My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH H. KINGSLEY is numbered among the intelligent and enterprising citizens of Southampton who are conducting farming operations with skill and success. He carries on general husbandry with extensive stock-raising and dairying, being a typical Hampshire County farmer. He was born on December 27, 1833.

His father, Zenas Kingsley, was a native of Westhampton, born in 1805, and for twenty-five years was engaged in the manufacture of woollen goods, owning a mill at Northampton. He subsequently removed to Stratford, N.H., where he carried on a successful lumber business until his death, in 1881. His wife, Susan Elwell, a native of Westhampton, died at the age of forty-four years. Nine children were born to them, namely: Susan Melissa, now the wife of H. M. Parsons, residing on a farm in Westhampton; Edward W., also living at Westhampton; Joseph H., already named, of whom some further account is given below, and whose portrait also appears in this connection; Cynthia S., deceased; Zenas, who lost his life while in his country’s service in the war of the Rebellion; Nelson Howard, a ranchman in California; Ellen Victoria, the widow of the late Enoch Perkins; Justus Holland and Fidelia M., both residents of Loudville.

Joseph H. Kingsley was reared on the paternal homestead, and assisted in its management for many years, living there some two years after his marriage with Elmina Norton, their union having been solemnized June 19, 1862. Mrs. Kingsley was born February 5, 1839, at Rochester, N.Y., whither her father, Horace Norton, had removed from Westhampton, the place of his birth, afterward making his home in Loudville. Three years after his marriage Mr. Kingsley bought his present farm, then containing one hundred and twenty acres of land, and placed it in a tillable condition. The soil has responded to his labors, and yields bountifully of the productions common to this section of the county, his more important crops being corn, tobacco, and hay. He has a large dairy, and realizes a handsome income from the sale of milk and cream. In recent years Mr. Kingsley has bought other land, his whole estate now aggregating three hundred acres, a portion lying in Westhampton, and some of his landed property being in Minnesota.

The following is a record of children of Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley: Horace Norton, born in 1863, died the next year; Nellie Howard, the wife of Mr. Edwin Clapp, of Westhampton, having two children, Raymond and Roger W.; Dwight H., born in 1866, a resident of Southampton; Edith Marian, born May 19, 1870; Arthur Zenas, born in 1875; Delia E., born in 1875; and Georgia E., born in 1883. Dwight H. Kingsley has been married twice, his first wife, Hattie Powers, having died in early womanhood, leaving one child, Harry J. By his second wife, Florence Shelden, he has two children, Florence E. and Burton A.

Mr. Joseph H. Kingsley is a strong Republican, being a firm believer in the principles sustained by that organization, and, though not an aspirant for political office, served his town most acceptably from 1886 until 1890 as Selectman and Assessor. He and his wife are faithful members of the Congregational church.