Subject: Ransom A. Guernsey, b. VT d. Hudson, Mass.
Source: Biographical Review, Middlesex County, Mass.
Boston - Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
"Who among men art thou, and thy years how many, good
friend? - Xenophanes.
p.335-337
Ransom A. Guernsey conducted the oldest established wood
and coal business in Hudson and was b. August 21, 1841
at Pittsfield, Vermont, son of Reuben Guernsey and wife, Achsa
(Smith) Guernsey.
His grandfather, Amos Guernsey was a resident of Rocking-
ham, VT. The father was born and reared in Rockingham,
where he resided until he was 28 yrs old. He then settled
at Pittsfield and remained there until his death in 1879
at the age of 84 years. He was a democrat in politics
and served as a Selectman for a number of years. He was
also highway surveyor, a member of the school board and
served in other town offices.
His religious belief was the Universalist creed. He was
the father of thirteen children, nine of whom grew to
maturity and five were living in 1889. The latter were
Lucy Jane who married Jonathan H. Ranney of Pittsfield,
Lucinda the widow of Norman Durkee and resided at Bethel
VT; Amos F., a resident of Pittsfield; Lorrilla J. the
wife of Elijah Baker of Stockbridge, VT; and Ransom A.
Guernsey the subject of this sketch.
The others were: Lorinda Guernsey who was the wife of
Ransom Farnsworth of Saxton's River, VT; George Guernsey
and Moses R. Guernsey; and Lora Anne who married Charles
S. Mason of Ludlow, VT.
Ransom A. Guerney acquired a limited education by attend-
ing school for a short time after he was thirteen years
old. He was employed in farming until he was twenty-one
Then, after working in a store in Rochester, VT for a
year, he was employed as a brakeman on the Rutland &
Burlington Railroad for three years. While there he
sustained a severe injury in an accident, which laid him
up for nine years. He next became associated with his
brother, Amos F. Guernsey in the wheelright and black-
smith business in Pittsfield where he remained abt five
years.
Going to Boston in 1874, he was for a few months assoc-
iated with a partner in the grocery and provisions busi-
ness. For ten years he was engaged in the milk business;
and selling out, he came in 1887 to Hudson and purchased
the oldest est. wood and coal business in this town.
Mr Guerney was a member of Doric Lodge, F. & A. M.; of
Houghton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Trinity Command-
ery, Knights Templar, of which he was Prelate for four
years; and of Aleppo Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Boston.
Also he was a Past Chancellor of Oak Lodge, Knights of
Pythias; and he was connected with the Pilgrim Fathers;
with Howard Lodge, No. 8, Daughters of Rebecca of
Charlestown, MA.
He married Addie V. Brown daughter of John Brown of
Stockbridge, VT. His only daughter, Lora Ann Guernsey
m. Herbert T. Bond of Hudson. Mr. Guernsey achieved
success through his own efforts and was regarded as one
of the leading business men of Hudson. Both he and his
wife attended the Unitarian Church.
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Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
Saxton's River, Vermont (see their webpages at: <A
HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/searches/vtsaxriv/vtindex.htm...
Saxtons River, Vermont</A>)
John Augustus Farnsworth
Source: Farnsworth Memorial by Moses Farnsworth pub. privately 1897
p.279
John Augustus Farnsworth b. Feb 26, 1815 son of John Farnsworth and his wife,
Rebecca Wright of Boston, MA and descended from Matthias Farnsworth a first
proprietor of Groton, MA (thru his son Benjamin Farnsworth and his wife, Mary
Prescott descended from John Prescott, founder of Lancaster, MA)
John Augustus Farnsworth m. April 14, 1839, Mary Jane Osgood, b. 1817 dau of
Luke and Sarah (Thompson) Osgood of Newfane, VT.
John Augustus Farnsworth was for forty years one of the most prominent
citizens
of southern Vermont. In early life he removed from Boston, MA to Saxtons
River
to work at a woolen mill. Sometime in the 1840's the mill was burned. With
two or
three others, Mr. Farnsworth rebuilt the mill under the name of Farnsworth &
Comp-
any, and it became one of the most prosperous establishments of its size in
the
state. It acquired a wide reputation for quality of goods and the firm's name
was
known for its integrity and honorable dealings. His wealth was dispensed for
the
benefit of the church, the community and its education. Farnsworth Hall, the
central building of the Vermont Academy at Saxtons River, of which he was a
trustee and treasurer, is an eloquent witness to his generosity to this
institution.
He had but one child: Sarah R. Farnsworth b. May 4, 1842 died Aug. 10, 1848.
His brother, Andrew J. Farnsworth m. (1) Rosaline Currier and m. (2) Margaret
Roach. He was an old Boston printer and for 12 years engaged in mercantile
pursuits in Bath, ME. Shortly after the breakout of the Civil War under
commission
of Gov. John A. Andrew, he was engaged in recruitinga company of soldiers in
Boston, MA His recruits became Co. K, 12th MA Vols, known as Webster
Regiment. He himself was a member of this regiment and fought at the Penin-
sula campaign and at Bull Run and at Antietem he was shot in the leg and two
days later through the shoulder which wounds left him crippled for life. He
later
resided at Grafton, VT.
A sister, Emily Rebecca Farnsworth b. 1819 m. Addison B. Jacques who was
for over twenty years, the town clerk, treasurer and collector of Haverhill,
MA and
later treasurer of Haverhill Savings Bank. They had two children.
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Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth