USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Middlefield > History of the town of Middlefield, Massachusetts > Part 37
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John W. Crane of Wash. b. 5-23-1847. He came to Mid. in 1871 and kept the general store in Factory Village for several years ; moved to Springfield, 1886 where he has been in the real estate business for many years, and in a member of the Springfield Real Estate Board. (See Mack Gen. page 744).
Children b. Mid .:
SON, b. 4-15-1877. d. 4-18-1877.
ALFRED SUMNER, b. 1-5-1880. m. 9- 30-1908, Lulu E. Rice of Lyndon- ville, Vt. He is a member of the real estate firm of John W. Crane
Co. in Springfield. Has one son,
Alfred Sumner, Jr., b. 10-28-1909. MARY CELEMNA, b. 9-26-1882. Lives with her father in Springfield.
FAM. 16. JAMES TALMADGE CHURCH, son of UriahG and Phebe (Mack) Church, b. Mid. 9-12-1813, d. Mid. 11-2-1878, m. 2-14-1839, Emily Lovisa, dau. Quincy and Lovisa (Knapp) Bates, of Worth., b. Worth. 10-10-1816, d. Worcester, 7-13- 1897. He attended the academy at Greenfield for a while and taught school near Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He took a trip to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland for his health. He spent most of his life in Mid. as a member of the firm of S. U. Church & Bros., broadcloth manufacturers. He was of musical tastes, a good tenor singer and a player of the violin. He was a leader of the Cong. Church choir for a time. He was Republican in politics. He was deeply in- terested in religious matters and a staunch supporter of the Cong. Church, of which he was clerk of the Society, 1850-52. (See Mack Gen. p. 591).
Children b. Mid .:
LAURA LOVISA, b. 2-16-1840. d. 12- JULIA MACK, b. 11-11-1845; d. 5-11- 14-1890. She studied at Mt. Hol-
1924. m. 11-26-1868, Edward Pay- son Smith. (See Smith Fam.) yoke Seminary.
FRANCIS TALMAGE, b. 11-14-1843. (See Mack Gen. p. 187 & 744). d. 3-23-1854.
FAM. 17. LYMAN CHURCH, son of Uriah6 and Phebe (Mack) Church, was b. Mid. 8-4-1815; d. Huntington, 3-21-1880, m. 5-7-1839, Amanda, dau. Andrew and Celina (Bird) Hawes Meacham, b. 4-6-1816; d. 10-13-1896. He was a member of the firm of S. U. Church & Bros., until failing health compelled his retirement. He was interested in all
Church 441
GENEALOGIES
kinds of fruit raising and gardening. He was a great fisherman. He lived in Huntington during his last days. (See Mack Gen. p. 591.)
Children b. Mid .:
MYRON LAWRENCE, b. 9-16-1840. d. in Ohio. m. 6-7-1865, Lida Belle Hawes. (See Hawes Family) (See Mack Gen. p. 592). He kept store for S. U. Church & Bros., and was a merchant in Hunting- ton for awhile. Went West.
CLARA AMANDA, b. 5-18-1846. d. 4- 22-1922 at Brockton, Mass. m. 6- 21-1871, William D. Kites. (See Mack Gen. p. 744).
SON, b. 7-20-1851. d. same day.
FAM. 18. WILLIAM FULLER CHURCH, son of Uriah" and Phebe (Mack) Church, was b. Mid. 2-28-1818; d. Huntington, 10-15-1892, m. 4-19-1843, Caroline M. Parsons. Though he began working in his father's woolen mill factory he was not interested and sought more congenial occupation else- where. He followed various mercantile lines at Amherst and New York City; went west and located in Elyria and Cincinnati, Ohio. By his industry he built up for himself a reputation as a clear-minded, conscientious business man and upright citizen, and was appointed by Gov. Noyes as State Commissioner of Insurance. He was very fond of music, played the flute and was a good tenor singer. He acquired some skill in drawing and made sketches of the scenes he loved; especially in Mid., some of which are incor- porated in this work. (See Mack Gen. p. 480.)
FAM. 19. OLIVER CHURCH, son of Uriah6 and Phebe (Mack) Church, was b. Mid. 3-12-1822; d. Mid. 8-5-1901, m. 7-22- 1844, Lucy, dau. Oliver and Abi (Starr) Smith. (See Mack Gen. p. 592.) He was a lifelong member of the firm of S. U. Church & Bros., carrying on the broadcloth manu- facture after the decease of the other members. He was active in the Cong. Church, of which he was clerk of the Society from 1852 to 1870. He gave liberally to the support of the ministers, and was especially interested in the church music. He gave the first harmonium and also money for the purchase of two bass viols played by Dwight Graves. He was a leader in local politics for many years. For twenty years he was postmaster at Mid. Center.
JAMES CHURCH[
DR. JAMES URIAH CHURCH
MRS. NANCY (LITTLE) CHURCH DR. JEFFERSON CHURCH
Church 443
GENEALOGIES
Children :
EMMA LUCY, b. 4-22-1852. m. 12-9- 1875, Henry G. Taylor of West- field. (See Mack Gen. p. 745). CELIA P., b. 4-23-1854. d. 1-3-1856. SON, b. 3-18-1859. d. 3-24-1859. ELLA PHEBE, b. 5-6-1860. m. 11-2- 1887, Elias P. Burnham of Glou- cester. (See Mack Gen. p. 745). ALICE BERTHA, b. 8-23-1861. She spends her summer at the Church homestead at the Center. ' She played the organ in the Cong. Church for several years and had charge of decorating the church
with flowers on Sunday. She has been very active in local affairs during the summer season. (See Mack Gen. p. 593).
OLIVER U., b. 10-3-1864. d. 3-11- 1910; Springfield. m. 11-23-1892. Lillian M. Porter, b. 4-7-1872. Lived in Springfield. One son, Karl, b. 9-25-1894. m. 11-5- 1921. Lucy Marytta, dau. Loring P. Lane of Westfield. He is with Tifft Bros. Springfield. (See Mack Gen. p. 745).
FAM. 20. JAMES CHURCH, son of Uriah5 and Phebe (Dickson) Church, was b. Mid. 7-18-1787, d. Mid. 4-12-1874, m. 3-14- 1815, Nancy, dau. Barzillai and Elizabeth (Blush) Little, b. Peru, 9-5-1791; d. 4-6-1863. (See Little Family). He lived on the old Church farm which his father had cleared. He was a man of steadfast and upright character; a Con- gregationalist in church connection. At first a Whig, he was later a Republican in politics. He served five years as selectman and represented the town in the General Court in 1841. He had a humorous vein and a fund of stories and anecdotes pat for any occasion and was seldom known to repeat himself.
Children b. Mid. :
NANCY ELIZA, b 1-8-1816. (See TALMADGE BARZILLAI b. 6-27-1831. Fam. 21). (See Fam. 25). PHEBE DICKSON, b. 11-17-1818. (See Fam. 22). JOHN CLAYTON, b. 7-5-1834. d. 9-10- 1838. HENRY CLAY, b. 1-26-1838. (See Fam. 26).
JAMES URIAH, b. 10-15-1827. (Sce Fam. 23).
WILLIAM LITTLE, b. 5-28-1829. (See Fam. 24).
FAM. 21. NANCY ELIZA, dau. James and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. Mid. 1-8-1816, d. 3-9-1877, m. 10-23-1842, James L. Munian of Northampton. (See Mack Gen. p. 1376.) Children : CLAYTON, b. 8-13-1843. FANNIE JOSEPHINE, b. 11-5-1851. JOHN CHURCH, b. 8-12-1846. NANCY CHURCH, b. 7-7-1861. JULIA ELIZA, b. 5-29-1848.
444 Church
HISTORY OF MIDDLEFIELD
FAM. 22. PHEBE DICKSON CHURCH, dau. James6 and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. Mid. 11-17-1818, d. Hartford, 6-25-1842, m. 7-4-1837, John Ward, Jr. (See Ward Fam., and Mack Gen. p. 1377).
