N.Y. The mother died the year prior to her husband's decease.
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Hiram Taylor spent his early life in his New York home, where his opportunities for securing an education were limited to a few months each year in the district school. Being a boy of high ambitions with a spirit of resolute determination, he struck out for him- self when but fifteen years of age, beginning work on a railway, where he drove spikes or did anything that could be expected of a boy, receiving one dollar per day and boarding him- self. He worked faithfully, and was amply rewarded by being made foreman the second year, a position seldom given to one so young. He was employed on various New England railways, notably the Connecticut River, the Boston & Albany, the old Hartford, P. & F., now the New England, the Hartford to Willi- mantic, the Shore Line from New London, and the Hudson River Railroad from Albany to Poughkeepsie. On this latter road Mr. Taylor was first employed in contracting, and was at one time road master there; and he was likewise road master for five years on the Con- necticut River road. Before the war Mr. Taylor spent some time on the Georgia Central Railway, and from 1884 until 1889 was in the Carolinas and Alabama, connected with the railways of those States. In defence of the nation's flag he enlisted in 1862 from New London in the Twenty-first Connecticut Vol- unteer Infantry, and for thirty-five months thereafter served in the ranks, but, fortunately, escaped the missiles of war, although he had some hair-breadth escapes, at one time his gun having been actually shot from his hands.
Mr. Taylor has been three times married. His first wife, formerly Lizzie Lasher, to whom he was united in 1856, died in 1860, leaving one daughter, Carrie, now the wife of Burr Leavenworth, of New Haven, Conn., and mother of one son, Harold. He subsequently married Mrs. Frances Comstock Billings, the
widow of George Billings, a sea captain, who was lost during a voyage, leaving her with one daughter, Fannie. Mrs. Frances C. B. Tay- lor lived but three years after their union, dying in this city in 1869, leaving one daugh- ter, Harriet W. On February 4, 1870, Mr. Taylor married Miss Emma Paul, of Palmer. The fruits of this union are three children, namely : Susan M., who married Harry Hill- man, of Schenectady, N. Y., and has one daughter; Irene Elizabeth; and Beulah, now in the high school.
Mr. Taylor has always evinced an active and generous interest in the advancement of the welfare of city, county, and State, but has refused office as a general thing, although he did serve one term as superintendent of streets. He is an ardent Republican in his political affiliations; and socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Red Men, and to the William L .. Baker Post, No. 86, Grand Army of the Republic. Relig- iously, he is bound by no creed, but is a firm believer that in doing good deeds he may find the way to better things to come. In 1890 he bought his delightful home, "Look Out," located on Prospect Street, where he has seven acres of land, on which is a fine grove of native trees, mostly the fragrant pine. The house commands an extended and charming view of the surrounding landscape, and the attractive home is the centre of a liberal hospitality.
AMUEL FOLLETT HILLS, a well-to-do farmer of Worthington, was born upon the farm he now owns and occupies, February 20, 1845, son of Julius and Elizabeth Follett Brown Hills. Mr. Hills's grandfather was Daniel Hills, a resident of Grantville, Conn., who moved from that State to Blandford, Mass., and followed
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agricultural pursuits there until his death. Julius Hills was born in Granville, January 31, 1806. He accompanied his parents to Massachusetts, and when a young man he came to Worthington, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which he con- ducted with success during the remainder of his life. He died November 12, 1893. The wife of Julius Hills was a daughter of Luke Brown and Bethsheba (Warner) Brown, and was born in Hardwick, Mass., June 5, 1806. Her father, who was a graduate of Harvard College and was a well-known lawyer of his day, died in 1835. Mrs. Julius Hills became the mother of two children, namely: Daniel F. Hills, who married Anna C. Coles, of Westfield, and died January 25, 1882; and Samuel Follett Hills, who bears the name of a patriotic ancestor now to be mentioned.
Samuel Follett, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Attleboro, Bristol County, Mass., Novem- ber 23, 1757. Immediately after the fight at Lexington (April 19, 1775) he enlisted at Swanzey, N. H., under Captain Jonathan Whit- comb, marched to Mystic, near Boston, where he joined the New Hampshire regiment com- manded by Colonel Reed a few days before the battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), in which he participated. He remained in this regiment until discharged. Afterward he vol- unteered to serve one month longer in the company of Captain Baldwin or Spaulding. In April, 1778, he enlisted at Worcester in the company of Captain Nathan Harrington, which was ordered to join a detachment, under Major Reuben Reed, that was to guard a body of prisoners from General Burgoyne's army, then at Cambridge, Mass., to Rutland, in Worcester County, Mass. During a portion of the time he was on guard. At that place he was sick with the small-pox and was in the
hospital. In July, 1780, he again enlisted at Worcester, in the company of Captain Grout, who marched to Butts Hill in Rhode Island. He was granted a pension, May 10, 1833, to commence March 4, 1831. He came to the town of Worthington, Mass., in 1781, where he resided until his death, November 30, 1854, ninety-seven years and a few days old. His first vote was cast for General Washington for President of the United States in 1788, and his last for the defeated candidate, General Scott, in 1852.
