Franklin County MA

Narrative of the Captivity of Quintin Stockwell – Indian Captivities

Quintin Stockwell, Who was taken at Deerfield, in Massachusetts, by a Party of Inland Indians, in the Year 1677; Communicated in his own Words, and Originally Published by the Eminent Dr. Increase Mather, in the Year 1684. A particular account of the interruption in which Stockwell and others fell into the hands of the Indians will be found in the Book of the Indians, Book iii, p. 97 and 98. Out of twenty-four at that time killed and taken, we learn the names only of these; Quintin Stockwell, John Root, Sergeant Plimpton, Benjamin Stebbins, his wife, Benjamin Waite, and Samuel … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oliver Childs

(VI) Oliver, youngest son of Libbeus and Sarah (Walker) Childs, was born in Conway, July 27, 1783. He settled in Seneca, New York, where he married for his first wife, Electa, daughter of Oliver Whitmore, of that town; she died without issue, August 2, 1816. He married (second) Nancy, daughter of Selah and Huldah Hart, of Seneca; she died April 30, 1831. He married (third) Betsey, daughter of John Gilbert, of Seneca. Children by second marriage: Benjamin, mentioned elsewhere; Electa Emeline; Theron Hart; Augustus Walstein; Edmund; Emeline; Joseph, and Gilbert. Children by his third marriage: Bradley Alonzo; Nancy Augusta, and … Read more

Biography of Samuel Partridge Billings

SAMUEL PARTRIDGE BILLINGS, as deputy collector of internal revenue for Franklin and Hampshire counties, is rendering efficient service in local public office. Mr. Billings traces his descent from Richard Billings, who was in Hartford, Connecticut, with his wife, Margery, in 1640. He removed to Hatfield, Massachusetts, in 1661, and died there March 3, 1679. The line descends through their son, Samuel Billings, who married Sarah Fellows, daughter of Richard and Ursula Fellows. Their son, Samuel Billings, who married Hannah Church. Their son, Fellows Billings, born February 15, 1704, died June 29, 1784; removed to Conway during the Revolutionary War, in … Read more

Biography of William Edward Benson

WILLIAM EDWARD BENSON, who is at the head of a flourishing real estate and insurance business in Greenfield, is the descendant of a family originally settled in Vermont. His grandfather, John Ellis Benson, was born in 1809, in Brookline, Vermont, and died in 1892 in Brattleboro, Vermont. He lived in different places in Vermont and for a time lived in Quebec. He was engaged in the milling trade and before his death had settled in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he lived with his son George. William A. Benson, son of John E. Benson, was born May 14, 1842, in Windham, Vermont, … Read more

Biography of Charles Franklin Slate

CHARLES FRANKLIN SLATE, prominent in Northfield and esteemed in every circle in which he moves, he has for the past two years served as postmaster of this community, and in his thoroughly efficient administration the people are recognizing and appreciating the hand of the capable and forward looking executive. Mr. Slate is interested in every branch of local and general progress and in his endeavors for the public good he has long filled a useful part in the community. The Slate family has been identified with American progress for about two centuries and the name is an honored one in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elihu Town

Elihu Town, from Warwick, Mass., came to Stowe in the spring of 1811, and located upon the farms now owned by Messrs. Kenyon and Ennis. He was married about two years previous to Miss Apphia Sprague. The union was blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters. Three are now living, Sopronia (Mrs. Stockwell), residing in St. Albans, Jesse, a resident of Stowe village, and Emery, living in Waterbury village. Mr. Town died in 1843, aged sixty-one years. Mrs Town died in 1869, aged eighty-five years.

Biography of James Neild

JAMES NEILD – The Neild family came from the North of England. Thomas Neild, a native of Halifax, Yorkshire, England, a stone cutter by trade, now living in Jamestown, New York, was born on February 9, 1854, and came to America in 1882, locating first at Albion, New York, where he procured work in his trade. He later moved to HoVey, New York, and in 1893 came to Holyoke, Massachusetts, and entered the mill of the American Thread Company, working there for four years. After this he returned for a time to England, but later came back to America and … Read more

Biography of Charles Frederick Minott

CHARLES FREDERICK MINOTT – The Minotts are an old Massachusetts family who, however unlike most of the original New England settlers, are of predominating Dutch and French origin. To mention only the immediate ancestry we know that the grandfather of Mr. C. F. Minott, of Greenfield, was of French origin, while the grandmother was of Dutch descent. Their children were: 1. Henry. 2. Aaron. 3. Charles. 4. William H. 5. Frank. The grandfather was engaged in the time-honored and old-fashioned trade of welldigging. William Horatio Minott, father of Charles F. Minott, was a native of Jamestown, New York, born in … Read more

Biography of Wayne F. Shaw

Wayne F. Shaw grew up on a farm in Kansas, but at an early age had an ambition to teach, and had made teaching a life work and vocation, attended by unusual success. He is now superintendent of the city schools of Kingman. Mr. Shaw is of a New England family transplanted to Kansas. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish and English people who went to Massachusetts in colonial times. One of his ancestors was a Revolutionary soldier. His grandfather, Elijah Shaw, was born at Buckland, Massachusetts, in 1813, spent his life in that state as a farmer and died at Buckland … Read more

Biography of Alfred Joel Nims

ALFRED JOEL NIMS, D. D. S. The most active and useful membership in his community that Dr. Nims has held as a dental practitioner for the long period of forty-five years, has always justified the honors of the bestowal of place and preferment upon him by his fellow-townsmen at Turners Falls. His life has spoken in no uncertain terms through the practice of his profession, in which he has never failed as an exponent of the results of the most advanced thinking in dental science; while in his civic and social relationships Dr. Nims on a number of occasions has … Read more

Biography of Augustus G. Upton, A. M., D. D.

