Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 52

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 52

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John Long settled in Guildhall, Vermont. He helped build the wall around the meeting house on the hill and his farm was located near. It has been known as the Amory place.

(III) James, son of John (2) Long, was born as early as 1790, in Oakham, Massachu- setts. He lived at Guildhall. Vermont. whither

he removed about 1812. He was a farmer. He married Docia Blanchard, who was born in Massachusetts, and died in Guildhall. Chil- dren : I. John, mentioned below. 2. Rox- anna. 3. William. 4. Docia. 5. Catherine. 6. Elizabeth. 7. James. 8. Cynthia. 9. Orilla, married Caleb Rogers. 10. Douglas, only one living.

(IV) John (3), son of James Long, was born January 2, 1814, in Guildhall, Vermont, and died at Randolph, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 9, 1884. He received his education in the district schools of his native town. He left home when but a boy, and worked four years i11 Providence, Rhode Island. Thence he went to New Bedford, where he found employment as stage-driver between New Bedford and Bridgewater, and later between Bridgewater and Boston. He finally settled in Randolph, Massachusetts, where he bought a hotel and livery business, which he conducted for many years with marked success. He invested his savings in real estate, and the increase in its value added greatly to his fortune. He was active in town affairs, and possessed a large influence. He was a Republican in politics, and was a delegate to various nomi- nating conventions. For nine years he was a deputy sheriff of Norfolk county. He was a Congregationalist in religion. He was on the investment committee of the Randolph Sav- ings Bank for some years. Though a popular man, with many friends, he never joined secret societies. He married Susan C. Rounsevell, born November 3, 1823, at East Freetown, daughter of Gilbert and Salome (Booth) Rounsevell. Her father was a well-to-do farmer and mill owner at Freetown. Her only brother lived and died on the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Long had no children of their own. Miss Mary Long, who resides in the family home at Randolph, was an adopted laughter.

This name, whatever its orthog-

BIRNIE raphy, is rare in American gene- alogical records, and the family treated of below is probably the only Birnie family in New England, though a somewhat widely scattered but not numerous family spelling the name Birney is found in various states.

(I) George Birnie was born in Aberdeen- shire, Scotland, and became a stone mason and contractor. He married Ann Iniry, by whom he had a family of twelve children, seven of whom attained maturity, namely :

My Birnie

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George, Alexander, Euphemia, Joseph, Cath- erine, Anna and William. After living for some years in Porto Bello, in Midlothian, a suburb of Edinburgh, he removed to America and settled in Morristown, New Jersey, having been preceded to this country by his son George. The Morris and Essex canal was then under construction, and Mr. Birnie contracted to build the mason work along its course; but died a year later, in 1828, leaving his son Alex- ander, then twenty-five years of age, to go on with the work. Ann Birnie, the mother, died in New York City, where the family removed after the father's decease.

(II) William, son of George and Ann (Iniry) Birnie, was born in Porto Bello, Scot- land, November 11, 1818, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, December 2, 1889. When he was nine years of age he came with his par- ents to America, and after the death of his father went with the family to New York, where he attended school, and also learned the family trade of stone cutting. In this he made great proficiency and did work for some of the finest buildings in the city. After he had attained prominence in business, when passing the sub-treasury building in Wall street, New York, in company with a friend or kinsman, he would point with pride to certain cap-stones in that structure which he had cut. After Alexander Birnie finished the Morris canal contract, he made another for the Paterson & Hudson River railroad, and still later was en- gaged in the construction of the Boston, Provi- dence & Stonington line. When the Western railroad, now the Boston & Albany, was con- structed, Alexander Birnie, who was then liv- ing in North Becket, took a contract for build- ing a section between Chester and Washing- ton, with headquarters at Middlefield, Massa- chusetts. At that time his brother William, who had been associated with him for several years, became general outside manager, and the late John B. Adams, of Springfield, whose sister had married Alexander Birnie, was in charge of the finances. While William was a sub-contractor, working under Alexander, he took his first independent contract for work near Chester, Massachusetts, and on this he cleared a thousand dollars. When at work on this western road, according to the account found in the "Biographical Review of Hamp- den County," from which much of this article is taken, he met Azariah Boody, Daniel L. Harris and Amasa Stone, with whom he sub- sequently formed a business connection. In 1842, when Alexander Birnie moved to Hast-

ings, New York, William joined these gentle- men who were already interested in the Howes Truss Bridge patent. They took joint con- tracts for railroad bridges, Mr. Birnie build- ing the masonry, and they thus built nearly all the bridges on the Richmond & Danville road, Virginia, for the Providence & Stonington rail- road, and for the Harlem railroad. Mr. Birnie constructed the water shops and raceway, and laid the foundation for the Springfield Armory fence. D. D. Warren and Willis Phelps, asso- ciated with Mr. Birnie, took the contract for building the Springfield & New London rail- road, eight miles to the Connecticut border. Mr. Birnie was assisted by Daniel L. Harris in the bridge-work at Northfield and at other places on the Vermont Central and the Ver- mont & Massachusetts line; and he was at various times associated with Sidney Dillon, of New York City, with D. D. Warren, with Willis Phelps and with Joseph Stone. After Amasa Stone went west, Joseph Stone, father of Harlon B. Stone, was associated with Mr. Birnie, as was also Major Whistler; and the part those gentlemen took, both in railway con- struction and development, has been notable. With the early operation of the Western rail- road they were all more or less connected. The late John Delaney, of Holyoke, father of Ex-Mayor Delaney, a well known contractor, did his first work on this road under Alex- ander Birnie. William Birnie and Daniel L. Harris, in partnership, built the Belle Isle bridge across the James river at Richmond, and in fact all the bridges on the Richmond & Danville road. Mr. Birnie superintended the work, and William S. Marsh, of Spring- field, was the clerk and bookkeeper for the firm at Richmond. To Harris & Birnie, in competition with many others, was awarded a contract for the masonry and bridge at Havre de Grace : but the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Company, becoming alarm- ed at the magnitude of the undertaking, paid the contractors five thousand dollars and all expenses to stop work. During the latter part of Mr. Birnie's business connection with Mr. Harris, Richard F. Hawkins was their clerk and accountant, and for many years after they dissolved the partnership he served them both as confidential bookkeeper. Harris & Birnie built the Agawam foundry on Liberty street, Springfield, which they subsequently sold to Wright & Emerson, and which is now owned and occupied by the Springfield Foundry Com- pany. They also built the stone arch and canal at the Water Slope. With Dr. Josiah B.

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Weston, of Dalton, Mr. Birnie bought the government property now owned by the Spring- field Waste Company on Mill river. For a time Birnie & Weston, under the name of the Nayasset Paper Company, made fine writing paper at Mill River, but that enterprise not proving a pecuniary success the stock and machinery were sold to the Hampshire Paper Company. After his practical retirement from business as a contractor, Mr. Birnie invested in the shoe trade with John R. Hixon, but soon closed out his interest. From 1855 to 1865 Mr. Birnie, having already acquired a fortune, spent much of his time in stock rais- ing on the North Chestnut Street Farm. He was then a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and was considered one of the leading breeders of New England, his Ayr- shires having a national reputation. As an expert on that breed of cattle he was appointed judge at the Centennial Exposition at Phila- delphia in 1876. Being actively identified with the Hampden County Agricultural Society, he served as judge of cattle at the Bay State Fair. Having experienced heavy reverses, Mr. Birnie in 1873, at the age of fifty-five, began business anew by becoming the financial manager of the firm of Goodhue & Birnie, which was very successful in the construction of water-works in all parts of the country. His first contract with C. L. Goodhue involved signing a bond for a hundred thousand dollars that a contract with St. Albans, Vermont, should be fulfilled. Another bond was made for a contract at Leominster, Massachusetts, and out of this grew a more definite partnership. One of Mr. Birnie's sons, Thomas N., was associated with them, and few firms can point to a larger or more important list of contracts completed. Water works were built entirely by them in sixty cities and towns and they partially did the work in twenty more. Among the con- tracts undertaken at a distance were the water- works at Ann Arbor, Michigan ; Malone, New York ; Jacksonville, Florida ; Streator, Illinois; Xenia, Ohio. In Vermont they contracted for waterworks at St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, and Barre; in Massachusetts for Leominster, Spencer, Plymouth, Wakefield, Amherst, Hing- ham, Northboro, Lee, Revere, West Spring- field, Swampscott, at Stafford Springs, and Thompsonville ; and in New Hampshire, at Bristol and Hillsboro. The Ludlow Main in Springfield was also constructed by them, and extensive additions, sometimes greater than the originals, were made in Concord, New Ilampshire, and in Palmer and Haverhill,

