USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 19
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Dr. Camp was surgeon of the D. G. Anderson Post, No. 196, of the Grand Army of the Republic from its organization. From 1877 to 1892 he was medical examiner for Southern Berkshire and from 1889 to 1901 was United States pension examiner under appointments of Presidents Harrison and McKinley. He was admitted to member- ship in the Massachusetts Medical Society, and the Berkshire County Medical Society in 1852. In politics he was a lifelong Republican.
Dr. Camp was married August 12, 1852, to Miss Sarah J. Jones of New York city, daughter of Joseph Whiting and Rebecca (Merritt) Jones, of Huguenot and English descent. They had four children: H. Isabel. Charles Morton (deceased), founders of the Riverdale Mills; Frank Barnum (deceased), and Mary Emily Camp.
DR. WILFRID A. MILLET.
Dr. Wilfrid A. Millet, city physician of Pittsfield, is a native of Canada, having been born October 30, 1869, in St. Dominique, Province of Quebec. His father, Elie Millet, born in 1822, came to the United States in early manhood and for a number of years conducted the trad- ing post at Fort Benton, Colorado. He was one of the army of Cali- fornia gold seekers in historic '49, and at one time held the governmental contract for carrying the mails between St. Louis and San Francisco,
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when that extra hazardous business was undertaken but twice a year, and danger, privation and fatigue were the daily incidents and comfort and ease the infrequent accidents of the trail. He returned to Canada in 1865, and the following year married Marie Stephanie Chagnon, of St. Dominique, where he continued to reside up to the time of his decease, December 12, 1887.
His son. Wilfrid A. Millet, was graduated with the degree .I.B. from St. Hyacinthe Seminary, Province of Quebec, in 1889. His initial study of medicine was under the preceptorship of a brother-in-law, Dr. Gideon Blanchette, of St. Dominique. He then entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, from which institution he was graduated with the class of '93. For the purpose of still further pursuing his medical studies he went abroad, and for one year attended the clinics and lectures under Dr. Pean, of the International Hospital. Paris. France. With this excellent equipment for practice he returned to the United States, locating at Fall River, where he passed the state board examination, and whence in 1896 he came to Pittsfield, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession with present offices in the Wright block. Dr. Millet has won the esteem of his col- leagues and the confidence of the community, as is attested by his in- cumbency of the city physicianship to which he was elected in 1904, and re-elected in 1905. "He is a member of and physician for several beneficial orders, and examining physician for the Union Mutual ( Port- land, Maine), John Hancock ( Boston, Massachusetts), and Metropolitan (New York) Life Insurance Companies. He is a member of the Berk- shire Medical Society and the American Medical Association. It is an interesting fact and worthy of remark that eight of Dr. Millet's kinsmen are medical practitioners, viz. : a brother, two uncles, two cousins and three brothers-in-law. Dr. Millet married, October II, 1904, Louise,
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daughter of Emile Pierre Roy, of St. Pie, Province of Quebec, now and for many years prefect of his county and now serving his second term as his county's representative in the provincial chamber and the lower house of parliament of the Province of Quebec. Dr. and Mrs. Millet reside at 131 Bradford street, the former home of Judge John C. Crosby, recently purchased by Dr. Millet.
JOHN HENRY COFFIN CHURCH.
One of those energetic and enterprising business men of the younger generation whose presence is essential to the financial prosperity of any community, and of whom Berkshire county has a full representation, is John H. C. Church, of Great Barrington. He is the son of Colonel George and Maria Louise (Bostwick) Church, and was born January 22, 1870.
Mr. Church completed his primary education in the high school, Great Barrington, from which he was graduated. For three years there- after he studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- ogy, Boston, and subsequently learned the pig iron business at the Richmond Iron Works. In 1903 he became associated with the Monu- ment Mills, Housatonic, as assistant treasurer and secretary, and now holds the position of treasurer and general manager. Notwithstand- ing the urgent and imperative demands of this responsible office Mr. Church finds time for attention to several other important financial interests. He is treasurer of the Berkshire Glass Sand Company, sec- retary of the Stanley Instrument Company, of Great Barrington, and one of the directors of the Richmond Iron Company. He is vice-presi- dent of the Great Barrington Savings Bank and director of the Na- tional Bank of Mahaiwe. In 1903 he was elected associate county com-
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missioner to fill the unexpired term of Henry Phelps, who resigned, and in 1904 was elected for a full term. He married, January 31, 1894, Mary Adele, daughter of the late Charles E. Loop, mechanical engineer, and for a long time a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri. The children born of this marriage were: Ruth, George, and Mary Loop. Mr. Church is vestryman of St. James church, and his family attend the Congregational church, Great Barrington.
JOHN DAVISON SMITH.
John D. Smith, of Dalton, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, a veteran of the civil war, was born at Goat Island, Niagara Falls, New York, March 18. 1835. His father, Asa Smith, was the owner of the island and with his family, which consisted of father, mother, one sister Rachel, who married Mr. Wright. and a half-brother, Waldo Fuller, of Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, were the sole occupants. Mr. and Mrs. Wright took up their residence in the west in the middle of the nineteenth century. Asa Smith was born in 1810, died in 1886, aged seventy-six years, and his wife, Sarah Louisa Smith, died September 6, 1891. Their children were:
Filander E. Smith, who was born at Goat Island, New York, and subsequently removed to the state of Vermont, where he lived for many years; his death occurred in Middlefield, Massachusetts.
John Davison Smith, mentioned hereinafter.
Julia A. Smith, who was born in New York. Her first husband was Edwin Thayer, of Plainfield, Massachusetts, and they were the parents of one son, Irving Thayer, of that place. Her second husband, Sylvester Packard, of Plainfield, Massachusetts, no issue. About this
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time Asa Smith removed his family to Dalton, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, and the first child born to them there was
Willard S. Smith, who married Mary J. Ferris, of Middlefield, where they now live. Their children were: Jennie, Eva, Fred, Frank, Nat, deceased, and Clarence, deceased.
Sarah A. Smith, born October 27, 1845, became the wife of Aaron T. Bardin, of Windsor. Mr. Bardin was one of the noted characters of Dalton. In his native town he conducted a successful farm business, and was the incumbent of several township offices. He had a keen memory, a ready wit and he gained much notoriety on account of the readiness with which he wrote verses. Their children are: George W., of Middlefield, Massachusetts; Granville D., and Almira M., who is a graduate of the State Normal school at Westford, Massachusetts, and is now one of the most successful teachers in the vicinity.
William D. Smith, who married Ellen Buck, of Northampton, where they reside. They are the parents of the following children: Nellie, Mary, Fred, Hattie, Henry. Fred is deceased.
George A. Smith, who with his two children reside in Preston, New York. The names of the children are Charles and Burton.
Charles S. Smith, who married Catherine Bennett, of Becket, both of whom are now deceased. Their children are: Nettie, Leroy, Charles, Julia and Blanche.
Elizabeth Smith, who became the wife of Lester Parker, of Plain- field, Massachusetts, and their family consists of two children-Eugene and Harriet.
Harriet A. Smith, who became the wife of Edward P. Eldredge, of Ashfield, and the issue of this union was one daughter, Ruth.
Maria W. Smith, who died at the age of ten years.
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Mary M. Smith, who became the wife of Silas Stockwell, of Dalton, no issue.
Frank Smith, who married Elizabeth Burnett, and they are at pres- ent living in Cummington, Massachusetts. No children.
John D. Smith, the second of the thirteen children born to Asa and Sarah L. Smith, was six years of age when his parents removed to Dal- ton, Berkshire county. He attended school for a short period of time during his first five years' residence in Dalton, but was soon utilized by his father in the wood business which he conducted in connection with the operation of a farm in the locality known as Goosebill, the family having given that name to the place. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to the carpenter and machinist trades, serving for four years. He then learned the trade of millwright, and the greater part of his business career was devoted to that occupation. He was employed by the Byron Weston Company in Dalton, Massachusetts, for eighteen consecutive years. He has served the county as a deputy sheriff for five terms, and as constable in the township for ten years. His religious views are in accord with those adopted by the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, from Dalton, and was promoted to the rank of first corporal in the company. He participated in seventeen battles and skirmishes, the most severe having been the battle of Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865. In 1860 Mr. Smith was married to Lucy E. Adams, of Landesfield, Massachusetts, who is now deceased. Mr. Smith now makes his home with his sister, Mrs. Sarah Bardin, of Dalton, Massachusetts.