Although Dr. Upton has been a resident of Weiser for little more than three years he has been so closely and prominently connected with the educational and moral interests of the town during that time that no history of the community would be complete without the record of his career. It is a widely acknowledged fact that the most important work to which man can direct his energies is that of teaching, whether it be from the pulpit, from the lecture platform or from the schoolroom. Its primary object is ever the same, the development of one’s latent powers that … Read more

William Todd of Leyden MA

William Todd6, (Titus5, Titus4, Benjamin3, Michael2, Christopher1) born July 29, 1808, died Dec. 21, 1839, married Cynthia Gates, who was born April 20, 1811. They resided in Leyden, Mass. Children: *930. Mary D., b. June 1, 1835. *931. John A., b. Aug. 29, 1837.

Biographical Sketch of Noah Aldrich

(IV) Noah, son of Jacob (2) Aldrich, was born in Mendon about 1720. He deeded lands in Mendon in 1772. He appears to have moved soon afterward to New Salem, Massachusetts, of which he was a soldier in the revolution in 1775 in Captain John King’s company, Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge’s regiment. In 1790, according to the first federal census, he was living in Adams, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and had one son over sixteen and four females -in his family. He married Rachel.

Biography of Edgar Marvin Graves

EDGAR MARVIN GRAVES, born and reared in the town of Greenfield, is working his way to fame as a business man of this town. More often than otherwise the young man will leave his native hearth to seek his fortune in a larger town or city, when, if he had used his eyes he would have seen opportunity beckoning him at his very door. This was not the case with Edgar M. Graves, however, for he saw opportunities in his own town and made use of them until today he is recognized as the owner of a prosperous electrical business. … Read more

Biography of Arthur Burdette Daniels

ARTHUR BURDETTE DANIELS, the distinguished president of the L. L. Brown Paper Company of Adams, stands among the leaders in his field of industrial progress in New England, and as a leading business executive of Western Massachusetts is affiliated with numerous important interests. He has reached his present outstanding position by the force of his own initiative and devotion to worthy purpose. Mr. Daniels is a son of Amos Dixon and Helen Lucretia (Cross) Daniels, his father was for many years a hotel proprietor and, during the later period of his life, active in association with the New Home Sewing … Read more

Biography of Raymond C. Harris

RAYMOND C. HARRIS – The homely qualities of loyalty to one’s employers, and steady, even-minded performance of duties year in and year out, a keen desire to be of service and useful in the position assigned them by birth and circumstances with no after thought but a cheerful and confident prospect into the future, these very simple yet not all too frequent traits of character which have sped on many good men slowly but surely-like the sailing vessel drives before the calm trade winds-to the desired goal, have also helped Raymond C. Harris, president of the Textile Roll and Supply … Read more

Dexter Josiah Todd of Elba MN

Dexter Josiah Todd7, (Eli6, Solomon5, James4, James3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Sept. 22, 1828, in Charlemont, Mass., died March 24, 1886, of Pneumonia at his home in Fairwater, Minn., married in 1858, Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Zenas and Julia (Smith) Elmer, who was born July 17, 1835, in Ashfield, Mass., died April 5, 1909, in the old home in Fairwater, Minn. He left the old home in Charlemont, Mass., when he was about twenty-two years of age. For the next four years he worked in the woods, most of the time getting out “shook.” In the spring of 1854, he with … Read more

Biography of Patrick Francis Cunningham

PATRICK FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM-Son of a father whose worthy name he bears, and whom he has emulated in the trade of masonbuilder, Patrick F. Cunningham has come to be one of the most important of the contractor-builders in the Greenfield region. As senior member of the well-known firm of Cunningham & Liston (William J. Liston), he has, together with his partner, left the impress of skill and excellence of workmanship upon many public, quasi-public and private buildings in the capital town of Franklin County, and in towns within a radius of twenty-five miles of Greenfield. Mr. Cunningham’s firm has made an … Read more

Edward E. Todd of Greenfield MA

Edward E. Todd7, (Eli6, Solomon5, James4, James3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born May 23, 1840, married, Aug. 15, 1869, Mary E., daughter of Josiah H. and Elizabeth W. (Russell) Taintor, who was born Oct. 12, 1839. He has devoted much of his life to dealing in lumber and timber land, mostly in or near Franklin County, Mass. He lives now (1913) in Greenfield, Mass. Children: *1621. Rena, b. Aug. 15, 1870. 1622. Ernest, b. July 14, 1873, m. Jan. 1, 1901, Emma Packard. No children. He lived in Greenfield, Mass., where he was a market gardener. 1623. Effie, b. June 15, 1874; … Read more

Biography of Morris Edward Sullivan, D.D.S.

MORRIS EDWARD SULLIVAN, D. D. S. Among the younger professional men of Franklin County who have come to the front in recent years, and in whom the home community takes justifiable pride, is Dr. Morris Edward Sullivan, of Turners Falls, who has practiced dentistry there since his graduation from the university. He is a native son of the town in which he now labors professionally, and from among the population he continues to number an increasing number of those who are pleased to acknowledge the finished skill of his ministrations in their behalf. The fact that Dr. Sullivan knows his … Read more