Massachusetts. During the summer of 1889 water mains were extended in Massachusetts from Saugus to Cliftondale, and in Connecti- cut from Thompsonville to Warehouse Point, and at the time of Mr. Birnie's death pipes were being laid in Bradford, Massachusetts. Mr. Birnie, with Daniel D. Warren, was inter- ested in the building of the Longmeadow rail- road, and he also built eighteen or more houses on his land at Brightwood, a suburb of Spring- field. The latest years of his business life were very pleasant and successful, yielding good returns, and his career was unusually varied and extensive. He owned two farms and a Main street block, besides considerable city real estate on Spring, Byers and Liberty streets.

Mr. Birnie had neither the leisure nor the inclination to take a conspicuous part in public affairs, but he was naturalized in time to vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840. After- ward he served the Republican party, and his last vote was cast for Benjamin Harrison. In 1857 and again in 1860 he was a member of the common council. In 1875 he was vice-president of the Springfield & New London railroad. He gave generously to the Public Library, and dur- ing the war was active in his efforts for soldiers. When the Tenth and Thirty-seventh regiments at the front in November, 1862, were suffering for food and clothing, he made a memorable journey to the south, overcoming many obsta- cles in order to supply the men with a genuine Thanksgiving dinner, and they always held him in grateful remembrance for what he did at that time. Mr. Birnie had many interest- ing reminiscences of early days to relate, and always took pleasure in joking with Sidney Dillon about once giving security for a bag of meal, when they were building the Stonington road. Mr. Birnie was an attendant of the First Congregational Church for many years, but latterly went to the South Church, which he also attended during the early part of his residence in Springfield. Although a man of strong religious convictions, he never united with any church. His late home in Springfield adjoins the property of his father-in-law, Mar- vin Chapin. For years the families were prac- tically one, and many a happy reunion has been held on the lawn between the two residence.

William Birnie married (first ) February 4, 1841, Sarah L. Perkins, born in Becket, Sep- tember 8, 1822, daughter of Origen Augustus Perkins, of Becket. She died January 12, 1850. The first house owned by Mr. Birnie was in Becket, where his two sons, Charles

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Augustus and William Perkins, were born. February II, 1852, Mr. Birnie married (sec- ond ) Martha Noyes Perkins, born in Salem, Connecticut, December 22, 1825, daughter of Henry Perkins, of Lyme, Connecticut. She died October 15, 1871. A few months after this marriage he removed to Springfield, hav- ing previously bought of Daniel L. Harris a lot of land on the southwest corner of Chest- nut and Pearl streets. November 28, 1872, Mr. Birnie married (third) Harriet Stowe Chapin. born February 8, 1838, daughter of Marvin and Rebecca (Stowe) Chapin (see Chapin VIII), who survived him. William Birnie had fourteen children-four by wife Sarah L .; seven by wife Martha N .; and by third wife, Harriet S., three ; children were as follows: I. George Augustus, born October 5, 1841, died young. 2. Henry Champlin, March 19, 1843, died young. 3. Charles Alexander, March 13, 1844, married Susan G. Wright, of Newburg, New York, December 25, 1872, and lives in Virginia. 4. William Perkins, Decem- ber 24, 1849, married Mary W. Matthews, of New Bedford, August, 1875, and resides in Springfield, Massachusetts. 5. Henry Per- kins, November 8, 1852, died young. 6. Thomas Noyes (twin), September 19, 1854, died at Orlando, Florida, February 26, 1906. 7. Sarah Perkins (twin), September 19, 1854, resides in Springfield, Massachusetts. 8. Douglas Putnam, September 3, 1856, married, January 22, 1890, Lucia L. Meigs, of New York, and resides in Rye, New York. 9. Alfred, March 13, 1858; see forward. 10. Donald, October 24, 1869, married, June 2, 1892, Minnie I. Jobson, of Springfield; re- sides in Springfield. II. Walter, October 5, 1871, married, April 18, 1900, Loraine F. Harte, of Albion, New York, and resides in Springfield. 12. Grace Chapin, September 12, 1873, married, April 16, 1901, Carl L. Steb- bins, and lives in Tacoma, Washington. 13. Rebecca, July 4, 1878, resides at home. 14. Marvin Chapin, January 10, 1881, married, April 15, 1903, Mabel F. Galacar, of Spring- field, and resides in Springfield.

