USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 23
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
GEORGE H. COOPER.
George H. Cooper, whose name forms the caption for the memoirs of an old Berkshire family with which he is allied by marriage. is one of the substantial and progressive young merchants of Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, a dealer in coal and wood. His excellent business training was
301
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
gained through his employment at the Pomeroy Mills, and subsequently with W. G. Morton, leading coal merchant of Albany, New York.
Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Etta Ayres, daughter of Perry J. Ayers, whose great-grandfather was one of the early settlers of Shutesbury, Massachusetts, and whose grandfather, Jesse Ayres, was a native of that town and became a prosperous farmer of Franklin county. The father of Perry J. Ayres, Tyler Ayres, was born April 7, 1804, resided in Franklin county until 1824, and subsequently settled in Stephenson, New York, where he cultivated the soil and followed the trade of tanner for twenty-five years. At the expiration of this period of time he located at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he spent the remain- der of his long and useful career, and there died at the advanced age of eighty years. He married, at Stephenson, Marian Jane Potter, daugh- ter of William Potter, who, with his father Robert Potter, removed from Potter county, Rhode Island, to New York state. Robert Potter served throughout the Revolutionary war as a soldier in the patriot army. and his son William was in the United States army during the war of 1812.
Tyler Ayres was the father of seven children, of whom Perry J. Ayres was second in order of birth. He was born February 11, 1830, He obtained the educational advantages that were to be derived in the public schools of his locality, which he attended during the winter months up to his twelfth year, and at that early age was compelled to turn his attention to the serious business of earning a livelihood. He was a farm- er's boy primarily, and followed the vocation of a tiller of the soil up to the year 1855. He then changed his place of residence to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he entered the employ of Silas N. Foot, with whom he remained for four years, and the succeeding seven years was actively connected with the firm of Noble & Brewster. In 1870 he established a
302
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
meat and provision business, and in this new enterprise achieved a large degree of success.
Mr. Ayers married, February 13, 1851, Marietta Clark, daughter of William D. Clark, a native of Pittsfield. Her paternal grandmother, Hannah Fairfield, a daughter of Nathaniel Fairfield, one of the first set- tlers of Pittsfield, was the first white female born in Pittsfield, and her mother, who was Martha Weir, was a daughter of a revolutionary sol- dier, and a granddaughter of Zebediah Stiles, a noted man among the early settlers of Pittsfield.
JOHN CHURCHILL.
John Churchill, an honored and respected citizen of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, who has held various important of- fices in the city government, is descended from an old family dating back to colonial days. He is in the fourth generation from the an- cestor of that name, who. early in the history of Massachusetts, came from England and settled in and about the historic town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. His christian name, John, has appeared in almost every generation of the family.
His grandfather, John Churchill (2), a son of John Churchill (1), was the first to settle in the frontier county of Berkshire, Massachu- setts, and he purchased a farm there as early as 1750, when farming was carried on under most hazardous conditions. The farm was worked and improved by honest effort and toil until at the time of his decease it was in a most productive state. He was a man of broad intelligence and excellent judgment, was resorted to by his neighbors to do their legal business, and was also called to various public positions. He served as county commissioner, and was a representative to the general
303
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
court for twelve years. He married Miss Mehitable Hubbard, and to them a large family was born, of whom eight children grew to adult life: Martha, born 1789; Sophia, 1792; Charles, 1796; Laura, 1797; Lucy, 1799; Jane, 1800; Sarah, 1809; and Samuel A.
Samuel A., youngest son of John (2) and Mehitable (Hubbard) Churchill, was born on the old farm, where he spent his entire life con- tinuing the work which had been begun by his father. Like his sire he was a born leader. He became prominent in public affairs; repre- sented his district as county commissioner, served in the state legisla- ture three terms, and was recognized as a useful member of that body. At the inspection of the Hoosac tunnel, which was seeking legislative support against some opposition, he contracted a cold which resulted in his death from pneumonia on September 23, 1870. He was origi- nally a Whig in politics, but subsequently connected himself with the Democratic party. He married Miss Esther G. Brooks, of Lenox, a member of one of the oldest and most respected families of that place, but who are now all passed away. The following children were born to them: Jane, 1842; John, of whom mention is hereafter made at greater length.
John Churchill (4), youngest child and only son of Samuel A. and Esther G. (Brooks) Churchill, was born December 12, 1844. He obtained such education as he could in the district schools of his native place, and completed his studies at the Lanesboro Academy. He then returned to the farm and engaged in its management, as his father was devoting much of his time to public duties. In due time he became the owner of the farm, and this he successfully cultivated until 1894, when he retired from active labor and moved from the old homestead into the city proper. Thus the old farm of the Churchills on the border of Onota Lake was vacated after a steady occupancy by the family which
304
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
had created it; although it is still owned by Mr. Churchill, its cultiva- tion will be carried on by others. Mr. Churchill possesses the natural talents and disposition of his predecessors, and has the abilities of a born leader. He has always been identified with the Democratic party, and is much respected by all parties for his ability. He has been an active participant in the municipal affairs of Pittsfield, having served on the common council, and as alderman, and has also been a member of many committees and commissions chosen from time to time to carry out the will of the public. On April 8, 1868, Mr. Churchill mar- ried Miss Mary E. Belden, daughter of Samuel and Abbie (Mattoon) Belden. The Beldens were for many years one of the leading farming families of Lenox, where they were associated with the management of the town and of the Congregational church corporation. The Belden family have long since passed out of Lenox as an abiding place, they having moved to the eastern part of New England, the sole survivor, aside from Mrs. Churchill, being a sister, Mrs. Harmon Babcock, of Providence, Rhode Island. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Churchill : Samuel Belden. 1872, who received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Brown University, and subsequently completed his education in Germany, and at present has charge of the large high school in Honesdale, Pennsylvania; he married Clara Bonneville, of Pocomoke City, Pennsylvania. Jennie, 1876; died when only three years of age. Eva B., 1884, has just completed her studies at the high school and makes her home with her parents. The family are much respected and are members of the Congregational church.
1.
305
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
ARTHUR W. PLUMB.
That delightful summer hotel, The Maplewood, Pittsfield, the crea- tion of Arthur W. Plumb, is in its large and ever increasing patronage of a fastidious clientele a most eloquent tribute to his genius as a host. When less than twenty years ago he leased the premises formerly occu- pied as the Maplewood School for Girls, with a view to the conversion of the dismantled, long disused and seriously impaired structure into a summer hotel, there were many to predict failure for and few to encour- age him in the enterprise. The ambitious young gentleman was fortun- ately not to be dissuaded from his purpose and by dint of industry and a natural capacity for the business which developed as the responsibili- ties increased, has realized his most sanguine expectations. Mr. Plumb is one of that large group of valuable men of western Massachusetts whose ancestors were among the early English settlers of New Eng- land.
The genealogist of the Plumb family states that the first of the name is found on the " Great Roll of Normandy," in 1180, and the name ap- pears, in 1274, in Somerset, Herts, Norfolk, and six of the name in Cambridge. There is a Plumb coat of arms described as follows: Er- mine, a bend vair or, and gules cottised vert. Crest. Eng. Out of a ducal coronet or, a plume of ostrich feathers, argent. The English ancestor from whom the immediate subject of these memoirs is lineally descended was
George Plumb, of Neworth, County Essex, England, who married first, Grace - , and second, Sarah His parentage has not been ascertained. His will, July 25. 1667, proved July 18, 1670, named wife Grace and sons John and Timothy, cutting off the former
306
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
with a shilling. When he died he left a widow Sarah. His first child by his first wife was
John Plumbe, born in England, in 1634, died about 1696, married, probably about 1662, Elizabeth Green, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Bainbridge) Green. He was in Hartford in 1663, and in New London. Connecticut, in 1678. One of his letters may be found in the " Win- throp Papers," of date of 1665, and he is mentioned in 1696. He had seven children and perhaps more. His second child was
Samuel Plumbe, born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1670, died in Milford, Connecticut, in May, 1728, married, probably in the year 1693, Mehitable Hinde. When a child his parents removed to New London, Connecticut, but subsequently he located in Milford, Connecticut, where he resided for the remainder of his life. His tombstone is still stand- ing in one of the cemeteries of that town. He was the father of nine children, and the fifth was
Ebenezer Plumb, born in Milford, Connecticut, March 25, 1705, died in Guilford. Connecticut, September 13, 1759. In the town of New Haven, Connecticut, November 13, 1737, he was married to Patience Nails, of Guilford. He settled in Guilford, Connecticut. as early as 1730, and in that place he and his wife reared a family of teu children. The third was
