USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 13
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COLONEL GEORGE CHURCH.
Colonel George Church, whose death occurred at his late home in Great Barrington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, June 27, 1903, was a man who was endowed with rare business genius, and had he desired it might easily have taken a foremost position in the commercial world in any of the great centers of population. Although preferring to live quietly and unostentatiously in the rural atmosphere of Berkshire and the immediate neighborhood of some of the more important manufactur- ing concerns with which he was prominently and actively identified for so many years, his was a well-known personality in the financial circles of the east. ' He possessed a gifted intellect, strong mentality, absolute business integrity, quick and unerring judgment and a fine appreciation of values, present and prospective.
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Colonel Church was a descendant of an old and honored Connect- icut stock, and was born in Canaan, Connecticut, July 20, 1826, a son of Leman and Sarah (Pomeroy) Church. Leman Church was a prom- inent member of the Litchfield county bar, with a reputation for ability and skill in his profession, which exceeded the limits of his native state, the revised statutes of which he assisted in compiling, and won for him clients over the borders into New York and Massachusetts. Hon. Sam- uel Church, brother of Leman Church, was chief justice of the state of Connecticut. Colonel Church attended the public schools of his native town, Canaan, and the knowledge thus gained was supplemented by in- struction from his father, especially in law, that might be useful to him in a business way. In 1841 he left home to seek his first employment in Huntsville, Connecticut, a neighboring village, obtaining work at the smelting of pig iron, the iron industry at that time being the leading one in that section of the country. After a residence of twelve years in that village he removed to Van Deusenville, where he became connected with the Richmond Iron Works. He made an exhaustive study of the iron business in all its branches, and in the broader field which the works there opened up le soon became one of the best known experts in char- coal pig iron in the country. Entering into business relations with the late John H. Coffing and George Coffing, Colonel Church became an owner in the company for whom he had been acting for some years as agent, and later they were joined by the late William H. Barnum, after- wards United States senator from Connecticut. These men were the iron kings in the ante-bellum days, and during the war the company's iron was almost all purchased by the government for the manufacture of guns and cannons. In 1861 Colonel Church became identified with the Monument Mills in Housatonic, which was then the largest manu- facturing concern in its line, that of the making of bed quilts, in the
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United States, and through his management and business ability it as- sumed still larger proportions and attained a prominence theretofore unknown. Although devoting considerable time and attention to this new enterprise, he did not neglect the iron business, and in 1867, again in partnership with John H. and George Coffing, and the late Charles J. Taylor, the well-known historian and long-time treasurer of the Sav- ings Bank of Great Barrington, the Lenox Iron Furnace was estab- lished at Lenox Furnace, Massachusetts. Later Colonel Church with George and John H. Coffing incorporated the Ramapo Wheel Foundry Company and the Ramapo Iron Works at Hillburn, New York, of botlı of which he took the presidency and treasurership. These concerns were established for the purpose of manufacturing wheels and brake shoes by the former, and switches, frogs and general railroad castings by the latter. In 1873 the pig iron industry in the Berkshire Valley be- gan to meet the competition of the west and south, and thereafter suf- fered a decline from which it was never able to rally. However, the Ramapo enterprises, not being affected by the same conditions, pros- pered greatly and were a source of large income. In 1881, together with R. A. Burget and John H. Coffing, he purchased beds of sand, from which the purest and clearest glass could be made, incorporated the Berkshire Glass Sand Company of Cheshire, and shipped the sand to all the most prominent manufacturers of cut glass in this country and in Europe. He was president and treasurer of the company for two decades. He was also a director in the Stanley Instrument Company, the National Mahaiwe Bank, the Berkshire Railroad Company, and president of the Great Barrington Savings Bank.
Politically Colonel Church was a Democrat in his earlier manhood, but continued to espouse the Republican principles from the time he voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Although he might have held
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almost any political office which his town and county could offer, and was frequently invited to become a candidate, the allurements of office did not tempt him, if we except one term as a member of the Connecti- cut legislature and the several occasions when he allowed himself to be elected a selectman of the town of Great Barrington. In the latter office he served for three years from 1861 to 1864 as one of the notable war board, having for his associates the late C. J. Taylor and the late John M. Seely, and one year-in 1876-when the same trio were re- elected as the famous "Centennial board." Colonel Church was one of the oldest Free Masons in the town of Great Barrington, having joined Cincinnatus Lodge as early as 1858. He was also one of the charter members of Monument Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.
