USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 29
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ANDREW L. HUBBELL.
Among those citizens of Berkshire county who, though not sons of the soil, have by long residence and public-spirited services thor- oughly identified themselves with their place of abode, is Andrew L. Hubbell, of Great Barrington. The family of which he is a repre-
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sentative was founded in America by Richard Hubbell, who, in 1647, came from Plymouth, England, and settled in New Haven. In 1690 he was one of the grantees of the town of Fairfield, Connecticut. He enjoys the honorable distinction of having been the founder of a race eminent for patriotism. It is estimated that the descendants of Rich- ard Hubbell, who served in the Revolutionary army, outnumbered those of any other individual. One of these descendants was Silleman Hub- bell, grandfather of Andrew L. Hubbell, the present representative of the family.
Luman Hubbell, son of Silleman Hubbell, was a member of the firm of Coe & Hubbell, merchants of Winchester, Connecticut. He was a man of great strength of character and was popular with all classes. He held the office of selectman and was an active member of the Universalist church. He married Jane, daughter of James Boyd, of a very old Connecticut family, and they were the parents of two sons : Andrew L., mentioned at length hereinafter; and James B., a late resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. These children were early deprived of their mother. Mr. Hubbell, the father, is also deceased.
Andrew L. Hubbell, son of Luman and Jane (Boyd) Hubbell, was born in 1834, in Winsted, Connecticut, and attended common schools and academies in various places. He came to Great Barring- ton as a young man, and for a short time was employed by B. F. Dur- rant. He then engaged in the clothing business, in which he continued without interruption until his retirement in 1894. His marked success as a business man was due to a thorough understanding of the demands and requirements of his calling, and to the reputation which he estab- lished at the very outset of his career for perfect reliability and strict honesty in all his dealings. For fourteen years he was one of the directors of the National Bank. He always took an active part in town-
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ship affairs, doing all in his power to advance the best interests of the community. He was at one time president of the Agricultural Society, and for three years held the office of selectman. He was an old-time Republican, having been one of that historic band who cast their votes to place Lincoln in the presidential chair. He was prominent in the affairs of the organization, and acted as delegate to state Republican conventions. He was a charter member of Monument Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and at the time of his death was president of the Berk- shire County Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Hubbell married, in 1857. Martha, daughter of Edward P. Woodworth, of Great Barrington. They had no children. Mr. Hub- bell died at his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, February 3, 1905. His brother, James B. Hubbell, died at St. Paul, Minnesota, December 19, 1905.
WILLIAM HENRY FALLON.
Although a comparatively young practitioner in dental surgery, the gentleman whose name introduces this narrative finds his time quite completely occupied by a well satisfied clientele. He is a native of Berkshire county, born May 31, 1877.
He entered Philadelphia Dental College in 1897, and was gradu- ated therefrom with the class of 1900. For a short time thereafter he was assistant with Dr. M. W. Flynn, Pittsfield, then establishing his present offices in the England Block. North street. He is a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society, of which he is executive commit- teeman in 1905.
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ADOLPH FEINER.
Artistic tailoring is a recognized modern necessity, and it is the source of much openly expressed satisfaction on the part of a very large number of very excellent people that the subject of this sketch finally fixed upon Pittsfield as a permanent abiding place. for Mr. Feiner has abundantly demonstrated that he has a well-defined and most useful mission, and that in the fore-front of the merchant tailoring trade in western Massachusetts. He was born December 25, 1862, in Vienna, Austria, where his father was in governmental employ as one of its staff of military tailors.
The son received a liberal education. initially with a view to taking up the study of engineering, and to that end he for two years attended a preparatory school for that profession. Becoming disinclined to adopt that vocation he took up merchant tailoring under his father. The lat- ter, desirous of equipping the former to the best possible business advan- tage, sent Adolph in 1881 to Dresden, Saxony, to enter what was at that time the best cutting school in Europe. But the son cherished another ambition, that of seeking his fortune in America, and he did not stop in his westward journey until the shores of the new world had been reached.
For two years he was employed in the city of New York, and the following two years in Cincinnati, Ohio. From 1886 to 1895 he was head cutter for the merchant tailoring establishment of Strauss Brothers. Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1896 came to Pittsfield to purchase a half interest in the merchant tailoring department of J. R. Newman & Sons, an association which continued for three years, when Mr. Feiner pur- chased the Newman Sons' interest and removed the merchant tailoring business to the store which he has since continued to occupy, No. 10
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North street. Mr. Feiner has the distinction of being the only merchant in his line in the county seat who devotes a store to business purposes.
Mr. Feiner is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias. He finds his pleasantest pastime with his books, and has one of the best selected libraries in Pittsfield.
AMOS SMITH.
Amos Smith, deceased, for many years one of the extensive land owners and prominent citizens of Dalton, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, was one of the direct descendants of Amos Smith, who was born in Ashford, Connecticut, November 21, 1758, was united in mar- riage to Ame Chaffee of Ashford, on May 18, 1779, and subsequently settled in the town of Dalton. Six children were the result of this marriage, viz: Alvah, Abner, David, Amos, Jr., Ame, and Avis. On March 19, 1801, Ame (Chaffee) Smith, aged forty-two years, died and May 5, 1802, Amos married Mary Colton, of Cummington, for his second wife, to whom were born five children: Roswell, Selinda, Sul- livan, Mary, Cynthia. Amos died September 19, 1814. Mary (Col- ton) Smith died December 1. 1853, aged eighty-three years.
Abner Smith, second son of Amos and Ame ( Chaffee) Smith, was born in Ashford, May 26, 1781, and came to the town of Dalton with his parents when a child of three years. He was reared and educated in this vicinity and here he also spent his active business career. On Au- gust 25, 1810, he married Mary Driscoll, born in Rhode Island, Octo- ber 17, 1785, and the following named children were the issue of this marriage: 1. Julia, born February 12, 1812. was married three times, first to Abner Putnam, leaving three children ; second to a Mr. Church, leaving one daughter Jennie (Church) Gardner, living in Dalton, and
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others; and third to John Hecox. 2. Electa, born December 26, 1813. became the wife of Marble Foote, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, leaving two children. Kate and Charles. 3. David Chaffee, born January 14, 1817. was married March 25, 1841, to Permelia Comstock, of Stock- bridge, who was born June 3. 1817, died October 7. 1894: David died May 22, 1888, and their children were, Ensign M .. born in Dalton, August 19, 1842, married Lucy Branch, September 25, 1864, has two sons, Rupert and Russell A .; Ensign served in war of '61 to '65, was wounded in left lung, for several years was interested in granite works, St. Louis, Missouri, later resided in his father's home. North street, Dal- ton, where he died October 7, 1904. David C., Jr., born December I, 1845, was twice married, first to Lucy M. Root, April 14, 1867; second to Kate A. Fish, March 14, 1874; they have five children : Murray E., Roscce J., Bessie B., Kittie B., Sarah P., still living. Robert Amos, born February 18, 1850, married Lucia M. Owen, of Lee: had three daughters: Blanth E., still living; Clara .Belle, Clover Mildred, resides in Dalton. Permelia E., born May 11, 1852, married, March 8, 1871. Henry A. Hale, one child, Annie P., still living, August 17, 1885, became the wife of Clarence Cady, of Wind- sor, now resides in Pittsfield. 4. Abner Marshall, born May 29, 1819, who married for his wives two sisters, Betsey and Robie Evans; chil- dren by first wife: Grace, Carrie, Ethlin: Grace (Bowerman) died ; Carrie, Ethlin unmarried; by second wife : Marshall, a physician : Kittie, Lulu, all living and married. Abner Marshall studied medicine while young, became a well known physician of Pittsfield, where he died May 23. 1889. 5. Eliza, born May 31, 1822, became the wife of James Lambdin. of Cincinnati, Ohio, after whose death, April 25, 1854, aged thirty-eight years and six months, she married George Campbell, residing in Maumee City, Ohio, whom she survived, dying
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August 10, 1888, leaving no issue. 6. Amos, born July 2, 1823, men- tioned hereinafter. 7. James Driscoll, born December 13, 1825, mar- ried Rachel Gleason, having two children: Nellie M., and Marshall, now deceased. Because of his natural rhymes upon local affairs he was termed " Dalton's Poet." He died April 22. 1895. Abner Smith (lied August 22, 1864. aged eighty-three years. Mary Driscoll. his wife, died April 30. 1854. aged sixty-eight years.
