History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 109

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

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Art. Whitman, James B., enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. Warner, Benjamin F., enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. White, Daniel, enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. Wilkios, Isaac, enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. Wentworth, Henry, enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. West, William E., enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. Wallace, George, Jr., sergt., enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art.

West, Henry E., enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. Wilson, Thomas, enl. Ang. 1, 1864, 30th H. Art. White, Jean, eal. Sept. 16, 1864, 3d Brigade.

Wood, Jefferson, enl. Sept. 24, 1864, 30th Mass.

Wallace, Daniel E., enl. Sept. 22, 1864, U. S. Navy. Wheeler, William N., enl. Sept. 13, 1864, 2d HI, Art. Wilson, William, enl. Aug. 1864, 28th Mass. Williams, Reuben, enl. Aug. 1864.

Wright, A. A., enl. 1864.

Williams, Henry, enl. 1864.

Walter, Louis, enl. Nov. 19, 1864, 12th Mass. Batt. Ward, Jolin, enl. Nov. 23, 1864, Ist Cav.

Weld, John A., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A. Wells, Gideon, sergt., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass.,

Co. A.

Wheeler, F. Il., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A.

Withey, William A., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A. Willianis, A. C., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A.

Wood, A. B., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A. Wright, Andrew J., en1. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th Mass., Co. A.

Waterman, William 11., enl. Sept. 27, '62, 8th Mass., Co. II. Walker, Sylvanus, enl. Sept. 15, 1862, 8th MIass., Co. II.

Walker, Sylvanus A., enl. 1862, 8th Mass., Co. II. West, A. A., 8th Mass., Co. H.

Wood, Charles L., enl. Oct. 16, '62, 8th Mass., Co. H. Wild, J. B., enl. Sept. 12, 1862, 8th Mass., Co. H. Witt, Charles N., en1. Oct. 6, 1862, sth Mass., Co. II. Whipple, Joseph, enl. Sept. 30, '62, 8th Mass., Co. II. Willard, Frank A., enl. June 3, 1863, 5th H. Art. Willis, Henry W., enl. April 11, 1863, 5th H. Art. Washburn, William II., enl. May 2, 1863, 5th II.

Art. Walker, John, enl. June 6, 1863, 7th H. Art.

Wilson, Eli, 54th Mass. Warriner, Charles N.

White, William, drafted June 16, 1863. Willianis, George, enl. Ang. 27, 1863. Wyncoop, John R., enl. Dec. 1, 1863, 54th Mass. Waters, S. Alfred, enl. Dec. 3, 1863, 1st Cav.

Ware, Asa, enl. Dec. 31, 1863, 27th Mass. Wardwell, Joseph W., enl. Dec. 31, '63, 7th H. Art. Whittemore, Joel E., enl. Dec. 24, 1863, 57th Mass. Wetherbee, Warren S., enl. Jan. 4, '64, 57th Mass. Wright, Sammuel E., enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 5th Cav. Whitney, John, enl. Jan. 7, 1864, 27th Mass. Weston, William L., enl. Jan. 8, 1864, 26th Mass. Willey, Leander, enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 4th Cav. Williams, John, enl. Jan. 13, 1864, 56th Mass. Walker, Henry F., enl. Jan. 1, 1864, 13th H. Art. White, Prescott E., enl. Dec. 31, '63, 13th H. Art. Walker, William, en1. Dec. 10, 1864, 4th Cav. Watt, Colin C., en1. Nov. 4, 1864, 1st H. Art. Woodward, Abethat DI., enl. Nov. 4, '64, 61st Mass. Wilkinson, Michacl, enl. Nov. I, 1864, 61st Mass. Webster, D. G., en1. Nov. 10, 1864, 58th Mass. White, Charles N., enl. Dec. 8, 1864, 6th Mass. Batt. Woodbridge, Oliver, en !. Dec. 16, 1864, 27th Mass. Woods, Rufus N., en1. Dec. 16, 1864.

Whelden, George H., enl. Sept. 10, 1864.

Williams, Seth A., enl. Oct. 3, 1864.

Walker, Benjamin, Jr., enl. Sept. 12, 1864, 14th Mass. Batt.

White, William H., enl. Sept. 14, 1864, 3d HI. Art. Williams, Francis, enl. Sept. 13, 1864, Navy. Washburn, Alfred I., enl. Sept. 14, 1864, 22d Mass. Watts, John M., enl. Sept. 15, 1864, 2d H. Art. Williams, Sardine G., enl. Aug. 25, 1864, 2d H. Art. Ward, Albert S., enl. Dec. 30, 1864.