On February 14, 1861, Colonel Church married Maria Louise Bost- wick, of Van Deusenville, and eight children were born of this union. In the year of his marriage Colonel Church removed to Great Barrington, where he purchased the residence of the late Theodore Dewey on South street, which he afterward remodeled, and where he continued to reside until the time of his death.
PARLEY ASA RUSSELL.
In every center of population are to be found men of generally recognized excellence of judgment and uncompromising integrity, upon whom it is instinct with the community to thrust responsibilities. Such men, too, are almost invariably those whose private affairs are of the most important and absorbing nature and whose natural inclination is averse to the assumption of public duties. Of these in southern Berk- shire is Parley Asa Russell, of Great Barrington, whose valuable and diverse public service has ever kept pace with successful business enter- prises.
Hours az Gow Land
Jarley A Muerte
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Parley A. Russell was born in Great Barrington, June 18, 1838, son of the late John Cone Russell and Jeanette Eloise (Wilcox) Rus- sell, both natives of Connecticut, the former of Westford, the latter of Canaan. John Cone Russell located in Great Barrington in 1824 and entered the employ of an uncle, Alvenus Cone, proprietor of the gen- eral store at that place. Industry, thrift and business capacity com- bined to enable his purchase in a comparatively short time of this estab- lishment, which he continued to successfully conduct in partnership association with his brother, Asa C. Russell, for many years. During this period these gentlemen, with others, formed a corporation known as the Berkshire Woolen Company, of which John Cone Russell was president and general manager up to the time of his decease. This plant, installed in a very modest way in 1836, steadily developed until it became the leading industry of its kind in southern Berkshire, em- ploying three hundred operatives. In 1852 Messrs. J. C. and A. C. Russell, with others, purchased the properties of the cotton print manu- facturing establishment of the defunct Housatonic Manufacturing Com- pany and incorporated in the following year as Monument Mills. In- stant and conspicuous success attended this enterprise and it became the most important manufacturing industry of the town, largely through the business capacity and enterprise of John Cone Russell, who was president and principal adviser of the company from its incorporation up to the time of his decease. John C. Russell was one of the founders and original stockholders and officers of the Mahaiwe National Bank of Great Barrington. He died in 1873: his brother, Asa C. Russell, died in 1876.
Parley Asa Russell received his initial schooling in his native town and this was supplemented by attendance at Williston Seminary, East- hampton, Massachusetts, and an academic course at College Hill. Pough-
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keepsie, New York. His business career had its inception in 1855 at Great Barrington as clerk with the firm of Hollister & Taylor, by whom he was employed for four years. Following this he, for one year, 1859- 60, conducted a general store of his own at Housatonic. In the spring of 1861 he became associated with the woolen manufacturing business heretofore referred to, and continued to be officially connected with its management up to his retiracy from active business life in 1894. The management of his private estate and the fulfillment of the duties of various offices have served to occupy his time quite fully since the lat- ter date. He has been the efficient chairman of the board of water com- missioners since 1892, when the corporate interests supplying water to Great Barrington were purchased by the municipality, and was for a period of seven years active in his connection with the fire department of Great Barrington as its chief engineer. He served on the com- mittees which erected the school buildings of Great Barrington and its town hall, and as a member of the committees which had charge of the street paving and railroad improvements. He was for a number of years one of the board of directors of the Monument Mills, of Housa- tonic, and is now one of the directors of the Mahaiwe Bank, the Stanley Instrument Company of Great Barrington, and Mahaiwe, and Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Companies, of Pittsfield. Ever since the attain- ment of his majority Mr. Russell has been a Republican of the stalwart type and has always given liberally of his time, talent and means to the advancement of the interests of his party in his native town, county and state. He has served on local and county committees and as dele- gate to numerous conventions, among the latter the National Repub- lican Convention which in 1896 at St. Louis nominated Mr. McKinley for the presidency. He was elected in 1899 and re-elected in 1900 as a member of governor's council, serving the first year with Governor
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Wolcott and the second with Governor Crane. In this connection he served on the pardons, state house, finance and accounts committees. Mr. Russell has been twice married; his first wife, to whom he was wedded in 1862, being Mary E., daughter of John Lewis, a leading agriculturist of southern Berkshire county. She had three children, two of whom died in infancy and the third, John Lewis Russell, at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Mary E. (Lewis) Russell died in 1869. Mr. Russell's second marriage was contracted in 1870 with Celeste S. Gilbert, granddaughter of Mrs. George Stanley, neé Clara Wadhams, one of the best known and most highly respected of the early residents of Great Barrington. Of four children born to them two survive: Mary Ethelwyn, wife of Frank Judson Pope, of New York, and Miss Clara Russell. One child died in infancy and the fourth, William Mc- Kenzie Russell, died in 1904 at Cornell University while one of the very promising students in the sophomore class of that institution. The family are members of the First Congregational church of Great Barrington.
EDMUND ELMORE CALLENDER.
Old residents of Berkshire county, among their recollections of the past, have vivid remembrances of the genial personality and upright character of Edmund Elmore Callender, who spent the greater part of his life at Sheffield, Massachusetts. With this town the Callender fam- ily has been identified for nearly two centuries. The first of the name concerning whom we have recorded testimony is Philip Callender, who in 1735 was elected deacon of the Congregational church at Sheffield. and also served as one of the first selectmen of the town. He married Mary . ... and they were the parents of a son. John, who mar- ried Mary Smith, October 23, 1735.
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Joseph Callender, son of John and Mary (Smith) Callender, was born February 13, 1737 or 1738. He was one of that band of patriots who helped to recruit the ranks of the Revolutionary army. (Sce " Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War," Vol- ume III, page 30.) He married, June 21, 1759, Mercy Kellogg, who was born April 22, 1740. This union remained unbroken for nearly forty years, when it was dissolved by the death of Mrs. Callender, who passed away October 11, 1797. Her husband survived her a number of years, his death occurring May 21, 1812, just as the clouds of another war with Great Britain were gathering on the national horizon.
Stephen Callender, son of Joseph and Mercy ( Kellogg) Callender, was born September 16, 1765, and, like his ancestors, was a good and useful citizen. He appears also to have stood high in the Congregational church, for in 1810 he was elected deacon, the same office to which his great-grandfather had been chosen seventy-five years before. He mar- ried Hannah Sheldon, January 31, 1790, and their eldest child was a son, Edmund Sheldon, mentioned at length hereinafter. Mrs. Callen- der died March 20, 1832, and twenty-one years later her husband passed away, April 22, 1853, having attained the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
Edmund Sheldon Callender, son of Stephen and Hannah (Sheldon) Callender, was born September 24, 1791, in Sheffield. He appears to have been animated by a migratory spirit not possessed by any of his ancestors, inasmuch as he abandoned the home of his forefathers among the Berkshire hills and moved to New York state. He married Harriet Elmore, and they had a son, Edmund Elmore. mentioned at length here- inafter. Both were regarded with esteem and affection by all who knew them.
Edmund Elmore Callender, son of Edmund Sheldon and Harriet
Marshall Wilcox
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(Elmore) Callender, was born at Pallatine Bridge, New York. He was a farmer and hotelkeeper and from his agricultural and other labors reaped a fair measure of success. Desiring to return to the home of his ancestors, he came to Sheffield, where he passed the remainder of his life. For many years he was the proprietor of a hotel which under his judicious management enjoyed a well deserved popularity. Mr. Cal- lender took the interest of a good citizen in all township and county affairs, and possessed the fullest esteem and confidence of his neigh- bors, by whom he was chosen to fill various offices, among them that of selectman.
Mr. Callender married Pamelia Shears, of an old Berkshire county family, and they were the parents of three daughters: Emily E., who married D. W. Crippen of South Egremont and who is now deceased; Harriet A., who married, August 18, 1874, Francis Thompson Owen, and had three children, two of whom are living, May Callender, wife of George de Pau Fox, of New York, and Gwendolyn; and Alice P., who married Dr. F. L. Munsell, of New York, and has one child, Norma A. Mr. Owen is a member of a well-known family which has long been resident in New York.
By the death of Mr. Callender it was felt that not only his family and near friends but the whole community had sustained a severe loss, and that as a man, a citizen, and a neighbor, his place would not soon be filled.
HON. MARSHALL WILCOX.
Nestor of the bar of Berkshire county, a pillar of strength in the profession which he has for so many years adorned, and beloved and respected throughout Western Massachusetts, the gentleman whose name
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introduces these memoirs long since attained general recognition as one of the strong men of his community.
He was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, March 19, 1821, son of Loring Wilcox, a native of Cromwell, Connecticut, whose parents re- moved thence to Stockbridge during the early youth of the son Loring. The latter eventually located in Lanesboro, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Marshall Wilcox prepared for college at Lenox Academy, then en- tering Williams College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1844. His study of law was begun under the preceptorship of Hon. Lester Filley, of Otis. He was admitted to the bar in 1847, practiced for two years in Otis, Massachusetts, and the following two years in Chester, and in 1853 established offices at Lee, where he re- mained until 1871, when he removed to Pittsfield.
His professional career has been of the signally successful order, his services having been retained in many of the most important cases that have been before the courts of Western Massachusetts.
Originally an old-line Whig, he has consistently been allied with the Republican party since its formation. The only offices which he has had were those of representative to the state assembly in 1866, and state senator in 1868. Williams College conferred the degree of LL.D. upon Mr. Wilcox in 1891.
A reunion of the members of his class was held at Mr. Wilcox's residence in June, 1905. The members of the class present were Rev. T. H. Hawkes of Springfield, Dr. Calvin C. Halsey of Montrose, Penn- sylvania, William B. Rice, former superintendent of schools, and Mr. Wilcox, the veteran attorney of this city. It has been the custom of the class to hold a formal reunion at least once in each decade, with occa- sional meetings at other than these stated times, and always they have
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been gatherings of enjoyment in a fraternal sense, of interest in all ways, and especially as the number of survivors grew less with the passing years, affections, friendships and memories grew more and more sweet and tender.
The class of 1844 was one of the largest in the college history, at that time, and its membership represented nearly if not quite every state in the Union. Even after a number had, as is usual in college classes, " dropped out," thirty-three remained to graduate and of these were the surviving four who held this reunion. Marshall Wilcox, president of the class for a number of years past, presided, and prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hawkes, minutes were read and the old class officers re-elected, after which followed reminiscent talks, informal and pleasant but serious, earnest, tender and fitting the occasion. This was followed by dinner and adjournment. In tone and spirit, in feeling and expression, the little gathering was of a grade and quality that was impressive to a degree that no previous meeting, however large in numbers attending, has sur- passed if equalled. It seemed to hallow them all.
Among the deceased members of the class were some well remem- bered in this section. Hon. Samuel W. Bowerman, Gen. Henry S. Briggs and Judge James T. Robinson being three of particular prominence in affairs. Mr. Bowerman, as lawyer and legislator, won eminence and honor, Judge Robinson as editor and speaker. as lawyer and for many years judge of probate, was most influential, and Gen. Briggs was a ris- ing member of the Berkshire bar, when he laid down a case which he was trying in the courts at Boston to take up loyal service in the Union army. The late Covil C. Wolcott, of Cheshire, was also a member of this class and there are memories of him it is pleasant to recall.
A member who became signally noted and "whose works do fol- low him" was Cyrus Taggart Mills. Born in Paris, New York, in
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1819, he entered the college at twenty-one, practically without money but with plenty of sagacity and unconquerable industry. Through this college and Union Theological Seminary he worked every foot of his way and finished clear of debt. In 1848, he married Miss Susan L. Tolman, of Ware, who had been for six years with Mary Lyon at Mt. Holyoke and with his bride he sailed for India under the auspices of the American Board of Foreign Missions. He remained six years, was later, for two years, a pastor in New York state, and then settled in Southern California, not to remain however, as he was president of Oahu College in Honolulu for five years. Returning to California, there he remained and became the founder of Mills college, which has grown to great fame en the Pacific coast, equalling Mt. Holyoke, Smith, Vassar, and like. Mrs. Mills, a most capable and esteemed lady, survives her husband, and she is now the able and beloved president of the college.
Closing a tribute to the memory of Dr. Mills a college publication says : " When we contemplate the life of this noble man, and remem- ber the hundreds of young lives that came under his influence, we realize that no mathematician can compute the far-reaching and blessed results for good which his earnest life bestowed upon the world."
Mr. Wilcox married, January 7, 1857, Nancy B. Bradley, a native of Lee.
A son, Charles M. Wilcox, born at Lee, August 31, 1861, was edu- cated at Greylock Institute and Williston Seminary, Easthampton, studied law under his father and in the law school of Boston University, was admitted to the bar March 6, 1886, and is engaged in the practice of his profession in Pittsfield. He represented Pittsfield in the state legislature in 1889. He married May 2, 1892, Katherine, daughter of the late Al- bert Thompson, of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Wilcox have two children, Minerva, born June 10, 1893. and Evelyn B., born Decem- ber 24. 1897.
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REV. JOHN TODD, D. D.
The Todd family originated in England, and the American branch was planted by Christopher Todd, of Pontefract, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, who became one of the original settlers of the New Haven colony in 1639. He became a large land owner, and lived to a ripe old age, leaving three sons and three daughters. This distinguished divine was born in Rutland, Vermont, October 9, 1800, son of Dr. Timothy and Phebe ( Buel) Todd.
Timothy Todd was one of nine children of Timothy Todd, who was a farmer, merchant and magistrate, and was an ardent patriot in Revo- lutionary times. It is worthy of note that when, at his death, his estate was found to be insolvent on account of the depreciation of the con- tinental currency, his sons, with a fine sense of honor, assumed his in- debtedness and paid it in full.
Timothy Todd, father of Dr. John Todd, bore a part in the bat- tle of Bennington. After the Revolution he studied medicine and en- gaged in practice at Arlington, Vermont, after having visited Killing- worth (now Clinton. Connecticut), to marry Phebe. daughter of Cap- tain Jehiel Buel. Near Arlington he built a brick house, which was standing in 1875. and here were born six of his seven children. He served in the General Assembly and in the governor's council. He wrote many articles for the press, and delivered addresses upon special occasions. Shortly before the birth of his son John he was seriously injured in an accident, and his wife, who had long been ill, lost her reason when her husband was erroneously reported to her as killed. Dr. Todd removed to East Guilford, and finally settled at Killingworth. Connecticut, where he died.
John Todd was left parentless when six years old, and was taken
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into the home of his aunt, Mrs. John Hamilton, of North Killingworth. Later he went to Charlestown, Massachusetts, making the journey afoot, and lived for several years in the family of a Mr. Evarts. He then entered Yale College, during his vacations teaching school. During his senior year in college he engaged in that writing which became a life habit. His first articles were published in The Scaman's Magazine, and later in a little volume. Aside from his text books, his reading hours were principally occupied with works of the Baxter's "Saint's Rest " and Doddridge's "Rise and Progress " class.
On leaving college Mr. Todd was urged to teach in a school at Weston, of which he had charge during one of his vacations. He had determined, however, upon the ministry, and at the age of twenty-two he entered the seminary at Andover. That place was then a great center of theological interest ; the classes were large, and the professors were men of distinguished reputation, among them being Dr. Ebenezer Porter, Dr. Leonard Woods, Dr. Moses Stuart and others equally able. It was during the floodtide of the great conflict between orthodoxy and Unitarianism, and teachers and students were alike full of white-heat enthusiasm.
Soon after entering the seminary, Mr. Todd began to develop his powers as a preacher. His first attempt brought upon him the dis- pleasure of the faculty. Having made some remarks at a religious meeting. he was reprimanded for preaching without a license, and he was required to make confession of his fault. He complied by rising and saying. "I. John Todd, in the presence of this august assembly, with feelings of the deepest contrition and repentance, do express my most heartfelt regret and sorrow for having on - day, in the village of ----- -, in a small school house, exhorted the people to repentance. and to seek their eternal salvation through God; and for
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