USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts of today; a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago > Part 70
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MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
A RTHUR S. KNEIL, the son of Thomas and Mary (Bush) Kneil, was born in Westfield, May 6, 1861, and has been a resident of that town since that period except during the time spent at school away from home. Mr. Kneil is a lawyer by profession and, although one of the younger members of the Hampden County bar, he has already built up a considerable practice in his own town and is reckoned an advocate and counsellor of more than ordinary ability. His earlier school-days were spent within the confines of the public schools of his native town, where he fitted himself for college. Graduating from these, he en- tered Wesleyan Uni- versity at Middle- town, Conn., in the class of 1883. While a student in the uni- versity he becaine a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Graduating from Wesleyan, he entered upon a course of study in the Boston University School of Law and graduated from that institution in 1885 with the de- gree of magna cum laude to his credit. He began the prac- 3 tice of his profession during the following year, opening an of- fice in Westfield, where he has practised continuously ever since. Mr. Kneil is also a member of the Suffolk County bar, and is the attorney for the town of Westfield. From 1886 to 1891, inclusive, he was clerk in the District Court of Western Hampden. While his practice occupies the greater part of his time, Mr. Kneil finds opportunity to devote some of his energies to other matters, and appears to be as successful in the civil walks of life as in his profession. Among other offices that he holds is
ARTHUR S. KNEIL.
the vice-presidency of the Business Men's Association of Westfield, an organization having on its roll of mem- bership nearly all of the leading citizens of the town. He is also the clerk of the Pine Hill Cemetery Association, a corporation existing in Westfield. Mr. Kneil is un- married and is one of the leaders of society in the town, a master-spirit of geniality in all social enter- tainments. Mr. Kneil's executive ability has nowhere been more manifest than in his work as a member of the Republican Town Committee of West- field. He was elected chairman of that body in 1889 and has held the office since that time, con- ducting the work in a manner which was creditable to himself and in a way that brought out the best results for the party, of which he is a leading expo- nent in Western Massachusetts. His work has been par- ticularly productive where the town elec- tions were concerned, and it proves him to be a man of ready resources and sound judgment. These native abilities brought to ripeness by indefatigable work have obtained recog- nition at the hands of his party, and in 1892 he was honored by an election to the lower branch of the State Legislature, receiving a majority that im- plied more than mere success at the polls. Although a new member of the Legislature, Mr. Kneil fared very well when the committees were appointed, and positions on the Judiciary and on the Committee on Rules and also Constitutional Amendments were assigned to him, his ability being recognized by his party associates, and by the speaker,
553
WESTFIELD.
JOHN W. COLTON was born in 1832 in that part of West Springfield, Mass., which is now known as Agawam. His father, Ebenezer Colton, came from Longmeadow. His mother was Cynthia Whitman, only daughter of the late Elder Jesse Whitman, of Agawam, who was the first Baptist minister in that town, and was, indeed, during his lifetime the village pastor. Mr. Col- ton was married to Albina S. Ball, daughter of William Ball, of Chicopee, Mass., in 1862. They have two chil- dren living, William B., now seeking health in California, and Mrs. W. I. Bar- ton, of Westfield. Mr. Colton was edu- cated in the public schools of West Springfield Center, in private schools in Springfield, and later took a course of study in the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University. Pursuant to a long- cherished wish, he engaged in the drug business with the old established firm of H. & J. Brewer in Springfield, and was their first sala- ried clerk. He re- mained with them for six years, resign- ing to take a posi- tion with W. H. Schieffelin & Co., of New York City, with whom he remained until his health failed from a too close devotion to business. Recovering, he located in Westfield and bought a drug store, and very soon became one of the leading druggists of the town. Mr. Colton is a Demo- crat, and has never sought political office, but in 1881 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Repre- sentatives, and was re-elected to that body the following year, receiving nearly four fifths of the entire vote cast. During his first term he was a member of the House
JOHN W. COLTON.
