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 6
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
Robert Williams was the earliest English immigrant ancestor of the Williams family in America, and among his descendants have been such distinguished men as the founder of Williams college, a bishop of the diocese of Connecticut,
133
134
Representative Families of Northampton
several prominent clergymen, and other noted men in arts and science.
Just how Robert Williams came to this country is not recorded, but he was one of the early members of the first church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he became a citizen in 1638. It is not known when he was born or where he lived in England, but much searching of records has finally brought out the fact that he had something to do with the leather business in the city of Norwich. There is a record of the birth of his children, but none of his marriage to Elizabeth Stalham, of whom this little story is told:
"She was of a good family and had been delicately reared, and when the husband desired to come to America she dreaded the undertaking and shrank from the hardships to be en- countered. While the subject was under consideration she had a dream to the effect that if she went to America she would become the mother of a long line of worthy ministers of the Gospel of Christ. The dream so impressed her that she cheerfully rose up and began to prepare to leave her home and kindred for the new and distant land. The dream was fulfilled, but not in her day, for she died, leaving no son in the Christian ministry, but her grandsons, John and William Williams, graduated from Harvard College, being two mem- bers of a class of three only, in 1683, and the day of fulfillment began."
Emmanuel Williams is also claimed as an immigrant ancestor of the family in this country, but the records do not furnish much satisfactory data. He was one of the early settlers of Taunton, Massachusetts, and died about 1720.
The most authentic and intelligible records speak of Ebenezer Williams, who is said to have been born at Canter- bury, Connecticut, in 1725. Before the Revolutionary War he moved on horseback to Worthington, Massachusetts.
135
The Williams Family
Leonard Williams, son of Ebenezer, was a well-known physician of Hampshire County. He was born in Worthington in 1774, but studied medicine and practiced in a part of Chester which was later made a part of the town of Hunting- ton. Dr. Williams married Olive Wadsworth of Becket, and they had three children, Jabin B., James H., and Arvilla A.
Jabin B., the most noted member of that family was born January 5, 1800, in Worthington. He was only four years old when his parents removed to Huntington, where he attended school and assisted in the home tasks until he was twenty-one years of age. Then he went to Becket for a a short time, but soon returned to Huntington and estab- lished himself in the mercantile line of trade as the pro- prietor of what was known as a general country variety store. He was very successful, and remained in business until his death in 1859.
He married Lydia Wilson of Huntington, and they had six children: Leonard Wilson, who died in Lenox, aged eighteen years; Lucien B .; Cynthia A., who later married Israel D. Clark of Northampton; Ermina L., who died as an infant; Henry F., deceased, who was in business with his brother Lucien for several years; and Charles E., also de- ceased.
Jabin Williams was a very prominent citizen of Hunting- ton where he was concerned in the administration of many local affairs. In 1853 he was a delegate to the state constitu- tional convention. He was an influential Democrat, and, though averse to office-holding, he served as magistrate for many years. He was recognized as an authority on legal questions, and was a wise and friendly counsellor to his neigh- bors, who had great faith in his integrity and good judgment. His office, in the store, was headquarters for many years for United States pensioners. They were accustomed to con-
136
Representative Families of Northampton
gregate there for the filling of their vouchers, and some- times as many as forty of them gathered in the store for that purpose.
During his long life Mr. Williams made many friends and few enemies, something not often said of magistrates, but his was an open kindly nature, and the wisdom and justice of his decisions were seldom questioned.
LUCIEN B. WILLIAMS A Prominent Manufacturer
Lucien Bennett Williams, descended from the line of noted ancestry spoken of in the preceding pages, was born in Becket, Berkshire County, February 3, 1825, and died at his residence in Northampton, July 23, 1895.
Mr. Williams had all the advantages which a common school education afford in his native town, and then attended the Wilbraham Academy. At the age of seventeen years he returned to Huntington to help his father, who had become established in business as a country storekeeper. In a short time young Williams was admitted to partnership, and on the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of the business.
Soon after this he became interested in the manufacture of baskets in Huntington, by buying out the plant of a well established business, and he continued there until about the time the Civil War broke out. In 1862 he moved to North- ampton, where he began basket-making on a much larger scale, and the manufacture increased to greater proportions year by year. He produced baskets of splint and rattan of all sizes and kinds, including clothes, peach, market, and farm baskets. During Mr. Williams' ownership, the mill capacity was very large. As many as eight thousand baskets
Lucien B. Williams
137
139
The Williams Family
a day were turned out. Employment was furnished to about two hundred hands.
Mr. Williams made his business of manufacturing just as successful in its way as he did his mercantile trade in Huntington, and after selling out the store he proceeded to organize a corporation to back his Northampton enterprise. This was some fifty years ago, and the names of the incor- porators of that time are recalled with some interest now. They were: President, L. B. Williams; treasurer, Henry F. Williams; and Charles E. Williams.
Mr. Williams never held any political office, although often urged to interest himself in politics. He was a Democrat up to the time of the war, but after that gave his adherence to the Republican party, and was a supporter of all the measures looking to the success of the Union arms. He was one who. never needed to be appealed to more than once for the support of measures that seemed likely to inure to the material and moral betterment of Northampton, the state,- or the country. He was an attendant at the "Old" First Church; and had at least that distinction, if he did not "own meadow land."
As a representative business man he was often called on for official service in various corporations. He was treas- urer of the Florence Sewing Machine Company in its pros- perous days, and for many years a director of the Northamp- ton Emery Wheel Company, wherein he was associated with the late General John L. Otis, who was one of his warmest friends.
For many years he was a director of the Northampton National Bank, and was serving in that capacity at the time of the memorable robbery of that institution. He became very prominent as the director who did most personal work in interviewing the robbers and recovering what funds were
140
Representative Families of Northampton
restored. In doing this he took many personal risks, and had seriously unpleasant adventures in the different meeting places that the robbers appointed. During the imprisonment of the robbers in our local jail at the time of the trial, they were very complimentary of his ability and square dealing with them. That as large a sum was recovered from this great loss was due to much individual bravery and great business acumen on the part of Mr. Williams.
As a manufacturer, he, with five other New England concerns, held the honored distinction of having in their employ the largest number of employes who had served them for the longest period of time.
Mr. Williams' life was spent largely in the interests of his family, and, as the oldest brother, he bore to an unusual degree the cares of that family.
Mr. Williams married September 1, 1847, Harriet Copeland of Huntington, a daughter of Melvin and Lucinda (Blake) Copeland. Mr. Copeland was a native of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, whence he moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he married. While a resident of Hartford he engaged in the manufacture of carpenter's tools. Later he moved to Huntington and carried on the same business there until his decease in 1866. Mrs. Williams was born and reared in Hartford, and finished her education in the Hartford Seminary.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams had four children: Mary, who died in infancy; Frederick, who died at the age of five years; Helen, who died at the age of seventeen; and Henry L., now living.
HENRY L. WILLIAMS
Henry L. Williams was born January 2, 1859. He is a native of Huntington, but moved to Northampton in 1862.
Approach to the Williams Family Residence
141
143
The Williams Family
He was fitted for college under the teaching of that excel- lent instructor in his time, Daniel D. Gorham, and graduated from Yale in 1882.
In the fall of that year he became associated with his father, Lucien B. Williams, in the management of the Williams Manufacturing Company, and after the death of his father became president of the concern. Following a disastrous fire a few years ago, it seemed likely, for a time, that the business would not be revived, but Mr. Williams was of too energetic a temperament to resign his life-work because of such discouragement, and he soon found that he had many friends in the community who were ready with good counsel and aid to place the business on secure foundations again. Land was purchased adjoining the Boston and Main Railroad, and within a few months modern fireproof buildings were erected. The business presently became established more firmly than ever, with better and more modern machinery to work with, and it is today enjoying a marked degree of prosperity.
Mr. Williams has been for a number of years at the head of this flourishing business. It is the largest basket-making concern in the world of its type, and he is the principal owner.
