USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol I > Part 31
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Jabez Fuller (6), son of Zadock and Alice (Porter) Fuller, was born January 27. 1773. in Halifax, Massachusetts, and died July 31, 1855, in Lanesboro, Massachusetts. He acquired a common school edu- cation, followed the quiet but useful calling of agriculture, was a Con- gregationalist in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He married Hannah Tuttle, born in Hamptonburg, Orange county, New York, 1780,
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in the first house erected in that township. She was a descendant of one of the first settlers of Orange county, and belonged to the Bull family. well known in the history of Orange county.
William Augustus Fuller (7), son of Jabez and Hannah (Tuttle) Fuller, was born in Lanesboro, Massachusetts. April 29. 1815. After completing a common school education he served in the capacity of teacher many years, a position for which he was well qualified. Later he was superintendent of works for the digging of white quartz sand at Cheshire and at Berkshire, Massachusetts. From 1856 to 1868-69. a period of between twelve and thirteen years, he was a merchant in Lanes- boro, was identified for many years with the Berkshire Glass Company, and from 1875 to 1897, a period of twenty-two years, was the manager of the Page & Harding Glass Company's store at Berkshire. He was a Democrat in politics, and at various times filled the offices of town clerk, assessor, a member of the school committee, and justice of the peace. He joined the Lanesboro Congregational church in 1846, in which body he served as clerk for thirty-eight years, deacon for twenty years, and super- intendent of the Sunday school. He was one of the founders of Union Chapel at Berkshire, erected in 1888, and was superintendent of Berk- shire Sunday school from 1875 to 1897. He belonged to Upton Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Cheshire, Massachusetts.
William Augustus Fuller married (first), 1837, Adelia Weed, of Lanesboro, Massachusetts, daughter of Enoch and Sila Weed, and two children were born to them: I. Rose Ellen, born in 1841, died Novem- ber 22, 1848; 2. Herbert Augustus, born June 6, 1842, died April 20, 1893; he was register of deeds in Northern Berkshire District, at Adams, Massachusetts. He married Gertrude Allen, September 25, 1864, and their children were: Emma Adelia, Eva Lillian, Ella May, and Katie Benton Chamberlain. Herbert A. Fuller married (second) Nellie
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T. Moore, March 5, 1884, and they were the parents of one child, Ninon Letice Fuller. William A. Fuller married (second). at Cheshire, Massa- chusetts. October 14. 1856, Mary Cole. daughter of David and Polly (Rice) Cole, and they were the parents of one child, Mary Anna ( Ben- nett), born December 1, 1861. graduated from Wellesley College. 1884, and follows the vocation of teacher. William Augustus Fuller died June 5, 1897.
VALMORE AUGUSTUS WHITAKER.
Valmore Augustus Whitaker, treasurer of the North Adams Sav- ings Bank, and honored and respected in financial and business circles in western Massachusetts, was born March 14, 1835, in the city which is yet his home. He is a representative of one of the old families in this part of the state. His paternal grandparents were Ezra and Mary Whit- aker, who occupied a house on the Peter Tower farm on the west road to Adams. They belonged to the Society of Friends.
Ezra D. Whitaker, father of Valmore A. Whitaker, was born in North Adams, June 21, 1797, acquired his education in the public schools, after which he engaged in teaching for some time in Hancock, Massa- chusetts, and The Notch. From 1829 until 1835 he was engaged in the grocery business in Troy, New York, but with the exception of that period he was for fifty years identified with business interests in North Adams. He was associated at different times with Ezra Brown and Giles Tinker and was identified with various interests, industrial and commercial pursuits in North Adams. He was engaged in merchan- dising, was also the first expressman and insurance agent in the town, and was the treasurer of the North Adams Savings Bank for fifteen years. He continued in the insurance business until he transferred this to his son Clarence, and he was succeeded in the treasurership in the
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bank by his son Valmore A. In 1874 he retired from business, after a long, useful and active career, having acquired a handsome competence that classed him with the substantial citizens of western Massachusetts. He was not alone prominent, however, as a representative of commer- cial and financial interests, but was also influential in public, political and military circles. From 1845 until 1855 he held the office of trial justice in North Adams, and in 1840 represented his district in the state legisla- ture. He was an advocate of the Whig party until its dissolution and the formation of the Republican party, and continued one of the stalwart supporters of the latter until his demise. In 1830 he was commissioned a captain in the state militia, and was thus closely connected with the mili- tary interests of the state. He was a Master Mason and at the time of his death, which occurred May 4, 1889, was the last surviving charter member of LaFayette Lodge. On July 9, 1845, he united with the Baptist church, of which he remained an active and consistent member until his death. Ezra D. Whitaker was twice married. In 1818 he wedded Julia A. Lapham and they had one daughter. Mrs. D. W. Mc- Elwain. On September 30, 1824, he married his second wife, Amanda M. Jones, who had six children, but two, Eugene and Julia, died in in- fancy. Those who lived to maturity were Mortimer, who was judge of the district court of Chicopee and died in 1863: Valmore A. : Ezra J., who ranked as chief engineer in the United States navy and died August 20, 1895; and Clarence, who succeeded his father in the insur- ance business and died March 19, 1886. The parents celebrated their golden wedding September 30, 1874, and the mother died August 20, 1875.
Valmore A. Whitaker was educated in the public schools and at Drury Academy, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1851. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in a store in North
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Adams, where he remained for three years, and was then employed in the same capacity by his cousin, L. W. McFarland, a cloak dealer in New York city, with whom he remained until 1855. In that year he re- turned to North Adams and was clerk and bookkeeper for Austin Magee. In April, 1857, he took a course at Comer's Commercial College at Bos- ton, and in the following July accepted a position as bookkeeper for the New York dry goods jobbing house of J. A. Sweetser & Company. Owing to a business depression he was idle for a few months, but was recalled January 1, 1858, and remained with this firm until its dissolu- tion in 1863. In the meantime he had been advanced through consecu- tive stages until he was head bookkeeper for the house. Mr. Whitaker was next employed by the large woolen commission house of John Slade & Company, with whom he remained for five years. Going to Hunt- ington, Massachusetts, in 1868. he was engaged in the cotton manufac- turing business with his brother Clarence until December of that year, when, on account of his father's advanced age, he returned to Northi Adams to accept the position of assistant treasurer in the savings bank. He succeeded his father as treasurer on the 15th of October, 1872, at which time the deposits of the bank amounted to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was soon afterward elected a trustee of the insti- tution, and for many years has had full charge of its financial affairs. Under his capable guidance the bank has steadily developed, its busi- ness growing to extensive proportions. The deposits now amount to nearly five million dollars, and the bank is one of the largest savings institutions in western Massachusetts. Mr. Whitaker stands prominent as a representative of financial interests in this part of the state, possess- ing a thorough knowledge of the banking business and the keen fore- sight and executive ability that enable him to so control the affairs of the institution as to make it one of the leading, reliable, moneyed con-
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cerns of the community. He is also a director in the North Adams Na- tional Bank and North Adams Trust Company. He was formerly chair- man of the prudential committee of the North Adams Fire District, and actively interested in the welfare and progress of his city. He has been the champion of many measures for the general good and has assisted in many movements that have resulted beneficially for North Adams. He was a member of the city council, and for some time acted as chair- man of the finance committee after the incorporation of North Adams. For five years he was president of the city council, and exercised his official prerogatives in the material advance and substantial improvement of the municipality. His political support is given to the Republican party and he is unfaltering in the advocacy of its principles, believing that they contain the best elements of good government. He has been a student of the signs of the times, has informed himself concerning the needs and possibilities of his city, and his efforts have been discerningly directed along lines resulting in successful accomplishment for North Adams.
