Jeffway, William Edward

The following data is extracted from Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925.

To the prosperous activities of the electrical business at Easthampton, in which William Edward Jeffway is engaged in company with his brother, Harry Joseph Jeffway, he has brought the results of a varied and practical experience in the employ of a number of concerns engaged both in general manufacturing and in horticulture and orcharding, as well as in electrical matters. A veteran of the World War, he served in the Ordnance Department overseas, and shared with his comrades in a number of important engagements on battlefields in France. He is prominent in the community and social life of Easthampton, and is highly regarded by his associates and patrons in his business life.

Mr. Jeffway is a descendant of early French settlers in Canada, his name having been spelled Geoffroy, according to the genealogical dictionary of L'Abbe-Tanguay. Nicholas Geoffroy came to Canada from France before 1679; he married Ursule Pepin, and is thought to be the progenitor of families bearing that name in Canada.

Jeremiah Geoffroy (as he spelled the name), grandfather of Mr. Jeffway, was born March 30, 1803, in Canada, and he died at Chateaugay, New York. February 7, 1876, his father having died at St. Martin's, Canada, when he was fifty-two years old. There were two other sons, namely, Vincent and Francis. Jeremiah lived at St. Martin's and at Black River, Canada, afterwards removing to Chateaugay, New York. where he engaged in farming to the time of his death; and it was after the arrival of the family to the United States that the name was changed to Jeffway. He married Theresa Boutilier, the name later being changed to Butler. She was born in 1823, and died in January, 1909. Their children: Jeremiah; William and Priscilla, both deceased; Columbia, married Leon Coopee; Adolphus, of whom further; Edward; Delia, married Israel Tacy; Josephine, married Joseph Boucher; Lucy, married Cypren Duchesne; and Joseph, deceased.

Adolphus Jeffway was born August 20, 1859, in Chateaugay, New York, where he attended the public schools. When he was nineteen years old he went to Colorado, and remaining there a year, he returned to his home town, where he engaged in farming and raised horses and cows. Removing to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, about 1902, he remained there a short time and then bought and cultivated a farm in Easthampton, afterwards disposing of his property and entering the employ of the United Button Company. Since 1912 he has become watchman and night operator of boilers at the plant of the Easthampton Rubber Thread Company. He has served as a member of the Board of School Trustees, and as an excise commissioner. Mr. Jeffway married, February 7. 1886, Mary E. Bergevin, who was born at St. Martin's, Canada, daughter of Charles and Elmira (Demars) Bergevin. Their children: 1. William Edward, of whom further. 2. Mary, married Raymond Menard. 3. Harry Joseph, a sketch of whom follows this. 4. Alfred, married Marie Hargraves, and they have a daughter, Marie Ernestine.

William Edward Jeffway was born July 19, 1891, at Chateaugay, New York, and he attended the public schools there and at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Easthampton, Massachusetts; and he entered upon his business career in the employ of the West Boylston Mills, at Easthampton. He was then successively employed by the William A. Rogers Cutlery Company, of Bay State; by the United Button Company, at Easthampton; for five years with a cooperative grocery; and for three years he was. engaged in setting out and renovating orchards, in the employ of E. Cyrus Miller, of Haydenville, orchardist. In 1916 Mr. Jeffway entered the employ of the Westinghouse Company, and he remained with that firm until December 12, 1917, when he enlisted in the World War. After his return from the war, Mr. Jeffway for a time was employed by the Fisk Rubber Company, of Chicopee Falls. On March 20. 1920, with his brother, Harry J. Jeffway, he former a partnership under the name of the Jeffway Electrical Shop, at Easthampton, and in which they have been eminently successful, as they are men of talents in their line, as well as of pleasing personality, and have built up a reputation of fair dealing with the public.

Upon his enlistment in the World War, Mr. Jeffway joined the Ordnance Department of the United States Army, and was successively assigned to Fort Slocum, New York; December 25, 1917, Camp Upton, Long Island; March 1, 1918, to Watervliet Arsenal; May 10, to Camp Merritt. On May 25, 1918, Mr. Jeffway was assigned to overseas service, landing at Bordeaux and proceeding at once to Mehun, France, where his company erected eleven buildings in two months; and he was in Is-sur-Tille from August to October, and in the following months to December 1, in the region north of Belleforte, and on the Metz Sector. To May 10, 1919, Mr. Jeffway was located in the training area at Gendercourt; and from there he went to La Suze and St. Nazaire, where he left for home arriving at Newport News in June, 1919, with the title of sergeant of ordnance. Mr. Jeffway is a member of the Knights of Columbus; Improved Order of Red Men; and is a Past Commander of the local Post of the American Legion.

William Edward Jeffway married, August 16, 1920, Grace Elizabeth Fitzgerald, of Chicopee Falls, daughter of Patrick J. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Fitzgerald.

Source: Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925

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