USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 58
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Mr. and Mrs. Ufford have three children, as follows: Leonard M., born March 22, 1887;
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Lucian M., born March 27, 1889; and Elsie E., born August 10, 1890. Mr. Ufford is liberal in his religious views, and Mrs. Ufford is a member of the Congregational church.
HE JUDD FAMILY has been promi- nently identified with the leading in- terests of Hampshire County since its earliest history. The emigrating ancestor, Thomas Judd, came from England to Massa- chusetts in 1633 or 1634, and settled in Cam- bridge, in that part of the town known then as "West End." He built a house, and re- mained there two years; but in 1636 he moved to Hartford, Conn., whence he went to the town of Farmington, being one of the original proprietors of that place. He was an exten- sive land-owner and an influential citizen, being sent to the General Court in 1674. In 1678 his first wife died; and on December 2, 1679, he married the widow Clemence Mason, of Northampton, to which place he came in 1682. He was very active in church work, and was made Deacon of the church in 1668. Deacon Judd died a few years after com- ing to Northampton, his death occurring No- vember 12, 1688. His widow survived him, dying November 22, 1696. He reared a family of nine children, the next in line of descent being his eldest son, William Judd.
William Judd, who was married March 30, 1658, died at Farmington, Conn., in 1690. He was known by his military title of Ser- geant. His wife bore him seven children. She survived him, her death occurring October 27, 1718. His son Thomas, through whom the line continues, was a blacksmith and a farmer, and one of the leading men of his time, serving as Town Clerk, Deacon of the church, Captain of the militia, Justice of the Peace,
and as a Deputy to the General Court. On February 9, 1688, he married Sarah Freeman, by whom he had six children, one son, Will - iam, and five daughters.
This second William Judd, who was a Cap- tain in the militia and a Representative to the General Court, was first married January 21, 1713, to Mary Root. After her death, on December 10, 1757, he married Mrs. Hope Lee. He departed this life January 29, 1772, leaving five sons and two daughters, of whom Timothy, the eldest son, is the progenitor of this branch of the family.
Timothy Judd was a man of scholarly attain- ments, and was graduated from Yale College in 1737. His first wife, Mary Clark, whom he wedded March 29, 1744, died on the 8th of the following November. He then mar- ried, October 9, 1749, Mellicent (South) Mayo, a widow, who died March 26, 1763. On August 8, 1764, he married Ann Sedg- wick, who lived but a short time; and after her decease he married on June 6, 1780, Mrs .. Mary Foote. In October, 1782, she passed to the life eternal, and later the Widow Clanson became his fifth wife. Timothy Judd was a man of influence, and served as Justice of the Peace from 1765 until 1783, besides holding various other offices of trust. He died Janu- ary 23, 1796, leaving six children.
Allyn Judd, son of the above-named Timo- thy, was born in 1757, and died in Windsor, N. Y., in 1803. In 1776 he married Joanna Seymour, who died October 5, 1833, having borne him eleven children. Jonathan Judd, Jr., son of the Rev. Jonathan Judd, graduated at Yale College in 1765. He began trade in Southampton in 1769, being the town's first merchant. He continued in business here for half a century. He was a Justice of the Peace, once a Representative to the General Court, and was also busy in other public em -
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ployments. He died January 30, 1819, aged seventy-five years.
Frederick Judd, son of the Rev. Jonathan Judd, was born January 9, 1760, and married Nancy Wait, daughter of Simeon Wait, of Southampton, December 15, 1785. He was a Representative to the General Court and a Jus- tice of the Peace. He died May 23, 1840, aged eighty years four months. He had seven children.
Asa Judd, a son of Frederick Judd, suc- ceeded his uncle as a trader in Southampton, and died here October 20, 1848, aged sixty years. On May 13, 1816, he married Lavinia Gridley, who was born October 12, 1792, the record of their children being as follows: Jonathan, born September 23, 1817; Anna Maria, born February 2, 1819, married Orrin R. More. of Southampton, August 11, 1846, their only child being one son, born April 26, 1853; Cornelia, born June 9, 1820, died Feb- ruary 6, 1841; Zeresh, born November 18, 1822, died May 15, 1823; Zeresh Jane, born March 12, 1824, was for many years a school- teacher in this vicinity; Ard Gridley, born November 22, 1825; and William D., born March 1, 1828.
Jonathan N. Judd succeeded his father, Asa, in the store and post-office, remaining here until his death, July 11, 1861, aged forty- three years. He was a Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk and Treasurer, Selectman, and a member of the Congregational church. He was honored and esteemed by his towns- people as a man far above the average, one whose business capacity was superior, and whose counsel was recognized by all as valuable.
