USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 55
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On April 16, 1867, Miss Goodell was united in marriage with Dr. John Smith, of Northfield, Minn. ; and during the years 1868 and 1869 they established the first sanitarium and public baths ever introduced in the city of St. Paul. In 1871 Dr. Ellen G. Smith ac- cepted the situation of resident physician in Dr. R. T. Trall's Sanitarium at Philadelphia, and during her residence in that city she intro- duced parlor lectures to ladies. After three years of the most successful practice in the last-named city she returned to her home at Belchertown, where on August 25, 1874, her
only son, Lindsey Goodell Smith, was born. From 1875 to 1883 Dr. Smith was constantly and successfully engaged in lecturing and practising her profession in Massachusetts and California. In 1883 she retired from active practice, and has since then been engaged in literary work and as an assistant in the office of her brother, L. W. Goodell.
RS. LURENE S. GOULD, widow of Solon H. Gould, of Smith's Ferry, who died in 1873, is the daughter of Milo J. and Sally J. (Street)
Smith. Her grandfather, Lewis Smith, who was born in West Springfield, was a son of David Smith, whose father also was named David. Lewis Smith settled at Smith's Ferry about one hundred and ten years ago. The great events of his life happened in his early years. He entered the Revolutionary army when a boy of sixteen, and was one of the great contingent of untrained militia which eventually conquered the best-trained army in the world. . When scarcely twenty-two he mar- ried, and, with his good wife, shouldered the cares of house-keeping. They reared eleven children, all of whom became heads of fami- lies ; and at one time five of his sons were liv- ing contiguous to each other on one street. A daughter Eunice, who is now the widow of Hiram W. Bagg, and resides in Erie, Pa., is a remarkably bright and active lady, though ninety-two years of age, and is engaged in various charitable enterprises, pursuing the work with all the zest of youth.
Milo J. Smith, the father of Mrs. Gould, was a man of good judgment and considerable force of character. He was a manufacturer of cider vinegar, and had a large farm at West Liberty, Ia., where he raised fine stock and horned cattle, in which he dealt quite exten-
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sively. In his native town he was a man of note, skilled in business matters ; and he set- tled many estates. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican, and was a Representative in the legislature several terms, serving also as Selectman and Justice of the Peace. He died in 1884, at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Sally J. Street, was born in what is now Hol- yoke. She lived to be sixty-five, passing away in 1874, and is interred in the family lot with her husband at Smith's Ferry. They reared three children : Milo L., a farmer at Smith's Ferry, who died in 1891, when about sixty years of age, leaving a son and daughter; Lurene, Mrs. Gould; and Josephine, who died in 1876, at the age of thirty-five.
In 1862 Lurene Smith became the wife of Solon H. Gould, a native of Charlestown, N. H., son of Joseph and Abigail (Hagar) Gould. Joseph Gould was a farmer and reared his son to the same vocation. He had but one other child, a daughter, who passed to the world beyond when but twenty years of age. Solon H. Gould's life was a brief one, cover- ing but thirty-five years. A daughter, Stella L., born to him and his wife, entered the val- ley of the shadow of death just at the dawn of womanhood.
Mrs. Gould retains her home at Smith's Ferry, but spends part of her time with her nieces and nephews, and also travels a great deal, a few years ago having made the tour of Europe. She is a Congregationalist, belong- ing to the First Church, of which her husband was also a member.
R. CHESTER STRATTON, late of Amherst, who in his day was reputed the best dentist in the Connecticut valley, was born in Northfield, Mass., March 19, 1816, son of Roswell and Rhoda (Wright)
Stratton. Roswell Stratton was one of the early settlers of Northfield, and was probably born there. There, it is certain, he died; and his wife, too, breathed her last in that town. Their union was blessed by five children, four of whom grew up. The only survivor of the family at present is Roswell Stratton, who resides in Northfield. Both parents were members of the Unitarian church.
Chester Stratton first attended school and grew to manhood in Northfield. He received a liberal education, and on completing his studies took up the practical work of dentistry, which became his life employment. He lo- cated in Amherst in 1843, and was in business in that town, winning honor in his profession and acquiring a modest fortune, up to the time of his death, which occurred August 21, 1867. He was the first Vice-President of the Con- necticut Valley Dental Association.
On March 31, 1845, he was united in mar- riage with Charlotte M., daughter of Shubael and Charlotte (Smith) Kenfield, who was born in Enfield, Mass., February 2, 1824. Shu- bael Kenfield was born in Belchertown, Mass., February 6, 1801. He was engaged in farm- ing in Enfield the greater part of his life, and was a prominent citizen of that town. Politi- cally, he was a Republican, and held various offices in the town, serving for some time as Selectman and as member of the School Com- mittee. On religious subjects his views were liberal. He died in Enfield, November 26, 1862. His wife, who was born in Williams- town, June 2, 1801, lived to be nearly ninety-two years of age, breathing her last in Belchertown in 1893. She was a member of the Congregational church. They had nine children, one of whom died in infancy. The others were as follows: Timothy S., who re- sides in Belchertown; Charlotte M., the wife of Dr. Stratton; Mary S., wife of Henry Rus-
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sell, of Amherst; Sarah M., wife of Henry J. Stone, of Enfield; Charles S., residing in Washington, D.C .; Elizabeth R., wife of William E. Bridgman, of Belchertown ; Emily W., wife of Benjamin T. Hall, of Pleasant- ville, N. Y. ; and Amos W., who resides in Camden, N. Y. Mrs. Stratton has no children.
Politically, Dr. Stratton believed in the Republican doctrines. On religious questions both he and his wife held liberal views. Mrs. Stratton, who came to her pleasant home a young bride in 1845, is still its mistress, after a lapse of fifty years. She represents one of the oldest families of the town, and is a capa- ble business woman, deserving of the respect and esteem universally accorded her.
EANDER L. RHODES, a well-to-do farmer in Westhampton, Hampshire County, Mass., was born in this town, March 23, 1833, son of Spencer L. and Esther (Ludden) Rhodes, the former of West- hampton, the latter of Chesterfield. Spencer L. Rhodes was a farmer, whose entire life was spent in Westhampton, where he died in July, 1876, his wife having passed away nine years before. They were the parents of three chil- dren, namely: Leander L .; Albert A., a farmer in Huntsburg, Ohio; and Horace S., who is associated in business with Jacob Hol- ley in Northampton.
Leander L. Rhodes in his childhood at- tended the public schools of Westhampton, where he mastered the common English branches, and at home learned to do farm work, acquiring in the mean time the knowl- edge of natural history and the principles of growth and fruition which come to every farmer's boy, to whom Nature's work-room is open from the time when the first tender bud appears on the branch until is seen
" The unnatural red
Which Autumn paints upon the perished leaf."
In 1858 Mr. Rhodes bought for a home the estate in Huntington known as the Knight farm, and was there engaged in general farm- ing till 1864, when he purchased the handsome property of which he is now owner. This estate comprises two hundred and seventy acres, about fifty of which are devoted to raising crops. Mr. Rhodes also keeps some good stock.
On January 1, 1857, he was united in mar- riage with Mariette Adams, who was born in Huntington on April 30, 1837. Her parents, Martin and Sallie (Brown) Adams, were life- long residents of Huntington. They died some time since. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes has been blessed by the following chil- dren, now grown to maturity : Lyman, farmer in Gove County, Kansas; Lilla, who is with her parents; Carrie, wife of A. M. Coit, of Huntington ; and Alice, wife of P. A. Connery, also of Huntington. All enjoyed in childhood and youth good educational advantages.
In politics Mr. Rhodes favors the Republi- can party.` He is not an office-seeker, but has served with credit on the Board of Selectmen for four years in Westhampton. Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the Congregational church in this town. They have a pleasant home, and are enjoying in the afternoon of life the com- forts of prosperity for which the master of the house has worked long and well, his good wife, needless to say, performing her full share of the daily tasks, as farmers' good wives do.
An admirable likeness of Mr. Rhodes is placed on the opposite page.
ILLIAM EWING, of Southampton, Mass., whose birth occurred April 18, 1820, in County Donegal, Ireland, is a splendid type of those foreign-
LEANDER L. RHODES.
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born citizens who have come to our country in a state of comparative poverty, and with laudable energy and ambition have toiled and saved until they have acquired a competency. His father, a prominent man of County Don- egal, where he followed his trade of weav- ing and also engaged in farming, lived and died on the green sod of his native isle, his death occurring in 1842. He married Flora Butler, and they reared three children: Will- iam; Alexander, a farmer, residing in North- ampton ; and John, now living in Springfield, re- tired from active business. The mother came to this country with her son William, and here spent her remaining years, dying in July, 1861.
William Ewing was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and there learned the weaver's trade. Having friends in America, he determined to join them here, being at- tracted by the superior advantages afforded to the laborer in this country; and on March 10, 1850, accompanied by his mother and his bride, to whom he had been united four days before, and one cousin, he embarked for New York. His wife, formerly Mary Ewing, was a native of County Donegal, born December 18, 1826, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (O'Donnell) Ewing. Her parents afterward emigrated to Massachusetts, locating in East- hampton, where they spent their remaining days. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing landed in New York, April 21, 1850, after a six weeks' voy- age, and came directly to Easthampton, where his two brothers were then living. For seven years thereafter he worked at the weaver's trade; and, having by dint of close economy and wise management saved enough money to warrant him in the purchase of a farm, he then bought sixty acres of land, which are now included in his present homestead. Toiling with unwearied interest to clear and improve his land, he has since added to the original
acreage, and while advancing his own welfare has been an important factor in developing the agricultural resources of this section of the county. He carries on general farming and dairying, raising milch cows, and selling his milk to the local creamery.
The home circle of Mr. and Mrs Ewing has been enlarged by the birth of fourteen chil- dren, namely: Sarah, wife of John Daley, of Waltham, Mass. ; John, living in Northamp- ton ; Samuel, of Haydenville; Flora; Mar- garet Ann, wife of Franklin Howard, of West- hampton; William, who resides with his parents; Maria J., wife of George Brown, of Chicago; Robert, now living at home; Eliza- beth, wife of Lyman Clapp, now Selectman at Northampton; Alexander, a resident of Flor- ence, Mass .; Emma, wife of George Hames, of Chelsea, Mass. Margaret Ann and two infants are deceased. Besides these fourteen children Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have an adopted daughter, Margaret N., whom they are rearing with the same care that they bestowed on their own children. Mr. Ewing takes a lively in- terest in the political affairs of the town, county, and nation, and, having the courage of his convictions, votes for the men and meas- ures he deems the best, being bound by no party ties, although his sympathies are strongly with the Prohibitionists.
GBERT J. CLAPP, City Clerk of North- ampton, Mass., was born at Easthamp- ton, January 15, 1843. His father, Luther Clapp, was a son of Thaddeus Clapp, a native of Easthampton, the latter having been a son of Joseph Clapp. The family are descendants of Major Jonathan Clapp. For a more extended account of the early ancestors the reader is referred to Lyman's History of Easthampton.
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Thaddeus Clapp, who was born March 31, 1770, died in the spring of 1861. He was a tavern keeper at Easthampton, and became prominent in public affairs, serving as a Rep- resentative to the General Court twelve years, and as Town Treasurer for a period of twenty ycars. He married a Miss Parsons, by whom he had ten children, three of whom died young, and four sons and thrce daughters lived to reach maturity. The sons were Theodore, Thornton, Thaddeus, and Luther. The latter and the daughters have passed away. Mr. Clapp's grandmother died at the age of about sixty-five ycars during his boyhood; but he remembers distinctly her kind, genial face, the large gold beads about her neck, and, per- haps more particularly than anything else, her delicious pumpkin pies.
Luther Clapp and Lucy Pomeroy, of North- ampton, daughter of Herman and Lucy (Par- sons) Pomeroy, were married on September 7, 1830. Her father was for some years a button manufacturer and country merchant at Easthampton, and between the years 1870 and 1875 moved to Stoversville, N. Y., where he engaged in the wholesale silk and thread trade until 1890, in which time his wife died. His own decease occurred two years later while on a visit to Asheville, N.C. Of the thirteen children born to Luther Clapp, one son died in infancy and two daughters at the age of ten and twelve years. Augustus M. Pomeroy died from exposure while serving as a volunteer in the Civil War; Charles, a tcacher, died in 1863, in the prime of life; Joseph Clapp, also a volunteer in the Civil War, dicd in service, and is buried at Nash- ville, Tenn .; Lucy P., widow of D. C. Dun- fee, resides at Gloversville, N.Y .; Emma L. is the wife of Francis Clapp, of Deerfield; Luther H. residcs at Pennington Gap, Va. ; Egbert J. is in Northampton; Willis W. also
is a resident of Northampton; Elizabeth H. is the wife of the Rev. William Slocum, a Pres- byterian preacher of Iowa; and Leila J. married Edward Pollock, of Albany, N. Y. Luther Clapp dicd on February 18, 1888, his wife having passed away on June 13, 1886, aged seventy-four years.