Children :
JOIIN HENRY, b. 7-4-1838. d. 8-6- MYRA, b. 1-13-1840. m. 11-30-1864, 1839. Solomon Little of Aurora, Ohio. JOHN, b. 1-31-1842. d. 5-16-1843.
FAM. 23. JAMES URIAH CHURCH, son of James" and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. Mid. 10-15-1827, d. Mid. 8-27-1859, m. 3-4-1857, Sarah Blush, dau. Oliver and Abi (Starr) Smith, b. 1-4-1838. She m. 2nd 3-24-1869, Wm. S. Hunting- ton, of Becket. James Uriah Church studied medicine at Pittsfield and graduated in 1851 from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York. Upon receiving from his home town a petition signed by eighty-six of his fellow townsmen, asking him to locate there, he returned to Mid. and practiced very acceptably for six years. He was much beloved by the people and was active in public matters. He was an enthusiastic member of the Highland Agricultural Society. His death from an accident while driving down a steep hill in Peru was a great shock to his fellow citizens. Children :
MARY ABI, b. 5-3-1858. Lives with SARAH BLANCH, b. 9-9-1859. d. 9- her mother in Becket. 21-1886
FAM. 24. WILLIAM LITTLE CHURCH, son of Jamies6 and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. Mid. 5-28-1829; d. Glenshaw, Pa., 1-22-1891, m. 5-15-1853, Nancy Adeline, dau. Oliver and Abi (Starr) Smith. (See Starr Fam.) who was b. 6-23-1830; d. Pittsburgh, Pa. After living a few years in the dwelling that has housed the Blush Tavern at Mid. Center, he moved to Newton Falls, Ohio, about 1864. In 1875 he moved to Midway, Pa., where he was connected with the Walnut Hill Coal Co., for 14 years. He moved to Glenshaw, Pa., where he was connected with the Glenshaw Coal Co. After his death the family moved to Pittsburgh.
Children :
NANCY MARION, (name changed to 1905. m. Rev. Edward P. Hawes. Daisy Marion) b. 6-9-1862. d. Son, Edward Prince, who lives at
Church 445
GENEALOGIES
Carnot, Coraopolis, Pa. He is WILLIAM LITTLE, JR., b. Newton supervising principal of the schools of Moon Township, Alle- gheny Co., Pa.
Falls, Ohio. 10-4-1869. Is an as- sistant treasurer of the Union Trust Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.
EDITH STARR, b. Nov. 6, 1863. d. 6- 27-1864.
FAM. 25. TALMADGE BARZILLAI CHURCH, son of James6 and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. Mid. 6-27-1831; d. 3-25-1874, m. 2-24-1864, Mary Janet, dau. Nathan and Mary M. (Abbott) Root, of Chester, who was b. 9-14-1833. They lived on the old Church farm in Mid.
Children :
MARY EDITH, b. 8-14-1865. (See WILLIAM HENRY, b. 7-15-1867. m. Fam. 28). 4-29-1898 Emma True. Lives in Worcester.
FAM. 26. HENRY CLAY CHURCH, son of James6 and Nancy (Little) Church, was b. 1-26-1838; m. 3-13-1861, Caroline L. Ames, of Becket. He moved to Newton Falls, Ohio. Children :
JAMES URIAH, b. 5-3-1865. HENRY CLAY, b. 2-14-1882.
RUFUS AMES, b. 9-15-1877. EDITH MAY, b. 5-1-1885.
FAM. 27. OLIVER CHURCH, son of Capt. William4 and Hannah (Fuller) Church, was b. Millington, Conn., 1763, d. Albany, N. Y., 9-18-1818, m. 1-17-1778, Elizabeth, dau. Lieut. George and Phebe (Brainard) Cone, of East Haddam, b. 1-20-1763. Children :
JULIUS, b. 6-4-1792, d. Phila. 10-18- 1851. m. Charlotte Moore.
WILLIAM, b.
WEALTHY, b. E. Haddam, 2-18-1796. m. Mid. 9-3-1818. John Smith, Jr. ORRIS, b. 1796. m. Samuel Lewis. AUSTIN, b. 1-9-1799. d. Brooklyn, N. Y. 1-9-1879. m. 5-3-1827, Nancy,
dau. Elihu Dwight, of So. Hadley. b. 7-10-1804. d. 1-26-1890.
After graduating at Yale he prac- ticed medicine in Cooperstown and Oswego, N. Y. and afterward engaged in the manufacture of Soda in Brooklyn, N. Y.
FAM. 28. MARY EDITH CHURCH, dau. Talmadge Barzillai7 and Mary (Root) Church, was b. 8-14-1865 ; m. 6-27-1888, West Mixer Ray of Charlton. They live in Mittineague.
Children : EARL TALMADGE, b. 5-13-1891. ALICE MARY, b. 9-5-1895.
RALPH WEST, b. 2-18-1897.
LEON STRONG, b. 4-7-1899.
446
Churchill
HISTORY OF MIDDLEFIELD
CHURCHILL
CHURCHILL, ELIJAH, (Giles,+ Samuel," Joseph,2 Josiah,1) s. of Giles+ was b. Florida, N. Y. 9-4-1755 ; d. 4-11-1841; m. 3-10- 1777, Eleanor, dau. James and Margaret Nooney, b. Sims- bury, Conn. 4-7-1756; d. 10-9-1846. They lived at Enfield, Conn. He served in Rev. War. He may have been the Elijah Churchill who was living at E. Windsor, Conn. in 1790. By trade he was a carpenter and after moving to Mid. about 1793, he or his son, Giles, operated a sawmill on Den Stream, originally built by Joseph Little. Later Giles and Lyman built a woodturning works on the same brook between Rhoads' mill and the sawmill. Pw. 18, 1794. Cen. 1800-1810. He lived at the foot of Churchill Hill in the house recently improved by Herbert Knox Smith.
GILES, b. 7-28-1793; (See Fam. 1). CHARLES, b. Mid. 2-16-1796. Lived SOPHIE, b. 1-30-1798. m. Jesse John- in Chester. m. Jannat Percival son of Chester.
and Dolly Davis.
FAM. 1. GILES CHURCHILL, s. of Elijah5 and Eleanor (Nooney ) Churchill was b. 7-28-1793; d. 2-7-1869; m. Abigail, dau. John and Lovice Hoskins of Simsbury, Conn. She d. 5-21- 1879. Lived in Lee, Becket and Mid. He was a carpenter and wood turner.
Chidren :
ELIJAH LYMAN, b. Becket 10-18- 1815; m. Elizabeth Was a carpenter in Mid. Had a son, Colden who lived in Mid.
WILLIAM MARVIN, b. 4-18-1816 (Sic) ELEANOR ABIGAIL, b. Lee 2-4-1824.
LAURA LORILLA, b. 8-2-1826. m. Elijah Cole.
ALVIRA, b. 7-27-1829.
GILES NOONEY, b. 10-26-1832. d. 4- 16-1834.
CLAPP
CLAPP, ABNER (Roger,+ Roger,3 Preserved,2 Roger1) oldest son of Roger+ and Ann Clapp, was born in 1737. (probably in Northampton where his father lived). He resided in Southampton when he was young and held office of Lieutenant in that place. His wife Mercy died in Martins- burg, N. Y., 8-16-1823, ae. about 80 yrs. About 1788 he moved from Southampton to Mid. where he purchased of Ephraim Sheldon a farm on Lot No. 40, Mur. The house stood on the east side of the highway from Mr. Arthur
Clark 447
GENEALOGIES
Pease's to Mr. Sweeney's a short distance north of the former's barn, where Dea. Field used to live. Sch. Com. 1789. He also served as tax collector. He died 12-5-1800. Children :
ORRIS, b. 3-19-1770 (See Fam. 1). MERCY, b. . . m. 1-26-1803. Joel DANIEL, b. 1771; d. Dec. 1818. Mar- tinsburg, N. Y. Shapley. ELECTA, b. . m. 9-28-1797. John ABNER, b. 3-25-1775 (See Fam. 2). JOEL, b. 3-25-1775, twin. d. young. Pinney, Jr. NANCY, b. 1783, d. unm. 8-3-1843. JANE, b. . m. Mr. Lee. ABIGAIL, b. 1785, d. unm. 11-12-1812. Martinsburg, N. Y.
FAM. 1. ORRIS CLAPP, s. Abner5 and Mercy Clapp, b. 3-19-1770 ; m. 12-29-1791, Phebe, dau. of Benjamin and Phebe (Skin- ner) Blish. He probably came to Mid. with his father in 1788. He bought for his farm the south half of Lot 200 Wor. located east of where Mr. Cottrell's farm is located. Orris Clapp and his wife joined the Cong. Ch. in 1795. Sc. Cm. 1802. Pw. 24, 1792. In 1805 he sold his farm to William Ingham and moved to Mentor, Ohio, whither his father-in-law had moved the year before. Of their thirteen children the following are listed in the Mid. records.
ORRIS, b 4-20-1794.
JULIA, b. 2-23-1796.
FAM. 2. ABNER CLAPP, S. Abner5 and Mercy Clapp, b. 3-25-1775 ; m. at Colchester, Conn. (int) 10-20-1798, Mrs. Mercy Gillet. He lived in Mid. and after the death of his father, he carried on the farm. He sold out to Dea. Zechariah Field in 1804 and moved to Martinsburg, N. Y. Eight children.
CLARK
CLARK, JAMES, called Lieutenant, was b. abt. 1732, d. Chester, 4-22-1792, ae. 60 yrs., m. Sarah - -. He was a squatter on Murrayfield territory and allowed to draw land drawing Lot 71 at the first meeting of the proprietors 1762. At the first meeting after incorporation of Mid. he was chosen tithingman and later surveyor of highways. Served in the Rev. War and on War Committees. It was probably either he or his son James who was living in Mid. near Coles Brook according to Cen. 1790.
448 Clark
HISTORY OF MIDDLEFIELD
Children b. Chester :
JOHN SCOTT, b 4-1-1762, living in Chester 1790.
ROYAL, b. 11-21-1763 d. 12-17-1782.
SILAS, b. 6-28-1776 (See Fam. 1).
JAMES, b. 4-25-1768. Probably the man of that name in Mid. Cen. 1800. M. T. 1799. Pw. 26-1794.
ORRIN, b. 3-24-1773.
DAVID, b. 4-25-1768.
FAM. 1. SILAS CLARK, son of James and Sarah Clark was in 1785 assigned to the fore seat in the East or side gallery of the Chester meetinghouse. He owned Lot 63 V Div. Becket on Coles Brook and was living near James Clark in 1790. M.T. 1799. His children were allowed to go to school in the adjoining town of Washington. He m. 1st (int) 6-23-1788, Mehitable Jagger who d. Mid. 4-20-1792, m. 2nd 5-16-1793, Phebe Ormsby. In 1840 a letter of dismission was granted him from Cong. Ch. to a church in China, N. Y.
Children b. Mid. :
SALLA, b. 3-17-1789. near or at the "Ashdod"' farm SILAS, b. 1-3-1795. PIIEBE, b. 7-1-1798 . 1830. Moved away before 1840. Children :
MEHITABLE PHEBE, b. 5-17-1800. m. 12-21-1825. Peter Atwood, lived
Silas Morris, b. 5-21-1828.
Royal Edwin, b. 11-14-1830. Charles Edwards, b. 9-28-1835.
CLARK, JONATHAN (William,4 William," John,2 Hugh1) was s. of William4 and Mary (Marean) Clark, b. Newton, Mass., 3-28- 1747, m. Esther Parker (int) 3-12-1780. Signed Pt. Inc. 1781. Was soldier in Rev. War. Was in Mid. as late as 1788. Moved away soon after.
CLARK, ELIZABETH, dau. of William4 b. Newton, Mass., 5-25-1752, d. 3-17-1853, ae. 100 years, m. 7-23-1775 Thomas Durant and lived in Mid. near Samuel Clark. She used to tell her children and grand-children of hearing the cannon at the battle of Bunker Hill. (See Durant Family.)
CLARK, SAMUEL, son of William+ b. Newton, Mass., 2-27-1754, m. 7-1-1776 Elizabeth, dau. Edward and Anne (Jackson) Durant who was b. 11-17-1753. Was soldier in Rev. War. Came to Mid. 1782, buying of his brother Daniel Lot 100 Par. He lived near his brother-in-law Thomas Durant who lived at the Dea. Harry Meacham place. On school com-
Coats 449
GENEALOGIES
mittee 1792. Pw. 10, 1792. Cen. 1800. Sold out to Jas. Dickson, Jr., and Alex Dickson and moved away about 1804. Children :
WILLIAM, b. 12-9-1776.
MARY, b. 3-10-1779.
EDWARD, b. 5-26-1782.
ANNA, b. 3-31-1787. SAMUEL, b. 5-19-1790 ELIZABETH, b. 8-21-1792.
DANIEL, b. 9-19-1784.
COATS
COATS, JOHN, wheelright, of Lenox, Mass., was b. about 1748, d. Mid. 1-19-1824, m. Mehitable -, who was b. about 1744 and d. in Mid. 7-18-1828. In 1785 Coats bought Lots No. 2 in the I and II Divs. West, Prescott's Grant, the farm lying next north of the Newton Farm owned by Henry Sternagle. The house stood on the east side of the road at the top of the hill north of the Sternagle house. Coats divided his farm between his sons, James and John. Later part of the farm was sold to Newton and the rest to Alex- ander Dickson. Mrs. Coats joined the Cong. Ch. by letter from Lenox in 1793.
Children :
LOIS, b. 12-2-1769, m. Luther Lec- land 5-4-1803.
THEODORE, b. 10-14-1771. (Sec Fam. 1). JAMES, b. 10-23-1773, m. Polly Spencer, 1-27-1803.
JOIIN, b. 3-26-1776, m. Chloe. . who d. 4-3-1813. Children : Almira, b. Mid. 11-17-1806. Hiram, b. Mid. 3-26-1809, d. 11-21-1827.
MEHITABLE, b. 1-5-1779, d. 7-13- 1781.
HANNAII WAY, b. 4-8-1781, m. 1-6- 1803, Nathaniel Babcock of West- field. ELECTA, b. 1-3-1785.
CHIAUNCY, b. 1-28-1788, m. 12-29- 1813, Mary Pease. They moved to Oswego, N. Y.
FAM. 1. THEODORE COATS, s. of John and Mehitable Coats, b. 10-14-1771, d. 2-27-1836, m. 1st 6-28-1797, Kesia Crowell who d. 4-21-1827. He m. 2nd Phebe Bassett of Stockbridge, (int) 1-15-1830. She d. 3-2-1833. About 1795 he purchased of Darius Eggleston, part of Lot 10, II Div. Washington, which was located near to Coles Brook on the road to Becket. Mr. Coats who was called "Thody" or "Thoda" was a large portly man weighing 250 and upwards. He owned a very large farm with a very large house and barns, had a large family of large children. The farm was finally sold to Wesley Cross.
450 Coats
HISTORY OF MIDDLEFIELD
Children :
EUNICE, b. 8-11-1798.
AMANDA, b. 4-14-1800, d. 9-25-1800.
CHILD, b. 7-10-1801, d. 7-11-1801.
FREEDOM, b. 6-21-1802. He followed
his father on the farm but finally abandoned it and went to live with his brother Charles in Washington.
CHARLES, b. 10-16-1804, m. Semantha Hyde of Williamsburg (int) 5-2-
where he was a farmer. A dau. Helen Semantha was b. Mid. 11- 6-1844.
LEVI LINCOLN, b. 10-22-1806, d. Aug. 1856.
LAURA KEZIAII, b. 2-11-1809, d. 6- 22-1832.
NANCY MINERVA, b. 10-22-1811.
HANNAH, b. 5-12-1814.
OLIVER, b. 4-29-1816, d. 7-19-1832.
1842. He moved to Washington MILTON, b. 4-23-1824.
COCHRAN
COCHRAN, ROBERT, of Blandford, bought of Moses Orcutt the southern part of Lot No. 207 in Worth. in 1777, where Mid. Center now is. He was a signer of the Pet. Inc. under the name of "Robert Coffin." After improving the land he sold his farm to Joseph Blush in 1783, and removed from town. His wife's name was Joan.
COLEMAN
COLEMAN, WILLIAM (Seth," Nathaniel,+ Nathaniel," John,2 Thomas1) was s. of Dr. Seth" and Sarah (Beecher) Coleman, b. New Haven, Conn., 9-7-1766. He d. 4-28-1858, ae. 92. He m. 7-19-1792. Achsah Lyman, dau. Timothy Lyman of Chester. She d. at Pittsfield. He was a physician. He moved to Mid. about 1791 and first lived on Lot No. 221, Worthington Section, in the gambrel roofed house now called "Cranberry Lodge" northeast of Blossom Corner. In 1805 he purchased of Daniel Alderman the old Enos Blossom place now the homestead of Mr. Arthur D. Pease, and here he lived for a decade. On school committee 1799. Dr. Coleman after Dr. Wright was the only physician in town for many years. In 1791 he was mentioned in a warrant for a town meeting as one to practice inocculation for the small pox in town on the 20th of October under proper restrictions. Dr. Coleman and his wife were mem- bers of the Congregational Church. In 1814 they moved to Hartford West Parish, Conn., and a little later to Pitts- field, Mass. (1821).
Combs 451
GENEALOGIES
Children b. Mid. :
WILLIAM, b. 2-15-1794, moved to Montrose, Ia., and later to Keo- kuk, Ia., where he d. 5-5-1829. m. 2-18-1824, Lydia Kilborn. LYMAN, b. 6-14-1796. Graduated at Yale in 1817. Teacher at Hart- ford, Phillips Andover, Princeton, Lafayette. Author, traveller, min- ister of the Gospel. He m. 9-21- 1826, Maria Flynt, dau. Rufus Flynt of Monson, Mass.
SARAH, b. 5-16-1799. m. L. L. Rice of Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, July, 1832. Moved to Oberlin. O. SOPHRONIA, b. 1-19-1802. Moved to Pittsfield.
FANNY, b. 5-20-1804. Moved to Pittsfield.
(See "Descendants of Thos. Coleman" by Lyman Coleman)
COLLINS
COLLINS, EBENEZER was on the valuation list of 1782 for Murray- field. He lived on the south slope of what is still called Collins Hill" located just southwest of the farm of W. Ovid Eames in Middlefield. His family numbered seven souls in 1800. In 1791 he was warned to leave town but did not do so. He was probably the Ebenezer Collins of Enfield, Conn., who m. Hannah -, and had a son Ebenezer, b. there 11-14-1764. They also had a daughter Hannah who m. Aaron Eggleston, 11-25-1784. Hannah wife of Ebenezer d. in Mid. 7-21-1809. Collins was one of the 14 petitioners who asked to have their money for preaching paid to Rev. Eleazer Rhoads, who was a Baptist minister in 1790. Moved away before 1810.
COMBS
COMBS, JOHN, of Enfield, Conn., b. 1731, d. 9-14-1811, m. Enfield, 7-8-1762, Mindwell, dau. Isaac and Beulah (Parsons) Prior of Enfield.
NATHANIEL COMBS, S. of John1 and Mindwell (Prior) Combs, b. Enfield, 7-3-1768, d. Chester, 5-19-1813, m. Rhoda W-, who d. Mid. 7-20-1834, ae. 66 yrs.
Children :
ARMITTA (ARMEDIA), bap. 1794. m. LUCRETIA, b. --. d. Mid. 6-30-1849.
Mid. 7-9-1817, John Damon, Jr. Joined Baptist Ch. 8-2-1845. (See Damon Family).
452 Combs
HISTORY OF MIDDLEFIELD
MILTON, b. Chester 10-12-1796. (See Fam. 1).
AURELIA, b. - -. Joined Baptist
Ch. 8-9-1818. m. James Clements.
Had s. Charles Lyman, b. 7-8- 1838.
