Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887, Part 15

Author: Gay, W. B. (William Burton), comp
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., W. B. Gay & co
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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county, and might doubtless have had a seat on the judicial bench if he had continued the practice of his profession. But he was gradually drawn off into business for which he had a natural fondness, and he was still more deeply interested in religious movements, ecclesiastical affairs and educational enter- prises. With a large family to educate, and at the same time having at heart the general welfare, he, with a few others, established the academy of Am- herst, erected the building, furnished it with apparatus and other endow- ments-liberal for those times-sought far and near the ablest teachers that could be found, and spared neither time nor money to make it the ablest in- stitution of the kind in the Commonwealth. No one was more intrusted, none bore a more important part in the founding of Amherst college than Samuel Fowler Dickinson. The enlargement of the plan from a mere pro- fessorship in Amherst academy, into that of a separate collegiate institution, was owing expressly to his suggestion and influence. He was among the original board of trustees of both the academy and college. He was the chairman of the committee appointed by the board to secure a title to the land for the site of the college, to decide on a plan of the first building, to pro- cure subscriptions, donations or contributions for defraying the expense thereof, and then to prepare the ground and erect the building. With all the zeal and effort of numerous friends and benefactors in Amherst and the neighboring towns, the work of erecting this building would often have stop- ped if Mr. Dickinson had not pledged his private property at the bank to obtain money. He hesitated at no sacrifice of his time, property or personal service, in furthering the enterprise in which he was so deeply enlisted, even to his own impoverishment-indeed, his efforts for this may be considered the best part of his life work. Mr. Dickinson was a tall, thin man, plain in his dress and appearance, of prodigious bodily and mental activity and en- ergy, a famous walker, a ferocious worker, a born leader, a man of ideas and principles, of rare public spirit, strong religious faith and zeal, whose whole life was one of self-denial and self-sacrifice in the public service for education and religion, for the glory of God and the good of his fellow men. He died sud- denly of pneumonia, April 22, 1838, at the age of sixty-t:vo years.

Edward Dickinson, oldest son of Hon. Samuel Fowler Dickinson, was born in Amherst, where he always lived, on the first of January, 1803; was edu- cated in the public schools of Amherst, and in Amherst academy, till he was prepared to enter college ; was a member of the first junior class in the col- legiate institution at Amherst, although the other three years of his collegiate course were at Yale, where he graduated in 1823 with high honor ; studied law for two years with his father, and a third year in the then prominent and ably conducted law school at Northampton ; in 1826 opened his office in Amherst, and continued in active and successful practice to the time of his death. In 1835 he was chosen treasurer of Amherst college, and held that office from that time to the end of his life, although he had resigned the year before, and his son, William A. Dickinson, had been elected his successor.

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In 1838 and 1839, and again in 1874 he represented Amherst in the legisla- ture ; in 1842 and 1843 he was a member of the Massachusetts senate; in 1845 and 1846 he was a member of the governor's council, when George N. Briggs was governor, and in the years 1853 and 1855 he represented his dis- trict in congress, and held many other offices of trust by local election and executive appointment. He was of the old Whig party in politics, and never identified himself with any other, though acting in the main with the Repub- lican after the Whig as such had ceased to exist, and in the era of good feel- ing and patriotism which prevailed and came near doing away with party lines in the state, in 1861 he was nominated by the Republicans a lieutenant- governor on the ticket with Andrew, but declined the honor.