Ebenezer Plumb, born in Guilford, Connecticut, August 5, 1739. died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, April 17, 1821. He was married about the year 1765, to Mary He settled in Stockbridge or Richmond, Massachusetts, before 1777, as he enlisted as a Revolution- ary soldier July 17, 1777, from Berkshire county. The records of the Stockbridge church show his admission, September 27, 1795, from Richmond. His family consisted of twelve children. The seventh was Luther Plumb, born in Richmond, Massachusetts, in 1778, died in
a
307
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Albany, New York, November 23, 1831. He married, November 4. 1808, Mary Fairchild, who died. He married for his second wife, at West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, September 3, 1814. Lydia Hemp- stead, of West Stockbridge. His residence was recorded in the town of Stockbridge in 1808, but in 1814 he settled in Albany, New York. His second wife bore him seven children. The third was
Henry L. Plumb, born September 28. 1820. He married, about 1846, Sarah Stuart, who died. On January 16, 1850, at Albany, New York, he married Frances Seymour, daughter of Seth Seymour, of Stockbridge. His first wife bore him one son, Charles Stuart Plumb, and by the second marriage he was the father of two children, the first of whom was
Arthur W. Plumb, born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, April IS, 1853. completed his schooling at Williams Academy, Stockbridge, where he found his first employment in the grocery store of which his father was the proprietor. In 1874 he went to New York city and was there engaged for five years in a commission 'house. The years 1880 and 1881 found him interested at Chicago, Illinois, in the manufacture of gas stoves. Returning to Stockbridge in the fall of 1881, he entered the employ of his uncle, Charles H. Plumb, proprietor of the old " Stockbridge House " which as " Plumb's Hotel " was one of the most famous and successful of the hostelries of the Berkshire Hill country. It is now known as " The Red Lion Inn." Five years of such associa- tion hy an observant, enterprising and ambitious man resulted in Mr. Plumb's ample equipment, as the results proved, to undertake the es- tablishment in 1886 of The Maplewood, as hereinbefore narrated. Another most successful hotel venture of Mr. Phimmb is his joint pro- prietorship with Mr. George W. Clark, under the firm name of Plumb
308
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
& Clark, of The New American Hotel, generally recognized as one of the best commercial houses in New England.
Mr. Plumb's political affiliation is with the Republican party which he has served as delegate to numerous conventions and as executive committeeman in several campaigns. He served acceptably as a mem- ber from Ward Six of the board of aldermen, of Pittsfield. In 1905 he was his party's nominee for the office of county commissioner, and was elected by a vote that led his ticket in both county and county seat. He is of the board of trustees and vice-president of the City Savings Bank, of Pittsfield.
He married. January 12, 1897, Nellie, daughter of Oliver Duprey, of Keeseville, Essex county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Plumb have a daughter Frances J. born October 12, 1897.
WILLIAM HORACE COLEMAN.
William Horace Coleman, one of the pioneer builders of Berk- shire county, was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1827, a son of Rufus and Wealthy (Russell) Coleman, of Stephentown, New York, who were descendants in the third generation from William Coleman, of England. The family owned a large and prosperous farm in Ste- phentown, and Mr. and Mrs. Coleman gave their children the best educational advantages obtainable in the schools of that early day. The family subsequently moved to Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and settled on a farm in the town of Cheshire. The members of the family were ambitious and active, and being endowed with clear judgment and keen foresight, they sought to make the world as comfortable an abiding place as was possible. Rufus Coleman, a brother of William H. Coleman, was ordained to the ministry.
-
309
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
William H. Coleman removed from his native town, Cheshire, to Adams, where he resided until 1880, in which year he located in Pitts- field and there continued to carry on his trade of a building contractor. He erected many dwelling houses during the most progressive period in the history of the city of Pittsfield, and being of a prudent and care- ful disposition accumulated quite a sum of money, which he invested in such a manner as to bring him in a substantial income for his de- clining years. Whatever he undertook to do he did well, and this fact hampered him to some extent in undertaking what he was doubtful about being able to accomplish to his own satisfaction. He devoted considerable time to reading good literature, was well informed on a variety of subjects, and never let an opportunity pass for bettering his own condition or placing his family on a higher social plane. He was an earnest worker in the Methodist denomination, and manifested great interest in Sunday school work. He was a staunch Republican in poli- tics, but never could be induced to aspire to public office. He belonged to no secret societies, preferring to spend his leisure time with his fam- ily. In 1853 Mr. Coleman was married to Sarah Brown, a daughter of George and Clarissa (Cowen) Brown, of Lanesboro, Massachusetts. The Cowen family were of old Rhode Island stock, and for a number of years resided in Cheshire, Massachusetts. Mr. Coleman died at his home in Pittsfield, September 29, 1901, mourned not only by his relatives but by a large circle of intimate friends. His widow and son survive him. The former resides at her home in Tyler street, Pitts- field, Massachusetts. The latter, George L. Coleman, has forsaken the county of his birth and now makes his home in Springfield, Massa- chusetts.
