USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 56
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A UGUST K. KAPPEL, well-known as a singing master in South Hadley Falls, was born in Saxe-Weimar, Ger- many, August 19, 1838, son of George and Gretchen (Rosina) Kappel. Mr. Kappel's father followed agriculture, and was the pro- prietor of a hotel. He prospered in both un- dertakings, and died in 1858. His wife, who is still residing in Germany, eighty-four years old, became the mother of the following chil- dren : Christiana, who is now dead; Joanna, who resides in Germany; Gottlob, a resident of Meriden, Conn .; John, a resident of East- hampton; August, the subject of this sketch; Ernestine, who still resides in Germany; Minnie, who is dead; Linna, who married August Feustel, and resides in South Hadley Falls; and Richard, who is now in the hotel business in Germany.
August K. Kappel received a good educa- tion in the schools of Germany, and at the age of seventeen emigrated to the United States. He settled in South Hadley Falls, and en- gaged in the paper business, which he fol- lowed successfully until 1892. Immediately after his arrival in South Hadley Falls, Mr. Kappel organized the singing clubs, over which he has since continued to preside. He also directs a similar organization in Holyoke. In May of the present year he established him- self in the wine and liquor trade in South Hadley Falls, which he is now conducting. He is a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Kappel married Amelia Winter, a na- tive of Saxe-Weimar, daughter of Edward and Ernestine Winter. They have four children, namely: Hugo, a book-binder in Holyoke; Oscar, who is employed at Johnson's drug store as a pharmacist; Selmar, who is now teaching school in South Hadley Falls; and Minnie, who resides at home. Mr. Kappel takes a lively interest in musical organiza-
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tions, and is very popular among the various singing clubs.
EORGE H. W. SMITH, a well-known boot and shoe dealer and jeweller of Ware, was born in Amherst, Mass., June 15, 1860. The family was originally from England, as the name indicates. John W. Smith, great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Westerly, R.I., and was a man of note in his day. He had a factory in Westerly, and was the inventor of a shearing cloth. At his death he left a good property. His son, also named John W., re- sided in Westerly, and was a dyer by trade. He, like his father, accumulated a good prop- erty. His death took place in Amherst about 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He married Augusta M. Rathbone, of Hartland, Conn .; and they were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daugh- ter, including triplets, two of the sons and a daughter being born at one birth. One of these three, a son, died in childhood. The other two are now living, one being Augusta, wife of Avery R. Cushman, of North Am- herst, and the other, Frank, being a whole- sale meat dealer in Providence, R.I. Mrs. Augusta M. Smith, the mother, died in North Amherst when eighty-four years old.
George W. Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Enfield, Mass., about the year 1828, and learned the trade of me- chanic, which he has followed most of his ac- tive life. He now lives retired on a small farm at North Amherst. He stands high in the community, and is a Master Mason. He married Cynthia Collis, who was born in 1830 in Brimfield, Mass. She was the daughter of Jonathan Collis, of Herkimer, N. Y., who died at Brimfield at the age of seventy-six.
His wife, mother of Mrs. George W. Smith, was Phobe Parker, a native of Warren, Mass. She died in Brimfield when seventy-two years old. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smith one son and one daughter died in childhood.
George H. W. Smith was the youngest child of his parents. He was educated in the common and high schools of his native town, and began business for himself at the age of twenty years. He came to Ware, October I, 1889, after being for some time engaged in the jewelry business in Providence, R.I. His experience as a jeweller has covered some twelve or fifteen years in all. He keeps a select stock, embracing the latest novelties in both departments of his business, and is well known as a skilled workman and a thoroughly reliable merchant. Mr. Smith was married September 23, 1889, to Jessie V. Blanchard, of Providence, R.I. Mrs. Smith's parents are the Rev. Albert D. and Mary D. Blanchard, now residents in Salida, Col. They are the owners of a fine ranch in Missouri Park, and Mrs. Smith's father is a Baptist minister. Mr. Smith is independent in politics, but usually votes with the Republican party. He has hitherto escaped the responsibilities of public office, and prefers to devote his atten- tion to the management of his growing busi- ness. He and his wife are among the most respected residents of Ware.
G ORDON B. MILLER, of South Had- ley, born June 25, 1819, in the house now the home of himself and his sister, is descended from one of the oldest and most respected families of Hampshire County. The house, which was erected by one of his ancestors in the year 1700, has many quaint and curious relics of pioneer
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times. Mr. Miller is a son of the late Aaron John and Theodosia (Parsons) Miller, who were born, reared, and married in the town of Ludlow, this county.
Mr. Miller's parents after their marriage commenced housekeeping on this homestead, which was then owned by the groom's grand- mother, widow of his paternal grandfather, an early settler of the town. Aaron John Miller was one of the leading farmers of the town and a prominent citizen. In addition to his agricultural ventures he had quite a practice as a country doctor, in which capacity, being familiar with the medicinal properties of herbs and roots, he prescribed and cared for his neighbors whenever they fell sick. His wife, who was his faithful assistant in all of his good works, died November 10, 1854. He survived her, living until January 12, 1866. They reared seven children, as follows: Aaron John, named after his father, who died at the age of fifty-four years; Gordon B., the subject of this sketch; William A., a resident of Holyoke; Jane A., residing in Hadley, the widow of the late Edward R. Gaylord; Reu- ben P., who died in 1892; Mary E., residing on the old home farm with her brother; and Asa L., who died in October, 1869.
Gordon B. Miller obtained his early educa- tion in the pioneer schools of his time. The old log school-house attended by him still stands on land adjoining his farm. On attain- ing his majority, Mr. Miller began learning the trade of a harness-maker. He worked at it three years in Ludlow, and subsequently four years in Northampton. The indoor con- finement proved injurious to his health, and he was obliged to seek more healthful work. Returning to the parental homestead, he as- sisted in the labors of the farm until the death of his father, since which time he has had full control of the estate. He has about thirty-five
acres of land, mostly under cultivation. In raising hay, corn, and stock he has met with invariable success. Mr. Miller has made many improvements on the property, and has now one of the best-appointed and most valu- able estates, for its size, of any in the county. He and his sister are held in high regard throughout the entire community. In politics Mr. Miller is a steadfast Republican, and in religious matters Miss Miller is a valued member of the Congregational church.
ILLIAM C. LATHAM, a retired farmer living at Florence, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, Oc- tober 26, 1824, son of William and Joanna (Cormac) Latham.
William Latham, who was also a native of County Tipperary, was steward for a state minister, who possessed a large estate. He and his wife reared to adult life four sons and seven daughters. Of these, besides the subject of this sketch, there are now living two daugh- ters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a son and two daughters in the old country. The youngest member of the family, a son, came to America in early manhood, served in the Civil War as First Lieutenant in a company of cavalry, and when but twenty-six years of age was killed in battle at Baton Rouge, where his remains were subsequently buried.
William C. Latham acquired a practical common-school education, and was reared to farm life in his native land. Hc embarked March 9, 1849, on a sailing-vessel bound for the United States, and after a voyage of five weeks and four days landed at New York City. After spending a short time with his aunts in Brooklyn, N. Y., he came to Northampton, Mass. Later he secured work in a woollen factory in Leeds, where he was employed for
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two years. He next worked at farming, and afterward obtained a salaried position in the meat business. Soon after his marriage, in the fall of 1850, he settled in Florence on four acres of land on West Street, in the locality known as "The Commons," where he erected a comfortable and substantial home.
His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Grady, was born in County Kerry, Ire- land. She came to this country alone in 1848, and until her marriage made her home with her brother, Thomas Grady, who then resided in Florence. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Latham, of whom six sons and three daughters grew to adult life. Three were born at Whately, while the rest are natives of Florence. All now reside in Florence except Michael Latham, who lives in Newark, N.J. Those deceased were David Latham, who went to Colorado, where he was killed when but twenty-one years old; and John Latham, who died in 1892, about the age of thirty-five years, leaving a wife and three children, who reside in Florence. William Whately Latham, the contractor of Florence, has met with success in his chosen vocation, and has carried through several large contracts in a very satisfactory manner. His fine stone dwelling, erected in the summer of 1893, is one of the best houses in Florence. He is married, and has a son and daughter. Nathaniel Latham, who is in the cutlery business, resides next to his father. He, too, is married, and has a son and daughter. Henry Latham follows the trade of a pain- ter. He has a wife; and they have three children, two sons and a daughter. William C. Latham and his family are all communicants of the Catholic church. They are highly es- teemed in the town, and have a large circle of friends.
HARLES E. STRONG, of Hunting- ton, a well-known farmer and a manu- facturer of whetstones, was born in that town October 6, 1853, son of llopkins and Roxana (Knowlton) Strong. Mr. Strong's father was a lifelong agriculturist and a highly respected citizen of Huntington. He was a Congregationalist in his religious belief, and united with the church. In politics he was an active supporter of the Republican party. He died at the age of sixty-six years. His wife became the mother of two children: Charles E., the subject of this sketch; and Samuel, who died at the age of seventeen.
Charles E. Strong was educated in the schools of Huntington, and was reared to an agricultural life. He resided with his parents and assisted in carrying on the farm, which he took charge of after his father's death. He subsequently engaged in the butchering busi- ness, and in 1877 moved to his present farm, which he purchased two years later. The property consists of four hundred acres of land, which he devotes to general farming and stock- raising. An additional source of income on it is a fine trout stream, which is now leased to a Springfield club. Mr. Strong is also exten- sively engaged in manufacturing scythe-stones. He owns the quarry from which he gets the stone, and he ships his products to different parts of the country. He has always voted with the Republican party, and has served as Highway Surveyor for several years.
On September 5, 1880, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to Mary D. Brown. She was born in Huntington, June 15, 1862, daughter of Aaron Brown, a prosperous farmer of Huntington, and Fanny (Leonard) Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are the parents of three children, namely: Grover C., who was born March 9, 1886 ; Currier Edward, born March 15, 1891 ; and Gladys Mary, born January 19, 1895.
N. RAINVILLE.
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R EV. FATHER N. RAINVILLE, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Northampton, is a native of Canada, born at Marieville in 1846. His par- ents, Godfrey and Liber (Masse) Rainville, have both passed through death unto the life immortal, the father having died in 1869, aged fifty-four years, and the mother ten years later, having rounded out a period of threescore years. Of their thirteen children but five are now living, namely : four daughters, all of whom are married; and one son, Father Rain- ville. One brother, Issie Rainville, was for many years a Notary Public.
Father Rainville is of French extraction, the first of the family to settle in this country having been Paul de Rainville, who emigrated from Normandy, France, to Quebec, about 1640. For many generations past the family have been engaged in agricultural pursuits, belonging to the yeomanry of France, though in earlier years they were of the nobility. François de Rainville, father of Godfrey, above named, removed from Quebec to St. Marie, settling in the wilds prior to, or about the time of, his marriage, and there improved a good farm. He was a very prominent and influential resident of that town, and was a member of Parliament one term.
Father Rainville was educated at Petit Sem- inary de St. Marie de Monnoir, and began his professional labors in this State at the Hol- yoke Church of the Sacred Heart, where he was assistant priest two years. On January 5, 1886, he assumed charge of his present parish, which was then in its infancy; and his work in this community has been greatly blessed. His force of character, talent, and ability are phenomenal; and it is only through his per- sistent effort and wise forethought that the French Catholic Church of this city has been completed. He is much beloved and revered
by his parishioners, a large number of people, there being now one thousand communicants in his church; and he readily wins the esteem of others with whom he comes in contact, and whom he impresses by his evident sincerity, kindness, and nobleness of purpose.
As the spiritual director of a large congre- gation Father Rainville occupies a position of influence and power which is widely and deeply felt and must be the means of great good. Readers of the "REVIEW" will be pleased to observe his likeness among the por- traits in this Hampshire County collection.
HOMAS T. SHUMWAY, a prosper- ous farmer of South Hadley and a vet- eran of the Civil War, was born in Belchertown, Mass., December 11, 1822, son of Vina and Lavinia (Squires) Shumway. Mr. Shumway's parents were natives and lifelong residents of Belchertown. His father, who was reared to agricultural life, followed farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1833. His mother was again married, her second husband being Leonard Cole. She died in 1 843. Vina Shumway was the father of six children, as follows: Lyman, who was drowned in a pond near Belchertown in 1850; Henry Harrison, who is a wagon-maker, and resides in New Hampshire; Marcus, who died in infancy; Elijah Dwight, a blacksmith and wagon-maker of South Amherst, Mass. ; La- vinia, a widow, now residing in this State; and Thomas T., the subject of this sketch.
Thomas T. Shumway at an early age com- menced work in a factory. He afterward entered the employ of Asa Clark, of Belcher- town, with whom he remained as a farm hand for ten years. He next went to Chicopee Falls, where he was employed by his brother for some time, after which he returned to Bel-
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chertown and resumed farming. In 1843 Mr. Shumway moved to South Hadley, where he purchased a farm, and successfully followed agriculture for about nineteen years. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers. He served through the most important period of the Civil War, during which his regiment was continually upon the move, and participated in many deci- sive battles. At the battle of New Market on May 15, 1864, he received a wound from which he was confined to the hospital for seven months. In 1865 he was honorably discharged from the service, and returning to South Had- ley he has since been engaged in agriculture.
In September, 1844, Mr. Shumway was united in marriage to his first wife, who was formerly Joanna Bishop. She was born in Belchertown, daughter of Arnold and Sarah (Packard) Bishop, both old residents of Bel- chertown. Mrs. Shumway bore her husband six children, as follows: Everett Myron, who died in 1861; Charles H., who resides in Northampton; Everett Myron (second), who resides in New York State; Lavinia, now abroad; Clara Anna, who resides at home; and another child who died in infancy. Mr. Shumway's first wife died November 10, 1865. He wedded for his second wife Jemima Weeks, who had no children. Mr. Shumway is a Republican in politics, a comrade of Post No. 86, Grand Army of the Republic, of Northamp- ton, and a member of the Christian Association of old soldiers.
EORGE L. HALL, the efficient super- intendent of the Easthampton poor farm, is a native of Simsbury, Conn., where he was born March 28, 1861. His pa- rents were William R. and Mary (Hiland) Hall, the former of whom was born in Ver- mont in 1840.
William R. Hall followed the calling of agriculturist with good success. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, he entered the army as a volunteer, and during his service received a shell wound in his ankle. Prior to receiving his honorable discharge he was pro- moted to the rank of Corporal. He died at Simsbury in 1891. His wife, who was born in Ireland, bore him seven children, of whom a daughter died in infancy and a son when four years of age. The living are as follows: Will- iam H. Hall, a successful merchant in Sims- bury; George L. ; Frederick C., living on the old homestead; Nellie E., residing with her brothers on the farm; and Joseph L., who assists his brother in the management of the homestead place. Their mother, who lives with them, receives a widow's pension.
George L. Hall, who was reared to farm life, received a good common-school education. At fifteen years of age he began to work for himself. He had been engaged in different places before he came to Easthampton in 1890 to take charge of the poor farm. It is a sala- ried position, and Mr. Hall in his management has proved himself the right man for the place. The house is large and commodious, and the farm, which is small, is in an excellent state of cultivation. There are at present between fifteen and twenty inmates in the institution.
He was married on February 9, 1889, to Miss Margaret Buckner, of Easthampton, a daughter of Clement Buckner and his wife, whose maiden name was Christina Hannah. Her father was born in Germany, and her mother was a native of Scotland. The former died in 1880, leaving his widow with three children, namely: George L. Buckner, a Deputy Sheriff, residing in Easthampton ; Clement Buckner, also living in Easthampton ; and Mrs. Hall. In his political relations Mr. Hall is a Republican. He and his wife are
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highly esteemed members of the Congrega- tional church.
OHN A. BARTLETT, a substantial citizen and a practical agriculturist of Enfield, has spent his whole life within the borders of that town, his birth occurring there on June 26, 1843. He is a son of Alex- ander, Jr., and Susan (Robinson) Bartlett, respectively natives of Enfield and Hardwick, Mass.
Alexander Bartlett, grandfather of John A., was one of the pioneer settlers of Pelham, this county, where he purchased a farm and lived for a number of years. Later on he resided in Belchertown for a time; but the last years of his life were spent in Enfield, where he died at the age of seventy-six years. He was drafted for service in the War of 1812, and went to Boston; but although he was sent to Boston he was not called upon for active ser- vice. He married Miss Deborah Brown, who reared him a family of seven children. Two of these are still living, namely : Mrs. Sarah Rogers, of Greenwich, Hampshire County ; and Sylvanus Bartlett, of Concord, N. H.