As a lawyer he was sound, safe and the soul of uprightness. He hated pettifoggers and tricksters, believed in his profession as a high calling, and used it to promote the ends of justice and good morals. Faithful to every trust, conscientious in the discharge of every duty, of rare public spirit-like his father before him-the especial devotion of his life may well be said to have been Amherst and Amherst college. At home and abroad as well, he bore its banner proudly and defiantly aloft, and to no one citizen does it owe so much of its present local and foreign reputation for high position and charac- ter as to him. He led in every enterprise which promised to add to its growth, prosperity and attractiveness. He was especially conspicuous with labor and money in procuring the building of the New London Northern rail- road, and was hardly less prominent and influential in his endeavors for the construction of the Massachusetts Central line. It was for this that he con- sented to become a member of the legislature again in 1873-74. His labors and anxieties for its interests in connection with the tunnel, undoubtedly were the occasion of his sudden death, he having been stricken with apoplexy while making a speech on a bill relating to this matter before the house, just after noon, June 16, 1874. Thus, and even more, was his devotion to the college. No man ever watched or tended his own child, or his own property, with more personal, jealous care, than he did the institution he so long and ably served.

He was a man "without fear and without reproach"-a man with the full courage of his convictions. His moral power made him always respected and felt, and commanded honor. In his state, and particularly in its western section, he long ranked among the few "first citizens," respected for his sturdy good sense and independence, revered for his spotless integrity and patriotic self-sacrifice to the public, and beloved by all who came near to him, for the simple truthfulness and chivalric tenderness that lay deep and broad in the base of his nature. His life and character were a rich legacy to the community in which he lived.

William Austin Dickinson, oldest child of Edward, was born in Amherst April 16, 1829, and graduated at Amherst college in 1850, and at the Har- vard law school in 1854, when he was admitted to the bar in Boston. He began

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the practice of law in Amherst in 1855, and in 1873 was chosen treasurer of Amherst college, succeeding his father in that important trust. He married, in 1856, Susan H. Gilbert, of Greenfield. As a public spirited citizen, Mr. Dickinson has rendered much valuable service to his native town-one of the most conspicuous of his services being his work as president of the Village Improvement society, through whose efforts an unsightly " dumping spot for all refuse " in the very center of the village became transformed into the taste- ful common which is admired by all visitors to Amherst. Mr. Dickinson is well nigh invariably chosen moderator of the Amherst town meetings, a posi- tion for which he is well adapted, both by his legal knowledge and his firm- ness and decision of character.

Walter Dickinson was born in this town May 2, 1784, married Lydia Dick- inson in 1806, and reared ten children, namely, Sylvester, Frederick E., Mar- quis F., Nathaniel A., Lydia E., Nehemiah O., Leander M., Amy S., Walter M. and Sarah M. Mrs. Dickinson died in 1828, and Mr. Dickinson survived her till 1851. Marquis F. resides on the farm which was first settled by his great grandfather, Nathaniel, about 1840, and is located on road 18. He was born in 1814, married Hannah S. Williams in 1838, and has reared ten chil- dren, namely, Maurice F., who is practicing law in Boston, Walter N., Lydia J., Amelia S., Roxy E., Asa W., Walter M., Julia C., Hannah F. and Mary U.

Azariah Dickinson was born April 13, 1753, married Mary Eastman, De- cember '22, 1785, and reared six children, viz .: Sarah I., Ransom, Austin, Daniel, Baxter and Hannah. He died August 31, 1813. Daniel was born in Amherst, June 13, 1793, married twice, first, Louisa Adams, February 17, 1819, who bore him two children, Mary A. and Daniel A., and died March 6, 1828. He married for his second wife, Fannie Eastman, June 25, 1829, and reared six children, viz .: Louisa, William E., Sarah T., George, Charles R. and Edward B. Charles R. was born October 16, 1837, Married Adelia M. Harris, August 16, 1865, and has four children, namely, Edwin H., Louisa, Laura A. and Raymond D.

Abijah Dickinson, son of Ebenezer, was born on the homestead December 7, 1781, married Mary Stetson, October 26, 1806, and had born to him five children, William E., Charlotte, Franklin, Samuel S. and E. Porter. Samuel S. was born February 12, 1815, married Alzina Towne, March 27, 1839, and reared seven children, Abby J. (Mrs. Lewis Bartlett), Mary E., Samuel S., Emleyetta C., Alice A., John H. and Herbert S.

