USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 53
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Justin Edwards settled in town in 1778, on the place near where Fran- cis Edwards now lives, but on the other side of the way. His son William continued on the old place, but built a new house. William's son Francis succeeded his father on the old farm, and Dea. William I. located on the old Alvord place, half a mile west. Dea. Edward entered the army in the late war. He was sent to the legislature in 1869.
Israel Bridgman located in the north part of the town. His son Spencer succeeded him. Spencer's son, Abner P., followed, and the place is now oc- cupied by Dwight S., son of Abner. Israel's nephew, Clark Bridgman, lo- cated still farther north, and his sons Aretas H., Lucas and Franklin A. still reside in town. Franklin occupies the old farm, and Lucas is near by. Aretas H. lives in the house built by Dea. Eleazer Judd, on a part of the or - iginal farm of Solomon Judd. His son Fred D. lives with him.
In 1780 Solomon Judd, son of Rev. Jonathan Judd, of Southampton, set- tled about half a mile north of the Shirkshire road, toward the center. His sons Eleazer and John A. continued to live in town, Eleazer on the old farm, a part of which he sold to William S. Rust with the old house. He then built a new house on the opposite side of the street, in which he and his son Eleazer, Jr. lived, where A. H. Bridgman now lives. F. Pomeroy now occu- pies the old house. John A. removed to the Center and kept a store and the postoffice for many years, living in different places, but last in the first house south of the church, built by Captain F. Loud. His place is now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. A. C. Shepard. Fred H., son of John A., lives near the church in the old school-house building.
Thaddeus King settled about 1780, in the eastern part of the town. His son Luther succeeded him on the old farm. Elijah settled where Deacon Montague now lives. Elijah's sons, George N., who lived on the old place, but afterward removed to Illinois, Charles C. lived and died here. Luther's sons, Luther W. and J. Lyman, both lived on their father's place. J. Lyman at length removed to Illinois. Horace S., son of Luther W., now occupies the place first mentioned.
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Jesse Lyman was a son of Azaria Lyman, who was one of the early set- tlers of this town. He built a house on road 39, about 1773, which he occupied all his life, as did also Jesse Lyman, and the same house was the home of William E. Lyman until 1851. It was occupied as a dwelling more than one hundred years, until the death of Jesse Lyman, in 1874. The old frame is this present year being newly covered and converted into a horse barn, on the premises occupied by William E. Lyman, for his use. William E. Lyman married Mary E., daughter of Dr. Hervey Orcutt, November 13, 1851, and has had a family of six children. Lillie Belle, born August 3, 1852, died February 1, 1855. Ella, born October 14, 1856, died May 27, 1857. Myra Elma, born May 10, 1858, married Stephen Rust, of Loud- ville. Annie Field, born November 21, 1852, married Perley L. Kimball, of Bellows Falls, Vt. William Hervey, born May 15, 1866, is at home with his father. Lizzie Rogers, born February 9, 1869, died November 14, 1869.
About 1775, Thomas Elwell settled, first near where E. P. Lyman now lives, but soon removed to the place which Theodore P. Elwell now occu- pies. His son, Amariah, succeeded him. Amariah's sons, Edmund, con- tinued on the old farm, Jesse, built a little farther east, and Thomas, still farther, on the opposite side of the street, not far from the old Ephraim Wright place. Edmund's sons still live in town, Theodore P. on the old place, Myron L where Jesse formerly lived, and Amariah near the centre of the town.
About the year 1813 Lester Langdon settled in the north part of the town, near where F. Holdridge now lives, buying the place of John Brewer. His son Lester T. bought the Samuel Kingsley place, in the south part of the town, near Babcock's or Rice's corner, on the Shirkshire road. Here he now lives with his son, George K. His son, Franklin, removed to lowa in 1865. Lester's sons, Chauncey and Albert, removed to Easthampton.
Matthias Rice bought the old Babcock corner about 1834, and lived there until his death, in 1881. He was one of the selectmen for a number of years. He was sent from the district to the state legislature in 1861. His son, Amos D., now occupies the old place.
Dea. Albert G. Jewett came here in 1846, and built the house next east of the Phelps place, now owned by Nelson A. Kingsley, and has since lived in several different places in town. He was one of the selectmen for sixteen years, and finally refused to serve, although he was again re-elected. He was sent to the state legislature from this district in 1881, and has long been a justice of the peace.
Dr. Hervey Orcutt came from Chicopee in 1835 and bought the old Nathan Clark place, where he lived until the time of his death, in 1873. He was the only practicing physician here for many years. His children are Mary (Mrs. William E. Lyman) and Helen A., both of this town.