Egbert J. Clapp abandoned the parental roof at the age of fourteen, and for three years was employed as a clerk in the store of Samuel Palmer at Fceding Hills. Returning then to Easthampton, he found employment in the same capacity at a store in which the post- office was located, and later worked in the sus- pender factory. In 1861 he enlisted in Com- pany D, Twenty-first Massachusetts Volun- teers, in which he served through the war, and was mustered out at Mobile, Ala., in 1865. His regiment was mounted for about two years and a half; and during the Red River campaign he was disabled by his horse falling upon him, thus causing a permanent injury to his spine, from the effects of which he is lame and obliged to use crutches. After coming back to Hampshire County, Mr. Clapp secured a position as cashier in the freight office of the Connecticut River Railroad at Northampton, and remained in charge of the office for eight years.
He went to St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1874, and in company with Dr. George W. Roberts entered mercantile business, establishing two stores, one in that place and another in Montpelier, which were devoted to the sale of fancy goods. After disposing of these, in 1875 they cstablished the same business in New York City; and in the autumn of that ycar Mr. Clapp went to Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., for the purpose of opening branch stores in these citics. In 1876 he purchased his partner's interest in these; and, closing up the Charleston branch, he de-
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voted his attention to the business in Savan- nah, until compelled to relinquish trade there on account of the continued prevalence of yellow fever, and moved his business to At- lanta. His limbs were in such a crippled state that he was obliged to keep his bed a greater portion of the time, and was there- fore unable to personally attend to business, which resulted in his losing the sum of six thousand dollars by the dishonesty of his partner. In 1877 he returned to Northamp- ton, where he engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness from 1878 to 1884, at which time he was elected City Clerk, the position he now holds.
Mr. Clapp is a charter member of W. L. Baker Post, No. 86, Grand Army of the Re- public, having served as its Quartermaster for some years, or until his resignation, and is a Republican in politics. In 1869 he wedded Miss Annie L. Pratt, of Northampton, daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth (Clapp) Pratt, and has one daughter, Bessie P., aged twelve years. The family reside at 229 Elm Street.
OBERT HAY, a leading citizen of Greenwich, and at one time a popu- lar hotel keeper, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., September 17, 1838, son of Henry and Lydia (Higgins) Hay. Henry Hay, who was a native of Scotland, was a car- pet manufacturer in the old country; and he was also proficient in the art of frescoing. He emigrated to America in 1824 or 1825, and lived for some years in Utica and Buffalo. Later he was conducting a small business in Rochester, N.Y. An industrious and thrifty man, he attained a fair degree of prosperity, but died at the early age of forty-seven in Massachusetts, where the latter part of his life was spent. He was twice married. His
first wife, Lydia Higgins, mother of Robert Hay, was a native of Buffalo, and died at the age of thirty-one. Besides Robert three chil- dren were born to Mr. Hay, namely: Henry, an engineer, who resides in Danvers, Mass .; Allison, widow of Robert Hume; and Eliza- beth, widow of the Rev. J. Ashton, who re- sides in Binghamton, N.Y.
Robert Hay spent his early boyhood in New York State. He became a resident of Con- necticut at the age of fifteen. He began to learn carpet-making when a boy of fourteen, and worked at his trade until twenty-six years of age. In 1865 he engaged in the hotel business in Greenwich, assuming charge of the Greenwichville Hotel, which he conducted for six years. He was subsequently proprietor of the hotel at Waltham for three years. Returning to Greenwich, he was three years engaged in the mercantile business, but re- turned to his former occupation of hotel keep- ing at the end of that time, taking charge of the Park House at Niagara Falls. At the end of a year he removed to Worcester, where for seven years he was proprietor of the Wa- verly House. He next took charge of the Massasoit House at Spencer, which he con- ducted for six years. He then returned to Greenwichville, where he has since resided, retired from the cares of active life. As a hotel man he was very popular, and his enter- prise and tact insured success wherever he went.
