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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ONSLOW G. SPELMAN, a retired manufacturer and one of the most wealthy residents of Williamsburg, was born in Granville, Mass., September 11, 1821, son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Gross) Spelman. Mr. Spelman’s grandfather, Elijah Spelman, was born in Granville, Mass. He was descended from the Spelman that originally settled in Durham, Conn. Aaron Spelman was born August 18, 1792, and received a good education. He settled in Granville, where he became a school-teacher. He was accidentally killed March 21, 1828, while cutting wood for the church and parsonage. His wife, Elizabeth Gross, was born May 8, 1793. She became the mother of four children, as follows: Solon S.; Onslow G.; Oscar F.; and Urseline, who died at an early age. The mother died October 26, 1848.

Onslow G. Spelman was but seven years of age at the time of his father’s death. At about the age of ten years he went to Westfield, Mass., where he entered into an agreement with a Mr. Dewey to work for his board, clothing, and education until sixteen. Six months before arriving at the required age he purchased his time, and went to North Hadley, where he worked on a farm, and engaged in broom-making. After pursuing a course at the Buckland Academy, he went to Haydenville, and obtained employment in Josiah Hayden’s pen factory. Finding the work in the factory not to his liking, he entered the store as a clerk, at a salary of twenty-five dollars per year and board. When twenty-one, he took a vacation, during which time he sold steel pens to help bear his expenses. He spent the following winter in a store in Northampton, and in the spring of 1843 came to Williamsburg, where for three years he acted as clerk and travelling salesman for Mr. Thayer. When D. W. Graves established his button manufactory, Mr. Spelman became its general manager. He later secured an interest in the business, after which the firm was known as O. G. Spelman & Co. Under his energetic management the business rapidly developed, finally becoming an important industry. An interesting feature of the management was the establishment by the company of a store in connection with their business, in which they carried on a profitable trade. The firm finally dissolved; and Mr. Spelman rented a factory on Mill River, which he soon after purchased. There he conducted a successful business until the buildings were swept away by the flood of 1874. He rebuilt the factory, and then sold it. He afterward became interested in another button factory for the space of three years more, when he retired. He also had an interest in the Textile Manufacturing Company of Westfield, Mass., being the president and general manager. This connection he resigned one year later, and then permanently retired from active business. In 1864 he erected his present residence on Main Street, one of the finest and most substantial houses in the village.

In 1849 Mr. Spelman was united in marriage to Harriet B. Sears. She died at the age of fifty-nine, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, who resides at home. He wedded for his second wife Mrs. Olive (Merrill) Guild, daughter of Ira Merrill. He is independent in politics. That he has climbed to so high a rung on the ladder of life from the ground must be entirely credited to his own efforts. A life such as his is a liberal education in pluck and perseverance for our young men of to-day.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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