In 1774, Rufus Lyman settled in the south part of the town, and the place has continued in the family to the present time, his son, Sereno, succeeding
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him and Edward Payson coming next, now occupies the place. Enoch, son of Rufus, located on or near the place where Abner Smith built the first house. His son, Enoch, succeeded him, and at length sold to Leander Rhodes. He was for many years one of the selectmen. He also served as county commissioner for several years, and was a justice of the peace. Will- iam J., son of Sereno, located north of the old place where Mr. Strong built, and where the first birth of a child occurred in the town. He and his son, Sereno D., still live here.
Dr. William Hooker, son of Rev. John Hooker, came to this town in 1878 and built the old house a little east of the church, where he lived until his death, at the age of ninety-three years. The house has always been occupied until three or four years since, when it was removed to make way for a more modern dwelling. Dr. Hooker was much loved by the people, and he min- istered to the souls of his patients as well as to their bodies. His son, An- son, became a physician and practiced in Cambridge. Hugh T. lived with his father on the old place. Captain Henry located on Turkey hill, north of the center, and his son, Festus, bought just west of the church. Festus's son, Edward, served as color-bearer in the 37th regiment, and was in some of the severest battles of the late war, yet he returned home at the end of three years without having received so much as a scratch. He removed to Nebraska. Festus's son, Worthington, lives in Loudville, and his son, Charles H., lives on the oid place west of the church. Mrs. Charles H. Hooker is a great-granddaughter of Parson Hale. Festus's daughter, Lucy, is Mrs. George E. Knight, of this town.
In 1797, Joel Burt came to town and settled in the western part. In a few years he removed to the place about one mile west of the place where Parson Hale formerly resided, and now unoccupied. His children, who re- mained in Westhampton, were Captain Levi, who located a mile and a half north of the center, and whose wife was a daughter of Parson Hale ; Nathan, who continued on the old place for many years, then purchased the Parson Hale place, where he died. His daughter, Caroline Burt, now occupies the place. Levi's son, Lyman, lived and died on the old Wales place. Joel, another son, lived on the Willard Smith place ; afterward removed to Sun- derland, where he now lives with his son, Enoch Hale. George lived on his father's place until it was burned, then he bought the old Dr. Hooker place and built a new house, where he now resides. His son, Levi, lives with him. Enoch Hale, a son of Captain Levi, was lost at sea while returning from Cal- ifornia. Martha, a daughter of Captain Levi, married W. F. Edwards and removed to Sunderland. Her daughter is Mrs. Charles H. Hooker. Cap- tain Levi's daughter, Susan, ( Mrs. R. W. Clapp ), lives in Westhampton. Captain Burt is said to have owned a thousand acres of land in this town.
Joel Rust settled in the northwest part of the town, on the old turnpike road front Boston to Albany. His daughter Eliza, wife of Deacon Zenas S. Clark, lived on the old place. Deacon Clark removed to the old Claflin place
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.just south of the church, where his daughter Cornelia now lives. Another daughter, Jane (Mrs. Elward Hooker), removed to Nebraska. Deacon Clark's son, Henry H., entered the army and was known to have been wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, but was never after heard from.
Azariah Lyman, one of the first inhabitants, settled here in 1771, and was succeeded by his son Jesse. William E., a son of Jesse, lives on the old farm, but built his house on the opposite side of the road. William E. has a saw- mill on his place, and does a large business in lumber, besides his large farm. He is a justice of the peace. Jesse's daughter, Mary E. (Mrs. Edward N. Norton), lives with her son, Charles H. Norton.
Jedediah Chapman came to this town about 1850, and bought the place opposite the Norton tavern, on the hill, where he worked at his trade as a blacksmith. His son Anson removed to the Center, and was a blacksmith for a time. Afterward he bought the Sylvester Judd place, and was a store- keeper until his death. He also was a justice of the peace. His daughters, Tunia M. and Mary (Mrs. Edward W. Kingsley), still occupy the same place. Jedediah's son Linus removed to Norwich, but soon after returned to West- hampton and worked at his trade, a blacksmith, until his death. His son Arthur K. succeeds him, and lives on the place occupied by his father. Albert, another son of Linus, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. Helen, a daughter of Linus, now Mrs. C. A. Clark, lives in Brookfield. Jedediah's son Hiram removed to Hintingto 1. James M. located on the old Post farm, near Enoch Ly- man's. James' son Jerome lives in Westhampton. Homer G. removed to Williamsburg.
