USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 59
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EORGE B. CANTERBURY, a retired farmer of Ware, is a native of this town, where his birth occurred in 1837, and a son of Henry and Melintha (Leach) Canterbury. Henry Canterbury, born in Hingham, Mass., in 1799, who was a suc- cessful agriculturist of Ware, married for his first wife a daughter of Joseph Hawes, of Mon- son, Mass. ; and their union was blessed by
the birth of five children. After her death, which occurred at an early age, he married Miss Melintha Leach, born in Belchertown, Mass., about the year 1809, who outlived him five years. Of this marriage there were born a son and daughter, George B. and Elizabeth, the latter residing in Ware. Their father died in 1884, eighty-five years of age.
George B. Canterbury graduated from the public schools of Ware. He then learned the trade of a mason, at which he was employed until the commencement of the Civil War. On November 20, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany D of the Thirty-first Massachusetts Regi- ment, and was appointed Third Sergeant of his company. On May 8, 1863, he was wounded at Sabine Cross-roads, being shot through the lungs and liver. While disabled in this way he was taken prisoner and confined in the rebel prison at Mansfield, La., for ten months. He was then paroled, and returned to his home on a sixty days' furlough. After three years of service he was honorably dis- charged. By this time he had been promoted to the rank of First Sergeant, and was brevetted as First Lieutenant. For fifteen years prior to making his home in Ware he conducted a large dairy farm in the town of Hardwick, Worcester County, where he was one of the most progressive farmers of that section, and put in the first creamery used in that vicin- ity. He sold this establishment in February, 1895.
On August 9, 1864, he was married to Miss Martha J. Esterbrook, of Holden, Mass., a daughter of Josiah Esterbrook. She bore her husband three children, namely: Maud S., who married Emery Barnes, of Ware, and died June 1, 1893, the third day after her mother's death; Grace, who is the second wife of Emery Barnes; and Alvah G. Canterbury, a successful engineer, who married Miss Grace
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Campbell, of Ware. Their mother was fifty- four years of age at the time of her death. Mr. Canterbury is a stanch Republican. He has served as Constable for eleven years, and during his residence in Hardwick he was Road Commissioner for three years. He has also served on the police force in Ware for fifteen years, during which period he proved himself one of the most efficient and vigilant officers the town has had. He is a Master Mason, and is a member of J. W. Lawton Post, No. 85, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has served as Adjutant. He is now residing with his daughter, Mrs. Barnes, in Ware.
HARLES S. PRATT, a retired ar- chitect and builder, living at North- ampton, was born in that town, February 16, 1822, son of Thomas and Eunice (Parsons) Pratt. Thomas Pratt was born in East Boston, Mass., in 1784, and was one of the most competent architects and builders of his time. He had excellent taste, great skill, and was a workman of superior merit. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. In that year he settled in Northampton; and his third wife, now a widow eighty-seven years of age, still resides there. In 1813 he married for his first wife Eunice Parsons, a native of this place. They had seven sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom except one son grew to adult life, and reared families. Three of them are still living, namely: William F., an architect in Northampton ; Levi L., an editor in Water- town, N. Y., aged eighty-one years; and Charles S., of this notice. The father fol- lowed his profession during his years of activ- ity. Many of the present dwellings and public buildings of this and other cities were planned and built by him. Mount Holyoke College, Easthampton church, and a magnifi-
cent mansion just outside of the city of Balti- more, Md., which he was two years in com- pleting, are fair samples of his work. He was proficient in every branch of his business, from the turning of the grindstone to the most exacting demands of architecture. With his fine mental qualities he possessed great physi- cal strength and endurance, and was blessed with robust health, retaining all his teeth in a sound condition throughout his life. He was very prominent in public affairs, and twice represented his district in the legislat- ure. His second wife was before marriage Pamelia Parsons, no relative of his first wife. No children were born of this or of his last marriage.
Charles S. Pratt received but a limited com- mon-school education, having begun, when only fifteen years old, to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed this occupation continu- ously for some forty-five years, erecting many of the fine buildings and residences of his na- tive city and winning the reputation of a first-class workman. He has inherited the physical constitution as well as the mental characteristics of his father. Now, at the age of seventy-three years, he is a finely preserved man. He is held in high consideration by his neighbors and friends.
In 1847 Mr. Pratt was united in wedlock with Rachel M. Stickney, a native of South Hadley and daughter of Walter Stickney. After a happy wedded life of more than two- score years she died in 1890, in the sixty- ninth year of her age. She bore her husband four children, as follows: Mary Ann, who died in infancy; Charles S., Jr., unmarried, an architect of this city and the superintend- ent of the fire alarm; George S., who went West, supposed to be deceased, as he has never been heard from since; and Hattie Howard, living at home, who has been a suc-
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cessful teacher in the grammar school for the past ten or more years. Mr. Pratt has devoted much of his time to Free Masonry, being one of the oldest Knights Templars of Northampton and a member of the Chapter. Politically, he has been a lifelong Democrat. He has served the city in the capacities of Assistant and Chief Engineer for twenty years, during which period he proved himself an efficient and trustworthy officer in every respect. His residence, which is one of the most substantial in the city, was built by his father about eighty-three years ago.
ARWIN E. LYMAN, a prosperous merchant of Cummington, Mass., was born in that town, July 26, 1846, son of Benjamin B. and Roxana (Pack- ard) Lyman. This branch of the Lyman fam- ily in America started with Richard Lyman, who was born in old England in 1580. On coming to this country, he settled in Con- necticut, where he died in 1640.
Beginning with him, the succeeding lineal representatives were: Robert, born in 1629; John, born in 1660; and Gad, who was born in 1713. Gad settled in Goshen, Mass. : and his son Timothy became the father of John C .. whose birth occurred in Northampton in 1775. The last named was the grandfather of Darwin E. Lyman. He first settled in the town of Cummington, where L. Steel now lives, and later purchased the farm of one hun- dred and fifty acres which is now the property of P. P. Lyman. He erected a house there, which has since been burned, and which stood opposite the present one. He was a man of thrift and enterprise, and before his death he had brought his farm into an excellent state of cultivation. He became the father of five children, namely: Coleston, who died in
childhood; Benjamin B .; Hannah; Christie; and Susan.
Benjamin B. Lyman was a native of Goshen, Mass., where his birth took place on September 17, 1807. At his father's death he purchased the old homestead in Cummington, where he devoted his time and attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of sheep- raising. He built the house now standing. In his political relations he was a Republi- can, and in religious belief he was orthodox and a member of the Congregational church. His wife was a daughter of Philander Packard. They were the parents of six children; namely, William C., Philander, Agnes, Flora, Alvin, and Darwin E. William C., the el- dest-born, entered the United States Navy in 1861 as Assistant Surgeon, but was soon after promoted to the position of Head Surgeon, and served as such until the close of the Civil War. He then went to Chicago, Ill., where he was employed for nine years as physician and surgeon in the hospital, after which for thirteen years he was chairman of the Board of Pension Examiners. He ranked high as an authority in medical and surgical matters. During his war service he had the yellow fever, from which he never fully recovered; and in 1879 he died, when but forty-two years of age. He married Miss Kate Hamlin, who survived him, and is now engaged as clerk in the Interior Department at Washington, D.C.
Darwin E. Lyman, the youngest child of his parents, began at the age of twenty-one years to clerk in the store of L. Orcutt, for whom he worked two years; and then, in com- pany with C. W. Streeter, he bought out his employer, and for six years they conducted a general store with much success. At the end of that time he purchased his partner's interest, and thereafter carried on the business alone. In 1888 he bought the N. F. Orcutt
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house and storc, and moved his store from the lower part of the village to its present site, where he has one of the best country establish- ments of the kind in Hampshire County. On August 8, 1894, he was burned out. By the 17th of September he had a store ready for oc- cupancy, and by the Ist of February, 1895, had completed his finc new residence, store, storehouse, and barns. His stock comprises as good an assortment as is to be found any- where in that section of the State.
On November 20, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia S. Stevens, daughter of Lafayette and Laura (Packard) Stevens, and who conducts a millinery store in Cum- mington. They have a son and daughter. The son, Eugene W., born April 4, 1872, a graduate of Amherst College, who in 1894 taught in Williston Seminary, is now an in- structor at Lawrenceville, N.J., in a prepara- tory school where young men are fitted for col- lege. The daughter, Laura A., born May 5, 1874, is a member of the Junior class at Smith College, where she is preparing to be- come a teacher.
