My Genealogy Hound

JAMES D. ATKINS, a venerable and honored resident of Florence, Mass., is living in pleasant retirement with his wife at their beautiful home, 18 Pine Street, excepting when they are travelling or sojourning for the winter in the sunny South, whither they are driven by the chilly mountain breezes that sweep across Western Massachusetts. He was born in Boston, February 17, 1817. His father, John Atkins, a native of Nova Scotia, born in 1795, was for many years a resident of that historic locality known as the North End, once inhabited by the leading families of Boston. John Atkins married Jane Dunn, of Maine, the daughter of a Commissary-general in the Revolutionary War, and reared nine children, five sons and four daughters. James D. and his brother John, Jr., late of Boston, now living with a daughter in Canada, are the only survivors of the family.

James D. Atkins received but a limited education in the public and private schools of his native city, being bound out at the age of seventeen years to learn stereotypography at the office of the University Press in Cambridge, Mass., where he worked eight years. When the constitution of the Florence community was being printed there in 1842, Mr. Atkins was favorably impressed by its resolutions, and decided at once to cast his lot with this energetic and enterprising people. Accordingly, before the close of that year he journeyed to Florence by way of Wilbraham. He was soon after engaged by the Northampton Educational Association to learn the dyer’s trade of the Englishman then in charge of that department of the silk industry, they being desirous that a member of the community should fill the position. Mr. Atkins became a thorough master of that business, which was then in its incipiency here, and for two years managed it alone. After that he had to have assistants, the force being gradually increased from time to time. His pay was also advanced as his labors and responsibility became greater, so that during his last years of service he received an annual salary of twenty-five hundred dollars. He had always commanded good wages, and, when a young man, would save up a hundred dollars or so, and then take a trip somewhere for pleasure or in the interest of his work, having thus been able to come to this place. The first hundred which he saved after coming here Mr. Atkins invested in stock in the silk company for which he was employed, afterward buying more, and was a Director in the works for several years, until selling out his stock in 1887.

On entering the factory to learn his trade, Mr. Atkins found many young women employed in the Nonotuck Silk Works; and the first of these to whom he was introduced was a winsome maiden, named Octavia Melvina Damon. Both were mutually attracted; and the acquaintance thus formed ripened into love, and culminated in the marriage of the young couple on September 13, 1844. Fifty years later, assisted by their children, grandchildren, kinsfolk, neighbors, and friends, they celebrated their golden wedding, about six hundred guests participating in the festivities of that happy occasion, and the Rev. Mr. Hinckley reading an original poem of fifty-four lines. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, the following being a brief record: George D., who is in charge of the Nonotuck Silk office in Boston, married Carrie Eaton, of Chaplin, Conn., and they have one son and two daughters. Effie D. is the wife of George A. Willey, for many years a teacher, but now agent of the new Old South Church property in Boston; they are the parents of two sons and a daughter. Frederick T., a dyer in the silk works, residing next door to his parents, married Lillian Graves, of this place; and they have two daughters.

In 1846 Mr. Atkins purchased his present home estate, giving one hundred dollars for the two acres, and soon after erected a modest cottage, which has since been enlarged and improved. It is situated in the centre of a large and finely shaded lawn, his lot being about three hundred feet front, and extending from street to street, the house being back from the dust and din of the roadway. In politics Mr. Atkins was for many years identified with the Republican party, but of late has voted independently, and has always steadfastly refused all official honors. Socially, he is a Mason of thirty-four years’ standing, belonging to Jerusalem Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Northampton.

On another page of the present volume is given a portrait* of this veteran artificer, whose many years of diligent and skilful application entitle him to rank among the “captains of industry.”

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.