My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH H. SHEARN, general superintendent of the three mills belonging to the Nonotuck Silk Company at Leeds, Mass., is a native of Somersetshire, England. He was born in 1847. His grandfather, Samuel Shearn, was a lifelong resident of Somersetshire, being one of the English yeomanry and the owner of an estate which has been in the family many generations. He reared nine children, six sons and three daughters, the most of whom have remained in their native land.

Austin Shearn, one of the six sons of Samuel, was born in Somersetshire in 1820. He married Sarah Cottrell, and in 1854 came with his family to America, embarking on the famous ship “Constellation,” which brought one thousand passengers, being but six weeks on her voyage. Locating in New Jersey he resumed merchandising, in which he had formerly been engaged on the Channel Islands; but he subsequently lived a few years in Leeds, coming here in 1861, and being employed as a commercial traveller, running his own team and dealing in tea and coffee. He finally bought a farm in Easthampton, where he spent the last decade of his years, but died in Haydenville in 1892. Six children were born to him and his wife, namely: Charlotte, who married Charles Scrivener, of Jersey City, N.J., and died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving five children; Louisa, the wife of Martin Flagg, of Northampton; Frances, wife of Samuel Ewing, who is her second husband, her first husband having been Stanley Howard; Joseph H., the subject of this biography; Frederick S., an instructor in music at Northampton; and Charles, an employee of the Belding Silk Company at Northampton.

Joseph H. Shearn was educated in the public schools in New Jersey and at Leeds, beginning at the age of twelve years, when not in school, to work in the mill in which he is now employed. He was earnest and faithful wherever placed, and was gradually promoted through the different departments of the mills until reaching his present responsible position, which he has held for a score of years, his long tenure of office being strong evidence of the value placed upon his services. This plant, in which Mr. Shearn is one of the stockholders, is one of the finest in its construction and equipments of any in the State, and gives steady employment to about one thousand hands.

On May 26, 1869, Mr. Shearn was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kearney, of Leeds, a daughter of the late Robert J. Kearney, who was a native of Ireland and a graduate of the Dublin University. Their pleasant wedded pathway has been brightened by the birth of two children, Clarence J. and Edith G. Clarence is a graduate of the New York Law School, and now a promising young lawyer of New York City, being the managing attorney with Einstein & Townsend. A brilliant student from his early years, he was graduated from the Northampton High School when but sixteen years of age and from Cornell University in the class of 1890 with high honors. Edith, having early manifested artistic taste and ability, pursued the study of art at Smith College for a while, and later at the Art Students’ League in New York City. She is now cultivating her talent in Paris, having gone abroad for that purpose the second time. Her attention, however, is not wholly devoted to the use of the pencil and brush, Miss Shearn also taking pleasure in music and playing both the guitar and the piano.

As a citizen Mr. Shearn is held in great esteem, his judgment in local affairs being everywhere respected. He is a stanch member of the Republican party, ever ready to forward its interests, and has served as Alderman two years and as a member of the Common Council one year. He is a Master Mason, a member of Jerusalem Lodge of Northampton. Religiously, he and his wife are liberal, and attend the meetings of the Cosmian Hall Society of Florence.

The accompanying portrait* of Mr. Shearn will be recognized at a glance by his friends and acquaintances.

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