USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Northampton > Representative families of Northampton; a demonstration of what high character, good ancestry and heredity have accomplished in a New England town . > Part 16
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North View on Grounds of Mrs. F. N. Look's Estate at Florence
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George A. Burr
alized his life of genuine business integrity and usefulness, and delineated the characteristics that made his life so nota- ble in the business and general world as well. Mr. Burr was fifty-one years of age when he passed on to the higher life.
He married, June 28, 1854, Sarah M. Ely, daughter of Frederick Ely and Bathsheba (Kent). The latter was grand- daughter of Ruggles Kent and Achsah (Bliss), and of Cotton Ely and Sallie (Miller), and she was a descendant of Na- thaniel Ely, who came from Tenterden, Kent County, Eng- land, to Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the bark Elizabeth from Ipswich, England, and was one of the founders of Hart- ford, Connecticut. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Burr, of whom two are living - George Howard Burr, banker, of New York, and Mrs. Frank N. Look of Florence.
GENERAL JOHN L. OTIS
Prominent Manufacturer and Distinguished Soldier
G ENERAL JOHN L. OTIS will be remembered for many years as a well-beloved citizen of Florence. His popularity and value as a citizen, however, did not come from participation and comradeship in the old "Community" days, but rather from his success as a manu- facturer and his sociable and unpretentious manners to all, rich and poor alike.
John Lord Otis was born in Lyme, Connecticut, July 15, 1827, the son of Hayden E. and Mary (Lord) Otis. During the earlier years of his life he was employed in a cotton factory, which he entered before he was eight years old, and where he worked fourteen hours a day. He followed this employment, from "bobbin boy" to overseer, for eighteen years, and mean- while devoted his nights to hard study. His education in- cluded a knowledge of mechanical engineering, for which he had great aptitude. In 1851 he took charge of the Pacific Mills of Manchester, Connecticut, as superintendent, and later he established the Otis Manufacturing Company at South Manchester, where he was living when the war broke out. While in charge of that concern he put in operation for the Cheney Brothers of that place the first machine for the manufacture of silk and wool knit goods ever operated in this country.
It was the opening of the Civil War which led General
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General John L. Otis
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General John L. Otis
Otis away from his chosen business, for after the first battle of Bull Run he enlisted as a private soldier in the Tenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and started for the front. By heroic service he won many promotions, pass- ing the different grades until, in February, 1863, he was ad- vanced to a Colonelcy. He was mustered out of the army after three years and four months service, carrying home the title of Brevet Brigadier General. He had a long and excit- ing war record. He took part in all of Burnside's and Foster's engagements in North Carolina, and in 1863 was with Foster in South Carolina. The following year he was ordered to service in Virginia, and joined the Army of the James. In all his army experience the General showed himself the true soldier, and the scars of three wounds, received at Newbern and Kingston, were evidence of this.
Notwithstanding the wounds he received he was the next day in the battle of White Hall and two days later in that of Goldsboro Bridge. In January, 1863, while in South Caro- lina with Foster's army he did important service in com- manding advances, holding positions and skirmishing. He then proceeded to accompany Terry's command to James and Morris islands, where he added to his already brilliant record. His health having suffered by exposure he was de- tailed to go North and take charge of a conscript camp at New Haven, Connecticut. He remained there about three months, when he asked to be relieved and sent back to the front. He rejoined his regiment at St. Augustine, Florida, and soon afterward was placed in command of the post. He was ordered to Virginia in April, 1864, and joined the Army of the James at Gloucester Point, and it was for special gal- lantry at the crossing of the James River that he received his commission as Brigadier General. During his three years and a half of service he was in more than fifty battles.
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Representative Families of Northampton
When he returned from the war he became superintendent of the Florence Sewing Machine Company at Florence, where he remained three years. Then he established, with L. B. Williams, the Northampton Emery Wheel Company, of which he was treasurer, and a most successful manager and finan- cier. The business was conducted under the firm name of Otis and Williams, until a stock company was formed.
On March 1, 1847, General Otis married Catherine Preston, a daughter of Cyrus Preston of South Hadley. They had two sons, Philip A., who died in May, 1914, and Harry P., who has inherited his father's taste for manufac- turing, and is president of the Norwood Engineering Company of Florence.
Although in no sense of the word a politician, General Otis was called to various offices in the gift of his fellow citizens. He was selectman two years, a representative to the Legislature in 1877, and State Senator in 1879 and 1880. He would undoubtedly have been the first Mayor of the city but for an unfortunate and what many felt an underhanded opposition. General Otis always took an active interest in the welfare of Northampton and its local civic matters. His arduous and successful efforts to secure the city charter will be remembered by many. He was prominent in the highest fraternal society life, and became Commander of the Military Legion, and Eminent Commander of the Northampton Com- mandery of Knights Templar. He was a director of the Northampton National Bank. Liberal minded in religious matters, he early connected himself with the Free Congrega- tional Society of Florence, and was always a prominent and influential member of that organization.
General Otis died at Tarpon Springs, Florida, March 14, 1894. For several years ill health had led him to spend his winters in the South, thus avoiding the extreme cold of the
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General John L. Otis
New England climate. In January, 1894, while preparing to leave Florence, he had an attack of heart disease, but rallied sufficiently to be able to make the journey. His strength, failed, however, soon after reaching Tarpon Springs, and the end came suddenly.
The funeral at Cosmian Hall will long be remembered by those who attended it, as an imposing and popular tribute not only of the whole community, but of the military and civic organizations and their officials, from far and near, to the worth of the man. A worthy citizen he certainly was, be- cause he led a thoroughly upright life. He was kind, true, gentlemanly, fearless, and gave intelligent and conscientious attention to public affairs, contributing very much of himself in peace and war, to the general good in a fashion which showed true public spirit.
JOSEPH C. MARTIN
Well-Known Florence Inventor
J OSEPH CHAPMAN MARTIN was born in Florence November 6, 1844, and died there March 15, 1899. His father was Joseph Chapman Martin, who was born August 20, 1808, and died July 21, 1865. His mother's name before marriage was Roxanna Ashley.
At the time of Joseph C. Martin's birth his father was a gardener in the old Community on the Dr. Munde place, and lived in a house which stood on the site of the residence now occupied by Mrs. C. O. Parsons. The boy had a com- mon school education, and learned the carpenter's trade with Amos Eldridge. With his brother Luther he later became interested in the manufacture of cash carriers, after their own patents. Joseph finally bought out his brother's inter- est and with new capital organized a company for manufac- turing, first in Florence, and then in Springfield. He finally secured the partnership of Arthur G. Hill of Florence, and together, under the name of the Martin-Hill Company, they carried on the business to considerable success, finally dis- posing of their interests to the Lamson Company of Lowell.
Following the close of this transaction with the Lamson Company, Mr. Martin invented, patented, and successfully put on the market another carrier known as a pick-up car- rier, which was largely used in the offices of the Western Union Telegraph Company. The manufacture of this car-
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Joseph C. Martin
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Joseph C. Martin
rier was financed by Mr. Martin and prominent Boston capitalists, and its business career lasted a period of ten years, when Mr. Martin retired from active business and bought some land on Petticoat Hill in Williamsburg. There he built a fine residence, with the hope of spending his declin- ing days in it, but illness prevented.
His was a most genial character, and his trials were met by him with unfailing good nature. He was honest and up- right in all his dealings, and was a deservedly popular citizen in the community of Florence. Being a good elocutionist, he was often called on in public entertainments, and he never failed to respond cheerfully. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious matters he was a free thinker, being for many years a member of the Free Congregational Society of Cos- mian Hall. He married, in November, 1873, Isavene Webb. He had two sisters, Mrs. Eliza A. Mann and Sarah E. Martin; and three brothers, Abel R. of Roberts Meadow, and Edwin H. and Luther A. of Florence.
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
F OR the satisfactory completion of this work the publishers are indebted, for advice and suggestions, to President Emeritus L. Clark Seelye and Professor H. Norman Gardiner of Smith College, and to Clifton Johnson for artistic oversight of the work and the literary finish of the text.
As this is the first volume of a series which it is hoped will include two hundred or more families, it is urged that those interested in a thoroughly ade- quate showing of Northampton households shall communicate as early as possible with the under- signed. It is desirable that all the important or representative families be included in the complete work, even if no more than a page or two be used for some of them.
CHARLES F. WARNER, Manager Picturesque Publishing Company.
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