Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 63

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 63

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).

(IX) William (3), son of Samuel Cook Wheeler, was born in New Ipswich, December 30, 1815; died December 3, 1862. He had a common school education, and for many years was a dealer in meats and provisions in his native town. He removed to Chicopee, Mass- achusetts, in 1843, and continued with success in the same line of business the remainder of his days. He was a man of sound judgment, being well posted in public affairs and of de- cided convictions. He was elected to various offices of trust and honor. He was constable and collector of taxes. He belonged to the Masonic order and was an active member of the Baptist church. He married, in 1837, Emeline Sarah Mansfield, born at New Ips- wich, July 6, 1817, died July 10, 1885. Chil- dren : I. William Edward, born September 14, 1839; mentioned below. 2. Wilhelmina Amanda, May 8, 1841 ; married (first ) Charles Latham, and had one son and one daughter ; married (second) Joseph Manegin, of Spring- field ; married (third) F. G. Bird. 3. George E., July 17, 1845; died August 19, 1845. 4. Emma F., May 26, 1849; died June 25, 1903; married Leander Comstock, of Springfield, and had six daughters. 5. Martha Jane, March 3, 1858; died August 27, 1907 ; married (first) Arthur Dwight ; married (second) H. Glynn, of Springfield. 6. Samuel L., October 27, 1861, at Chicopee ; superintendent of fire alarm telegraph system of Springfield since 1887, and supervisor of wires since 1891 ; married, July 16, 1883, Fannie E. Burwell, daughter of Charles E. Burwell, of Enfield, Massachusetts ; one son, William Samuel, born July 23, 1885, and one daughter, May S., born April 13, 1889.

(X) William Edward, son of William (3) Wheeler, was born September 14, 1839; died at Chicopee, September 26, 1896. He was

976

MASSACHUSETTS.

educated in the public schools of Chicopee. For many years he conducted an extensive livery stable in Chicopee, and twelve years held the responsible office of deputy sheriff of Hampden county. He was well known throughout the county, and respected by all classes of people. He attracted friends and was personally popular. In politics he was a Democrat, latterly an Independent. In religion he was a Unitarian. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He married, June 6, 1860, Helen E. Ross, born at Schenectady, New York, May 15, 1841, died February 15, 1904, in Spring- field, daughter of Sidney Ross, of Brookfield, Massachusetts. Children : I. Anna Helen, born March 17, 1861; died in infancy. 2. Henrietta Florence, June 15, 1863; married, January 22, 1889, Eugene A. Dexter (see Dexter family). 3. Edward William, August II, 1869; resides in Springfield, Massachu- setts ; married, November, 1894, Margaret Bryson Tait, daughter of George C. Tait.

WHITING The Whitings, Whitins and Whitons, of New England, are descended for the most part from three immigrant ancestors who are not known to be closely related. The surname is of English origin, and has many different spellings in the ancient English records, such as Whiton, Whiting, Witon, Wyton, Whitton and Wheaton. The Whitin family, of Whitins- ville, Massachusetts, and many prominent Whiting families, are descended from Nathan- iel Whiting, a miller, who settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, as early as 1638, but soon re- moved to Dedham where many of his descend- ants have lived. The most noted of the Whit- ing immigrants was Rev. Samuel Whiting, who was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, in 1597, son of John Whiting, once mayor of that city. Rev. Samuel graduated from Emanuel College, was rector of the parish of Skirbeck, adjoining Boston, until 1635, when he came to Lynn, Massachusetts, and was chosen pastor of the church there; his son, Samuel, became minister of the church at Billerica. Gene- alogies of the families of Nathaniel and Rev. Samuel have been published.

(1) James Whiting (or Whiton), immi- grant ancestor of this branch of the family, was among the settlers of Hingham, Massa- chusetts, coming thither from Hingham, Eng- land. He was doubtless a son of Thomas Whit- ing ( Wyton, or Whiton), of Hooke Norton, Oxfordshire, England, a yeoman. James Whit-

ing gave a letter of attorney October 6, 1647, to Richard Betscomb, of Hingham, to collect a legacy from the estate of this Thomas. James was admitted a freeman May 30, 1660. He resided at Liberty Plain, South Hingham, where he had a grant of land in 1657, had other grants or divisions of land, bought much more, and became one of the largest land- holders and taxpayers of the town. During King Philip's war, April 20, 1676, his house was burned by the Indians. His will, dated September 29, 1708, provided liberally for his children and grandchildren. He died April 26, 1710. He married, December 30, 1647, Mary Beal, born in Hingham, England, in 1622, died in Hingham, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 12, 1696, daughter of John and Nazareth Beal. Children, born in Hingham: I. James, April 10, 1649; died November 11, 1650. 2. James, mentioned below. 3. Matthew, October 30, 1653 ; married December 27, 1677, Deborah (Pitts) Howard. 4. John, December 9, 1655; died young. 5. David, February 22, 1657-8 ; died March 18, following. 6. Jonathan, born Febru- ary 22, 1657-8: died March 12, following. 7. Enoch, born March 8, 1759-60. 8. Thomas, May 18, 1662. 9. Mary, April 29, 1664; married (first ) Isaac Wilder ; (second ) -Jordan ; (third) May 21, 1713, Thomas Sayer.

(II) James (2), son of James (1) Whit- ing (or Whiton), was born at Hingham, April IO, 1651, and baptized July 15, 1651. He died February 20, 1724-5, in his seventy-fourth year, according to town records. He was like his father, a farmer, lived on the paternal home- stead in Liberty Plain, South Hingham. His will was dated October 15, 1724. He married Abi- gail - -, died May 4, 1740, in her eighty- fifth year. Children, born at Hingham: I: James, 1676. 2. Hannah, July 4, 1678; mar- ried, July 8, 1706, John King, of Plymouth. 3. John, April 5, 1681 ; settled in Plympton. 4. Abigail, September 5, 1683 ; died December 10, 1695. 5. Samuel, November 12, 1685. 6. Joseph, March 23, 1686-7 ; mentioned below. 7. Judith, May 6, 1689 ; married, December 13, 1722, James White; (second) December 2, 1737, Jonathan Farrow. 8. Rebecca, Decem- ber 6, 1691. 9. Benjamin, December 21, 1693. IO. Solomon, June 10, 1695.

(III) Joseph, son of James (2) Whiting, was born at Hingham, March 23, 1686-7. Most of the descendants of James Whiton (I) remaining in Hingham have used the spelling Whiton, but many of those who lived else- where have used the spelling Whiting. In the Tower Genealogy the name of Joseph is spelled

977

MASSACHUSETTS.

Whiting, but even among his Connecticut de- scendants Whiton was in use for a generation or two. He married, in Hingham, December IO, 1713, Martha Tower, born July 20, 1693, died at Rehoboth, September 19, 1719, aged twenty-six years, one month, thirty days. He removed from Hingham to Rehoboth in 1719, and married there (second) (intention dated April 9, 1720) Rebecca Willson. In 1727 he removed to Ashford, Connecticut, where he was admitted to the church with Joseph Works and Joseph Able, February 2, 1727. He lived at Ashford probably the rest of his life, and was a citizen of some prominence there ; was on committee of the town to erect a new school house in 1742, and on committee to procure a new minister the same year. He served on the committee that laid out the new burial place in the west end of the town of Ashford. Children of first wife, born at Hingham: I.

Elijah, July 7, 1714; mentioned below. 2. Abigail, April 20, 1716. 3. Martha, September 4, 1718. Children of second wife, born at Rehoboth: 4. Joseph, June 23, 1722. 5. Re- becca, March 7, 1725-6. Born at Ashford: 6. Joshua (?), lived at Warren, Rhode Island ; married Mary children : Lurane, William, David and Daniel.

(IV) Elijah, son of Joseph Whiting, was born at Hingham, July 7, 1714. He settled with his father at Ashford; was one of the first schoolmasters in that town; was a tax- payer in 1750 and later. He owned the cove- nant in the church, 1768, and he and James Whiton were pew-owners. The Ashford rec- ords spell his name Whiton. In the first federal census Hannah Whiton, presumably his widow, was head of a family consisting of two males over sixteen and five females. James had in his family two males over sixteen, three under sixteen, and eight females. Joseph had one male over sixteen, six under sixteen and seven females. Whitfield, mentioned below, was the only other Whiting head of a family in Ash- ford at that time. Joseph, James and Elijah signed a remonstrance dated 1764. They were then living in the west part of Ashford. Chil- dren: I. Elijah, lived at Tolland; soldier in the revolution, from Chatham, Connecticut. 2. James, mentioned above. 3. Joseph, mentioned above. 4. Whitfield, mentioned below. Prob- ably two sons and four daughters, unmarried in 1790. Record of Ashford do not give the dates of birth.

(V)- Whitfield, son of Elijah Whiting, was born about 1750. He resided at Ashford, at Warren. Rhode Island, removed about 1777,

and settled finally at Ashford. In 1790 the census shows he had two sons under sixteen and three females in his family at Ashford. He married Rachel His eldest son was named Haile, and the Haile family was numerous in Warren. Presumably his wife was a Haile. Children, born at Warren: I.