Mr. Hay was united in marriage with Dolly, daughter of Benjamin C. and Huldah (Schoolcraft) Cotton. The Cottons, who are of English origin, were among the first set- tlers of New Hampshire, and for generations have been prominently identified with the public welfare, taking part in every war for the preservation of the Union. Mrs. Hay's great-grandfather and grandfather were sol-
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diers in the Revolutionary army. Her father served in the War of 1812; and two brothers, Gilman and James Cotton, were volunteers in the Federal ranks at the time of the late war. Her father, Benjamin C. Cotton, was one of the leading citizens of Warren, N.H., where Mrs. Hay was born. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hay : three of them - Dolly, Thomas A., and Inez Blanche - have passed away; Henry is mar- ried, and is proprietor of the Dresser Housc; Addie F. is the wife of Frank Southgate, a manufacturer in Worcester, Mass .; Mabel E. is the wife of Otis Everett, superintendent of the skate factory in Worcester; and Robert, Jr., who also is married, is a shoe cutter in Greenwich.
In political matters Mr. Hay favors the Re- publican party. He belongs to the Lodge of A. F. & A. M. at Worcester and also to the Continentals of that city. His home, which is one of the finest in Greenwich, a handsome residence surrounded by beautiful grounds, is the centre of genial and courteous hospitality, which none know better how to dispense than Mr. and Mrs. Hay.
EORGE DRESSER, a well-known and much respected farmer and land- owner of Goshen, was born on the farm where he now resides, July 12, 1820, son of Moses and Vesta (Cushman) Dresser. His grandparents on the paternal side were Reu- ben and Mary (Burnell) Dresser; and his great-grandfather, Richard Dresser, was the son of Richard Dresser, Sr., who came from England at an early day in the history of this country.
Reuben Dresser, the grandfather, was a na- tive of Charlton, Worcester County, Mass. He moved to Goshen, where his brother-in-
law, William White, was engaged in farming on what is now known as the White home- stead, at a time when that part of the journey between Chesterfield and Goshen had to be made on foot, there being but a cow path in place of a road. He bought seven hundred acres of uncultivated land, and cleared about two hundred acres, building thereon a log house, which was later replaced by a large and substantial dwelling, though on a site slightly removed from the original primitive home. He kept a large amount of stock, mostly cattle and sheep, and became one of the most thriving agriculturists of his town. He was a Whig in politics, and held many town offices, which he filled with credit to himself and benefit to his constituents. His marriage to Mary Burnell took place in Ches - terfield.
Their son Moses, father of George Dresser, was born on the farm in the large house above referred to, October 27, 1789. He remained at home after reaching manhood, and assisted his father in the duties of the farm, and at the latter's death came into possession of the homestead. He was engaged in general farm- ing; and he also built a saw-mill, and en- gaged to some extent in lumbering and custom work. Like his father he was a Whig; but on the formation of the Republican party he joined it, and remained faithful to its princi- ples thereafter. He served the town as Se- lectman for a number of years, and was one of the most prominent citizens of Goshen. He died at the age of eighty-eight years, after a well-spent life. His wife, Vesta Cushman, at- tained the age of seventy-seven. Their chil- dren were by name as follows: Caleb C., Levi, Martha (deceased), George, Dorothy, Chloe, Wealthy, Rufus C., and Martha (sec- ond).
George Dresser received his education partly
GEORGE DRESSER.
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at a select school and partly at New Salem Academy. He remained at home, and took care of his parents in their later years, and after their death in 1854 came into possession of the farm. He then sold the place, and went to Hermon, St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he engaged in mercantile business for some time; but, as the buyer of the estate failed to make good his purchase, the prop- erty came again into his possession, and in 1 860 he returned to Goshen, and settled down on the homestead of his immediate ancestors. He had previously, in 1846, built the present house; and he has since in other ways im- proved the property, and is now reckoned among the thriving farmers of the town. His son, George C., resides with him, and takes an active part in the general superintendence of the farm work.
Mr. Dresser was married January 14, 1847, to Miss Alvey Stone, a daughter of Colonel Luther Stone. She was born January 17, 1825, and died October 7, 1893, after many years of faithful performance of her duties as wife and mother. Her children were as fol- lows: Henry B., born December 17, 1849, married Alice Montgomery, and they have four children. and reside in Goshen ; George C. was born February 18, 1852; Vesta C., born September 8, 1854, married Edward C. Packard, and died May 18, 1879, at the age of twenty-four years, leaving two children - Edward W. and Laurence.
Mr. Dresser is a Republican in politics. He has served the town as Collector and Treasurer as well as Selectman, and has been School Commissioner for twenty years. He stands high in the estimation of his fellow- townsmen, and may be justly considered as a good representative of the farming community of Hampshire County. See portrait on a pre- ceding page.
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