In 1867 Mr. Whitaker was married to Miss Sara Reins, of New York city, who died in November. 1871, and in December, 1873. he was joined in wedlock to Miss Emma L. Beckwith, of East Lyme, Con- necticut. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Beckwith, and at the time of her marriage accompanied her husband to North Adams. where she continued to reside until her demise. In her early girlhood she joined the Baptist church, and was a consistent member of that de- nomination for more than half a century. She was active in the work of the church and its societies until her health forbade further labors in that direction. Her interest centered in her home, and while her life in many respects was quietly passed, she, nevertheless, possessed a charin- ing personality, a familiarity with literature and a kindly spirit that
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gained her warm and enduring friendships and caused her death to be deeply deplored. She was a charter member of Fort Massachusetts Chapter, D. A. R., and continued her connection therewith up to the time of her death, November 29, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker had one son, Ezra D. Whitaker, who is the assistant treasurer of North Adams Savings Bank, and who was elected a member of the city coun- cil, December 20, 1904. Mr. V. A. Whitaker was made a Mason at Greylock Lodge in 1871, and became a member of the Composite Chapter. R. A. M. He was at one time trustee of the public library, and was actively connected therewith until the city charter went into effect. Since 1850 he has been a member of the Baptist church, and he was elected its clerk on March 17, 1876, while on the 23d of May, 1887, he was chosen one of its deacons. Largely instrumental in securing the erection of the present edifice, he is now serving as one of the church trustees and for twenty-five years was connected with the Sunday school. He was largely influential in founding a local branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and acted as chairman of the first meeting assembled for that purpose. Whatever has tended to promote the material, intellectual and moral advancement of the community has received his endorsement and co-operation and he, therefore, stands to-day as one of the representative and valued citizens of North Adams, He resides at the corner of Ashland and Quincy streets.
WILLIAM STERLING MORTON.
William Sterling Morton, engaged in the practice of law at Adams, Massachusetts, was born November 5. 1865, in Paisley, Scotland. He comes of one of the old families of Scotland, and his grandfather was engaged in the weaving of shawls at Paisley. The family were identified
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with the Presbyterian church in the land of the heather, but in America became connected with the Congregational denomination.
Alexander Morton, father of William Sterling Morton, was born in Paisley, Scotland, May 28, 1842. He was a self-educated as well as self-made man, acquiring his knowledge largely through his reading, observation and experience after he had passed the period of early youth. In December, 1868, he emigrated with his family to America and settled in North Adams, Massachusetts, where he secured employment in a mill and was thus engaged for ten or more years. Eventually he removed to the west and followed farming in Crawford county, Iowa. His wife bore the maiden name of Ellen Logan, and was also born in Paisley, Scotland, November 10, 1842, her parents being William and Catherine (Emery) Logan. The parents were identified with the Presbyterian church in their native land, and in America joined the Congregational church.
William Sterling Morton was a little lad of only two years of age when brought to America by his parents, arriving at Briggsville, Massa- chusetts on the Ioth of August, 1867. When he was only eleven years of age he was employed in the old Broadley mill at Adams, Massachu- setts, and subsequently removed with his parents to Crawford county, Iowa, living upon the old farm there. He attended the district schools during the winter months, and in the summer seasons was largely en- gaged at the work of the fields and meadow. He taught school for a year, and in 1884 entered Drake university at Des Moines, Iowa, being graduated from the law department of that institution with the class of June, 1889. He then entered upon the practice of law at Castena, Iowa, but in the fall of that year abandoned his practice and removed to Chi- cago, where he entered the employ of the Pullman Palace Car Company in its machinery department. Returning to Crawford county, Iowa, he
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again became engaged in teaching school and in September, 1891, re- entered the practice of law at Guthrie, Oklahoma. In June, 1893, he re- located in Adams, Massachusetts, and from February, 1894, to the present time has been a member of the bar and enjoys a distinctively representative clientage. He has been connected with much of the im- portant litigation tried in the courts of his district, and has long since demonstrated his right to rank with the leading members of the bar here. In his political views Mr. Morton was a Democrat until the cam- paign of 1896, when he endorsed the Republican platform and has since been an advocate of the principles of that party. In 1900 he was a candidate for representative from this district, but was defeated. In 1901 he was appointed special justice of the fourth district court of Berkshire. He is regarded as one of the leading men of his community. He belongs to the First Congregational church of Adams, and in 1891 became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Dow City, Iowa. He belongs to the Benevolent Caledonian Club, of which he is past chief. On the first of October, 1902, Mr. Morton was married at Adams, Massachusetts, to Miss Edith Williams Marsh, a graduate of the high school of this city and afterward a successful teacher here. Her parents are Oscar W. and Delia (Williams) Marsh. Her father was employed by the Boston & Albany Railroad Company at the time of his death. He enlisted in the Forty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers at the time of the civil war and served until the close of hostilities. His wife is a descendent of one of the first families of Lanesboro, Massa- chusetts, and among her collateral ancestral connections was the founder of Williams College. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have a daughter. Edith, born April 18, 1905.
