USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Vol II > Part 27
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Henry Sturges, born in Lee, Massachusetts, May 5, 1820. spent his early days on the home farm, began his education in the district schools. and afterward attended the private school conducted by Alex-
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ander Hyde, at Lee. After completing his education he was a clerk in a store in Landisfield for a time. In 1841 he established a grocery store in Lee, but afterward sold out and learned the paper-maker's trade with Ortor Heath, his brother-in-law. Five years later they formed a partnership and began the manufacture of paper at East Lee, conducting the factory there for ten years, at the end of which time Mr. Sturges sold his interest to Mr. Heath. During several succeeding years he was foreman and overseer in a number of paper mills, including the ' Benton & Garfield mills, Blovett & Gilmore's mill, and May & Rogers' mill. In 1872 he entered the employ of Byron Weston, of Dalton, with whom he remained until he retired from the active business life at the age of seventy-four years, after a continuous connection with that house of twenty-two years. In 1873 he removed into the home which he now occupies. He has reached the advanced age of eighty-four years, can read without glasses, and enjoys robust health.
In 1849 Mr. Sturges married Lydia Derbon Kelley, a daughter of Samuel and Lucinda Kelley, of Rutland, Vermont. Their only son, William Henry, born January 20. 1860, died January 12, 1868. Mr. Sturges was in early manhood a supporter of the Whig party, and is now a staunch Republican, while he and his wife attend the Congrega- tional church.
DAVID JOSIAH PRATT.
David Josiah Pratt, of Dalton, who is an author of more than local repute, is descended directly from Sir William Pratt, who came to this country from Scotland in the seventeenth century, settling in the eastern part of Massachusetts. One branch of the family is de- scended from Ephraim Pratt, who settled at Shutesbury, Massachusetts. His tombstone is a notable one among those found in the old cemeteries
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of the state. The inscription states that the deceased never ate any meat, was never known to use profanity, and swung the scythe for one hundred and one consecutive years, that at the age of one hundred years he could mount a horse without assistance, and that he died in his one hundred and seventeenth year.
Abraham Pratt, son of Ephraim Pratt, was born in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, and spent his entire life there, following the occupation of farming. His children were: Roswell, who lived in White Creek, New York; Horace, who afterward lived in Lenox, Massachusetts; Joel, Willard, Sylvanus, Henry, Edwin, Almira, Susannah, and an- other, who was also a resident of Shutesbury.
Of this family Horace Pratt was born April 21, 1808, and when a young man removed to Lenox, Massachusetts. During his early years there he worked upon a farm, and afterward purchased a tract of land which he cultivated on his own account. In 1828 he married Sally Elliott Parsons, a direct lineal descendant of Sir John Parsons, who was lord mayor of London in 1704. She was born in Durham, Connecti- cut, May 13, ISII. The Parsons family became one of the influential families of Lenox. Massachusetts, where they located in 1822. Horace and Sally Pratt had children: Mary, born November 11, 1829, mar- ried Leverett Tillotson, of Lenox, Massachusetts, and died in 1875; Maria, died in infancy ; David J., of whom later; Frances C., born Feb- ruary 7, 1847, wife of A. D. Johnson, of Dalton; Emma J., born May 28, 1853, wife of E. M. Warren, of Dalton.
David J. Pratt was born in Lenox, Massachusetts, March 18, 1840, and during his youth received the usual training of a farmer boy in the labors of field and meadow and in the public schools. Later he at- tended the Lenox Academy, of which he is a graduate, and when that institution celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its founding in
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1903 he attended the centennial exercises. At the age of eighteen years he entered upon his business career as a dealer in grain, hay, and feed at Lenox, carrying on the enterprise for three years. He then re- moved to Windsor, Massachusetts, where he purchased a farm, but sold that property after three years and purchased a tract of land of his father-in-law, Robert John, on the Windsor road. That property he afterward sold to A. D. Johnson, and it is now known as the Highland farm, and turned his attention to the livery business. After conducting his stables for a number of years, about fifteen years ago he established the Irving House livery stable in Dalton, which he now conducts. His father came with him to Dalton and made his home here until his death in 1898. His mother is still living, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. A. D. Johnson.
Just before his removal from Lenox, Mr. Pratt was married, March 9, 1863. to Eliza Catherine Johnson, a daughter of Robert and Eunice (Coates) Johnson, of Dalton. Their children are: 1. Lida, born in Dalton, August 6, 1864, died when two years of age. 2. Will- iam Robert, born October 21, 1866, at Windsor, Massachusetts: has been proprietor of a livery business in Dalton for a number of years. and has served as a selectman for six years. He married Nettie Sher- man, of this place, and they have six children. 3. Grace Eunice, born in Dalton April 16, 1869, at home. 4. Arthur Ashton, born Decem- ber 20. 1873. is engaged in business with his father. 5. Harry Elliott, born February 19. 1879, died January 4. 1901, at the age of twenty- one years. 6. David Johnson, born March 14, 1886, associated with his father in business.
Mr. Pratt was a deputy sheriff for a number of years. He has never taken a very active part in politics aside from casting his vote for the Republican party. He was seriously injured in an accident which
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almost resulted in the death of President Roosevelt when he was a guest in Pittsfield soon after entering upon the office of chief executive following the death of President Mckinley. Mr. Pratt was driving the presidential party when the carriage was struck by a street car, the president being injured, while one of the secret service men was killed and Mr. Pratt was also seriously injured. Socially he is connected with the Royal Arcanum and with the Knights of Pythias at Pittsfield. A man of scholarly tastes, he has developed his own literary talent and is the author of a number of plays, and two of his later productions in this direction, " Roxie " and " Wahconah," have been presented on the stage, meeting with favor that reflects credit upon the literary and dramatic skill of the author.
ROBERT BURNS DICKIE.
Robert Burns Dickie, of Dalton, was born in Paisley, Renfrew county, Scotland, February 28, 1839, son of James and Catherine (Clarke) Dickie. The fatlier was a weaver of Paisley, but died before his son Robert was old enough to learn the trade. All of the children came to America except the eldest brother, William, who was a soldier in the British army for thirty-seven years. He visited this country, but always lived in England. Annie, one of the sisters, accompanied her brother Robert to the United States, afterward became the wife of Thomas Crooksackes, and is living near Stearnsville, a suburb of Pitts- field, Massachusetts. Margaret became the wife of Robert Sloane, and they resided in Lowell, but both are now deceased. Jeanette is the wife of Andrew Mckay, of Boston. Robert B. was the next of the family. James W. married, and at his death left a large family in Boston.
Robert B. Dickie in early life sought a way to better his social and
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financial standing, and, believing that America afforded him the op- portunities he desired, he crossed the Atlantic to New York in 1852, when thirteen years of age, with his sisters and brother. From the metropolis he went to Stearnsville, Massachusetts, where he secured employment in a woolen mill, but after six months he had the oppor- tunity of learning the blacksmith's trade in the town of Richmond, and there resided for about six years. Subsequently he worked in Troy, New York, but had hardly located there when the Civil war was in- augurated. He was among the first to answer the call to arms, en- listing April 17, 1861, as a member of Company C, Second Regiment New York Volunteers, and took part with his regiment in every con- flict except one. He was wounded four times, once very seriously, at the battle of Bristol Station, just before the second engagement at Bull Run, and because of his injuries was sent home. After he returned to the army he was assigned to the recruiting service, but soon rejoined his regiment, which was attached to the Army of the Potomac. From the ranks he was promoted successively to corporal, sergeant, orderly sergeant, second lieutenant and first lieutenant, and served on the staffs of Major General Hiram G. Berry and of General Joseph B. Cass.
After completing his term of enlistment Mr. Dickie returned to Berkshire county and resided in West Stockbridge for five years. He then built a blacksmith shop in Lanesboro, which he conducted for several years. From President Harrison he received appointment as guard in the government paper mill, but was removed by the succeed- ing Democratic president. In the meantime he had purchased a home in Dalton, and was appointed janitor of the high school building, in which capacity he is now serving.
While home from the war because of his injuries, Mr. Dickie was married to Helen E. Lynch. a daughter of Joseph Dwight and Maria
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(Boyce) Lynch. Their children were: Helen E., married William Hughes and lives in Albany, New York; William L., a resident of North Adams, Massachusetts : Agnes E., wife of William Briggs, of Albany, New York: Walter Scott, who is a conductor on the Berkshire Street railroad: Jessie May, married William H. Demont, and resides in Watertown, New York: and James G., also living in Watertown. For his second wife Mr. Dickie chose Mrs. Mary E. 'Pascal, a daughter of Ira Sprague, a member of a well known Pittsfield family. They have one child, Jay Rockwell Logan Dickie, who is now a student in the high school at Dalton. Mr. Dickie and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics he is a staunch Republican. Socially he is connected with the Masonic lodge. being a past master of Wisdom Lodge, F. & A. M., of West Stockbridge, and the oldest member of Unity lodge of Dalton.
