My Genealogy Hound

RUSSELL R. PACKARD, who during the past fifteen years has served as Clerk of the town of Cummington, Hampshire County, of which place he is a highly esteemed and respected citizen, was born here on June 2, 1828, son of Leonard and Martha (Jenkins) Packard.

Leonard Packard was a native of Goshen, Mass., where his birth occurred on February 23, 1801. During the early years of his manhood he was engaged as a carpenter and millwright in different places; but later on in his life he purchased a farm at Spruce Corner, Mass., and there devoted his attention principally to agricultural pursuits. From Spruce Corner he removed to Williamsburg, Mass., and worked several years at carpentering and mill work. Then he removed to Rocky Hill, Conn., was married again, and lived there, working at carpenter’s and mill work for quite a number of years. After the death of his last wife he came to Cummington, Mass., and spent his remaining days with his son Russell. His wife, Martha Jenkins, to whom he was married in 1826, bore him three children as follows: Russell R.; Mitchell, born July 3, 1834; and Martha, born on January 29, 1836. The mother died in 1844, at the age of forty-three years, and the father on March 28, 1892. He was a Whig in political affiliation until that party was succeeded by the Republican party, of which he then became an adherent. In religious views he was liberal.

Russell R. Packard began when fourteen years of age to learn the trade of a carpenter. During the winters that followed he was employed at Williamsburg, Mass., making tools in the factory. From the latter place he went to Swift River, Mass., where he purchased of L. H. Bates a farm of seventy acres; and for ten years he turned his attention to agriculture with good success, during his residence there making various improvements in both buildings and farm. At the expiration of that time he sold out and bought the Nelson place in Cummingham, to the appearance and comfort of which he has since greatly added. After removing to Cummington he learned watch-making of Mr. Brown, and has since engaged in that business, in which he has as yet no competitor. On September 16, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda Willcutt, who was born in Chesterfield, Mass., on May 22, 1831, and died March 29, 1893. She was a daughter of Joel and Malency (Bates) Willcutt. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, three sons and a daughter, as follows: Almon, born in 1850, died in 1850; Lucinda A., born January 20, 1852, is the wife of Edward Bartlett, by whom she has had four children — Lena, who died in childhood, Howard, Roland, and Amy — the family residing in Lorain, Ohio; Mitchell M., born May 15, 1863, died October 12, 1873; and Kimball M., born February 17, 1876, lives at home.

Mr. Packard has held various offices of responsibility and trust, in all of which he has served with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In 1880 he was chosen Town Clerk, of which office he is still the incumbent. Among the other offices in which he has served may be mentioned that of Town Treasurer, to which he was elected March 14, 1887, and which he still retains, and that of Collector, which he held for three years. He has also acted as Sealer of Weights and Measures, and as Justice of the Peace two terms. Since 1880 he has served as Treasurer of the Hillside Agricultural Society, and has been Treasurer of the Cummington Co-operative Creamery Association ever since 1889.