Leander M. Dickinson was born August 20, 1821, and Laura A., his wife, was born May 14, 1825. They reared five children, as follows: Lydia T., Julia A., Edward L., Mason A. and Frank N. The last mentioned was born January 15, 1866, and resides on road I. Leander M. died November 7, 1885.

Lieut. Enos Dickinson, son of Jonathan K. and Azubah (Coleman) Dick- inson, was born in Amherst, in the house in which he died, October 23, 1785. His father and mother died in the same house-his father at the age of

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eighty-five years, and his mother at the age of eighty-six years. He married Lois Dickinson, April 27, 1809, who died April 18, 1868, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Dickinson was a conscientious Christian and philanthropic to a marked degree. The " Dickinson .Nineveh Gallery " of Amherst college is an example of the latter trait in his character. He united with the First Con- gregational church in 1816, and was one of the original founders of the Con- gregational church at South Amherst.

Noah Dickinson, son of Johathan, was born in this town, February 18, 1819, married Malah Bliss, March 17, 1857, and has had born to him four children, namely, Helen B., Frank B., Amy S. and May B. He resides on road 31.

John Dickinson was born in Shutesbury, and married Lydia Eastman, of North Amherst. His son Zebina was born in Amherst, in 1778, married Mary Watson, of Lester, Mass., and had born to him ten children. His son William W. was born August 22, 1810, married Mary L. Marsh, March 3, 1840, and has had born to him four children, namely, Ellen R., Jane W., Amy S. and Amelia.

William I. Dickinson was born on the homestead, on road 44, November 7, 1815, married twice, first, Vester Rankin, December 1, 1836, who bore him three children, Willard R., Mary E. and Frank E. He married for his second wife Harriet N. Allen. August 7, 1845, and has had born to him three children, Hattie V., Sumner L. and Alice L.

Jonathan Cowles was born in Suffield, in 1703, married Sarah Gaylord, and reared ten children, viz. : Sarah, Oliver, Jerusha, Jonathan, David, Josiah, Eleazer, Reuben, Enos and Simeon. He died March 14, 1792. His young- est son, Simeon, was born in 1755, married Sarah Dickinson, February 12, 1778, lived and died on the homestead, located on road 18, and reared nine children, viz. : Simeon, Jerusha, Orinda, Azubah, Lebina, Moses, Aaron, Sally and Eli. The mother of these children died in 1814, and Mr. Dickinson married for his second wife Polly King, who died in 1831. He also died in 1831. Simeon, Jr., married Charlotte Stetson, and reared eight children, as follows : Hiram, Esther, Nancy, Rufus, Amasa, Charlotte, Mary and Harriet. He lived on the homestead a few years after marriage, and then moved to Goshen, Mass., where he died in 1857, aged seventy-eight years. Moses, son of Simeon, married Chloe Dickinson, and spent his life on the homestead. He reared five children, namely, Henry, James, Ebenezer, Harriet and Marietta. Of these only two are living, Henry, who is a physician in Framingham, Mass., and James. Henry married Nancy K. Puffer, and has one child. James, who is living on the homestead, married Nancy Henderson, and has two children, Arthur Frederick and Mary Ellen. The former has married twice ; first, Bell Kellogg, and second, Lucia Kellogg. He is now a widower and resides at home. Mary E. married Willis Tuxbury, and has one son, James F.

David Cowls was born August 11, 1741, built the house where his grand-

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son, Jonathan, now resides, and which is probably over one hundred and twenty-five years old. He married Sarah Eastman, and reared five children, namely, David, Sally, Joseph, Silas and Jonathan. The last mentioned was born December 2, 1781, married Esther Graves, April 16, 1807, and had born to him eight children, viz .: Justin, Erastus, Louis, Ira, Esther, Sarah, Ransom and Jonathan. The last mentioned was born on the homestead, May 4, 1822, married Sarah Dickinson, July 1, 1851, and has had born to him four children, namely, Walter D., Newton E., Abby G. and Sarah J. Walter D. is now one of the selectmen of this town.

