USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 26
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Rev. Thomas H. Mclaughlin, present rector of St. Thomas' church, was born January 1, 1861, in Clinton, Massachusetts, which has fur- nished the Roman Catholic church with so many able and energetic clergymen. His parents, Patrick J. and Honorah T. (Kittridge) Mc- Laughlin, were natives of county Mayo, Ireland, who sought a new home in the United States, where labor received a more adequate re- muneration, and they were worthy, industrious people, who, in spite of their arduous toil, devoted much time to the moral training of their chil- dren. Patrick J. Mclaughlin died October 29. 1904, surviving his wife, whose death occurred July 31. 1897. Their son Thomas was edu- cated preliminarily in the Clinton public schools, and having decided at an early age to devote his life to the service of the church, he began his preparations at the Ottawa (Canada) College, from which he entered Boston College, where he took his bachelor's degree with the class of 1882. Two years later ( 1884) he received the degree of Bachelor of Theology at the Catholic Theological Seminary in Montreal. On De- cember 19, 1885, he was ordained to the priesthood in Springfield, this state, by the Rt. Rev. P. J. O'Riely, then bishop of that diocese, who was
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the officiating priest at his baptism, and as a bishop had confirmed him when a boy. That prelate certainly performed his duty toward him, spiritually speaking, and it may be added that in America, at least, it seldom falls to the lot of a clergyman to officiate at so many religious rites extended to one whom he had been called upon to receive into the church at the baptismal font. On January 5. 1886, he was appointed assistant rector of St. Joseph's church. Pittsfield, in which capacity he continued to labor zealously and without interruption for a period of eleven years, endearing himself to the parishioners not only as their spiritual counselor, but also for his kindly interest in their every-day life, which has ever since been one. of the chief characteristics of his professional labors. In 1897 Father Mclaughlin went to Hunting- ton, Massachusetts, as rector of St. Thomas' church, where he remained for two years and eight months or until called to the rectorship of St. Thomas' Parish. Adams. August 27, 1899, to succeed the lamented Father Moran. His six years of ministerial work in this town have been productive of so much visible benefit to the parish, both individually and as a whole. as to cause the hope that his rectorship may continue for many years to come, and with a priest of his superabundant quali- fications at its head it may be expected to still further increase in im- portance and usefulness. 1
The present St. Thomas' church edifice is of Gothic architecture somewhat modified, and was built according to plans furnished by James Murphy, an architect of Providence, Rhode Island. It is of brick with white stone trimmings; is 135 feet long and 61 feet wide : the main por- tion is 75 feet high and the main tower from the sidewalk to the cross on the top measures 130 feet. Its surroundings are exceedingly attractive and the rectory occupies one of the most picturesque sites in this locality. The basement. wherein the parishioners are now wor-
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shipping, seats seven hundred and forty, but the upper portion, or church proper when completed will have a seating capacity of nine hundred and fifty. The parish contains nineteen hundred souls, and the average attendance at Sunday school is two hundred and eighty. Connected with it is the Holy Name Society, having a membership of one hundred and seventy-five; the League of the Sacred Heart with six hundred and sixty-five members; and the Rosary Society. There is also connected with it a mission chapel in Cheshire known as the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, which was dedicated August 8, 1879, under the pastorate of Father McCourt.
Father Mclaughlin is considered one of the best church financiers in the diocese. When he took charge of St. Thomas' parish there was a debt upon the church property amounting to fifty-one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one dollars. which he has entirely cancelled and there is now five thousand dollars in the treasury. He is state chaplain of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and deputy grand knight of the Catholic Order of Foresters, of Berkshire county.
TITUS E. EDDY.
Since 1875 the gentleman whose name introduces this article has been a summer resident of Pittsfield, one of that interesting and con- stantly increasing group of summer home builders in the Berkshires- the New York city contingent.
Mr. Eddy was born November 2, 1834, in Troy, New York, son of Titus Eddy, a native of Vermont and descended from early English settlers of Rhode Island. Mr. Eddy was engaged in the white lead busi- ness in New York and is now retired. His New York residence is No. 13 East Forty-seventh street.
