My Genealogy Hound

EDWARD T. BARRUS, a leading merchant and real estate owner of Williamsburg, was born in the town of Goshen, Mass., October 13, 1861, son of Theron L. and Czarina N. (Robinson) Barrus. Mr. Barrus’s grandparents, Levi and Almeda (Stearns) Barrus, moved from Salem, Mass., to Goshen, and settled upon four hundred acres of land. Levi Barrus was a very prosperous farmer and a highly esteemed citizen. He was originally a Whig in politics, but later joined the Republican party. He was a member of the Baptist church. He died at his homestead in Goshen at the age of seventy-three years. His children were: Hiram, Lorin, Charles, Alvan, Laura, Jane, and Theron L.

Theron L. Barrus, Mr. Barrus’s father, was born at the homestead in Goshen, September 1, 1829. He attended the select school three winter terms, working during the summer in the turning shop of Ranney & Gage, and also at plane-making. After finishing his studies he taught school for nine winters, his summers being occupied in farming and working at plane-making in Swift River. He purchased what is known as the red house property, a farm of twenty acres, situated in the vicinity of his present residence, and devoted his summers to agriculture and his winters to the manufacturing of ladders, which he sold through the surrounding section. He later bought the Cushman place of eight acres, and still later the Parsons farm, which consists of one hundred acres; and he has since resided upon that property. He carries on general farming and dairying. He has remodelled the farm buildings, keeps ten choice cows, and is in good circumstances. He is a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the School Board for twenty years. He united with the Congregational church in young manhood, and at the age of twenty-five was chosen a Deacon, a position which he still holds. In 1852 Theron L. Barrus married Czarina N. Robinson, born December 27, 1831, and daughter of James and Adeline (Randall) Robinson. She became the mother of five children: James L., William A., Edward T., Mary A., and Lida E. The mother died May 6, 1895.

Edward T. Barrus commenced his studies in the schools of his native town, and completed his education at the Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, Mass. At the age of twenty years he began work as a wood polisher in the shop of the Crosby Manufacturing Company in Swift River. After remaining there for one year he went to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he pursued a course at Eastman’s Business College. He then went to Boston as a book-keeper in the wholesale clothing house of C. N. Mellen & Co., and after remaining there for a time resigned his position in order to devote his attention to teaching. He later returned to mercantile pursuits, and after acting as travelling salesman for a short time purchased an interest in the general store of J. H. Godfrey in Goshen, where he remained in business for six years, at the expiration of which time he retired from the firm. In 1890 he came to Williamsburg and purchased the stock of S. K. Waite, which included buildings and the adjoining land on Main Street. He refitted the store and put in an extensive stock of general merchandise, so enabling himself to supply a large and constantly increasing patronage. He employs a force of five men, and four teams are kept busy in delivering goods. He also runs a provision store in Holyoke. Mr. Barrus is President of the Williamsburg Co-operative Creamery Association, which is proving a most profitable enterprise. He purchased the Kingsley shop on South Street, which he has enlarged and fitted up for storage purposes. He has also found it necessary to build an addition to his store. He has invested in a valuable piece of real estate on Main Street, which he has subdivided into building lots for residences, and in many other ways has displayed a spirit of energy and enterprise, which will, without doubt, insure his future prosperity.

On May 18, 1887, Mr. Barrus was united in marriage to Mary L. Graves, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Bartlett) Graves, of Southampton, Mass., and has one son, named Roger E., who was born May 16, 1893. Mr. Barrus is one of the brightest and most progressive young business men in Hampshire County, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.