(II) Alfred, son of William and Martha ( Noyes) ( Perkins ) Birnie, was born in Spring- field, March 13, 1858, and died January 26, 1909. He lived all his life in the city of his birth, attended its public schools, and gradu- ated from its high school. A short time after graduating he entered the Massasoit Paper Company of Holyoke, where he worked sev- eral years and learned manufacturing in all its branches. He then organized the Springfield

City Paper Company, with a plant on Main street, in the old Birnie block. After several years he sold his interest in the company, and il1 1882 associated with his brother, William P. Birnie, in the Birnie Paper Company. This concern continued in business in the Birnie block for several years until the block was burned, about 1892. At that time the present plant of the Birnie Paper Company was built in Brightwood. About 1905 the concern was made a stock company, in which Alfred Birnie was treasurer and general manager. Mr. Birnie maintained a summer home at Bonny- rigg farm in Becket until about two years ago, when he sold the place. There he farmed for diversion, raised blooded cattle and Angora goats, and had a private fish pond and also a sugar orchard. In the social life of the town he filled a place as important as he did in busi- ness, for his companionship was eagerly sought and willingly given. At Bonnyrigg he was at his best, and as host to many a gay house party he was the center of the merrymaking and the spirit of hospitality. Mr. Birnie had a slight attack of heart trouble about two months before his death, followed by several more slight attacks, but had not been confined to his house at all. January 25, he seemed to have his usual strength of the last two months, and was attending to business until nearly six o'clock. In the evening, however, he had a serious attack from which he did not rally, and death came very unexpectedly. He was a member of the South Congregational Church, the Nayasset Club, and the Springfield Country Club. He was a well known Mason, being a member of Springfield Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Morning Star Royal Arch Chapter : Springfield Council, Royal and Select Masters; Springfield Commandery, Knights Templars; Massachusetts Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret: and Melha Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He married, January 16, 1907, Louise E. Burke, of Springfield, daughter of Patrick E. and Dora (McGoff) Burke, of Springfield, Massachusetts.

In speaking of Mr. Birnie, the Springfield Republican said: "His loss will be sadly felt, not only by his family but by those who have known him and respected this jovial and whole- souled, kindly hearted man who passed his life in Springfield and added no little dole of happi- ness to many of her citizens. Alfred Birnie was fifty in years, but a boy in heart and enthusiasm-an optimist, genial, hearty, and wholesome, a man who inspired confidence

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and gave back even more than he received. If he was a faithful friend, he was also a faith- ful workman, a business man of ability and integrity. As a youth he mastered his calling with a genuine ardor, learning paper making in the Massasoit Mills under the instruction of the late Calvin Whiting, when he was sup- erintendent, and was valued by that master of the craft in his apprenticeship."

"In speaking of Mr. Birnie editorially the Daily News said: "In the death of Alfred Birnie it seems to us Springfield has lost a man who comes, perhaps, nearest to represent- ing what is best in the type of time honored Springfield representative citizenship. He was honorable to the core, virtuous beyond suspic- ion, conservative, trustworthy, genial to all, yet showing his very best to those nearest. His traditions were the safe and honorable ones of the pioneers of Springfield. His standards of conduct, of principle, of manner, were those of the men who laid the founda- tions of this community. Mr. Birnie was a young man as years are counted nowadays, not quite fifty, but he was one of the last of the genuine type of our old citizenship. One can count on the fingers of a hand those who are left in the category. Yet there was noth- ing old fashioned about him. Few of the new era could compare with him in heartiness of manner, cheeriness of greeting, quickness of interest in all that concerned the community, impulsive response to merit wherever he saw it. Such men as he have been standards for the wavering to measure themselves by. Unam- bitious of political distinction, modest and retir- ing by nature, he and men like him have ever been more potent in Springfield than those who have held office. Springfield is what she is today, through the fact that such men as Alfred Birnie have lived among us to some purpose. Not the least in the service which Alfred Birnie gave this community was that of his warm and genial manners. Few men have died here leaving so many acquaintances as he has done, and perhaps none the remem- brances of whom will be without exception pleasant and heart warming. His unfailing smile of good cheer, his hearty greeting, will continue to brighten the memory of thousands of us who have been helped so often by even the most casual meeting with the man."

