USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts > Part 7
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John B. Ward, the father of Mr. Ward, was educated in the schools of Belchertown. As a first attempt at earning a livelihood he hired out as a farm hand at ten dollars a month,
and later he worked in the woollen factories of Ware and Southbridge. After fourteen years of factory life he purchased four hun- dred acres of land in Pelham, and engaged in lumbering and general farming. From 1850 to 1868 he was the largest tax-payer in Pel- ham. He was also the most extensive farmer, and was prominent as a lumberman. In Sep- tember, 1868, he purchased the handsome estate where he and his son, Wilbur, now re- side, and retired from active work. Mr. Ward's early years were devoted to hard and persevering labor, and he is now enjoying its fruits. Politically, he favors the Democratic party. In religious views, like his father, he is liberal. His wife, to whom he was united May 15, 1837, was born in Pelham, June 23, 1815, daughter of Ziba and Sally Cook. Ziba Cook was a leading man in his district, and represented Pelham in the legislature several terms. Mrs. Ward died at Amherst, March II, 1872.
Wilbur H. H. Ward was the only child of his parents. He was quite young when they removed to Pelham, and in that town received his early education, afterward attending other schools in Hampshire County. In 1866 he engaged in the bakery business in Springfield, with W. C. Wedge as partner. One year later they removed to Holyoke, and for some nine years conducted a successful trade in that town. In 1876 Mr. Ward went to New York City, and there was engaged as a baker till 1887, when he disposed of his business, and moved to Amherst, deciding
" To husband out life's taper at the close,
And keep the flame from wasting, by repose."
On February 16, 1865, Mr. Ward was mar- ried to Elizabeth A., daughter of Lemuel C. and Lucy Wedge, born in Pelham, January 5, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have no children.
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Mr. Ward votes the Democratic ticket. In religious views he is liberal, while his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, and was one of the charter members of the Association of Knights of Pythias in Holyoke. He has been a very successful man in business; and his residence on North Prospect Street, in the beautiful college town of Amherst, is one of the handsomest homes in the vicinity.
EVI CHURCH, deceased since August 24, 1889, who was a successful farmer for many years in South Hadley, was born April 27, 1828. Josiah Church, his father, born March 7, 1790, was one of the early settlers of the locality. He bought a tract of wild land, from which he cleared a farm, and on it spent the remainder of a long and useful life, which terminated April 23, 1855. Josiah's wife, whose maiden name was Sallie Smith, was born May 29, 1791, and died on the old homestead July 3, 1834. She bore her husband eight children, one of whom died in infancy. The record of the others is as follows: Luther, born April 18, 1830, is the only one now living; Waitstell, born December 10, 1818, died September 7, 1846; Russell, born October 3, 1820, died January 10, 1866; Eli, born June 5, 1822, died June 9, 1866; Dorcas, born October 6, 1825, died January 22, 1879; Levi, the subject of this notice; and Marinda, born February 17, 1832, died April 11, 1848.
After the death of his father Levi Church assumed the management of the home farm. In the course of time he made many substan- tial improvements, placing the eighty-two acres of land in an excellent state of culti- vation, and rendering it one of the best farms in the vicinity. He was a man of enterprise
and energy, and had a spirit not easily daunted by difficulties. In due time his pluck and perseverance brought him competency. He was much respected for his integrity, and, though never very prominent in local matters, served two years as Assessor. He married Mary A. Stebbim, of Granby, a daughter of Austin Stebbim. Their household circle was enlarged by the birth of four children, as fol- lows: Edgar, born February 22, 1859, died August 31, 1859; Edwin J., born November 6, 1860, now owner and occupant of the old homestead; Mary F., born September 22, 1862, married F. A. Luther, of Canton, Ohio; and Carrie M., born April 15, 1865, died in I 892. Mrs. Church, who was a true helpmeet to her husband, aiding and encouraging him in all his ventures, is still living, making her home by turns with her son and daughter.
Edwin J. Church, the only living son, re- ceived a practical training from his father in the business of farming. Since taking posses- sion of the estate he has managed it with re- markable success. He married Eliza C. Judd ; and, of the two children that came of the union, one died in infancy. The survivor, Cleora Catherine, was born September 18, 1893. Mr. Church is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Con- gregational church.