Amos Smith, sixth child of Abner and Mary ( Driscoll ) Smith. was born July 2, 1823. He received a common school education which thoroughly qualified him for the active duties of life. He possessed the same sterling qualities as characterized his ancestors, and he fol- lowed in their footsteps to some extent. that being the cultivation of the farm and the marketing of the extensive lumber under his charge. He worked for the Crane family of Dalton, Massachusetts, for a num- ber of years, in fact nearly all his life. He was a just and conscientious employer. never expecting a man to perform more work than he was able to do in a day. He was actively interested in local affairs, and served his town as selectman eight years, besides filling minor offices and serving on committees, and in the performance of all these varied duties he gave the utmost satisfaction to his superiors and fellow citi- zens. He was upright and honest in all relations, both in public and private life. and thereby won and retained the esteem and confidence of all with whom he was brought in contact. May 20, 1851. Mr. Smith married Julia Flint, of Dalton, Massachusetts, whose parents were direct descendants from England. She was born February 16, 1822. died October 14, 1889. Their children are: 1. Edith, born August 7. 1859. who became the wife of Gideon L. Ferry, of Becket. Massa- chusetts, and their children are: Amos Smith, Walter A .. and Julia C. Ferry; they make their home on the site of the old Amos Smith
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house on North street, Dalton. 2. Belle Lambdin, born May 13, 1863; she is unmarried and is one of the enterprising women of the state. Her father died in 1893, and left a large number of acres of valuable timber land. She purchased her sister's share and proceeded to conduct a sawmill, the cutting and sawing of the timber being performed under her own supervision. The lumber being sold for building purposes in Dalton and Pittsfield. She has been very successful in her undertaking.
MORTIMER T. CAVANAUGH, M. D.
One of the well-known physicians of Berkshire county is Dr. Mor- timer T. Cavanaugh of Great Barrington. Dr. Cavanaugh is of Irish parentage. He is the son of Thomas J. Cavanaugh, who was a native of county Clare, Ireland, and in 1865 emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. He subsequently moved to Hartford, Connecti- cut, where he followed his trade, which was that of a blacksmith. In 1867 he established himself in the general blacksmithing and wagon- making business at North Adams, Massachusetts. He was for a num- ber of years proprietor of the American House at North Adams and con- ducted the establishment successfully until his retirement in 1893. He married Margaret Kehoe, and of the eight children born to them six are now living, among them being Mortimer T., mentioned at length hereinafter. Mrs. Cavanaugh, the mother of these children, died April 20, 1903, sincerely mourned by her family and friends. Mr. Cavanaugh, the father, is still living, esteemed by all who know him as a man whose success is the result not only of ability but also of strict rectitude.
Mortimer T. Cavanaugh, son of Thomas J. and Margaret (Kehoe) Cavanaugh, was born July 31, 1872, in North Adams, Massachusetts, and received his education at the Drury Academy. He was prepared
Martiner J. Cavanaugh
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for the practice of his chosen profession at Baltimore Medical College, which he entered in 1895 and from which he received in 1898 the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After one year's hospital service in Baltimore (Maryland) General Hospital, and as demonstrator of pathology and bacteriology during sessions of 1898-99 at the Baltimore Medical Col- lege, he entered upon the practice of his profession at North Adams in 1899, and in May, 1901, established his present office in Great Barring- ton, where he has a large and constantly increasing practice of a gen- eral character. He is a member and secretary of the board of health, also a member of the Great Barrington school board.
REV. DANIEL F. CRONIN.
As the senior Roman Catholic pastor in Berkshire county, and chair- man of the board of diocesan examiners, the Rev. Father Cronin, rector of St. Patrick's Church, Hinsdale, stands pre-eminent among the clergy of that denomination in western Massachusetts, and his long period of strenuous labor, which has now passed the quarter-century mark, forms no small part of the history and development of the Catholic faith in that locality.