310
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
LOUIS ALBERT MERCHANT.
Although alien to Massachusetts soil the gentleman whose name in- troduces these memoirs is second to none in fidelity to the interests of Pittsfield, the home of his adoption. He was born in Amenia, New York, January 18, 1860, son of the late Albert and Ellen J. (Watrous) Merchant. Albert Merchant was born March 4, 1820, in Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, married Ellen J. Watrous, and died in Amenia, New York, in 1874. His father, Ager Merchant, who was a native of Sherman, Connecticut, died at Sharon, Connecticut. Ager Merchant married Sally Downs born at Sherman, Connecticut, in 1790, died at Amenia, New York. December 24, 1873. Ellen J. (Watrous) Merchant, born Bennington, Vermont, January 1, 1823, was a daughter of Handley Bushnell Watrous who was born in Saybrooke, Connecticut, November 12, 1794. and died in Washington Hollow, New York, in 1838. His wife was Huldah Kellogg Gillette. The general education of Louis Albert Merchant completed at Amenia Seminary, he took a short business course at a commercial college, Pittsfield, where in 1878 he found his first employment as bookkeeper in the china, glass and queensware establishment of A. A. Mills & Company:
Failing health led to his resignation of this position. Seeking re- cuperation and employment in the oil district of Mckean county, Penn- sylvania, he was soon restored to normal health. In 1879 he visited New York city, and while there took up telegraphy as a pastime, but applying himself to such good purpose as enabled him to secure a posi- tion as operator with the Western Union Telegraph Company upon his return to Pittsfield. In 1881 he accepted a clerkship in the freight de- partment of the Housatonic Railroad Company at Pittsfield, incident to which he had charge of that company's local telegraph office. He was
Louis a Merchant.
311
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
subsequently at various times in the employ at Pittsfield of the Boston and Albany Railroad in both passenger and freight offices and as teleg- rapher. He was also bookkeeper for a period of the Pittsfield Trans- portation Company and clerked one summer at Columbia Hall and an- other at the Maplewood summer hotel, Pittsfield.
In 1893 he was appointed inspector for the New England Insurance Exchange, covering central Berkshire county. and was elected to the secretaryship of Pittsfield Board of Fire Underwriters. In the same year also he accepted a clerkship in the office of the Berkshire Life In- surance Company, at Pittsfield, and two years later (1895) was pro- moted to the cashiership, of which he is still the incumbent. He was one of the founders and since its incorporation president of the Pitts- field co-operative store, located on Columbus avenue.
On January 1, 1903, in association with Mr. Harry E. Jeffers, Mr. Merchant purchased the automobile station established at Pittsfield by Dr. O. S. Roberts and continued in successful conduct of the business as a partnership until April 1. 1905. when the stock company was formed with Mr. Franklin Weston, president, and Mr. Merchant, treas- urer. Mr. Merchant was one of the organizers and is secretary and treasurer of the Berkshire Automobile Club. Fraternally he is con- nected with the I. O. O. F .. New England Order of Protection and B. P. O. E.
He is Republican in political affiliation, has served as delegate to municipal, county and state conventions; for two terms representing ward seven in Pittsfield city council, and is now ( 1905) serving his sec- ond term in that body as the representative from the sixth ward. He has the gratifying distinction of being the only Republican ever elected to the city council from the sixth ward. His councilmanic service has been honest and efficient, his fire department committee work having
312
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
been especially valuable to the municipality on account of his broad education along the lines of fire insurance. He is also on the salaries and finance committees.
Mr. Merchant married, May 7. 188.4. Kate, daughter of Hezekiah S. Russell, whose personal and genealogical memoirs are herein con- tained. Mr. and Mrs. Merchant have lost a son, Albert, who died in infancy, and have a daughter, Alice R. Merchant. The family reside at 42 Linden street, and attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
EDGERTON E. DODGE.
Edgerton Ellis Dodge, up to the time of his decease (1904) pro- prietor of the extensive and elegantly appointed Maplewood Livery Stables, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was a descendant in the ninth gen- eration from English ancestors of the early colonial period. The found- er of the Dodge family in America was :
Richard Dodge, born in Somersetshire, England, probably about 1602; died at Beverly, Massachusetts, June 15, 1671. He married, in England, Edith (name unknown), who died June 27, 1678, aged seventy-five. Richard Dodge was a son of John and Margery Dodge. He came to this country in 1638, and at first lived on land belonging to his brother William, who had come over in 1629. He settled on Dodge Row. in North Beverly, not far east of Wenham Lake, and his house stood near the present south line of Beverly. In 1653 his name headed a list of twenty-one subscribers to Harvard College, the next largest donor contributing only one-fourth as much as he. He also dedicated a part of his land for a burying ground, and it is now known as " the cemetery on Dodge Row." He left an estate of £1,764 2S, and he gave farms to three of his sons and the homestead to the other
313
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
two. He and his wife were members of the church in Wenham before 1648. They were the parents of seven children, several of whom were born in England, as shown by the parish records of East Coker, Somer- setshire. The fourth in his family was
Richard Dodge (2), born in Beverly, Massachusetts, 1643, died in Wenham, April 13, 1705. He married, February 23, 1667, Mary Eaton, born 1641, died November 28. 1716, aged seventy-five years. He was a farmer and lived in the south part of Wenham, and owned a large farm in Ipswich, which he gave to his eldest son Richard, to whom he also gave his negro man, Mingo, about two years before his death, when he made division of his property among his children. He and his wife were both buried at North Beverly, where their gravestones still may be seen. They were the parents of three children, of whom the eldest was
Richard Dodge (3), born in Wenham, July 12, 1670, died at Ipswich, July 7, 1739. He married, November 16, 1694, Martha Low, died aged sixty-eight years and nine months, daughter of Deacon Thomas Low, of Chebacco, in Ipswich. Both were buried in the old cemetery in Dodge Row. He received the farm on which he lived, by deed from his father, December 1, 1703, and his negro man, as before mentioned. Of his eight children the youngest was
Richard Dodge (4), born probably in Hamlet parish, in 1711 or 1712, died in Sutton, Massachusetts, about 1776. His banns of mar- riage with Sarah Tuttle were published August 16, 1734. He sold his land in Ipswich in 1759, and bought one hundred acres in Sutton, a little later buying two hundred acres partly in Sutton and partly in Uxbridge. Among his nine children was
Richard Dodge (5), born in Hamlet parish, Ipswich, probably about 1750, died November 25, 1833, aged about eighty-three years.
314
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
He married, July 19, 1770, Lois Lune, of Sutton, born 1752, died Sep- tember 7, 1812, aged sixty years. They were buried in Croydon, New Hampshire, where they had gone to make their home with a son. The gravestone gives the age of Mr. Dodge as eighty-one years and eight months. In 1776 Richard Dodge bought the interest of his brother and sister in the paternal estate, and probably lived there until he removed to Croydon, although a mortgage in 1787 (discharged in 1813) was given by Richard and Lois " of Charlton."
Freeman Dodge (7), born in Croydon, New Hampshire, February 17, 1809, died in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, January 15, 1886. He married, at Troy, New York, Candace Stockwell, of Croydon, New Hampshire. He was a policeman in Troy, New York, and went from there to Palmer, Massachusetts, later removing to Pittsfield, where he was engaged in a meat business. He was a deacon in the Congrega- tional church for several years. The youngest of his two children was
Freeman Morgan Dodge (8), born in Milton, New York, August 22, 1840. He married, in Palmer, Massachusetts, Adelaide Witt, born at Three Rivers, Massachusetts, October 22, 1845, adopted daughter of the late John B. Squier, a leading manufacturer of Palmer. Mr. Dodge is a trainer of horses at Pleasure Park, near Pittsfield. The children of Mr. Dodge, all born in Palmer, are: I. Everett Morgan, born June 22, 1864; married, June 16, 1886, Nellie Irene Gilbert, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Ingraham) Gilbert. He has been a trainer on the Allen farm in Pittsfield, but is now (1903) clerk at the New American House in the same city. Mrs. Dodge has been for several years a leading contralto singer and prominent in musical circles. 2. Edger- ton Ellis, to be further mentioned. 3. Fanny Louise, born March 17, 1869, married October 13, 1890, to Fred D. Sprague, of Pittsfield. Chil- dren : Miriam, born August 22, 1891; Murray, born August 26, 1896.
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.