HARLES E. STEVENS, a resident of Ware and one of the leading wool- len manufacturers in the country, was born in the town, April 21, 1843, and is a son of Charles A. and Maria (Tyler) Stevens.
His grandfather, Nathaniel Stevens, was born in Andover, Mass., in the year 1783. During the active period of his life he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of
CHARLES E. STEVENS.
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woollen goods at North Andover, Mass. He married Miss Harriot Hale, a' native of Chelmsford, Middlesex County; and they reared a family of nine children, eight of whom married. There were four sons and five daughters. Five are now living, namely : Henry H. Stevens, of Lexington, Ky .; Moses T. Stevens, a very successful woollen manufacturer at North Andover, who was for four years a member of Congress, and has held various other prominent positions; Julia M., the widow of S. S. Hunting, residing at Des Moines, Ia .; Catherine, who married Oliver Stevens, of Boston; and Eliza, the wife of J. H. D. Smith, living in Boston. Their father died in April, 1865, seventy- eight years of age, and their mother in Janu- ary, 1882, eighty-eight years old.
Charles A. Stevens, who was born in North Andover, Mass., August 9, 1815, worked for his father for a short time after ceasing to at- tend school. In 1841 he removed to Ware, and in company with the late George H. Gil- bert started in the woollen business for him- self. Ten years later the firm of Gilbert & Stevens was dissolved, and he conducted the business alone up to 1872. At this time he took his son, Charles E. Stevens, into part- nership with him; and they did a thriving and successful business up to the time of his death. Besides his mill interests, he was connected with other large business enter- prises. Among them were the Turner's Falls Water Company, the John Russell Cutlery Company, the Cotton and Woollen Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Boston, and the Ware Savings Bank. He was President of each of the last three, and was the last sur- vivor of the original incorporators of the Ware Savings Bank, which was organized in 1850. He was a member of the State legislature in 1852, a member of Governor Bullock's
Council in 1866 and 1867, and Congressman to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of Alvah Crocker, of Fitchburg, after he died. In 1853 he was one of the leaders in organiz- ing the Ware Fire Department, of which he served as the first Chief Engineer. In poli- tics he was a stanch Republican, and served as a delegate to the Republican National Con- ventions in 1860 and 1868.
He was married on April 20, 1842, to Maria Tyler, a daughter of Jonathan Tyler, of Lowell, Mass. Their wedded life was spent in Ware, where their five children - four sons and a daughter - were born. One son died in infancy, and Nathaniel lived to be but four and a half years of age. The survivors are as follows: Charles E. Stevens, the subject of this sketch; Jonathan Tyler Stevens, of Lowell; and Julia M. S., the wife of Dr. J. H. Jolliffe, of New York City. Their mother died March 3, 1881, sixty-five years of age, and their father on April 7, 1892. He was with his daughter in New York at the time, and his funeral occurred just eight months from the time of her mar- riage. The burial was in the family lot at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Ware. As marks of respect to the memory of the deceased the business offices and stores of the town were closed during the funeral services. The mill of Charles A. Stevens & Co. was closed from Saturday noon until the following Wednesday, and for two hours preceding the services a thousand of the mill operatives and their wives viewed the remains.
Charles E. Stevens received a good practi- cal common-school education. He was reared to the manufacturing business, and became a partner in his father's business in 1872, when the firm title was changed to Charles A. Stevens & Co. At his father's death he became the sole proprietor, and has continued
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to do a most successful business, keeping up the standard of excellence for which the goods manufactured by that company have become so well known throughout the country. He also succeeded his father as President of the John Russell Cutlery Company, and is a Di- rector of the Turner's Falls Water Company, of the Cotton and Woollen Mutual Fire In- surance Company of Boston, of the Ware Na- tional Bank, of the Ware River Railroad Com- pany, of the Ware River Manufacturing Company; and he is a Trustee of the Ware Savings Bank.
His political principles are Republican. In 1882 he was chosen a member of the House of Representatives, and for 1889-90 served as a Senator in the legislature. For two years he was a member of the State Cen- tral Committee, and was elected a member of the Governor's Council in 1894 and 1895. The accompanying portrait of Mr. Stevens will be widely recognized and appreciated.