Daniel T. Cronin was born in Ireland. He pursued the primary branches of his education in the Worcester public schools, and was grad- uated fron Holy Cross College, that city, with the class of 1869. His theological studies were directed by the Sulpician fathers in Montreal, Canada, and his ordination to the priesthood took place in the winter of 1872. His first assignment was as curate at Brookfield, this state, where he remained for four years, and in 1876 he was appointed to the Hins- dale pastorate, which he has retained continuously to the present time. St. Patrick's Church was erected in 1852 through the efforts of
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the Rev. Father Cuddihy, of Pittsfield, who had for some time prior to that date attended to the spiritual needs of the faithful in that locality. As early as 1832 Father Fitton, one of the first Catholic priests to visit Weston, Massachusetts, celebrated mass as far west as Great Bar- rington, and in other villages of Berkshire county, but makes no men- tion of having visited Hinsdale. As previously stated Father Cuddihy and other clergymen from Pittsfield attended the Catholic people there until their numbers were such as to warrant the establishment of a separate parish, and in 1868 the Rev. Father Romano became the first resident pastor. The new parish of St. Patrick included Dalton, Becket, Middlefield, Washington, Windsor and Peru. Father Romano was succeeded in May, 1872, by the Rev. P. V. Moyce, an able instructor, ripe scholar and eloquent preacher, who died in the following July. Rev. P. J. Sheehan, the curate at Pittsfield, was next assigned to the Hinsdale pastorate, which he retained until called to his reward the ensuing year, and he was succeeded by Rev. Patrick McManus in April, 1873. The latter died in December, 1874, and the parish was in charge of Rev. E. B. McKeeney, as " locum tenens " for a short time, or until the arrival. in the following January, of Rev. John B. Daley, who was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel T. Cronin, in July, 1876.
Young, energetic and vigilant, Father Cronin found ample oppor- tunity to display his power of endurance as well as his indefatigable zeal, for the Hinsdale parish, together with its dependent missions, is far from being a sinecure, and the spirit of energy and optimism which char- acterized his labors in this locality have proved of inestimable value to the moral and religious welfare of the community. Next in importance to the parish seat is the village of Dalton, famous for its industries and the moral and intellectual superiority of its inhabitants. Here the Catholics and Protestants enjoy the blessings of neighborly unity, fac-
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tional discord in religious matters being entirely unknown, and here the fruitage of Father Cronin's influence and labor is visibly apparent in the handsome church at St. Agnes, the somewhat unusual circumstances relative to the erection of which will be shortly referred to.
As a Catholic center of population, Dalton is about as oid as Hins- dale. Mass was celebrated here as early as 1842. by the Rev. Father Brady, who from that time until his death made frequent visits to the town. Subsequently the Catholic residents received the attention of Fathers Cuddihy and Purcell, of St. Joseph's Church, Pittsfield, and it was one of the dependent missions of the Pittsfield parish from 1861 to 1873. In the latter year it was attached to St. Patrick's parish, Hins- dale, and when Father Cronin became conversant with the situation he comprehended the necessity for a church edifice which would be more in keeping with the advanced condition of the Catholic people of Dal- ton, and he acted accordingly. His efforts in that direction resulted in the erection of St. Agnes' Church, in 1883, at a cost of seventeen thou- sand dollars, and he not only received the sympathy and financial sup- port of his own flock, but the Protestant residents as well entered heartily into the work in order to demonstrate in a substantial manner their interest in the religious work of their Catholic fellow-townsmen, and also their sincere appreciation of Father Cronin's endeavors in be- half of the high moral standing of the community. AAmong the latter were Messrs. Crane, Weston, Carson and Brown. Mr. Brown donated the land, the well-known Crane family, of which ex-Governor and now Senator W. Murray Crane is a distinguished representative, contributed the sum of one thousand dollars to the building fund, and the Hon. Byron Weston presented a fine church bell. The contributions as a whole were so liberal as to enable Father Cronin to present the Bishop with a new church which on the day of its dedication was but slightly
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encumbered with debt. St. Agnes' Church, which is considered the handsomest religious edifice in Berkshire county, is of the Gothic style of architecture, has a seating capacity of five hundred, and is located upon the handsomest street in the town.
Father Cronin is gentle in manner, intellectual in his tastes, and exceedingly domestic in his habits, taking special delight in his home and people. His moral and religious influence in both Hinsdale and Dalton is far-reaching, and his interest in educational matters has been pro- ductive of much public benefit. The curates who have labored at St. Agnes' include Revs. George M. Fitzgerald, 1883-85: Thomas J. Fitz- gerald, 1885-87; John J. Nelligan, 1888-90; William C. McCaughan, 1891-94: James M. Pendergrast. 1894-98; and James A. O'Malley. 1898 to the present time.