As a citizen Mr. Williams has distinguished himself in the community in many ways. He is often solicited and drafted for positions of social and civic duty, and has always been ready to respond. He is a director of the Northampton National Bank, and president of the Nonotuck Savings Bank. As Captain of Company I he did his duty in the Spanish- American War at the serious sacrifice of his health for many months following his return to Northampton. He attends the Second Congregational (Unitarian) Church of North- ampton, and is chairman of its executive committee. He succeeded his father in business interest with the old Emery
144
Representative Families of Northampton
Wheel Company of Leeds, and is a director of the Northamp- ton Cutlery Company.
Mr. Williams married, May 28, 1884, Isabella H. Dewey, a daughter of Edward Dewey of Boston. They reside in the old homestead. The illustration in this chapter shows the approach to this beautiful place, now about one hundred years old. The property includes five acres of land, and the house is a spacious old mansion of unpretentious architec- ture, but thoroughly homelike and comfortable.
The (Sydenham Clark) Parsons Family
ยท HAUD'UN
CEDO
AM
Parsons
The Parsons Coat of Arms
145
Sydenham Clark Parsons
147
Mrs. (Harriet Electa Morton) Sydenham Parsons
149
THE (SYDENHAM CLARK) PARSONS FAMILY
Whose Ancestors were among the First Settlers of the Connecticut Valley
I HE ancestor of the particular branch of the Parsons family which is the subject of this sketch was Sydenham Clark Parsons, who was born in North- ampton, July 26, 1828, and died there April 8, 1876.
The Parsons family of Northampton has several house- hold representatives in different parts of the city, but they are nearly all descended from Cornet Joseph Parsons, the first of the name, who came to this country in 1635. He is said to have been an English navy officer, and he was the son of Sir Thomas Parsons, Bart., of Great Milton, England. The latter's ancestry can be traced back to the year 1290, to Walter Parsons of Mulso, Ireland.
Cornet Joseph Parsons first appeared in this country with William Pynchon's colony of planters, who founded the settlement at Springfield in 1636. There he was a man of much importance in the plantation, but in 1642 he became one of the founders of the new plantation at Northampton. He assisted in the purchase of Indian lands here in 1645, nine
151
152
Representative Families of Northampton
years before the actual settlement of the town, which occurred in 1654.
The family coat-of-arms, granted to Cornet Joseph Parsons' grandfather, consisted of a shield and three eagles, with wings outspread, two bars containing seven eagles' claws, and over this the head of a leopard, surmounted by eagles' claws. The motto, translated, is "Deeds, not words."
Cornet Joseph Parsons died in Springfield in 1683. Joseph, eldest son of Cornet Joseph, was a scholarly man and the first judge of the county court of Hampshire, which in- cluded the plantations of Springfield and Northampton. He was for many years closely related to the military and civil life of the county.
The women as well as the men of this family were noted for their strength of character, so much so that in the genera- tion when witchcraft is alleged to have flourished in New England one of the strong, independent-minded women of this family was pitched on by her, probably, evil-minded or envious neighbors as a witch of the first order. The story of the persecution and trial of Mary Parsons of Northampton forms one of the most interesting chapters in the historical manuscripts of Sylvester Judd as collated and preserved by Northampton's historian, James R. Trumbull.
This family is further noted for the fact that it furnished the first birth recorded in Northampton-one of Sydenham Parsons' ancestors, Ebenezer Parsons, who was born May 1, 1655, a year after the settlement of the town. He was the fifth child of Cornet Joseph and Mary (Bliss) Parsons. This couple was wedded in November, 1646, at Hartford, Con- necticut.
Phineas Parsons, born January 9, 1750, a great grandson of Esquire Joseph (2d) and Elizabeth (Strong) Parsons, was the grandfather of Sydenham Parsons, and father of Samuel
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Parsons
-
Samuel Parsons
155
F
.29
Old Parsons Homestead on West Street
157
159
The Sydenham Clark Parsons Family
Parsons, one of the leading farmers of the town. The latter was quite prominent in public affairs, and was particularly noted for his power in swaying town meetings. He served as selectman several years, and represented the town in the Legislature two years. His wife, whom he married Novem- ber 20, 1821, was Caroline Russell, daughter of Thomas Bliss of Hartford. They became the parents of eight children - Samuel L., Joseph B., Sydenham C., Isaac, and Phineas; Nancy Clark, Caroline Kellogg, and Mary Mitchell. Of the above named Phineas of Providence, Rhode Island, Mary Mitchell of Waterbury, Connecticut, and Caroline Kellogg of Northampton are living.
Sydenham Parsons married Harriet Electa Morton of East Whately, whose first ancestor in America was John Tower. This ancestor was born in England in 1609 and came to Hingham, Massachusetts, in the year 1637.
Eunice Tower, his great, great, great granddaughter (of the sixth generation) married Solomon Morton who enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and did service for a short period.
In the year 1791 their son, Richard Tower Morton, was born in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
Solomon Morton and his wife kept a "Road House" (a tavern) in colonial days and people who were journeying through New England in stage coaches would stop to change horses and for rest and refreshments. In those times it was the fashion to serve hot rum to weary travellers, and Richard Tower Morton, while scarcely more than a babe, would eat the sugar from the bottoms of their cups. He enjoyed the flavor of the mixture so well that he demanded a glass of it, though he was then only three years old. His mother granted his request and he drank the liquor quickly and asked for another glassful that she also served to him, and with it his
1
160 Representative Families of Northampton
craving was so fully satisfied and his appetite for stimulants so completely satiated that he never desired any more. In later years he succeeded his parents and kept the old tavern, but though he dispensed much rum to his guests, he never again was tempted to indulge in the use of it himself.
On his retirement to private life Richard Tower Morton engaged in the culture of broom corn, and had it manu- factured into brooms which he sold in New York City. This took him away from home frequently and he used to relate many amusing incidents of travel in those early times, when wagons, omnibuses, and stage-coaches were the only means of transportation for people and freight. Sometimes, when he was a passenger on one of the old conveyances, he would imagine that he was being overcharged for the ride, and he would demand that the vehicle be stopped and he would get out and walk. Mr. Morton was a relative of the famous Levi P. Morton, the New York banker who was Vice-President of the United States during the administra- tion of Benjamin Harrison, and Governor of the state of New York.
In 1816 Richard Tower Morton married Electa Belden, the daughter of Francis Belden of Whately, Massachusetts, and they had a family of four children consisting of two sons and two daughters. Richard Tower Morton died August 19, 1879, and his wife, who was born March 13, 1798, died August 20, 1874.
The eldest daughter, Mary Davenport Morton, who was born in Whately, married Theodore Sheldon a resident of Northampton. He was a banker and did business in Boston, going to his office by train in the morning and return- ing in the evening.
Francis Belden Morton, the eldest son, was born in Whately, December 3, 1819, and he died on June 13, 1898.
1
A Pet of the Family
161
Reception Room of Round Hill Home
165
The Sydenham Clark Parsons Family
He was engaged in farming pursuits and lived on the old home- stead in Whately. He married his cousin, Miss Skinner, and their union was blessed with one daughter.
Marcus Morton, the youngest son, was born in Whately, December 25, 1824, and he died on August 18, 1901. He married Cynthia S. Marsh of Hatfield. They had no children. Marcus Morton passed the greater part of his life in North- ampton, where he was deeply interested in municipal affairs and served on the board of selectmen for a lengthy period.
The youngest daughter, Harriet Electa Morton, was born in Hatfield in the year 1832. She married Sydenham Clark Parsons, the member of the Parsons family with whom this sketch is especially concerned. They had six children. The two oldest, who were sons, died in infancy. The four daughters are still living, and the oldest of them, Mary Morton Parsons, has a home on Round Hill in Northampton. She is a member of the D. A. R. and of the First Church in that City. Miss Parsons takes much interest in the church work and the social activities about her. One of the notable adjuncts of her home is a beautiful garden that receives from her careful attention.
Amelia Olmstead Parsons, the second daughter, married E. Hayward Ferry, a prominent banker of New York City. Their summer home is in Newport. They have one daughter, now the wife of William De Forrest Maurice, Jr.
The third daughter, Harriet Eddy Parsons, married Arthur Curtiss James of New York City, who is widely known for his philanthropies. Arthur James contributed seventy thousand to the million dollar fund for Smith Col- lege. This was given as a memorial to Sydenham Parsons. Mrs. James is Honorary President of the Christodora Mission in New York to whose work she has given largely of both time and money.
166
Representative Families of Northampton
Maud Electa Parsons, the youngest daughter, married Rev. James Larson of Watertown, New York, where they are known as "the live wires of Watertown." They have assisted their parish substantially in a financial way as well as with their services.
Sydenham Clark Parsons, from boyhood to mature age, was one of Northampton's most exemplary sons. As a young man he early showed a thoughtfulness and seriousness in conduct and a proper sense of public duty that made him a marked man in the community. This led him to a life of much usefulness to his fellowmen. Although he was diligent in business as the head of the firm of Parsons and Wells, which was the leading house in the druggist trade, he gave a large part of his time to religious work. He was particularly prominent in the affairs of the First Church of Christ (Con- gregational), which, in his time, was known simply as the "First" or "Old" Church. When the present (the fifth) edifice of this church was erected, a memorial window, made by Louis Tiffany of New York, was placed in it in honor of Mr. Parsons. For some time he was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and he was not only influential in the various phases of church work, but he was one of the founders and the first president of the Young Men's Christian Association, and organizer of the mission work in the chapel on Hospital Hill. This chapel has lately been newly furnished, papered, and painted by one of his daughters. Mr. Parsons was an en- thusiastic worker for the Y. M. C. A., when, in its early days, it had to meet in a very modest way over one of the dry goods stores. At that time there was considerable opposi- tion to the Y. M. C. A. organization among church people, a certain faction of them contending that the work of that society was infringing on the prerogatives of the church and lessening the power of the latter for usefulness and growth.
The New Home on Round Hill
167
Portico View from Round Hill Home
169
171
The Sydenham Clark Parsons Family
Fortunately this view did not long prevail, and if Mr. Parsons and his coadjutors were living today they would doubtless be greatly rejoiced by the growth of the now great organiza- tion which they so modestly espoused and worked for in the 60's.
Mr. Parsons was foremost in the religious work of his day in Northampton, and he was also a strong advocate of temperance or total abstinence in regard to the use of in- toxicating liquors. So pronounced was he in his views and actions that he brought on himself the ill-will and hatred of those who profited by liquor selling. The earnestness with which he engaged in the temperance movement of his times provoked the small "plug-ugly" element in the town to do him bodily harm, and he was one night knocked prostrate by a cowardly blow on the head and barely escaped with his life.
Mr. Parsons never achieved great wealth, but he did a good business and used his financial means, beyond what was needed for his family, in supporting worthy enterprises. He was a great friend of the poor, and did what he could to help that class to better themselves. He possessed a most sunny, genial temperament, but was also a forceful character, strong and determined in his denunciation of wrong and injustice. His early death was undoubtedly hastened by the cowardly attack made on him, and there was general sorrow in the community when he passed away.
LEWIS J. DUDLEY
Educator and Humanitarian
L EWIS JOEL DUDLEY, son of Joel and Harriet Griswold Dudley, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, November 11, 1815. His ancestors came from Lon- don, England, in 1639 and settled in Guilford. He was brought up on a farm, remote from the center of the town, and put to work at an early age. Only in winter did he attend the district school; yet he later made his way through the Guilford Academy, and entered Yale College, where he graduated, with high rank, in the class of 1838.
On leaving college, he taught in two Connecticut acade- mies, and in 1840 he was appointed a tutor in Yale College. He taught Latin the first year, and Greek the five years fol- lowing. Professor James Hadley wrote regarding him: "It is not too much to say that his services have been of per- manent value to the college in elevating the standard of instruction in the Greek department."
After resigning his tutorship in 1846, he spent the next year in the Yale Law School, and in 1847 received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He passed the following year in the law office of Messrs. Hungerford and Cone, at Hartford, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. But he disliked the law "plead- ings," as then conducted, and felt uncertain of success as a lawyer. On the other hand he was quite assured of success as a teacher, and, at the suggestion of a high Yale official, he opened, in 1849, a classical school for boys in Northamp-
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.