USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 28
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in poor health, and in 1892 built a home in Dalton, where he has since resided. February 18, 1873, Mr. Browning married Imogene Bryant. born September 1, 1852, a daughter of James and Jennette (Ryder) Bryant, of Cheshire, Massachusetts. Their children are: Imogene Bry- ant, born March 12, 1875, died in infancy ; Julian, born July 23. 1877, deceased : Roy, born December 23, 1880: and Robert Wells, born June 8, 1884. The two boys reside with their parents on John street, Dalton. Massachusetts.
EARLE GREY BALDWIN.
The gentleman whose name introduces this narrative was principal of the high school of Pittsfield from 1877 to 1881. and is accredited with having rendered as efficient service in that capacity as any of the edu- cators who had preceded or have succeeded him. Immediately following his retirement from the principalship named he established a preparatory school, the Wendell Hall School, which was successfully conducted for several years.
Earle G. Baldwin was a native of Coventry, Orleans county. Ver- mont, born December 9. 1847, son of John and Emeline ( Thrasher) Baldwin, the former a native of Westminster, the latter of Coventry, Vermont, and both descendants of early English settlers of New Eng- land. The late John Baldwin was a Baptist preacher whose ministerial services, covering more than a quarter of a century, were given to various charges in the state of his nativity. He was born in 1808, married in early manhood and died in 1875. Of his children, Earle Grey Baldwin received a liberal general education, which was completed at Amherst College in 1871. Immediately thereafter his services were sought for the position of principal of the high school at Norwalk, Connecticut, whence he went to Palmer, Massachusetts, to occupy a similar position
Earle & B action
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for the following year. In 1877 he accepted the Pittsfield position as above mentioned. Since the close of his school connection Mr. Baldwin has been variously engaged in journalistic work, for four years of the period publishing a Lenox society paper, Lenor Life. He served as president of the Berkshire County Teachers' Association in 1879 and 1880, and during this time a number of the most distinguished edu- cators of the period lectured before that body.
He married in 1872, at Amherst, Margaret E., daughter of Rev. Pliny H. White, a former Congregational minister of Coventry. Rev. White was widely and favorably known in Vermont as one of the most able and brilliant pulpit orators, a trenchant, forceful writer, and with an especially wide range of historical knowledge. For some years prior to his decease he was president of the Vermont Historical Society, and it was during his incumbency of that office that some of the most valuable acquisitions to its archives were secured. Mrs. Margaret E. (White) Baldwin is registrar of Peace Party Chapter, Daughters American Rey- olution, of Pittsfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have two children: William Earle Baldwin, one of the proprietors of the New York weekly magazine known as "Automobile Topics." He married Edith Brigham, a young lady of Dorchester, Massachusetts. The second child. Winifred May Baldwin, is an operatic singer with a mezzo-soprano voice. now ( 1905) under engagement with that well-known impresario. Henry W. Savage. The family reside at 66 Pomeroy avenue and attend the First Congregational church.
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MARTIN M. BROWN, M. D.
This successful medical practitioner and prominent citizen of North Adams is of early New England origin on both sides, being a lineal descendant in the ninth generation of Chad Browne, through Daniel, Jabez, William, Eleazar, Jonas, Harvey and Russell D. Brown. He is also descended, directly and collaterally, from several of the Mayflower Pil- grims, namely: Governor William Bradford, through William, Will- iam, William, Israel, Abner, Elisha and Susanna, who married Jonas Browne: Richard Warren, Elder William Brewster, John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, through their daughter Elizabeth, who married Will- iam Pabodie, and her daughter Ruth, Edward Dotey, George Soule, John Howland and John Tilley. The Hearnden, White, Scott, Jencks, Ballard, Smith, Angell, Mowry, Inman, Cook, Thompson, Reed, Por- ter, Bartlett, Delano, Peterson, Edson, and Bennett families were also among his ancestral connections. Daniel Brown, son of Chad Browne, married Alice Hearnden, daughter of Benjamin Hearnden.
Martin M. Brown, M. D., son of Russell D. Brown, was born in Jacksonville, Windham county, Vermont, July 13, 1863, son of Russell D. and Eliza (Millard) Brown. His grandparents were Harvey and Lucinda (Fuller) Brown, the former of whom was born December 8, 1801, and his wife was born August 14, 1808. Both were natives and life long residents of Vermont, belonging to early settled families of that state. Harvey Brown was one of the prosperous farmers and prominent residents of Jacksonville in his day, having served upon the board of selectmen, represented his district in the legislature and acted as a justice of the peace. His death occurred February, 1873, and his wife, whom he married in 1827. died July 8, 1882. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Philo Harvey, born January 16,
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1829, died November 29, 1856; Horton Lewis, born September 12, 1830; Elliott Alvin and Alma Eleanor, twins, who were born August 16, 1832; Russell D., whose birth will be recorded presently; Frederick P., born March 31, 1840, died January 14, 1887 ; Nancy A., born Febru- ary 28, 1842: and Orland J., born February 2, 1848. Philo H. Brown married Lucy Sophia Dalrymple, who is no longer living. Horton Lewis Brown, who is now an extensive produce merchant in Chicago, Illinois, married Cassendana L. Hicks. Elliott .A. Brown, who is residing in Jacksonville, Vermont, married Mary Hamilton. Alma E. is now the widow of Charles Franklin Griffin, of Halifax, Vermont. Fred- erick P. Brown married Ella Preston. Nancy A. is the wife of William M. Sanford, of Stamford, Vermont. Orland J. Brown is now a leading physician and surgeon of North Adams.
Russell D. Brown, the father of Dr. Martin M. Brown, was born in Jacksonville, August 18, 1835. Having acquired a good education he taught in the district schools of his native town for some time dur- ing the winter season, but with this exception the active period of his life has been devoted to agriculture, in which he has realized excellent results. In 1899 he retired from the activities of life and is now re- siding in North Adams. He was married in Clarksburg, Massachusetts, August 28, 1862, to Miss Eliza C. Millard, a native of Stamford, Ver- mont. The children of this union are: Martin M., M. D., the principal subject of this sketch ; Eugene Henry, born April 9, 1865, married Angie Bishop: Edgar Russell, born March 10, 1870, married Helen Miner, of New Haven, Vermont; Effie Loretta, born August 31, 1871, is now the wife of Burton B. Fitch, of North Adams; and Rufus Leslie, born May 24, 1877, also a resident of that city.
Having studied preliminarily in the district schools of Jacksonville, Martin M. Brown went to Chicago when sixteen years old and was em-
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ployed in his uncle's store. At the expiration of two years he returned to New England for the purpose of preparing himself for a professional life, and took up the preliminary study of medicine under the direction of his uncle, Dr. Orland J. Brown, of North Adams, at the same time attending the high school in that city, from which he was graduated in 1886. He immediately entered the Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine two years later, and was at once appointed house physician and surgeon to the Chicago Pres- byterian Hospital. Resigning that post a year later to accept one of a similar character in the Cook County Hospital, he served that institu- tion with marked efficiency for one year, at the end of which time he resigned and for the succeeding fifteen months served as surgeon to the Union Hospital at Ironwood, Michigan. In 1891 he returned to North Adams, where he has ever since practiced his profession with gratifying success, and his ability as a general practitioner has obtained wide-spread recognition. Although practicing with equal skill both medicine and surgery he has a decided preference for the last named branch of his profession, and is now serving as visiting surgeon to the North Adams Hospital. Dr. Brown is quite active in civic affairs, especially in mat- ters relative to public education, and has served two terms upon the school board, a portion of that time as its chairman. He is a member of the Massachusetts State, the Berkshire District, the North Berkshire and the Union Medical Societies, having served as president of the two county organizations, and in addition to the above he affiliates with Lafayette Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Composite Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. Paul's Commandery, Knight Templars, of North Adams, and Melha Temple, Ancient and Accepted Nobles of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, of Springfield. He is also a member of Onega Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Wells Encampment, and
A. LOacces
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of Olympian Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Aside from his endeavors to safeguard as far as possible the health of the community, he is act- ively interested in its moral and religious welfare as well, being a leading member of the Universalist church, and for the past twelve years he has served upon its executive board, and as superintendent of its Sunday school. On June 3, 1893, Dr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Blakeslee, daughter of Lorenzo S. and Lestina (Bemis) Blakeslee. They have had two sons, Lawrence and Orland B., neither of whom are now living.