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JOHN MCALLISTER STEVENSON.
Few men in Berkshire county have developed a greater capacity for hard work or a more capably helpful spirit in important and diverse public relations than the gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs. Although not to the manor born, he has won recognition as one of the most valuable citizens of the county seat. He was born in Cambridge, Washington county, New York, August 31, 1846, son of the late John M. and Seraph Huldah (Newton) Stevenson, the former also a native of Cambridge, the latter of Marlboro, Vermont.
The late John M. Stevenson was a son of William Stevenson, who was born in 1771, in Stranrear, near Glasgow, Scotland, whence he came to the United States in 1795, locating in Cambridge, New York, where he eventually became a leading merchant. He was thrice mar- ried, his second wife having been Frances Wardale McAllister, a daugh- ter of a well known merchant of Philadelphia, John McAllister.
Of the children of William and Frances Wardale (McAllister) Stevenson, John McAllister Stevenson (I), born October 22, 1818, was graduated from Union College, class of 1839, took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar, but devoted his time largely to the management of his father's and his own personal estate. Originally an old line Whig he assisted in the formation of the Republican party, and remained stalwart in his devotion to its principles, and contributing to the extent of his ability to its success throughout the remainder of his life. He died September 8, 1872. Of his children, Holland New- ton Stevenson is Commodore (retired), United States navy; Jean H. (Stevenson) March, is the widow of Daniel March, Jr., late of Win- chester, Massachusetts; Frances Wardale Stevenson married Charles Y. Beach, and died in October, 1904; Sarah Mary Stevenson married De-
In. Stevenson
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Witt Bruce, of Pittsfield, and died December 1, 1905; William Chipman Stevenson is associated with his brother, the immediate subject of this sketch, in the fire insurance business at Pittsfield; Eliza A. is the widow of the late John P. Lane; Edward P. Stevenson is a resident of Lee, Massachusetts, and treasurer of the Mountain Mill Paper Com- pany, East Lee; and McLaren Stevenson, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Mrs. Seraph Huldah (Newton) Stevenson, born in Marlboro, Ver- mont, August 6, 1823, and now a resident of Pittsfield, is a daughter of Ephraim Holland and Huldah (Chipman) Newton, and a lineal de- scendant in the maternal line of John Howland, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, and a signer of the Mayflower compact. Among her ancestors in the maternal line, also, was Thomas Chipman, who lived in Shef- field. Berkshire county, during the Revolutionary war, and served in the patriot army, as did his son, Timothy Fuller Chipman, her grand- father, in the campaign against General Burgoyne. On her father's side she is descended from Marshall Newton, Jr., of Shrewsbury, Massa- chusetts, a soldier in the patriot army during nearly the entire period of that protracted struggle for independence. His father, also Mar- shall Newton, was a lieutenant in the French and Indian war, render- ing efficient service during the campaign which embraced the battle of Lake George.
John McAllister Stevenson, second of the children of John M. and Seraph H. (Newton) Stevenson, attended the public schools of Cam- bridge, and Cambridge Washington Academy, Walnut Hill School, Geneva, New York, and Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, from which last named institution he was graduated with the class of 1865. He then entered Yale College, class of 1869, remaining there but two years, his completion of the full four years' course being pre- vented by ill health. He was thereafter at his home in Cambridge,
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incidentally assisting his father in the care of different business inter- ests, one of which was a planing mill and lumber plant at that place, until the winter of 1872, during which time he was in the office employ of George Law, capitalist, of New York.
In September, 1872, he came to Pittsfield to accept a position in the Pittsfield office of David W. Bartlett, general agent of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, the office being located in the West Block, with those occupied by the firm of Gilmore & Francis. This connection continued until January 1, 1874, when Mr. Stevenson accepted a clerical position with Tillotson & Col- lins, manufacturers of woolens, and remained in their employ until October 1, 1876. He then re-entered the insurance business as clerk for Captain Fred A. Francis, successor of Gilmore & Francis. In April, 1877, he entered into partnership association with George D. Dutton to purchase and conduct, under the firm name of Stevenson and Dut- ton, the insurance agency business last mentioned. Mr. Stevenson sub- sequently purchased his partner's interest. and has ever since been en- gaged therein, for a period with Thomas N. Enright, and latterly in connection with his brother, William Chipman Stevenson, and Will- iam C. Moulton, with offices in the Savings Bank Building, which oc- cupies the site of the old block in which he began his business career in Pittsfield, being now conducted under the name of Stevenson & Com- pany.
