USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol II > Part 13
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Harlan H. Ballard, born in Athens, Ohio, May 26, 1853, married, August 30, 1879, Lucy Bishop Pike, daughter of John and Lucy (Bishop) Pike and granddaughter of Judge Henry Walker Bishop, of
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Lenox. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have three children now living-Harlan Hage, Jr., Elizabeth Bishop, and Lucy Bishop.
Mr. Ballard was graduated from Williams College. class of 1874. He was principal of the high school at Lenox for six years, and of the Lenox Academy for the same length of time. He was elected librarian of the Berkshire AAthenaeum in 1887, and the following year secretary of the Berkshire Historical and Scientific Society, which posi- tion he still retains. He has more recently been made the curator of the New Museum of Natural History and Art, the munificent gift of Zenas Crane, of Dalton, to the people of Pittsfield. While in Lenox in 1875 Mr. Ballard founded the Agassiz Association.
HORACE M. HOLMES.
Dr. Horace Marshall Holmes, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Adams, was born in Waterville, Vermont, November 2, 1826. His parents were Jesse C. and Orinda (Oakes) Holmes. Dur- ing the early period his ancestors came to America and settled at Peter- borough, New Hampshire, where Jesse C. Holmes was born.
In the public schools in his native town Dr. Holmes began his education, which was continued in Bakersfield Academical Institute at Bakersfield, Vermont. His choice of a life work fell on the profession of medicine, and he began reading under the direction of Doctors H. H. and T. Childs, of Pittsfield. His preliminary medical training was sup- plemented by courses of lectures in the old Berkshire Medical College, in which institution he completed the full course of studies, graduating with the class of 1852. Dr. Holmes commenced his practice in Cam- bridge, Vermont, but after a brief period removed to Adams in 1853. and since that time has been an active member of the profession here.
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Throughout the intervening years reading, experience and investigation have kept him in touch with the progress that has been continually made by the medical fraternity, and he has progressed along modern scientific lines.
During the first years of his residence in Adams he was elected a member of its school board, and served for two years. He has been chairman of the Adams board of health, and in 1878 and 1879 he repre- sented the second Berkshire district in the legislature, and was re-elected the following year. His course as a member of the house was highly commendable, being characterized by unfaltering devotion to the gen- eral good, for he ever placed the welfare of the commonwealth before partisan measures and the general good in advance of personal ag- grandizement. While a member of the house he served on a committee on public health and other important committees. Dr. Holmes became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1857, and for two years he served as president of the Berkshire Medical Society, with which he still retains membership. He is a member of other medical organizations, in which he has been honored with offices. He is a char- ter member of Berkshire Lodge, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and was master of his lodge for two years.
On the 11th of October, 1855, Dr. Holmes was married to Miss Helen C. Ross, a daughter of Merrick Ross, of Pittsfield, Massachu- setts, who died in the year 1880, leaving two children-Jessie R., now the wife of Charles E. Legate, of New York city, and Dr. Harry B. Holmes, who is associated with his father in the practice of medicine and surgery. April 29, 1896, Dr. Holmes was married to Miss Mary B. Reynolds, daughter of Captain Edward B. Reynolds, of San Francisco, California.
A. Fr Davenport
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HYMON H. KRONICK.
Hymon H. Kronick, a merchant tailor and jobber of woolens at North Adams, was born in Russia, June 25, 1874. His education was acquired in the schools of his native place and in the evening schools of North Adams, Massachusetts, after his immigration to this country. He came to America in 1889, when fifteen years of age. He learned the tailor's trade in North Adams, where he worked on the bench for five years, when, having carefully husbanded his resources, he embarked in business for himself in a small way at No. 23 State street. removing afterward to his present location at No. II State street. He is one of the enterprising young merchants of the city, having now a well ap- pointed store filled with a carefully selected line of goods, and he is receiving a liberal patronage in both the merchant tailoring and mercan- tile departments of his business.