Haile, November 12, 1771. 2. Eliza, Novem- ber 2, 1775. Child, born at Abington : 3. Daniel, mentioned below. Children, born at Ashford: 4. David, March 18, 1783 (twin). 5. (twin with David). One of these children, perhaps two, died before 1790.

( VI) Daniel, son of Whitfield Whiting, was born at Abington, Connecticut, January I, 1778. He was educated in the public schools, and learned the trade of cooper, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming throughout his life. He died at Bath, New Hampshire, June 19, 1842. He married Eliabeth Potter, born at Willington, Connecticut, June 6, 1788; died at Dudley, February 20, 1856. Children : I. Daniel, born 1811 ; resided at Dudley ; mar- ried there, April 1, 1834, Mary Ann Corbin ; children : George Washington, Roxanna, Dan- iel Whitfield, Mary Everett. 2. William B., mentioned below. 3. David, lives in Pennsyl- vania. 4. Newell. 5. Philip. 6. Abigail. 7. Almira.

(VII) William B., son of Daniel Whiting, was born at Willington, Connecticut, February 14, 1817, and was educated there in the district schools. He began to work for one of the neighboring farmers when he was but twelve years old. At the age of twenty-two he took charge of a farm owned by a Mr. Tufts, of Dudley, Massachusetts, where he lived for the next six years. He then purchased a livery stable at Webster, Massachusetts, an adjoin- ing town, and conducted it about four years. He conducted a boarding house for a time, then removed to Ireland Parish, now the city of Holyoke, and entered the employ of the Hadley Falls Company as a teamster. He continued in this work for about four years, and then embarked in business as a truckman on his own account and as a dealer in fire- wood. In 1870 he bought the wood and coal business of W. L. Martin, at 40 Dwight street, Holyoke, and continued in business until his death. He was an industrious and enterprising merchant, and became one of the leading busi- ness men of Holyoke. In politics he was a life-long and active Republican ; in religion a Unitarian. He married, at Dudley, April 2, 1840, Elizabeth Murphy, of New York, born January 1, 1818, died January 21, 1878. She

ii-27

978

MASSACHUSETTS.

was a member of the Baptist church. Children : I. William, born May 24, 1841 ; mentioned be- low. 2. Elvira Fales, born at Dudley, Octo- ber 19, 1843; married Charles E. Ball, drug- gist, of Holyoke. 3. Albert Whitefield, drown- ed at age of six years. 4. Ellen M., married Porter A. Underwood, of Boston. 5. Edward G., born 1852; was associated in business with his father. 6. Edwin A., born 1852; twin of Edward G. ; died at Pomona, California, Janu- ary 7, 1886. 7. Mary Elizabeth, born 1854; died November 18, 1873. 8. Frank Albert, connected with Holyoke Coal & Wood Com- pany. 9. Harriet, married James S. Flower, who died March 14, 1893. 10. George, born 1863; died May, 1865.

(VIII) Hon. William Whiting, son of Will- iam B. Whiting, was born at Dudley, May 24, 1841. He attended the public and high schools of Holyoke, whither his parents moved when he was a young boy. His father's religion was hard work. One night when young Will- iam was between eight and nine years of age, while seated at the supper table, his father told him that he had been thinking the matter over and had come to the conclusion that he ought to go to work; that he had been talking to a farmer, and that the farmer would give him his clothes and board if he would work vacations and nights. The following day young Whiting thought it over, and as he reached the corner of Dwight and High streets, returning from school, and where the boys were playing, he was informed by a boy that Mr. Baker, the newsdealer, wanted a boy to peddle papers, as he had given up the job. Accordingly he went down and was informed that he would receive $1.50 per week, hence he did not accept the offer of the farmer. He intended to enter Amherst College, but circumstances altered his plans. He was very quick with his pen and at figures, and was employed in many offices to straighten out matters in bookkeep- ing ; among others he was employed by a paper company to straighten out their books, and in that way entered the paper business. His career proves that he acted many times on the first impulse, or, in other words, his first im- pressions were the best, and by following them in several instances he achieved success. He cited a case where he was employed as book- keeper and agent for the Hampden Paper Company ; he had a difference with the owner, or his employer ; he quit him at once, bought a mill, and began the manufacture of paper. He received a large salary as salesman, about $5.000 per year, the greater part of which he

