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 125
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181
John Harrington, 46th Regt., Co. B. C. 11. Hatfield, Inith Regt. J. B. Ilolland, 57th Rogt., Co. C. J. J. Helmer, 57th Regt.
Homer Hyde, 1st Cav.
Philip Ilyde, Ist Cav. P. Ilmes, Ist Cav., Co. E. Wm. Hall, Ist Cav., Co. D. Morris Herman, * Ist Cav., Co. I. J. Il. HIenley.
HI. B. Ingraham, Ist Cav., Co. F.
F. M. James, 101h Regt., Co. C. W'm. Johnson, 2d Regt., Co. A. Jas. Johnson, 2d Regt.
Joseph Johnson, 2d Regt.
Ed. M. Gillson, 27th Regt., Co. G. Fred. A. Judd, 34th Regt., Co. D. E. F. Jefts, 46th Regt.
Albert Johnson, Ist C'av.
Jos. Jiginer, 13th H. Art., Co. I. Chas. Kurz, 2d Regt.
Wm J. Knight, 15th Regt., Co. K.
John Kelt, 21st Regt.
James Kogler, 25th Regt., Co. G.
Lester Kendell, 34th Regt., Co. D.
D. E. Kingsbury, 46th Regt.
A. O. Kenney, 4lith Regt.
. Wm. D. Knight, Hith Regt. E. II Kelly, 3d 11. Art , Co. C. Geo. Leonard, 2d Regt., Co. E. James Lamb, Icth Regt., Co. G. A. Lecour.
Heury Lyman,* 27th Regt., Co. A. Jolin Landers, 27th liegt., Co. E.
Daniel Luminey, 34th Regt., Co. D. Orrin Ladd, 34th Regt., Co. D.
Joseph Laporte, 34th Regt., Co. D. W. S. Loomis, + 46th Regt., Co. B. James Limehan, 46th Regt.
J. M. Locklin, Ist Cav., Co. E.
James Looney, 2d Regt.
W. J. S. Linyo, 3d Cav. L. Mullo.
D. MeCrohin, 2d Regt., Co. G.
Jerry Murphy, 2d Regt., Co. E.
Pat. McCarty, 2d Regt.
James MeLonghlin, 20 Regt.
Jolın Mockay, 21 Regt.
Thomas Montclair, 21 Regt.
James Morgan, 2d Regt. John Mulligan, 2d Regt. Francis Machin, 19th Regt., Co. G.
Joseph Moran, 21st Regt., Co. II.
James McDonald, 27th Regt., Co. G.
B. F. Makinster,* 27th Regt., Co. G.
Robert McDonald, 27th Regt., Co. K. H. II. Meacham, 32d Regt., Co. E. James McFarlain, 34th Regt., Co. D. John MeMaban, 34th Regt., Co. D. James McSweeney, 46th Regt. Clini les McFarlan, 46th Regt. Willington Munyan, 46th Regt. Edward Moren, 46th Regt. M. Manning, 46th Regt.
John Maloney, 46th Regt. Pat. MeGrath, 46th Regt.
N. McCallister, Ist Cav., Co. E.
Wmn. Marsh, Ist ('nv. John Minchan," Ist Cav., Co. F.
Charles McFarlan, 4th Cav.
Juhn Moohr, 4th Cav., Co. E.
David Morris, 4th Cav., Co. F.
Pat. Mahuney, 2d JI. Art., Co. A. James Markey, 3d Il. Art., Co. I. George Martin, 5th Cav., Co. I. Charles Marshall.
E. Newton.
C. Nolan, 15th Regt , Co. K.
Arthur Neal, 34th Regt., Co. D.
John Norris, 37th Regt., Co. I.
James Trumbull, 3d 11. Art., Co. I.
John Underhill, 2d Regt , Co. I.
C. D. Ufford, 10th Regt., Co. F.
C. Van Arx, 2d Regt.
John Nuiton.
