My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. TODD, manager of the Academy of Music at Northampton, is a native of New York City, born May 16, 1838, a son of Calvin and Emma (Todd) Todd, who were not related by consanguinity. His father was born in Mendon, Worcester County, Mass., and for many years was one of the substantial business men of Fitchburg, Mass.

Mr. Todd was deprived by death of a mother’s care when but an infant. For a time he was cared for at Ashburnham, Mass., by a nurse, subsequently by his maternal grandmother, and later by an aunt in Northampton. He completed his education at the Moravian Academy in Nazareth, Pa. At the age of sixteen years he began an apprenticeship to the hardware trade with Luther I. Washburn, husband of his aunt, Mary C. Todd. Five years later Mr. Todd became a clerk in a hardware store at Elkhart, Ind. On the death of Mr. Washburn, which occurred shortly after his departure, he returned to take charge of the business he left. This he managed successfully from 1859 until 1878, when F. I. Washburn, his aunt’s son, succeeded him. Mr. Todd again went West. He bought out a hardware store in Oskaloosa, Ia., ran it for nearly two years, and then sold out at an advantage. He next became interested in a stock company established at Lorain, Ohio, for the manufacture of brass goods, acting as secretary for the company for a few years. From 1881 until 1886 he was the New York agent of the Lorain Manufacturing Company. He then came to Northampton, which he has since made his home. For the past few years he has been the efficient manager of the Academy of Music.

The union of Mr. Todd with Nancy, daughter of Charles P. Kingsley, of this city, occurred in 1862. They had four children, one of whom, a daughter, died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Emma, the wife of John W. Hartwell, of this place; William Baker Todd, a resident of Lorain, Ohio, married, and father of three children — Thomas G., William Henry, and Mina; and Elizabeth N., who lives with her parents. Mr. Todd has ever evinced a warm interest in local improvement, heartily indorsing all enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of the city. He accepts the principles of the Democratic party. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity as a Knight Templar.