On September 29, 1879, Mr. Stevenson was elected to the position he has since held, of secretary and treasurer of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a local institution, that has grown more sub- stantial with its growing responsibilities and constantly widening sphere of usefulness. To advancing the interests of this old Berkshire institution he has given his time, his energy and constant thought. Un-
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der his administration he has seen it grow from a company having $4,500,000 at risk to one of over $11,000,000. A purely mutual organ- ization, it has maintained its record of always returning a dividend to its members.
Since April 10, 1882, he has been clerk and treasurer of the Pro- prietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. During his term of office the ceme- tery has been enlarged, the gateway and Clapp Memorial Chapel erected, and many other improvements made. The laying out of streets and sale of building lots on the land owned by the corporation adjacent to Onota street has been done largely under his personal supervision.
October 13, 1890, Mr. Stevenson was elected clerk of the Pittsfield Electric Street Railway Company, and since 1892 has also been on its board of directors, taking an active part in the promotion of its inter- ests. From 1883 to 1896 he served as clerk and treasurer of the Pitts- field Board of Underwriters, and since April 18, 1881, as clerk of the First Congregational parish, of which he has been a member for many years. Mr. Stevenson's devotion to the interests of the institutions which he has served as secretary or clerk may gathered from the rather re- markable fact, that during all these years he has never missed a meet- ing where his presence was officially required.
Politically he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and is an ardent champion of its interests. His only political office was as member of the general court, to which he was elected February 9, 1895. to fill a vacancy caused by the decease of E. H. Robbins, and to which office he was returned by election for the ensuing year. The other institutions with which he is and has been connected are numerous. He is a member and was one of the founders of the Pittsfield branch of the Young Men's Christian Association; was one of the original mem- bers of the Park Club, and for twelve years a member of its executive
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committee ; is one of the board of trustees of the Berkshire County Sav- ings Bank since May 3, 1882; he is a member and was for a period president of the Pittsfield Rod and Gun Club, and takes especial pride in having been considered qualified to be a member of its rifle team. He is trustee of the Union for Home Work, and. for a number of years was a member and treasurer of its board of managers. He has filled the office of auditor for the Berkshire County Home for Aged Women since its organization; was one of the incorporators of the Berkshire County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and for two years held the office of president; and he is a member of the Massa- chusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Mutual Fire Insurance Union since 1879, and is now one of its vice-presidents.
Reading between the lines it will be readily gathered that Mr. Stevenson is of a type that stands for progress-a valued, valuable citizen.
Mr. Stevenson married, January 27, 1880, Hattie, daughter of the late Samuel Mather Cooley and Almira L. (Tillotson) Cooley, of Pitts- field. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are: John McAllister Stevenson (3d), a graduate of Yale, class of 1903, now with the Gen- eral Electric Company ; Louis Tillotson Stevenson, a student of Yale, class of 1906, taking the Sheffield Scientific Course; Holland Newton Stevenson (2d), also a student of Yale, class of 1908, taking the Shef- field Scientific Course; and Clara Cooley Stevenson. The family resi- dence is No. 28 Reed street, a residential street which has been im- proved and laid out as a city way largely through Mr. Stevenson's efforts.
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JOHN FRANKLIN NOXON.
An able attorney and an efficient and trustworthy public servant, is the record of the gentleman whose name introduces this narrative.
He was born in Great Barrington, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, November 19, 1856, son of the late John David and Elizabeth (New- man) Noxon, the former a native of the state of New York, the latter of Egremont, Berkshire county, Massachusetts.
John D. Noxon, born February 4. 1820, located in early manhood at Great Barrington, where he established a blacksmith and wagon- making business, which he conducted successfully for two decades, when he retired therefrom, devoting his time thereafter to the improvement of his realty holdings, during this period contributing in a most substantial way to the home of his adoption by the erection of a number of dwelling houses. He died in September, 1900.