Jerry O'Connor, 3Ist Regt., Co. B.
R. Williston, # 24 Regt., Co. G.
M. Warren, 2d Regt., Co. A.
T. O'Donnell.
T. 11. Orwell, 46th Regt.
T. O'Connor, Ist Cav., Co. C.
Daniel O'Keefe, 34th Regt., Co. D.
M. P'te-cott, 2d Regt , Cu. B.
John Paxton, 28th Regt., Co. A.
John E. Parker, 31st Regt., Co. E.
James M. Perkins, 34th Regt., Co. D.
Frank Parsons, 34th Rugt., Co. D.
Henry Parsons, 46th Regt.
A. C. Pratt, 46th Regt.
L. R. Prebles, 40th Regt, Co 1.
G. B. Peirce, 40th Regt., Co. B.
John H. Pike, 46th Regt., Co. I.
M C. Pratt,# Ist Cav., Co. E.
F. R. Pierce, 13th II. Art.
C. F. Quint, 34il Regt., Co. D.
Wmn. Ryan, 2d Regt., Co. I.
Ilemy Wheeler, 46th Regt.
G. E. Wlutaker, 46th Regt.
E. Wlutney, Htith Regt.
L. WInte, 46th Regt., Co. MI.
E. W. Wellington, 46th Regt.
R. Ware, 46th Regt.
E. Ware, 46th Regt.
A. C. Wheeler, 46th Regt.
L. W. Williams, Ist Cav.
J. 11. Wild,t 1st Cav., Co. D.
N. Wilcomer.
A. Le Grave, 57th Regt., Co. I.
John Murphy, 2d Regt.
M. Conner, 34th Regt., Co. D.
C. W. Cochrane, 37th Regt., Co. C.
C. O. Carpenter.
William Prentiss, Jr., + 57th Regt., Co. K.
E. G. Pierce.t
F. S. Cook, 31st Regt.t
J. G. Smith, 46th Regt.
J. R. Webster.
G. M. Williston,# 58th N. Y., Co. C.
L. Brooke,; 10th Regt., Co. B.
R. B. Palmer, 27th Regt., Co. A.
S. Il. Stewart, 35th Regt., Co. B.
G. D. Sampson, 36th Regt., Co. K.
C. V. B. Smart, 46th Regt.
E. B. Stillings, 46th Regt., Co. A.
J. Sefton, Jr , #6th Regt.
Chas. A. Sanborn, 46th Regt.
J. Shahone, 46th: Regt.
J. A. Snell, 46th Regt. Asa M. Scarlet, 46th Regt.
W. H. Smith, Ist Cav., Co. F. J. Lolan, Ist C'av.
W. Il. Sisson, Ist Cav., Co. G.
John Shehan, 13th II. Art , Co. II.
A. Silis, 2.1 Regt. Wm. Snyder. John Thompson, 2dl Regt.
James Tooney, 2d Regt. M. Toughey.
M. Tranier, 35th Regt.
Jolın Tenhill, 37th Regt. Jobn Terrill, 4tith Regt., Co. B.
B. Wheeler, 2d Regt.
J. A. Wallace, 2d Regt., Co. E.
11. A. Warner, Ioth Regt , Co. C. John Warner, 10th Regt., Co. D. Thos. Wood, 15th Regt., Cu. K. R. Welsh, 15th Regt., Co. K.
Alvin White, 21st Regt., Co. II.
H. A. Walters, 27th Regt., Co. G. II. S. Williams, 27th Regt., Co. G. A. Walter, 27th Regt., Co. G.
John Ward, 27th Regt., Co. G. William Winters, 30th Regt.
Frank Wispdane, 31st Regt., Co. G.
Daniel Webster, 34th Regt., Co. D.
J. A. Winn, 34th Regt., Co. D.
0. Washburn, 36th Regt., Co. K.
J. W. Wright, 36th Regt., Co. K.
Chas. II. Roby, 46th Regt.
