My Genealogy Hound

JAMES RUSSELL TRUMBULL, a much respected resident of Northampton, has been identified with the industrial, educational, and literary interests of this section of Hampshire County for many years, and has ably assisted in maintaining and advancing its welfare. He is a native of this county, born in Haydenville, Williamsburg, December 21, 1825, a son of Guy and Clarissa (Nash) Trumbull.

The Trumbulls were well-known manufacturers of Connecticut during the last part of the eighteenth century. David Trumbull, the grandfather of James Russell Trumbull, was a resident of Windsor for many years. His last days were spent at his home in East Windsor, where his death occurred in January, 1800, at the age of fifty-five years. He married Sarah Harper, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven grew to maturity, and married, the most of them having large families, one son rearing nine children.

Guy Trumbull, born in East Windsor, Conn., July 6, 1786, grew to manhood in his native State, coming to this county when a young man. He was a member of the firm of Hayden, Trumbull & Co., manufacturers of machinery, looms, etc. On June 20, 1822, he was married to Clarissa Nash, of Williamsburg, a daughter of a prominent farmer, John Nash, and his wife, Martha (Little) Nash. Three children were born to them, namely: Julia Shepherd, who was wife of E. L. Miller, and died in 1892, aged sixty-nine years; James Russell, the subject of this sketch; and Martha Howard, a maiden lady, living at South Hadley Falls. The father, who was a man of exceedingly good habits and reputation and an esteemed citizen, died before reaching the noon-tide of life, in Haydenville, June 19, 1828. His widow survived him, departing this life July 26, 1873, at the venerable age of fourscore years.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools. When a lad of seventeen years, he was apprenticed to the printer’s trade, entering the office of the Hampshire Gazette, and serving his three years’ time under William A. Hawley. He became an expert compositor, and finally was made foreman of the office, remaining in that position until 1847. Then he bought from Homer A. Cooke the Hampshire and Franklin Express, which was established in 1844 by J. S. and C. Adams, and subsequently came into the hands of Samuel Nash, the predecessor of Mr. Cooke. Mr. Trumbull became printer and editor of it in 1849. He subsequently became editor of the Hampshire Gazette, published by Hopkins, Bridgeman & Co., and was serving in that capacity until January 1, 1858, when Thomas Hale, of Windsor, Vt., became half-owner and the editor. The following October Mr. Trumbull purchased the entire plant, merging the Gazette and the Northampton Courier into one publication, under the name of the Gazette and Courier, thenceforth jointly edited by Trumbull & Gere. The firm did a good paying business until January 1, 1877, when the senior partner sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Gere. Since that time Mr. Trumbull, who has been somewhat of an invalid, has lived in retirement at his pleasant home, 45 Prospect Street, which he built twenty-seven years ago.

On November 6, 1848, Mr. Trumbull married Harriet T. Kingsley, of Northampton. Her father, Edwin Kingsley, was by occupation a blacksmith, and died in 1874, aged eighty-two years. He married Belinda Kingsbury, who was born in Brattleboro, Vt., in 1804, and died in Northampton in 1886. She bore her husband eight children, six of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Trumbull has always been identified with the Republican party, and has held public offices in the town and city. He was chosen City Treasurer in 1884, and filled that office for six years, declining a renomination in 1889. For over thirty years he was a valued member of the Library Committee, and is now serving as one of the Trustees of the Forbes Library, having been elected in 1894. He was one of the Board of Almoners for the Whiting Street Fund, and was for many years clerk of the old Parish Church. He still devotes a portion of his time to literary pursuits. Having, in connection with George W. Hubbard, purchased the Judd manuscript, he has been working for the past eighteen years on the history of Northampton, which, no doubt, will be a valuable accession to our historical records.