History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 110

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

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 110

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Mr. Brewer has led a strictly business life, preferring its independence and activity to the bickerings and strife eon- nected with publie affairs, never seeking publicity or political preferment. He has been closely identified with church and kindred interests, has been warden of the Episcopal Church of Springfield for several years, and vestryman for some thirty years. In 1842 he married Sarah, second daughter of Col. Solomon Porter, of Ilartford, Conn. Their children living are Edward L., a resident of Ilartford, Conn., and Mrs. Dr. Luke Corcoran, of Springfield, Mass.

LEWIS J. POWERS.

It is always a pleasure to the historian to place npon his page " passing incidents" in the life of one who has been solely the architect of his own fortune. Such a one is the subject of this sketch, Hon. Lewis J. Powers. He was born in Spring- field, Mass., Jan. 15, 1837, and received his education at the common schools of his native eity, and in a private school which he attended several terms. Early in life he entered on a business eareer for himself, his first work being to deliver to patrons in the city the Sentinel, then published by Alanson Hawley. Soon after he went into the employ of a Mr. Brocket, one of the pioneer newsdealers of Springfield, and subsequently engaged with Mr. Bessey, whose news-room was under the Massasoit Ilouse, and who also supplied the trains with papers. Young Powers had exhibited such unusual energy and ac- tivity in the prosecution of his business that Mr. Bessey placed him on the train as " newsboy," where he worked in- cessantly from " early morn till dewy eve," at the rate of two

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Jar D. Brewer.

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889

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

dollars and fifty cents per week. After two or three years he left the train and took a position in the store, and in 1857 pur- chased a one-third interest in the establishment, and in 1861 became sole proprietor. In 1857, while in company with Mr. Bessey, they started the stationery trade in a small way. This business was commenced by young Powers, who packed a little bag with samples, and, boarding a freight-engine, went to Huntington, Mass., and made his first sale to L. B. Wil- liams, who then resided in Huntington, and is now one of the leading business-men of Northampton. Ile also traveled as agent for their business in 1861 and 1863. About this time the rapidly increasing trade demanded more commodious quar- ters, and the business was removed to the Goodrich Block, and still further increased by the addition of the notion trade. It was also about this time (1863) that they took of Samuel Bowles & Co. the Western agency for the sale of albums, which then were being extensively manufactured. They also took the Western agency for the Glasgow Paper Company.

In 1865, Mr. Powers purchased an interest in the okl Berk- shire Paper-Mills, at Dalton, Mass., and the whole business was consolidated under the firm-name of the Powers & Brown Paper Company. In 1867 he disposed of his interest in the Dalton Mills, and purchased a part of the Riverside Paper Company, at llolyoke, and for several years was its president. In 1870 he built the northern part of the granite building known as the Agawam Bank building. These commodious quarters were, however, soon found to be too small for the increasing business, and in 1875 he erected the substantial and commo- dious structure now occupied by him on Lyman Street. It is a fine brick building fifty by one hundred feet, seven stories high, with factory in the rear. Upon his removal to Lyman Street, in 1875, Mr. Powers still further increased his business by commencing the manufacture of blank-books, paper, en- velopes, papeteries, etc. Here the same energy, indomitable will, and keen business foresight that characterized his early life again displayed itself, and he has increased his business, until now he has a resident agent for the sale of his goods in New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco, besides sending traveling agents into every State in the Union and the Canadas, and the annual sales of the establishment amount to nearly a million dollars.

Although his business has always been of an onerous nature, requiring a large portion of his time, he has manifested a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his native city, and was a member of the council when only twenty-three years of age. He was elected to the council again in 1867 and 1869. Hle was chosen alderman in 1874 and '75, and in 1878, the people, recognizing his publie services in the past, and knowing well his remarkable energy and executive ability, nominated him for mayor, and he was elected by a handsome majority over his opponent, a member of the same party, who received the " regular" Republican nomination.

Mr. Powers is largely interested in the general business in- terests of the city ; he is a dircetor in the Agawam National Bank ; trustee of the Ilampden Savings-Bank ; director in the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company ; also in the Clark W. Bryan Manufacturing Company, the Springfield Telephone Company, the Wason Manufacturing Company, etc. lle is also president of the Hampden Park Association, and treasurer of the National Trotting Association.

