USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol II > Part 16
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Carlton T. Phelps was born October 13, 1867, in New Ashford, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, a son of George W. and Celestia R. Phelps, natives of Williamstown and New Ashford, Massachusetts, re- spectively. He was educated in the public schools of North Adams, and Boston University Law School, and after his graduation from the latter institution was admitted to the Berkshire bar, in 1891. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession in North Adams, and being a man of sound and active mind, and impressed with the seriousness of pro- fessional life, industrious, and of affable demeanor, he has gathered about him a clientage of respectable proportions. He has also devoted a great share of his time in the public service. He was a member of the state legislature from the first Berkshire district, 1894 and 1895; in the latter named year was appointed special justice of the district court of northern Berkshire; and in 1897 appointed standing justice of the same court, in which capacity he is now serving ( 1905). His long period of service in this office is an eloquent testimonial to his ability as an adjudicator as well as of his sterling integrity. Mr. Phelps has also taken an interest in institutions which will benefit the people of the community, and has served as president of the Berkshire County Co-Operative Bank, and as a director of the North Adams National Bank and the North Adams Trust Company. Mr. Phelps is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Phelps married. August 17, 1886, at North Adams, Massachu- setts, Virginia Turner, daughter of Thomas and Mary Turner. Their children are: Christine Mildred, born North Adams, October 5. 1887. a student at Vassar College: and Gordon Winfield, born North Adams, August 11, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which body they take a keen and active interest.
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HENRY WALBRIDGE TAFT.
The late Henry Walbridge Taft, president of the Third National Bank of Pittsfield, from the date of the opening of the doors of that insti- tution for business in 1881, up to the time of his decease, September 22, 1904, was born in Sunderland. November 13, 1818, son of Horace W. Taft. His education was completed at the old Amherst Academy. When nineteen years of age he went to Lenox to enter the newspaper business, and for some time was editor of the "Massachusetts Eagle." In a few years he resigned his position in the editorial sanctum, and studied law in the office of the late Henry W. Bishop, who for years was judge of the court of common pleas.
The office of Judge Bishop made an excellent place for the study of jurisprudence, and Mr. Taft, having a very logical mind. naturally was an apt scholar. In 1841 he was admitted to the Berkshire bar. . At once thereafter he moved over to West Stockbridge, forming a partnership with Robbins Kellogg, and there remained for ten years. In 1847 he was sent to the legislature as representative from West Stockbridge on the Republican ticket. In 1853 he was appointed register of probate for Berkshire county, and at once returned to Lenox, which was then the county seat. He held the office of register for two years, and in 1856 was appointed clerk of the county courts by the supreme court of Massa- chusetts to fill out the unexpired term of Charles Sedgwick. From that year until his refusal to accept a renomination in the fall of 1896, Mr. Taft held the office of clerk of the courts continuously. There was only one year when he had any opposition from the Democratic party, that some fifteen years ago, when the Democrats nominated John F. Van Deusen, who came within one hundred votes of winning out. Mr. Taft was always nominated by the Republicans, indorsed by the Democrats.
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and for many years received the largest vote of any candidate on the county ticket.
The Berkshire county courts were removed from Lenox to Pittsfield in 1871 and on September 12th of that year the present court house was dedicated. There was a distinguished company of people present, and Mr. Taft delivered the historical address. The paper was one of the best historical addresses given in this section, and covered four columns of newspaper space. The county papers at that time printed the en- tire address. Rev. Dr. Todd pronounced the invocation ; Marshall Wil- cox gave a brief address, but the historical address of Mr. Taft was the principal feature of the exercises.
In past years Mr. Taft held many positions of trust in corporations and companies. He was one of the original incorporators of the Third National Bank in 1881, was elected its first president, and held the office up to the time of his death. Under his careful and conservative manage- ment the bank early became one of the strong financial institutions of the city and has so remained since it was established. Mr. Taft was for years president of the old Stockbridge and Pittsfield railroad, a director from 1879, and second vice-president from 1892 of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company; a director of the Housatonic National Bank in Stockbridge; one of the trustees of the Berkshire Athenaeum, and for years was an active member of the Monday Evening Club, to which he contributed many papers of real interest. From 1876 to 1893 Mr. Taft was a trustee of the State Lunatic Asylum at Northampton. He was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society and the American Antiquarian Society. He possessed excellent literary tastes, was a con- stant, thoughtful reader, and possessed a very retentive memory. It was a pleasure to hear him tell of the old days of the Berkshire bar and the cases that came before the courts when he was in Lenox. There is
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one very interesting little story that is told of Mr. Taft when he was editor of the "Massachusetts Eagle" in Lenox. That was a staunch Republican paper, and in its issues before election he had strongly urged all the voters in the town to be sure and get out to vote. When election day came and the ballots had been counted, it was found that every registered voter in town had cast his ballot with one exception, and Mr. Taft himself was that exception.