Samuel F. Hills was educated in the district schools. He assisted in carrying on the farm, and succeeded to the ownership of the property after his father's death. His farm consists of two hundred and twenty-five acres, and is devoted to general husbandry and the raising of high-bred cattle, sheep, and horses. Mr. Hills is a Republican in politics, and is chair- man of the Board of Selectmen.
On August 30, 1871, Mr. Hills was united in marriage with Josephine Maria (Mayhew) Burr, widow of Oliver C. Burr, and a daughter of Lyman and Mary E. (Richards) Mayhew. Her father was born October 3, 1821, in Hunt- ington, Mass .. His wife, who was born in North Adams, Mass., April 9, 1825, died October 2, 1869, having been the mother of nine children : Jerome B., Josephine, Mary Ella, Julia O., Arthur Elmer Scott, Lyman A., Henry W., Martha L., and Eliza A., five of whom are still living. Mrs. Hills had two children by her first marriage: Frank, who died in 1868; and Frederick, who died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Hills have three chil- dren, namely: Abbie Warner, who was born July 27, 1872, and married Judson G. Black- man, a farmer of Cummington, Mass. ; Mary E., who was born July 2, 1875, and is now a school-teacher; and Josephine Scott, born De- cember 10, 1880.
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HARLES D. HASKELL, an enter- prising merchant of Enfield, Hamp- shire County, Mass., and a substan- tial citizen of this community, is a son of Ira D. and Adeline E. (Ayers) Haskell. He was born in the adjoining town of Greenwich, Mass., on April 18, 1858; and both his par- ents were also natives of that town.
As early as 1858 Ira Dexter Haskell estab- lished himself in mercantile business in En- field, opening a general store at the stand now occupied by his son, which he continued to conduct in a successful manner up to the time of his death. He took an active interest in town affairs, and was often called upon to fill positions of responsibility and trust. He served as Selectman for a number of years, during the major part of the time acting as chairman of the board, and in the last years of his life he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. In matters of religion his views were liberal. He died in February, 1887, at sixty-three years of age. He and his wife, Adeline Elizabeth Ayers, reared one son, Charles Dexter Haskell. Mrs. Adeline E. Haskell survived her husband about four years, dying in 1891.
Charles Dexter Haskell acquired his early education in the public schools of Enfield; and later on, in 1877, he attended Williston Semi- nary. He entered his father's store in his boyhood as a clerk, continuing in that posi- tion until his father's decease, when the full charge of the business devolved upon him; and since that time he has continued to conduct the store on his own account. It to-day enjoys the distinction of having been estab- lished longer than any other house in Enfield. He carries an excellent line of such goods as are found in a first-class general store, and sells at prices as low as consistent with the laws of trade. Mary Patten Allen, to whom
he was united on the 6th of June, 1892, was born in Enfield, Conn., and is a daughter of Horace B. Allen, of West Hartford, Conn. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Haskell has been brightened by the birth of an only son, Ethel- bert Allen Haskell.
Mr. Haskell casts his vote with the Demo- cratic party, of which he has ever been a faith- ful adherent. In religion he is a liberal, and his wife is a communicant of the Congrega- tional church. During his lifelong residence in Enfield, by his faithful attendance to busi- ness and integrity in all his dealings Mr. Haskell has won the respect and esteem of his fellow-men, among whom he has many warm and valuable friends.
DDISON HOMER BARTLETT was born upon the farm at Belchertown where he now resides, February 15, 1843, son of Cyrus Sabin and Emily (Steb- bins) Bartlett. His father, who was born at Stafford, Conn., May 6, 1814, was a son of Cyrus Bartlett, a native of the same place, born in 1778.
Cyrus Bartlett owned and operated a saw and grist mill in his native town for some time before 1816. He then moved to Belcher- town, settling upon the farm now owned by his grandson. Here he resided for the re- mainder of his days, and died at the age of seventy-nine years. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Sabin, a native of Ellington, Conn. (An account of Mrs. (Sabin) Bartlett's ancestors may be found in a work entitled, "The History of the Sabin Family.") She died at the age of ninety years, having raised a family of four children, named: Selden, Elvira, Cyrus S., and Louisa. Cyrus S. Bart- lett was two years of age when his parents moved to Belchertown. He received a good
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