USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > Ludlow: a century and a centennial, comprising a sketch of the history of the town of Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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LUDLOW:
A Century and a Centennial, COMPRISING A
SKETCH OF THE HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF LUDLOW
HAMPDEN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS,
TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION BY THE TOWN
OF ITS
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY,
June 17th, 1874.
COMPILED BY ALFRED NOON, A. M., A PASTOR IN THE TOWN.
PRINTED BY VOTE OF THE TOWN.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : CLARK W. BRYAN AND COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1875.
3
for thus saith the Word that created the heabens; God himself that formed the earth and - made it; he hath established it, he created it not in bain, be formed it to be inhabited : am the Ford; and there is none else.
y habe not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth ; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Scek pe me in bain : & the Ford speak righteousness, y declare things that are right.
Herbert Marks- 2.25
1151700
COMMITTEE ON THE CENTENNIAL.
AMBROSE CLOUGH, JOHN PADELFORD HUBBARD, GEORGE ROOT CLARK, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BURR, CHESTER LEMUEL CUSHMAN, ALFRED NOON, FRANCIS FISK McLEAN.
SUB-COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
AMBROSE CLOUGH, GEORGE R. CLARK,
BENJAMIN F. BURR, ALFRED NOON.
PREFACE.
THE day of appreciation of a work like this is never at the time when it is issued. The labor of research and compilation must be in a measure a labor of love.
The apparent unimportance of our contribution to the public may, after all, exist only in appearance. Few prominent public men claim Ludlow as their birthplace, nor does the town seek, like seven cities of old, to rest her fame on the reputation of some ungrateful son. This is but a quiet little neighborhood, occupying a humble position in the grand old Commonwealth.
But while the town has been unsung by bard, or unwritten by an- nalist, or unknown to the greater events of busy humanity, she may, from these very reasons, argue an individuality which is worthy of note. Her life is not merely memoir or public history, but is unique in possessing few of those features which so largely enter into the pic- ture of towns farther famed.
If New England has done aught for humanity, her accomplishments have had their inception in her homes, among her own sons and daughters. Her power found its origin at her firesides. The world must know that New England has had a life by itself. The student of that life, in all its characteristics, discovers an individuality and seeks to trace its causes. In such towns as Ludlow, they may be dis- covered easily. The glare of popular feats and popular men removed, we are permitted to look upon a specimen of pure, unadulterated New England life.
As the reader examines our folk-lore, then, we take pleasure in in_ troducing him to the true New England home. These hardy yeomen, these toiling matrons, who have quarried and polished the hearth-stones
vi
PREFACE.
of a century, have been good fathers and mothers, and have been per- mitted to see successive generations of noble sons and daughters grow up around them, to call them and their institutions blessed. The fore- fathers sleep their last long slumber, but if you would see their handi- work, look not only at the broad acres and spacious barns, but also peer into the faces of their descendants, and read of the excellencies and wis- dom of their sires.
We lift the veil of a century. If the fresco behind show in places the marks of age, need we wonder? If here and there a tint is so faded as to be indistinct, a stripe once distinct and beautiful may seem to have lost the uniformity at first given to its breadth, or the beauty of its curvature, charge the defacement to the account of Old Time itself. A magnificent work by one of the old masters has been lost by an attempt to renovate it; we give you our little picture as nature hands it to us.
The materials composing this volume have been, in the main, res- cued from memories which soon must fade away. In the absence of fulsome annals, the incidents have been obtained by conversation witlı octogenarians, and even nonagenarians at their firesides, and those of their neighbors. Grandsires hastening to the grave have been ar- rested in their faltering steps, and grand-dames disturbed in their meditations, that they might tune afresh the harps of early days for the eager ears of generations come and coming. Yellowed old deeds, lichen-painted tombstones, silent cellar holes and well-nigh for- gotten boundary lines have been tributary to the work.
To all who have so kindly aided in giving desired information, we would extend hearty thanks. To the assiduous and pains-taking chairman of the Committee of Publication, and his co-laborers in gathering the materials so profusely furnished the Compiler, the town is under particular obligation. The beauty of these pages, and tasty appearance of the volume themselves, speak for the publishers. The thanks of the town is more than due to them who have so cheer- fully furnished those portraits of themselves or their friends, with which the volume is embellished. The Centennial Exercises will be read again with delight, and re-read by successive audiences, who shall by their interest give the meed of praise to those who
vii
PREFACE.
rendered that eventful celebration a feast of reason as well as a glad reunion.
More than a word is due to the historian of that day. Other towns may glory over the prowess of their corporate ancestors, but it will be discovered that our historian regaled his appreciative auditors with choicest tidbits from the town's own life. The pens of other ready writers may have improved such occasions in tracing excellent homilies on grand themes ; the gentlemen, to whom reference is made here, found in the word "Ludlow " an inspiration all-sufficient for his task.
The compiler of the history, as sensible of his own incapacity, per- haps, as the sharpest critic, asks the indulgence of those most inter- ested, wishing to them and their successors on the domain of Ludlow, the fondest blessings which can come from enterprise and thrift, and good homes, and good hearts.
LUDLOW CENTER, 1875.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTORY,
Joel Chapin,
. xiii
Aaron J. Miller,
.
xiii
Theodore Sikes,
xiv
Chester W. Chapin,
xiv
Gordon M. Fisk,
xviii
S. B. Stebbins,
.
xviii
Edwin Booth,
·
xviii
Dexter Damon,
xviii
Simeon Miller,
· xviii
PLAN OF HISTORY,
xix
I. ANTE-LUDLOW.
Who constitute a town-The red man-Indian names-Relics of a departed race-An ancient armory-Legend of camp- fires-Of the Leap-Of the alleged Facing Hills murder- The tenure of soil-Springfield of old-Governor Andros- A Yankee trick-The Commons-Sections of commons- Line of commons-Allotments-The river-Early settler- The tar business-Joseph Miller-Others-A wooing -- Glimpse at the region-Church service-Proposition for dis- trict-Will they get an organization ?
II. LUDLOW IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
Governor Hutchinson-Trouble-Districts and their functions -Answer to petition-The charter-First district meeting -The settlers gathering-Original office-holders-Origin of the name-Geographical theory-The other Ludlows -- Ed- mund Ludlow-Roger Ludlow-Remoteness of all these sources-Exchange of names with Wilbraham-West line --- A church needed-Former ecclesiastical relations-Rev.
. xiii
John Jennings,
xiii
.
.
.
1
B
x
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Peletiah Chapin-Finding the center-The revolution- The record-Incidents and notes-Rev. Messrs. Davenport, Hutchinson, Haskell, Fuller, Pratt, Stone, Snell, and Wood- ward-Success at last-Stephen Burroughs-Call to Mr. Steward-Acceptance-Sketch of Rev. Antipas Steward-A slice from one of his sermons-Erection of church-Im- provements on the edifice-Former chapels-Congregation- alists-Mr. Steward receives a hint-Baptists-Methodism- Drowning of Paine and Olds-Shays-The Paine child-Sor- row in the Miller family-Cemeteries-Schools-Districts- School-houses -Representatives -Pounds -Warning out- Highways-Bridges-Progress of the period,
III. ECCLESIASTICAL ERA-THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCHES.
Source of civil institutions-Religion in the town in 1800- The controversy-A summary proceeding-Suggestive epistle -Exit Mr. Steward-Thurber-Phelps-Union efforts- Hedding-His ministry-His sacrifice-A new comer- Fast-day services-Alexander McLean-Difficulty-Moody -Johns-E. B. Wright-Sketch-Acceptance of call-Min- istry-Methodism in 1802-Itinerants-A class-How it died-Later efforts-Dr. Fisk-Isaac Jennison-Church built-Repairs on old church-The store-Cemeteries-The first hearse-Improvements-A dastardly proposition-War of 1812-Muster at Hadley-The Horse Company-The men of 1812 - Desertions - Almost an execution - A souvenir-Schools-Districts-Musical-Log-cabins-Polit- ical-Post-office-Wages-Potato crops-A scare-Another scare-Frost's corn-David Paine's death-The Annibal ex- citement-Theories concerning it-A sequel-" Nick and Tarzy " -Town bounds-Public lands-Roads-Bridges- Succession of bridges at Wallamanumps-Put's bridge- Cooley bridge-The camels-The present Put's bridge- Calkins' manufactures-Other enterprises-A still-Glass works-Wallamanumps privilege-Putnam's scythes-The Jenckes's-The Springfield Manufacturing Co .- Develop- ment of the village,
IV. THE ZENITH OF THE CENTURY.
Changes incident to manufacturing-Source of Ludlow's great- er prosperity-New life-A market-Another mill-Jenks-
12
40
CONTENTS.