Dea. Joel Cook was born April 6, 1804, in the house on road 16, where all his life was spent, and where his daughter still resides. His father, Captain Noah Cook, was a native of Northampton, and came to this town, from there, more than one hundred years ago, settling on the same farm now occupied by the daughter of Dea. Joel Cook. Dea. Joel Cook married Harmony White, a native of Berket, Miss., and had a family of four children. The eldest died in infancy. Henry W. was born October 11, 1836, and died at the age of twenty-six, a physician at Bellevue Hospital, New York city. Noah B. is a printer in New York city. Sarah C. occupies the old homestead. Dea. Cook held various offices of responsibility and trust, was a selectman of West- hampton a number of years, one of the examining school committee, and was two terms representative to Boston. He was for many years deacon of the Congregational church. He always pursued the business of farming, and died in the house in which he was born, April 22, 1878.
Julius Cook was a son of Capt. Noah Cook, a Revolutionary soldier, who came to this town from Northampton. Julius Cook was born in this town in 1796, and always pursued farming for his occupation. He married, first, Mercy K. Hunt, of this town, and had two children, Clara and John. The latter married Sylvia Graves, of Hatfield. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Wells, of Northampton, who had one child, Eliza, who married
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James Rutherford, a merchant at Mobile, Ala., and died there in 1870. His widow still resides there. John occupies the homestead on road 15. Julius Cook was a sergeant in the war of 1812, for which service, in his later life, he received a pension.
Dea. Samuel Edwards was a native of Southampton, a farmer with his father who was also named Samuel, who had removed from Northamp- ton to Southampton, about 1760. He married Silence, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Judd, who was the first minister in Southampton, in 1780, and removed to this town, locating on road 50. They had a family of three children. One died at the age of five years, Silence married Enoch Lyman, who lived in the western part of the town. She has been dead about thirty years. The only son, Samuel, married Betsey, daughter of Dea. Asa Ludden, of Williamsburg, and succeeded his father on the farm. They had a family of ten, eight of whom are now living, only two residing in this town, Betsey, unmarried, and Theophilus, who now occupies the paternal estate. He mar- ried Sarah A., daughter of Levi Dole, of Shelburne, Mass., March 16, 1853. They have had born to them six children, viz. : Sarah A., born March 13, 1854, died January 12, 1878 ; Emily A., born June 27, 1855, married July 16, 1879, Clark F. Thayer, of Erie, Pa., now resident in Boston ; Ella A. born November 18, 1857, married Homer G. Chapman, February 21, 1877, and died July 30, 1878 ; Clara E., born December 4, 1859, married Homer G. Chapman, April 28, 1880, and died October 30, 1882 ; Levi W., born March 30, 1862 ; and Arthur T., born September 26, 1871. Both sons are at home with their parents. Mr. Edwards has held the office of selectman of his town a number of terms, and on the board of examining school committee for three years. His son Levi holds the same office at present. He has often been called to superintend the Sunday-school of the Congregational church, and is one of the church committee.
Peter Montague was one of the very early settlers of this town, removing hither from South Hadley. He died here September 24, 1822, leaving a family of six. His son, David, settled on the farm now occupied by Henry W. Montague, at the center of the town. He married Lovicy, daughter of Enos and Hannah Janes, of Easthampton, born March 15, 1792, and died October 13, 1870. Of their family of thirteen, two died in infancy. Mary Ann, born January 1, 1814, married Theodore Clark, of this town, and died March 17, 1871, leaving no children. Sylvia was born March 2, 1816; Mel- zar V. was born May 5, 1818 ; Enos J. was born March 16, 1825; Hannah W. was born March 20, 1823 ; David S. was born February 1, 1825 ; Lou- isa, born January 21, 1827, died January 18, 1831 ; Alfred D., born March 6, 1829, married in 1858, June 17, daughter of Ansel and Eunice (Wright) Clapp, of this town. They have five children, three sons and two daughters, viz .: Francis C., who married Alice, daughter of L. M. Woodard, of Halifax, Vt., in 1882, and is a farmer with his father on road 25. Edward H., Lo- visa J., Alfred D., Jr., and Harriet F., unmarried, resides at home. Mr. Mon-
