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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MRS. RHODA W. HUBBARD, daughter of Justin and Dolly W. (Waite) Hastings, was born in Hatfield, here grew to womanhood and spent her married life of thirty-three years, and here continues to reside since the death of her husband, Silas G. Hubbard, on June 14, 1890. She is a highly intelligent and estimable lady, possessing the esteem and good will of her neighbors, and occupying a pleasant home. Her grandparents were John and Sybil (Dickinson) Hastings, the former of whom was a practising physician and a real estate owner of Hatfield. Dr. Hastings and his wife both lived to an advanced age. Their children were: Chester; Mary; Sophia; and Justin, the father of Mrs. Hubbard.

Justin Hastings, who was born in Hatfield, January 23, 1800, settled upon the farm which is now occupied by J. Breor, and conducted general farming with success. He died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Dolly W. Waite, was born January 24, 1801, and became the mother of three children, as follows: Harriet H., who was born November 1, 1825, married T. Bagg, and died November 28, 1874; Rhoda W.; and Ellen M., born November 5, 1831, who married Dexter Frary, and died October 9, 1852. The mother died at the age of seventy-nine.

The Hubbard family of Hatfield are descendants of John Hubbard, who accompanied his father from England, and settled in Connecticut. Silas G. Hubbard was born on the old Hatfield homestead in 1831, and was a son of John and Clarissa (Clapp) Hubbard. He attended the schools of Hatfield, and completed his education at the Easthampton Academy. He assisted his father in conducting the farm, and resided at the old homestead until the death of his parents, after which he engaged in farming upon his own account, also devoting a considerable time to surveying. In 1860 Mr. Hubbard purchased the John Smith property on Main Street, which includes a handsome brick residence and eleven acres of land; and he also became the owner of other valuable real estate. He was an extensive farmer and one of the largest tobacco growers upon the flats. For some years he was President of the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Growers’ Association, and was very active in that capacity. The marriage of Silas G. Hubbard and Rhoda W. Hastings took place on April 16, 1851.

Mr. Hubbard was a Republican in politics, and served with ability in various positions of public trust, being a Selectman for several years, also School Commissioner and Town Treasurer, and in 1857 representing his district in the legislature. He was Treasurer of Smith Academy, and for twenty years a Director of the First National Bank of Northampton and its predecessor, the Holyoke Bank. In religion he was a Congregationalist and a very active member of that church.

Friends and acquaintances of Mr. Hubbard will recognize his features in the faithful portrait* on the opposite page. What manner of man he was and the estimation in which he was held in the county where he was widely known, being for some years the Hatfield correspondent of the Hampshire Gazette, was well voiced by the local press, from which we quote the following, speaking of him first as a writer: —

“In this capacity he displayed rare good taste, excellent judgment, and varied intelligence. He was always ready on all questions, whether of current news, which he presented in an acceptable manner, never offending any one, in the history of his town, in which he was especially well informed, better, probably, than any other man of his time, or on questions of a broader scope, having a national interest and importance. He was greatly interested in the celebration held last fall (1889) of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, and prepared the principal historical address of the occasion, visiting Boston and other places to search for ancient material, which he presented in a paper of rare value and great historical interest. Considering the limited opportunities he had for education and development, being confined to the labors of the farm nearly all his life, he was indeed a man of remarkable research and breadth of mind. He was a great reader and a close student, and his mind was well stored with information covering a wide range of subjects. He looked to causes as well as to effects, and was never satisfied until he knew the beginning as well as the end, the why and the wherefore as well as the final results. He was a man of high moral and religious principle.”

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

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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