History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 72

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 72

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In 1847 he was united in marriage with Harriet Louisa, daughter of Melvin Copeland, of Huntington, Mass., formerly of Hartford, Conn. Mr. Copeland was a leading man, intel- Jectually and morally, in the community of which he was a part.

Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one child living, Harry L., who is at Yale College.

The Williams mansion in Northampton is a charming home, and is known as " the Whitmarsh Place," formerly the property of the late Samuel Whitmarsh, for a long time one of Northampton's leading citizens.

LUTHER BODMAN.

The subject of this sketch dates his ancestry in this country to John Bodman, one of the earliest settlers at the Bay, and whose wife was a member of the "Old South Church." IIe had three sons,-John, born Aug. 6, 1645, Manoah, born March 6, 1647, and Joseph, born Oct. 17, 1653. No further record is found of the first two, but Joseph next appears in Westfield, in 1681, and subsequently in Hatfield. He died in Hatfield May 11, 1711, and the unique old stone still marks his resting-place. Ile had a family of seven children, who settled in Sunderland, Deerfield, and Hatfield. Samuel, youngest son of Joseph, was born about 1709, and had a family of seven children, three of whom-Joseph, Samuel, and William-removed from Hatfield to Williamsburg, and settled there during the years 1770-75. Joseph died Sept. 3, 1818, aged eighty-eight ; Samuel, June 26, 1827, aged ninety- one; and William, Jan. 15, 1835, aged ninety-four, the united ages of the three being 273 years. William was a prominent man in the district, and afterward town, of Williamsburg, was a member of the convention that framed the State con- stitution, and repeatedly represented the town in the Legisla- ture. Luther and Clarissa Bodman, father of L. B., had a family of six sons and one daughter ; five of the sons are now living. The father died at the age of eighty-five.

The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood on the old farm at Williamsburg, working summers and attending the district school winters, where he received a common-school ed- ucation. At the age of nineteen he left the farm, and entered a country store as clerk, and at the age of twenty-three went into business at Charlemont, Mass., for himself, with a capital of $200. For the first four or five years he made no headway in the business, and in 1842 went West for the purpose of traffick- ing in wool and woolen goods, and trading with the manufac- turers. Here his energy and executive ability found ample scope for development. This business was successful, and con- tinued for about twelve years, he in the mean time keeping the store at Charlemont.

In 1854 he retired from active business, and, removing to Williamsburg, located on the old farm by his father. He was solicited by Gen. James S. Whitney, who was residing in Conway, to assist in organizing a bank at that place. The bank was organized, and he was chosen its president, which position he occupied until 1864, when he resigned to take the presideney of the Hampshire County National Bank at North- ampton, which was organized through his instrumentality. It was thought by wise heads that a new bank could not live beside the time-honored institutions of this old town, but time has proved this a mistake, as the bank has ever flourished, and at present has a capital of $250,000 and a surplus of $50,000. Its success has been chiefly due to the ripe experience of Mr. Bodman in banking, and its able and efficient cashier, Mr. Lewis Warner, who has occupied that position fourteen years. The new bank building is one of the finest specimens of ar- chitecture in the village, and, for the beauty and safety of its interior arrangements, is said to be one of the best in Western Massachusetts. The Hampshire Savings-Bank is also kept in this building, of which Mr. Bodman is president and Mr. Warner treasurer.

Mr. Bodman, with that keen foresight that ever character- izes a successful business-man, early saw that the then unde- veloped West must eventually " blossom like the rose," and in 1854 entered with others of the government a large traet of land in Piatt Co., Ill., and he still retains a large farm, upon which, in addition to other erops, he raises one hundred and fifty tons of broom corn per year, which he ships East and sells mainly throughout this valley. The farm is not, however, exclusively devoted to crops, as he annually feeds about three hundred hogs, grinding and cooking their feed on the farm. It is beautifully located in one of the best sections of the State, and has twelve miles of Osage orange hedge. Mr. Bodman still retains the " old paternal acres" at Williamsburg, which have been in the possession of the Bodman family over a century.

Mr. Bodman has always manifested a lively interest in pub- lic matters, and, although not an active politician, has held various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens. While at Charlemont he held the offices of selectman, town treasurer, deputy-sheriff, postmaster, and trial-justice.