(The Chapin Line).

Harriet Stowe (Chapin) Birnie, wife of William Birnie (see above), was a descend- ant of Samuel Chapin (I), written of on

another page, through Japhet (II), Ebenezer (III), Seth (IV), Samuel (V), Samuel (VI), and

(VII) Marvin Chapin, son of Samuel and Mary (Pease) Chapin, was born in Somers, Connecticut, July 5, 1806. He worked on his father's farm until he had attained the age of seventeen, when he left home to begin his business life. Having but a few cents in his pockets, but endowed with a goodly amount of self reliance and ambition he went to West- field, Massachusetts, where the next three years were spent with his uncle, Samuel Smith, who conducted a tanning business. Here young Chapin applied himself diligently until he became familiar with the tanning of leather and the making of shoes and other footwear. The compensation received by our apprentice was twenty-five dollars a year, board and clothing, and he was also allowed four days vacation each year, which was generally spent in the harvest field. The proceeds derived from such labor were added to his own bank account. At the end of three years he had managed to save about fifty dollars. He later went to Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he found employment in a tannery. He remained there about six months when he went to Ran- dolph and still later returned to Westfield and entered the employ of his uncle, where he re- mained about three years, receiving about fifty cents a day for his labor. He later was em- ployed in a hotel receiving about the same pay, and continued until 1835, when he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and joined a party of surveyors who were going to Florida to survey a line of railroad from Jacksonville to St. Marks. Here Mr. Chapin served as "rod man," receiving as pay twenty dollars a month and board. Previous to this Mr. Chapin had not enjoyed the best of health, but the sea voyage and the out-of-door life and coarse food completely restored his health. Return- ing to his home in 1836, he soon found employ- ment as clerk in the Cabot House, Chicopee (tlien Cabotville). Soon after Mr. Chapin puchased the property and he became pro- prietor of that well known hostelry, remain- ing as such abont one year when he placed it in the hands of his brothers, Ethan S. and Albert P. Chapin, while he went to Westfield and engaged in the manufacture of paper. This was not to his liking and about a year later lie returned to Chicopee and again assumed management of the Cabot House. Five years later he moved to Springfield and there for the next forty years he was one of

W T Bother NY.

Marvin Grafino

. : Historical Pub Co

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the best known hotel men in New England, as one of the owners and proprietors of the Mass- asoit House, with his brother, Ethan S. Chapin. He continued this business until about 1886 when the property was leased to a nephew, W. H. Chapin. Mr. Chapin was not only successful as a hotel man but also in other business ventures. He was one of the original promoters of the Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company, was one of the original stockholders and directors of the company and remained so until his death, and was the last of the original board of directors to pass away. He was a stockholder of the Springfield Gas Light Company and a director from 1861 to 1870 and from 1884 to 1889. He was one of the directors of the Agawam Bank and its president from 1862 to 1870. In 1858 he was a representative to the general court of Mass- achusetts, but was in no way interested in political affairs. He was a liberal contributor to religious and educational institutions and was much interested in the growth and develop- ment of Springfield. No man was ever held in higher esteem than was Marvin Chapin. He died in 1899. He married, October 12, 1836, Rebecca Stowe, of Westfield, who died in 1874. Children : Harriet S., Mary D., John M. and Gratia R.

(VIII) Harriet Stowe, eldest child of Mar- vin and Rebecca (Stowe) Chapin, was born in Springfield; February 8, 1838, and married, November 28, 1872, William Birnie (see Birnie II).

The principal subject of this JOBSON sketch was one of those men of intelligence energy and integrity who have come from foreign lands and used their power to build up his country. Edmund, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Spires) Job- son, was born in Shuckburgh, Warwickshire, England, April 5, 1822, and died in Spring- field, Massachusetts, January 8, 1908, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. He was one of a family of fourteen children. He came to the United States at the age of twenty-two, and settled in Springfield, where the remainder of his life was passed. Two months after settling in Springfield he engaged in the sash, door and blind business, being one of the

founders of the firm of Day & Jobson, one of the largest lumber firms in the city. This firm later bought out the lumber business of Decret, Boynton & Company, and the business was continued with success. The lumber yard had the same location during all the years, at the

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 52

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 986

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986