Ard Gridley Judd succeeded his brother Jonathan N. in business here, and was ap- pointed Postmaster in 1861, having been con- nected with the office ever since. He was
Town Treasurer during the trying days of the Civil War, is a member of the Congregational church and parish, and a faithful supporter of both organizations, and a stanch Republican in politics. He has been uncommonly success- ful in business, gaining a substantial compe- tence, while retaining the respect and good will of his townsmen. He and his sister, Jane Z. Judd, still occupy the old homestead in Southampton where they were born. Jane Z. Judd received an education in the common schools and Sheldon Academy, afterward fol- lowing the vocation of a school-teacher, in which she was unusually proficient and suc- cessful. She is a member of the Congrega- tional church, prominent and active in its service.
William D. Judd grew to manhood in Southampton, and began his active work as book-keeper at Leeds, in this county, remain- ing a few years, when he accepted a similar position with C. P. Talbot, of Lowell, Mass., where he lived five years. Returning then to Western Massachusetts, he was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Greenfield for two years, coming back to the place of his nativity in 1857, dying here March 4, 1858, of con- sumption, resulting from pneumonia. While a resident of Lowell, in 1851, he was united in marriage with Malvina A. Carleton, a na- tive of that city, where her birth occurred, October 13, 1828. Their only child, Freder- ick Eugene, was born in Lowell, Mass., March 30, 1852.
Frederick E. Judd was reared and educated in the city of Lowell, Mass., being graduated from the high school. After completing his education, he entered the employment of a Boston firm as book-keeper, continuing in that business several years. Mr. Judd then removed to Northampton, where he spent a year, coming thence to Southampton in 1872.
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Since his residence here he has won the re- spect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, being deservedly popular throughout the com- munity. His business tact and sound judg- ment are widely recognized, and he has served in various offices of responsibility. In 1877 he was chosen Town Clerk, a position which he has since held, and for the past five years has been Town Treasurer, and is one of the Trustees of the Easthampton Savings Bank. He is now copartner in the firm of A. G. Judd & Co. In politics he is a steadfast Republican ; and, religiously, he and his wife belong to the Congregational church, of which he is organist, as well as parish clerk. He is a member of lonic Lodge of A. F. & A. M. On September 12, 1889, Mr. Judd was united in marriage with Miss Catherine E. Parsons, who is a native of Southampton. Mrs. Judd was born February 13, 1858, of pioneer an- cestry, being the daughter of Isaac and Rachel C. (Edmands) Parsons. She graduated at Mount Holyoke College, June 24, 1880. Two bright and active children enliven the home of Mr. and Mrs. Judd, namely: Helen Kath- rina, born October 22, 1891; and William Frederick, born May 20, 1893.
UGENE PRENTISS BARTLET, of l'elham, a Director and superintendent of the Montague City Rod Manufac- tory, was born in Pclham, January 1, 1853, son of Marshall and Abigail (Warren) Bartlet. Mr. Bartlet's ancestors were early settlers in Enfield, Mass., where they were engaged in agriculture. Marshall Bartlet, Mr. Bartlet's father, was born in Enfield, and was a son of Gideon Bartlet. He settled in Pelham in 1845, and followed his trade of shoemaking during the active period of his life. He was an industrious worker and an estimable man.
In politics he was a Republican, while he held liberal religious views. Marshall Bart- let died in Amherst at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who was a descendant of General Warren of Revolutionary fame, was born at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. She became the mother of ten children, as follows : Erastus; Livingston, a resident of Amherst ; Calista, wife of Henry Wheeler, of Hartford, Conn .; Joseph F., a resident of Turner's Falls, Mass .; Myron M., who resides in Belchertown; Leander L., of Montague City ; Henrietta, wife of Edwin Wade, of Ludlow; Carrie, wife of Charles Aldridge, of Keene, N.H .; Eugene P., the subject of this sketch; and Lora, wife of Charles Engel, of Spring- field, Mass. The mother died at the age of sixty-eight years.