Standing Committee on County Estimates, and in 1882 was on the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking. He was also elected to membership in the town School Committee, even after refusing the nomination, but was unable to attend to the duties because of his business, and consequently declined to serve. He is a trustee and vice-president of the Westfield Savings Bank, a director of the Westfield Atheneum, and was the first vice-president of the Bay State Beneficiary Association. Mr. Colton is engaged in the manufacture of Colton's Select Fla- vors, goods that have secured on their mer- its a national reputa- tion. They are the results of long study and experience. For over twenty - five years he followed the drug business, the latter half of the time expending much of his energy on the development of his flavoring ex- tract trade. He re- tired from the drug business about five years ago, to devote himself to the manu- facture of his flavors and specialties. These extracts are of a very high quality, perfectly pure, and of great strength. The business grew rather slowly at first, but Mr. Colton ob- tained such strong indorsement from leading citizens, dealers and others, that his trade began to spread in all directions, until to-day there is hardly a State in the Union where his flavors are not known. A large num- ber of Mr. Colton's orders are received through the mails, and agencies have been solicited and established as far away as Australia, South Africa and Japan, while salesmen are now kept continually on the road in this country and abroad.
554
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
M ILTON BURRALL WHITNEY, the son of Samuel Hart and Marilla Lovisa (Dickinson) Whitney, was born in Granville, Hampden County, Mass., Oct. 6, 1825, being a direct descendant of Henry Whitney, who emigrated from England and settled on the easterly end of Long Island about 1649. Milton Burrall received his early education in the public schools of his native town and later in the classical school of Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, D. D., in which he fitted for college. He entered Williams as a sopho- more, and graduated in 1849, being as- signed to deliver the classical oration, one of the highest hon- ors in the college. For two years after his graduation he taught school, and went to Westfield, where he read law in the office of Hon. William G. Bates. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1853, and has re - sided in Westfield ever since, and has had a large, varied and successful legal practice. He prac- tised as a partner with Mr. Bates, and the two continued their joint practice until 1865, after which he was alone until 1874, when the firm of Whitney & Dunbar was formed, James R. Dunbar being the junior partner. This partnership lasted until the latter was appointed an associate justice of the Superior Court, in 1887. From 1887 until 1892 he was senior partner in the firm of Whitney & Brigham. Mr. Whitney was also a trial justice from 1858 to 1865, at which time he resigned. Mr. Whitney's carly political affiliations were with the Whig party, but he has been a Republican since the formation of that party, though latterly his
action has been rather independent. He has been often honored by political preferment. Among other public positions which he has held was that of State senator from the Second Hampden District in 1862-63. During his senatorship he was chairman of the commit- tees on Public Lands, on Federal Relations, and of the special committee on the Concord and Sudbury rivers, besides being a member of other important commit- tees, including the Judiciary. In 1868 he was chosen a presidential elector, and was a delegate to the National Con- vention that nomi- nated Garfield in 1880. Along the civil walks of life, also, he has filled many important and honorable positions. He was appointed a a member of the State Board of Edu- cation in 1881 and re-appointed in 1889 for a second term of eight years. He was chosen a fellow in the Ameri- can Geographical Society in 1890, and in January, 1892, was elected a councillor of the American In- stitute of Civics, a national institution incorporated under the laws of Congress. He has been deeply interested in the Westfield Athenæum, and an active member of its Library Committee ever since its organization in 1864, and was elected its presi- dlent for 1893, besides being a trustee of the Westfield Savings Bank since 1857, a director of the old Westfield bank and a director of the First National Bank since 1865 and its president since 1881. Mr. Whitney is a trustee and director of other local institutions, and has always been an carnest advocate of all measures tending to promote the best interests of Westfieldl.
MILTON B. WHITNEY.
555
WESTFIELD.
I
RA MILLER, president of the American Whip Com- pany, the largest whip manufacturing establishment in the world, and the pioneer in the modern style of whip-making, was born in Cadiz, Trigg County, Ky., April 22, 1848. His parents were James Quinn and Susan Raglan Miller, his father being a prominent mer- chant in that State. Their home was directly in the path of the marching armies during the Civil War, and, as may be readily inferred, the elder Miller's business was sadly interfered with, while the young man's school-days were brought to an abrupt termination. After the close of the war the elder Miller moved to Evansville, Ind., where he estab- lished himself in the wholesale dry goods business. But the son's tastes did not run in this direction, and, preferring the manufacturing of goods to the jobbing of them, he engaged in the saddlery busi- ness, in which he re- mained for twenty years, or until 1887, when he began the manufacture of whips. Ira Miller's first mercantile ex- perience was with the firm of Topf, Long & Co., wholesale sad- dle manufacturers of Evansville, into whose employ he entered in 1867. Three years later he removed to Louisville, Ky., to travel for J. W. Morrill & Co. He became identified with the well-known firm of C. B. Smith & Co., of New York City, and while in their employ visited Europe, Central and South Amer- ica, the West Indies, Mexico and nearly all the States of the Union. During his travels he made many and lasting business friends, and the work done then has been of great assistance to him in his present business.
IRA MILLER.
So zealously and successfully did he work for Messrs. Smith & Co. that he was taken into partnership, and remained in New York City until 1887. In 1886 he purchased some of the stock of the American Whip Company, and was elected president of the corporation in 1888. The company was founded in 1822 and in- corporated in 1855. It has always maintained the lead- ing place among industries of its kind, and, as has been said, is to-day the largest in the world, having an annual output of two million five hundred thousand whips that find their way over the entire globe. The same energy and en- terprise that char- acterized Mr. Miller's methods while in the saddlery business, ap- pear here, and a great deal of the later suc- cess of the American Whip Company can - be directly traced to his influence and la- bors. He is what may be called a shrewd business man, but a conscientious one. His dealings are always character- ized by dignity and uprightness. Al- though a resident of Westfield but a few years, Mr. Miller is justly looked upon as one of the town's foremost men. He has never held any civil or political office, since the requirements of his work naturally prevented this. He takes, however, a deep interest in all matters relating to the welfare of the town. Mr. Miller was married, Oct. 3, 1883, to Frances Eliza, daughter of Charles B. Smith, of Hart- ford, Conn., and they have four children, - three sons and one daughter. Mr. Miller's skill and energy have been instrumental in bringing the whip-making industry up to a high standard.
556
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
W ILLIAM PROVIN, for a quarter of a century a prominent manufacturer in the town of Westfield, and during this time one of the town's leading citizens, was born in Sullivan, Penn., Feb. 14, 1842. His parents were William and Delilah Provin. His early education was obtained in the public schools and the academy in Westfield. His school-days, however, did not extend over a very long period, as he learned, while quite young, the trade of manufacturing whips, which was then, as now, the principal business of the town to which he had migrated. Conse - quently he has been connected with that business as boy and man for many years. In later years he has been also engaged in the manufacture of whip lashes and cigars. Mr. Provin was married Nov. 21, 1866, to Louise J. Axtell, daughter of D. S. Axtell, of West- field, and two boys have been born to them. During his residence in West- field Mr. Provin has - been selected by his fellow-townsmen to hold many offices of importance, civil and political, and on a number of occasions has been called to represent his adopted town in the State Legislature. In all these different positions he has acquitted himself with distinction and credit, not only satisfying his constituents, but also evoking the admiration of many who, politically, were opposed to him. Mr. Provin is a Democrat of very broad vicws. Among the town offices that he has held is that of chairman of the Board of Selectmen from March, 1881, to March, 1882, while he also served the community as a member of the Board of Water Com-
WILLIAM PROVIN.
missioners for three years, being president and treasurer of the board. In 1886, 1887 and 1888 he was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature, while in 1891 and 1892 he was a member of the State Senate. In the Senate of 1891 he was a member of the joint standing committees on Labor and Insurance, while in 1892 he was on the committees on Fisheries and Game, Printing and Insurance, being chairman of the latter both years. Among the civil offices that Mr. Provin holds are those of vice-president of the Woronoco Sav- ings Bank of West- field, and director and auditor of the Westfield Co-opera- tive Bank. He is also president and one of the prime movers of the Ma- sonic Fraternal Accident Association of America, a corpo- ration that has written twenty-five thousand certificates in the past five years. Mr. Provin is a veteran of the late war, dur- ing which period he served in the cele- brated Peninsula Campaign under General McClellan. He is past com- mander of Lyon Post No. 41 of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. Mr. Provin is a firm believer in fra- ternal associations, and he regards them as being full of profound instruc- tion and moral elevation for the body politic. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Red Man, serving as great sachem of the State in 1891 and is also a member of other societies. In all of these he has been prominent, both as a member and an adviser. He is a ready de- bater, and has always a valuable opinion on matters of importance. Personally, Mr. Provin is a most agreeable and companionable gentleman.
