USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 57
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G EORGE DEXTER UTLEY, a highly respected citizen of Ware, Mass., formerly a successful lumber and coal dealer, but now retired from active business life, was born in Hardwick, Worcester County, on March 27, 1824, son of Oren and Hannah (Dexter) Utley. His father was a native of Wilbraham, Hampden County, born on No- vember 30, 1787.
His grandfather, James Utley, had three brothers; and all were men of large stature, averaging six feet or over in height and weigh- ing about two hundred pounds each. They were natives of Connecticut ; and Grandfather Utley came thence to Wilbraham, Mass., where he met and married Miss Mary Ses- sions. He settled in Hardwick, where he
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purchased a farm on which there was only a small clearing that was reached by bridle paths through the forest. He there became an extensive and successful agriculturist. He died March 15, 1812, at about fifty years of age, and his wife in 1843, in the eighty-second year of her age, they having reared a family of three sons and two daughters. Oren Utley also chose the vocation of a farmer, in which he met with good success. He was first mar- ried about 1810, to Miss Hannah Dexter, of Royalston, Mass., who bore him seven chil- dren, all of whom, with the exception of James D., who died February 2, 1818, at two years of age, lived to years of discretion. The record is as follows : Maria, Mrs. Sibley, died in Ware in 1854, at thirty-nine years of age, leaving two children; Louisa, who married John Lewis, of Athol, Mass., died in 1879, at sixty-three years of age, leaving two daugh- ters; John Utley, whose death occurred in his seventy-first year, on February 4, 1890, was for fifty years a large produce dealer in Boston ; Rebecca is the widow of Zelotus Spooner, of Greenwich; George D. is further mentioned below; and Mary M. died December 6, 1851, at twenty-five years of age. After their mother's death their father married Miss Susan Adams, of Brookfield, Mass., by whom he had two sons and a daughter, namely : Hannah, whose death occurred in her eighteenth year ; Henry, who died at twenty-one years of age; and James, born in 1836, who is a successful farmer in New Braintree, Mass. The sons have recently placed a beautiful monument in the Hardwick cemetery in memory of the deceased.
George Dexter Utley grew to manhood on his father's farm, acquiring a good practical education in the district school, and assisting his father in the farm work until he was twenty-one years of age. He then started out
for himself, having as capital his clothes and twenty-five cents in money ; but he possessed a good business ability, and during his home life had acquired habits of industry. His first position was that of manager and salesman in a country store in Greenwich village, where he remained eight months, receiving twelve dol- lars and a half per month, which was at that time considered good wages. He next went to work in the fork and rake shop of Butterfield & Sibley, the latter a brother-in-law, and was soon after made a partner and general manager of the business, having charge of the market- ing of their products; and four years later he became the owner. He subsequently engaged in the grist-mill business for two years, and in 1857 moved to Southbridge, Mass., where he conducted an extensive teaming business, em- ploying forty horses ; and he also kept a hotel and a livery stable. Seven years later he re- moved to Athol, where he was engaged in hotel-keeping for a year. He then came to Ware, and again took up teaming, owning as many as fifty horses. He has also been a suc- cessful dealer in lumber and coal, and when he retired from an active mercantile life he was succeeded in this business by his son George E.
On October 27, 1852, Mr. Utley was united in marriage with Jane M. Emerson, a native of Winchester, and daughter of Daniel Ingalls and Mary S. (Oldham) Emerson. They have an interesting family of four children, three sons and a daughter, namely : Gertrude Jane, who married A. B. Goodier, of Southbridge, Mass., and has a son and daughter ; George E. Utley, residing in Ware, who married Miss Sarah Eudora Sheldon, and has one son living, Horace Ingalls Utley, and has buried a daugh- ter named Gertrude J. ; Henry A. Utley, who is successfully engaged in the steam laundry business in Amherst, Mass., is married, and has two sons - Lewis S. and Henry Lester,
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a daughter Louisc having dicd in childhood ; Charles Dexter Utley, also living in Amherst, who marricd Miss Alice L. Smith, and has one daughter, Grace.
Mr. Utley has been a lifelong Republican, but has declined to serve in any official capac- ity. He and his estimable wife reside at their attractive home at 58 Church Street, where they have lived since April 15, 1865, enjoying the esteem and good will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
OHN BAKER, who owns and occupies a well-improved farm in the town of South Hadley, is a native of Germany, having been born in Bavaria, June 16, 1841, son of Thomas and Margaret (Gebhardt) Baker, both lifelong residents of the same place. Thomas Baker followed farming in his native land, and died in 1845, when the subject of this sketch was but four years old. The wife died six years after. They reared eight chil- dren; namely, Conrad, Margaret, George, Annie Margarita, Cooney, John, Johnnie, and Hermann.
John Baker, left without the guardianship of parents at an early age, was taken in charge by his sister. He received a good education in the German schools, which are noted for their excellence. In 1859 Mr. Baker, who had a sister living at South Hadley Falls, emigrated to America, embarking on the ship "Toocsco." After a voyage lasting eight weeks he arrived at New York. At once joining his sister he secured work in the Glasgow Mills, where hc was employed as a weaver for eight years. While here he met a pretty German girl, Miss Catherine Cohler, who had migrated from Bavaria, the place of her birth, the previous year. The acquaintance ripened into an affec- tion, which resulted in marriage, August 16,
1860. She, too, was an orphan, both of her parents having died in Germany. After his marriage Mr. Baker worked in a paper-mill until 1868, when he bought twenty-one acres of land, which are included in his present farm. It was mostly timber land, and he cleared it and otherwise improved it. Having saved some money, he subsequently bought more land; and he now has seventy acres, mostly under cultivation. He has met with signal success in general farming, and has a profitable dairy business. As a man and a citizen Mr. Baker is held in high respect, his manliness and honest integrity winning the confidence of all with whom he comes in con- tact. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three chil- dren, namely: Henry, who resides near his parents, married to Rosanna Pickett; Emma, living at home; and Johnnie, who married Nellie Thristan, also living near the parental homestead. In politics Mr. Baker votes with the Republican party. In religious matters he and his wife are members of the German Congregational Church. Mr. Baker has con- siderable musical talent, and belongs to the Singing Club of South Hadley Falls.
EORGE NUTTING, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Granby, was born March 16, 1832, in the town of Hatfield, son of Bryant and Matilda (Belding) Nutting.
The father, a native of Leverett, Mass., was a stone mason by trade, which calling he followed in this State for many years. He finally went West to Monmouth, Ill., where he resided until his decease, August 23, 1840. His wife was a native of Whately, born Au- gust 26, 1800. After the death of her hus- band she returned to her native State and settled in Granby, where her death occurred
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August 23, 1877. She bore her husband six children ; namely, Lucius, Lucy, Julia, Har- riet, George, and Margaret. The first named was born May 27, 1822, married Elizabeth Allison, and they reside in Bozeman, Mont. Lucy, born October 21, 1825, is the widow of the late James Ferguson, and now makes her home with her son in Salt Lake City, Utah. Julia, born November 23, 1828, has been twice married, her first husband having been George Dame, and her second Rufus Graves, and is now living in California. Harriet, born August 17, 1830, living in Holyoke, has also been twice married, her first husband hav- ing been Louis Shelley, and her second Charles Wells. Margaret, born October 14, 1835, in Chicopee, married E. A. Cook, of Springfield, but is now deceased.
George Nutting received a good common- school education. His brother Lucius, who was educated at Galesburg, Ill., was the only member of the family to attend a higher insti- tution of learning. When he was sixteen years old he came with his mother to Granby, where she bought the present home farm. A few years later Mr. Nutting bought out his mother's interest in the property, and he has since managed it on his own account. He carries on general farming, raising corn and hay as his staple products, in addition to a profitable business in dairying. Another in- dustry of his that brings him in good returns is the butchering and peddling of meat, in which he has the assistance of his son. In politics Mr. Nutting has always gone with the Republican party. He declines political honors, though often urged to do so by his fellow-citizens. The only official capacity in which he has served was that of Surveyor, which he held for twenty years.
Mr. Nutting was married December 27, 1852, to Miss Mary M. Lyman, a native of
Granby, born February 11, 1832, daughter of Henry and Prudence (Willey) Lyman, respec- tively natives of Northfield, Mass., and Somers, Conn. Mr. Lyman was a manufact- urer .in his early days, but subsequently en- gaged in business as a miller. He died August 30, 1867. His wife, who died Febru- ary 21, 1859, bore him five children; namely, Mary M. (Mrs. Nutting), Eliza M., Charles T., Dwight C., and Nancy Jane. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nutting two children have been born, Dwight Curtis and William Lucius. Dwight C., born March 17, 1861, resides near his parents. He married Mary Jane Bardwell, and they have two children, George H. and Lucius. William L., born October 12, 1867, died November 30, 1894, leaving his widow, formerly Carrie Belle Adams, with four children. Mr. and Mrs. Nutting have also one adopted son, Oliver G., born October 15, 1856. He married Ella Upham, and is now residing in Springfield. Following in the footsteps of his father, Dwight C. is engaged in agricultural pursuits, having a fine farm, on which he carries on mixed husbandry, making somewhat a specialty of dairying. Both Mr. George Nutting and his wife are people of high moral worth and consistent members of the Congregational church, toward the support of which they con- tribute generously.
ONATHAN ROCKWELL WRIGHT, a retired farmer of South Hadley, was born September 15, 1813, in East- hampton, son of Ichabod and Mary (Clapp) Wright. Ichabod Wright, one of the foremost farmers of Easthampton, continued in his in- dependent occupation until his accidental death by drowning, August 1, 1844. His wife after- ward made her home with her children, and
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died May 1, 1871. She bore her husband seven children, namely : Horace, who died in infancy; Horace, second, for many years a resident of Missouri, who died at Webster Groves in St. Louis County; I. Strong, who died at Crown Point, N. Y. ; Edmund, for sev- eral years a home missionary in Missouri, who now lives at Seattle, Wash. ; Jonathan Rock- well, the subject of this sketch; Russell M., now travelling in Europe; and an unnamed child that died in infancy.
Jonathan Rockwell Wright was reared on the home farm, and assisted in redeeming a large part of it from the wilderness. After the death of his father the homestead property was given to him; and he continued its im- provement for many years, carrying on mixed husbandry with signal success. In March, 1861, Mr. Wright bought his present farming property, containing one hundred acres of fer- tile land. He labored on it with persevering energy until he had it in a tillable condition with substantial buildings, and the necessary equipments for successful farming. He car- ries on general farming and stock-raising, and is also interested in dairy work, selling a con- siderable quantity of milk. As a farmer, neighbor, and citizen, Mr. Wright has the esteem of the community and the confidence and good will of his friends and associates. Politically, he is an earnest Republican, but he has never held office.
On November 19, 1845, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Roxanna (White) Gay- lord, who was born in Hampshire County, April 8, 1817. She died in August, 1895, on the home farm. She was a most estimable woman, a devoted wife, a tender mother, and a wise counsellor to her husband and children, who hold her in loving remembrance. She was a conscientious member of the Congrega- tional church, to which Mr. Wright also
belongs. They had four children, as follows : the first-born, whose birth occurred February 2, 1849, died in infancy ; Mary J., born Feb- ruary 6, 1850, was married June 10, 1875, to R. M. Smith, who now lives in Granby ; Will- iam Strong, born March 6, 1854, died Febru- ary 2, 1863 ; and Alvin Lorenzo, born Octo- ber 28, 1857, married Carrie E. Trimble, and now manages the home farm.
LIVER WALKER, general insurance agent at Northampton, a man of marked financial ability, is a native of Hampshire County. He was born Septem- ber 13, 1841, in Belchertown, where his father, Horace Walker, was a lifelong resi- dent. The emigrant ancestor of his family is said to have been John Walker, who came from England at an early date, and settled in Eastern Massachusetts.
Mr. Walker's paternal grandfather, Silas Walker, one of the large landholders of Belch- ertown, born there in 1764, is mentioned in the History of the Connecticut Valley as a son of Captain James Walker, who settled in Belchertown in 1755, and grandson of Nathan- iel Walker, of Weston, Mass. Silas Walker was a man of great strength and endurance, and attained a vigorous old age, retaining his faculties in a remarkable manner, being able in his last years to read the Bible through without the aid of glasses. He spent his life in Belchertown, dying in 1857, in his ninety- fourth year. His wife, whose maiden name was Demmis Sexton, bore him twelve chil- dren, all of whom became useful members of society, the sons being mostly engaged in farming.