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tague has been on the town school board for a number of years. In 1876 he was chosen deacon in the Congregational church, which position he now occupies. Melzar, the eldest son of David, graduated at Williams college, studied theology at East Windsor, Conn., and became pastor of the Congre- gational church at Fort Atkinson, Wis. His voice failing, he became a suc- cessful teacher. He married Mary, daughter of Richard Hale, of this town, and died December 30, 1872, at Allen's Grove, Wis. He was the author of a poem read at the centennial reunion of his native town September 5, 1866. Enos Janes, son of David Montague, born March 16, 1820, graduated from Williams college in 1841, and from the Theological seminary at East Wind- sor, Conn., in 1845. He was ordained May 14, 1846. pastor of the Congre- gational church in Summit, Oconomowac and Fort Atkinson, Wis. He :vas a leading minister for thirty-four years. He married Faith Huntington, daughter of Rev. E. W. Hooker, D. D., of East Windsor, Conn. He died September 30, 1880, and was burried in his native town. Henry W. Mon- tague, son of David, born April 17, 1831, married Achsah, daughter of Na- than Burt, of this town, and occupies the same farm on which his father set- tled. David S., born February 1, 1825, married first, Lucinda, daughter of Theodore Clark, and second, Asenath, daughter of Abner Parsons, of North- ampton. By his first wife he had two children, May L., who died in in- fancy, and Myron H., who was born August 22, 1858. The latter married June 11, 1884, Emma Frances, daughter of F. A. Bridgman, of this town. He settled at farming with his father. January 5, 1885, he was driving a young colt, which became frightened and threw him from the wagon, killing him instantly. By his second marriage he has one daughter, Aurelia L., now a student at Mt. Holyoke Female seminary. Hannah L. married Elijah P. Torrey, a carpenter and joiner by trade, who resides near the Center. Nancy L., born May 7, 1837, died May 16, 1864. Sylvia M., born October 21, 1850, married Amos D. Rice, March 1, 1871, and resides on road 39.
Medad King was a native of Northampton. His father, also of the name Medad, being of the family from whom King street in Northampton was named. In an early day they owned a large tract along King street, their residence being on the lot where the French Catholic church now stands. Medad, when thirty years of age, settled in this town on road 16, in 1796 or 1797. He married Susanna, daughter of Daniel Warner, of Northampton, reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, Sylvester, Elisha, Simeon, Medad, Gains, Susanna ( Ist), Dorcas and Susanna (2d). Dorcas died in childhood. Susanna (2d) lived to the age of thirty-eight, and was the wife of George Day, of Northampton. Sylvester died at the age of sixteen. Elisha was a blacksmith and worked at his trade in this town for many years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Phineas Clark, of East- hampton, was for many years deacon in the Congregational church, and much respected for his piety and Christian walk. They reared a family of seven. Simeon died at the age of twelve. Medad succeeded his father on
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the homestead, married Lydia Clark, a sister of his brother Elisha's wife, and had one child, Amaranda, who died of scarlet fever at the age of six years. Fifty four years ago was erected the house in which Medad now resides. His wife died February 3, 1886. Gains settled in Medina, N. Y., a tailor by trade. He married in New York, and of his family, George and Henry are still living, at Middleport, N. Y.
Zenas Kingsley was a native of this town, and carried on the trade of a clothier at Loudville just over the line in Northampton. He married Su san, daughter of Amariah Elwell, of this town. They reared a family of nine, of whom four daughters and four sons are now living. Susan M. married Henry Parsons, of this town. Edward W. married Mary E., daughter of Anson Chapman, a native and always a resident of this town. He has for a number of years carried on a lumber business at Columbia, N. H. He now occupies the former residence of Anson Chapman. He has one son, Edward A. Joseph H. married Elmina Norton, a native of Rochester, N. Y., and resides in Southampton. Zenas Mahlon enlisted in Co. A, 27th Mass. Vols., his name being the first enrolled for that regiment in 1861, served until his death, which occurred at Newberne, N. C., in 1862. Nelson H. is at Riverside, Cal., whither he went after having served through the late war. Ellen V. married Enoch Perkins, now living at Guildhall, Vt. Justus H., a farmer, now a resident of this town. Delia M., also a resident with her sister, Mrs. Charles Clark, on road 52.
Nelson A. Kingsley, son of Henry S., who has been treasurer of the town since 1877, was born at Ellicottville, N. Y., April 2, 1840. In 1862 he en- listed in Co. G. 154th N. Y. Vols. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Gettysburg, and was confined in Libby prison and at Belle Isle, Va. After the war he came to this town, where he has since resided.
Ansel Clapp was a direct descendant of Roger Clapp, who came to this country from Devonshire, England, May 30, 1630. He was born in North- ampton, February 13, 1788 He married in 1818, Eunice, only daughter of Reuben Wright, one of the first settlers in Northampton. The same year he removed to this town, locating on road 11, where he passed the remainder of his life. His death occurred September 11, 1866, the result of an injury re- ceived in the harvest field a few weeks before. They had two sons and two daughters. Luther became pastor of a Congregational church at Wanna- tosa, Wis., and married Harriet P. Stedman, of Chicopee .. The second son, Reuben W., married December 23, 1852, Susan T., daughter of Levi Burt, of this town, and granddaughter of Rev. Enoch Hale, first minister of West- hampton. To them were born eight children-Ellen L., born February 15, 1854, married Edward A. Allyn, of Holyoke, May 10, 1882 ; Laura H., born February 19, 1856, married September 30, 1885, Frederick A. Dayton, of Northampton ; George B., born November 3, 1857, a farmer in Easthamp- ton ; Lyman W., born September 6, 1859, married June 8, 1886, Elizabeth C., daughter of William Ewing, of Easthampton, and is associated with his
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father on their large farm on road 11 : Martha F, born March 30, 1862, died March 12, 1876; Edwin B., born May 17, 1864, a farmer ; Susan M., born December 7, 1866, living with her parents ; and Mary A., born No- vember 25, 1868, died September 15, 1869. The eldest daughter, Harriet F., is unmarried and resides with her nephew, George B., in Easthampton. Sophia is the wife of Dea. Alfred D. Montague.
Horace F. Clapp was born in Southampton, May 16, 1825. His early days were spent in his native town on his father's farm, married Fidelia, daughter of Lemuel Thompson, of Monterey, May 2, 1854, and has five children living and buried one. Mary E. married Fred Freiday, now a resi- dent of Iowa; Iretta married George A. Gorton, of Southampton ; Chastina married Myron J. Rowley, who died in Florence in September, 1883. Mr. Clapp is a farmer on road 38.
Franklin J. Pomeroy was born in Southampton, in 1836, and his early life was spent on a farm with his father, Joshua, who was also a native of South- ampton. He received a common school education, and attended Williston seminary, Easthampton. He has been a farmer nearly all of his business life. In 1881 he purchased a farm on road 33, where he now resides.
Erastus B. Pratt was born in Plainfield, October 24, 1842, where he re- mained with his father on a farm until the death of the latter in July, 1874. He then went to the state of Michigan, remaining there about one year. He married Betsey Poole, of Rockland, Mass., in March, 1876, removing soon after to Amherst, leasing a farm of Oliver Longley's estate. In April, 1877, he removed to this town, engaging in a general mercantile business, which he has ever since pursued. He received the appointment of postmaster in April, 1881, which he has held since that date. He has one child.
Charles N. Loud, son of Francis Loud, was born in September, 1839, in this town, attended the district schools here in his boyhood, three years in Hopkins academy, Hadley, and two years at Williston seminary, preparatory to a college education. In the early part of the late rebellion he enlisted from this town in Co. K, 52d Mass. Vols., and served a year. He was hos- pital steward, in charge of the United States barracks hospital at Baton Rouge, La. Returning home he went out as agent of the Christian Com- mission at Washington. He also taught in the New York Juvenile Asylum one year, having charge of a school of five hundred scholars. His fath- er's health failing, he was called home to take charge of his business, and from that time gave up the idea of entering college. He has taught school many terms in this town, Northampton and Worthington. He was chairman of town school committee several years, and on the board for fifteen years. In 1869 he took charge of the manufactory business which had been estab- lished and carried on by his father a number of years, and is still in the same business. He has been selectman, town clerk, treasurer and collector, and has served on the jury of the United States court at Boston. He married first, Julia R., daughter of Franklin Strong, of this town, February 5, 1867,
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who died in December, 1869. His second marriage was with Susan C. An- nable, of Worthington, September 5, 1871, and has three sons. Mr. Loud has been a member of the Congregational church the past twenty-eight years. He is now superintendent of the Sabbath-school.
Franklin Strong was a son of Paul Strong, who for many years kept tav- ern where Florence now stands. He was a miller by trade, owning and run- ning a grist-mill in Easthampton, in the village of Loudville. He was also a farmer on road 52. He married Dorcas, eldest daughter of Dea. Elisha King, of this town, and had six children, of whom only Susan E. and Julia R. lived to womanhood. Jnlia married Charles N. Loud, of this town, and died De- cember 16, 1869. Susan E. occupies the farm left by her father at his death, which occurred July 14, 1884. She also carries on the grist-mill left by him. Mrs. Strong died October 1, 1879.
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