Cyrus Isbell of North Adams, Massachusetts was born in the 1830s to his parents, Abner Isbell and Nancy Perry. Isbell lived in North Adams for the entirety of his life. He married a woman named Sarah Manchester and had a child with her in 1848. They…

Born October 2, 1826 on a small family farm in Samford Vermont, Calvin Sampson became one of North Adams' wealthiest residents. Sampson had very little schooling but was a vigorous reader and saved money for textbooks any chance he got. He…

The Thayer family is one that has an extensive history within the North Adams community. The patriarch of this family was Daniel Thayer Jr. He was born on March 21, 1801 in Conway, Massachusetts to the Reverend Daniel Thayer and Nancy Thayer. He was…

Giles Tinker was born in 1781 in Lyme, Connecticut, and moved to North Adams in 1802. He was a talented machinist and mechanic who began manufacturing wool carding machines for the mills in town. His was the first machine shop of its kind in the…

Elizabeth Wilkinson was born on July 28, 1833, to William and Harriet Wilkinson. She and her brother William were likely twins, and they had eight younger siblings. One of her most well-known siblings, Edward Wilkinson, was twelve years younger and…

Elisha Nims was one of two soldiers killed at Fort Massachusetts in modern day North Adams. The son of two Deerfield exiles, he made his living as a soldier for the colonial British Army, until his death at age 26. His plot now marks one of the…

Sylvander Johnson was an influential figure in North Adams during his lifetime. He was most prominent in the business world through his lucrative and long-lasting efforts in cotton warp production. Johnson's prowess in the cotton mill industry…

Sanford Blackinton was born on December 10, 1797, in Attleboro Massachusetts. When he was two years old his family moved to North Adams. As a child he worked with his father on his farm, when he was older he moved into brick work with his older…

John E. Atwood was born on October 9th, 1839 to John K. Atwood and Sally (Jones) Atwood in North Adams, Massachusetts. He was a founding member of the Johnson Greys - a civilian militia unit created in response to increasing worry about Southern…