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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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ALBERT N. GURNEY, a prominent farmer and produce dealer of Plainfield and a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Cummington, Mass., April 6, 1847, son of Rush and Cordelia (Joy) Gurney.

Mr. Gurney’s great-grandfather, Benjamin Gurney, was a native of Abington, Mass., and settled upon a tract of wild land in Cummington in 1770. He cleared and improved the farm which W. E. Tower now owns, and resided there during the remainder of his life, which was prolonged to an advanced age. His son, Asa Gurney, Mr. Gurney’s grandfather, was born in Abington in 1758, and was twelve years of age when his father moved to Cummington. He assisted in clearing the land, and resided at home until the commencement of the Revolutionary War, when he enlisted as a private in the Continental army. After his discharge he returned to Cummington, and bought his father’s farm, which he later sold. He then purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he settled, and cleared a productive farm. He erected a substantial house and other farm buildings, which have stood since 1808, and are now occupied by John W. Gurney. He received a pension of ninety-six dollars per year for his services in the war. Asa Gurney died in Cummington at a good old age. He married Polly Reed, and she became the mother of ten children: Reed, Charles, Zenus, Lydia, Charlotte, Alonzo, Rush, Betsey, Lydia (second), and Polly. She died in Cummington at an advanced age.

Rush Gurney, Mr. Gurney’s father, was born in Cummington in 1804. He resided with his parents until their death. He succeeded to the ownership of the homestead; and, with the exception of a short time passed in the village, during which he leased it, he resided there until his death, on April 22, 1856. He left the farm enlarged by forty acres of adjoining land. He was an Abolitionist, casting the first antislavery vote in Cummington, and was a Methodist in his religious belief. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Amelia Cowen, died in 1841, aged thirty-two years, having been the mother of five children: Sarah A.; John W.; Amelia; and two others who died in infancy. Rush Gurney married for his second wife Cordelia Joy, and his children by this union were: Justus W.; James F.; and Albert N., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1847.

After his mother’s death, Albert N. Gurney, who was then but five months old, was taken in charge by his aunt, Emeline Joy, of Plainfield. She was the daughter of Leonard and Polly (Warner) Joy, who were old residents and highly respected farming people of Plainfield, owning a good farm on High Street. It was here that Mr. Gurney was reared to manhood. When capable, he assisted on the farm; and during the declining years of his aunt and her aged parents he provided for them every comfort that could be expected. He succeeded to the ownership of the Joy farm, and has since remodelled the house, and built new barns. He keeps ten choice cows and sixty head of sheep, besides a number of horses and young stock. In 1875 Mr. Gurney engaged in handling feed, grain, and flour; and in 1880 he commenced the buying and shipping of country produce, dressed hogs, beef, etc. Both enterprises proving profitable, he continues them. He also keeps a grocery store that is doing a good business, and which he stocks by exchanging his produce for groceries. He purchased some time ago the Campbell property in Plainfield village, which he now uses for an office and business headquarters, the finest location in town. Mr. Gurney is a Republican in politics, and has been a Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for eight years, five of which he has served as chairman of the board. He has also held other town offices.

On June 7, 1868, Mr. Gurney was united in marriage to Sarah O. Dunham, to whom as a life partner Mr. Gurney largely attributes his success. She was born in Savoy, Mass., January 16, 1849, daughter of Oren and Roxanna (Stiles) Dunham, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of that town. He died in 1887, aged eighty years; and his wife still survives, at the age of eighty-one. She is the mother of nine children: Warren, James, Ann S., Eliza M., Sarah O., Fannie L., Henry W., Augusta M., and Charles F. All but one are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Gurney have one child, named Bertha B., who was born February 3, 1870. She married Henry C. Packard, a well-to-do farmer of Plainfield, and has two children; namely, Lillian G. and William A. Bertha B. received a common-school education, and was a successful teacher for several terms before her marriage.

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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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