ASAHEL RAYMOND.
The Raymond family of America is without doubt of French origin. The first authentic record of its representatives in America con- cerns those of the name who lived in the western part of Pennsylvania. and the head of the family there, as far as is known, was Asahel Ray- mond, who with his family removed to Shutesbury, Massachusetts. One of his descendants was Amos Raymond, who established his home at Hinsdale, Berkshire county, and married Lena Jackson, a daughter of Deacon Joshua Jackson, one of the highly respected citizens of his locality. They had four children: Abraham, who was proprietor of a hotel at Sandy Lake. New York, where he died soon after his mar- riage: Asahel, born March 13, 1809, who conducted a farm in the town of Peru, Berkshire county, and died in October, 1890: Ann Saphronia,
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who became the wife of James Madison Whipple, and died in Cheshire; Ansena, who married Humphrey Bickneli, of Windsor, Massachusetts, and resides in Pittsfield, and they had five children.
Asahel Raymond, second child of Amos Raymond, was married twice. He first wedded Electa Curtis, of Dalton, a daughter of John Curtis, and they had five children: 1. Minerva, married Silas Sears, of Hawley, Massachusetts, and they had two children-Frank, de- ceased, and Minnie, the wife of Herbert Davidson. 2. Louisa, married Henry Sears, of Hawley, a brother of Silas Sears, and they had two children-Frank, of Dalton, and Emma, the wife of Irving Mecum, of Dalton. 3. Amos E .. married Emma Warren, of Windsor, resides in Hinsdale and has nine children. 4. John C., residing in Spring- field, Massachusetts; married Anabella Ballou, of Becket, Massachu- setts, and they had four children. 5. Asahel Raymond, of this review. After the death of his first wife the father married Sylvia Miner, of Windsor, Massachusetts, a daughter of Samuel Miner. They were the parents of eight children: Sena H., who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Samuel M., Abraham J., Daniel G., Lyman W., James M., Charles H. and Wary L.
Asahel Raymond was born June 18, 1839, in what is now the town of Peru, Berkshire county. The family was large, and, it being neces- sary for him to assist in the development of the home farm, he was given charge of the herd, and was known as the shepherd of the house- hold. At the age of twenty-three years he left the old home farm and made his way to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Not long afterward he assumed the management of the Hale farm, on North street, conduct- ing that property for five years. Soon after his marriage he purchased the Prince farm, in Hinsdale, which he cultivated and improved for twenty-eight years, raising the crops best adapted to soil and climate.
Hb. E. Weeks.
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He was quite successful in his undertakings, and continued in agri- cultural pursuits until 1901, when he sold his farm in Hinsdale and bought a nice residence on Curtis avenue in Dalton, where he is now living. His political support is given the Republican party, but he never takes an active interest in political work. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
Mr. Raymond was married, May 16, 1866, to Mary E. Pease, of Middlefield township, and they have four children: Jennie P., born April 17, 1868, became the wife of Harris Emmons: William A., born November 25, 1871, is employed on the Allen stock farm near Pitts- field : Lizzie M., born August 21, 1877, is the wife of Edgar E. Ford, a member of the firm of Ford & Parker, of Dalton, and they have two children, Clayton E. and Elsie M .; Susan E., born 1881, is the wife of George Thompson, of Pittsfield.
HARRY E. WEEKS.