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PATRICK HENRY BOSSIDY.
Patrick Henry Bossidy is the genial and popular proprietor of the Morgan House, Lee, Massachusetts, who in 1902 thoroughly repaired the interior, built a new veranda and put in electric lights, steam heat, bath rooms, and made the house in every respect a modern and com- fortable place for the traveling public. Since these changes the house has become more popular and its patronage has greatly increased. The Morgan House has always borne a good reputation, even in the days when the landlords were handicapped for want of modern conveniences, and to-day its bill of fare is abreast with public houses far more pre- tentious in size and location. The Morgan House has been a public house in Lee for nearly half a century, and clustered about it are many pleasant memories of a bygone generation, of stories told before its hospitable fireplace. of suppers by lodges, societies, and private parties enjoyed about its board, and many things of a public nature which have made it a center of interest from the days when it was a country tavern to its position to-day as a modern, commercial hotel. Before it became a tavern, even as the private residence of Esquire Porter. it had an at- traction beyond that of an ordinary dwelling house. for Esquire Porter was the leading man of the town in his day. the most hospitable and influential.
There are many things in the past history of Lee's taverns and hotels which our histories are silent about. and the few facts we are able to give concerning the Morgan House are from deeds and the memories of older residents. The first hotel or public house was a log cabin. six- teen feet square, located in the hollow near the residence of B. H. Taintor, and there was a similar structure in East Lec. The first build- ing deserving the name of a tavern was the Red Lion Inn at the corner
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of Park and Housatonic streets. This was built in 1778 by Nathan Dillingham, and conducted as a public house until 1834. This old tavern was situated at what was a vantage point in those early days, near the confluence of the stage road to Cape street and beyond, now known as Maple, and roads leading north and south. Housatonic street was not cut through in those days. The Red Lion Inn was in the corner of Pease's yard, near the big elm, and after it outlived its usefulness as a hotel was moved south of the school house, at a point now between E. B. Ramsdell's and F. A. Phelps' residences. In 1778 a man by the name of William Coal built the Housatonic house where Memorial Hall now stands. The Housatonic house was bought by Mr. Hicks and remodeled in 1864 to a large and fine looking hotel. Two years later it was burned and never rebuilt. In 1803 Jedediah Crocker had a public house in East Lee. Pliny Shaylor had won a mile or two farther east, and in 1820 " Sam " Sturgis opened the Strickland house. In old stage coach times the Merrill, T. L. Foote and Jared Bradley houses were used for some years as hotels.
In 1854 George Van Deusen opened the Center hotel in the Ives house at the north end of Main street and conducted it until 1871 or '72, when it was bought by Thomas Norton and continued until his fancy cake manufacturing business grew to such proportions as to claini all his time and attention. William Porter came to Lee in 1817, and from that time to 1853 was the leading lawyer. When he came into possession of his residence, or how, we have been unable to find, even after much research. Edward Morgan, a stone cutter, came to Lee in 1852, and a short time after the death of Mr. Porter he went to live in his house and began taking boarders. one of them being the late Lieu- tenant Governor Byron Weston. then learning the paper business in May & Rogers' Mill.
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After the Hicks house was burned in 1867, Mr. Morgan opened his residence as a hotel. He enlarged the house in 1868 and again in 1871, and conducted it until August, 1880, when he sold the business to H. C. Winegar & Son. He bought it back, however, in November of that year and continued as landlord to the time of his death in January, 1885. Lee was a horse town of much note in those days, and Mr. Mor- gan was a lover of horses and kept a stable in connection with the house. We find that the building was deeded to Benjamin Dean by Benjamin Bosworth, March 29, 1858; by Benjamin Dean to William Taylor, in 1860; by William Taylor to Edwin Morgan, August 26, 1864; by Edwin Morgan to F. S. Gross, March 3, 1883; by F. S. Gross to Henry M. Pitt (W. P. Burbank), September 28, 1891; by Henry M. Pitt to P. H. and E. H. Bossidy, April 15, 1902. The landlords following Edward Morgan were W. C. WVinegar in May, 1883; C. E. Morgan in January, 1884; John Benjamin, October, 1885: C. E. Morgan, Febru- ary, 1887; J. H. Wood, May, 1889; C. E. Morgan, October, 1892; P. H. Bossidy, April, 1902.