Mr. Powers is essentially a self-made man. Early in life he learned that the way to success was no royal road, but was open to stout hands and willing hearts. While yet a mere boy, he bravely stepped into the arena of active business life, and his great success has been the natural result of ability to speedily comprehend any subject presented to him, power to decide promptly, and courage to act with vigor and persist- ency.

The Huntington trip, with a little sack of paper, has grown into a business amounting to over three-quarters of a million

dollars annually, and the little newsboy of 1848 is one of the substantial business-men of the Connecticut Valley, and mayor of his native city.

" Honor and fame from no conditions rise : Act well your put; there all the honor lies."

REV. WILLIAM RICE, D.D.,

was born in Springfield, Mass., March 10, 1821. He is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Edmund Rice, who was born about 1594, emigrated from England, and settled at Sudbury, Mass., in 1639; removed to Marlboro', and died there May 3, 1668. His grandfather, Nathan Rice, was, when a young man, a soldier in the war of the Revolution. IFc was an honest and industrious farmer, lived to the age of seventy-seven, and died in 1838. His wife, Hepzibah (Allen), a relative of the famous Ethan Allen, was a native of Concord, Mass., and resided there at the time of the " Concord fight." She died at the age of ninety-one, in the year 1854.

Dr. Rice's father, William Rice, was born in Belchertown, Mass , in 1788. Ile went to Wilbraham when a boy, and lived there till he was nearly thirty years of age, when he removed to Springfield and engaged in business as a merchant. His intelligence, integrity, and public spirit soon gave him prominence in public affairs, and he was chosen year by year to various town offices. In 1830 he was elected register of deeds for the county, and held the position twenty-nine years. In 1838 he was chosen county treasurer, and that office he held for eighteen years. Through all the mutations of party his fitness for public service and his faithful and popular dis- charge of official duties carried his election successfully. He rarely had a rival candidate for either of these offices, and when he did the response was usually faint and the opposition was a failure. He was a conspicuous Methodist, but generous in thought and action toward all Christian denominations and all Christian effort ; liberal in charities and earnest for every good and noble work. Early and late he was the friend of popular and Christian education. He was one of the founders of the Wesleyan Academy, the first Wesleyan school in New England. When it was established he gave it one-third of all he owned at the time, and on occasions afterward contributed liberally to its enlargement. Ilis life afforded a rare example of simplicity, truth, fidelity, and usefulness. Ile died at the age of seventy-five.

The mother of Dr. Rice, Jerusha ( Warriner), was a lineal descendant of William Warriner, who settled in Springfield in 1640. She died in 1869, at the age of eighty-four.

Of their children (two sons and two daughters) Dr. Rice is the only survivor. He was educated in the schools of Spring- field, and at the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, gradu- ating from the latter institution with honor at the age of nineteen. After one year of rest on account of overwork and ill health, he entered the ministry, in 184], and joined the New England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Under the system of itinerancy adopted by that denomination, he was successively appointed to the following churches, viz. : North Malden, Saugus, Marblehead, North Russell Street Church, Boston; South Street Church, Lynn; Park Street Church, Chelsea; Chicopee ; Bromfield Street Church, Boston ; and again to Park Street Church, Chelsea. Here his health became impaired, and, assuming a supernumerary relation to the Conference, he removed to Springfield. He subsequently resumed his active relation to the Conference, but received an appointment to a chaplainey, and continued to reside in Springfield. He was a popular preacher, and a successful pastor during the years of his active ministerial life, and has always maintained an influential position in his Conference and in the Church. He is also favorably known among the other Christian denominations, having frequently occupied their pulpits since his residence in Springfield.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

IIe was elected to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856, and was one of the leaders on the anti-slavery side in the great controversy then going on in relation to slavery in the church. He was also a delegate to the General Conference of 1876, taking an active part in its proceedings, and serving on various important committees. At this session, provision was made for the appointment of a committee to revise the Methodist hymn-book. Dr. Rice was selected as a member of this committee, and devoted much time and attention to the work. When the revision was com- pleted, he was appointed chairman of the editorial committee, under whose supervision the hymnal was published. This re- vised hymnal has received the commendation of the bishops, and the high appreciation in which it is held by the Metho- dist Church is indicated by its immense circulation.