Clifford 0. Oh a fim
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He married Mary, daughter of the late David L. Seymour, a lead- ing lawyer of Troy, and of the historic Seymour family of Connecticut and New York, whose ancestors were English colonial settlers of New England. The parish house, St. Luke's, at Lanesboro, near Pittsfield, a memorial to the late Mrs. Maria L. Seymour, mother of Mrs. Titus E. Eddy, was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy.
CLIFFORD SAMUEL CHAPIN, M. D.
Among the younger members of the medical profession in Berk- shire county whose successful practice has demonstrated especial fitness and equipment therefor, Clifford Samuel Chapin, of Great Barrington, may be appropriately numbered. He is descended in both paternal and maternal lines from early English colonial settlers. The founder of the Chapin family in America,
Deacon Samuel W. Chapin, landed in Boston in 1637, and was one of the founders of Springfield, Massachusetts. Of his descendants,
Caleb Chapin was a captain in the French and Indian war, and his SON
Caleb Chapin (2) had the same rank in the Patriot army during the Revolutionary war.
Curtis Chapin, grandson of Caleb Chapin (2), was a prosperous farmer and leading citizen of Bernardston, Massachusetts. He married Jeannette. daughter of Joli Nelson, also prominent in business and social circles of Bernardston, and who held numerous local offices. Curtis Chapin died March 28, 1875. Of his children,
Clifford Samuel Chapin, born January 25. 1873, in Bernardston. attended the public schools and Powers' Institute, Bernardston, and Wil- liston Seminary. Easthampton. For three years thereafter he taught
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school, and during this period took up the study of medicine, determining upon the adoption of that profession as his life work. He was gradu- ated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York city, in 1896, and two years later established offices at Great Barrington, where he has won recognition as a capable and conscientious physician, and is in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice.
He is a member of the Berkshire Medical Society, the Massachusetts Medical Association, and the American Medical Association ; of the Ma- sonic fraternity, Berkshire Automobile Club, Sons of the American Rev- olution, and Chapin Family Association of America.
He married, June 29, 1899, Mary Redfield Wright, daughter of William Wright. Two sons born of this marriage are Curtis W. and Clifford S. Chapin. Mrs. Dr. Chapin is lineally descended from John and Priscilla Alden, the story of whose courtship has been immortalized by Longfellow.
CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH.
One of the honored citizens of Berkshire county whose names belong to the past was Constant Southworth, who was for more than half a century a resident of Great Barrington. The Southworth family is a celebrated one in the annals of New England. The founder was Mrs. Alice (Carpenter ) Southworth, who came with her children to the Plymouth colony in the early years of its history. Before her mar- riage one of her suitors had been William Bradford, afterward gov- ernor of the Plymouth colony, and everything seemed to point to a favorable termination of the courtship. Separated by the force of cir- cumstances, Alice Carpenter became the wife of Edward Southworth, of London, England, and their marriage was consummated in Leyden, Holland, in May, 1613. William Bradford. having also married, sailed
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with his wife in the " Mayflower." Losing his wife by death shortly after their arrival in Massachusetts, and hearing that Mrs. Southworth had become a widow, he requested her to join him, and she arrived at Plymouth on the ship " Anne " about August 1, 1623. Her marriage to Governor Bradford, August 14, 1623, was the beginning of a long and happy union. Her descendants were prominently identified with the subsequent history of the colonies.
Constant Southworth, son of Constant and Statira (Adams) Southworth, was born in 1802, in Berlin, Connecticut. From child- hood he lived in Berkshire county, and subsequent to 1825 made his home in Great Barrington, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying November 14, 1876. He was a public-spirited citizen, taking a keen interest in all township and county affairs, and giving his influ- ence always on the side which appeared to him to be that of right and justice. To all projects which in his judgment had a tendency to promote the welfare of the community, he gave his hearty support and concurrence. In the sphere of politics his influence was strongly felt, and invariably in a way which made for the general good. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, in the affairs of which he took a prominent part, and was an active member of the Protestant Episcopal church, holding the offices of warden and vestryman.
