REV. FRANKLIN G. MORRIS, a man of prominence in the educational, business, and religious circles of Northampton, was born in East Salisbury, Essex County, November 19, 1841, being a son of John and Eliza (Brown) Morris. He is descended from English and German ancestry, distinguished on both sides for vitality and longevity. His maternal grand-mother was a member of the Old South Church of Boston from the time when she was eight years old to the date of her death, when she had nearly completed a century.

John Morris was a seaman, and most of his sons followed in his footsteps in their liking for a sea life. He belonged to the United States Navy, and at the time of his death, in January, 1876, was the oldest boatswain in the service, being then in the ninety-first year of his age. He had a very strong and rugged constitution. When eighty-nine years old, he one day remarked that, had he taken proper care of himself, he might live to a good old age. He was twice married, rearing twelve children by both unions. His second wife, mother of the Rev. Mr. Morris, was Mrs.  Eliza Brown, nee Jennison, who bore him four sons and one daughter. Franklin G. being the fourth child. Of the remaining children Charles Henry was the only one that grew to maturity. He was lost at sea in 1864, the craft on which he sailed never having been heard from after leaving port. One of his elder sons, George, a half-brother of Franklin, also found a watery grave, having been sailmaker's mate on board the "Cumberland," which went down in the fight with the "Merriniac," March 8, 1862. The mother died very suddenly of heart disease in 1869, aged seventy years.   The father buried his wife and eleven of his twelve children before he, too, passed to his final reward. This occurred at the home of his surviving son in Watertown, Mass.

Franklin G. Morris was reared to manhood in Ipswich, Mass., where his parents lived twenty-two years, and where the remains of both now rest in the beautiful cemetery.  After concluding his studies at the public schools, he attended the Wilbraham Academy, from which he was graduated in 1861. He was one of the first volunteers that responded to the first call for three months' men made at the beginning of the Civil War, but he did not go to the front.   Mr. Morris is of a deeply religious nature, the fundamental principles of Christianity having been instilled into his heart by his honored parents; and at the early age of seventeen years he began teaching and preaching the Methodist doctrine. For seventeen years he was a member of the New England Conference and a most devoted and efficient pastor of the ten churches over which he has presided. Among them was the Saratoga Street Church of East Boston. In 1882 he was located in Easthampton. In 1876 the degree of A.M. was conferred on him by the Wesleyan University of Middletown, Conn.  Beginning to study shorthand in 1867,  Mr.  Morris is now an expert in the art, and for the past seven years has been the official stenographer of Hampden County. He was one of the four reporters of the General Conference in 1888; and he has since reported five murder trials, accomplishing, with the aid of his staff of writers, a plain hand transcript of each day's proceedings by the ensuing night. 

Mr. Morris was first married November 24, 1864, to Lucy A. Morley, who died three years later, leaving two children: Emma, a teacher in the public schools; and Charles Edward, who died in 1887, aged twenty years.  In 1869 Mr. Morris was again united in marriage with Miss Georgia A. Waterhouse, a native of Lynn, Mass. He was a member of the State legislature, representing the district of Watertown in 1875, where he was then located. At the same time he had charge of a church, and was equal to the undertaking.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which his late father was a Master Mason.  He is a very influential and prominent brother, having united with the organization thirty years ago. He has taken the Scottish rite degrees, has been at the head of the Royal Arch degree in his Chapter, and has the distinction of being one of  the three Grand Chaplains of the Massachusetts Grand Chapter.