June 26, 1838, he united in marriage with Philena N. Hawks, a native of Charlemont, Mass., and their family con- sists of four children, viz. : Edward C., now a grain and com- mission merchant, doing business in Toledo and Baltimore, but residing in the former city. Ile is a prominent business- man, and is dircetor in two banks. Luther W. is a resident of Bement, Ill., and is a member of the banking firm of Bry- ant & Bodman. He is also engaged in the grain and commis- sion business. Nellie R. is the wife of Rev. C. II. Parkhurst, Congregational clergyman, residing at Lennox, Mass. The other daughter, Miss Clara P., is unmarried, and at the present time is traveling in Europe.

In religious matters Mr. Bodman evinces the same spirit of enterprise that marks his business career, and is an active and leading member of the Edwards Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.

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A.M. Thompson.

231

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

DANIEL W. BOND.

The subject of this sketch is a descendant of William Bond, who settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1630, and a branch of the Bond family, which located in Canterbury in the year 1710. Daniel W. is a son of Daniel II. Bond and Deborah White, the former a native of Canterbury, Conn., and the latter of Tunbridge Wells, England. She was the daughter of Rev. George S. White, who emigrated to America in 1812.

Daniel W. Bond was born in Canterbury, Windham Co., Conn., April 29, 1838. His boyhood was passed at home at work for neighboring farmers and attending the "district school" during the summer and winter as much as the duties of the farm would allow until ten years of age, when he aban- doned the summer school, only attending during the winter season, until sixteen years of age. In the mean time, however, young Bond had advantages that all boys in country towns during this period did not enjoy. ITis father, though not a man of large property, was highly intellectual, and he provided himself and his children with some of the leading periodicals of the day, and among his books were found some choice and valu- able works. The intellectual and studious traits of the father descended to the children, and during these years the subject of this sketch acquired a vast fund of knowledge which was not valueless in his subsequent career. At the age of sixteen years he entered the private school in his native town taught by William Kinnie, now of Ithaca, N. Y. He subsequently attended the Plainfield Academy, then under the charge of Rev. Lucien Burleigh, and still later the normal school at New Britain, Conn. A portion of the time, also, he was assisted in his studies by the Rev. Robert C. Learned, the settled minister of the parish where he lived, and by Charles C. Burleigh.

If we were to place before the reader a list of names of the distinguished attorneys, divines, and physicians of this State, many of whom have risen to exalted positions in their various spheres, who at one period in their career taught the " district school" and enjoyed the felicity of " boarding round," that list would indeed be a large one. Mr. Bond was no exception to this rule. ITis previous education had fitted him for suc- cessfully wielding the sceptre of the " district school," and during three winters he " taught school" and " boarded round" in his native town and vicinity.

In 1859, having resolved to enter the legal profession, he commenced the study of the law in the office of Daniel Frost, Esq., of Canterbury, a celebrated temperance lecturer. Soon after, however, he went to Florence, Mass., and taught an evening school for a year and a half, -- the latter portion of the time teaching the day school also,-while he continued read- ing law, and also perfected himself in phonography.

In the fall of 1860 he entered the Columbia College law- school at New York, then, as now, under the charge of Theo- dore W. Dwight. He pursued his studies with diligence and attention, passing his vacation in the law-office of William Dyer, Esq., at Central Village, Conn. He graduated in 1862, and won the proud distinction of obtaining the prize of two hundred dollars, awarded in the department of political science, then under the charge of Dr. Francis Lieber.

After graduating he returned to his native town, and was admitted to the Bar in Windham County, at the August term of the Supreme Court, in 1862. He then went to Providence, R. J., and entered the office of Benjamin T. Eames,-now a member of Congress from Rhode Island,-and was admitted to the Bar of that State in February, 1863. In the follow- ing May he united in marriage with Susan J. Dyer, daughter of Mr. Hervey R. Dyer, of Canterbury, and removed to Flor- ence, Mass., and for several years acted as the attorney for the Florence Sewing-Machine Company. He found this position suited to his taste, as it required a thorough knowledge of the patent laws, in which he became proficient, and has ever since had considerable practice in this branch of the law. After ceas- ing to act as attorney for the machine company, he conducted

a general law-business at Florence, and in 1869 his youngest brother -- who had studied law with him, and graduated at the Columbia College law-school, where he took the prize in the department of political science-became a partner, and the business was continued by them until May, 1870, when they formed a copartnership with Hon. William Allen, a legal prac- titioner in Northampton for more than twenty years. The firm had an office in both Florence and Northampton until 1872, when Mr. Allen was appointed judge of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, and the Florence office was diseon- tinued. The business was then conducted under the firm-name of D. W. & H. II. Bond until 1875, when J. B. Bottum, Esq., who had studied law with them, became a member of the firm. Ile was also a graduate of the Columbia College law-school. The firm has since been Bond Bros. & Bottum.

In 1877, D. W. Bond was elected to the office of district attorney for the northwestern judicial district, which com- prises the counties of Hampshire and Franklin. Previous to his election the firm had attended to the general law-business, but upon the senior member's elevation to this office they ceased to act for defendants in criminal cases, and Mr. Bond refused to become either counselor or advocate in criminal cases, except in his official capacity.

It may truthfully be written that while Mr. Bond has ever been interested in political affairs, as it is the duty of every citizen to be, still he never has been a partisan. With the " Know-Nothings" he did not sympathize, believing it intoler- able to make any distinction in regard to Irishmen in conse- quence of their nationality, and he believed slavery wrong, and never had that prejudice against colored people that some men seemed to have. Hle sympathized with the Republican party and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and became a great admirer of him as a great and wise man. After the war he was in full accord with the teaching of the precept, " with malice toward none and charity for all." He voted for Gen. Grant at his first election, but, like others throughout the Union, as his administration drew toward its close became dis- satisfied with him, and when the movement which resulted in the Cincinnati convention was set on foot he was in sympathy with it, was an earnest, outspoken "Greeley man, " and received the nomination for Congress on the Greeley ticket. Although receiving a large vote, he was defeated. In 1876, although- not much could be hoped for in the platform, the letter of ac- ceptance seemed to presage an advance in the right direction, and he acted with the Republicans. He has always voted with the Republicans in the State elections. He believes in reform, and says he does not think that he was ever constituted for a party man.

Mr. Bond says that as he looks back upon his life during the period from 1856 to the time he graduated at the law-school, he can see that it had its hardships as well as advantages over any other ; that when he commenced his studies he had noth- ing, and was obliged to work and earn from year to ycar the greater part of what was necessary to pay his expenses ; that during that period he was aided by a number of persons, with- out whose assistance he might never have gone on, but that he attributes his success, so far as he has attained any, more to the assistance and encouragement which he received from his oldest sister than to the assistance of any other person.

Mr. Bond has ever manifested an interest in public men and measures, and has labored earnestly to advance the welfare of the community wherein he resides.

AUSTIN WHITE THOMPSON, A.M., M.D.

It is the historian's pleasure to place upon his page " passing incidents" in the lives of men whose energy and talents are devoted to the relief of the unfortunate and the amelioration of the human race.

And such we find to have been the career of the subject of

232

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

this sketch, who was born in Pelham, Hampshire Co., Mass., May 22, 1834. IFis father, Peleg Pieree Thompson, died when the doctor was only four years of age, and the child came to Northampton, joining the family of his unele, Dr. Daniel Thompson, then the leading physician of this county. The rudiments of his education were obtained at the excellent high school of the town, and he subsequently became a student in what was at that time known as the Northampton Colle- giate Institute, a flourishing and celebrated institution, con- dueted by Lewis J. Dudley, in the very building now ocenpied by Dr. Thompson. Ile decided upon taking a thorough col- legiate course, and after completing his studies at this institu- tion was prepared for college by Rev. Rufus Ellis, at present . editor of the Christian Register, of Boston.

Pursuing the curriculum of studies at Harvard College, he graduated in 1854 with the commencement honor of the " salu- tatory" oration. His taste and proficiency in college work were in the direction of the languages and intellectual philosophy.

Among other distinguished men of his elass were Gen. Chas. R. Lowell, who fell at the memorable battle of Winchester ; Truman Henry Safford ; William J. Potter, one of the leading freethinkers of the age; II. II. Furness, of Philadelphia ; and Hon. William Wirt Warren, now a member of Congress from Boston. Dr. Thompson manifested in subsequent years a decided interest in mental philosophy, and for a number of years during the life of the late Samuel Bowles was a valued contributor on special subjeets to the Springfield Republican.

Soon after graduating he read law a few months with Judge Huntington, and then began the study of medicine in the office of his uncle in Northampton. Here he remained a short time, and during his practice made a specialty of mental diseases, and upon the opening of the insane hospital at Northampton he was appointed assistant superintendent. Previously, however, to, the opening of this institution he was ordered to visit the asylums at Taunton and Worcester, for the purpose of be- coming familiarized with the manner of treatment, ete. He retained the position of assistant superintendent at the asylum about two years, when for reasons of health he returned to the general practice of medieine, making a specialty, as mentioned above, of mental diseases and diseases of women, until quite logieally he created, in the line of his aptitude and experience, the institution which has already rendered him famous, known as " Shady Lawn, a Medical Home for Invalids."* He was president of the Hampshire County Medieal Society in 1856 and 1857, and is now a member of the Massachusetts Medieal Society, ete. Dr. Thompson has one child, Caroline Anna, now seventeen years of age, whose mother died in the child's infaney.

OSMORE O. ROBERTS, M.D.,

son of Charles and Hannah Roberts, was born in Lyndon, Vt., Oct. 27, 1828. His boyhood was passed in his native town, attending school at Lyndon Academy. As he ap- proached the age of manhood he manifested a deeided liking for medieal study, and finally resolved to enter the lists as a medical student, with a determination to make it a life-work. Accordingly, in 1850 he began the study of the profession with Dr. H. J. Cate, with whom he remained two years, and then removed to Concord, N. H., and finished his studies with Drs. Morrill and Cate. He pursued his studies with diligence and attention, and after attending two courses of medieal lee- tures at the medical college at Woodstock, Vt., went to Phila- delphia and entered the Pennsylvania Homeopathie College, where he graduated in 1853. Among other distinguished men of his elass may be mentioned William Todd Hehnoth, now a celebrated surgeon in New York, and Dr. I. T. Talbot, a distinguished physician residing in Boston.

Soon after graduating, Dr. Roberts located in Milford,

N. H., and entered into the active practice of his profession. Ilere he remained until 1857, when, desiring a more extended field for his labors, he removed to Northampton, and formed a copartnership with his brother, Dr. George W. Roberts, with whom hecontinued about two years, when the copartnership was dissolved, and the doctor has sinee continued the practice alone.

When Dr. Roberts eame to Northampton there were but few families favorable to the homeopathic practice. After a few years this state of affairs began to change, and he has sinee enjoyed an extended and remunerative practice, and to- day is ranked among the leading physicians of Western Mas- sachusetts. He has ever manifested a decided interest in the advancement of the homeopathie school, and during the year the Western Massachusetts Homeopathic Medieal Society was organized became a member, and is now president of that society. In 1857 he married Emilie E., daughter of Abial and Mary L. Eastman, a native of Danville, Vt.

JOSEPHUS CRAFTS

is the eldest of a family of ten children, and was born in South Deerfield, Franklin Co., Mass., March 2, 1810. Chester Crafts, his father, was born in Whately, Mass., in 1783 ; he died in 1827, and thus at the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources. His opportunities for aequir- ing an education had been very poor, for the common schools of that day were vastly inferior to those of the present, and his father's straitened means could furnish him no better advan- tages than these afforded. Ile showed, however, at an early age that he possessed both industry and perseverance, and the lessons learned in the "school of adversity" are not easily forgotten. In 1828 he went to Greenfield, and entered the employ of Hiram Root, as hostler, receiving eight dollars per month for six months. He then commenced driving the stage from Greenfield to New Salem, and afterward from Greenfield to Ashfield, receiving twelve dollars per month until 1832. He afterward purchased Mr. Abererombie's team and drove between Greenfield and Ashfield until 1835, when he went to Hancock, and bought two stage teanis, one on the Union and one on the Phoenix line. He remained in that place only a few months, and then, disposing of his interest, returned to Ashfield and purchased the team he had originally bought of Mr. Abererombie, and drove the stage from Greenfield to Ash- field, with an extension to South Adams. At the expiration of a year he again sold out, purchased a farm, and leased the hotel in Ashfield. Ile soon sold his lease, but kept the farm until May, 1851, when he removed to Berkshire County and engaged in the hotel and livery business, in which he remained two years. At the expiration of that period he returned to Ashfield, where he resided, with the exception of two years spent in Shelburne Falls, until 1869, when he retired from ae- tive business and removed to Northampton, where he now re- sides. By industry, perseverance, and economy he has acquired a competency, and by a life of integrity has gained the confi- dence and respect of all with whom he has been associated. He has been a member of the Congregational Church since 1841, and has filled many offices of trust in the towns in which he has resided. In 1855 he was elected director of the Con way National Bank, and also of Shelburne Bank; but as, in accor- dance with the laws of the State, he could hold but one of these offiees, he accepted the former, and has filled that posi- tion up to the present time,-a period of over twenty-three years. He is also a director of the Hampshire County Bank, and trustee of the Hampshire Savings-Bank. During the past eight years his time has been much occupied with the duties of executor, administrator, trustee, ete., he having during this period settled sixty-seven estates. Mr. Crafts was married Feb. 13, 1833, to Roxie D., second daughter of Lyman Cross. By this union he had six children, only two of whom are living at present (Deeember, 1878).

* See history of "Shady Lawn," elsewhere,

Photo, by Hardie & Schadee.

V6. W. Longley

Prominent among the pioneer families of Western Massachusetts was that of Longley, descendants of which are still reckoned among the leading and hon- ored residents of this locality.

Henry A. Longley, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Hawley, born Jan. 5, 1814. His father, Col. Joshna Longley, was a native of Hawley, and his mother, Elizabeth F. Hawks, was born in Charle- mont. Mr. Longley's boyhood was passed in his native town, where he attended the common and select schools, finishing his education at the Benning- ton (Vt.) Seminary. He was a diligent student, and at the age of nineteen had obtained an education suffi- cient to enable him to teach school, and during the years 1833, 1834, and 1835 he enjoyed the felicity of teaching school and boarding round in the towns of Agawam, Springfield, Grafton, etc.

His father, Col. Joshua, was a merchant in Bel- chertown, and after young Longley ceased his labors as teacher he entered the store of his father as clerk, and in 1837 became a partner in the business, and remained there twenty years.

Major Longley, as he is familiarly called, was fond of the military, and was major in the old militia. He ever manifested an active interest in the affairs of his native town and county, and was clerk, treasurer, and collector of Belchertown for eleven years, and represented that town in the Legislature in the years

1849, 1852, and 1854. In 1855 he was appointed sheriff, which he held by appointment two years, when the office was made elective. During the two years of his service he discharged the duties of the office in so faithful a manner, and so thoroughly satisfied his fellow-citizens, that he was then elected to the office, and has since been chosen to that posi- tion at each successive election. A quarter of a century in one official position! Certainly a sufficient commen- tary upon the manner in which he has discharged the duties of that important office. Kind and consider- ate, though firm, he always wins the respect of those whose fortune it is to be placed in his keeping, and that he is prompt and fearless in the administration of his office, and that he discharges its manifold duties to the satisfaction of the electors of old Hampshire, is evinced by his long term of office.

Sheriff Longley always manifests an interest in all projects tending to the public good. As a father he is kind and affectionate ; as a citizen, upright and gen- crous ; and as a public official, ever faithful to his trust. Politically he is a Republican, and prior to the organization of that party was a Whig.

He was married in Belchertown, Oct. 16, 1839, to Eliza O. Smith, of Belchertown, daughter of Obed Smith. They have had two children,-William Hyde Longley, died at the age of nine years ; and Sylvia Elizabeth, who resides with her parents.

H. K. PARSONS.

The ancestors of the gentleman whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch were residents of Enfield, Conn., for nearly two hundred years : Philip, born in 1697; Nathaniel, born in 1736; Josiah, born in 1776; and Josiah, born in 1804. His grand- mother was a daughter of Daniel Kellogg, an officer in the Revolutionary war.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 72

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700