History of Williamstown, (Berkshire County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Willis Arthur Bardwell, librarian, was born at Williamstown, Mass., Oct. 15, 1840, son of Joseph Bardwell, and a descendant of Robert Bardwell. He was educated in the common schools; removed to Brooklyn, N.Y., and served as clerk in a book concern, 1859-'68. He was assistant librarian of the Mercantile library, Brooklyn, 1869-'85, acting librarian, 1885-'88, and librarian from 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Bliss Perry, editor, was born in Williamstown, Mass., Nov. 25, 1860; son of Arthur Latham and Mary (Smedley) Perry; grandson of the Rev. Baxter and Lydia (Gray) Perry, and of Dr. James and Lucy (Bridges) Smedley, and a descendant of John Perry, who came from London to America about 1666. He was graduated from Williams college, A.B., 1881, A.M., 1883, studied at Berlin and Strasburg universities, Germany; was professor of elocution and English at Williams college, 1886-96, and professor of oratory and ?sthetic criticism at Princeton university, 1893-99. He was married in 1888 to Annie L., daughter of F.R. Bliss, of New Haven, Conn. In 1899 he became editor of the Atlantic Monthly, Boston, Mass. The honorary degree of L.H.D. was conferred on him by Princeton university in 1900, and by Williams college in 1902. He edited selections from Burke; Scott's Woodstock and Ivanhoe, and Little Masterpiece, and is the author of: The Broughton House (1890); Salem Kittredge and Other Stories (1894); The Plated City (1895); The Powers at Play (1899), and A Study of Prose Fiction (1902). In 1902 he delivered the Charter Day address at the University of California, Berkeley.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Augustus Dewey, jurist, was born in Williamstown, Mass., March 13, 1793; son of Judge Daniel Dewey of the state supreme court. His mother was a daughter of Judge David Noble of the court of common pleas. He was graduated at Williams college in 1811, studied law under the direction of his father and gained admittance to the bar in 1814. He removed his law office to Northampton in 1826, where he practised with Isaac C. Bates, his brother-in-law, subsequently a U.S. senator. He was district attorney for the western district of Massachusetts, 1830-37. Governor Everett appointed him a justice of the supreme court in 1837 and he continued on the bench up to the time of his death. He was married in 1820 to Frances A., daughter of the Hon. Samuel Henshaw. She died in 182l leaving one son, Francis Henshaw Dewey. In 1825 he was married to Caroline H., daughter of Gen. James Clinton of New York. He was a trustee of Williams college, 1824-66, and received the degree of LL.D. from Harvard in 1840. He died in Northampton, Mass., Aug. 22, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Edward Herrick Griffin, teacher, was born in Williamstown, Mass., Nov. 18, 1843; son of Nathaniel Herrick and Hannah (Bulkley) Griffin; grandson of Nathaniel Griffin and of Solomon Bulkley, and a descendant of Jasper Griffin, a native of Wales, who settled at Southold, L.I., about 1670; and of the Rev. Peter Bulkley of Concord, Mass., who died in 1659. He was graduated from Williams in 1862, attended Princeton theological seminary, 1863-64, was tutor at Williams, 1864-65, and returned to the theological seminary at Princeton, 1865-66. He was graduated from the Union theological seminary in 1867; ordained a Congregational clergyman, Feb. 6, 1868; and held a pastorate at Burlington, Vt., 1868-72. He filled the chair of Latin language and literature at Williams, 1872-81; was Morris professor of rhetoric there, 1881-86, and Mark Hopkins professor of intellectual and moral philosophy, 1886-89. The latter year he was called to Johns Hopkins as professor of the history of philosophy and was made dean of the faculty. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Amberst in 1880, and that of LL.D. by the College of New Jersey in 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor