American philanthropist, born at Easthampton, MA, on the 17th of June 1795; entered Phillips Academy, Andover, but left on account of sickness and commenced the manufacture of buttons. In 1840 he founded Williston Seminary, a preparatory school, at Easthampton, giving to it $270,000 during his life and $500,000 at his death. He also gave large amounts to Amherst and Mount Holyoke; built three times a church in Easthampton which was twice destroyed by fire, and did much to beautify his native place. The full amount of his benefactions was more than one million five hundred thousand dollars. He died at Easthampton on the 18th of July 1874.