Horace Walker was born in 1793, and died in 1870. He owned a farm adjoining the parental homestead, was a prosperous farmer
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and a respected citizen of his town. He en- listed as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was sent to Boston to aid in the defence of that city. While encamped there, he used to catch flounders in the harbor as food for his mess. Like his parents, Horace Walker was an Orthodox Congregationalist in religion and a consistent Christian. He married Abi- gail Filer, whose father owned a farm near by, and of their five children the following four grew to adult life: Henry J., born in 1821, is a well-known druggist of Northamp- ton ; Sarah W., born in 1828, is the widow of Samuel D. Cowles, of Amherst ; Emery P., born in 1832, is a commercial traveller, re- siding at Hartford, Conn .; and Oliver. The mother was much respected for her many virt- ues. She lived to the age of seventy-eight years.
Oliver Walker remained on the farm, assist - ing his father in its manual labor until eigh- teen years old, meanwhile acquiring a good practical education in the district school and at the Monson Academy, where he spent one winter. In 1861, shortly after the fall of Fort Sumter he was one of the brave boys in blue who responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a private in Company H, Forty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Returning home after the expiration of his term of service, Mr. Walker re-enlisted Au- gust 23, 1862, as a nine months' man, and served until July 29, 1863, when he was hon- orably discharged. Mr. Walker then spent three years in the stove, tin, and plumbing business, and in 1866, having studied book- keeping one term at Eastman's Business Col- lege in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., became a partner with Eames & Sprague of this city in the same business, three years later selling his interest to his partners. At this time Mr. Walker had a serious illness, which for a
while incapacitated him from active labor. Since 1870 he has conducted a fire and acci- dent insurance agency. He is also an ex- tensive dealer in real estate and an author- ized agent for the sale of tickets to foreign points.
On February 20, 1868, Mr. Walker married Fanny J. Griswold, of Springfield, a daughter of Joseph and Electa (Warner) Griswold. Their pleasant home has been brightened by the birth of two children, a daughter and a son: Carrie L. is a brilliant student in the musical department of Smith College, which she entered after being graduated from the Northampton High School; Charles W. was graduated from Williston Seminary in the summer of the present year, 1895, and is now pursuing his college course at Amherst.
In politics Mr. Walker is a stanch member of the Republican party ; and he is connected socially, financially, and religiously with the best interests of the city, where he has ac- ceptably filled many places of trust and re- sponsibility. In 1878 he was elected Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Hampshire County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, in place of Harvey Kirkland, resigned, and ten years later was elected Trustee of the Northampton In- stitution for Savings, in place of George W. Hubbard, deceased. He has also been chair- man of the Civil Service Commission. Mr. Walker served as Deacon of the First Congre- gational Church one year, has been one of the assessors of that parish for ten years, one of the Directors of the Young Men's Christian Association for several years, and in every position has performed his duties with great fidelity. He is a Master Mason, having joined the Jerusalem Lodge in 1866. Mr. Walker has a pleasant home at 29 Pleasant Street, the commodious house in which he lives, and which was formerly owned by Har-
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vey Kirkland, having been built a century ago, as shown by the date on the foundation stone.
R. FRANK M. GOULD, the lead- ing and pioneer physician of Green- wich, was born in Norridgewock, Somerset County, Me., May 9, 1835, son of Joshua and Sarah (Martin) Gould. Moriah Gould, his grandfather, was one of the early settlers of Somerset County. He obtained sustenance for himself and family from the then unexhausted resources of nature, dividing his time among farming, hunting, and trap- ping. He was an industrious man and fairly well-to-do. He lived to the advanced age of ninety years. His wife also outlived the allotted span of human life.
Joshua Gould was the only son of his par- ents. He was born in Norridgewock, and grew to manhood in Somerset County, attain- ing a better education than the limited re- sources of the time would seem to warrant. When a boy of nine years, he suffered from a fever, which caused a sore on one of his limbs that contracted the cords, and maimed him for life, making that limb considerably shorter than the other. It may be that his infirmity caused Mr. Gould to devote more time to his books than an active boy would be likely to. However, he was a well-informed man, promi- nent in public life and a leader in the coun- cils of the Democrats of his district. He was Clerk of the District Court for over forty years, and served for many years as Justice of the Peace. He died at the age of eighty- seven. His wife, who was a native of Pitts- field, Me., had attained her sixty-sixth year when her death occurred. They had a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom reached maturity. Of these Moses M., Charles C., Emmaline, and Fanny are deceased. The
others are: Henry A., William D., Aaron M., Frank M., Sarah, Ann, Caroline, and Felicia.
Frank M. Gould, M.D., received his early education in the schools of Norridgewock. One of his schoolmates was the now famous preacher, Minot J. Savage. When fifteen years of age, he went to Worcester, Mass., to learn the machinist's trade. There he met with financial disaster by the failure of a firm for which he had worked two years and nine months, leaving his wages unpaid. He was subsequently employed for some years in the locomotive works in Portland, Me., and later worked on stationary engines in Bangor. He next engaged with the Putney Tool Com- pany at Fitchburg, Mass., going from there to Barre, in the same State, and thence to the Springfield Armory, where during the war he was foreman of a department. At that time there was an enormous amount of work done at the armory, the company turning out eleven hundred guns daily for three years. Dr. Gould worked last as a machinist for the Parker Machine Company of Clinton, Mass., manufacturers of the Axminster carpet looms. During the years that he worked at his trade he won a reputation for expert workmanship. While at Worcester, he distinguished himself by accomplishing the difficult task of making a screw some twenty-five or thirty feet in length. Two lathes were necessary for the work, and its perfect accomplishment required a good mechanical eye and the exercise of fine judgment. Though so successful as a ma- chinist, Dr. Gould had always had a desire to enter the medical profession, and for some time had occupied his leisure in reading and studying medicine. In 1877 he entered the Eclectic Medical College of New York City, and graduated in 1880, with high honors, as valedictorian of his class. In May of the same year he opened an office in Greenwich,
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and for fifteen years has been in active prac- tice, with his visiting list yearly increasing. The doctor has computed the average distance which he travels annually in visiting his pa- tients to be fourteen thousand miles.
Dr. Gould was married in 1863 to Eliza A. Stone, a native of Dana, Mass., daughter of James H. and Azuba Stone, and sister of J. Madison Stone, the noted portrait painter. Two children were born of this union: James F., who is in the express business in Plym- outh, N.H .; and Fanny M., who graduated from Belvidere Seminary, N.J., and is now a teacher in Greenwich.
Politically, Dr. Gould favors the Demo- cratic party. Though very busy in answering the demands of his profession, he has found time to fill various offices. He has served as Overseer of the Poor and Constable, and is now Justice of the Peace. He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Barre. Dr. and Mrs. Gould hold liberal views regarding religious differences. They have a pretty home in the village of Greenwich Plains, from which they are rarely absent, as the Doctor has not had a week's vacation in fifteen years.
ENRY L. UFFORD, a successful farmer and lumberman of North Am- herst, was born in that town, De- cember 17, 1855, son of Lucian M. and Esther (Kellogg) Ufford. Mr. Ufford's grandfather was a physician. He had a large practice in Hampden and East Springfield, and he died in the last-named place at an advanced age. He married Lydia Morris; and she became the mother of six children, of whom two died in infancy, and Edward Ufford is now the sole survivor. The mother died at a ripe old age.
Lucian Ufford, Mr. Ufford's father, was born in Hampden in 1818. He was engaged
in different occupations in Hampden, Frank- lin, and Hampshire Counties ; and for a num- ber of years he was an operative in the cotton- mills at Ludlow. His last years were spent in North Amherst, where he died in 1881. His wife, who was born in North Amherst in 1820, became the mother of six children, as follows: Mary, Anna, and Andrew, who are now dead; Morris A., a ranchman in New Mexico; Lucy, wife of J. B. Roberts, of Springfield, Mass. ; and Henry L., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in February, 1893. She was a member of the Congrega- tional church.
Henry L. Ufford was educated in the public schools of his native town. When a young man, he adopted agriculture as an occupation ; and he has since followed it in connection with lumbering. He bought a farm of eighty acres, situated in North Amherst; and, after adding to it by the purchase of more land, he sold the whole at a profit, and then invested in wood lots. He has been successful in his ventures. He now resides at a pleasant home, situated on a farm which consists of fifty acres of well-improved land. This property, which was formerly occupied by his father, has been in the possession of Mr. Ufford since 1860. He is still actively engaged in lumbering, keeping a large force of men employed. He owns in all about one hundred and fifty acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics, and is at the present time a member of the Board of Selectmen. On June 14, 1882, Mr. Ufford was united in marriage to Martha F. Jones, born in Pelham, October 1, 1862, daughter of John and Mary (Oakes) Jones. John Jones was born in Temple, Me., October, 1818; and his wife was born there, October 25, 1821. They now reside with Mrs. Ufford.
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