Eugene Prentiss Bartlet commenced at an early age to contribute toward his own sup- port. When thirteen years old, he became farm boy for Marcus Daniels in Wilbraham, receiving twenty-five dollars for his season's work. He then found employment in the Hills Company's factory in Amherst. The Hills were then the exclusive manufacturers of Shaker hoods, and Mr. Bartlet was with them at different times during the space of three years. He next went to Turner's Falls, where he was engaged with his brothers in learning the painter's trade. He continued at that occupation for three years. In 1872 he entered the employment of Gray & Sons, fishing rod manufacturers, receiving at first seventy-five cents per day. His wages were increased as he advanced in proficiency; and in less than a year after entering the factory he was receiving two dollars per day. Though he commenced in a humble capacity, he made such rapid progress through the various de- partments that on January 1, 1874, he was made superintendent of the factory. He later
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became a stockholder in the concern, and finally obtained possession of the whole busi- ness. He subsequently enlarged the factory, and placed it in the hands of a stock company, known as the Montague City Rod Manufactory. Although Mr. Bartlet is a large stockholder and a Director, he continues to act as superintend- ent ; and each department is conducted under his personal supervision. The company has factories located in Pelham, Montague City, Mass., and in Postville, Vt., and manufactures all kinds of fishing rods except steel ones. The Pelham factory employs forty-five work- men the year round. Its products are shipped to various parts of New England and to New York City. During the season of 1893 and 1894 this factory alone completed seventy- five thousand rods, of two hundred and fifty different styles. This concern is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, and its present flourishing condition is due principally to the skill and business ability of Mr. Bartlet.
Mr. Bartlet is a Republican in politics, and has served as a Selectman and Assessor for two terms. He is a member of Pacific Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the Northampton Com- mandery.
On July 8, 1874, Mr. Bartlet was united in marriage to Jennie Ward, daughter of Joseph and Amanda A. Ward. Joseph Ward was a prosperous farmer and a lifelong resident of Pelham. He owned and operated a stone quarry, and was a well-known citizen. He died in Pelham, at over seventy years of age. His wife, who survives him, now resides with Mr. Bartlet. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlet have two children, namely: Lotta A., wife of R. M. Aldridge, who is employed in the factory; and Jessie E., who resides at home. Mr. Bartlet contributes liberally to the support of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Bartlet is a member.
NDREW N. THORINGTON, turnkey of the Hampshire County Jail at Northampton for the past twelve years, was born in Sturbridge, Worcester County, Mass., June 6, 1844, the only child of Andrew B. and Mary (Haskell) Thorington. He comes of heroic Revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather, William Thorington, hav- ing been a soldier of the Revolutionary army. His name was written on the muster roll as William Thornton, and his widow was obliged to use that name in applying for a pension. After the close of the great struggle he set- tled in Rensselaer County, New York, where his son Abraham, grandfather of the present Mr. Thorington, was born.
Abraham Thorington was reared to farming. After his marriage with Miss Breninthol, whose father came over from Germany as a stowaway on one of the large sailing-vessels, he purchased a farm in Pittstown, Rensselaer County, where he engaged in general farming during the remainder of his life. His wife died in 1849, aged threescore years. His death occurred some ten years later, at the age of seventy years. They reared two sons and two daughters, of whom the only one now liv- ing is Mrs. Elizabeth Dean, a widow residing in Iowa. Andrew B. Thorington was born at Troy, N. Y., in September, 1822. In 1840, before reaching his majority, he was united in marriage with Mary Haskell, a native of Whitingham, Vt., where their union was celebrated. He was a farmer by occupation, and lived in Massachusetts many years of his life, finally locating in Charlemont, where he departed this life in March, 1895. His wife died in 1882, aged sixty-one years.
Andrew N. Thorington, the subject of this short biography, received a good education. At the age of eighteen years he left home, and became an attendant in the Asylum for
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the Insane in Northampton, at first under the instruction of Dr. Prince, but subsequently under the regime of Dr. Pliny Earle. Hc has been engaged in similar work much of his lifetime, having been with Dr. Shaw in Middletown, Conn., and in Worcester under Dr. Bemis. Hc was a salesman in Malonc, N.Y., for two years, and an employce in a shoc factory at Brookfield, Mass,, for a time. In August, 1883, hc accepted his present position, in which he has given general satis- faction.
On August 4, 1887, Mr. Thorington was married to Clara E. Cooley, one of the eight children of the late Calvin Cooley. They have one son, Carl Haskell Thorington, now three years old. Politically, Mr. Thorington is a steadfast Republican. He is a Knight Templar and a Past Sachem of the tribe of Red Men. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has been Junior Vice-Commander of the William L. Baker Post, No. 66. He was a soldier in the late Civil War, having enlisted from Shelburne Falls, July 21, 1864, in the Sixtieth Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, going out as a one hundred days' man.
ONATHAN E. PORTER, of Hatfield, Mass., manufacturer of the Porter lathe, was born in this town on No- vember 22, 1849, in the house where C. Bard- well now lives. He is a son of Moscs C. and Emily (Porter) Porter.
This branch of the Porter family traces its ancestral line to John Porter, who came to this country from England more than two hun dred and fifty ycars ago, and settled in Wind- sor, Conn., in 1639. His will, datcd April 20, 1648, and which is copied in the Colonial Records of Connecticut, vol. i., makes be-
quests to eight children; namely, John, James, Samuel, Nathaniel, Rebecca, Rose, Mary, Anna. Samuel, the third son, who was born in 1639 and died in 1689, was one of the first settlers in Hadley, Mass. Hc and his wife reared a family of ten children; namely, Samuel, Thomas, Hezekiah, John, Hannah, Mehitabel, Experience, Ichabod, Nathaniel, and Thomas. Ichabod, son of . Samuel, was born June 17, 1678. He mar- ried, settled in Hatfield, and became the father of seven children: Dorcas, Mehitabel, Ichabod, Hannah, Mary, James, and Sarah.
James Porter, younger son of Ichabod, was born in Hatfield, September 19, 1714. With the exception of his service in the war of the Revolution, his life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Eunice Belden, who bore him five children: Hannah, Jona- than, Submit, David, and Silas.
Jonathan, son of James, born in 1752, mar- ried Ruth Chapin ; and they reared the follow- ing children: Reuben, Eunice, Elizabeth, Ruth, Jonathan, Samuel, Chester, and Anna. Jonathan Porter, Jr., whose birth occurred in January, 1789, started in life as a poor boy. He eventually became the owner of the placc known as the E. Billings farm, and by indus- try and good business management he ac- quired a good amount of property. Hc was a leader in town affairs, and also took great interest in religious matters, being a member of the Congregational church. He served in the War of 1812, in which he held the rank of Major. He married in 1818 Electa Allis; and their union was blessed by the birth of five children, as follows: Moses Chapin, Henry Smith, Sophia Allis, Jonathan Dwight, and James. He died in 1864, at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife in 1855, at sixty-three years of age.
Moses C. Porter, son of Jonathan and Electa
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(Allis) Porter, was born December 30, 1819. Like his predecessors. he turned his attention to agriculture, purchasing the S. Bardwell place. where he engaged in farming with good results, and became a progressive and enter- prising citizen of the town. In 1876 he moved to Amherst, and there lived practically re- tired from active business. His first wife, Emily Porter, died at thirty-seven years of age, leaving three children: Augusta A., who married Myron Graves; Jonathan E .; and Moses, who died at nine years of age. The father married for his second wife Miss Louisa B. Bridgman, who is still living. He was sixty-eight years old at the time of his death.
Jonathan E. Porter received his education in Hatfield and at Powers Institute. At twenty years of age he went West, hoping to find there a more desirable place for his life work; but, his expectations not being realized, he returned home, and entered into partner- ship with the Prescott Pistol Company, with which he was associated for seven years. He then purchased a water-power and foundry of H. Porter. In 1876 the foundry burned down, and soon after he sold the north side and one-half of the water-power to C. S. Shat- tuck; and still later he sold the other side. He hired the upper story of Mr. Shattuck's factory, and began the manufacture of the well-known Porter lathe. In the present fac- tory, which was erected in 1884, seventy-five hands are employed; and they turn out about thirty-five machines per month. Mr. Porter does the selling, and travels as far West as Denver, Col., to which point he makes four trips yearly. Mr. Porter also rents and runs a grist-mill, where he does custom grinding, and deals in grain and hay.
Miss Mary D. Smith, who became the wife of Mr. Porter on December 13, 1871, was born February 7, 1850, and is a daughter of
Silas and Eliza (Williams) Smith. Mrs. Porter's grandfather served in the Revolu- tionary War. Her father was a farmer throughout his life. She was one of a family of seven children; namely, Emma E., George Y., Mary D., Frank H., Alice W., Fred L., and Kittie L. Mr. and Mrs. Porter's union has been blessed by the birth of two children: Mary E., who was born July 3, 1877, and died on October 4 of that year; and Helen L., who was born June 27, 1878.
A faithful portrait of Mr. Porter appears on the page opposite the beginning of the fore- going sketch of one of the old and substantial families of Hampshire County.
USTUS HOLLAND KINGSLEY, the worthy descendant of an old and hon- ored family of Hampshire County, was born December 30, 1842, in Westhampton, where he is now a conspicuous figure in the farming community. His father, the late Zenas Kingsley, was a native of Westhamp- ton, and for many years carried on an exten- sive business in the manufacture of woollen goods, and was also identified with the farm- ing interests of this town. In the latter part of his life he removed to Stratford, Coos County, N.H., there becoming interested in the lumber business, continuing thus engaged until his demise in 1881. To him and his wife; formerly Susan Elwell, nine children were born, namely: Susan M., wife of Henry M. Parsons, of Northampton; Edward W., of Westhampton; Joseph H., of whom a short sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Cyn- thia S., who married Charles Clark, both she and her husband being now deceased; Zenas Mahlon, a soldier in the late Civil War, who died in his country's service; Nelson H., of Riverside, Cal .; Ellen V., widow of the late
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Enoch Perkins, of Northampton; Justus Hol- land; and Fidelia M.
Justus H. Kingsley was reared and edu- cated in this town; but, when his father re- moved to New Hampshire, he accompanied him thither, remaining with him, assisting him in his labors, and caring for him in his last days. In 1886 Mr. Kingsley and his sister Fidelia returned to the home of their child- hood years, and here bought their present farm of two hundred acres, on which they have since resided. Mr. Kingsley takes a genuine interest in tilling the soil, and is continually making substantial improvements on his es- tate, rendering it one of the best in point of equipments of any in the locality. He pays especial attention to the raising of choice fruits, besides which his principal productions are hay and corn, his harvests being large and profitable. A Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Kingsley is an earnest sup- porter of the principles of that party; and, religiously, both he and his sister are valued and esteemed members of the Congregational church. As citizens and neighbors they are held in high regard throughout the commu- nity.
OHN B. EWING, who is living retired from the active pursuits of life on his snug little farm in Southampton, is a self-made man, having risen by his own efforts from a condition of comparative poverty to one . of affluence. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, September 24, 1828, son of Samuel and Sarah (O'Donnell) Ewing, both also natives of Ireland. The father was a black- smith by trade, and with his wife and two of his children emigrated to America in 1852. Landing in New York he stayed there but one night before he started for Easthampton, where he lived several years, and where his wife
died in 1857. She bore him four children, as follows: Mary, born in Ireland, December 18, 1824, who there married William Ewing, came with him to this country, located in Easthampton, where they carried on general farming, and reared a family of eleven chil- dren; John B., the subject of this review ; William A., born January 21, 1831, married to Margaret Thompson, father of seven chil- dren, who subsequently emigrated with his family to Massachusetts, and is at present liv- ing on a farm in Indiana; and Samuel, the youngest child, born in 1834, who is now liv- ing in Chicago, Ill. The wife of the latter, formerly Mary J. Crawford, died leaving him with six children.
John B. Ewing spent the first years after his arrival in this country in Easthampton. He came to Southampton in 1857 to enter the employment of Mr. O. N. Clark, carriage manufacturer, working for him five years. Mr. Ewing, having by that time become a skilled workman, bought the shop, and thence- forward carried on a successful business in the manufacture of wagons, sleighs, and buggies until June 1, 1895. At that time he leased the shop and practically retired from business, although he pays some attention to his farming interests. The many years he has spent in exhausting toil, as well as the easy circum- stances he now enjoys, ample justify him in spending the remainder of his life in repose. In politics Mr. Ewing is a zealous advocate of Republican principles. He has served his fellow-townsmen as Constable and on the Grand Jury in Boston.
On January 20, 1852, Mr. Ewing was united in marriage with Miss Flora Butler, a native of Ireland, born in 1834. Her father, who was a farmer in Ireland, married Margaret Cary, and emigrated to the United States, set- tling in Easthampton, where he found employ-
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ment in a factory. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing had six children, as follows: Anna Jane, born April 24, 1858, who is the wife of Charles O. Lyon, of this town, and who has borne her husband three children, of whom Helena B. and Marion C. are still living; Sarah M., born in June, 1859, married to Henry B. Norton, overseer on a farm in Southampton, and mother of one child, Hiram; Flora B., born October 4, 1860, wife of Arthur H. Searle, a farmer, and mother of three children - Flora Helen, Frank Arthur, and Hazel; Frank Samuel, born January 1, 1863, married to Es- talla Clapp, of Southampton, where he is em- ployed as a clerk in the general store of A. G. Judd; Elizabeth R., born in 1864, married to Ralph M. Fowler (proprietor of a meat market at Northampton), and mother of two children - Maynard and Helen ; and Elizabeth R., who died in infancy. Mrs. Ewing, the devoted wife and tender mother, passed away in 1888, leav- ing the home desolate. She was a woman of high Christian character, and, with her hus- band, was a conscientious member of the Con- gregational church. The remarkable success that has followed Mr. Ewing throughout his business career is entirely due to his own efforts. No doubt the stability of purpose, straightforwardness of disposition, and good business habits for which he is known have been influential agents in bringing about the result.
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