Mr. Southworth married Juliette Maria, daughter of Captain Eber Yale, of a very old New England family. Captain Thomas Yale lost his life at Louisville, Prince Edward's Island, during the colonial wars. Mr. and Mrs. Southworth were the parents of six children, two of whom are living, a son and a daughter. The son, John H., is a rail- road engineer, residing in New Haven. The daughter, Grace Elliott, became the wife of James K. Parker, a member of a New York family of English origin and ancient pedigree. Of the five children born to
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Mr. and Mrs. Parker three are now living: James Southworth, of Salem, New York, who is a member of the legislature; Constance Eliza- beth, who is the wife of Benjamin D. Ticknor, of Great Barrington; and Edward Constant Southworth Parker, who is an ensign in the . navy, second in command of the "Chauncey," when in Chinese waters during the Japanese-Russian war. He is an active member of the Protestant Episcopal church. The deceased children of James K. and Grace Elliott (Southworth) Parker were: Charles and Carolyn Yale Parker.
The death of Mr. Southworth, which occurred in 1876, when he had reached the age of seventy-four, was mourned by all classes of the community in which he had so long resided. It was felt that both the town and the county had lost one whose life had been an example, the memory of which would be an inspiration to those coming after him. Mrs. Southworth, who was a woman universally beloved. sur- vived her husband a number of years, passing away in 1892.
THOMAS P. WELCH.
The genial and popular proprietor of the Greylock hotel, Adams, is a native of Berkshire county and was born in the town of Cheshire, August 2, 1860. His parents were the late Patrick and Charlotte (Ryan) Welch, who were natives of county Tipperary, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States at an early age. Soon after their arrival they came to Berkshire county, where they resided for the remainder of their lives, and died in Cheshire, which had been their home for many years. Patrick Welch was a tanner by trade and followed that useful calling industriously during his active life. His wife, Charlotte (Ryan) Welch, became the mother of seven children, namely: Richard, who is
The P Welch
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residing in Adams; Alice, who died in childhood; James, also deceased : Thomas P., the principal subject of this sketch ; Ellen, who is now the wife of Martin McShehan; Mary, the wife of John Ford; and Frank Welch, whose heroic death while endeavoring to save property at a fire in Cheshire some ten years ago is well remembered by residents of that town. Thomas P. Welch was educated in the Cheshire public schools. During the early years of his active life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native town, but life upon a farm was far too sluggish for a young man endowed with an earnest desire for a more rapid advance- ment, and he accordingly utilized his inherent resources for the pur- pose of adopting a more congenial calling. In 1883 he opened a cafe in Adams, which was a successful venture from the start, made so in no smali measure by his genial nature and open-handed hospitality, and he immediately acquired a wide spread popularity as a public caterer in the way of refreshments. That establishment, although profitable and congenial to him, proved entirely inadequate to conform to his advanced ideas of business expansion. and when a favorable opportunity pre- sented itself he donned the habiliments of a full-fledged boniface, be- coming in 1895 proprietor of the Hoosac Valley House, Cheshire. which is now known as the Cheshire Inn. He next acquired posses- sion of the Adams House. Adams, which he conducted successfully for a few years or until I901, when he purchased his present hotel prop- erty in that town. Under his able management the Greylock Hotel has obtained a high reputation with the traveling public for its open hospi- tality and genuine good cheer. and one of its most prominent features is the genial landlord himself, whose pleasant manner of greeting his guests and kindly interest in providing for their comfort are heartily appreciated by the numerous commercial tourists and other travelers who make the Greylock their headquarters during their sojourn in Adams.
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Aside from his popularity as a hotel man Mr. Welch is a general favor- ite in social and fraternal circles. He is an active member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians, the Robert Emmet Benevolent Association, Alert Hose Com- pany (volunteer firemen), and the Veteran Fire Company of Pitts- field. Though not an aspirant for public office he takes a conspicuous part in the councils of the local Democratic party organization, has been a member of the state committee and a delegate to state conventions. also delegate to national Democratic convention at St. Louis. 1904.