557
WESTFIELD.
E DWARD BATES GILLETT, one of the promi- nent lawyers of the "Old Bay State," was born in South Hadley Falls, Hampshire County, Mass., Aug. 24, 1818, and was the son of Daniel and Edith (Bates) Gillett. He was married, in 1848, to Lucy, the daugh- ter of Hon. James and Lucy (Douglas) Fowler, and seven children have been born to them, only three of whom are living, Congressman Frederick H., Professor Arthur L. and Lucy Douglas: Gillett. Mr. Gillett is a graduate of Amherst College in the class of 1839, and was pre- pared for entrance into that institution in the academies at Hadley and West- field. On his de- parture from college walls he entered the law office of his uncle, that renowned legal light, Isaac Bates, of Northamp- ton, but completed his legal studies in - the Cambridge Law School. He was ad- mitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1843, after which he went to Westfield and be- gan practice as the partner of William G. Bates, one of the leading lawyers of that section. This firm retained its ex- istence until 1852, when Mr. Gillett took in Arthur Lin- coln, as a junior partner.
EDWARD B. GILLETT.
Mr. Lincoln died in 1859 and Mr. Gillett afterward formed a partnership with Homer B. Stevens. This continued until 1883. Mr. Gillett was elected district attorney for the counties of Hampden and Berkshire in 1856, declining re-election in 1871. He was a member of the State Senate in 1852, and served on the Judiciary Committee. In the Legislature he ranked as one of the most useful mem- bers. In the course of his extensive law practice Mr.
Gillett has been connected with some cases of national reputation, one of the principal being the celebrated Northampton bank robbery case, in which he conducted all of the cross examinations and made the final argu- ments. He was also for many years the counsel for the New Haven & Northampton and Boston & Albany railroads. Mr. Gillett has likewise been prominent in private life, and instrumental in bringing about many improvements in the town of Westfield. Among other positions that he has held was the presi- dency of the Hamp- den bank from 1858 to 1882. He is president of the Westfield Insurance Company, of the Board of Trustees of the Westfield Acad- emy Fund, and of the Westfield Athenæum, besides being a di- rector in the Ameri- can Whip Company. He was also elected a corporate member of the American Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions and is pres- ident of the Hamp- den County Bar Association. He has always manifested a deep interest in ed- ucational matters, and was a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Edu- cation for many years. He has been vice-president of Smith College since its foundation, and has been a trustee of Amherst College since 1861, besides being a trustee of the Hart- ford Theological Seminary. His alma mater conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. in 1885. Mr. Gillett was a Whig originally, but has been a Republican since the foundation of that party, and was a delegate to the National Convention of 1856, and a presidential elector in 1860.
558
MASSACHUSETTS OF TO-DAY.