S. B. Rano, 46th Regt.
J. H. Richmond, 57th Regt., Co. G. Pat. Ryan, 4th Cav.
Win. F. Rucker, 2d II. Art., Co. A.
John Reeves, 2d H. Art.
S. C. Robbins, 3d II. Art , Co. C.
Henry Smith, 2d Regt., Co. A.
Geo. Scott, 2d Regt.
S. Sill,* 15th Regt , Co. E.
James Sullivan, 21st Regt., Co. II.
Jerry Sullivan, 21st Regt., Co. B.
Thomas Shay, 21st Regt.
James Sullivan,į 27th Regt., Co. G.
Mathew Sullivan, 27th Regt, Co. G.
Thomas Sullivan,# 27th Regt., Co. K.
Chas. A. Spencer, 27th Ragt., Co. A.
F. D. Stearns, 3Ist Regt., Co. D.
A. Sill, 34th Regt., Co. D.
Abram Smith, 34th Regt., Co. D.
John A. Savage, 34th Regt., Co. D.
Chas. II. Sampson, 34th Regt., Co. D. M. Smith,# 34th Regt., Co. D.
NAVAL SERVICE.
John Baker, B. McEnty, W. F. Morse, J. F. Moore, J. Il. Melighin, JJ. Morbut, Win. Nichols, Jas. O'Neil, A. O'Neil, Jas. Ontres, N. S. Powers, D. Sheridan, and Henry Thomas.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
IION. WILLIAM WIIITING
was born in Dudley, Mass., March 24, 1841, and is the son of William B. Whiting and Elizabeth B. Whiting. The Whi- ting family is of English descent, the earliest ancestor in America having settled in Lynn, Mass., during the year 1636.
Mr. Whiting was educated in the public schools of Holyoke, and, after graduating at the high school, began his business
life with the Holyoke Paper Company as book-keeper in 1858. Afterward he traveled as their agent, and later accepted the position of business agent of the Hampden Paper Company, but resigned at the end of three months, and purchased the wire-mill now known as " Whiting No. 1," and changed it into a mill for the manufacture of fine writing-paper, with a capacity of five tons per day. This business proving very sticcessful, he purchased a traet of ground on Dwight Street
* Died.
+ Promoted Lient.
# Killed.
C. II. Noyes, 46th Regt., Co. 1. Samuel Niles, 4th Cav., Co. M.
Joseph Noel, 13th 11. Art , Co. I.
M. C. Van Valkenburg, 31st Regt., Co. E.
Geu. B. Oaks, 31st Regt., Co. E.
6:7 -Smith /h Z.
James Newton,
935
IIISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
and the second level of the canal, and erected the mill known as " Whiting No. 2," with a capacity of seven tons per day, making his full production twelve tons per day, a larger amount than is manufactured by any other corporation in America. In these mills he employs over five hundred ope- ratives, with a pay-roll of over one hundred and eighty thou- sand dollars per annum. In 1877 he erected on his Dwight Street property a beautiful opera-house, the finest in New England outside of Boston, and at the same time a fine hotel, -the Windsor Hlouse (both of brick with stone trimmings), -at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1872 he organized the Holyoke National Bank, and has been its president since. He is also a director in the Chapin Banking and Trust Company, of Springfield ; a member of the finance committee of the Holyoke Savings-Bank ; a direc- tor in the Holyoke Warp Company; vice-president of the Holyoke and Westfield Railroad, and has been largely iden- tified in other enterprises. In politics he has always been a Republican. In 1873 he was elected State Senator by sixteen hundred majority. In 1877 he was elected mayor of Holyoke, receiving the nomination from both parties, and in 1878 he was re-elected over the regular Democratie nominee by more than nine hundred majority. In 1876 and 1877 he held the office of city treasurer, defeating the Democratic candidate, notwithstanding Holyoke has generally given a majority for the Democratic party. In 1876 he was elected delegate to the Cincinnati Convention which nominated President Hayes.