On July 26, 1882, Mr. Welch was united in marriage by the late Rev. Father Moran, with Miss Marcella Roman, daughter of Michael Roman, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Of this union there are two children, namely: Charles P. and Stella.
JAMES M. BURNS.
Among the residents of Pittsfield retired from the activities of business life whose careers are recognized as having been contributory to the substantial business. social and general development of the com- munity is the gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs.
He was born in Thompsonville, Connecticut, in 1848, son of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Stevens) Burns (see sketch of Louis Burns in this publication ).
James M. Burns completed his education at Wilbraham Academy and shortly thereafter with an elder brother, David, entered into the grocery business in the store formerly occupied by Burns-McLean. Sub- sequently a department for the sale of house-furnishing goods was added to the operations of Burns Brothers, and this branch soon be- came the especially significant and profitable feature of the business of
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the firm and led to its establishment of a house-furnishing goods store in the Upper Burbank Block, North street, Pittsfield. After some years of association of unusual pecuniary advantage. Messrs. David and James M. Burns dissolved partnership and divided their business proper- ties, the latter retaining the Pittsfield store. He subsequently removed from the Burbank to his own structure, the Burns Block, on North street, and continued in successful conduct of the business until its disposal by him to H. P. Wellington. He was for a short time there- after engaged in the private banking business with Mr. Rollin H. Cooke, under the firm name of Burns & Cooke, at Pittsfield, a business which was abandoned when Mr. Burns accepted the cashiership of Schoharie County Bank. Schoharie. New York, where he resided with his family until the decease of his daughter, Miss May Burns, when he severed his Schoharie bank connection and returned to Pittsfield, where he has since lived in retirement.
He married Lilla Daniels, of Hartford, Connecticut. They have had two children: William A. Burns, hereinafter mentioned, and the daughter deceased. as above set forth.
WILLIAM A. BURNS.
Of the younger members of the Massachusetts bar practicing at Pittsfield, who have won the respect of their professional colleagues and the confidence of the public, William AA. Burns finds appropriate men- tion. He is a son of James M. and Lilla (Daniels) Burns and was born at Thompsonville, Connecticut, January 9, 1875.
His initial schooling was obtained at Pittsfield and his general edu- cation completed at Williams College. from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1897. He then entered Harvard Law
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School, graduating therefrom and being admitted to the bar in 1900. Returning to Pittsfield he entered the employ of the law firm of Dawes & Burke, an association which continued until July 1, 1901, when Mr. Burns established himself in the practice of his profession with offices in the Backus Block.
As a stalwart and active Republican Mr. Burns has already obtained party recognition, being elected as a representative from Pittsfield to the state legislature in 1903, and re-elected in 1904, serving acceptably during the former year on public service and engrossed bills committees and as a member also of the special recess committee on compensation of state and county officials. During 1904 he served on engrossed bills and street railway committees, being chairman of the former. Mr. Burns is junior warden of Crescent Lodge, F. & A. M., and was a charter member of the Country Club. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Pittsfield.
THOMAS HENRY HAYDEN.
A member of a very valuable class of Berkshire county's foreign- born citizens is Thomas Henry Hayden, a well known resident of Lee. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland, in 1843. His parents came to the United States in 1847. locating at Lenox Furnace (now Lenox- (ale), where the father, John Hayden, followed the blacksmithing trade until 1852. In that year he moved to Lee, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1856.
At the age of twelve the son Thomas H. went to work in the old woolen mill known as the Saxony mill, owned by Plattner & Smith. This firm also operated a paper mill and were the founders of the great Smith Paper Company of today. After working about six years in the woolen mill Mr. Hayden went to the firm's machine shop to learn
yours truly, Those. B. Hayden.
