Biographical review;
sV -^(r *oK V-0% "• V. Xs \/ %<** "0/ ^o« "oV* W • o -** 0 o V .V' 5 v/^ V-^ K/ :\, '•%/' °%/.; \/( >° ^°- • : »0^ /°- »P^ • ^°- -. •7- °o x<? *c "' /X i\/\ o- \N <-!- <, ^ BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS "Biography is the home aspect of history" BOSTON Biographical Review Publishing Company I896 PREFACE. THE present age is happily awake to the duty of writing its own records, setting down what is best worth remembering in the lives of the busy toilers of to-day, noting, not in vain glory, but with an honest pride and sense of fitness, things worthy of emula- tion, that thus the good men do may live after them. The accounts here rendered are not of buried talents, but of used ability and opportunity. The conquests recited are of mind over matter, of cheerful labor directed by thought, not of shrewdness in getting "something for nothing," but of honest, earnest endeavor which subdues the earth in the divinely appointed way. While the plan of the work did not call for minute genealogical research, we have gladly made use of such data for filling out family histories as have been furnished us, and in nu- merous cases have verified or corrected and extended the same by consultation of standard au- thorities. In these pages we have briefly chronicled the life-stories of descendants of some of the first settlers ot New England, progenitors who have a claim on what a wise speaker has termed "a moral and philosophical respect which elevates the character and improves the heart " ; passengers in the "Mayflower of a forlorn hope," and others who came in ships that closely followed in her wake, as the Fortune, the Lion, the Mary and John; representa- tives, too, of later immigrants to the shores of Massachusetts Bay, imbued with the true Pilgrim spirit, together with stanch and progressive compatriots of foreign birth. It has seemed worth while to write and to publish these biographies, because, to borrow the words of an eloquent speaker, such men and women as are here commemorated "by their industrious toil and faithful citizenship have kept sweet the heart of Xew England civilization. " Where- fore the book should commend itself as of more than passing interest and fleeting worth, — a volume to be prized by children's children. "The great lesson of biographv. " it has been said, "is to show what man can be and do at his best. A noble life put fairly on record acts like an inspiration." January, [896. HENRY A. KIMBALL. BIOGRAPHICAL ON. HENRY A. KIMBALL, Mayor of Northampton, whose portrait is herewith presented, was horn in Windham, Wind- ham County, Conn., in what is now the town of Scotland, .May 3, 1842. He comes of good old Colonial stock early transplanted from the mother country, being a direct descend- ant of Richard Kimball, who with his wife Ursula and several children came from Ips- wich, England, in the ship "Elizabeth" in 1634, was admitted a freeman at Watertown, Mass., in [635, removed to Ipswich, Mass., in 1637, and died there in 1675. Many of his posterity are living at this day in Essex County. The Kimballs of Windham County, Connecticut, claim Richard, Jr., born in 1623, second son of the immigrant, as their progenitor, Pelatiah Kimball, one of his line- age, having removed to that locality at an early date, following the footsteps of a brother, a third Richard, of whom he bought a farm which has now been in the family about two hundred years. His son, Pelatiah, Jr., born in 1739, who married Mary Crowell, died March 1, 1 823, aged eighty-four years. Seven of his nine children grew to maturity. James Kimball, son of Pelatiah and Mary, and grandfather of Mayor Kimball, was born in Windham, Conn., on July 15, 1772; he- passed his entire life on the ancestral home- stead, and died on April 20, 1843. He and his wife, Betsy Bingham Kimball, reared three sons — Anson, Albert, and John --and two i daughters. Anson, who became a well-known teacher, a Justice of the Peace, and a farmer, died in 1SS5. John, the only one of the three now living, is a prosperous farmer in Newark Valley, Tioga County, N. Y. He and his wife- are remarkably bright and active at the age of eighty-three years. They have two daughters, and a son who is a surgeon in the United States Army. Albert Kimball was born on December 10, 1808, and died in 1885, having been throughout his active life extensively en- gaged in farming on the patrimonial acres, lie married Melissa Woodward, of Canterbury, Conn., who still resides at the family home- stead with her eldest son, James D. Kimball. Henry A., who is the fourth-born and sec- ond son of the six children of Albert and Me- lissa (Woodward) Kimball, passed his early boyhood upon the farm and acquired a good education in the district schools. He subse- cmently taught school several terms both in Connecticut and New Jersey. In 1869 he en- tered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad as clerk in the freight office at New Haven, and after remain- ing in that capacity for two years was clerk to the superintendent of the Air Line Railway for one year, and then held for several years the position of general freight and ticket agent, also acting as superintendent. Mr. Kimball was connected with the road until [879, when he moved to Holyoke, Mass., and BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW engaged in the coal business, having yards there and also in this city. In 18S1 he disposed of his interest in Holyoke, and since that time, in company with Frank W. Gary, has been engaged in the same trade in Northampton, conducting a large and profitable business. Mr. Kimball has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and, being a man abundantly fitted for the discharge of impor- tant trusts, has been called to fill various posi- tions of responsibility. He was a member of the Connecticut legislature in 1869, and of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the years 18S8, 1889, and 1890, and during the years 1891, 1892, and 1893 held a seat in the State Senate. Although a Democrat in politics, he was chosen from a Republican dis- trict, and has been twice elected Mayor of the city of Northampton, giving the people a thor- oughly able and progressive administration. He is a Director of the Hampshire County National Bank, of the Hampshire County Sav- ings Bank, also of the Norwood Engineering Company ; and for the past five years he has been President of the New England Coal Com- pany of Hartford, Conn. In Masonry he has advanced to the Knight Templar's degree. He was first married in the month of Octo- ber, 1863, to Miss Mary T. Williams, who survived but two years; and he wedded for his second wife, on October 21, 1867, Hannah M. Williams, a sister of his first wile, both of them having been pupils at the school where he taught. Mi. and Mis. Kimball occupy a very pleasant residence at 57 Prospect Street, which he erected in 1883, and are socially very popular. LONZO STERLING KING, senior member of the firm of King Brothers, proprietors of the King Silk Mill at Easthampton, Mass., was born in West Springfield on February 26, 1838, son of Will- iam D. and Elizabeth (Brown) King, and grandson of Robert and Sarah (Conkey) King. Robert King was born in Chesterfield, Mass., in 1770. He spent a portion of his life in the wilds of New York; but his last days were passed in West Springfield, Mass. He died there in August, 1838, and rests in the Elmwood Cemetery. His wife, Sarah Conkey before marriage, who was of Scotch Presbyterian descent, was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts. They reared six of the twelve children born of their union, but all have since passed away. She died in 1845, at upward of eighty years of age. William D. King, who was born in New York in 1798, chose for his vocation the trade of a stone cutter, which he followed with suc- cess throughout his life. In 1849 he settled in Easthampton, being induced to come thither at the solicitation of a Mr. Williston. He did the stone work on the Payson church and the Williston Seminar}- buildings. The stone posts and curbing around his last resting- place in the old Main Street Cemetery were the last work of his hands. He was married in 1827 to Miss Elizabeth Brown, of New- bury, Essex County, Mass. Her mother's maiden name was Mary Plummer; and she was born in the old Plummer home, which was owned by members of that family from 1633 to about 1845. The union of Mr. and Mrs. King resulted in eight children, as follows: Dolly E., wife of Orrin Moore, of Brimfield, Mass. ; Henrietta, who married Laban Smith, and died in Connecticut in 1893, at sixty-three years of age; Mary J., wife of Dwight L. Clark, living in Easthampton ; Alonzo Ster- ling King, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. H. Adaline Thompson, a widow, and a regular physician with a large practice in Bridgeport, Conn. ; Charlotte, who married George W. BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW Flagg, and lives at Northampton; Asahel H. King, junior member of the firm of King Brothers; and Charles F. King, who is mar- ried and lives in Oakland, Cal. Their mother was a remarkable woman, and retained her men- tal and bodily activity to within a few days of her death, which occurred on December II, 1893, in the eighty-seventh year of her age. Asahel B. King, who was born in West Springfield, now Holyoke, Mass., in 1847, afterward removed with his parents to Meri- den, Conn. ; and there at fourteen years of age he began to learn the trade of machinist. For two years he was employed in the government gun works, and from there he went to New Haven, where he continued to work at his trade until 1865, at which time he left to enter the employ of the Florence Sewing Machine Company. In 1866 he went to Northampton to live, and from that time up to 1881 he was employed by the Nonotuck Silk Company and by other parties in Florence and Leeds. He afterward joined his brother in the purchase of what is now known as the King Silk Mill, where they are doing a very successful busi- ness. On November 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie L. Field, of Northampton, a daughter of William E. and Lucretia L. (Dickinson) Field, the former of whom died in 1873, leaving his widow with two children. She is now seventy-six years ol age, and is living with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. King's home has been brightened by the birth of a daughter, Bessie F. King, a charming young lady now in her teens and an attendant of the high school. Mr. King is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Ionic Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His wife and daugh- ter are members of the Congregational church. The family reside on Centre Street. Alonzo Sterling King spent his early years in his parental home. In August, 1862, he entered the United States Navy as a volunteer, and served one year before the mast. What is now known as the King Silk Mills was es- tablished in 1876 at Glendale, Mass., and was then known as the Glenwood Silk Mills. This he conducted in partnership with O. G. Webster until the latter sold his interest to Asahel B. King, since which time the business has been carried on under the firm name of King Brothers. In 1884 the present plant was erected. It is a brick structure, two stories in height, with a basement. The main mill is one hundred and twenty feet long and forty feet in width, and has an L thirty by thirty-six feet in dimensions. Near by is the dye-house, which is one story in height and covers an area thirty by thirty-six feet. Al- though about seventy-five hands were formerly employed in the mill, a few less than thirty are now engaged there. The specialty is the manufacture of silk floss, organzine, and tram silks. Mr. King has never married. Neverthe- less, he has not lived for himself alone. He is one of the most reliable and active business men of Easthampton. He votes the Republi- can ticket and has always upheld the princi- ples of that party. At the present time he is holding the town office of Assessor, and for four years has been a member of the fire de- partment, of which he is Chief Engineer. He is affiliated with the Masonic Order and a member of Northampton Royal Arch Chapter. He is also Fast Commander of George C. Strong Post, Grand Army of the Republic, No. 166, of which he is an active member. ILLIAM FKNNO PRATT, at one time a leading architect of North- ampton, now living in retirement, was born here January 15, 1 8 14, son of BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW Thomas and Eunice (Parsons) Pratt. His father was born October 22, 1784, in Wey- mouth, Mass., son of Nehemiah and Ruth (Torrey) Pratt. Preceding Nehemiah was a Levi L. Pratt, of whom it is related that he was impressed by the British into their naval service and taken to a distant island. Nehe- miah, grandfather of William Fenno Pratt, was a farmer in Weymouth. He and his wife had several children, of whom three daughters married wealthy men ; namely, John Fenno, David Pulsifer, and Mr. Cutting. Thomas Pratt was a well-known and famous architect and builder of this city. He erected many of its finest dwellings, some of which are: the Blodgett mansion, of Grecian Ionic architecture; the Dewey House, of Smith College; the John Hopkins house, now occu- pied by Father Rainsville; and the Whitney house, near by. He was a useful citizen, and represented his town in the State legislature. His first wife had seven sons and one daughter, as follows: Seth Parsons, who died in child- hood; Thomas, a carpenter, who died in mid- dle life, leaving a wife and two daughters, all of whom are deceased; Levi, superannuated editor of the Watertown Times, of Watertown, N. Y., who has a wife; Wales P., who died at the age of twenty-six years; Charles S. , a resident of Northampton ; Horace, who was a soldier in a Connecticut regiment, and died from the effects of army life; Mary Ann, who married Morris Thayer, and died leaving one son, Wales P. Thayer; and William Fenno, the subject of this notice. William Fenno Pratt attended the public schools until he was sixteen years old, when he began to assist his father at the carpenter's trade. He aided in building the Blodgett house; and subsequently he drew the plans for the Easthampton church, one of his earliest architectural works. The plans for St. Mary's Parochial School were also his. Mr. Pratt continued in the business after his father's death, and in the course of time accumulated a competency. Being one of the foremost men in his line of business in this section of the county, Mr. Pratt was always busy, his services being in demand by any one requiring fine and substantial workmanship. On February 18, 1S35, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage at St. James Church, in Green- field, to Elizabeth Clapp, of Northampton, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Blackmail) Clapp, and the grand-daughter, on her mother's side, of David Strong, who well remembered many of the thrilling incidents of the Revolu- tion, and died in 1S57, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. After enjoying nearly a half-century of happy wedded life, Mrs. Piatt died in 1884, in the sixty-ninth year of her age. She bore him eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The others attained maturity, and were as follows: Harriet Fenno, wife of Robert Whitehouse, who died at the early age of twenty-one years, leaving one son; Henry, who was a soldier in the late Civil War, serving from 1862 until 1863 in the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry, and died at the age of fifty years, leav- ing a wife and three children, of whom one is now living; Elizabeth Blackman, unmarried, who lives at home; Caroline A., the wife of S. B. Curtis, of Hartford, Conn., and mother of one son, who stands at the head of his classes in college; Anna L., wife of E. I. Clapp, City Clerk; Julia Am)', an invalid, who lives at home ; Sarah A., who died Sep- tember 30, 1874, aged twenty-five years; Will- iam Fenno Pratt, Jr., an architect, who is un- married and resides with his father, and is a man of unusual intelligence, with a phe- nomenal gift of memorizing, especially as regards dates; and Jennie C, Assistant City BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW '3 Clerk. Mr. Pratt is a strong adherent of the Democratic party, though in his younger years he was a Whig. Religiously, he is an es- teemed member of the Episcopalian church, in which lie has served as Vestryman, and in which lie was the organist from 1832 until 185: He has the distinction of being one of 1 hr oldest native-born citizens of Northamp- ton; and, notwithstanding that he has passed the allotted threescore and ten years of life by a full decade, he has retained the mental and u ;il vigor of his youth to a remarkable de- gree, even retaining his natural teeth as firm and sound as in his youthful days. Through- out his long life Mr. Pratt has fulfilled his ob- ligations as a loyal citizen in a most faithful manner, and is everywhere accorded the re- spect due him for his sterling integrity and upi ight manhood. 'ERGLANT JAMES H. DAMON, an esteemed resident of Chester- field, was born January 4, 1842. II is father, also a native of this town, spent tin- major portion of his life in farming, and was married three times. His first wife, whose maiden name was Shaw, bore him three children, namely: Miranda, deceased; Oc- tavia, now living in Florence, Mass. ; and Seth T. , a resident of San Francisco. His second wife, Laura Angel 1 before marriage, was a native (if Huntington, and had nine children, as follows: Newton, now residing in San Fran- cisco; Mary, deceased; James H., the subject of this sketch; Hannah, also living in San Francisco; Martha, deceased; Emily, de- ceased; Henry, living in this town; Levi, also of Chesterfield; and Susan, deceased. After the death of his second wife, the father married Orpha Sturtevant, who survived him, dying subsequently in Chesterfield. Being one of a large family of children. James H. Damon began earning his own living at the tender age of ten years.- His first em- ployment was on a farm, where he winked hard for his board and clothes. He continued as a farm laborer until nineteen years of age, when, on August 11, [861, he gave his ser- vices to his country, enlisting in the Twenty- first Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Com- .pany H, commanded by Colonel William S. Clark, his company being under the command of Captain Rice. Mr. Damon proved a brave soldier, and was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant. With his company he took part in many of the hardest-fought engagements of the war. Among them were the battles at Roanoke Island, Newbern, N.C., and Camden, the second battle of Manassas, the battles of Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, the actions in the campaign of East Tennessee, the battle of Blue Springs, the skirmish at Campbell Station, the siege of Kno.wille, and the battle of the Wilderness. In the battle of Chantilly Mr. Damon re- ceived a bullet wound in the ankle, but pluck- ily declined to go into hospital. < In May 6, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, he was captured by the rebels and taken to An- dersonville, where he remained in durance vile for ten months before he was released, Febru- ary 2~, 1865. He then came home for a thirty days' furlough, after which he was sent to Dale Hospital, Worcester, Mass. Here he remained until July 27, when he was honor- ably discharged. Soon after his return to the scenes of his childhood, Mr. Damon was united in marriage to Melinda Witherell, the nuptials being per formed August 19, 1865. Mrs. Damon was born in Westhampton, and was a daughter of Ransom Witherell, who subsequently removed with his family to Chesterfield, and their '4 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW spent his remaining years. After his mar- riage Mr. Damon carried on his father's farm for five years, and then, in 1870, bought a farm in the southern part of the town of Chesterfield, and there carried on mixed hus- bandry until his removal to his present home in 1884. His good management, besides win- ning for him a respectable competency, has re- sulted in many improvements on his property. Always actively employed, he is a typical representative of the self-made men of the county. Mr. Damon is a steadfast Republi- can in politics and an intelligent worker in the interests of that party. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 86, of Northampton ; and having never fully re- covered from the effects of his army life, his health being quite poor and his hearing badly impaired, he draws a pension from the government. ^AMUEL H. DICKINSON, a highly respected citizen of Hatfield, Hamp- shire County, Mass., was born in this town, January 28, 1816, son of Solomon and Hannah (Huntington) Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson's grandfather, Daniel Dickinson, a native and lifelong resident of Hatfield, was an extensive real estate owner and a prosper- ous and influential citizen. He died at the age of eighty years. He married Lois Dick- inson ; and she became the mother of five children : Nancy, Rebecca, Daniel, Solomon, and Lois. The mother died at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Solomon Dickinson was born in a substan- tial old house which had been fortified and used as a stronghold during the Indian wars, and of which he at length came into possession, later building the new one in which his son Samuel H. was born. Throughout his active life he was energetically and successfully en- gaged in general farming, making a specialty of stock-raising. He was first a Federalist and then a Whig in politics, and was a Meth- odist in religion. Solomon Dickinson died in Hatfield, aged seventy-six years. His wife, Hannah T. Huntington, was a daughter of Samuel Huntington, of Norwich, Conn. They reared four children, as follows: Abbie; Sam- uel H., the subject of this sketch ; Philura T., who married G. W. Hubbard ; and Harriet, who married D. F. Wells. Mrs. Hannah T. Dickinson died at the age of sixty-eight years. Samuel H. Dickinson was educated in the schools of Hatfield and at the Greenfield Acad- emy. He resided with his parents as long as they lived, assisting his father in conducting the farm, and eventually succeeded to the pos- session of the homestead. He afterward pur- chased the Wells place, the house on which was erected by Dr. Peck in 1840, and has since become the owner of other valuable real estate, including some tenement-houses. Mr. Dickinson is known as one of Hatfield's most able and successful business men. Although he has now retired from active pursuits, he at- tends to his investment interests, and, being possessed of a robust constitution, enjoys per- fect health. He is unmarried. Desirous of conferring on his native town a substantial and permanent benefit, and of leav- ing behind him a lasting remembrance of his father and himself, a few years since, with considerate generosity, he devoted the sum of twelve thousand two hundred dollars to the erection in Hatfield of a library building. The work was begun in 1S92, and Memorial Hall was dedicated in 1894. It is a handsome and substantial structure, two stories high, built of brick and terra-cotta, and is fire-proof. The first floor contains a spacious hall, a room for mementos and relics, and the town clerk's office; while the upper floor is devoted exclu- ' 0 /, #Ar/0/u'/v n BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW '7 sively to the public library, the whole interior being finished in oak. The gift is highly ap- preciated by the people of Hatfield, who are not chary of gratitude to the kind-hearted donor. Mr. Dickinson is a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He at- tends the Congregational church. We are happy to present herewith an excellent portrait of this philanthropic citizen. 'YLVESTER H. TAYLOR, a prac- tical and prosperous member of the agricultural community, and a de- scendant of one of the pioneer families of Granby, first saw the light on the farm he now occupies, May 5, 1833. His father, Chester Taylor, was a lifelong farmer; and, with the eption of a short time spent in South- ampton, pursued his independent vocation on the family homestead. He married Eunice Strong, a native of Southampton, and of the union nine children were born, namely: Dexter S., deceased; Lydia, who lived to the age of seventy-nine years; Job S. , a resident of Lake County, Ohio; Thankful, now living in Lud- low, Mass.; Susan, who resides in Granby; William, deceased; Andrew J., deceased; Charles Henry of Granby; and Sylvester H. Neither of the parents is now living, the father having passed away August 4, 1 S 5 4 , and the mother ten years later. Sylvester H. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, enjoyed but limited educational advan- tages, having been obliged from his early boy- hood to assist in the manual labor incidental to life on a farm. However, in this way he received a practical training in the occupation that was to be his life work. In May, 1861, he married Miss Caroline F. Boynton, a daughter of Emery Boynton, and a native of Pelham, this county. Mr. Taylor brought his bride directly to the old homestead, and con- tinued in the calling to which he was reared. On August 25, 1862, inspired by patriotic motives, he enlisted, under Captain William Perkins, in company H of the Fifty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, then com- manded by Colonel H. S. Greenleaf. With his regiment he took part in many eng; ments, including those at Irish Bend, La., and at Port Hudson. The term of his enlistment having expired, Mr. Taylor received his dis- charge August 14, 1865, and at once returned home. He was much debilitated at that time, and has never fully recovered his health since. His farm is a fine property, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres of fertile land, and in excellent cultivation. The greater part of the improvements have been made by him, and are convincing testimony of the perseverance and energy that have created them. Of his marriage with Mrs. Taylor there- have been born seven children, all of whom are well educated, some having completed their school life at the seminar}- in South Hadley. Their record is as follows: Edwin B. , residing in Swampscott, Mass. ; William, now de- ceased, formerly an employee of the Adams Express Company; Leon, living near the home farm; Jennie, a teacher in the school at Granby Centre; Homer, assisting on the farm ; Carrie L. ; and Mabel. Mr. Taylor has always had a pioneer's liking for the chase, and in for- mer years made a reputation for killing foxes. He is a stanch member of the Republican party, is prominent in local affairs, and faith- fully and acceptably served in various offices, having been Assessor, Road Supervisor, and seven years a Selectman of Granby. lie lie- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 183, of Smith Hadley Falls. In re- ligious belief both he and his wile are Con gregationalists. i8 BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW lHARLES EDWARD CLARK, a well-educated and progressive citizen of Northampton, who has a fine farm in the Seventh Ward, near Leeds, was horn on the farm where he resides in 1857, son of Edward L. and Artemesia (Whitney) Clark. He represents the fourth generation of his family horn in Northampton, and the third horn on this farm. His great-grandfather, Calvin Clark, who was horn on Elm Street, February 21, 1770, was one of the first settlers of this part of the town, taking a tract of timber land about the year 1792, when the district was sparsely in- habited and was mostly primitive forest land. There he established a homestead, which is still in possession of the family. Deacon Enos and Deacon Luther Clark, prominent citizens in the early days of Northampton, were his brothers. On February 9, 1792, Calvin Clark was united in marriage with Lucy Parsons; and their eldest child was Justin, born June 7, 1 794, the grandfather of Charles Edward Clark. The other children were as follows: Dexter, born July 15, 1795, a mason residing in Northampton, who died about 1882; Lewis and Lucy, twins, born in 1798, the former of whom died in infancy, and the latter became the wife of Arby Stacey, of Belchertown, and died in 1834; Calvin, born in 1802, who died in 1.880; Fanny, born in 1804, who died at the age of sixteen; Laura, born in 1808, who died in 1S79. Justin Clark, the grandfather "I our subject, spent his life on the farm cleared by his father, dying May 17, 1880, in his eighty-sixth year. In 1822 he married Fanny Parsons, sister of the octogenarian, Josiah Parsons, who lives on Bridge Street, Northampton. She died in January, 1881, well advanced in her eighty-sixth year; and her husband followed her to their last home on the 19th of the next May. Two children brightened their home: Edward L. , born in October, 1823, the father of Charles Edward; and Elijah P., born in 1827, who died in his twenty-third year, unmarried. Edward L. Clark, like his father, spent his life on the home farm, winning a good liveli- hood from the generous soil, and finding ample food for his mind within the limits of North- ampton. He was married in October, 1852, to Artemesia Whitney, of Ohio, daughter of Josiah and Almira (Ellsworth) Whitney, who was born in 1828. Her father was a native of Connecticut, her mother of Ohio; and they were married in the latter State. They were both over eighty at the time of their death. Mrs. Clark is the fifth of seven children, five sons and two daughters, and is the oldest of the three living, Charles M. and Mary D. being the other two. Her family furnished its quota in defence of the Union, one brother, a soldier in the Thirty-seventh Illinois Regi- ment, dying of disease contracted in the army, and Charles M., who was in the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Regiment, serving over three years and receiving a serious wound. He is now living in Ohio. F. J. Whitney, a leading farmer in Rock Island County, Illi- nois, was a prominent man in his district, serv- ing as Justice of the Peace, Postmaster, and in other official capacities. He died in 1882, at the age of sixty-six. Mrs. Clark is living at the old home with her son, very active in mind and body, though not very strong. She reared two children : Charles Edward, the subject of this sketch; and Mary A., wife of John Phin- ney, of Haydenville. Charles Edward Clark attended the district schools, acquiring there a fair amount of book knowledge, at the same time acquiring that knowledge of nature and natural laws that a country boy absorbs as a sponge does water. Being the only son, he became master of the BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW homestead at his father's death, and for some years has been engaged in general farming, making a specialty of dairying and sending milk to the creamery. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and has a large well- equipped barn, which was built in 1882. The house in which he resides was erected by his father over forty years ago, and the boards in the dining-room floor have been in use over one hundred years, having done service in the floor of the east room in the old house of the great-grandfather. Mr. Clark was married January 1, 1890, to Nancy Belle, daughter of Albert E. and Alary A. (Parks) Wright. The latter died in 1894, leaving besides Mrs. Clark one other daughter and a son : Sarah, wife of E. B. Gibbs, of North Blandford, Mass. ; and Lyman E., who lives in Chester on the farm with his father. Mrs. Clark is a refined and well-edu- cated lady, a graduate of Leicester Academy, and was a teacher for some time before her marriage. Mr. ami Mis. Clark had one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Clark is an inde- pendent voter. He served on the Board of Al- dermen in 1890. He has some advanced ideas respecting city government. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Congregational church at Will- iamsburg. They have an ideal home, roomy and well-kept, and may lie regarded as repre- sentative types of Northampton's best citizens. UMNER <). POLLEY, who is suc- cessfully engaged in and owns a prosperous tobacco store in the town of Amherst, was born in New Salem, Mass., July 12, 1825, and is a son of Amos and Jerusha (Sawyer) Pol lev. Amos Polley, who originally came from Ashburnham, Mass., conducted a grist-mill for a time, and in connection therewith he also en- gaged in the trade of a cooper, which he had followed for some time in North New Salem. He next turned his attention to getting out palm leaf for hats, at which he was employed in Mossville for about four years. Later he purchased a farm in Pelham, on which the last years of his life were calmly spent in the cul- tivation of the soil. He was liberal in relier- ions matters, and in politics a Democrat. He died in Pelham at fifty-nine years of age, while his wife lived to eighty-five years of age. They were the parents of nine children, as fol- lows : Annie, Amos, Hiram, Abbie, Jerusha, Sumner O. , George, James, and .Adeline. Sumner O. Polley, who is now the only child living, spent his earlv years in the towns of Pelham and New Salem. He lived on the old farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to Northampton and obtained employment in a palm-leaf shop. After giv- ing three years to that business he tried his fortune in several places, but finally, in 1844, settled in Amherst. Here he carried on a res- taurant at first; then he started his present business, that of tobacco, cigars, and smokers' articles. The stand he occupies has been his for many years, during which time his prop- erty has been twice destroyed by fire, first on March 13, 1876, and next on March 1 ;, [888. He was married on October 20, 1847, to Miss Marah Brown, who was born in Conway, Franklin County, Mass., on February 21, 1830, and is a daughter of Erastus Brown, of that place. She has borne her husband two children, Gorham F. and Marah P. Mr. Pol- ley is a Democrat. He is not a believer in any particular religious creed. His wife, how- ever, is a communicant of the Congregational church. Mr. Polley is one of the oldest busi ness men of Amherst; and, as he has always lived in that vicinity, he has a large circle oi BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW friends and acquaintances. The family reside in a comfortable home which is Mr. Policy's property. <■*»»■» "ON. HENRY C. COMINS, a widely known and successful farmer of North Hadley, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Leverett, Franklin County, April ii, 1837, son of Simon F. and Nancy T. (Sweet) Comins. Mr. Comins's father was a native of Worcester County, and followed farming anil lumbering throughout his life, lie was engaged in the latter occupation for some time in the State of Maine, moving later to Franklin County, Massachusetts, where he resided until 1 84 1 , when he purchased a farm in Russellville, Hampshire County, upon which he passed the remainder of his life, and died in December, 1875. Simon F. Comins was prominent in the public affairs of the county, was an Assessor of the town of Hadley, and held other positions of trust. His wife, whom he married while residing in the State of Maine, was a native of Attleboro, Mass. ; and she became the mother of four children, as fol- lows: James, who is a prosperous farmer of South Hadley; Nancy, who married R. M. Montague, of North Hadley, and is now dead; Henry C, the subject of this sketch; and Martha A., who married E. P. Hibbard, and resides in Holyoke. She died in December, 1879. Henry C. Comins commenced his education in the public schools, and completed his stud- ies at the Hopkins Academy in Hadley and Kimball Union Academy of Meriden, N.H. He adopted agriculture as an occupation, which he followed until 1862. On August 25 of that year he enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Fifty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, under Colonel H. S. Greenleaf and Captain William Perkins, for nine months' service in the Civil War. He participated in the battle of Franklin and the siege of Port Hudson, and received his discharge in Green- field, Mass., on August 14, 1863. After fol- lowing agricultural work in Hampshire County for one year he moved to his present farm in North Hadley, consisting of twenty-six acres, twenty acres of which were under cultivation at the time of purchase. Among other im- provements effected by him since were addi- tions to the present residence. He has also brought the land to a high state of fertility. In 1858 Mr. Comins was united in marriage to Harriet Ellen Smith. She was born in North Hadley, September 12, 1837, daughter of Horace and Mary (Belden) Smith, both of whom passed their lives in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Comins had three children. Will- iam H., the eldest and only survivor, was born in 1859, and is a graduate of the State Agri- cultural College at Amherst. He is now en- gaged in agriculture in North Hadley. He married Cornelia K. Lombard, and has three children : Henry Earl, John Orin, and Leroy Duncan. The other children were Carrie H. and Lowell Smith, both of whom died in in- fancy. Mrs. Comins died March 21, 1893. She was a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Comins is a stanch Republican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been active in forwarding the interests of his party, and has filled many positions of public trust with credit, both to himself and his con- stituents. He has been a member of the School Hoard for fifteen years, and is now its chair- man. For three years he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and in 1894 rep- resented his district in the legislature. He held the office of President of the Hampshire Agricultural Society for three years, and is Vice-President of the Hampshire, Franklin, BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW and Hampden Agricultural Society, which is one of the largest organizations of its kind in the State. He is also a member of the Franklin Harvest Club, a select organization composed of the leading men of the Connecti- cut valley. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first Com- mander of Edward M. Stanton Post, No. 147. of Amherst, Mass. Hon. Henry C. Comins has attained his present position through his own unaided efforts. ILLIAM CLAPP POMEROY, of Northampton, pattern-maker for the Norwood Engineering" Company of Florence, was born at Williamsburg, July 4, 1835. He is a son of William H. and Nancy (Pomeroy) Clapp, his father having been a native of Northampton, while his mother was a daughter of William Pomeroy, of Williams- burg. He was the eldest son and second-born "f six children. All are living except one son, Sidney S. , who was a volunteer in the Thirty-first Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War, and who, after serving for a period of two years, returned home and died of consumption at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Pomeroy and his brother, Frank Clark Clapp, were also volunteers, having enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment for nine months, and saw one year of active service during the memorable struggle. Mr. Pomeroy's sisters, Ellen A., wife of Frank II. Strong, and Caro- line L., wife of Samuel A. Clark, reside at the (dd Pomeroy homestead. The property was first taken possession of by their great-grandfather. Their grandfather, who had six daughters, but no male heir, left it to William Pomeroy Clapp, who, on that account, by a special act of the legislature in 1849, changed his name to William Clapp Pomeroy. His grand- father's wife before her marriage was Rachel Edwards, of Chesterfield, Mass. They were both members of the Congregational church, of which he was for man}' years a Deacon. lie died at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife at seventy-five. Mr. Pomeroy's parents resided near the (dd homestead during their entire married life. His father died there at the age of sixty-one years, and his mother at about the same age. four years later. Of his paternal ancestors, grandfather Sereno Clapp, a native of North- ampton, was a blacksmith by trade. Bv his marriage with Lydia Patterson, of Rhode Isl- and, he had three sons and one daughter, and died at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. Pomeroy received his education in the common schools of Williamsburg. At the age of fifteen he engaged in farm labor both at Sunderland and Westfield for about two years. He then served an apprenticeship at Holyoke to the machinist's trade for three years. After this, in company with a friend, he started West, working his way to Ohio, thence through Michigan and Wisconsin to Oronoco, Minn. Here he worked as carpenter until 1859, when he returned to his home. On January 1, 1861, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Susan A. Newcomb, of Leyden, daughter of Charles W. Newcomb. Of their five sons, three are still living. William Newcomb, a salesman, passed to spirit life May 29, 1887, at the age of twenty-five; and Charles S. , a mechanic, on January in. [888, in his twenty-fourth year. Henry W. Pome- roy is a pattern-maker at Florence; Frank S. also follows the business of his father; ami Edward S., who is a thorough mechanic and an able draughtsman, is in the employ of the Norwood Company. 