Lemuel Weeks, from whom is descended Harry E. Weeks, late of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was an early settler in Norwich, now Hunt- ington, Massachusetts. His son, Frederic Weeks, born in Norwich, 1810, died in Chester, Massachusetts, November 1, 1892. He married Lois Ely, daughter of Elihu Ely, of West Springfield, and a descendant of the Chapin family of Chicopee. Mr. Weeks was a carpenter and had a farm in Chester, where he lived for many years. His son Charles F. Weeks, born in Norwich, June 20, 1848, married in February, 1869, Clara Allen, daughter of Alfred Allen, of Becket, Massachusetts. He became a brakeman on the Boston & Albany Railroad in 1864, and later a conductor and baggage-master. After some time spent with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, he was appointed yardmaster
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and night train dispatcher at Pittsfield, on the Boston & Albany Rail- road, in 1873, and in 1885 the office was removed to Pittsfield Junction, where he was assistant day dispatcher for nine years, then doing night duty until 1897, when he became chief dispatcher on the death of the late Mr. Jenks. He and his family attend the Baptist church. He has two sons. The first was Harry E. Weeks, born in West Springfield, October 2, 1871. When he was two years old his parents removed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he received his initial schooling. In 1888, when sixteen years of age, he entered the office of H. Neill Wilson to take up the study of architecture, and remained there for a period of three years, primarily as student, latterly as chief draughtsman. In 1890 he went to Boston to enter the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, where he took a special course in architecture, and there re- mained one year. He then re-entered the office of Mr. Wilson at Pitts- field, and continued in his employ as chief draughtsman until April, 1902, when he established himself in the same profession, with offices in the Melville building. During Mr. Weeks' long term of service with Mr. Wilson he was necessarily connected with that well-known architect's extensive and important work throughout Berkshire county (see Mr. Wilson's personal history, this volume), and subsequently had a con- stantly increasing business of his own, his work embracing the town hall at Stockbridge, the Clapp-Frothingham and Casey and Bacon and other blocks and numerous dwelling houses. In 1905 he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he is engaged in business.
Mr. Weeks married, February 23, 1896, Alice Tuggey, of Pitts- field, Massachusetts, and they have one son, Ellis Francis Weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks belong to the Baptist church, of the Sunday school of which Mr. Weeks acted as superintendent for two years. They resided up to the date of their removal from Pittsfield, as above noted, at Wood- lawn Inn, Morningside, a hotel built and still owned by Mr. Weeks.
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JOHN COLLINS GORDON.
The history of the Gordon family is identical with that of many of the English families who came to America to seek new surroundings. they being attracted by the possibilities offered to young men in the business life of the new world. The pioneer ancestor of the Gordon family was John Gordon, grandfather of John C. Gordon, who was the first of that name to settle in New England. He was the ancestor of a large family, which in due course of time married and had chhildren, these having located in the various parts of the United States.
Joshua Gordon, son of John Gordon, and father of John C. Gor- don. when a young man settled in the state of New Hampshire. He married Eunice Hazard, of Adams, a direct descendant of the old Roger Williams stock of the plantation of Providence, Rhode Island. They spent their married life in the neighboring town of Hancock, Massa- chusetts. The Gordon family were one of the old remnants of the Quakers in this vicinity, and Joshua was an attendant at Quaker serv- ices as long as he was able to stand the task of going. The family were farmers, adhered to the tenets of the old school. and labored carnestly and unceasingly in their endeavor to improve their surroundings. Five children were born to Joshua and Eunice Gordon: Mary Etta. de- ceased ; Almira, deceased : John Collins, mentioned hereinafter : Nancy, deceased ; and Lester who resides in the town of his birth, Hancock.
John Collins Gordon. eldest son of Joshua and Eunice ( Hazard) Gordon, was born in Hancock, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. in 1822. Upon attaining the age when he should earn his own livelihood he chose the occupation of farming, thus following in the footsteps of his forefathers. In 1866 he located on a one hundred acre farm in the town of Lanesboro, Massachusetts, purchased by his father, and on
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which he spent some years, and this is now one of the best cultivated and most productive farms in that section of the state. Several men are employed on the place, and in 1904 Mr. Gordon turned the man- 1 agement of the estate over to his son John, although he still keeps a watchful eye on all the details. Mr. Gordon has been a member of the board of assessors in his town, serving two terms, and although averse to holding public office still keeps well informed on all subjects of local interest. He is a regular attendant at the services of the Baptist church, and in politics has has always adhered to the principles of Democracy.
In 1845 Mr. Gordon married Mary A. Eldridge, daughter of Reuben Eldridge, one of the influential and highly respected citizens of West Mainstown, Berkshire Hills. Their children were as follows : George, married Sarah Patten, of Lanesboro, and died in 1899, leaving a widow and three children: John, married Pearl Roberts, of Pittsfield; Reuben, married Juba McCaffen : and Ella, married Frank Pratt, of Pittsfield.
DENIS BLAIN.