Soon after coming to Pittsfield, Mr. Taft joined the First Congre- gational church, and was an active member and regular attendant until his failing health kept him away. He cared little for societies and fra- ternal organizations and never joined them. While quite often going to the court house, Mr. Taft was seldom seen in the superior court room. He said that he never seemed at home there.
As a writer of poetry Mr. Taft gained considerable local fame es- pecially among the court house attendants and members of the Berk- shire bar. While cases were being tried he would frequently write verses bearing upon the suits, and they showed marked literary taste. In one case that was being tried before Judge James M. Barker, Mr. Taft wrote a few verses. handed them to Judge Barker, and received a reply from the Judge also in rhyme. When the court house was being built and the block in which the court proceedings were being held was burned to the ground, enforcing several sittings in the city hall, Mr. Taft wrote a poem that was much admired by his friends.
Mr. Taft was married twice. His first wife was Miss Harriet Worthington, daughter of Dr. Charles Worthington, of Lenox. They were married on October 13, 1842. She dying, on October 1, 1862, Mr. Taft was married to Miss Lucy N. Raymond, daughter of Henry Ray- mond of Lenox. She died January, 1904. Mr. Taft never had children.
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His nearest surviving relative is Mrs. Alfred M. Nichol, of Granville, Ohio.
With fidelity and honor Henry W. Taft held all his positions of trust. In politics, as in all his business affairs, he was the soul of hon- esty and integrity. He had a very genial, happy way of greeting his friends, and his popularity throughout the county is well illustrated by the very large vote that he received from both parties every five years when he came up for election. In appearance as the present generation knew him, he was of the old New England type of gentleman. At a meeting of members of the Berkshire bar, held at the court house, Pitts- field, October 12, 1904, tributes of appreciation and respect for the late Henry W. Taft were feelingly and fittingly spoken, and a proper minute of the proceedings entered upon the records by suggestion of Judge Aiken. Mr. Taft's long connection with the courts, his faithful serv- ices, his veteran acquaintance with the lawyers in practice for the past fifty years, nearly ; the public confidence in him and the honorable fame that had come to him, made him a man prominent and esteemed. The tributes were those of sincere respect, of genuine friendship, and acknowledgment of his worthiness and ability.
ABRAHAM BURBANK.
Abraham Burbank, who during his long residence in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was an active and prominent factor in the upbuilding of the town, was born at Feeding Hills, West Springfield, Massachu- setts, June 10, 1813.
He is a lineal descendant of John Burbank, Jr., who removed from Haverhill. Massachusetts, in 1680. to Suffield, Connecticut, and who is supposed to have been the son of John Burbank, of Rowley.
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Connecticut, who was made a freeman in 1640. Abraham Burbank, son of John Burbank, Jr., was a graduate of Yale College, class of 1759, and a successful lawyer. He received, with his brother, from the English government, a large tract of land lying in the towns of Agawam, Suffield, Southwick and West Springfield. On December 26, 1770, he married Sarah Pomeroy, and settled on a portion of the tract of three thousand acres included in his share of the grant. Arthur Burbank, son of Abraham and Sarah ( Pomeroy) Burbank, was born in 1782, and died in 1839. He married Sarah Bates, November 27, 1810, and by her had seven children: Sarah; Abraham; Mrs. Mary Glines, of Vermont; Mrs. Susan Wright, of Fitchburg; Mrs. Hannah Hurd, of Pittsfield; Theodore, and James. Mrs. Burbank died at the advanced age of eighty-three years, at the home in Pittsfield provided for her by her son Abraham.
Abraham Burbank was brought up in comparative poverty, his father having been cheated out of the land which he had inherited. When eight years of age he went to live with his maternal grandfather, Eleazer Bates, by whom he was trained to habits of industry and thrift. He attended the district school eight weeks all told, the remainder of his time being spent in doing chores on the farm. When he was twelve years old his grandfather died, and three years later he began to learn the carpenter's trade with William Bliss, of Springfield, from whom he was to receive fifty dollars per year. In a few months Mr. Bliss failed, and the young apprentice worked for a time for a Mr. Smith, and then followed his former employer to Michigan. Finishing his apprenticeship and afterward working a year as journeyman for Mr. Bliss, he received as pay seventy-five dollars in money and a set of tools. Going then to Schenectady, New York, he worked on the old strap railroad which connected Albany with Saratoga, and from there
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returned home, making the trip by boat to Albany, thence by stage to Westfield.
In passing through Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Burbank, then but nineteen years of age, was impressed with the natural advantages of the place and its appearance and energetic activity. Making a brief visit with his parents, he gave to his mother all the money that he had saved except one half-dollar, and, taking his tools upon his back, walked to Pittsfield. He secured work at his trade, receiving seventy-five cents a day, from which he had to board himself. Subsequently his brother James joined him here, and they were given eighteen dollars a month each, at first, and afterward twenty dollars a month. Mr. Burbank worked first for Colonel Mckay, father of Gordon Mckay, of Boston; he afterward built his first house, a plank one, under contract, for old Mr. Cary, near the present Pomeroy estate on West Housatonic street.
Mr. Burbank purchased land on Fenn street, erected a house thereon, and two years after its completion sold the same for seven hundred dollars, for which he took a note. Then, through inducements offered by Mr. Shearer, he went to Plymouth, Michigan, to clear up land and settle. Failing, however, to collect the money due on his house when the note matured, he sold his property in Michigan and returned to Massachusetts. In 1839 he again sold his house, this time for eight hundred dollars in cash, with which he purchased land back of what is now Central Block, and built thereon a residence for him- self, the present site of E. D. Jones & Co.'s machine shop being their garden. There he had a bowling alley which he kept open evenings, while in the daytime he worked with his men, erecting among other buildings the parsonage of the First church, the Colt House, and Colonel Jaynes's residence. In 1847 he purchased a lot on North street for ten thousand dollars, and, borrowing six thousand dollars, put up a block
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of six stores, not far north of West street. This, his first large venture, proved successful beyond his expectations, and paved the way for his future prosperity. He next purchased the land now occupied by the Central Block, quite near his own residence, on which he built tene- ments, and rented them until 1857, when he sold the same for sixteen thousand dollars. After the buildings were burned he repurchased the land for fifty thousand dollars, and sold it the following week to Jones & Russell at an advance of ten thousand dollars.
In 1857 Mr. Burbank purchased two large blocks of land on North street, formerly used as an orchard and cattle-show grounds, for twenty- two thousand dollars, which is but a small part of the present value of the property. Three years later he made another substantial investment, buying the Colonel P. L. Hall estate for twenty-one thousand five hun- dred dollars. This included the land now occupied by the American House, and north of that (with the exception of two stores) to Union street, and, with the exception of eight rods, back to Francis avenue. Opening up Union and Sumner streets, he sold land enough on those thoroughfares to more than pay for the entire property. Shortly after- ward he erected the Berkshire House, and for ninety-five hundred dol- lars puchased ninety-five acres of land, on which he opened Burbank street, and, laying out twenty acres in building lots, sold each one at a good price : he also built Springside, and sold it for ten thousand dollars. In 1863 he became owner of the Durant farm, and after opening Second street, gave one-half (five acres) of it to the county for the jail site. In 1873 he purchased the Goodrich farm for twenty-seven thousand dol- lars, named it Evening Side, erected several houses, and sold many lots. For seventeen thousand dollars he purchased the site of the Burbank House, near which the Union Depot of the two railroads now stands. He built houses by the hundreds, sold some of them and rented some,
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and owned much real estate in other parts of the county. The poor lad that walked into Pittsfield, hungry and tired, almost penniless, be- came a king of real estate dealers, and could draw his check for three- fourths of a million, at the least. He was always considerate of those less fortunate than himself, and ever ready to assist those who were willing to work. He was at one time chief of the local fire departinent. He uniformly voted the Republican ticket, but took no active part in politics. He was one of the founders and a charter member of the Pittsfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and in a banking way was one of its directors for several years. He was also a Mason, belonging to Mystic Lodge. He changed his membership from the Episcopal to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was a member and lie a class leader and steward. He owned a seat in that church, and likewise one in the Baptist church and in the South Street church.