Mr. Lyman is a stanch Republican. He has held the town office of Selectman since 1886, and with the exception of the first two years has acted as chairman of that board. He is a member of the Morning Star Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Conway, Mass.
ILLIAM L. CHILSON, Postmaster of Swift River, a well-known mer- chant and manufacturer, was born in Southampton, Mass., October 28, 1858, son of William W. and Sarah L. (Ludden) Chil- son. Mr. Chilson's great-grandfather, Asaph Chilson, who was a native of Wales, emi- grated to America, and settled in Albany, N. Y., where he followed the trade of a weaver.
His children were: Lucretia, Huldah, Nabby, John, and Asaph. John Chilson, who seems to have been the elder son, was born in Al- bany in October, 1785. He was one of the early teamsters between Albany and Boston ; but, after going over the route many times, he bought a small farm in Buckland, Franklin County, Mass., upon which he settled, and re- sided there until his death, which occurred at a good old age. John Chilson married Cla- rissa Butler, daughter of Levi Butler, of Buck- land; and their children were: Haines H., Milo C., Nancy, Andrew M., Clarissa, Will- iam W., Elizabeth, and another child, who died young.
William W. Chilson was born in Buckland, Mass., November 15, 1824. He adopted ag- riculture as an occupation ; and, after working upon different farms in that locality, he pur- chased a small farm in Easthampton, Hamp- shire County, but sold it shortly, and bought another in Goshen, Mass., which he cultivated successfully for twenty years. He then ex- changed his Goshen farm for his present prop- erty in the village of Swift River, and has since resided here. In 1867 Mr. Chilson received injuries the result of which has caused him considerable disability; but, pos- sessing a strong constitution, he is otherwise in good health. He is a Democrat in poli- tics.
On January 21, 1855, William W. Chilson married Sarah L. Ludden, of Southampton. Mrs. Chilson was born November 2, 1838, daughter of Edwin C. and Elizabeth L. (Thorp) Ludden, the former of whom was a real estate owner and a farmer, and was also engaged in butchering. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam W. Chilson have seven children, as fol- lows: Milo B., who married Mary Demmond ; William L., the subject of this sketch; Rose E. J., wife of Lewis Ferd; Lizzie S., wife
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of Charles Small; Edward A., who married Nellie A. McCoy; Juliet E., wife of George Preston : and Clara M. Mrs. Sarah L. Chil- son is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William L. Chilson was educated in the schools of Southampton and Goshen. In 1884 he bought the H. G. Wells property in Swift River, which he remodelled and en- larged by building an addition : and in this he opened a general store, the first to be estab- lished here, where he continues to conduct a profitable business. In 1891, in company with H. G. Reed, he purchased the manufact- uring establishment and water privilege of the Crosby Company, which included two tenement-houses, and engaged in the manu- facture of tool handles of every description, gauge-cocks, radiator valve handles of the fin- est finish, also carrying on a general sawing and planing business. The mills are equipped with improved machinery; and, in case the water supply fails, there is a thirty-horse power engine in readiness to be used as a sub- stitute. Native beech, birch, and maple woods are used in their products, and also rosewood, which they import. A force of twelve men is constantly employed, and the business is firmly established and favorably known. Mr. Chilson likewise carries on the jewelry repair- ing business at his store, and he is a licensed auctioneer. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1891 was appointed Postmaster of Swift River, a position which he still holds.
On October 16, 1884, Mr. Chilson was united in marriage with Susan E. Willcott, daughter of Alvin and Mary A. (Crosby) Willcott, the former of whom was a prosper- ous farmer of Swift River. Mr. and Mrs. Chilson have two children: William Leroy and Wallace S. Mr. Chilson is a Congrega- tionalist in religion.
UCAS WILLIAMS, formerly a mer- chant tailor and coal dealer of Am-
herst, Mass., now living in retire- ment, was born in the town of Huntington, August 23, 1822, son of Samuel and Susan (Wight) Williams, respectively natives of Huntington and Dedham, Mass.