saved, so when the opportunity came he ven- tured and was successful. Upon engaging in the manufacture of paper he purchased the mill formerly used in the manufacture of wire, known since 1865 as "Whiting No. I." He remodeled the structure and installed a paper- making plant which had a daily capacity of six tons of fine writing paper. From a small be- ginning his trade increased until greater facil- ities than those of the first mill were needed, and he purchased land on Dwight street, upon which he erected the large mill known as "Whiting No. 2," having a daily capacity of fifteen tons of writing paper. The business was incorporated in 1865 as the Whiting Paper Company, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. From time to time as the business grew, the capital has also been increased, and the capital stock is now three hundred thousand dollars, but the investment in the plant and business represents a much larger sum. The writing paper and stationary of the Whiting mills is known all over the country. No finer paper is made, and no paper company has maintained a better reputation for quality. Mr. Whiting has been president and general manager of the company from its organization. He employs between six and seven hundred hands with a monthly pay- roll of about twenty-five thousand dollars, and pays taxes on a million dollar assessment. Mr. Whiting is also president and manager of the Collins Manufacturing Company at North Wilbraham. The management of this mill was assumed by him when the business was in a critical condition; from a losing venture it became under his management very profitable, and a dividend was paid to the stockholders the first year. This mill produces about fif- teen tons of paper daily. He is president also of the Whitmore Manufacturing Company, of Holyoke, manufacturing lithographic paper, and of the National Blank Book Company, also of Holyoke, the annual product of which amounts to half a million dollars in value.

Mr. Whiting has been a leading figure in the financial affairs of this section of the state for many years. In 1872 he organized the Holyoke National Bank, and was its president until 1891, when he resigned. He is presi- dent of the Holyoke Savings Bank and mem- ber of its finance committee; director in the Chapin Banking and Trust Company of Springfield ; trustee of the Washington Trust Company of New York; director of the Holy- oke Warp Company; president of the Con- necticut River railroad ; vice-president of the

. Buther

Lewis Historical Pub

Millian Writing.

979

MASSACHUSETTS.

Holyoke & Westfield railroad ; and director of the Boston & Maine Railroad Company. He is president of the board of trustees of the Holyoke Public Library. During his boyhood he often heard the idea of a library discussed. but no active measures were adopted to start it until in 1866, when a public meeting was called and all prominent men of the town at- tended. After considerable discussion, they called upon Mr. Whiting to speak, although he was but twenty-five years of age. He told them that if they meant business they should draw up a paper and then and there subscribe to it, and if they did not mean business to drop the matter once for all. They agreed with him, and passed the list to him to subscribe. Mr. Whiting subscribed $500, the largest sub- scription of all, and to-day his name appears on that old subscription list of forty-three years ago, and from that has grown the im- mense Holyoke Library of to-day. A life size painting of Mr. Whiting occupies a conspicu- ous place in that beautiful edifice.

In public life Mr. Whiting has won the highest distinctions. He has always been a Republican, influential in the councils of his party and earnestly supporting its policies and candidates. In 1873 he was elected state sen- ator, and was appointed to important com- mittees in that body. He was city treasurer of Holyoke in 1876-77, elected by large ma- jorities, though the city was strongly Demo- cratic normally. He was mayor of the city in 1878-79, having the almost unanimous sup- port of both parties at the polls. His admin- istration was highly creditable and satisfac- tory. He was a delegate to the Republican na- tional convention at Cincinnati in 1876, when Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated for pres- ident. While in Washington Mr. Whiting was close to President Mckinley ; he has been a delegate to St. Louis, and assisted in the nomination of Mr. Mckinley for president. President Mckinley had a niece at Mt. Holy- oke College, and while on a visit to her was a guest at Mr. Whiting's house for four days. Mr. Whiting also entertained James A. Gar- field before he was elected to the presidency, also Thomas B. Reed and United States Sen- ator Lodge, of Massachusetts. His public services earned for him a greater degree than ever the confidence of his fellow citizens. From 1883 to 1889 he was a representative of his district in congress, and was a prominent member of the house in the forty-eighth, forty- ninth and fiftieth congress. At that time his party was in the minority, however, and his