Dr. Rice has given attention, also, to other literary work. He published, some years ago, a " Pastor's Manual," for the use of clergymen, and an octavo volume of " Moral and Re- ligious Quatations from the Poets," containing more than four thousand selections, topically arranged. These works have been highly commended by the press, and widely circulated. He also prepared and published the excellent catalogue of the Springfield City Library, >till in use.

In 1853 the Wesleyan University conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M., and in 1876 the degree of D. D.

For eighteen years Dr. Rice has been secretary of the trus- tees of the Wesleyan Academy, and for many years a trustee of the college at Middletown. He has been a member of the school committee of the city of Springfield for the past fifteen years, and a member of the State board of education for six- teen years. During that period he has devoted much time and labor to the work of popular education.

Dr. Rice has been very closely connected with the history of the City Library in Springfield. In its carly days he was un- tiring in his labors in its behalf, soliciting subscriptions to its funds, donations of books, and seeking, by persistent and self-sacrificing efforts, to secure its growth and permanent es- tablishment. Later in its history he co-operated heartily with the few noble men whose zeal and labor to secure a suitable building for the ingathered literature resulted in the erection of the beautiful library edifice on State Street. Having been the librarian since the year 1861, almost from the beginning of the present library, the selection and purchase of books, and their arrangement and classification, have devolved en- tirely upon him. His wide range of reading, liberal views, cultivated literary taste, and sound judgment eminently fitted him for this work, and have given to the library in a great degree its present high position and established reputation.

In the year 1843, Dr. Rice was married to Caroline L., daughter of Wm. North, of Lowell, Mass. She was a lady of superior culture, and has been a helpmect to her husband in all his varied work. Their children are Rev. Wm. North Rice, Ph. D., professor in the Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn. ; Edward II. Rice, Ph. D., classical teacher in the Worcester High School ; Rev. Charles F. Rice, A. M., a min- ister in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and Caroline L. Rice, a member of the senior class in the Wesleyan Univer- sity.

ORRICK HERMAN GREENLEAF

Was born in Nunda, N. Y., July 18, 1823. Ile was one of the nine children of William Greenleaf, of Nunda, N. Y., and Ahnira Sanford, of Vermont, and is one of the ninth generation after Edmund Greenleaf, who came from England and settled in Newbury, Mass., in 1634, from whom all of the Greenleafs in America are believed to have descended. The family is of Huguenot stock originally. Mr. Greenleaf's line of descent in America is as follows : Edmund, who settled in Newbury in 1634; Stephen, who came to America with his

father ; Stephen, Ir., Rev. Daniel, Dr. Daniel, Jr., Israel (who had two wives and was the father of twenty-two children), Tilly, William, and Mr. Orrick HI. Early in life he learned the business of tanning leather in Nunda, and afterward that of currier in Sencca Falls, N. Y., where he was for some time employed. Moving to Springfield, Mass., in September, 1845, he engaged as foreman in Mr. Bliss' tannery, but began deal- ing in " paper stock" in 1847, and opened the first paper ware- house in the Connecticut Valley, in 1848, at Springfield, under the firm-name of " Greenleaf & Taylor" ( Mr. Taylor being his brother-in-law). They soon did the largest business in Western Massachusetts in their line, and in 1853 they built a mill at Huntington, Mass., for the manufacture of printers' paper. In 1854, Mr. Greenleaf organized the " Greenleaf & Taylor Manufacturing Company." In 1859, Mr. Taylor re- tired from the company. They purchased in Springfield the mill formerly owned by D. and J. Ames, and changed the Huntington mill to one for fine writing-paper. While the business was under the management of Mr. Greenleaf it proved very successful, but in 1868 he disposed of his interest, having become previously largely interested in the manufac- ture of paper elsewhere. In 1865 he purchased of Stephen Holman and others a controlling interest for himself and friends in the " Holyoke P: per Company," sinee which time its business has been under his management.

Soon after this purchase he began the enlargement of the mill to a capacity of seven tons per day, being a larger amount of fine writing-paper than is manufactured by any other single mill in the country. This corporation has been emi- nently successful, owing largely to Mr. Greenleaf's careful oversight and business ability, its goods standing at the head of the market.