Young, Albert, A.M.L., enl. Dec. 30, 1864, 4th Cav. Young, Jeremiah J., eol. Aug. 29. 1864, 2d H. Art. Yoke, John, eol. Sept. 16, 1864, 15th Mass, Batt.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. HENRY MORRIS, LL.D.,

son of Oliver B. Morris and Caroline Bliss, daughter of Hon. George Bliss, was born in Springfield, Mass., June 16, 1814. He attended the schools of his native city, which have ever ranked among the best in the State, and, having decided upon a collegiate course, in 1828 he entered Amherst College, from

which he was graduated with honor in the class of '32, which has furnished four judges, two members of Congress, and two trustees of alma mater.

He chose the legal profession for his life-work, and began the study of the law in the office of his father, Hon. Oliver B. Morris, a leading practitioner in Springfield. He also

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

attended the Cambridge law-school, and in 1835 was admitted to the Bar, and commenced the practice of the law in his native city.

Judge Morris, as he is familiarly known, has ever com- manded the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and has been honored with various official positions within their gift, always discharging the duties in a truly conscientious manner, and to the satisfaction of all.

In the years 1846 and 1847 he represented Springfield in the Legislature, and aided in procuring the first grant from the State to Amherst College. In 1852, when Springfield was made a city, he was the president of the council, which office he held for two years.

The marked ability displayed by him in the various positions to which he had been chosen attracted the attention of the peo- ple, and in 1854 he was elected a member of Congress. Before the time arrived, however, for taking his seat, he was tendered by the Governor of the State the position of judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and, this being more in accordance with his tastes and habits, he resigned his seat in Congress and ac- cepted the judicial office. In 1859 the Legislature abolished the Court of Common Pleas, and, his judicial services having thus terminated, he returned to the practice of his profession, in which he still continues.

Judge Morris has manifested a deep interest in religious matters, and became a member of the College Church in his junior year. After graduation, he transferred his relation to the First Church, in his native city, of which he is still a member, and during several years has been a deacon.

In 1854 he was elected a member of the corporation of Amherst College, and in 1869 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater at the same time with his classmate and co-trustee, JJudge Perkins,

In the multifarious duties incident to the legal profession, Judge Morris has found time to study the history of the Con- necticut Valley and of Springfield, and has added many valuable contributions to the historic literature of this locality. In addition to various historical addresses which he has deliv- ered from time to time, he is also the author of a thorough history of the old or First Church of Springfield; also, His- tory of Springfield, etc. At present he is president of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society.

May 16, 1837, he united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Col. Solomon Warriner. They have four children living, viz., Mary W., wife of Charles K. Calhoun ; Edward, who was admitted to the Bar in 1864 and is now practicing law in Springfield ; Frederick W., a bookseller in Springfield; and Helen.

Politically, Judge Morris is a Republican, and although always manifesting an interest in public men and measures he has never been a partisan, caring more for the success of right principles, and the election of good men, than for party or personal gain.

HON. CHESTER W. CHIAPIN

was born in Ludlow, Dec. 16, 1798. He is a direct lineal de- scendant, in the sixth generation, from Deacon Samuel Cha- pin, the founder of the family in this country. His grand- father, Ephraim Chapin, was one of the largest land-owners of his day in this section, his estate covering lands in Chico- pee, Ludlow, and Springfield. His father (also Ephraim by name) occupied a portion of the old Chapin estates, which at the time of his death had not been divided. Though rich in lands, these early settlers were otherwise possessed of small means, and cultivated habits of the strictest economy. Yet these were days of families inversely proportionate to the ready means of the householder, Chester being the youngest of a family of seven children. In such circumstances are often found the beginnings of the amplest fortunes, and that strength of character which gives the widest influence.

Already, then, had there been instilled into the mind of the boy those lessons which have served him so well, when at a tender age his father died and left the family, then at Chico- pee Street, to manage for themselves. His older brother, Ephraim, having been sent to college, the duty of remaining at home to care for the interests of his mother and her farm devolved upon Chester. While doing so he attended the district school at Chicopee, which ranked high as a school of its kind in those days, and was afterward sent to the academy at Westfield, from which he entered upon the active pursuits · of life.

At twenty-one he went to Springfield, and first found em- ployment at the hotel known as the Old Williams House, kept then by his brother Erastus. Not relishing the busi- ness, he was next found keeping a store of his own at Chico- pee Street.

Just across the way was another store, kept by the late Ste- phen C. Bemis, and the two soon formed a copartnership, which continued several months. At this time Mr. Chapin was married to a daughter of Col. Abel Chapin, of Chicopee. He was next found at work upon the construction at Chicopee of the first mill ever built in this country where paper was made by machinery. He took the contract for the founda- tion and masonry of this factory for the Ameses, and did the work in so satisfactory manner that, when a few years later the mill was burned, they urged him to undertake a renewal of the job; but other engagements then intervened to pre- vent him from complying. A change in business then oc- curred, which turned the attention of the young man in the direction of his real life-work. At the solicitation of Jacob W. Brewster, of Hartford, he was induced to take an interest in the extensive stage-lines in the Connecticut Valley. IIcre he first made the acquaintance of his life-long friend, the late Maj. Morgan, of Palmer, who was engaged in the stage-line running east and west from Springfield. Occasionally hold- ing the reins on the Hartford and Brattleboro' line, Mr. Chapin was soon found to be more needed in developing the general interests of the route, which so prospered under his management as to yield him large returns on his investment.

Soon after the demonstration had been satisfactorily made by Thomas Blanchard that steamboats could run from Hart- ford to Springfield, Mr. Chapin grasped the idea and util- ized it. He bought out Blanchard soon after 1830, and for a dozen years controlled the passenger traffic between the two places. Ever since he has maintained his business rela- tions with boating lines, until he now controls largely the New York and New Haven lines of steamers. Two of his vessels were in government employ during the war of the Rebellion.

Meanwhile, having, largely by his personal efforts, seeured a connection between Springfield and Hartford by rail, he became a director in the corporation, and took active interest in its management. Extensive postal contracts having been taken by him on the route from Terre Haute to St. Louis, he sent the stages there, and used the rail as the means of trans- porting mails under his charge from Hartford to Stanstead, Canada.

In 1850, Mr. Chapin became a director of the Western Rail- road, but resigned the position to accept the presidency of the Connecticut River Railroad in the same year. In 1854, hav- ing attracted attention by successful management of that road, he was elected president of the Western road, and accepted. In two years fifty miles of rails had been renewed ; the bridge over the Connecticut River rebuilt ; twelve first-class locomo- tives, one hundred and forty-five freight-cars, and six passen- ger-coaches had been added to the rolling stock of the road. The interests of the company called him to England in 1855, where he was successful in negotiating a loan of half a mil- lion dollars for further improvements. Very soon the road began to pay handsome dividends. The Albany bridges, the

Truly yours 600Chopins

887

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

new iron bridge at Springfield, the continuous double track, and more particularly the grand consolidation of the Western and Boston and Worcester roads into the Boston and Albany, with magnificent tide-water facilities, the huge elevator at Boston, and the grand depot at Worcester, have been enter- prises owing a large share of their success to the shrewd man- agement of Chester W. Chapin. At various times during his presidency of the Western road he has been solicited to take the management of other large railroad interests, but has always refused. In business relations elsewhere, we find Mr. Chapin mentioned as a stoekholder and director in the Hud- son River and New York Central Railroads; director of the Western Union Telegraph Company ; a prominent manager and owner of the Collins Paper Company property and busi- ness at Wilbraham ; the Agawam Canal Company at West Springfield ; and president of the Chapin Banking and Trust Company, of Springfield (having been formerly founder and president of the Agawam Bank of the same place). He has been honored with a seat in the national House of Represen- tatives. The honor thus conferred precludes the necessity of extended remarks concerning Mr. Chapin's personal excel- lencies. IIe is kind and obliging, of unblemished reputation, cool and decided, but considerate, and one whose "promise is as good as his bond."

While Mr. Chapin is a prudent and somewhat conservative man, a careful observer of his career will find that he has always been among the foremost to accept every improve- ment in the onward march of civilization. At first a stage- owner, he was quick to see and utilize the application of steam,-first upon the waters of the Connecticut, and then upon its banks. Instead of resisting the march of events as bringing into the field an element of rivalry-and perhaps destruction-to his interests in old methods, he was the fore- most to contribute his capital and practical experience to the development of each new and improved project in the direc- tion of cheap and rapid transportation. Now, at the age of eighty, Mr. Chapin has retired from active life and is enjoy- ing the fruits of a green old age.

IION. JAMES M. THOMPSON.

Among the men of force and character, well-directed and indefatigable energy, fidelity, and genius, who make their mark in the world, and set an example worthy the imitation of their juniors, is Col. James M. Thompson, of Springfield. He has reached his present enviable position through his own keen foresight, industry, and adherence to principle. lle was born in Pembroke, N. H., July, 18II; was one of a family of nine children, of whom Hon. Newell A. Thomp- son (deceased), of Boston, is another. In their early life their father, who was engaged in cotton and woolen manu- facturing, lost his property by the disasters of the war of 1812, which ruined, financially, most of those engaged in that business. It thereafter became necessary for "the boys" to do all in their power for the support of the family, and they did it. Col. Thompson received his early education in the common schools of New England, and commenced his busi- ness education in a country store in 1825. At the age of twenty he began business for himself, in which he was pros- perous for four years, when, through the failure of another, his business was broken up, but his characteristic resolu- tion and energy soon won him once more a place in business circles.

In 1835 he married the youngest daughter of the late Gur- don Steele, Esq., a lady of culture, pleasing manners, and general excellence. She died in 1866.

Mr. Thompson resided in New York City from 1838 to 1840, and then returned to Boston. A year or two previous W. F. Harnden had established the first express in the coun-

try, and in 1840 employed Mr. Thompson in his Boston office. In 1842 he appointed him agent at Springfield, where he has since resided. In the year 1843, Mr. Thompson purchased thie line between Boston and Albany of Harnden & Co., with all its stock, and continued the business alone until 1852, when he admitted as partners two of his clerks, Mr. Melcher, of Boston, and Mr. Johnson, of Albany. Thompson & Co. sub- sequently sold out their interest to the American Express Com- pany, Mr. Thompson holding a position in that company until its consolidation with the Merchants' Union. About the year 1852 the Adams Express Company bought out the Harnden and other lines. Mr. Thompson, in pursuance of his previous interests, became, upon its new organization, one of the first directors, and its secretary, which places he still occupies.

In 1849 a charter for the John Hancock Bank of Springfield was obtained through his influence, and of that bank he was the president for thirteen years following, and has been a director since. For many years he has been connected with the Springfield Institution for Savings ; one of the soundest and best-conducted savings-banks in the State, and since the de- cease of Mr. Hooker, its presiding officer, he has been its president, during which time its assets have increased from about seven hundred thousand to about seven million dollars. He is one of the original directors of the Chapin Banking and Trust Company, and was elected its president in July, 1878, Mr. Chapin declining a re-election. He was also one of the incorporators of the City Library, and contributed, and liber- ally, toward the erection of the Unitarian Church of Spring- field, acting for some two years during its construction as chairman of the building committee. His connection with the Springfield Gas-Light Company has been as a director since 1861, and president since 1870. During the Harrison campaign and after, while the Whig party existed, Col. Thompson was a very active member of the party, but always declined political office. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he was anxious to take the field and share his fortunes with our brave soldiers, but the nature of his business and the counsel of his friends, touching the important service he could render at home in the furtherance of the Union cause, kept him from the field, and subsequently, as chairman of the committee of finance and information, he freely re- sponded in time and money in contributing to the benefit of volunteer soldiers and their families, to as great an extent as any other man in the State. In the fall of 1861 he received the unanimous nomination of both the Democratic and Re- publican conventions for Senator for the Eastern Hampden Dis- trict, and at the election received every vote east, except five or six. His doctrine in that hour of the country's peril was, " No man, however humble, has a right to stand back when there is so much to be done to put down this unholy rebellion, -every man ean and must do something."

In the Senate he was appointed chairman of the joint stand- ing committee of the Legislature on the militia, and was also a member of several other committees. In these positions he served with marked ability, and brought to bear that consid- eration, knowledge, experience, and sound judgment which the emergency required. Having in former years had much experience in military matters as aid to Gov. Clifford, who was president of the Senate at the time Col. Thompson was a inember, he was the better able to render important service in the position he was called to fill.

For his second wife Col. Thompson married Anna, daughter of Hon. Tracy Beadle, of Elmira, N. Y. His life has been one of active husiness, and among other monuments to his en- ergy in Springfield is an elegant residence on an eminence com- manding " a view unsurpassed for beauty of inland scenery," which, with its spacious grounds, adds much to the beauty of that part of the city, an engraving of which may be seen on another page of this work.

888

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

IION. WILLIS PHELPS

was born in Granby, Conn., Feb. 25, 1806, and is a lineal de- seendant, through his father, Ilorace, and grandfather, Ebenc- zer, of William Phelps, who, with his four sons, William, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph, and his brother George, with their families, one hundred and forty persons in all,-includ- ing Rev. John Warham, of Exeter, and Rev. John Maverick, from near Exeter, England,-embarked at Plymouth, Eng- land, on the ship " Mary and John," and landed on an island in Boston HIarbor, New England, May 30, 1630. Thus the members of this large family were among the early pioneers of the Eastern States on the Atlantic coast. The emigrant, William, Sr., lived nearly five years at Dorchester, Mass., when he removed to Windsor, Conn., in the fall of 1635. Ile was a member of the first General Court held in Conec- ticut in 1636 and 1637,-which last declared war against the Pequots,-and a magistrate from 1638 to 1642. In 1643 he was the foreman of the first grand jury ; was deputy from 1645 to 1657, with the exception of six years, and, with Mr. Welles, of IFartford, was appointed a committee on lying. He repre- sented Dorchester in the first Legislature of Massachusetts, and Windsor in the first Legislature of Connecticut. His brother George removed with him to Windsor, and they bought their land from the Indians. He died July 14, 1672. The grand- son of William Phelps was elected twenty-eight times to represent Simsbury in the Legislature of Connecticut. Ilis father, Horace Phelps, removed to West Springfield about the year 1811, to Westfield in 1812, and to Springfield in 1816, which latter has been the home of Willis Phelps since; except from 1831 to 1842, when he resided at Longmeadow. His father died in 1848, at the age of seventy-nine. Mr. Phelps spent his boyhood days in various occupations,-on the farm, in the meat business, driving ox-team, and making brick ; the briek-yard being located on Carew Street, where the bricks were made in 1822 for the old " Thompson House." At the age of nineteen he bought the grocery business of N. B. & J. O. Mosely, on the corner of State and Walnut Streets, and then first began business as a merchant. Thus early in life he became schooled in the business operations which, later, developed judicious management and sagacity. From meagre earnings amid the struggles of early life he has risen to the control of large business operations in building railroads and establishing stock companies. In 1838, Mr. Phelps contracted to grade a section of the Western (now Boston and Albany) Railroad, in Dalton, Mass., and soon after contracted for five other sections, between Albany and Springfield, of the same road. He built the Council Bluff's and St. Joseph Railroad, raising the funds for its construction; built the Rome and Watertown and the Potsdam and Watertown Railroads; and for some forty years was engaged in the construction of rail- roads in various parts of the United States, with several of which he has been officially connected as president and stock- holder. It is said that Mr. Phelps has been more extensively connected with the construction of railroads than any other man in the United States.

Notwithstanding his extensive business relations, Mr. Phelps has been somewhat actively interested in the great political questions of the day. In 1844 he was elected com- missioner for Hampden County, and was chairman of the board for three years. In 1848 he was in the Massachusetts Senate. Upon the organization of Springfield as a city he became a member of the council; the following year he was elected alderman, and again a few years afterward. He has been a candidate of the minority party four times for mayor of the city.

In 1856 he represented Springfield in the General Court.

Mr. Phelps has been associated with some of the important interests of the city ; assisted in obtaining the charter for the Five-Cent Savings Bank, and was its first president. He was

influential in obtaining the charter for the Pynchon Bank, and owned onc-tenth of the stock of the Fire and Marine In- suranec Company at the time of its organization, being also a director for many years.

On the Ist of March, 1828, he married Miss Mariah Bart- lett, of Springfield. To them were born four children,-three sons and one daughter. The daughter and one son died in infancy. Henry W. resides in Springfield, and is the super- intendent of the Athol Railroad. John W. also resides in Springfield.

JAMES D. BREWER

was born in Springfield, Mass., April 24, 1819. Ile traces his descent from Daniel Brewer, the emigrant ancestor of the name, who came from London or Birmingham, England, and settled in Roxbury, Mass., in 1634.

Ilis father, James Brewer, made mercantile operations his life business, was one of the originators of the Chicopee Bank of Springfield, and as a stockholder retained his interest until his death. He was largely interested in the manufacture of cotton goods in various mills; was an active business-man, possessing that sagacity and business ability not uncommon among self-made men, and a man well read in the current literature of the day. He married Harriet, daughter of Dr. Jabez Adams, of Mansfield, Conn., and to them were born four sons and four daughters, of whom James D. Brewer was the second child. In the year 1840 he engaged as a merchant with his father in Springfield, which business was subse- quently conducted as a hardware business, and continued for some thirty-two years. During this time he was interested in many of the enterprises of the city, as treasurer of the Indian Orchard Canal Company, originator of the Springfield Gas- Light Company, and director and treasurer of the same works, one of the directors of the Springfield Car- and Engine- Works, and committee in closing up its affairs ; one of the directors of the Agawam Canal Company's mill, director of the Chicopee Bank; and director of the Hampden Watch Company, of Springfield. He was the first chief-engineer of the fire department of the city, after its organization.

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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. II, Part 109

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896