HON. HENRY LAURENS DAWES.
Henry Laurens Dawes was born at Cummington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, October 13, 1816. His family is a branch of that of the same name which is distinguished in politics and literature in eastern Massachusetts. He graduated at Yale University in the class of 1839. While a student at law he taught school and edited the Green- field Gasette. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and commenced prac- tice at North Adams, where, for a time, he edited the Transcript. He also represented the town in the legislatures of 1848, 1849 and 1852, and in the constitutional convention of 1853. In 1850 he was elected to the state senate. From 1853 until 1857 he was district attorney for the western district of Massachusetts. In 1857, there being a very decisive contest pending regarding the future status of political parties, Mr. Dawes, being the exponent of Republican principles in the westernmost district of Massachusetts, was chosen by a large majority over the Dem- ocratic and American candidates. And he represented this district until 1874, when he declined a renomination. In the following session of the legislature he was chosen a senator of the United States, and served in
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that capacity for many years. Upon the expiration of his last term he declined re-election, and Henry Cabot Lodge was his successor. Hon. Henry L. Dawes was for many years a citizen of Pittsfield, Massachu- setts. His death occurred February 5, 1903.
GEORGE FRANKLIN MILLER.
George Franklin Miller, whose business activity, extensive con- nections with fraternal interest and efficient labor in behalf of public good have brought him a general recognition in North Adams and west- ern Massachusetts, was born in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, New York, January 16, 1847. His father, Joseph Miller, the carriage manu- facturer of Greenwich, New York, resided at that place for seventy years, a period exceeding that of any other inhabitant, and died there in the spring of 1905.
George F. Miller acquired his preliminary education in the schools of his native town, and subsequently attended Union Village Academy, Greenwich, of which institution Chester Arthur was also a pupil. He arrived in North Adams in 1867, when a young man of twenty years, and here received the appointment of internal revenue collector, acting in that capacity for three years, on the expiration of which period he became bookkeeper for Mr. Walden, one of the selectmen of the old town. Later he turned his attention to the line of insurance, conduct- ing a general fire insurance business on Main street from 1867 to 1878, and since then in the Burlingame Block. In public affairs he has con- tinued prominent, serving as treasurer of the North Adams fire district for five years, while for eleven years he was chairman of the board of assessors. Mr. Miller is identified with various fraternal organizations. He belongs to Greylock Lodge A. F. & A. M .: Composite Chapter, R.
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A. M .: St. Paul Commandery. K. T .: and is chairman of the board of trustees of the Masonic Hall. He has held office of district deputy grand high priest of Berkshire county, and was one of the charter mem- bers of his lodge, chapter, and commandery, while of the chapter he is a past master. past high priest and past commander. He is in thorough sympathy with the work, the tenets and teachings of the order, and in him is exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. Mr. Miller was married to Miss Idella AAdams, a daughter of Jasper Hyde Adams, who was a prominent and highly respected business man of North Adams and was a descendant in the eighth generation of Henry Adams, of Brain- tree, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had two children, Harry A., and Elsie, but the son died in his twenty-fourth year. He was a grad- uate of Amherst College, and following the completion of his education joined his father in business, but died very suddenly about a year later.
GEORGE COFFIN HUBBEL.
A conscientious and skillful dental practitioner and a good citizen is he whose name introduces this sketch. He was born June 1, 1870, in Hudson, New York, son of Edgar G. and Josephine (Groat ) Hub- bel, both natives of Hudson and respectively of English and French descent. Edgar G. Hubbel, a former resident of Pittsfield, and for sixteen years librarian of the Athenaeum, is now a resident of New Haven, Connecticut, where he represents the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company as special agent. Mr. Hubbel served in the civil war as second lieutenant in the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth New York, the famous regiment known as " Molineux Bears."
George Coffin Hubbel was graduated from Pittsfield's high school. class of '87, then entering the dental department of the University of
.
