My Genealogy Hound

MOSES H. BEALS, Postmaster of Williamsburg, born in Goshen, Mass., June 5, 1829, is son of Moses W. and Rebecca (Joslyn) Beals. Mr. Beals’s ancestors came from Hingham, England, and were among the first settlers of Hingham, Mass. Daniel Beals, Mr. Beals’s grandfather, was born in Hingham, and settled on a farm in Cummington at an early date. He cleared and improved his property, and cultivated it successfully for many years. He raised a family of sixteen children, all of whom attained maturity; and his declining years were passed with them. He died in Medina, N.Y., aged seventy-six.

Moses W. Beals, father of Mr. Beals, was born in Cummington, Mass., November 20, 1803. He was reared to farming; and in early manhood he purchased a farm in the town of Goshen, and conducted it for a number of years. Then he moved to Williamsburg, where he spent a long time in the employment of G. Williams. After this he took up the stone-mason’s trade, but soon abandoned it, and bought the farm of twenty-seven acres known as the Rev. Lord homestead, where he resided thereafter until his death, in 1885. He was a member of the Congregational church, was a Whig in politics, but later joined the Republican party. His wife, Rebecca (Joslyn) Beals, a daughter of William Joslyn, a prosperous farmer, was married to him February 1, 1828. They had four children, as follows: Moses H., the subject of this sketch; Addison W., now living in West Brookfield, Mass.; a child who died in infancy; and Clarissa, who died at the age of sixteen years. The mother died in 1890, aged eighty-seven years.

Moses H. Beals was educated in the town schools, and learned the trades of a harness-maker and carriage trimmer in the shops of Stearns Brothers, of Williamsburg. During the Civil War he was employed by Wilkinson & Cummings at Springfield, Mass., in making harnesses,’ saddles, and other army accoutrements. In 1872 he established himself in the harness business in Williamsburg, where he conducted a successful trade until 1893, when he retired. Mr. Beals is a Democrat in politics, and has ably filled various town offices, such as Town Clerk, Treasurer, and School Committeeman. In 1885 he was appointed Postmaster, and held that position until 1889. He was commissioned Justice of the Peace in 1892. In 1893 he was reappointed Postmaster, and conducts the office to general satisfaction. He was a member of Nonatuck Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Northampton, of which he is Past Grand; and he is also Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment.

Mr. Beals has been twice married. On September 30, 1851, he wedded Mary Sherwood, daughter of Eli Sherwood. She died at the age of twenty-three years, leaving one son, Charles S., who is now a mechanic in Leeds, Mass., and who married Isadore Walbridge, and has three children: Grace, Abbie, and Lena. On July 5, 1855, Mr. Beals married his second wife, Mary Flynn, daughter of Patrick Flynn; and by this union he has one daughter, named Lucella D., who is now the wife of Homer Bradford, a mechanic of Williamsburg. Mr. Beals is liberal in his religious views, a courteous official, and held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen.