Page:One of a thousand.djvu/629

UTLEY. VAN NOSTRAND. 615 elected county commissioner for the county of Middlesex, for three years. With the exception of about two years, Mr. Upham has always made Waltham his home, and has been prominently identified with its welfare and progress A staunch Republican, he was for several years chair- man of the town committee, and has been vice-president of the Middlesex Club. He is a member of Monitor Lodge, F. & A. M.; a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, and of various secret societies. UTLEY, SAMUEL, son of Thomas Knowlton and Theodocia (Knox) Utley, was born in Chesterfield, Hampshire county, September 29, 1843. He attended the common schools of his native town, Williston Seminary, and Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbraham. Fit- ting at the latter institutions to take up the pursuit of his chosen profession, he studied with Senator Hoar, entered Har- vard law school, and was graduate d there- from in the class of 1867. He was admitted to the bar September 13th of the same year, and immediately went into practice, which he continued for fifteen years. Mr. Utley was appointed justice of the central district court of Worcester, Sep- tember 13, 18S2, which position he still holds, having his residence at Worcester. He was married in Worcester, December 8, 1875, to Julia M. Martin. He was one of the assessors of Plymouth parish, also treasurer of same, which office he held several years. For many years also he has been a master in chancery. Judge Utley has not sought political preferment, but has been thoroughly loyal to his chosen profession, performing the duties of his honorable and responsible position with marked ability and universal satis- faction. VAN DEUSEN, MERRITT, son of Alan- son and Julia (Seely) Van Deusen, was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Decem- ber 3, 1820. His early educational training was re- ceived in the common schools and Lee Academy. He began business life in a country store, and subsequently saw ser- vice as a Yankee-notion peddler. He was later on in the flour business in Albany and New York City. In 1878 he became treasurer of the Hampden Whip Company, Westfield, and afterwards treasurer of the American Whip Company, holding the latter posi- tion until 1889. Upon resigning his posi- tion, he went into the hardware business in Westfield, in which he is now engaged. Mr. Van Deusen was married in Great Barrington, March 31, 1842, to Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Lester) Root. Of this union is one child : Carrie Louisa Van Deusen (now Mrs. Williams). Mr. Van Deusen has been chairman of the Republican town committee; a mem- ber of the House of Representatives in 1879 and '80, and was town treasurer in 1865. He is a director of the First Na- tional Bank, Westfield, and a trustee of the Westfield Savings Bank. He served as postmaster from 1882 to '86. Mr. Van Deusen is a representative of the progressive business element of West- field, and has been long identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. VAN NOSTRAND, WILLIAM TREAD- WELL, son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Treadwell) Van Nostrand, was born in Hempstead, Queens county, N. Y., Octo- ber 7, 1 82 1. His early education was accomplished at the common schools of his native town, and when fourteen years of age the death of his father obliged him to enter upon the active duties of life, as clerk in a gro- cery store in New York City. Here he remained for two years and was then ap- prenticed in the coach-making business at Jamaica, Long Island. At the end of live years he went to New Haven to acquaint himself with the higher bram lies of coach- making, but gave up the work to accept the position of assistant postmaster and clerk in a general merchandise store, where he re- mained for a year, and then formed a part- nership with W. H. Ludlam, under the firm name of Van Nostrand & Ludlam, and began the grocery business in Brooklyn, N. Y. Later he was a partner of George Stillwell in the same business, and two years afterward he sold out and removed to Albany, where he began ship chand- lery and the cordage manufacturing busi- ness. On account of ill health he shortly gave up this business and bought a farm inCon- stantia, Oswego county, with timber land, saw-mill, and dock, and engaged exten- sively in the lumber business. After sev- eral changes he moved to Boston, in