During the present year it received a gold. medal at Paris for these specialties (linen and parchment papers). Mr. Green- leaf has been a director in the First National Bank of Spring- field since its organization, and is interested in other enter- prises. He began the erection of his present fine residence in 1872, and finished it the following year. It is situated on Crescent IIiHI, Springfield, overlooking the city and adjacent country toward the Berkshire Hills, and commanding a charming view both up and down the Connecticut Valley, the one to the south extending many miles into Connecticut. This residence is one of the finest in Western Massachusetts. Mr. Greenleaf has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years, and of the First Baptist Church of Springfield thirty-four years. Unlike many of our wealthy men, he has believed that while living he could dispose of his income in part, and during the last dozen years has given more than seventy thousand dollars for various public and private pur- poses. In 1847 he was married to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Robert Baldwin, Esq., of East Windsor, Conn.

DANIEL B. WESSON

was born in Worcester, Worcester Co., Mass., May, 1825. The family of Wesson settled in the town of Worcester over a een- tury ago. Abel, great-grandfather of MIr. D. B. Wesson, was the first settler, and for four generations they were among the prominent families of that place. His father, Rufus Wesson, followed the occupation of making wooden plows during his early days, and only abandoned the trade when iron plows came into use. Ile spent the remainder of his days as a farmer. Ile lived to be eighty-seven years of age. and died in his native town in the year 1874. Ilis mother, Betsy Baird, who was descended from one of the oldest and most prominent families of Worcester, survived her husband about two years, and died at the age of eighty-eight, in the year 1876.

The children of this family were five sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and three daughters are living. The eldest son, Edwin, died in Hartford thirty years ago. His name

Ogle Green leaf

Large R. Dickinson

D. v.Waren

891

IHISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

was associated with the celebrated Wesson rifle, of his manu- facture. Mr. D. B. Wesson spent his minority, until he was eighteen years of age, in the routine of school- and farm-work, at which time he was regularly apprenticed to learn the gun- smith trade with his eldest brother, Edwin, with whom he served until he reached his majority, and two years thereafter.

In the year 1849, Mr. Wesson commenced business for him- self, and began the manufacture of pistols in Grafton, Mass., on a small scale. Ile there spent two years, and afterward two years as superintendent of the Leonard pistol-manufac- tory, at Charleston, Mass. When in partnership with Horace Smith, he established a pistol-manufactory at Norwich, Conn., which they carried on for two years, and then sold out, Mr. Wesson continuing to superintend the works there for two years.

In the year 1856, Messrs. Smith & Wesson came to Spring- field, and began again the manufacture of pistols on Market Street, where they remained only three years, and removed their business to their new buildings on Stockbridge Street, where the business was largely increased, so that it furnished employment to abont 600 persons. Mr. Smith retiring from the business in July, 1874, Mr. Wesson conducted it alone. From a business confined to small dimensions and a local trade, the Smith & Wesson firearms are known in every State of the Union, and have reached large sales in every country of Eu- rope, in parts of Asia, on the Pacific coast, the islands of the sea, Canada, and South America. The superiority of these firearms is owing to the fact that the manufacturers were the patentees of the metallic cartridge,-the first in the world to be used in breech-loading. This feature gave that class of arms a great preference over others in market, and led to a large demand for them during the war of the Rebellion of 1861-65.

In the year 1847, Mr. Wesson married Cynthia, daughter of Luther Hawes, of Northborough, Mass.

Early in life he was trained in the business which he has followed for a lifetime, and taught that shrewdness and sa- gacity since characteristic of his business operations. He has risen from an apprentice-boy to be one of the largest manu- facturers in his branch of trade in the world.

Mr. Wesson has never been active in the political field, but has given his life to business. Ile has encouraged every enterprise of a local nature tending to elevate and educate the rising generation.

DANIEL D. WARREN.

was born in Hoosick, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1825. Ile was fourth son in a family of ten children, of Moses and Mary (Russell) Warren. The former, a native of Peterboro', N. II., was a merchant the most part of his life, extensively interested in slate quarries, and opened the first quarries at Hoosick. Spent some time as a farmer, was the first sheriff of Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and a member of the Senate two terms. Ile died in 1844, aged sixty-five. His wife died in 1875, at the age of eighty-three, at the residence of her son, Mr. D. D. Warren, in Springfield.

Mr. Warren left school at the age of fifteen, and spent the remainder of his minority as a clerk for various wholesale grocery merchants. In March, 1846, he came to Springfield, Mass., and was engaged for the first sixteen years as a whole- sale grocery merchant, was interested in paper-making, and for a short time was engaged in the stove and hardware busi- ness. In 1864 he became a contractor, and with IIon. Willis Phelps constructed most of the Council Bluff's and St. Joseph Railroad, and the Missouri Valley road. Mr. Warren alone built the Watertown and Carthage road, and, in connection with Mr. Phelps, constructed the Lake Ontario Shore Rail- road and the Connecticut Central road, the latter of which he has been president of since 1876. In partnership with

William Birnie he built the Springfield and New London road, and a portion of the Troy and Greenfield road in its reconstruction. Since 1864, Mr. Warren has been largely in- terested in the manufacture of paper, was stockholder and president of the Union Paper and Manufacturing Company, of Holyoke, stockholder and director of the Worthy Paper Company, of Mitteneague, and is the sole owner and carries on the paper-mills at Bondsville and Pepperell, Mass. Mr.

Warren has not been an idle spectator of the great political questions of the day; as a life-long Democrat he has taken an active part in local and State politics, and his counsel has been fixed and valuable in his party. Never seeking any honor or emolument that ofhee ean confer, nor accepting any position at the hands of his friends, he chose rather the unos- tentatious ways of business to that of public favor.

In the year 1847 he married Mary Louise, daughter of Joseph Weatherhead, of Springfieldl. His children living are Joseph W., a graduate of Harvard University, and now a student in the Medical University of Bonn, Germany ; Thomas B., a graduate of Harvard University, and now an attorney and counselor-at-law in Springfield ; and Louise M. His wife died in 1864. For his second wife he married, in 1873, Mary L., daughter of O. E. Watson, of Oswego, N. Y. Their children are Grace Evans and Daniel D. Warren.

GEORGE RICHARD DICKINSON

was born in Readsboro', Vt., Dec. 15, 1832, and is a son of Caleb Dickinson, a native of Amherst, Mass., who was a far- mer by occupation. Ilis minority was spent at home in the routine of attendling school and farm-labor, and he received, besides the advantages of the common school, a term at the Warnerville Seminary. This completed his early education, and his subsequent business career has fully demonstrated that the basis then laid, together with his indefatigable energy and sagacity in matters of business, has won him an envi- able financial position among the younger business-men of Springfield.

At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Dickinson began business on his own account, his first occupation being that of a tin-ped- dler, with headquarters at North Adams, Mass. He was sub- sequently engaged in the same business for four years, from Templeton, Mass. In the year 1857 he moved to Spring- field, when he entered into a partnership with Henry Smith,- one of his former employers,-for the manufacture of tin-ware and trade in paper-stock, with a limited capital of only $3000, of which Mr. D. was able to furnish but 8857.

The business so increased that in 1864 he established a branch manufactory in New Haven, Conn., with his brother, Royal C., under the firm-name of R. C. Dickinson & Co.

In 1867 he bought the interest of his partner in Spring- field, paying therefor nearly ten times the amount of the orig- inal capital of both, and took into business relation with himself Mr. Alfred N. Mayo, who had been his clerk for some three years. During the same year he also established a branch house at Norwich, Conn., with his brother, D. M. Dickinson, and one at Waterbury, Conn., with his brother- in-law, David B. Clark. Mr. Clark died in 1877, and the firm is now " Dickinson & Grilley."

In 1874 the firm of Dickinson & Mayo, in connection with R. C. Dickinson, purchased the Excelsior Paper-Mill, of Ilol- yoke, which they are now successfully operating.

The business of which Mr. Dickinson is the head has, from its small beginning in 1857, reached an amount of nearly a million dollars in 1878, doing business with nearly all of the neighboring paper-towns of the East and dealing in all parts of the United States.

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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 110

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