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his trade, and how well he acquired it is shown by the fact that in 1878 he took charge of the shop and has been the foreman ever since. He holds the position of master machinist of the Smith paper mills. The fact that he has worked for nearly half a century for the same firm speaks volumes for his ability and integrity. Mr. Hayden has always manifested a commendable public spirit, and in nothing has this been more evident than in his devotion to the Lee fire department. His con- nection with this organization began in 1856, when as a boy he used to carry the flag of the company in parade. During a period of more than twenty years he served successively as fireman, foreman and first assist- ant engineer, and on the death of Captain Shannon, the chief engineer, was chosen to fill the office, which he still retains. Mr. Hayden is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and holds the office of president in the Lee Cornet Band, of which he has been a member for the last twenty-five years. Both as a citizen and a neighbor Mr. Hayden is deservedly popular. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of Lee. Mr. Hayden was married, November 26, 1870, to Magdalena Stumpf, daughter of Philip Stumpf. an old resident of Lee, who died from the effects of wounds received in battle as a Federal soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden are the parents of the following children : Thomas H., deceased : Mag- dalena (Hayden) Moran, deceased; Katharyn E .: Ellen J .: John P .; Robert H. : Francis S. ; Mary G .: Agnes P. : Joseph T. : and William L. They are the grandparents of the following children: Magdalen MI. Moran, T. Joseph Moran, and Gertrude E. Moran, deceased; A. Mag- dalen Hayden and Cathleen M. Hayden.
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LEVI MORRIS HOLMES.
Levi Morris Holmes. proprietor of the Berkshire Business Col- lege and leading instructor of the faculty of that important and pro- gressive educational institution, was born in Adams county, Indiana, August 11, 1864. His primary education was derived from the public schools of his native place, and this was supplemented by. a full course at the Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio. Added to this and in fur- ther preparation for his subsequent career as teacher, he pursued spe- cial studies at the Eastern Indiana, Central Indiana and Northern In- diana Normal schools, and also took the full course at Oberlin (Ohio) Business College. His inceptive work as teacher was in the public schools of Adams. Jay and Delaware counties, Indiana, and following this was for eight years principal of the business and elocution depart- ments in Central Indiana and Eastern Indiana Normal schools. For two years immediately prior to coming to New England, he was em- ployed as an expert accountant for individual, company and corporate interests. In 1897 he came to Massachusetts, and for one year was one of the instructors and in charge of the business department of Bliss Business College, North Adams. One year later, July, 1898, he purchased from Mr. A. S. Friese the Berkshire Business College.
This institution is the development of a small school founded in Pittsfield in the '6os by a Mr. Carter, and was then known as Carter's Commercial School. Mr. Carter was succeeded by Benjamin Chick- ering, who changed its name to Chickering Commercial College, and upon the latter's demise it was conducted by his widow. She in turn sold it to one of her teachers, Miss Carrie Weaser, and her successors were Messrs. Shaw and Tangye, who changed the name of the insti- tution to that by which it has ever since been known. Upon the de-
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cease of Mr. Tangye. Mr. Friese, above named, purchased the business from the surviving partner, Mr. Shaw, who was conducting a similar institution at North Adams. From the outset of Mr. Holmes' man- agement the sphere of usefulness has been broadened by a constantly increasing patronage and an added demand for the services of its grad- uates, and has incidentally contributed in no small measure to the well deserved reputation of Berkshire county for superiority in her educa- tional resources. An interesting fact in connection with the work of the college is that fourteen of the graduates from one of its classes, that of 1903, were added to the staff of office employes of one of Berk- shire county's greatest manufacturing plants. The curriculum of the college includes thorough instruction in all of the studies essential to a complete business education, namely: The business course, short- hand and typewriting course and the English course. The first includes bookkeeping, double and single entry, business forms, rapid calcula- tions, business arithmetic, business penmanship, business law, practical grammar, business practice, general office work, commercial paper, bank- ing. spelling and definitions and office customs. The second includes shorthand, spelling. penmanship, typewriting, punctuation. letter-press copying, business correspondence, business forms, practical office work. arrangement. filing letters, invoices, and court work. The third in- cludes arithmetic, grammar, reading, spelling, penmanship, letter writ- ing. business forms and rapid addition. These courses are distinct and separate. A student may take either the business or shorthand course. or combine the two. The English course may be taken for itself or as a preparatory to the others. Mr. Holmes is of a quiet, unassuming. unpretentious disposition : careful in methods and habits and thoroughly alive to the practical and modern ideas which enter into all the work under his charge. He is an earnest and firm believer in the power and
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