On April 13, 1834. two months prior to attaining his majority, Mr. Burbank married Miss Julia N. Brown, a young lady a year his senior, who had lived for a number of years in the family of Colonel Mckay. She was born in Colerain, of Scotch-Irish ancestors, being a daughter of James Brown, a farmer, and a niece of Joseph Shearer. The story of this marriage savors of romance. Miss Brown's brother was to be married at Lebanon Spings. Mr. Burbank, being asked to perform the office of best man at the wedding, hesitated at first, but finally consented, and, Miss Brown being bridesmaid, they together " stood up " with the young couple. After the dinner which formed a part of the festivities of the occasion, Mr. Burbank said to Miss Brown, " Julia, let us be married, too." She consented, and the ceremony was immediately performed that made them one. She had a cash capital of three hundred dollars, and they at once began housekeeping. Of their ten children two died in childhood, and eight attained years of maturity.
C. H. Burbank.
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namely ; George W., James, Charles H., William P., Mary Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Henry A. Smith; Sarah Jane, deceased, who was the wife of W. W. Lamb; Roland E., and Merrick E. On April 13, 1884, at Hotel Burbank in Pittsfield, the golden anniversary of their wedding was celebrated, among the guests then present being many of the leading people of the city, county and state. A grand banquet was served, and the bride and groom of fifty years before received from their friends many costly and elegant gifts. Mr. Burbank died in November, 1887, while Mrs. Burbank survived him nearly ten years, passing away August 22, 1897. Of the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Burbank,
James Arthur Burbank. deceased, born September 12, 1839, was a successful business man of Pittsfield, and a valued and valuable member of the Methodist church, as is his son James \. Burbank, Jr., the latter being one of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal church, Pittsfield.
CHARLES HENRY BURBANK.
Charles Henry Burbank, of Pittsfield, son of the late Abraham and Julia N. (Brown) Burbank, was born in the city of Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, December 29, 1844.
Charles H. Burbank attended first the public schools and subse- quently a boarding-school at Lanesboro, thereby acquiring a practical education. At twenty years of age, when the Eighth Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry was reorganized, the Civil war being then in progress, he enlisted in Company K. at Readville, and marched to Boston, where he was mustered into service. Going to Baltimore, Maryland, he was assigned to guard duty around the military hospital and over Confed- erate prisoners. The regiment was subsequently dispersed, and its men
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distributed to different sections, but Mr. Burbank remained on guard duty until the close of the war, and then was mustered out at Read- ville.
Upon his return to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he engaged in busi- ness with his father, who was conducting a large amount of building in Pittsfield, and among the buildings erected while this connection con- tinued were the old and the new Burbank Houses (the former after- ward called the Brunswick, and the latter now the Pittsfield House), the Burbank Block near the railroad bridge, the old Yellow Block on North street, and many other prominent structures in the town. Shortly after the death of his father, which occurred in 1887, Charles Henry Burbank discontinued his building operations, and has since devoted his time to the care of his estate. In 1890 lie purchased the fine old Bigelow place in West street, where he now resides. He has about an acre of land near the residence, with some other real estate property adjoin- ing, and also owns real estate through all parts of the city. He votes somewhat independently on political questions, and, though he has al- ways taken a keen interest in all concerns of public moment, has never sought or held office. He was formerly a member of Greylock Hook and Ladder Company, and for two terms belonged to the Allen Guards. of the State Militia.
On December 15. 1869, Mr. Burbank was united in marriage with Jennie Brooks, of Tewksbury, England, and the issue of this union was five children : Charles Archibald, stock broker, of Pittsfield, Mas- sachusetts : Robert Abraham, a resident of New York: Sarah Jane; Elisha Stocking, and Reginald I. Mr. and Mrs. Burbank attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
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CHARLES JAMES PALMER.
Charles James Palmer, a prominent divine of Lanesboro, Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, traces his descent back to the early set- tlers of colonial days. William Palmer, the first of the name to settle in America, was born in England, came to America, and in 1636 and 1637 resided in Watertown, removed to Newbury in 1637, At Watertown he married Grace, and to Hampton in 1638.
widow of Thomas Rogers. The direct line of descent is as fol- lows: William, mentioned above (1); Christopher, born about 1626 (2) ; Samuel, born November 25, 1652 (3) ; Jonathan, born March 26, 1698 (4) ; Trueworthy, born Hampton, New Hampshire, July 20, 1749, died June 25. 1830, at Conway, New Hampshire (5) ; Jonathan, born January 15, 1782 (6) ; James Monroe, born October 5, 1822, died May 23, 1897 (7) ; and Charles James (8), the subject of this sketch.