HENRY MARCELLUS SMITH, M. D.
As that of an able physician and public-spirited citizen the name of Dr. Henry M. Smith, of Lee, is familiar throughout Berkshire county. He is the son of Eli and Mary (Chapin) Smith, and was born March 12, 1852, in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Dr. Smith received his primary education in the common schools, afterward attending the Berkshire Institute at New Marlborough. On leaving school he became clerk in a drug store, where he remained four- teen years, thus gaining experience which proved no doubt of great value to him in his professional career. Dr. John Swinburne, of Albany,
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was the preceptor of Dr. Smith and the latter was matriculated in the medical department of the University of Vermont, and 1885 received from that institution the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He has since been engaged in the active practice of his profession. For sixteen years he has served on the board of health and is still a member of that body. Although devoted to his profession, he participates actively in com- munity affairs and for the last seven years has held the office of select- man. He is also a member of the Lee fire department. Dr. Smith was induced to enter for a brief period the wider field of state politics and in 1895 represented the Sixth Berkshire District in the legislature of Massachusetts, serving on public health and agriculture committees. He is a member of Evening Star Lodge, F. and A. M., (Lee) Royal Arch Chapter, Great Barrington ; Berkshire Council, Pittsfield ; Berkshire Com- mandery, and Lenox Consistory. He is a charter member of the Lee Grange, and belongs to the Shaw Pond Fishing Club. Dr. Smith mar- ried. November 3, 1875, Mary, daughter of John Cahill, formerly of Lee. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Edgar M., who is a member of the grocery firm of Smith & Smith, of Lee.
HENRY MORGAN WHITE.
There are probably few persons in the state of Massachusetts who would not at once recognize the name of Henry Morgan White, of Lee, as that of the editor and proprietor of the Berkshire Gleaner. Through both his parents Mr. White comes of good colonial and Rev- olutionary stock. His family is allied to that of the Hookers, and his ancestors were among the first settlers of Springfield, Massachusetts. He is of the blood of Miles Morgan, whose statue adorns the court square of that historic city.
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Henry Morgan White was born June 24. 1847, in Elba, New York, and is the son of the late George Hall and Eliza ( Morgan) White. He was educated in the public schools and Franklin Academy. Shel- burne Falls, Massachusetts. At the age of eighteen he obtained em- ployment with the Northampton Cutlery Company, by which he was successively promoted until he had attained a position second to that of its superintendent, having charge of three of the departments of that estate. Subsequently he became a traveler for a New York hardware firm, with which he continued to be associated for a period of five years. In 1882 he purchased a half interest in the Torrington (Connecticut) Register, a weekly newspaper, shortly thereafter purchasing the re- maining interest. He continued this work with a constant increase of success, and in seven years recognized the wisdom of establishing a daily in conjunction with the weekly publication, and the Torring- ton Daily Register was the first daily paper in a town of like size in the state. Under his skillful management the journal grew until it at- tained to the size of an eight-page paper and gave employment to twelve persons. During this period Mr. White took an active interest in lit- erary work, being one of the founders of the " Twenty-One Club," the membership of which grew to about eighty active workers. In 1898 Mr. White disposed of the paper to a syndicate and went to Boston, where he bought the Dorchester Beacon. After the expiration of two years he returned to Torrington, where he accepted a position in the office of an electric company. November 15, 1902. Mr. White purchased the Berkshire Gleaner. This paper was founded in 1857 by Charles French and Josiah A. Royce, and in the hands of the present editor and proprietor is fully sustaining its reputation as a vigorous and able pub- lication. Mr. White has once and only once been prevailed upon to exchange the field of literature to enter the political field. In 1801 he
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