Mr. Kronick is a member of the Congregation House of Israel (Jewish), of which he was president for two years in 1899 and 1900. Socially he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and member of the Order of Red Men and the Foresters. He has been treasurer of the last named since 1899, and has been chairman of the board of trustees for the Eagles for two years. In politics he took an active interest and gave earnest sup- port to the Democracy. Upon that ticket he was elected a member of the city council December 20, 1904, for a term of three years, and is now active in municipal affairs in North Adams.
AMMON FARNSWORTH DAVENPORT. D. D. S.
Ammon Farnsworth Davenport, one of the oldest and best known practitioners in dentistry in western Massachusetts. was born in Cole- rain, this state, October 24, 1827. His father, Dr. Nathaniel Daven-
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port, who was a native of Dorchester. Massachusetts, studied medicine, and first practiced in Boston, afterward removing to Colerain, where he married Alice Davenport. It was not supposed at the time of their marriage that there was any blood relationship between them, but it has since been discovered that they sprang from a common ancestor, Thomas Davenport, the founder of the American family of that name, who was located at Dorchester in 1640. There were several branches of the Dorchester family, some of whom went to Connecticut, others to Vermont, and to Colerain, Massachusetts. The line of descent from Thomas, 1640, is traced through his son, Joseph, to the latter's son, Dr. Nathaniel Davenport, the father of Ammon F. Davenport.
Dr. Nathaniel Davenport was a physician of the old school, a Republican in politics, and a Quaker in religion. He married Alice Davenport. the daughter of Paul Davenport, whose father, Elijah Dav- enport, was born April 27, 1748. and died at Mount Holly, Vermont, in August, 1826. His name was first on the town records of that town. Paul Davenport was born at Mount Holly, August 22, 1766, and coming to Colerain, Massachusetts, purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, the deed describing it as the north half of lot No. 96 and No. 93 in the third division of lots in Colerain. He erected a house of logs in the wilderness of that place, called Catamount Hill, and there reared a large family, his wife being Alice Farnsworth, of that place. Their descendants are now scattered throughout the United States and the old world. Paul Davenport died August 3, 1832. Their daughter Alice, who became the wife of Dr. Nathaniel Davenport, was born July 20, 1800. She was a woman of remarkable force of character, with strong religious convictions, and as a member of the Methodist church took an active part in its work. Her death occurred November 10. 1870. Dr. and Mrs. Davenport became the parents of six children, five
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sons and one daughter-Robert M., Ammon F., Joseph N., Lydia D., Truair, and Jason L. The eldest, Robert, was a mechanic, and was accidentally killed at North Adams. Joseph N. is one of the early dentists in western Massachusetts, located at Northampton, and he has two sons and a daughter, the sons both practicing dentistry in New York city. Lydia D. became the wife of E. J. Cary, a business man now deceased, and she resides at North Adams. Truair went to lowa and engaged in farming, and was killed by lightning while at work in the fields. He reared a large family, and his widow still resides in that state. Jason L., spent his early life as a dry goods clerk, after- wards studied dentistry, and graduated at the New York College of Dentistry as valedictorian of his class. He married Emma Jane Drake, of New York, and their only son is also a dentist, the family home being in New York.
Ammon F. Davenport, whose name introduces this review, received his early literary training in the common schools of Colerain, the town of his birth, and was reared to farm life. At the age of fourteen lie left the farm and spent the following three years in the cotton factory of that town, after which he received the position of overseer in a factory in North Adams. A few years later he embarked in the daguer- reotype business, but not finding this a profitable occupation soon after- ward began teaching penmanship, thus continuing until deciding to take up the study of medicine. After attending a course of lectures at the Berkshire Medical College his plans were agains changed and he entered the Pennsylvania Dental College of Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1867, and immediately thereafter began the practice of his profession in North Adams. After a successful career there for many years an opportunity was offered him to take an old and aristocratic practice in New York city, and among his patrons there were over
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thirty of the Roosevelt family, including the boy " Teddy," whose teeth he cared for until the lad was fourteen. About this time, in the year 1870. Dr. Davenport becoming engaged in real estate transactions in North Adams disposed of his New York practice and returned to North Adams. He erected Davenport block on Main street, a three-story brick structure one hundred foot front, containing four stores and offices. The first plate glass brought to North Adams was used in this building. He has since completed a fine residence cn Church street, where he re- sides. During his professional life he has instructed several students, one of whom was Dr. E. F. Barnes, who for many years has been a successful practitioner in New York. A cousin also spent eight years in his office, and graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, also receiving the degree of M. D. S. from the Regents of the state of New York. He afterward went to Paris, where he is said to have the most aristocratic and lucrative practice in that city. with an income of about sixty thousand dollars a year. Dr. Davenport has two brothers in the profession, one son and three nephews in New York, two cousins in Paris and one in London. Since beginning prac- tice in the '50s seventeeen Davenports, all relatives, have entered the pro- fession, many of them occupying the highest places in the ranks both in this country and abroad.