James Monroe Palmer, the seventh in line of descent from the founder of the family in America, and the father of Charles James Palmer, was born in Exeter, Maine, October 5, 1822. After receiving a good preparatory education he attended the Colby University of Water- ville, Maine, from which he was graduated in the class of 1847. He then entered the Bangor Theological Seminary, at Bangor. Maine, and T'as graduated in the class of 1853. He was a clergyman in his day, and was noted for his charity. He was also a member of the business world. employing his spare time as an insurance agent. He affiliated with the Republican party but took no active part in political life. He married December 2, 1853, Caroline Frances Bacon, born January 7. 1830. in Waterville. Maine, daughter of Eben F. and Jane (Faunce) Bacon. Eben F. Bacon was born in 1796. Mrs. Palmer's grandfather was Eben Bacon.
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Charles James Palmer, son of James Monroe and Caroline Frances (Bacon) Palmer, was born November 4, 1854, in Fairfield, Maine. After thorough preparation, he entered Bowdoin College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1874. He then entered the General Theological Seminary at New York. from which he was graduated in 1878. He was ordained to the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal church. June 19, 1878, and immediately commenced active service. After brief temporary work in other places, he came to Lanesboro, Massa- chusetts. as minister in charge of St. Luke's church, beginning his work here in September, 1880, and remaining until 1899. He then resigned his ministry in this church, accepting an appointment as county mis- sionary for Berkshire county, a position which he still holds. He con- tinues to reside in Lanesboro. He has never held any important po- litical offices, and is very liberal-minded in his political views, as, indeed, he is broad-minded in his views on all subjects in general. He is active in organizing and promoting all charitable undertakings, and is beloved by all who have had the benefit of his ministrations. Rev. Palmer mar-
ried, January 19, 1881, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Helen M. Wat- son, daughter of J. D. and R. C. Watson. By this union he had one child, Helen E., born January 23, 1882. He married (second), Oc. tober 15. 1885, Gertrude S. Barnes, daughter of D. C. and H. S. Barnes. Rev. and Mrs. Palmer are the parents of two children : Edward J. B., born October 3. 1886; and Annie E., born April 8, 1893.
JOHN B. BEEBE, M. D.
That southern Berkshire county places a high estimate upon the professional ability of the gentleman whose name introduces these memoirs, is evidenced by the extent of his practice and is justified by
RecharBull
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the good which he has wrought. He was born in North Egremont in 1869, son of the late Dr. Richard and Ellen ( Hatch) Beebe, the former a native of Canaan, the latter of Hillsdale, New York, and respectively of English and Scotch descent.
The founder of the American Beebe family was John Beebe, a na- tive of East Farndon, Northamptonshire, England, who came to the American colonies in 1650, as stated in his will, recorded in Hartford, Connecticut. Of his descendants, Hezekiah Beebe, great-grandfather of Dr. John B. Beebe, had a son Hosea, who married Altana Valentine, of Richmond, Virginia, collaterally connected with that distinguished surgeon, Dr. Valentine Mott. Hosea Beebe was a leading agriculturist of Canaan. His son, Richard, born October 12, 1824, took up the study of medicine, was graduated from Berkshire Medical College, class of 1853, remained for two years thereafter in the practice of his pro- fession with Dr. Timothy Childs. Pittsfield, and in 1855 established himself at North Egremont, where he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. He died October 20, 1896. His wife. Ellen Hatch, to whom he was married January 6. 1855, was a daughter of Isaac and Minerva (Ward) Hatch. Isaac Hatch was one of the widely known and especially popular early inn-keepers of the Albany-Hartford pike in the days when such thoroughfares were the nation's great arteries of traffic. and the competent host was a mine of information and a power in the land. His wife was descended from that historic family of New England which numbered among its members General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. Of six children born to Dr. and Mrs. Richard Beebe, two died in infancy. Of the survivors, the eldest. Dr. George H. Beebe. is a resident of Pittsfield (see sketch in this publication) : Dr. John B .. the immediate subject of this narrative: Mary B., wife of Dr. Emmett Nivers, of Hillsdale. and has a child, Eleanor Caroline: and
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