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Pennsylvania, subsequently attending and being graduated from Phila- delphia Dental College, class of '90. The first year of his practice was spent in Bristol, Connecticut, following which he was engaged in prac- tice at Torrington, Connecticut, up to 1895, when failing health mani- fest in pulmonary weakness, caused by too close application to a large and growing practice, necessitated his temporary withdrawal from his profession. Two years of out-door life and exercise, spent largely in Florida, restored him to good health, and in 1897 he returned to Pitts- field, resuming his dental practice, in which he has continued to be suc- cessfully engaged. He is a member of the Massachusetts and Western District Dental Societies: the Berkshire Automobile Club, and Pitts- field Rod and Gun Club, being secretary and treasurer of the last named organization. A trophy belonging to Dr. Hubbel, of which he is justly proud, is the stuffed skin of a nine pound and two ounce black bass taken by him, the largest fish of its kind that has ever been caught in Berkshire county. Dr. Hubbel married, October 5, 1892, Love Le- Baron, daughter of Hon. John H. Manning (see sketch, this work). Dr. and Mrs. Hubbel have two children: Huelat Newton and Grace Josephine Hubbel. The family reside at 104 Elizabeth street, and attend St. Stephen's Episcopal church.
SALMON BURLINGAME.
Salmon Burlingame, at one time a prominent business man of North Adams and a prominent representative of the manufacturing in- terests, was a native of Rhode Island, his birth having occurred in Scituate, February II, 1800. He was the son of Cyrus and Mercy (Salisbury) Burlingame. When a youth of twelve years his parents, with their six children, came to North Adams. Massachusetts.
Summons Burlingame.
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At the age of seventeen Salmon Burlingame went to Pownal, Vermont, where he entered upon a two years' apprenticeship with Mr. Artemas Crittenden, in order to learn the trade of making satinet. When he had completed his term of indenture he returned to North Adams. In 1826, in connection with Mr. Crittenden, he built a mill on the present site of the Miner school at the "Union." Here they conducted business until 1829, when he sold out. He afterward occupied a mill owned at the time by Turner and Laflin, subsequently the Gould mill, situated on the river bank between the Eagle mill and Union street. Here he manufactured woolen goods, principally satinets, and was con- ducting a prosperous business when the year 1837 involved the country in a disastrous financial panic, and Mr. Burlingame, together with many others, met with serious business reverses. The failure of others caused his own failure. All which he had invested, together with the manufac- tured products of the business, was lost, and he was left almost penni- less. There was also the burden of a large indebtedness still upon him, but years afterward he discharged this to the full extent, paying both principal and interest. It became the one great object of his life, and although there was no legal obligation that he should follow this course, he found it to be a moral duty, and was not content until he had fully recompensed every one to whom he was indebted. Following the fail- ure of his business as a woolen manufacturer he started out again in life, the second time without capital. He was resolute and determined, how- ever, and this proved the basis of the success which came to him in later years. In 1839 he purchased the drug store of Dr. E. Norman, which was kept in a building belonging to Captain Edward Richmond on Main street, and for eight years conducted this mercantile enterprise alone. In 1847 Mr. G. W. Bradford was admitted to partnership, and at the same time, he having bought the real estate of Mr. Richmond, erected on
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the same site a large three-story brick building known as the New Brad- ford block, in the lower story of which their business was located. They dealt in drugs and medicines, hardware, mill supplies and building ma- terials. In 1850 Addison J. Ray purchased Mr. Bradford's interest and became one of the proprietors, under the firm name of Burlingame & Ray. At this time the store was removed to a building owned by E. Southwick on the opposite side of the street. A fire in 1851 nearly de- stroved the establishment. Burlingame & Ray then purchased the prop- erty, also an adjoining building. and replaced the wooden structure with a three-story brick block. In 1868, when Mr. Ray sold his interest in the company, Mr. Burlingame became sole proprietor of the real estate. and George M. Darby a partner in the business. Later W. F. Darby be- came a member of the firm, which has since been known as Burlingame & Darby.
September 18, 1822, Mr. Burlingame was married to Miss Sophia Darby, a daughter of Joseph Darby, who was one of the early settle" of North Adams. They had one son and four daughters. The son died in infancy, Julia in 1877, and Fannie in 1903, the others, Phebe and Cynthia, are still living. The last named became the wife of W. H. Dumville in 1867. The death of Mr. Burlingame occurred in 1882. Almost fifty years before that time he had joined the Baptist church of North Adams and remained a worthy member there until his death. For twenty-one years he served as church treasurer and was always active and helpful in the church work. In matters of citizenship he was patriotic and progressive, served as selectman for several terms, twice represented the town of North Adams in the general court and was also one of the state valuation committee. He was a trustee and vice president of the North Adams Savings Bank and treasurer of the Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society. He was a most conscientious man, true to
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every trust reposed in him and every obligation that devolved upon him, and his course was so straightforward and honorable that he left to his family an untarnished name.
