South Deerfield Massachusetts

Biography of Clarence Harland Fisher

CLARENCE HARLAND FISHER – One of the Fisher families of Western Massachusetts are originally of Nova Scotian derivation and can be traced back to David Fisher who came from England, settled in Nova Scotia, and had a son John Parr, of whom further. (II) John Parr Fisher, son of David Fisher, appears to have been the first white child born in Stodick, Nova Scotia. His wife’s name was Agnes and they had ten children: George, of whom further; Betsy, Robert, Martha, Nancy, Samuel, John C., William, Thomas, Hannah. (III) George Fisher, son of John Parr Fisher, born in Nova Scotia, … Read more

Biography of Edward Parsons Swan

EDWARD PARSONS SWAN – Many years of success in a prosperous business enterprise have fairly earned for Edward Parsons Swan a place among the well-established manufacturers of Western Massachusetts. Mr. Swan is a descendant of an old New England family of English ancestry, which traces its origin back to a Dane of noble ancestry. The Swans have possessed land in the counties of Kent and Derby since the Norman Conquest, their possessions in the first named county including the manors of Swanscombe, Densted, Sutton, and Denton. Immigrants of the name came to New England at an early date, and their … Read more

Biography of Robert James Decker

ROBERT JAMES DECKER – When we think of tobacco in its various forms, as cigars, cigarettes or “the pipe that sootheth,” we are apt to think of the Orient, of far and distant lands like Egypt, Greece, Bosnia, or on our Western Hemisphere of Havana, Porto Rico, or of our own product of Virginia, famous the world over. That there is a considerable amount of the fragrant weed grown in our Northern States and distributed by a large industry is a fact known not so widely as it deserves. Among the packers and growers of tobacco in Massachusetts, an important … Read more

Biography of Joseph Rosenblum

JOSEPH ROSENBLUM is one of the most extensive onion operators in the United States, a man who has established the onion market, who has brought order to certain commercial conditions, and who has brought success not only to himself but to the scores of producers who are most vitally concerned. He is a power to be reckoned with in American commercial and financial circles, and has achieved this high position solely through his own ability, probity and perseverance. The State of Massachusetts, looking to her men of agricultural industries for the most favorable reports that she is accustomed to pass … Read more

David Todd of Charlemont MA

David Todd6, (Titus5, Titus4, Benjamin3, Michael2, Christopher1) born March 17, 1807, died in 1880, married Dec. 1, 1831, Clarissa Bradford of Williamsburg, Mass., who was born Sept. 15, 1808, died in 1884. She was in the sixth generation in direct line from Governor Bradford of the Mayflower and Plymouth Colony. He was a Methodist Clergyman and as to his pastorates, his son, Stephen Olin Todd says: “soon after he began preaching he was located at Winchendon, Mass.; thence to Haddam or Haddam Neck, Conn., about 1834, he went next to Hebron, Conn., in 1836, later he was at Londenderry and … Read more

Asa Emerson Todd of Springfield MA

Asa Emerson Todd7, (Asa6, Titus5, Titus4, Benjamin3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Feb. 25, 1839, died Nov. 2, 1898, in Springfield, Mass., married, Dec. 31, 1868, Anna Elizabeth Eaton, of South Deerfield, Mass., who was born March 4, 1839. He lived in South Deerfield, Mass., prior to 1860, and enlisted from there in the 10th Massachusetts Infantry, serving through the last three and a half years of the civil war. From 1872, till his death he lived in Springfield, Mass., where., his widow still lived in 1920. Children: *1658. Robert Emerson, b. July 22, 1871. *1659. James Lewis, b. Aug. 18, 1873.

Biography of Edward Newton Frary

EDWARD NEWTON FRARY – One of the pioneers of New England, John Frary came from England and settled in Dedham, Massachusetts, and was one of the founders of the church there. He subsequently moved to Medford and died at an advanced age on June 14, 1685. His wife’s name was Prudence. Their children: Theophilus, Samson, Mary, John, Eleazer, of whom further; Isaac, and Samuel. (II) Eleazer Frary, son of John and Prudence Frary, was born in 1640, settled in Hatfield, Massachusetts, died December 19, 1709. He married, on January 25, 1666, Mary Graves, daughter. of Isaac Graves. They had seven … Read more

Asa Todd of South Deerfield MA

Asa Todd6, (Titus5, Titus4, Benjamin3, Michael2, Christopher1) born April 16, 1810, died July 6, 1871, at South Deerfield, Mass., married June 22, 1835, Emeline White, who was born July 22, 1816, died in 1906. Asa Todd’s father, Titus Todd, moved from North Haven, Conn., to Charlemont, Mass., about 1804, as can be verified by consulting deeds recorded in the Court House in Greenfield, Mass. Children: 932. David Emery, b. Nov. 29, 1836, d. June 15, 1862, in a Confederate Prison located at Newbern, N. C. *933. Asa Emerson, b. Feb. 25, 1839. 934. William Henry, b. May 23, 1841, d. … Read more

Biography of James Campbell

JAMES CAMPBELL, well known among the business men of Western Massachusetts, is a resident of South Deerfield, treasurer and manager of the Connecticut Valley Onion Company. (I) John Campbell, grandfather of Mr. Campbell, was born in Invernesshire, Scotland. He was a tailor by trade, but in early life entered the army, where he remained for twenty-one years, serving at one time as a member of the King’s Guards. He was with Wellington in the battle of Waterloo (1815), and after the expiration of his term of military service was given a grant of land in Nova Scotia as partial compensation. … Read more