HORACE, b. 1804. Came to Mid. about 1825. d. there 5-24-1845.
FAM. 1. MILTON COMBS, son of Nathaniel and Rhoda Combs, was b. Chester 10-12-1796, d. Mid. 1-21-1855, m. 5-10-1821 Laura, dau. Andrew and Sarah (Wood) Meacham, of Mid. (See Meacham Family) She was b. 3-3-1797, d. 3-3-1878. Shortly after his marriage, Milton Combs moved to Mid. where he lived the rest of his life. His farm was a short distance south of the home of his father-in-law, on the high- way to Mr. Alderman's where the road turns to go to Mrs. Hespelts. It was the farm first owned by Ens. Elisha Mack. Mr. Combs was selectman in 1851 and representative to the General Court in 1855.
In an old account book kept by John Newton is found the following record: "Lorra Meacham began work May 4, 1819 at six shillings." Dated June 10, 1819." The Combs family were Baptists.
Children :
EBENEZER STACY, b. 3-7-1822. (See Fam. 2). LOUISA, b. 6-27-1824. (See Fam. 3). JOIIN WOODS, b. 5-13-1834. (See Fam. 7).
ALMIRA, b. 2-6-1828. (See Fam. 4). ANDREW MEACHAM, b. 4-17-1831. (See Fam. 5).
CHARLES MILTON, b. 4-27-1833. (See Fam. 6).
FAM. 2. EBENEZER STACY COMBS, S. Milton" and Laura (Meach- am) Combs, b. Mid. 3-7-1822, d. 5-12-1902 at Russell, Mass. m. at Canaan, N. Y., 4-14-1845, Jane Hazelton of Cazanovia, N. Y. He was living in Middlefield in 1850 and 1860. For several years he operated the saw and grist mill on Factory Brook, first built by John Ford about a mile south of Fac- tory Village. Later he moved to Russell, where he operated a grist and sawmill until his death.
Children :
GEORGIANA ELIZABETH, b. Mid. 6-30- ALPHEUS HAZELTON, b. Mid. 6-15- 1847, d. by drowning, 9-2-1849. 1846.
Combs 453
GENEALOGIES
MILTON, b. 9-7-1849, d. 6-2-1891.
JAMES STACY, b. 4-9-1852, living in Chester, Mass. 1918.
MARTHA JANE, b. 4-2-1854.
SARAH SOPHRONIA, b. 5-4-1858. m. Jarvis Watson Gibbs. Living at Russell, Mass. in 1915.
FAM. 3. LOUISA COMBS, dau. Milton3 and Laura (Meacham) Combs, b. Chester, Mass. 6-27-1824, d. 5-21-1905 at Mid. m. 3-27-1843 Charles, son of Orrin and Sally (Wheeler-Blush) Smith of Mid. Lived in Smith Hollow, Mid. (See Mack Gen. Page 214.)
FAM. 4. ALMIRA COMBS, dau. Milton3 and Laura (Meacham) Combs, b. Mid. 2-6-1828, d. Huntington, Mass. 9-3-1897, m. 10-22-1862 Austin Rude, son of Alvah and Mary (Bis- bee) Rude, who was b. at Chesterfield, Mass. Oct. 1825, d. at Huntington Mar. 1896.
Children :
EDITH MAY, b. 7-31-1863, d. 10-30 1913, m. Clayton D. Smith of
BERTHA ESTELLE, b. Chester 4-4- 1865, m. 10-10-1888, Wilson Avery Munson. Children : Dorothy, b. Huntington. Children : Helen, Elizabeth and Dorcas.
3-29-1892. Cleora Margaret, b. 6-19-1893. Kenneth Avery, b. 11- 28-1894.
FAM. 5. ANDREW MEACHAM COMBS, s. Milton3 and Laura (Meacham) Combs, b. Mid. 4-17-1831, d. Albany, N. Y. 1-11-1885, m. 4-18-1855 Electa Alderman, dau. Daniel and Electa (Root) Alderman of Mid. b. Mid. 4-25-1831, d. 7-22-1893 at Albany. Children born at Albany, N. Y., and living in 1915:
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