His grandfather, Isaac Williams, was one of the early settlers of Huntington, where he followed the calling of a farmer. He reared a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to marry. Samuel Williams grew to manhood in Huntington; and, like his father, he also engaged in agriculture. He was diligent in his work, and was esteemed by his neighbors. He and his wife were con- stant attendants at the Congregational church, of which she was a member. In politics he was a Whig. Lucas Williams is now the sole survivor of the nine children born to his parents. Those deceased are: Edward; S. Dwight; John; Lucius, the twin brother of Lucas; and Susan L. Three died in infancy. Their father's death occurred at Huntington when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife died at the same age. Lucas Williams lived in Huntington until he was sixteen years of age, acquiring a good practical educa- tion in the common schools." In 1840 he came to Amherst, where he began to learn the trade of a tailor under the instruction of Thompson Kimberly, with whom he remained about four years. He next went to Barre, Mass., where he was engaged at his trade for four and a half years. Following that he moved to Huntington, where he remained for a brief period, and later spent a short time in Northampton. In 1849 he established himself in business in South Hadley. He conducted it successfully for six and a half years, when, in 1856, he returned to Amherst. Here he carried on the business of a merchant tailor
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until 1869, at which time he was succeeded by his nephew, B. H. Williams. In 1870 he severed all connection with the business. Prior to 1876 hc was for three years engaged as a coal dealer, but since that time he has lived a retired life. He owns half of the large business block in which his residence is located. His means are amply sufficient to maintain him in comfort without further labor.
He was first married in 1865 to Mrs. Eliza C. Barrows. She died in 1890; and in March, 1892, he entered into a second mar- riage with Mrs. Florence E. (Marshall) Strong, who was born in Lyme, N.H. There are no children by either union.
In politics Mr. Williams is a Republican. He attends the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member. Though now retired from active participation in business, Mr. Williams is looked upon as a representa- tive business man of the town, and is held in high esteem.
YRUS S. PRESTON, a resident of the village of South Hadley and fore- man of the paint shop of Howard Gaylord & Co.'s sash, door, and blind fac- tory, was born in South Hadley, April 6, 1834, son of Joel and Mabel (Smith) Preston. His grandfather, Gardner Preston, was born in South Hadley, September 15, 1749, and was reared to agriculture, which he followed through life. He was also County Surveyor, and made the original survey of Hampshire County when it was laid out. He died at his home in this town, May 26, 1834. Gardner Preston raised a family of four children, as follows (all now deceased): Jerusha, Gardner, Joel, and Calvin.
Joel Preston was born in South Hadley in 1800. He assisted in carrying on the farm,
and after the death of his father purchased the interests of the other heirs. He later sold the property, and moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he bought a farm, which he con- ducted for twelve years, and then disposing of it returned to his native State by wagon, mak- ing the journey in twenty-one days. He pur- chased a farm of thirty-three acres in South Hadley, but after carrying it on for ten ycars sold it, and bought the place now occupied by his son, Cyrus S., with whom he passed the remainder of his life. He died September 19, 1881. Joel Preston was twice married. His first wife, Mr. Preston's mother, was born in Granby, Mass., and was a daughter of Samuel Smith, a farmer and a lifelong resi- dent of Granby, who was a prominent man in the community and a Deacon of the Congrega- tional church. Mr. Smith died at the age of eighty-four years in the house in which he was born. Joel Preston was the father of eight children by his first union, namely: Abigail, who married Alonzo Percival, and is now dead; Cyrus S., the subject of this sketch; Martha, who married E. D. Ingraham, and resides in Worcester, Mass .; Joel, who died in Ohio; Henry Joel, an architect of Boston; Neville, who was killed in the Civil War; Sophia, who married Henry Mansfield, and resides in Newtonville, Mass. ; and Lyman, a resident of South Hadley. The mother hav- ing died, Joel Preston wedded for his second wife Mrs. Harriet Joslyn, of Granby, who sur- vives him and is now residing with a daughter in South Hadley.
Cyrus S. Preston attended district schools in Ohio, and later was graduated from the high school of South Hadley. He resided with his parents until reaching the age of twenty years, at which time he began to learn the painter's trade; and, after working one year in South Hadley, he went to Springfield,
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Mass., where he followed his trade for five years. He then returned to South Hadley, and engaged in working by the day until 1861, when as a journeyman painter he entered the employ of Howard Gaylord & Co., with whom he has since remained, at the present time having full charge of their paint shops.
On September 24. 1862, Mr. Preston mar- ried Lizzie M. Alden, who was born in Hamp- shire County in 1840. Her father, James Alden, is a resident of South Hadley Falls; and her mother, whose maiden name was Root, is now dead. By this union Mr. Pres- ton has had three children, namely: Carrie, who married Bertram Bowker, and resides in Suffield. Conn .; Nathaniel, a dentist of South Hadley; and Warren, who died at the age of seventeen. Mr. Preston's first wife died May 3. 1870; and in 1872 he wedded Annie M. Hunter, of Enfield, Mass. They have two children, namely: Archie D., who is in busi- ness in Scranton, Pa. ; and Cyrus Collicr, who resides at home.
HARLES L. WARREN, of Florence, Mass., who for upward of forty years has dealt in live-stock, surviving all who were his contemporaries in that business at the time he started, is actively engaged in it still. He was born in Williamsburg, July 6, 1826, son of Mather and Ann M. (Fairfield) Warren, both natives of the same town.
Cotton Mather Warren, his grandfather, was one of the first settlers of Williamsburg. He located on a spot between Hatfield and Albany, where the foundations of the old house are still to be seen. His wife, who bc- fore marriage was Miss Lois White, of Bel- chertown, Mass., bore him five children, as fol- lows: Julia, the wife of Charles Bridgman, now residing in Ohio; Mrs. Sophia Seeley ;
Mather; George, a carpenter of Northampton, who died at the age of sixty; and Mrs. Lu- cinda Bryant, of Pelham, Mass. Mather War- ren, besides farming two hundred acres of farm land, moved buildings and performed carpen- ter work. He had a blacksmith shop on his farm, and owned two saw-mills, which he suc- cessfully conducted. His wife, to whom he was married in 1821, was a daughter of Ira W. Fairfield, who is said to have been the first white male child born in the town of Williamsburg. Five children were born to them; namely, Almira Carolinc, Charles L., Hannah M., Henry W., and William F. Almira Caroline became the wife of Seth Church. After his death she married a Mr. Knight, but is now a widow again, and resides in Tennessee. The larger part of her life has been spent as a teacher. Prior to her marriage she was an instructress in Wilbra- ham Academy; and later she and Mr. Church taught in Athens, Tenn. After Mr. Knight's death she again took up teaching as a voca- tion. Hannah M. married Dr. Hill, of Chi- cago, Ill., where she died at their home on Michigan Avenue, leaving one daughter. Henry W., who is a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal church, with headquarters in Den- ver, Col., has been twice married. His sec- ond wife was the Widow Iliff, better known as the Cattle Queen of the West; each has three children by the first marriage. Will- iam F. Warren, who, as well as his brother Henry W., was a graduate of Middletown Academy, is President of the Boston Uni- versity.
Charles L. Warren acquired his cducation ยท by attendance at the district school for the usual length of time and at a select school and Wilbraham Academy for two and one terms respectively. He remained at home with his parents, and succeeded to the owner-
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ship of the old homestead at his father's death. In 1867 he removed to his present home, which he ereeted on the outskirts of Florence. With the lot on which it stands he purchased another adjoining it. In 1870 he sold the homestead farm. He deals principally in na- tive stoek, making a portion of his purchases in Vermont; and he has farms from two to four miles from his home, on the pastures of which he feeds his stock, while he cultivates the tillage land. These farms have fine orchards, yielding from two to six hundred barrels of apples per year. During the war and up to 1883 he conducted a meat market, for which he ran five or six meat carts.
On November 25, 1846, he was united in marriage with Miss Minerva G. Gardner, of Hartford, a daughter of B. D. Gardner. They became the parents of five children; namely, Lizzie M., Fred C., Sarah M., Mary L., and Minnie G. Lizzie M., the youngest
daughter, has made kindergarten work a spe- cialty. After establishing her school in Flor- enee, she spent a year in Berlin, studying kindergarten methods. She is now engaged in her school, and is meeting with merited success. Fred C., who is married, is a gradu- ate of Wilbraham Academy and a successful business man. He is a commission merchant in Chicago, Ill., with an office on Wabash Avenue. Sarah M. is a book-keeper at the brush factory. Mary L., a music teacher, has just returned from Berlin after a year's ab- sence spent in study. Minnie G., like the other children, received a good practical edu- cation in the schools of Florence and at Wil- braham Academy. Mr. Warren votes the Republican tieket, but has never been desir- ous of office. He is much attached to his home and family, of whom he may well be proud. He is a communicant of the Congre- gational church.
INDEX.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
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Bisbee, Horatio
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