Springfield Massachusetts

Biography of Frank Whitman Roberts

FRANK WHITMAN ROBERTS – The surname Roberts is frequently encountered in the early records of New England. There were Revolutionary soldiers, farmers, business men, and seafaring men of that name, and their progeny is today scattered over the land, while many descendants of the older settlers of the name still adhere to the original soil. The seafaring men of generations past in New England were venturesome and enterprising persons, some of them whalers, others traders with the West Indies, whose islands then had even more glamorous and romantic atmospheres than they have today, although they are still glamorous and romantic. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank N. Moore

FRANK N. MOORE-Long in positions of responsibility and trust in Ludlow, Massachusetts, Frank N. Moore was born in Ware, in that State, October 31, 1871, the son of Charles F., who was a farmer and carpenter, died in February, 1924, and Julia M. (Dunbar) Moore. Frank N. Moore received his education in the elementary and high schools of Ware, after which he took a course in Child’s Business College of Springfield. After leaving school he became a clerk in the post office at Ware for a year. He entered the employ of the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates as a clerk, and … Read more

Biography of Isaac Mills

ISAAC MILLS – Descended from a sterling New England ancestry, Isaac Mills was born in Southwick, Massachusetts, January 29, 1826, the son of John Mills; who was a notable figure in that region and the State, and served as United States District Attorney and State Senator. Isaac Mills attended the private schools of Mr. Lawton and Mr. Lombard, where many leading citizens received their early training. For a time he also attended Monson Academy, but was not graduated from that institution. He entered business life as a railroad clerk in the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad office at … Read more

Biography of Hinsdale Smith

Among the many families that can boast of long and honorable connection with the history of the New England States, especially Massachusetts, none is more worthy of mention than the Smith family. The name has appeared conspicuously in association with public and private affairs through more than three centuries. (I) Richard Smith, immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1617. He testified in September, 1684, that he was sixty-seven years old, that he came from Martha’s Vineyard with his vessels, and did some work for his brother-in-law, Matthias Treat. He was admitted a freeman in Wethersfield in 1669. He received … Read more

Biography of Michael J. Griffin

MICHAEL J. GRIFFIN – Through his training and gifts as an attorney, Mr. Griffin has established a place for himself in general practice at Springfield, where he is held in esteem for his thoroughgoing qualities as a counsellor, and in the courts. He is the son of James J. Griffin, a steam fitter, who was born in Ireland in 1848, and died March 25, 1924, and Catherine T (Osborne) Griffin, who was born in Ireland in 1853. Michael J. Griffin was born August 14, 1888, in Springfield, where he attended the public and high schools. He studied law at home, … Read more

Biography of George J. Barker, Hon.

Hon. George J. Barker, who became a resident of Lawrence in 1867 and was identified with that city and the state until his death on October 12, 1912, thoroughly earned a right to rank among the finest legal minds of Kansas during the last half century. He was not less a great citizen, especially in his work and devotion to his home community at Lawrence. George J. Barker was born November 6, 1842, near Springfield, Massachusetts, son of Cyrus E. and Eliza (King) Barker. He was of English lineage and of New England stock. When he was seven years of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James T. Brown

JAMES T. BROWN, manager of the Hotel Worthy, Springfield, Massachusetts, was born in Luzeme, New York, February 24, 1885. His father was William E. Brown, and his mother Jennie I. (Taylor) Brown. The father was engaged in the mill business at Norwich, and also conducted a tannery. The family removed from the New York village where the early years of Mr. Brown were passed, to Norwich, Connecticut, when he was twelve years old. There the boy attended the public schools. He completed his studies to become a hotel employe, and his chosen occupation he has followed steadily through life. After … 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.

Biographical Sketch of John Rowlee Fausey

JOHN ROWLEE FAUSEY – To the general advancement of the interests of the public schools of Massachusetts, and particularly of Springfield and West Springfield, Mr. Fausey has devoted the larger part of his career as a teacher and superintendent, and with results that are recorded as having enlarged the bounds and increased the value of the educational institutions in those communities where he has taught and held official position. John Rowlee Fausey, son of James Seldon and Caroline Helen (Blauvelt) Fausey, was born March 19, 1870, in Elmira, New York, where he attended the public school, and he afterwards graduated … Read more

Biography of Frank Decatur Tait

As treasurer of Tait Brothers, of Springfield, Massachusetts, one of the largest and best known milk businesses in the country, is a prominent citizen of a town where his family has long played an important part in economic development The American progenitor was George Tait, born in Paisley, Scotland, about 1795, who settled for a time in Montreal, where he pursued his trade of tailoring, then in Terrebonne County, Canada, where he farmed until his death in 1878. His son, James Tait, born in St. Sophia, Terrebonne County, Canada, in 1839, died in Chicopee, Massachusetts, January 22, 1880. He established … Read more

William I. Todd of Springfield MA

William I. Todd8, (Henry B.7, William6, Yale5, James4, James3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Oct. 27, 1857, married Alice E. Rich. He was a Commercial Salesman and lived in Springfield, Mass. Child: 2295. Frederick H., b. Oct. 21, 1881.