F. W. WHITLOCK.
Among those who found among the Berkshire hills a place of rest- ful retirement after the cares and excitements of business, was F. W. Whitlock, of Great Barrington. Mr. Whitlock belonged to an old New York family, the male members of which have been for genera- tions merchants and sailing masters. His grandfather and great-uncle saw service in the war of 1812.
M. Ludlow Whitlock was a man of great enterprise and was re- markably successful in his undertakings. He organized the first line of clipper ships which crossed the Atlantic. He took an active part in public affairs, and about 1868 was a candidate for the legislature. In 1857 he retired from business and in 1859 came to reside in Berkshire county. He married Lucy A., daughter of Thomas J. Chew, an officer in the United States Navy, and of the four children born to them only one is now living, F. W., mentioned at length hereinafter. The deatlı of Mr. Whitlock occurred in 1887, and his wife passed away in 1890.
F. W. Whitlock, son of M. Ludlow and Lucy (Chew) Whitlock, was born December 19, 1849, in Havre, France, and received his early education under a private tutor, by whom he was prepared to enter Trinity College, Hartford. He afterward studied at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and in 1872 entered upon the active practice of his profession as a civil engineer. From that year until 1878 he was assistant at the Boston water-works. He as- sisted in the construction of the New York and Brooklyn bridge and
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the Metropolitan elevated railroad. For ten years he filled the position of assistant city engineer at Waterbury, Connecticut. Mr. Whitlock was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Con- necticut Association of Civil Engineers and Surveyors, in which for three years he held the office of secretary, the Masonic order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Whitlock died September 18, 1904.
Mr. Whitlock married Zella A., daughter of Rollins A. Kempton, who died October 23. 1896, and they had one child, Pauline W., who is the wife of Leon A. Goodsell.
THOMAS ENRIGHT.
Ever since the birth of the greatest of republics the tide of emigra- tion from the Emerald Isle has been toward its shores. And these Celtic settlers have furnished in all communities throughout the United States men who have proved valuable factors in their development. Their stout hearts, strong and willing hands and natural business acumen have been everywhere in evidence. Among the number of these in Berkshire county was the gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs.
He was born September 9. 1827, in the town of Glin, county Lim- erick, Ireland, where he received a rudimentary education and mastered shoe-making, and with this trade as his sole capital embarked in 1847 for America, temporarily locating in Albany, New York.
The following year ( 1848) he came to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and found immediate employment with the Weller Brothers, John and Frederick, who then practically monopolized the making of boots and shoes in Pittsfield. This connection continued a period of ten years, when, with money saved from his wages and an ample fund of ex-
Thomas Enright
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perience, he entered into partnership association with Oliver W. Rob- bins under the firm name of Robbins & Company to conduct a retail boot and shoe business, with custom department, on the west side of North street. Pittsfield. Upon the dissolution of this partnership in 1866 Mr. Enright became associated with James A. Burbank. and the firm of Burbank & Enright establishing a similar business in the immediate vicinity of the old store. The personal popularity of both these gentle- men and the old-fashioned honesty of their methods of doing business resulted in their house speedily becoming the leading one in its line in Berkshire county, a position which the successors to the business have been able to maintain. Owing to failing health Mr. Enright retired from business in March, 1889, the date also of the retirement of Mr. Burbank, Mr. James J. Enright, son of Mr. Thomas Enright, succeeding to his father's interest, and Mr. John H. Enright, nephew of Mr. En- right, purchasing the interest therein of Mr. Burbank. The profits of this successfully conducted shoe business were very judiciously invested by Thomas Enright in local real estate, much of which was held and im- proved by him in the erection of substantial dwelling houses, still the property of his estate. He died September, 1889, leaving three children : Ellen Enright : Maria, the wife of Dr. J. H. Tobin, of Schuylerville, New York, and James J. Enright, the son above mentioned. He was born July 3. 1869, in Pittsfield, attended its public schools and was a high school student at the time of his father's decease, when he entered into business as narrated.
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