The Blain family, whose chief characteristics were those of hon- esty, industry and integrity, left the home of their adoption in Canada in the year 1868 for the United States, locating in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, their object being to improve if possible their financial condition. Louis and Priscilla Blain for a number of years resided on a farm in Canada, and there reared a family of seven children (five boys and two girls) to manhood and womanhood. In 1864, their son, Louis Blain, named for his father, migrated to the United States, locat- ing in Dalton, Massachusetts. and for six or seven years thereafter drove a wagon laden with tin goods throughout this vicinity. Having gained a certain degree of success in this undertaking he formed a
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partnership with Harvey Henry, and for twenty-seven years they con- ducted a tinware and paper business under the firm name of Henry & Blain, which was dissolved by the death of Louis Blain in 1901. In 1868, four years after his arrival, his parents, with the remainder of their family, encouraged by his success, left the place where they had spent their married life, St. Michel, Canada, and took up their abode in Berkshire county, as aforementioned. The only survivor of the family is Denis Blain. whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Denis Blain was born in St. Michel, Canada, in 1851. After availing himself of the educational advantages of that early day, he devoted his attention to assisting with the work of the home farm. Upon the arrival of the family in Dalton, Massachusetts, he secured employment in a woolen mill in Kittredgeville, Dalton, where he re- mained two years. He then located in Pittsfield, and there served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, and for fifteen years after com- pleting the same worked as a journeyman carpenter. He then entered into partnership with George W. Merriam and Euclid Mecure, the firm conducting business under the style of Blain, Merriam & Mecure. This connection, however, was of short duration, and for the past twenty- two years he has conducted a jobbing and contracting business in the building line under his own name. Mr. Blain is practical and pro- gressive in his methods, and this fact accounts for the success which has attended his efforts. He is a devout Catholic, attending the Notre Dame church, as do all his family, and his political support is given to the Democratic party. He serves in the capacity of trustee for Walter Blain, son of his brother, Louis Blain, who at the present time ( 1905) is a student at college.
In 1881 Mr. Blain was united in marriage to Eliza Wilmot, daughter of Francis and Christina ( Belanger) Willnot, and a direct
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descendant of one of the earliest French pioneer settlers in the United States. Their children are: 1. Elsie, born in 1882, who became the wife of Lloyd Fillio, and they and their two children make their home in Greenfield. 2. Leo, born in 1885, resides at home, and is employed at the Eaton-Hurlburt Paper Company. 3 and 4. John and Artemus (twins), born in 1889, reside at home; the former is employed in the plumbing business, and the latter is filling a clerkship in a store. 5. Marie, born in 1892 resides at home and is attending school. 6. Mar- guerite, born in 1895, also resides at home and attends school. Mr. Blain has always endeavored to give his children the benefit of a good education, which is so essential to success in life.
FRANCIS XAVIER POITRAS.
Among the French Canadian settlers who by constant application to his own affairs and industrious and economical habits has become one of Pittsfield's best adapted sons stands conspicuously Francis X. Poitras, who was born in St. Rock village, in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1861, whither the ancestors of the family came in the year 1800.
Joseph Andre Poitras, the father, was a prosperous farmer of the village of St. Rock, owning and conducting one of the best farms in that vicinity. A saw mill located on the property was operated by Mr. Poitras, wherein was manufactured building material from the rough logs which he purchased by the river, and he floated and rafted his product to the nearby markets. He married Esther Guillult, who bore him a family of six sons and five daughters, all of whom were given the best educational advantages procurable in that then unsettled dis- trict. The children were: I. Esthur, born 1848, became the wife of
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Nazarre Pichie, and they and their family make their home in St. Paul, Province of Quebec. 2. Joseph Andre, born 1850, is married and re- sides with his family in Montreal, Canada. 3. Emma, born 1852, be- came the wife of Camille Beaudouin, and they reside in Montreal, Canada. 4. Louis J., born 1854, is married and has a family : he re- sides on the homestead in the village of St. Rock, Quebec, Canada. 5. Mary, born 1856, became the wife of Mederic Jervais, and died at the age of thirty years, leaving no children. 6. Rose D., born 1857. became the wife of Phillip Muloin, and they reside in St. Rock, Quebec, Canada. 7. Francis X., mentioned hereinafter. 8. Zipherina, born 1863, became the wife of Alford Peltier, and they with their children reside in Montreal. 9. Joseph O., born 1865, is married and has a family ; he is a successful medical practitioner of Montreal, Canada. IO. J. Ely, born 1866, rector of St. Calixde Catholic church in the diocese of Montreal, Canada. II. J. Emanuel, born 1868, a resi- dent of Montreal, Canada, where he is engaged in mercantile pursuits.
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