Mr. Whiting married, in 1862, Miss Annie M., daughter of Luther M. Fairfield, of Holyoke, and has two children,-Wil- liam F., born July 20, 1864, and Raynor S., born .Jan. 20, 1867.
GEORGE HERBERT SMITH, M.D.,
son of Edmund H. and Lucy B. Smith, was born in Chicopee, Mass., July 4, 1840. He received a liberal education and made himself proficient in all the branches taught in the common and high schools, and in the summer of ISGI gradu- ated with full honors at the Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbra- ham, Mass. In the same year he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. R. T. Chatfee, of Hartford, Conn. In September, 1862, he enlisted as private in the 25th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and in January, 1863, when the regi- ment was stationed at Baton Rouge, he was detailed on special service, and was quartermaster-sergeant in the Ambulance Corps, under command of Surgeon Rogers. In April he re- turned to his regiment, the surgeon of which having died, and the second assistant being unfit for duty, he was assigned to act under First Assistant Surgeon Woods, who was soon after promoted to full rank. Dr. Smith was with the Army of the Gulf during the campaign of 1863, and was present and rendered valuable service at the battles of Irish Bend, Franklin, Donaldsonville, and the siege of Port Hudson. On the 17th of June, 1863, he was taken prisoner while at Linwood Hospital, but during the day the enemy was driven back, and he was released. Ile returned with his regiment, and on the 26th of August, 1863, was mustered out of service. He then resumed his studies, attended two courses of lectures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York, and graduated March 1, 1865.
Ile commenced the practice of medicine in Tariff'ville, Conn., but, his health failing, in the fall of 1866 he moved to Syca- more, Ill. ; but in 1868 he returned to New England, and es- tablished himself at Holyoke, Mass., where he has since resided. Dr. Smith makes a specialty of obstetrics and the diseases of women and children, and his extensive practice is sufficient testimony to his professional skill. Though an ardent advo- cate of homeopathy, he has, by his liberal views and courteous demeanor, secured the respect and good-will of his professional opponents.
-
In December, 1874, he was elected a member of the common council of Holyoke, and re-elected in 1875. In January, 1876, he was chosen president of that body. In December, 1876, he was elected a member of the board of aldermen, and re-elected the following year. Ile has been connected with the city government in an official capacity since its organization.
Dr. Smith has always been a Republican in politics. He is a leading member of the Masonic order, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree. Hle is also a member of the Odd- Fellows' society.
lle married, June 8, 1869, Miss Ada M., daughter of Dr. C. W. Babcock, of Medina, Ohio, and has had three children, -Abbie M., born May 19, 1872; Edward H., born March 4, 1874 (died on the 11th of the following December) ; and Lucy C., born March 11, 1876.
THE NEWTON BROTHERS.
JAMES HALE NEWTON
was born in Hubbardston, Mass., on Jan. 13, 1832. The Newton family in America are descended from Moses New- ton, who was born in England, and came to America in A.D. 1700. From Moses Newton to James Hale, we find several generations : (1st) Moses, (20) James, (3d) Joseph, (4th) Ebenezer, and (5th) James (the father of James Hale), who was born in ISOI, and who married Elizabeth llale, another of the English families which early settled in Massachusetts.
Mr. Newton was educated at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1859. While fitting at Easthampton, and during his col- lege term, he taught various schools during the winter vaca- tions, to assist in meeting his educational expenses. Imme- diately after graduating he was elected to the principalship of the Thomas Grammar School,-the largest in the city of Worcester, Mass.,-in which position he remained five years. At the end of that time he removed to Holyoke, Mass., and in connection with his brothers, Daniel II. and John C. New- ton, and others, organized the Hampden Paper Company (there being then but two small mills in Ilolyoke). Their capacity was two tons of collar-paper per day. Mr. New- ton acted as business agent and treasurer until 1866, when he disposed of his interest, and, in connection with his father-in- law, Calvin Taft, Esq., of Worcester, organized the Franklin Paper Company, with a capacity of three tons per day, run- ning exclusively on book- and colored envelope-paper. Mr. Newton is now engaged in building another fine mill for manufacturing paper, on Dwight Street, between the two levels of the canal, which he expects to complete in 1879, and will increase his production of fine paper to over eight tons per day. In 1872, Mr. Newton was elected one of the directors in the Third National Bank of Springfield, Mass., which position he still holds. In April, 1872, he organized the Mechanics' Savings-Bank of Holyoke, Mass., and has since then held its presidency. The institution now has over three hundred thousand dollars on its deposit account, show- ing an increase each year over the previous one since its organization. In November, 1863, Mr. Newton married Miss Susan Taft, of Worcester, Mass., and has had four children, -Edward Taft, born Dec. 15, 1864; Frederick Hale, born Feb. 23, 1866 ; Lila Taft, born Jan. 22, 1868; James Bertram, born Aug. 11, 1876.
MOSES NEWTON,
a younger brother of James II., was born in Hubbardston, Mass., Oct. 27, 1833. Ile lived on his father's farm until four- teen years of age, receiving his education in the schools of that town and at Deerfickl Academy. He remained on the farm until past thirty years of age, being engaged, however, with his father and brothers in the lumbering business, when he removed to Holyoke, where he engaged in the paper-busi- ness as superintendent of the Hampden Parer Company, until
936
HISTORY OF TIIE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
it was destroyed by fire in the year 1870, when he went to Miller's Falls as treasurer of the Buckus Vise Company, in which enpacity he remained until the year 1872, when the company was united with the Miller's Falls Manufacturing Company, after which he engaged in the lumbering business for the following two years with his brothers. After this he entered into a copartnership with Mr. James Ramage for the
buildings, enlarged Monson Academy (at Monson, Mass. ), and built the Holyoke Warp Company's mill and nine dwellings. In 1865 he built Tenement Block for the Hampden Paper Company's mill; also the Franklin Paper Company's mill and two dwellings on Race Street.
Nov. 28, 1865, he married Miss Lela F. Vulte, of New York City. In 1866 he was elected manager of the Hampden
O
MOSES NEWTON.
purpose of manufacturing building paper. In the year 1877 he, in connection with Mr. Ramage and Mr. George A. Clark, organized the Newton Paper Company, for the purpose of manufacturing building, carpet lining, and wrapping papers. The mill has been greatly enlarged during the past year. When organized the capacity was only one ton per day, while they are now making the enormous quantity of ten tons per day, being more than that of any other mill of the kind in the United States. Mr. Newton was married in 1859 to Miss Maria B. Arms, daughter of Borden Arnis, Esq., of Deerfield, and has four children,-Laura M., born in March, 1861; Susie, born in October, 1853; Alice (., born in February, 1868; and Herbert Arthur, born in December, 1875.
JOHN C. NEWTON,
brother of James H. and Moses, was born in Hubbardston, Mass., and, like his brothers, spent his boyhood at the ances- tral home.
In 1858 he graduated at the normal school in Westfield, and during the following year taught school in Vermont and Massachusetts. In 1860 he began his career as a builder by erecting the gas-works at Westfield and Greenfield, and an addition to the State normal school in Westfield.
In 1861 he built the bridges on the Tunnel Railroad.
In 1862 he came to Holyoke and built the Lyman Street school-house, the high school, and the wire-mills, now Whi- ting Paper Company's No. I Mill.
In 1863 he built A. T. Stewart & Co.'s woolen-mill and the Holyoke Machine Company's building ; also W. Il. Wil- kinson and Emerson Wright's blocks, Wilkinson's coliar fac- tory, Stebbins' brass-foundry, and four private dwellings for employés of the United States Armory in Springfield, Mass.
In 1864 he built the Florence Sewing-Machine Company's
Paper Company's mill, of which he was also treasurer and principal owner.
