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History of North Adams.



the latter occupying a farm adjoining that owned by his father. Henry died very suddenly of heart disease in 1884.

ORSON WELLS.

Orson Wells, grandson of John Wells, one of the early settlers of Cheshire, was born in that town in 1795, and removed to this town in 1810, engaging in the manufacture of acid. He married Zeruah Phillips in 1817, and had one son, Daniel M., whom he associated with himself in business. Mr. Wells died on the 24th of May, 1884, in the 96th year of his age.


BENJAMIN CHASE.

Benjamin Chase, from Dartmouth, Mass., came to this town about 1812, and cleared a farm in the Notch. None of his family of nine children are now living. One son, Joseph, who came here with his father, resided on the homestead until his death in 1837, at the age of 87 years, and was the father of eleven children, of whom Hiram A. succeeded to the old homestead on road 21.


EZRA D. WHITAKER.

Ezra D. Whitaker, son of Ezra, a sea captain, was a merchant in the town from 1824 to 1829, after which he removed to Troy, N. Y., returning to North Adams in about five years and engaging in mercantile pursuits, which he followed until about 1858, when he became treasurer of the North Adams Savinas Bank which office he resigned October 7, 1872, after a service of about fourteen years. After this he retired from active business, although be is still quite smart at 88 years of age.


JOSIAH QUINCY ROBINSON.

Josiah Quincy Robinson emigrated to Adams from Hardwick, where he remained from 1794 to 1828, when he settled in North Adams, where he died in 1856, aged 83 years. His son, Benjamin F., who was born in Adams, coming thence to North Adams in 1828, owns several farms in Adams and two in North Adams. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1845. He married Eliza B. Whitman, who died in 1853, rearing three children, two of whom, Mrs. Susan F. Fisher of New York and Sarah Eliza, wife of George L. Rice of this town, are still living.


DR. EDWARD NORMAN.

Dr. Edward Norman was born in Hudson, N. Y., in 1806; removed to this town in 1830, and opened the, first drug store in the place, selling out in 1859 to W. H. Griswold and Dr. Lawrence, both now deceased. Dr. Norman married Miss L. M. Putnam, a great-granddaughter of Gen. Israel Putnam, by whom he had two children -- Martha M., wife Of Samuel Keyes, and Emily N., wife of L. M. Hayden. He was one of the oldest Free and Accepted Masons in town. His death occurred on May 28, 1874.


DR. SETH N. BRIGGS.

Dr. Seth N. Briggs was born at Rochester, Vt., September 2, 1813, the youngest of six children of Enos and Lovisa (Nichols) Briggs. He began the study of medicine in 1832 with Dr. Ross of Rutland, and afterward studied in Philadelphia. He first begen practice, in Starksboro, but in 184:0 came to this village, and since that time has continued in practice here, being the oldest resident physician. His wife was Sarah Campbell, also of Rochester, Vt.


DR. NATHAN S. BABBITT.

Dr. Nathan S. Babbitt, son of Dr. Snell Babbitt, was born in Hancock, August 30, 1812. He studied medicine with his father and with Dr. Wells of Windsor, graduated from Williams College, began the practice of medicine before 20 years of age, and has always practiced in Adams and North Adams. His wife was Ann Eliza Robinson.


ELIHU S. HAWKES.

Elihu S. Hawkes was born in Deerfield, Mass., July 25, 1801. The first event of Dr. Hawkes’ life which impressed itself powerfully upon his memory was the total eclipse of the sun in 1806, of which his father took advantage to teach him the divine power through the truth of astronomy. When he was 8 years old his father removed to Charlemont, where the educational advantages were so poor he was sent to live with his uncle, Dr. Allen, in Buckland. There he remained until he was 14 years old, assisting his uncle out of school hours in compounding medicines, and thus obtained some knowledge of medical substances. In the spring of 1821 he commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Clark and Smith of Ashfield, Mass., who had four other students. He afterwards changed his instructor to Dr. Winslow of Colerain. In the summer of 1823 he took his third course of lectures in Pittsfield and received his degree of Doctor in Medicine, which, as the charter of the Berkshire Medical Institute then required, was conferred by Williams College, and he commenced practice in Rowe in company with Dr. Haynes, whose daughter he married in 1826. His wife died three years later, and residence in Rowe became so painful to him that in 1829 he removed to North Adams, being then 29 years old, his father-in-law, Dr. Haynes, coming with him. In 1863 he removed to Troy to engage in a commercial venture, which turned out so disastrously that he returned to this town in a year or two. November 4, 1830, he took for a second wife Sophia E. Abbey, who was born in Natchez, Miss., August 21, 1812. Dr. Hawkes died May 17, 1879, in his 78th year.





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