My Genealogy Hound

HOLSEY J. SEARLE, an experienced and efficient agriculturist occupying the fine estate known as the Park Hill Farm, in the Fourth Ward of Northampton, Mass., was born in Huntington, Hampshire County, on April 29, 1849, son of Emerson and Miriam (Sanford) Searle. His grandfather, Joel Searle, who was born on November 18, 1774, was a prosperous farmer of Huntington. He was married on January 24, 1799, to Miss Sophia Sheldon, who was born on January 29, 1777. Nine children were born of their union, four sons and five daughters, all now deceased. Joel Searle died on January 4, 1860, at eighty-six years of age, and his wife one year later at the age of eighty-four years and seven months.

Emerson Searle, who was reared to the vocation of a farmer, settled in the town of Huntington on a farm containing one hundred acres, which he increased to four hundred acres. Later he disposed of a part of his property, and moved to Northampton to where his son now lives. At his death, which occurred on May 1, 1894, he left quite an estate. He married on January 18, 1844, Miss Miriam Sanford, who was born in Huntington on September 18, 1812, and was a daughter of Holsey Sanford, of Saybrook, Conn. Her father was born on October 10, 1765; and at fifteen years of age he became a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as a substitute for a brother who was taken ill while in service. There were four sons and three daughters born of this union, of whom a brief record follows: Jerusha Gertrude, whose birth occurred May 21, 1846, lived to be but nineteen years of age, dying of diphtheria, January 24, 1866, in the week in which her wedding day was appointed; her sister, Julia Esther, who had died of diphtheria a few days before, on January 20, was eighteen years of age; Holsey J. Searle is the subject of the brief biography below; Miriam Adelia, born October 22, 1850, is the wife of Wallace A. Mann, of 3 Smith Street, Northampton; George E. Searle, born June 9, 1852, resides in Easthampton; Abner Sanford Searle, born on Washington’s Birthday in 1854, lives in Hadley, Mass.; and Charlie P. Searle, born September 10, 1856, lives on the old homestead. Their mother died on July 13, 1894, at almost eighty-two years of age. Both parents were members of the Congregational church.

Holsey J. Searle acquired his early education in the district school, which was supplemented by a course at Wilbraham Academy. He then turned his attention to agriculture, and for four years carried on a farm in Huntington, Mass. Following that, he conducted a hotel for four years, after which he went to Nebraska, where he spent the following two years. He then came back to the Northampton farm, for which his father paid the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, and in 1875 built thereon a fine large barn, eighty by fifty feet, with an L thirty-eight by forty feet, and three stories in height, with a basement underneath. The homestead is still a part of his father’s estate, of which he is the administrator. He is successfully engaged in mixed husbandry, and grows each year from six to fifteen acres of tobacco. The farm yields annually about one hundred tons of hay; and he keeps thirty cows, the milk from which is marketed in Northampton by a brother who has a milk route.

Mr. Searle was married on May 8, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth Bassett, of Easthampton, a daughter of Joel L. and Phebe (Thompson) Bassett. Her father did an extensive business as a farmer, contractor, and manufacturer, and was very successful. He was thrice married, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Phebe Thompson, had three children, namely: Louise, who died when five years old; Justin H. Bassett, who died at the early age of twenty-nine years, leaving a wife and daughter; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Searle. Mr. and Mrs. Searle have lost an infant daughter, and now have two living children; namely, Gertrude Phebe, who is twelve years of age; and Joel Bassett Searle, a lad of five years.

In political principles Mr. Searle is a Republican. For two years he served as a member of the Common Council, and is now an Alderman. He is a member of Ionic Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Easthampton. An excellent portrait* of this influential and valued citizen will be found on a neighboring page of this volume.

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