Alexander Bartlett, Jr., was reared to farm life ; and on starting for himself he chose farm- ing for his occupation. He finally purchased the excellent farm of one hundred and fifty acres that his son now owns, and on which the last twenty years of his own life were success- fully spent. He lived sixty-seven years; and his wife, whose maiden name was Susan Rob- inson, died in the sixty-fifth year of her age. But one child, John A. Bartlett, was born of their union. Both parents were liberal in their religious views.
John A. Bartlett received his education in the common schools of Enfield and Pelham. He remained with his parents, caring for them during the last years of their life. At their
death he became the owner of the old home- stead, on which he continues to reside. He is profitably engaged in mixed farming, and his dwelling and barns indicate comfort and pros- perity. On May 20, 1867, he was joined in marriage with Miss Lydia A. Aldridge, who was born in Belchertown in 1842. They have no children. Politically, Mr. Bartlett is a faithful adherent of the Republican party. Both he and his wife are liberal in their relig- ious views.
J OHN WRIGHT, one of the leading agri- culturists of Worthington, was born in Clyde, N. Y., in 1830. He bears the name of his adopted parents. His former name was Didy. His father, Richard Didy, who was a native of New York State, spent the major part of his life in the town of Rose, N. Y., where he was well known and success- fully followed the occupation of farming. He died there in 1836, his wife having passed away in 1830. They were the parents of seven children ; namely, Garrett (deceased), Corne- lius, William, Eliza, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and John.
John Didy, his mother having died during his infancy, by his father's death was left with- out parental care when five years of age. About that time he was taken into the family of Rufus M. Wright, who afterward legally adopted him, and had his name changed to that of John Wright. Rufus M. Wright was born in Massachusetts in 1803. In his younger days he engaged in school-teaching, being one of the first teachers in Hampshire County. He afterward turned his attention to agriculture, and profitably followed the latter occupation up to his death. His wife, who was Miss Salina Parrish before marriage, was born in 1808. She died on January 22, 1870, and he twenty years later, on October 24, 1890. One daugh-
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ter was born to them, Helen Mira, who died in infancy; and John Wright was in conse- quence like an only child to them. He lived with them until their death, at which time he inherited the place on which he has since resided. He is prosperously engaged in gen- eral farming and dairying, and makes a spe- cialty of butter-making. On September 9, 1862, he enlisted from Worthington in Com- pany K of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment for service in the Civil War. He was first sent to the camp at Springfield, where he had been but eight days when he was taken sick and was obliged to return home. After a fortnight, however, he was able to return to his regiment, which was still at Springfield. He subsequently accompanied it when it em- barked for Newbern, N.C., where during the succeeding three months he served on picket duty at different quarters. The first engage- ment in which he took part was that of Red House Landing. After that the regiment returned to Newbern for a short time, and then went by march to Plymouth, where it was sta- tioned for three weeks as a guard to the town. At the expiration of that time it was sent back to Newbern, but soon after it was despatched to Fortress Monroe, and thence, at short in- tervals, successively to Baltimore, Harper's Ferry, and Arlington Heights. From the latter place the regiment was sent to Balti- more again, and not long after received orders to return home. While in the service Mr. Wright received injuries from which he has never recovered sufficiently to engage in labo- rious work. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, and at once returned to his home, where he has since remained occupied in the successful management of his farm.
He was married on August 18, 1855, in Rose, N. Y., to Miss Phœbe Soper, who was born in Long Island on September 12, 1834.
At four years of age she removed with her parents to Rose, where she was educated and grew to womanhood. She has borne her hus- band three children, namely: Alfred, born September 7, 1857, married to Miss Julia Damon, a successful farmer and now in Ches- terfield, Mass. ; Louisa, born May 6, 1858, who is the wife of William Viets, a prosperous farmer of West Springfield, and has four chil- dren - Burditt, Nettie, Robert, and Clifton ; and Hattie, born May 11, 1862, who married Foster Beach, by whom she has two children - Clayton, born November 5, 1887, and Mabel, born May 30, 1889. Mr. Beach died May 24, 1891. On May 15, 1895, Mrs. Beach became the wife of Herbert Higgins, who was born in Cummington, Mass., June 14, 1867. In politics Mr. Wright is a Republi- can. He has always taken an active interest in the various enterprises of the town and county, and is well and favorably known by all with whom he comes in touch, being a man of upright business integrity.
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