GEORGE PITMAN MOULTON, a prosperous farmer of Pelham, son of Levi H. and Abbie (Pitman) Moulton, was born in that town, July 25, 1865.  The Moulton family are of English descent; and the original ancestor, who emigrated to America, settled in Monson, Mass., residing in the locality known as Moulton Hill. Mr.  Moulton's great-grandfather, Daniel Moulton, who was a son of the original settler, was born in Monson.    He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and became the owner of a large farm situated upon Moulton Hill, which he cultivated successfully.    He lived to be over eighty years of age, having raised a family of nine children.   His son, Levi Moulton, Mr. Moulton's grandfather, was a native of Monson,   and   passed   his   youth   upon his father's farm.   He followed the occupation of a mechanic during his earlier years, and then devoted his attention to conducting boarding houses in different localities.     He reached the age of seventy-two, and his declining years were passed with his son in Pelham.  He married Nancy Farnham, a native of Oxford, Mass., and the union was blessed with six children, three of whom are still living, namely: Levi H.; Cyrus, who was born in Providence,  R.I.;   and Mary, who married Franklin Smith, and resides in Providence.  The mother lived to the age of eighty-seven years.

Levi  H.  Moulton, Mr. Moulton's father, was born in Charlton, May 7, 1822.   When a young man, he adopted agriculture as an occupation, and has perseveringly followed it with satisfactory results.   He has lived on three farms in Pelham at different periods, exhibiting in each the energy and industry for which he has always been remarkable.    He now resides with his son, George P. Moulton, and is a Methodist in his religious views and a Republican in politics.    His wife, Abbie Pitman, whom he married on June 20, 1850, was born in South Kingston, R.I., November 22, 1824.  She was daughter of George and Abbie (Nichols) Pitman, both of whom were natives of Rhode Island.   George Pitman settled upon a farm in Pelham, where he followed agriculture successfully, and passed the remainder of his life. He raised a family of four children, one son and three daughters, of whom the only survivor is John Pitman, a resident of Pelham. Levi H. Moulton's children were: Abbie, who married Marcus Pease, and resides in East Douglass; George Pitman, the subject of this sketch; Martha A., wife of George Bowles, of Amherst; John B., who resides in Pelham: Levi H., Jr., a resident of Amherst; and Walter N., who died at the age of fourteen years and three months. The mother's decease occurred March 12, 1879.  George Pitman Moulton was reared to agricultural life, and has always resided at the homestead. At an early age he became proficient in the various farm duties, and is now chiefly engaged in the cultivation of hay and grain. He displays an unusual amount of thrift and energy, which is productive of excellent results.

On June 27, 1885, Mr. Moulton was united in marriage to Mrs. Jennie Cleveland, of Pelham, daughter of William and Martha (Allen) Montgomery. They have one son, George William, who was born August 14, 1888.  Mr. Moulton is a Republican in politics and liberal in his religious views.

ALBERT NICHOLS, a veteran agriculturist, is one of the oldest native born citizens of Hampshire County, his birth having occurred in the town of Chesterfield, January 5, 1812. He is a son of the late Joshua Nichols, who was born in Plymouth County, Mass., in that part of the town of Pembroke now included within the limits of Hanson. Joshua Nichols was a farmer by occupation, and came to this county in his early manhood. He was united in marriage to one of Chesterfield's fairest daughters, Miss Rebecca Witherell, who died in 1828. He was a man of prominence in these parts, having served as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. After living to a good old age he died in 1853. He reared nine children, of whom Albert, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor. Those deceased were: Olive, Harvey, Varnum, Lucy, Mary, John, Asahel, and Theron.

Albert Nichols received a good education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years began to assist his father on the homestead.   On reaching his majority, he hired out his services among the neighboring farmers. Having saved up a little money he went westward in 1834, locating in Geauga County, Ohio. Here he spent three years working in the fields during seed time and harvest, and teaching school in a pioneer log house in the winter season. In 1837 Mr.  Nichols, being entirely satisfied with his share of experience in frontier life, returned to Chesterfield, and, after attending the academy one term, bought a farm, which he labored hard to clear and improve. Twenty years later he disposed of that and bought a small tract of land in the village, which he tilled successfully for another score of years. He bought the farm where he now resides in 1863-65. This property has also prospered, it being now well under cultivation and substantially improved.