John Franklin Noxon read law under the preceptorship of Judge Justin Dewey, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1881. He established himself for the practice of his profession in Pittsfield, occu- pying offices with the late A. J. Waterman, a leader of the bar in western Massachusetts, subsequently attorney-general of the commonwealth. January 1. 1895. Mr. Noxon entered into partnership relations with John C. Crosby, an association which, under the firm name of Crosby & Noxon, attained a very large and notably successful practice. The part- nership was dissolved upon the elevation of Mr. Crosby to the superior court bench, Mr. Michael Eisner entering the firm, which is now known as Noxon & Eisner. Mr. Noxon served as city solicitor of Pittsfield in 1896 and 1897. and was elected in 1901 district attorney for the western district of Massachusetts, and was re-elected thereto in 1904. He is a member of Crescent Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Berkshire
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Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: Berkshire Council, and Berkshire Com- mandery, Knights Templar.
Mr. Noxon married, April 17, 1890, Mary S., daughter of the late Henry B. and Electa (Slosson) Wadhams, of Pittsfield. The late Henry Wadhams was a well-known lumber merchant of the county seat. Mr. and Mrs. Noxon have a son, John F. Noxon, Jr.
HON. EDWARD TINKER SLOCUM.
A descendant in both maternal and paternal lines from English colonial settlers of New England, the gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs has abundantly evidenced in his own useful and honor- able career the value of a heritage of devotion to right principles. In his prolonged judicial incumbency Judge Slocum has demonstrated a capacity for public service and a reputation for official integrity that has obtained for him general recognition as one of the especially valu- able citizens of Pittsfield.
The founder of the Slocum family of America, Anthony Slocumbe, was one of the first purchasers of Cohannet, New Plymouth (now Taun- ton, Massachusetts), in 1637, and according to the Slocum genealogy. removed to that part of New Plymouth which was incorporated as Dartmouth in 1664, and he and one Ralph Russell were first settlers. He married a sister of William Harvey, according to an old letter writ- ten by him. His name appears on the Taunton records from 1643, fre- quently serving in official capacities. He was the father of four chil- dren. The first was
Giles Slocumbe, born probably in Somersetshire, England, died in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 1682. He married Joan -, who died in Portsmouth, 31st day, 6th month, 1679. He settled in Ports-
Edward IStocum.
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mouth, Rhode Island, probably in the year 1638, the place then being called Pocasset. He and his wife were early members of the Society of Friends, in whose affairs he appears to have been prominent, and he became an extensive land owner. He was the father of nine children. The ninth was
Eleazer Slocum, born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 25th day, 10th month, 1664, died 1727. He married Elephel Fitzgerald, who died in 1748. He became a resident of Portsmouth, New Plymouth, in 1684. His will and that of his father are given in full in the Slocum genealogy. His family consisted of seven children. The seventh was
Ebenezer Slocum, born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, about 1705, married in Friends' Meeting, at Newport, Rhode Island, 4th day, 2d month, 1728, Bathsheba Hull, daughter of Tristram and Elizabeth (Dyer) Hull. They removed from Dartmouth to Tiverton, Rhode Island, before 1756, and were there living in 1774, with a household of twenty-one heads. Bathsheba was fifth in descent from the Rev. Joseph Hull, born in 1594, who was rector of Northleigh, Devonshire, England, and the first minister at Weymouth, in 1635. The son and descendants became Friends. Ebenezer and Bathsheba Slocum had twelve children. The seventh was
David Slocum, born in or near Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 23, 1740, died in Tolland, Massachusetts, December 7, 1818. He married, in Tiverton, Rhode Island, Phebe Manchester, born July 21, 1743, died in Tolland, Massachusetts, March 1, 1819, daughter of Godfrey Manchester, of Tiverton. David Slocum removed to Tiver- ton with his parents before 1756, and settled on a farm in Tolland, Mas- sachusetts, about 1770. They had seven children. The second was
Eleazer Slocum, born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, May 27, 1768, died in Tolland, Massachusetts, November 17, 1834. He married Mrs.
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Lois (Couch) Stillman, born in Sandisfeld, Massachusetts, June I, 1772, daughter of Benoni and Phebe (Miller) Couch, and widow of Captain Stillman, who died at sea. Mr. Slocum was a farmer in Tol- land, Massachusetts, and was sheriff of the county for several years. He was the father of seven children. The second was
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