In 1867 he built the Hampden Paper Company's Mill No. 2, now Crocker Manufacturing Company's Mill No. I. In 1869 he added the second machine and engines to Hampden Paper Company's Mill No. 2. During the summer and fall of 1870 he rebuilt this mill, which was destroyed by fire in March ; he also put in water connections and laid the foundation of the Prentiss Wire-Mill and Whiting Paper Company's Mill No. 2.
In 1871 he sold the Hampden Paper Company's mill to the Crocker Manufacturing Company, and, forming a partnership with his oldest brother, D. H. Newton, they purchased the Ryder property, and sold the site for the city-hall. Ile also built the Massasoit Paper Company's mill, the Springfield Blanket Company's mill, and others, including the Beebe & Holbrook mill. In 1873 he built the paper-mill at Union Village, Conn., and the Jessup and Laflin paper-mill at Salmon Falls, lle built the fishway at the Holyoke dam, also the Massachusetts Serew Company's mill, and graded the land above the first canal level, requiring four hundred thousand yards of earth for filling.
In 1874 he built the Farr Alpaca Company's mill, the Skin- ner silk-mill, and the dam for the Agawam Canal Company, on the Agawam River. During the same year he organized the Massachusetts Serew Company, D. II. Newton, president, J. C. Newton, treasurer and principal owner. The greater part of the following year he spent in California for the benefit of his health. During the latter part of the year he erected buildings for the Chapman Cutlery Company, the Seymour Cutlery Company, I. C. Smith's machine-shops, and Joseph Peal and Connor Brothers' woolen-mills.
John C. Newton
2.20 Ormer, m.
l Odward C.
Ju
R
I. O. Faren
-
937
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
In 1876 he built the Newton Paper Company's Mill No. 2, the Connecticut River Pulp-Works (running the latter with his brother, Daniel Il.). He also built seven cottages on Newton Street.
In 1877 he built the Albion Paper Company's Mill No. 1, and a saw-mill for himself on Dwight Street. In 1878 he erected twenty Quaker houses and two tenements on Bond Street, nine houses on Newton Street, and a block for the Albion Paper Company.
In 1879 he built the Wauregan paper-mill on Dwight Street, and an addition to the Newton Paper Company's mill for four engines and three paper-machines. He also repaired the dam at Huntington for the Massasoit Paper Company, which was washed away by the flood, Dee. 10, 1878. While the above is not an entire list of buildings erected by J. H. Newton, the principal ones have been enumerated, and com- prise probably a larger number than has ever been erected by any single person in Western Massachusetts, and shows what perseverance and energy can accomplish.
Mr. Newton has been largely interested in inducing capital- ists and manufacturers to establish themselves in and around Holyoke.
Mr. Newton's family now consists of his wife and four daughters, aged respectively three, five, eight, and ten years.
JOSEPH CLARK PARSONS.
In the year 1636 there was executed by a number of Indian chiefs a deed to the land on which Springfield, Mass., now stands, and as a witness to this instrument we find the name of Joseph Parsons, Esq., and from this gentleman Mr. Joseph Clark Parsons traces his descent, the line being Joseph (known as the " Cornet"), Joseph, Jr., Noah, Noah, Jr. (who was col- lector of taxes in 1777 for the " State of Massachusetts Bay"), Mr. J. C. Parsons now having in his possession his original warrant signed by Ilenry Gardner, Esq., treasurer and re- ceiver-general, authorizing him to collect taxes to the amount of £579 7s. Old. Next we find, after Noah, Jr., Justice, the father of Mr. Joseph C. Mr. Parsons was born at North- ampton, Mass., Feb. 6, 1814. His mother was Lydia Clark .: He was educated at the Northampton Academy, and at the age of fourteen began to learn the drug business. In 1834- he entered into business relations with Mr. Henry Stearns, in drugs, medieines, and groceries. They continued in this busi- ness until 1839, when Mr. Parsons sold his interest and pur- chased a farm in the town of Agawam, Mass., where he has made his home more or less sinee. In the year 1840 he took charge of Ames Brothers' mill at Northampton, the original paper-makers in the Connecticut Valley. In 1843 he took charge of their mill and business at South Hadley Falls, Mass., but, this mill being destroyed by fire in the same year, he purchased a paper-mill at Suffield, Conn., and formed the " Eagle Mills Company," with a capital of $30,000, changing the mill from a hand- to a machine-mill. In 1853 he disposed of his interest, and removed to Holyoke, Mass., where, in connection with Colonel Aaron Bagg, of West Springfield, and others, he organized the Parsons Paper Company. With this corporation he is now connected as treasurer and agent, and has managed its business since its organization. During its existence it has divided more than $1,000,000 in profits, besides increasing the original investment of $60,000 many fold from its earnings.
In 1872, Mr. Parsons became president of the Third Na- tional Bank of Springfield, Mass., of which he had pre- viously been one of the incorporators. The surplus of the bank under Mr. Parsons' management has steadily increased, and is now more than three hundred thousand dollars, while it has paid regular dividends of from ten to twelve per cent. 1 per annum. In connection with the bank and Col. Bagg he has built the finest business block in the city of Springfield.
He has been interested as a stockholder and direetor in the Holyoke Manilla Company, The Holyoke Warp Company, Farr Alpaca Company, of Holyoke; is interested in the Valley Paper Company, of Holyoke, and is president of the Holyoke and Westfield Railroad, besides having been an in- corporator in both of the Holyoke savings-banks, and a director in the Hadley Falls National Bank, of Holyoke. He has also been interested in many other enterprises of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. To him, as the busi- ness manager of the Parsons Paper Company, the city of Ilolyoke is indebted for a fine public hall, and (he has rebuilt and refurnished it at great expense the past season) for the Holyoke Ilouse, one of the finest hotels in Western Massa- ehusetts. In 1878 his name (without his consent) was pre- sented to the Republican convention as a candidate for Con- gress from the Tenth Massachusetts Distriet, and later he was unanimously nominated by the Independent convention, which nomination was promptly declined. Mr. Parsons was married Sept. 29, 1836, to Lucretia, daughter of Col. George Colton, of Springfield, Mass. They have had five children, one son (deceased in infancy) and four daughters,-Elizabeth Hoyt, who was the wife of C. P. Prescott, Esq., postmaster of llolyoke, died Sept. 19, 1876; Fanny Colton, an invalid at home; Sarah Leonard, wife of Emery Meekins, Esq., of Springfield, Mass., and Catherine Turner, wife of E. C. Taft, of llolyoke.
As to the marriages of Mr. Parsons' ancestors it may be observed that,-1. Joseph Parsons married Mary Bliss, of Springfield ; 2. Joseph Parsons married Elizabeth Strong, of Northampton, a relative of Gov. Strong; 3. Noah Parsons married Mindwell Edwards, sister of Rev. Jonathan Edwards ; 4. Noah Parsons married Phebe Bartlett, of Northampton ; 5. Justice Parsons married Lydia Clark, of Peru.
EDWARD CALVIN TAFT
was born in Uxbridge, Mass., Jan. 29, 1846. His father, Calvin Taft, who now resides in the city of Worcester, Mass., was formerly a successful cotton-broker in the Southern States. Mr. Taft is a descendant of Robert Taft, who came to Amer- ica from England about 1646. He was educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, and, upon leaving school, connected himself with the Franklin Paper Company of Holyoke, of which his father was president.
In 1869 his father purchased the Hampden Paper Com- pany's mill, of which Mr. E. C. Taft took charge, and in the same year the latter organized the Albion Paper Company with a capital of $60,000, and filled the position of business agent. In 1877 they built their present mill, covering over 120,000 square feet, three stories in height, with a capacity of 3} tons of book and engine-sized flat paper per day, which amount will be largely increased upon the completion of their new mill, now in process of erection.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.