Ransom Cowls was born August 18, 1818, married Sarah Gunn, August 24, 1843, and shortly after marriage, located on the place where he now re- sides, on the corner of roads 5 and 6. He has had born to him eight chil- dren, as follows: Stephen, born January 15, 1845, died December, 1854; Francis I., born October 26, 1846 ; George C., Esther T., Albert R., born June 23, 1852 ; J. Edward, born July 8, 1857, and died December 18, 1865 ; Charles S., born June 14, 1856, died February 4, 1859 ; and Melville A. born November 11, 1859.

Enoch Cowles was born January 29, 1802, married Julia Brigham, June 19, 1825, and had born to him three children, Julia A., Enoch D. and Watson W. He died in April, 1883, and his widow died October 9, 1884. Enoch D. was born November 17, 1823, married three times, first, Belena B. Strick- land, in 1853 ; second, Frances Dickinson, and third, Mary Harrington. They reside in Easthampton, Watson W. was born November 26, 1834, married Elizabeth Howes, January 2, 1865, and has one child, Willie, born February 24, 1867.

John Cowles came from England about 1640, was one of the original pro- prietors and settlers of the town of Farmington, Conn., and represented that town at the general court three sessions, and moved to Hadley, where he died in September, 1675. Clinton J., a descendant of John Cowles, was born on the homestead, in North Amherst, June 16, 1810, married Sarah E. Sander- son, October 11, 1837, and has had born to him two children, Almon E. and Edson C. The former was born November 16, 1838, married Helen L. Gil- bert, July 4, 1859, and has one child, Estella, born January 23, 1860. He resides on the homestead, and is engaged in farming. Edson C. was born June 12, 1847, married Ida I. Taylor, March 2, 1864, and lives in Iowa. He has three children, namely, John E., Mary I. and Ruth E.

Chester Cowles was born in Granby, married Mary Bangs, and has reared four children, namely, William D., Hettie, Frank C. and Samuel W. Mr. Cowles sold 106 acres of land to the Agricultural college about 1864.

Nathaniel Kellogg was among the early settlers of Amherst, and died here October 30, 1750, aged eighty years. His son Ephraim died here March 16, 1777, aged sixty-seven, and Ephraim, Jr., who died here January 29, 1815, aged seventy-three years. The latter had nine children, of whom John was the eldest, born here September 23, 1762. These were the ancestors of a

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large portion of the many who bear this name in Amherst to-day. Willard M. Kellogg, a great-great-grandson, now occupies the old homestead, on road 21, or East street, as it is generally known. The house now occupied by him was built by his grandfather, Daniel, about one hundred years ago. His father, Rufus, was postmaster about 1821, and had his office in this house, where the mail was brought once a week. Willard M. was born December 29, 1810, married Elvira M. Marsh, of Hadley, and has had born to him eight children, as follows: Rufus, Willard, Rufus M., Catharine C., Charles, Mary, Esther M. and Joseph M.

Eleazer Kellogg, son of John, was born here March 16, 1800, married Sally McCloud Roberts, December 30, 1824, and reared eight children- Julia A., Albert, Roxey, Esther, Elizabeth C., Charles H., Sally M. and John E. He served the town as selectman many years, and in the legislature in 1836. Charles H., born May 7, 1842, married Mary W. Adams, of North Hadley, in 1868, and now resides on road 18. They have one child, Willie A.

Thomas Hastings, grandson of Lieut. Thomas Hastings, who came to Am- herst from Hatfield about 1753, was born here February 6, 1782. He mar- ried Eunice Clark, November 1, 1803. who bore him thirteen children, as fol- lows: Sophia, Mary, Mary, 2d., Lucy, Thomas, James, Henry, Harriet, Henry, William, Edmund, Lucy, 2d., Philomela. Uncle Tom, as he was called, was a farmer, a man of considerable genius and fond of writing verses. He died October 11. 1858, and his widow survived him till August 11, 1873. Their son Edmund now occupies the old homestead. He was born March 4, 1822, married Minerva Lee, of Conway, May 23, 1849, who has borne him five children, Emma A., Mary Luella, Esther M., Abbie M. and Walter L.

Ephraim Cushman was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was also a participator in Shays Rebellion. He died in North Amherst in 1832, His sons, Ephraim and John P., began business as paper makers in the " old mill " on the road to Still Corner, in 1835. In 1854 they obtained a patent from the government for a method of drying thick paper, whereby it was prevented from warping out of shape. In 1857 the mill at the corner of the road to Leverett, below them, was burned, and the Cushman Brothers bought the rights of Jones & Bradford, its former owners, and built, in 1859, the pres- ent red mill. In 1864 the firm was dissolved, and Ephraim Cushman, with his son, built a mill in "Factory Hollow " for the manufacture of printing and manilla paper, while John R. Cushman and his sons carried on the manufacture of leather board at the old mills, in which business he continued until the fail- ure of the firm, in 1880. Ephraim was born in Amherst, February 26, 1799 married Wealthy Cutter in December, 1822, and reared six children, as fol- lows : Sanford C., born May 14, 1824, married Thankful Cook, and resides in Birmingham, Conn. J. Ephraim was born January 6, 1826, and married Elizabeth Rankin ; Susan B., born October 15, 1828, married W. V. Cutter, of Amherst ; Wealthy A. was born December 4, 1830; John S., born Janu-

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ary 8, 1833, resides in Connecticut ; and Marshall B. was born September 23, 1839, married twice, first, Josephine Bassett ; second, Hannah Gibbs, and resides in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Cushman died January 5, 1865. John Richmond Cushman was born at North Amherst, September 6, 1803, married Rhoda Crafts, of Whately, and had born to him ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Of those surviving, George H., the oldest son, and Edward P., the youngest, are in business in Lynn. The others are still residents of North Amherst. Mr. Cushman became a member of the North church in 1839. At the time of his death he resided with his son Avery R.

John E. Cushman was born in Amherst September 4, 1839, and married Mary Wells, of Whately, Mass., September 14, 1876. He served in the late war, in Co. D, 27th Mass. Vols., and lost his arm at the battle of Newbern, March 28, 1862. He now resides on road 4.

Lucius Boltwood, son of William and Eunice Boltwood, was born in Am- herst, March 16, 1792, and married Fannie Haskins Shepard, August 30, 1824. He attended the town school of Amherst, the Grammar school at Hadley, and entered Williams college in 1810, and graduated from there in 1814. He read law with Hon. Samuel Fowler Dickinson, of this town, was admitted to the bar in August, 1817, and immediately entered into company with his instructor. In 1820 he opened an office of his own. He was secre- tary of the corporation of Amherst college from 1828 to 1864, commissioner of the charity fund of the same institution from 1833 to 1866, and was presi- dent of the Amnherst bank in 1835-36. At the time of his death, which oc- curred July 10, 1872, aged eighty years, he was the senior member of the Hampshire county bar. He reared nine children, of whom two are living, Lucius M. and Samuel. His widow resides in the house built by him in 1835.

Noah Smith was born in North Amherst, June 6, 1772, married Jerusha Cowles, of Amherst, February 20, 1806, and reared nine children, only three of whom are living, William, Spencer and Sally. Spencer was born in Am- herst, February 21, 1819, married Martha B. Potwine, of South Amherst, January 21, 1844, and has had born to him six children, viz. : Joanna, born February 13: 1845; Atwell P., born July 26, 1847; Lucia M., born Febru- ary 17, 1850; William A., born July 11, 1852; Newton A., born May 10, 1856, and Nettie B., born August 16, 1864. His father died October 27, 1847, and his mother died July 10, 1858.