opportunities for service were limited on that account. He was a member of the committee on banking and currency, and introduced an important bill which for political reasons was never allowed by the Democratic majority to come to a vote, but a similar bill introduced by a Democrat afterward was passed. In his first term he served on the committee on pen- sions, bounties and back pay, and it will be remembered that at that period the work of this committee was onerous, to say the least. He was also a member of the committee on education and took part in framing the legis- " lature affecting the education of the negroes. He spoke on the tariff and silver question with convincing logic and common sense. At the close of his third term he declined re- election. The Holyoke Transcript said at the time: "Congressman Whiting authorizes the statement that he will not be a candidate for re-election to congress. He does it thus early so that his constituents may have ample time to discuss the matter and settle upon his suc- cessor. Mr. Whiting's withdrawal is per- haps not surprising, for the position is one not always pleasant and agreeable ; but his re- tirement will be attended with regret. Our congressman has been faithful to his public duties, and though he has not cut a large fig- ure as a debater, he has won his way to a po- sition of great influence among his associates of the house. It is this businesslike way that has made him conspicuous in the minds of so many as a candidate for gubernatorial honor, and to that exalted station we hope to see him elevated. Many of our governors have taken the congressional course of training before being called to take the chair of State, and that training has furnished a good equipment. Mr. Whiting's would prove no exception." The Springfield Republican said: "Mr. Whit- ing's withdrawal will be a serious loss to the Republican delegation from Massachusetts. He has not during his three terms taken a con- spicuous part in debate, but his views have been received with great respect in committee, where his penetration and sound judgment have been appreciated by his fellow-mem- bers."

No citizen in Holyoke has taken a keener interest in the welfare and progress of the city than Mr. Whiting. He has co-operated in every movement and assisted every project designed to benefit Holyoke. He has done his utmost as a manufacturer, public officer and citizen to build up the city and make it better as a place of residence and business.

980

MASSACHUSETTS.

The Paper World said of him in 1896: "His interest in the city of Holyoke has been broad and generous ; none of her citizens have given more liberally of their best thought and effort for the upbuilding and credit of the munici- pality. He was once mayor of the city, and at the present time is serving as chairman of the commission to revise the city charter. During all the years of the city's existence he has served in whatever capacity his fellow citizens might direct, and his fertile mind has been active in devising measures for the ad- vancement of the interests of the people, in- dustrially, mentally and morally." He was one of the founders of the Holyoke Board of Trade, and was its president until 1892 when he declined a re-election. Through his great personal friendship for President Seelye, Mr. Whiting came to take an active interest in Amherst College, and in 1877 was given an honorary degree, A. B., at commencement. He takes an interest in public education, and has earnestly advocated the best possible school system. He is on the board of trustees of Mount Holyoke College. The first subscrip- tion for the Holyoke Hospital was made in his house. Mr. Whiting is now its president. In 1877 he erected upon his Dwight street property a fine opera house, and a large hotel known as the Windsor house, both of brick and stone. He is a member of William Whit- ing Lodge of Free Masons. The career of Mr. Whiting amply demonstrates how a poor boy, unaided by influential friends or capital, but with a determination to succeed, and pos- sessing the characteristics of diligence, econ- omy and thrift, can make for himself a name and gain a position of which anyone might well be proud.

Mr. Whiting married, June 19, 1862, Anna Maria Fairfield, of Holyoke, a native of that place, daughter of Luther M. Fairfield, who was a farmer. Children, born in Holyoke: I. William Fairfield, born July 20, 1864 ; edu- cated at Williston and Amherst colleges ; now treasurer of the Whiting Paper Company, and associated with his father in his varied busi- ness interests. He married Anne Chapin ; children : William Whiting, Edward Chapin Whiting, Fairfield Whiting, Ruth Whiting. 2. Samuel Raynor, born January 20, 1867; educated at Williston Seminary; now asso- ciated with his father in business; married Gertrude L. Greely ; children : Anna Fairfield Whiting, Margaret Whiting.

Mr. and Mrs. William Whiting attend the Congregational church and have given gener-

ously to its benevolent work. His residence is at the corner of Elm and Appleton streets. His library, an extension to his beautiful home, is egg-shaped, with a dome with glass roof to let in the light ; it is a beautiful room, filled with choice volumes. Mr. Whiting is very fond of books of history, his first lesson along that line being from Macauley's His- tory, a book presented to him in his early boy- hood.

The Smith family of Pittsfield

SMITH is descended from Silas, Samuel, Jesse and Elijah Smith, heads of families of this surname in Pittsfield in 1790, according to the first federal census. Samuel Smith, of Hatfield, who died in 1777, left a widow Mary and sons Samuel, Benjamin, Elijah, Joseph, Rufus and Oliver. Ephraim Smith, of Conway, Massachusetts, who died in 1792, left children Solomon, Silas, Jona- than and Ephraim. It is believed that two or more of these sons settled in Pittsfield. Sam- uel Smith was a soldier in Pittsfield in 1779, and received a bounty for enlisting in the Con- tinental army.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 63

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008