On April 12, 1838, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with  Clarinda   R.   Johnson, a daughter of William and Sylvia Johnson, respectively natives of Williamsburg and Mansfield,  Mass.    Mr. Johnson spent his entire life in Williamsburg.   Mrs. Johnson survived him, and passed her declining years at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols.   The latter became the parents of three children : Warner B., William J., and John H.   The eldest son, Warner, was a clerk in the employment of the government when the late rebellion broke out, and enlisted from Washington in a regiment of cavalry.   At the close of hostilities he returned to Washington, obtained a position as clerk in a land office, and remained a resident of that city until his death, June 14, 1875.  William J. likewise served in the late Civil War, and at the battle of the Wilderness received a gunshot wound, from the effects of which he died at the hospital in Washington, May 30, 1864.   John H., now a resident of Brooklyn, was educated in the navy.   He has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Emma Robbins, died in Hartford, Conn. ; and he subsequently married his present wife, Mrs. Sallie Muse, of Virginia.

While so laudably attending to his own interests Mr. Nichols has not been unmindful of the interests of his native town and county.  He has served both with ability and fidelity in several official capacities. For a quarter of a century he was Town Clerk, was Selectman and Assessor for many years, has been an earnest worker in behalf of the schools all his life, and was a member of the School Board from 1838 until 1875. He was also a Justice of the Peace for a long period of time, his term of office having expired August 24, 1895.  Three different terms Mr. Nichols represented his district in the State legislature, serving twice in the lower house and one term in the Senate. In politics the subject was at one time identified with the Know Nothing party.  He afterward became a Republican, but of late years he votes the Prohibition ticket.

PHINEAS PENDLETON NICHOLS, D.D. S., a popular and promising young dentist of the city of Northampton, was born April 19, 1860, in the town of Searsport, Me. The family are of English origin. The American ancestors, having emigrated to the United States, were early settlers on the coast of Maine. James Nichols, the great-grandfather of Dr. Nichols, was born in Searsport in 1733, and there spent his entire life. Ship building was then in its infancy; and he became interested in the trade, finally adopting it as his life occupation. He was one of the founders of this industry in Maine.  William Nichols, the grandfather of the Doctor, was a well-known ship builder of Searsport. His union in 1802 with Nancy Pendleton, a daughter of Alexander Pendleton, strengthened the tie between two of the most prominent families of that town. They reared five sons and three daughters, of whom William G. Nichols became the father of the subject of this sketch.

William G. Nichols was born in Searsport, April 5, 1833, and has since continued a resident of the place of his nativity, becoming one of its most respected and esteemed citizens.  On September 28, 1857, he was united in marriage to Lillias Pendleton, a daughter of Captain Phineas and Wealthy (Carver) Pendleton.  The Carvers are lineally descended from Sir John Carver, who was first Governor of Massachusetts, his descendants having located on the Penobscot at an early day. The Carvers, Nicholses, Pendletons, and Griffins are very prominent in business and marine circles, being sea captains or ship builders. It is claimed they captain and control one-tenth of all the deep sea ships of the United States.

Dr. Nichols is one of two children born to his parents.     The other child,  a daughter, died  in   infancy.    Ample  opportunity was afforded him for obtaining an education, and after leaving Williston Seminary he was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in 1881.    He began the practice of his profession in the place of his nativity, and during the eight years he remained there he met with flattering  success.   Desiring  a  more extended field Dr.   Nichols came to Northampton in 1891, and formed a partnership with Dr. R. D.  Brown.   Three years later he bought out Dr. Brown's interest, and has since carried on the business independently.    Dr. Nichols's practice is large and lucrative.    He has earned a high reputation for skilful work. 

On the 28th of January, 1891, Dr. Nichols was united in marriage with Maud McCready, a daughter of J. E. B. and Maud (Frieze) McCready,   of   St.   John,   N.B.,   where her father is well known as the editor of the St. John Telegram.    Mrs. McCready died in early life, leaving two children, Mrs. Nichols and a son, Ernest W. McCready, who is on the editorial staff of the New York Herald. The only child born to the Doctor and his wife is a little daughter, Lillias Louine, born in 1895.  Like her husband, Mrs. Nichols is finely educated, being a college graduate, and is the possessor of much artistic talent and taste. In politics the Doctor is a stanch Republican.  He is a Knight Templar, and quite prominent in Masonic life, having joined that organization when twenty-one years old.   He takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the progress of the city or county, and is held in high regard in business and social circles.  In the spring of 1895 he purchased his elegant residence on Elm Street, which is one of the finest in the vicinity.

EDWARD B. NIMS, M.D., who has charge of the Hospital for the Insane at Northampton, Mass., is a native of New Hampshire, born April 20, 1838, in Sullivan, Cheshire County, son of Seth and Maria (Frost) Nims.

Among the early settlers of Deerfield, in this county, we find the name of Godfrey Nims. The house he built and subsequently lived in still stands at the corner of Main and Academy Streets. It has but recently passed out of the Nims family, after an owner ship of one hundred and eighty years. Godfrey Nims was prominent among the pioneers of the town, and his name is engraved on the memorial tablet in the new hall. Some of his descendants settled in New Hampshire, and became leading citizens of that State. One of them, David Nims, great-great-uncle of the subject of this sketch, was the first Town Clerk of Keene, N.H. The paternal grand-father, also named David, was born in Roxbury, N.H., about 1776, and died in 1814.  He married Abigail Carter, who survived him, living to the venerable age of fourscore years.  She bore her husband eight children-four sons and four daughters - all of whom, with one exception, married, and reared families.  One of the sons, Seth, having been brought up a farmer, continued in that occupation after reaching manhood. He entered into matrimony with Maria Frost, whose parents were esteemed members of the farming community of Sullivan. There were born of the union three children, namely: Edward B.; Ellen E., wife of Henry C. Rawson, of Sullivan; and Augustus F., of the same town. The mother died in October, 1865, aged fifty-eight years.  The father subsequently married Hannah Dodge, with whom he is still living in his New Hampshire home, hale and vigorous yet, although ninety-two years old.

Dr. Nims was reared on the home farm until sixteen years old, when he was sent to the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N.H., to be fitted for college. He made good use of the opportunities here. He was admitted to Williams College in 1858, and graduated four years later. He subsequently entered the medical department of the University of Vermont at Burlington. In May, 1864, he accepted an appointment as Assistant Surgeon of the First Vermont Cavalry, and was in active service in the Civil War under General Sheridan until May, 1865, when he was prostrated with fever. After this his regiment was distributed along the Canadian frontier; and he was mustered out of service August 9, 1865.   Dr. Nims then continued his medical studies, taking a full course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and received his degree at the Vermont University. After practicing his profession for a short time, he was appointed Assistant Physician in the Vermont State Asylum at Brattleboro. He filled this position from February, 1866, until December, 1868, when he accepted that of Assistant Physician in the Northampton Asylum, under Dr. Pliny Earl. He was appointed Head Physician, his present office, October 21, 1885, when Dr. Earl was retired.  He is assisted in his onerous duties by Dr. J. A. Houston, Dr. C. M. Holmes, and Dr.  Jane R. Baker, all of whom stand high in the medical fraternity. The hospital receives about two hundred patients annually, who come from the counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire. The building is of brick, very handsome and capacious, four stories high, with a frontage of seven hundred and twelve feet, and is delightfully located, on an eminence overlooking the surrounding country.

On September 5, 1867, Dr. Edward B.  Nims was united in marriage with Elizabeth E. Delano, of Ticonderoga, N.Y., being the daughter of Asa P. Delano. The only child born of their union, a son, named Edward Earl Nims, died at this institution, July 26, 1877, at the age of seven years.