ALDO HUNT WHITCOMB, of Northampton, the collector and pos- sessor of one of the finest antiqua- rian collections in the United States, was born on the estate where he resides, at the corner of State and Park Streets, January 26, 1840. He is the son of David B. and Nancy (Clapp) Whitcomb, and comes of good old New Eng- land stock.
His grandfather, James Whitcomb, was a farmer in humble circumstances, who, being of a roving disposition, moved often, and aptly illustrated the old adage that "a rolling stone gathers no moss." He was a very eccentric man, a genius in many respects, with a natural knack for mechanics. Moving from Braintree to Goshen shortly after his marriage, he made by hand all the nails used in building the
Baptist church in the latter town. He lived some time in Brookfield, Mass. ; and while there his home was destroyed by fire. His son David, the father of Waldo Hunt Whit- comb, was wont to relate how the neighbors, on this occasion, moved with pity for the fam- ily, brought in nine pair of knee breeches, then going out of style, while no one offered to replenish the empty larder. James Whit- comb was twice married, and reared six daugh- ters and one son, David. All married and had families, the youngest to die being twenty-one years of age at the time of death.
, David B. Whitcomb's birth was coincident with that of the last year of the eighteenth century, as he was born in the first hour of the year 1800. His parents moved from Goshen to Williamsburg, and in the latter place David worked on a farm for a time, until 1815, when he started to learn the painter's trade at Pitts- field. In 1822 he obtained work at his trade in Northampton, and was six years in the employ of the late Elijah Abbott. From 1828 to 1832 he was in business with John Moies, and in the latter year he began to take con- tracts alone. He was a very painstaking work- man, never slighting his work, but taking great pride in doing it well; and it is safe to say that the town never had a more reliable or honest tradesman. His merit was fully recog- nized, and secured for him contracts from the best line of customers in the town. Begin- ning life in comparative poverty, he had a long struggle with adversity. He settled on one acre of ground in 1832, on what is now the corner of State and Park Streets, and within a few years a great part of his land was taken from him to make a way for the North- ampton & New Haven Canal, no indemnity being paid for the right of way. He also had to struggle against boycotting and other annoy- ances inflicted upon him by prominent citizens
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of Northampton who differed from him in religious and political opinions, but his un- swerving integrity and steady perseverance carried him through. Though he did not amass wealth, he attained a fair amount of prosperity and won the respect of all. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat and an influen- tial factor in local politics. He was several times nominated for the legislature, to lead the forlorn hope of the Democrats; but, as the Republican party was in the ascendant in that district, he was always defeated. He died on September 6, 1881, the memorable "yellow day, " and was laid to rest in the Northampton cemetery.
On May 19, 1828, David B. Whitcomb mar- ried Nancy, daughter of Bohan and Anna (Lavake) Clapp, of Northampton. Mrs. Whit- comb was born January 10, 1800, and comes of a well-known Northampton family, from whom it is evident the subject of this sketch inher- ited his love for the antique and the beautiful. She was a thrifty and industrious woman, and earned enough money at dress-making to buy a lot of land on which her husband erected a home for the family. She died March 10, 1866, in her sixty-seventh year, and was in- terred in the Northampton cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb were the parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy. Of the others the following may be stated : Julia A. is the wife of William Moody, of North- ampton ; David B. resides on the homestead where his father died; Waldo H. is the sub- ject of this sketch; Parker Richardson, who was born January 26, 1842, went to New York City in 1866, made and lost a fortune of ten thousand dollars, made a larger one again, and is now a wealthy dealer in patent medicines, owning a handsome residence and other val- uable property in New York.
Waldo Hunt Whitcomb received his educa-
tion in the district schools, from his tenth to his nineteenth year attending school in the winter only, working in the summer season, when he received for his labor two shillings a day. He took his first lessons in painting when twelve years of age, and at eighteen was trusted by his father with the full management of contracts. As his father advanced in years, Waldo and his brother David shouldered the responsibilities of the business, which was car- ried on under the name of D. B. Whitcomb's Sons. Our subject remained at home while his parents were alive, and, when a man of twenty-eight, was still turning in his earnings to the family fund. The brothers are yet carrying on the business established by their father, and the name Whitcomb is still a synonym for first-class painting. Waldo Hunt Whitcomb is also the efficient agent for the Burnham School, looking after the laundry and the provisions for the boarding-halls. He has been agent for Miss Capen for several years at a good salary. His residence at the corner of Park and State Streets, was origi- nally a barn in the rear of the old Whitcomb estate. The dwelling-house is the home of fifty of the girl students who attend the Capen School; and Mr. Whitcomb has made of the barn a most unique residence, equipped with electric bells and all modern conveniences. He lives in the upper story, the ground floor is his paint shop, and the basement contains a wine cellar that would delight an epicure, the cobwebs of twenty-five years festooning bottles of Madeira and brown sherry. But Mr. Whitcomb's great treasure is his collec- tion of antique curios, a collection which, if it should ever be sold, would bring more than compound interest on the money he has in- vested in it. He has rare engravings, books, china that would set a collector in a frenzy to possess it, photographs, medals commemorat-
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ing events in the history of this country, and antique pictures so rare as to be almost price- less. On the easterly side of his dwelling is a room built of parts taken from an old house torn down in Hadley in 1889, the home of S. D. Smith, on Hadley's famous street, built in 1714. It is an exact reproduction of a room of nearly two centuries ago. The old strap hinges appear on the doors, the old locks and door latches are just as they were one hun- dred and eighty years ago, and so likewise are the mantel and fireplace. In one corner of the room is a corner closet that was in the home of Preserved Clapp, and set up as it was built by Roger Clapp one hundred and seventy-five years ago. The Clapps, it will be remem- bered, were Mr. Whitcomb's mother's family ; and their home, which was built in 1719, was on South Street, Northampton. In this room Mr. Whitcomb gives famous birthday parties ; and the mayor and other city officials who have been his guests, and have tasted of his good cheer, can testify to the rare quality of his hospitality. Politically, Mr. Whitcomb be- lieves firmly in the principles of the Demo- cratic party. He is a close observer of national affairs, and is well versed in political economy, reading extensively on that subject. He has served as delegate to various conven- tions, representing city, county, and State. His only fraternal affiliation is with the Im- proved Order of Red Men. Mr. Whitcomb still enjoys the freedom of celibacy.
BENEZER GOLDTHWAIT, one of the worthy and industrious agriculturists of Hampshire County, was born Jan- uary 20, 1821, in South Hadley Falls. His father, also named Ebenezer Goldthwait, was born in the town of Granby, and there reared to manhood. Having gone to South Hadley
Falls, he became an employee of the late Chester W. Chapin, driving the stage on the old route from South Hadley to Springfield. He subsequently went South, and for a few years was engaged as a stage driver at Rich- mond, Va. After his return to Springfield, he worked in the city stables for a time. Then he went to New Haven, Conn., where he spent his last years, dying in 1856. Hc was married three times. His first wife, Minerva Day, died in South Hadley in 1822, leaving two children: Ebenezer, the subject of this sketch; and George S., deceased. His second wife, whose maiden name was Esther Tibble, died shortly after their marriage, leaving no issue. Almira Pardee, who be- came his third wife, was born at Branford, Conn., and died in New Britain. She bore him six children: Esther M., E. Augusta, Helen M., Charles E., Phebe H., and I. Henry.
Ebenezer, Jr., was the architect of his own fortune. By his untiring energy and sagacity and the diligent use of his opportunities he has steadily made his way toward the top rung of the ladder. After reaching his majority, he worked by the month for neighboring farmers for seven years. Then he went to Connecticut, and spent the next eight years at burnishing plated ware in a silversmith's shop in Glastonbury. Returning after that period to Granby, he purchased twenty-six acres of land; and later, having prospered with his first purchase, he invested in more land, mak- ing the total forty acres. Mr. Goldthwait devotes his entire attention to his property, and the result is visible in several marked im- provements. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, but has never sought offi- cial favors.
Mr. Goldthwait has been twice married. His first wife, Orpha C. Dickinson, a daugh-
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ter of Abner Mosley and Ruth (Warner) Dick- inson and a sister of Mrs. Francis S. Steb- bins, died May 6, 1882. She left one daugh- ter, Clara, wife of Willard A. Taylor, a sketch of whose life will be found on another page. On October 10, 1883, Mr. Goldthwait married his second wife. Miss Dorothy A. Avery, a native of Northampton, born February 6, 1832. Her father, Lyman Avery, was born in Wallingford, Conn., but afterward located in Easthampton, where he engaged in farm- ing, living there until his decease, December 4, 1837. He married Rachel Clark, a life- long resident of Easthampton, and they be- came the parents of six children, namely : Julia Ann; Lysander Clark; Rachel Jane, deceased; Noyes Lyman, deceased; Dorothy A., Mrs. Goldthwait; and Lewis Lyman. Mr. and Mrs. Goldthwait are members of the Congregational church, and are active workers in religious circles.
HARLES E. HUMPHREY, a promi- nent resident of Pelham and a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Boston, June 15, 1850, and is son of Benjamin F. and Sarah (Howe) Humphrey. The grandfather of Mr. Humphrey, Noah Humphrey, was one of the early settlers of Pelham. He was a cabinet-maker, carried on a wood-turning business, and owned a good farm, which he worked to advantage. He subsequently moved to Oakham, Mass., where he died, at the age of eighty-nine. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Mary P. Humphrey, be- came the mother of eight children, of whom Benjamin F., Mr. Humphrey's father, is the youngest. She died at the age of eighty-two.
Benjamin F. Humphrey was born in Pel- ham, and learned the trade of book-binder.
He has enjoyed a long period of prosperity in that business, which he has carried on in Boston at 114 State Street, and later at 5 Chatham Row. He still works at the trade, and is regarded as the oldest book-binder in Boston. He is a Unitarian in religion, and has supported the principles of the Republican party since its formation. His wife, Sarah H. (Howe) Humphrey, who was born in Bos- ton, has had three children: Frank H., who died at the age of fifteen; Susie G., who died at the age of eight ; and Charles E., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Charles E. Humphrey was educated in the schools of Cambridge, Mass. He learned the trade of a book-binder with his father, and continued to work in the finishing department of the business. In 1885 poor health caused him to relinquish the trade and seek an occu- pation which would not require so much in- door confinement. He accordingly moved to Pelham, where he settled upon his present farm of sixty-five acres, and has since con- ducted general farming with success. Mr. Humphrey is actively interested in public affairs, and has served with ability in various town offices. At present, in addition to the office already mentioned, he holds those of Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and superin- tendent of schools. He is independent in politics. On October 8, 1874, he was united in marriage to Eleanor B. Smith, daughter of Lemuel and Mary Smith, of South Hadley Falls, now deceased.
APTAIN CHARLES E. TILES- TON, a prosperous farmer of Will- iamsburg and a veteran of the Civil War, son of Cornelius and Elvira (Williams) Tileston, was born in Williamsburg, October 20, 1829. His grandfather, Cornelius Tiles-
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ton, Sr., was an carly settler in Williamsburg, and resided upon the farm which is now owned by Mr. Breckenridge. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War, and died in Williamsburg at the advanced age of ninety- seven years. He married Sarah Ludden, of Williamsburg, and became the father of the following children: John, Sabra, Elisha, Wales, Betsey, and Cornelius. The mother died in her ninetieth year.
Cornelius Tileston, Jr., Captain Tileston's father, was born in Williamsburg in 1798. He resided with his parents until reaching manhood, when he bought a farm, and en- gaged in agriculture. He also conducted a store and a hotel successfully, becoming in the course of time a prosperous business man. He was prominent in public affairs, serving with ability as Selectman and in other town offices. Cornelius Tileston, Jr., died at the age of sixty-four years. His wife, Elvira Williams, was a daughter of Gross and Mary (Washburn) Williams, and her eight children were named as follows: George; Madeline; Charles E .; Henry; Faxon; Elizabeth; Ed- ward; and Mary Ann, who died young.
Charles E. Tileston remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-two years, at which time he commenced to learn the car- penter's trade. After serving an apprentice- ship of three years, he has adopted that trade as his principal occupation, working for some time in New York, and also in Ohio. In the latter State he resided eight years, in which period he purchased some land and engaged in agriculture. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany I, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, under Colonel H. S. Greenleaf ; and at the organization of the company he was appointed its Captain. He served eleven months, and participated in the battles of Franklin and Port Hudson, La., under Gen-
eral Banks, and at Jackson Cross-roads. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Williamsburg, and resumed his former occu- pation. He later engaged in farming upon the property he now occupies; and in 1866 he built a new house, completing a new barn four years later. He carries on a small dairy, and is interested in the Co-operative Creamery.
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