Biography of John W. Simons

JOHN W. SIMONS, treasurer of the investment house of William C. Simons, Inc., of Springfield, Massachusetts, is well known in the business and social spheres of Springfield. He is the son of William C. and Mary E. (Gunn) Simons, the father the president and senior member of the afore-mentioned concern. (See Simons, William C. biography.) John W. Simons was born in Springfield, in June, 1886. His education was received in the public schools of Springfield, in Groton School, from which he graduated in 1905, and in Harvard University, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class … Read more

Biography of Charles S. Ferry

CHARLES S. FERRY – The firm of Charles S. Ferry & Son, lumber dealers of Pittsfield, which has been conducting one of the largest concerns of its kind in Western Massachusetts, was established by the late Charles S. Ferry, in 1886. In the rapid growth of Pittsfield during the past years this firm played a most important part, because it supplied the lumber and the builders’ materials for much of the construction work that has been done in Pittsfield and the surrounding country. It is over three and a half decades since Charles S. Ferry took over the business from … Read more

Biography of William Edward Cooney

WILLIAM EDWARD COONEY – Both the hotel and the general real estate interests of Northampton have benefited very materially during the past forty years through Mr. Cooney’s association with a development and management of both departments of activity, as his capable methods have been such as to bring substantial results to the community. In earlier years, an all-round printer of widely recognized ability, Mr. Cooney also observed and shared in the growth and advancement of this part of the State through the newspaper and publishing field, and his family have always been known for thorough workmanship in all their undertakings. … Read more

Robert Emerson Todd of Chicago IL

Robert Emerson Todd8, (Asa E.7, Asa6, Titus5, Titus4, Benjamin3, Michael2, Christopher1) born July 22, 1871, married Sept. 1, 1903, Henrietta Ellen, daughter of Edward Collins and Mary Welles Stone, of Hartford, Conn., who was born Sept. 28, 1874. Mr. Todd received his education in Springfield, Mass., and has been engaged in civic and social work all his life. After about nine years of social settlement work at Chicago Commons, Chicago, he was with the New York Bureau of Municipal Research, three years. For the last ten years he has devoted himself as a trained specialist to the subject of housing. … Read more

Biography of Timothy J. Sullivan

TIMOTHY J. SULLIVAN is the name familiarly borne by two of Springfield’s most successful business men, father and son. Timothy J. Sullivan, Sr., president of the Sullivan Coal Company of Springfield, was born in West Springfield in 1864, a son of Thomas and Ellen (O’Leary) Sullivan. His father, Thomas Sullivan, was a section foreman for the Boston & Albany Railroad at Mittineague, Massachusetts, a small village in the environs of Springfield. Timothy J. Sullivan, Sr. was educated in the public schools and the high school in West Springfield. He entered the service of the Boston & Albany Railroad early in … Read more

Biography of Julian Lee Perkins

President of the Perkins Appliance Company, Incorporated, of Springfield, Massachusetts, one of the outstanding industries of a great industrial community, is a native of Vermont. He bears a name which appeared in English history back in the reign of Richard II. He was born in Bridgewater, Vermont, August 23, 1879, and attended the public and high schools at Woodstock, Vermont. His father, Charles A. Perkins, likewise born in Bridgewater, was a farmer. His mother, Eliza M. (Dinsmore) Perkins, was born in Lansing, Michigan. The name was derived from Peterkin, and had several spellings. Peter Morley, Esquire, alias Perkins, was an … Read more

Biography of Frank Hayden Martin, M. D.

Frank Hayden Martin, M. D. Now practicing medicine and surgery at Lorraine, Ellsworth County, Doctor Martin is widely known to the profession in Kansas, especially through his associations in earlier years with the staff of instruction of the Medical College at Topeka. Few physicians of the state have utilized to a greater degree abundant opportunities for advancement in the science of medicine and surgery. Doctor Martin is of old New England colonial stock. He was born at Gray in the State of Maine March 24, 1852. The Martins came out of England and settled in Massachusetts in colonial times. Doctor … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Albion Perkins

Treasurer of the Perkins Appliance Company, Inc., of Springfield, Massachusetts, and one of Springfield’s representative business men, he is a brother of Julian L. Perkins. James Albion Perkins engaged in the lumbering business when his school days were over, and operated sawmills in Blanford, Williamsburg, and Goshen, Massachusetts. When he attained his majority, however, James Albion decided to make a change and went to Hartford, Connecticut, where for a time he was engaged in photo-engraving. He came to Springfield and entered the employ of the Springfield Photo-Engraving Company; but after a time he transferred his association to the Phelps Publishing … Read more