My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

MAJOR CHARLES S. SHATTUCK, a prominent manufacturer of Hatfield and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Sheldon, Franklin County, Vt., June 5, 1840, son of Richard A. and Mary (Smith) Shattuck.

Major Shattuck’s great-grandparents were Samuel and Sarah (Clesson) Shattuck, the former of whom was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. His second wife was Chloe Field. His children were: Samuel, Chloe, Consider, Seth, Lydia, Jessie, Robert, and Chester. Major Shattuck’s grandfather, Consider Shattuck, was born in Greenfield, Mass.; and in early manhood he settled in Sheldon, Vt., where he bought three hundred acres of wild land, which he cleared and improved into a productive farm. He followed agriculture successfully in the town of Sheldon, and died from the effects of an accident. Consider Shattuck was a generous, public-spirited man, a Whig in politics, and an Episcopalian in religious belief. He married Anna Atherton, and raised a family of three children; namely, Alvah, Zania, and Richard A. His wife wedded for her second husband Elihu Goodsill, and her six children by this union were: Eliza, Barnard, Frank, Mary, Chloe, and John.

Richard A. Shattuck, Major Shattuck’s father, was born in East Sheldon, Vt., March 28, 1801. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier, an occupation which he followed for a time. He was appointed Collector of Customs for the district of Alburg Springs, Vt., where the office was located. He became a prominent man in the town, and ably filled several important positions of public trust. Richard A. Shattuck died December 6, 1873. His wife, Mary Smith before marriage, was born in Sheldon, August 14, 1805, daughter of Daniel Smith, of that town. She became the mother of twelve children, as follows: Helen M., DeForest E., J. Clesson, Emeline E., Barnard G., Eliza H., Daniel S., Norman L., Charles S., Arthur L., Helen M. (second), and Anna A. The mother died December 14, 1871.

Charles S. Shattuck was educated in the schools of Sheldon; and at the age of seventeen he entered mercantile life as clerk in a hardware store in Burlington, Vt., where he remained for three years. On July 16, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Sixth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, for three years’ service in the Civil War. He was immediately raised to the rank of Sergeant; and on September 19, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant of his company. He was made Captain of United States Volunteers on February 22, 1865, and in July of that year was promoted to the rank of Brevet Major of Volunteers, his commission being signed by Abraham Lincoln. After his retirement from the service, January 1, 1866, he returned to Vermont, and in company with E. O. Wires resumed mercantile business in Burlington. He dealt in crockery and glassware, paper hangings, etc., carrying on a wholesale and retail business for three years, at the expiration of which time he sold his interest to William Wood. He was appointed to take the census of the county in 1870, and on January 1, 1871, accepted a position with the Wilcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company in New York City. He remained for one year in New York, and was then sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the interest of the company. In 1874 he resigned his position with the Wilcox & Gibbs firm, and engaged in the manufacturing of pistols at Springfield, Mass., under the firm, name of Hyde & Shattuck. The business proved a profitable one; and on February 1, 1877, the plant was moved to Hatfield, where the manufacturing of single-barrel breech-loading shotguns was added to the enterprise. In 1880 Major Shattuck became sole proprietor of the establishment, and has since conducted its affairs with success. He has of late given his attention solely to the manufacturing of shotguns, and produces four different patterns. He employs a force of thirty skilled workmen, and enjoys a steady patronage. Major Shattuck purchased a handsome residence on Main Street, built by Ashley Bardwell in 1874; and he also owns the substantial brick house situated directly opposite, formerly the home of Henry Bardwell, and the Curtis place on Pleasant Street.

Major Shattuck is a Republican in politics, and has been chairman of the Republican Committee for twelve years. He was elected a member of the legislature of the Third Hampshire District in 1895. He is Town Auditor, and takes an active interest in all matters relating to the attractiveness and improvement of the village. He is particularly interested in fine horses, and has bred some excellent roadsters.

On September 2, 1884, Major Shattuck was united in marriage to Addie M. Doolittle. She was the daughter of Otis Doolittle (her mother’s maiden name being Howard), and died in 1885, aged thirty years. She was the mother of two children, twins, both of whom died in infancy. Major Shattuck is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. Aside from his honorable army record, he is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen as an enterprising and energetic citizen, who has the general welfare of the community at heart.

* * * *

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.