Father O'Malley is a native of Clinton, Massachusetts, which is becoming quite famous as the birthplace of Catholic clergymen. He is a graduate of Holy Cross College, Worcester, this state, and studied theology at the Brighton Seminary, where his ordination to the priest- hood took place. His first duty was as curate at St. John's Church, Worcester, and he was subsequently "locum tenens " at Cordaville and Florence, from whence he was assigned to Hinsdale and Dalton. He is a zealous, scholarly priest, and with his superior shares the love and con- fidence of both parishes.
LOUIS BURNS.
Prominent among the successful merchants of Western Massachu- setts is Mr. Louis Burns, proprietor of the extensive house-furnishing goods establishment in the Burns block on North street. Pittsfield. He was born in Thompsonville, Connecticut, January 17, 1860, son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Stevens) Burns.
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William Burns was a native of the county Monaghan, north of Ire- land, where he was born in 1809 and whence he came to the United States, locating in New York city in 1830. After several years' resi- dence in the latter city he was induced by Orin Thompson, the founder of the Thompson Carpet Company, to locate in Thompsonville, where he was installed as superintendent of a department of that gigantic in- dustry, then and still the largest manufacturing establishment of its kind in the world. This connection continued for a period approximating fifteen years, when Mr. Burns retired therefrom and invested his con- siderable savings in establishing the Burns-McLean Grocery Company at Thompsonville. After years of successful business he sold out his in- terest to his partner and purchased a farm, upon which he continued to live in retirement throughout the remainder of his life.
William Burns was a prominent type of that large and splendid body of men from the north of Ireland whose brain and brawn, industry and integrity have wrought so beneficently to the commercial develop- ment of the United States. Mr. Burns was one of the founders of the United Presbyterian church of Thompsonville, and took upon himself a large share of the expense incident to the erection of the edifice in which that congregation worshiped. His wife was a daughter of James Stev- ens, who came from Scotland early in the nineteenth century and located at Thompsonville, where he was stove dealer, tinsmith and coal mer- chant.
Louis Burns received his general education in the public and high schools of Thompsonville and began his preparation for business life by taking the course at Hannum Business College, Hartford, Connecticut. Immediately thereafter he entered the employ of William Calderwood, who conducted a general store. at Thompsonville; following this he clerked for A. Sloan & Sons at the same place.
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In 1880 he went to Springfield to take charge of the draperies de- partment of Forbes & Wallace. In 1882 he resigned the last mentioned position to purchase in conjunction with C. W. Wright the Sloan busi- ness heretofore mentioned. This partnership association was success- fully continued for nearly five years, when Mr. Burns' impaired health led to his retirement from the firm and temporary withdrawal from busi- ness. In 1888 he reassociated himself with Mr. Wright, a house fur- nishing goods business being established by them on Fenn street, Pitts- field, under the firm name of Wright & Burns. In 1892 Mr. Burns sold his interest in this store to Mr. Wright for the purpose of embarking in business in Troy, New York. This project was abandoned, however, and a promising opportunity for investment presenting itself through the purchase of the Stockbridge House ( now Red Lion Inn) livery, Mr. Burns availed himself thereof, holding and successfully conducting the same until its advantageous sale a year later. He then formed a part- nership association with W. T. Petherbridge and re-entered the house furnishing goods business at Pittsfield in the Upper Burbank block, where the business was conducted until 1898, when a removal was made to the present location in the New Burns block, North street. Mr. Burns purchased his partner's interest therein in 1899 and is now its sole pro- prietor, the business conducted by him being the largest of its kind in western Massachusetts.
He married, in October, 1883. Elizabeth Ingraham Allen. daugh- ter of Isaac A. Allen, manufacturer of Enfield. Connecticut.
Properly patriotic in his devotion to the land of his nativity, Mr. Burns cherishes with equal enthusiasm a love for Bonnie Scotland, whence his ancestors found their way to the north of Ireland, and his eloquent addresses have been the features of numerous anniversary oc- casions in Berkshire county in honor of the memory of Scotland's most
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distinguished and best-loved poet-Bobby Burns. He frequently quotes that beautiful tribute to the immortal bard from the inspired pen of the late Robert G. Ingersoll upon the occasion of the latter's visit to the humble cot, August 19, 1878:
THE BIRTHPLACE OF BURNS.
Though Scotland boasts a thousand names Of patriot, king and peer, The noblest, grandest of them all Was loved and cradled here. Here lived the gentle peasant prince, The loving cotter king, Compared with whom the greatest lord Is but a titled thing.
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