J JAMES ALFRED LAKIN was born in Boston, Feb. 7, 1841. He married Lucy Adelaide Tower in 1870, and they have four children, -three daughters and one son. He is an army veteran, having enlisted in the old First Massachusetts Regiment, in which he served with distinction. The chief part of Mr. Lakin's education and personal polish has been acquired by contact with the world, but the fundamental principles were instilled into his mind by a course of study in the Boston schools. Al- though a native of Boston, Mr. Lakin L has preferred to live in Westfield for twenty-two years, and during all of that time has been closely in touch with the best interests of the town, and very prom- inent in the indus- trial life of the com- munity. His value as a citizen has been recognized by the town on various oc- casions. In 1890, and again in 1891, he was elected to the State Legislature, being a representa- tive from the Second Hampden District. In 1892 he was nom- inated for senator in the Second Hamp- den Senatorial Dis- trict. During his first term in the Legislature Mr. La- kin was a member of the Insurance Committee, and during his second year was a valued member of the Committee on Railroads. While in the Legislature he made an especially creditable record for himself, and handled the questions that came before him with the dexterity of a veteran. Of especial valne to the farmers of his district, and indeed to those of the State in gen- eral, were his efforts on the proposed dairy law, which came before the House in such shape as to be practi-
cally valueless. Mr. Lakin fought hard to have those portions of the law that were cut off in the Senate re- incorporated in the bill, and finally succeeded. Not content with that, he labored with some of the senators and had the satisfaction of seeing the bill passed as amended by him. He also reported on a bill allowing the use of electricity on the railroads of the State, and so convincing was his argument in favor of it that it was almost unanimously passed. He stated on the floor of the House that "in his judgment, within four years trains would be run, heated, lighted, bells rung, whistles blown, and breaks set by elec- tricity." He was also chosen by the Legislature to appear before Congress and urge the adoption of a uniform safety car coupler for the pro- tection of life and limb, on account of his thorough mechan- ical ability. Mr. La- kin's business career began in 1865, when he engaged in the watch and jewelry trade, which business he has followed ever since in connection with the manufacture of his other inven- tions. At present Mr. Lakin is devot- ing his time to the American Casket Hardware Company, of which he is president, and which is located in Westfield. As its name implies, the company is engaged in the manufacture of plates, handles, and other trimmings for burial caskets, and although established little more than a year, is remark- ably successful, and shows very able management. Mr. Lakin has given much attention to the industrial health of the State. It is the opinion of his many admirers that the future has further honors in store for him.
JAMES A. LAKIN.
559
WESTFIELD.
H ENRY W. ASHLEY, lawyer, was born in West- field, Mass., Feb. 16, 1855. His parents were Henry and Mary A. (Bartholomew) Ashley. Mr. Ash- ley's family were among the early Puritan settlers, the first of the family in this country, Robert Ashley, emi- grating from England and settling at Roxbury, Mass. He remained in this early colonial settlement until the departure of William Pynchon and his party for Spring- field, in the year 1639, when he became a member of the little band of set- tlers, and carried the name Ashley to the then extreme west- ern part of the old Bay State. Robert Ashley's name first appears in the early historical records as one of the committee appointed in behalf of the little settle- ment of Springfield, to arrange about the grinding of the grain of the settlers, while later he was chosen as one of the sealers on the same question. When Westfield was set off from Springfield, somewhere about 1658, the Ashley family cast in their fortunes with the young settlement, and reference to the history of the times shows that grants of land were made to Robert Ashley and David Ashley in 1666. John Ashley, a graduate of Yale University, in the class of 1730, was one of the first lawyers in Westfield, and was, as his descendants also have been, a prominent figure in the affairs of the town. Henry W. Ashley was educated in the public schools of Westfield and was graduated from the Law School of Boston University in 1882. He was admitted to practice at the bar the same year, and immediately opened an office in Westfield, where he
HENRY W. ASHLEY.
has been in practice since that time. Although estab- lished but a few years, Mr. Ashley has, by careful study and close application to his chosen work, built up an excellent practice, and has the pleasure of seeing it grow extensively year by year. He is regarded as one of the ablest young lawyers in Western Massachusetts. Mr. Ashley is also greatly interested in politics, both State and national, being a disciple of the party of Jefferson. Among other offices that he has held is that of United States deputy collec- tor of internal reve- nue, which position he filled from 1885 to 1889. In 1892 he was chosen alternate dele- gate at large from Massachusetts to the National Democratic Convention at Chi- cago. Mr. Ashley was also elected a member of the Mas- sachusetts House of Representatives in the Legislatures of 1892 and 1893, and while acting in this capacity served on the Judiciary and Railroad committees. During his legisla- tive work he showed himself to be a good speaker and pos- sessed of sound judg- ment, with a thor- ough knowledge of current affairs. He is also gifted with executive ability to a rare degree, and has had ample opportunity to demon- strate his talent as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. On the same plane is his work as a member of the Executive Committee of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Massachusetts. On both committees Mr. Ashley has done yeoman service, and the brilliant quality of his work has been generally rec- ognized both by the members of his own party and by the opposition.
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