Dr. Davenport was married at North Adams, November 5. 1848. to Julia Maria Walden, who was educated in the schools of that town. She was the only daughter of Job and Eunice Walden, of North Adams, the former being a son of Benjamin Walden, a Quaker from Rhode Island. Two children were born of that unien, a son and a daughter. The latter, Eunice Anna, was born in 1849, and received her education in North Adams and East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She married Frank Albert Baker, a contractor in the Remington Armory of Hion,
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and they had four children: Frank Eugene, M. D. : Ammon Albert. deceased, who was a mechanic; Roy Davenport, who was educated in the military academy at Northfieldl. Vermont, spent three years in the Philippines, and is now in the United States army stationed in Florida : and Will Manning Baker, a student. The son Arthur Eugene was born at North Adams in 1867. attended its public schools, and gradu- ated from the New York College of Dentistry in 1890, receiving the degree of D. D. S., and is now in practice with his father in North Adams. He has been twice married, his first wife being Daisy Sher- man, of this city, who died in 1901. He afterwards married Blanche Sabin, of Lee, Massachusetts, a daughter of Dr. Sabin, of that town. She was a student in the State Normal school of North Adams. They reside at 354 Church street. North Adams. Dr. and Mrs. Ammon F. Davenport are members of the Congregational church, first uniting with the First church in Pittsfield, under Dr. Todd, and later transferred their membership to North Adams, where Dr. Davenport has served as a deacon for twenty-five years. He is not aggressively sectarian. how- ever, holding very liberal views along theological lines. In his political affiliation Dr. Davenport is a Republican, but has never had ambition for political preferment. his aspirations being devoted to the highest interest of his profession, in which he has won prominence and Lelengs to many societies namely: The American Dental Association: the Connecticut Valley Dental Society, in which he has held at times the office of president : the Massachusetts Dental Society, the Western District Dental Society, the Dental Protective Association, the New York Institute of Stomatology, the Alummal Association of the Penn- sylvania College of Dental Surgery, the Medical Association of North- ern Berkshire, also one of the oldest members of Lafayette Lodge. F. and A. M .. and of the Catamount Hill Association, a society formed to
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keep in remembrance the associations of his birthplace, and of which he is president. This association holds reunions every five years, and has demonstrated beyond a doubt that the first flag ever raised over a'school house in this country was floated over a little log school house in this neighborhood on Catamount Hill in May. 1812. Through Dr. Daven- port's efforts a book has been published of the history of this associa- tion, as well as many other reminiscences of the locality, and which gives a description of this first flag raising. Dr. Davenport has wit- nessed dentistry grow from a tinkering catchpenny calling to the dig- nity of a noble profession, in whose ranks may be found men of the highest moral character and of eminence in scientific culture. These changes have taken place mostly in the past fifty years, and during this time he has nobly performed his part in educating the public to prop- erly appreciate the value of the natural teeth. He has published many articles on the subject, as well as read many papers before the most prominent dental societies, many of which have had a wide circulation by being published in the American dental journals and in Europe. He was prominent in the establishment of the North Adams Free Public Library and the Hoosic Valley Agricultural Society.
HERVEY BURNHAM.
Hervey Burnham, general superintendent of the Eclipse and Beaver Mills, and active in community affairs of North Adams, was born in Essex, Massachusetts, and pursued his education in the public schools there. When seventeen years of age he went to Fall River, Massachu -. setts, entering the high school, where he spent one year, then went to work with the Troy Manufacturing Company, and his business capability and trustworthiness were manifest in the fact that he was retained in
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its employ for twelve years. He afterward worked in the mills at Ware and at New Bedford, Massachusetts, and subsequently returned to Fall River.
In 1893 Mr. Burnham removed to North Adams as superintendent of the Eclipse and Beaver Mills, which at that time were about one- fifth their present size, and has since occupied this important position, controlling one of the extensive productive industries of the city. The plant was operated for the manufacture of common print cloth, but after Mr. Burnham became superintendent the output was changed to a line of ladies' fine dress goods. Throughout his entire business career Mr. Burnham has been connected with the manufacture of cloth, and is thoroughly familiar with the business, combined with a progressive spirit which well qualifies him for the important position which he is now filling. Interested in the welfare and progress of his adopted city. his fellow townsmen have called him to public office, and he served for three years as a member of the city council. His term expired January I, 1905, and he was re-elected in 1906 for another three years' term.
ISAAC FREEMAN HALL, A. M.
Isaac Freeman Hall, A. M., superintendent of the public school of North Adams, was born in Dennis, Massachusetts, April 23, 1847. He attended school in his native town and was graduated from the Bridge- water Normal school at the age of sixteen years, being the youngest student that ever completed the full course in that institution, the date of his graduation being March, 1864. He taught for several years at West Port Point. Massachusetts, and also at the academy at South Den- nis. He afterward entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, to prepare for college, and later matriculated at Dartmouth College. 13
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where he remained for one year, when he was obliged to return home on account of the illness of his father.
He afterward went to Quincy, Massachusetts, accepting the prin- cipalship of the grammar school at that place. For nine years he occupied that position and later became superintendent of the public schools at Dedham, Massachusetts, for five years. Professor Hall's next position was that of superintendent of schools at Leominster, Mas- sachusetts, where he continued for six years, on the expiration of which period he became the district superintendent of schools at Arlington and Belmont. Three years later, in 1895, he came to North Adams, and for ten years has been superintendent of the public schools of this place. each time being unanimously elected. His entire life has been devoted to educational work, and he stands today as one of the leading repre- sentatives of his profession in connection with the public school system of the state.
JOHN A. BREWER.
John A. Brewer, of Great Barrington, who, after nearly forty years of active life as a hardware merchant, is now devoting his attention chiefly to private business interests, of which he has enough to keep him fully occupied, is a native of New Marlboro, Massachusetts. He is the son of John and Maria (Smith) Brewer. John Brewer was a farmer and lumberman of New Marlboro for many years, and in 1870 re- moved to Great Barrington, where he engaged in the lumber business. In 1867, while a resident of New Marlboro, John Brewer bought the hard- ware business of Burgett & Watson, which was being carried on two doors south of the present Brewer building. The firm name of John Brewer & Son was adopted, although technically the son could not be a partner until a year later. John Brewer was never especially active in
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the store, and in 1875 sold his interest to John F. Sabin. Mr. Brewer, Sr., was a man much respected in the community, and was an active member of the Congregational church. He died in 1888.
During his boyhood days John A. Brewer attended the common schools, subsequently becoming a student at the South Berkshire Insti- tute. Until reaching the age of nineteen he assisted his father, who in 1867 established him in a small hardware business in Great Barrington, as above stated. From 1875, when Mr. Brewer, Sr., sold his interest to John F. Sabin, until 1880, the business was conducted under the firm name of Brewer & Sabin, and for twenty-five years following that date it was conducted by John A. Brewer, at the old stand. In his hands the excellent reputation which the house always enjoyed was fully main- tained, and the same degree of enterprise and careful management which were prominent characteristics of the establishment in all its past his- tory were also maintained by him. Mr. Brewer had few superiors, or equals even, in the conduct and management of mercantile business, and his popularity with the public was always a most valuable feature of his enviable business career. He was as closely identified with and as faithful to his business interests as any man in the county, and brought the business up from its small beginning to the large proportions it had assumed upon his disposal of the same to Frank E. Giddings, February, 1905. His handsome business block on Main street was as fine as any in Great Barrington, being thoroughly modern in every detail. The changes in the nearly forty years of Mr. Brewer's active business life have been very numerous, and very few are alive of the men foremost in the town when he as a boy first began business. In the fire of 1896 his building and stock were totally destroyed by fire, but he rebuilt a much better block and placed therein a larger stock, and later added a large carriage repository to the establishment.
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While not seeking prominence outside of business, Mr. Brewer has during all of his residence in Great Barrington been active for the good of the community, and has taken an active interest in its affairs. He served as first president of the local Board of Trade, of which he was a charter member, was chief engineer of the fire department many years, and held many other offices. He has probably been more active on behalf of the Housatonic Agricultural Society than any other business man in the town. Before taking up his residence in Great Barrington he was a marshal for the society, and for twenty-five years was its chief marshal, resigning that position in January, 1901, when he was elected president. He also served on the executive committee for a number of years, and is familiar with the requirements of the society and its patrons. He was the sixtieth president of the society. He is prominent in Freemasonry. a past master of Cincinnatus Lodge, and past high priest of Monument Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, in which he has served as treasurer for eighteen years. He is a member and vestryman of St. James' Protest- ant Episcopal church. His political affiliations are with the Repub- licans.
Mr. Brewer married. in 1885. Alice Seeley, daughter of Isaac See- ley, Esq. Their home place on South Main street is one of the prominent residence properties of the town, the beautiful house being surrounded by seventeen acres of ground, which has been kept under successful culti- vation, the grounds about the house being among the most attractive of any residence grounds in southern Berkshire.
HARVEY F. SHUFELT.
Many of the buildings in Housatonic which testify by the beauty. finish and durability of their construction to the ability and faithful- ness of the contractor under whose supervision they were erected, are
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the work of Harvey F. Shufelt, a well known business man of Housa- tonic, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, who traces his descent to Ger- man ancestry.
Andrew J. Shufelt, father of Harvey F. Shufelt, was born in Hills- dale. New York. in 1813. He was a farmer by occupation, and after his marriage, he removed to North Egremont. Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a worthy and respected citizen. He married, in 1842, Delinda Nichols, who was born in Alford. Massachusetts, in 1824, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom one. Harvey F. Shufelt. is the subject of this sketch.
Harvey F. Shufelt, son of Andrew J. and Delinda ( Nichols) Shu- felt, was born in North Egremont, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 19. 1860. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. and at the age of sixteen years engaged in farm work, which employment he followed up for about four years. He then, in 1880. went to Housatonic, where he found employment with the Monument Mills Company, and remained in their employ for a period of twelve years. He then established himself in business as a contractor and builder, in connection with which he dealt in real estate, lumber and building materials in general. His knowledge of human nature and foresight have made him a successful business man. Mr. Shufelt has been an energetic member of the Democratic party all his life. He rep- resented the sixth Berkshire district in the legislature of 1900-01, and is now serving his tenth year as selectman of Great Barrington, of which Housatonic is a part. He has been a member of the Democratic town committee for the past twelve years, during seven of which he held the office of chairman.
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Mr. Shufelt married, October 2, 1893, Clara Wilcox, daughter of George and Mary Wilcox, of Housatonic, and two children were born of this marriage. Both mother and children are deceased.
GEORGE WILLARD CHASE.
The gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs is of the type whose substantial and valuable citizenship is attested by intelli- gent and well-directed public service and private enterprise. He was born in Wilmington, Vermont, October 24, 1844, son of the late John Nicholas and Tabitha Pike (Gould) Chase, the former a native of New York, the latter of Massachusetts, and both descendants of early Eng- lish settlers of New England.
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