Deacon Lyman Smith, son of Jonathan, and grandson of Noah, all na- tives of Amherst, was born in Amherst, November 10, 1801, and married three times ; first, Electa Dickinson, May 25, 1825, who died April 25, 1859. She was the mother of seven children, as follows : Frederick A., Andrew A., who died in the army, Ellen Eliza and Eliza Ellen (twins), William W. H., Mary E., and Julia E., who was born September 3, 1834, and married Will- iam L. Roberts. Mr. Smith married for his second wife, Mary M. Emerson,

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who died March 30, 1879, and for his third wife, Jane E. Nye, November 24, 1880. He resides on road 18.

Cotton Smith was born in Hadley, April 7, 1787, and married Sibyl Smith. His son, W. W., was born in Amherst, June 2, 1829, married Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Mary H. Cowles, April 13, 1858, and has had born to him three children, viz. : Mary H., born September 14, 1859 ; William H., born May 12, 1864; and Alice E., born May 8, 1870.

Frederick Williams was born in Amherst, October 3, 1803, married twice, first, Caroline Howe, who bore him six children, viz. : Chester, William F., Elizabeth, who died in infancy, Solomon H., who died in 1868, Oren B., who died in infancy, and Sarah E., who died in 1861. He married for his second wife, Cornelia Dorman, April 3, 1861. William F. resides on road 32.

George Montague, son of Luke, was born in this town, September 14, 1804, was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1828, and was then connected with Mt. Pleasant Classical institution as accountant and instructor in book- keeping until 1831. He married twice, first, Mary A. Parsons, and second Sarah M. Seely, November 20, 1856. He has four children, George, William, Charles C. and Mary E.

Willard Haskins was born in 1804, married Rebecca Howard, of Amherst, in 1827, and had born to him five children, namely, Esther C., who died in 1847, Jonathan H., Henry W., Ira C., who died in 1835, and James E. He died in 1834. Jonathan H. was born in 1830, married Louise Graves, of Hinsdale, Mass., and has had born to him two children, John W., who died in 1884, and Mary I .. , who lives at home. Mr. Haskins resides on road 18.

Henry W. Haskins was born in this town November 14, 1833, married Har- riet Newell, November 30, 1854, and has had born to him five children as fol- lows : Hattie E., born February 24, 1857, married Willie E. Cushman ; Sarah E., born October 7, 1858, married Loren Shumway, November 3, 1881 ; Ida L., born June 23, 1864, married Erwin W. Andrews, October 5, 1883 ; Charles H., born July 7, 1869, resides in Springfield ; and Esther L., born February 24, 1876. Mr. Haskins is engaged as a contractor and builder, and resides on road 2.

Simeon Clark, son of Increase, was born October 20, 1720, married Re- becca Strong, moved to Amherst, and reared twelve children. His son, Simeon, born in 1752, married twice, first, Lucy Hubbard, who bore him three chil- dren, and second, Irene Lewis, who bore him five children. Simeon, son of Simeon and Irene (Lewis) Clark, was born October 15, 1807, married Myra Cowles, and reared nine children, namely, Juliette, Asahel L., Royal W., Zil- pha C., Edwin W., Emily M., Emily A., Albert S. and Edwin W., 2d. He was justice of the peace thirty years, served as selectman, assessor and over- seer of the poor for many years. He was a deacon of the First church six- teen years. His wife died June 8, 1871, and he died July 31, 1883, aged seventy-six years. His son, Edwin W., was born December 2, 1842, married twice, first, Louisa M. Kellogg, December 8, 1868, who died July 18, 1869,

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and second, Lizzie L. Henry, February 28, 1872. He has had born to him three children as follows: Walter Edwin, born April 13, 1874, and died July 18, 1875 ; Howard E., born November 17, 1876, and Fanny L., born July 29, 1881, died January 8, 1883.

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Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887, Part 15

Author: Gay, W. B. (William Burton), comp Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., W. B. Gay & co Number of Pages: 824

Author: Gay, W. B. (William Burton), comp
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., W. B. Gay & co
Number of Pages: 824