xi
PAGE.
ville in 1837-Upper privilege-Inventions-The people at the factories -Their morals-Sabbath desecration - The only remedy-Itinerants and labors-The revival-Its effects -Place of worship-The M. E. Church-Trouble-Aid-A great revival-Incidents-Other revivals-Millerism-The Congregationalists-Mr. Wright -A colleague-Rev. Mr. Austin-Dismission of Mr. Wright-The first parish-The fund-A lawsuit-Mr. Wright called again - Rev. Mr. Sanderson-The church of 1841-Disposition of the old edi- fice-Rev. Mr. Tuck-The new cemetery-Highways and bridges-Red bridge-Necrology-"Dr. Foggus"-"Fri- day" -Incidents -Mexican war-A weather note-Mills -Indian Orchard-Jenksville church edifices-Congrega- tional Church there-The Company-Confidence of the peo- ple-The crash-Immediate effects,
V. THE LUDLOW OF TO-DAY.
Toward the end-Congregational Church-Mr. Tuck-The fire -Rebuilding-Dedication-Rev. Mr. Mayo-Rev. Chester Bridgman-Rev. C. L. Cushman-Rev. S. V. McDuffee- Methodist Church-Re-modeling-Rev. F. Fisk-Revival scenes-War record of society-Rev. D. K. Banister-Wes- leyan Praying Band-Relations of societies-Jenksville- Manufacturing interests-Present Company-A good chance -Methodism-Sale of a church-Rev. W. H. Daniels- Union Church-Roads and bridges-Railroads-A fine op- portunity lost-Items-The Miller "boys" -Incidents- The Rebellion-Enlistments-The Monument-Mr. Banis- ter's Address-War scenes-Names of . Soldiers-Spring- field Aqueduct-Prominent men-Incentives to effort - Conclusion,
THE CENTENNIAL.
PROSPECTIVE,
95
Address of Welcome,
· 108 .
112
Historical Address,
. 124
Toasts,
· 145
Letters,
. 152
AFTERPAST,
.
155
66
80
ACTUAL,
107
Responsive Address,
xii
CONTENTS.
APPENDIX.
PAGE.
A. Indians,
· 159
B. Commons proprietors,
161
C. Ludlow, England, .
163
D. Paine and Wright,
164
E. Church Letter,
. 166
F. Old Letter,
166
G. Gad Lyon's " Reflections,"
. 167
H. Tax-bill.
168
I. The Militia,
169
J. Oakley Ballad,
169
K. Congregationalist Ministers,
. 171
L. Methodist Ministers,
171
M. Jenksville Ministers,
173
N. Deacons,
172
0. Parish Clerks,
.
172
P. Moderators,
· 173
Q. Town Clerks,
. 173
R. Selectmen,
. 174
S. Assessors,
. 175
T. Representatives,
.
176
U. School Committees,
.
176
V. Graduates,
177
W. Physicians,
177
X. Postmasters,
. 177
Y. Present Town Officers,
178
Z. Feats of Strength,
178
AA. Epitaphs,
179
BB. Genealogies,
. 184
CC. Captain Hubbard, 193
DD. Andersonville,
. 194
.
·
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
INTRODUCTORY.
As we stand at the vestibule of the little edifice whose pro- portions and embellishments we propose to exhibit to the inter- ested reader, it may be well to point out a portrait or two of the more renowned sons of the town, whose names and memo- ries, impressed upon our minds, will render the apartments of our little cottage still more interesting to the looker-on. As said of another, known to fame,-
" Fairer seems the ancient township, And the sunlight seems more fair, That they once have trod its pathways, That they once have breathed its air." .
REV. JOEL CHAPIN was born in Ludlow very early in the history of the settlement, served in the Revolutionary war, and afterward went through a collegiate course at Dartmouth College.
DR. AARON JOHN MILLER was well known in all the earlier history of the town as the family physician. He is said to have been one of the original Boston tea-party, and went as surgeon to the Revolution. So extended a sketch of his life occurs in the genealogies that it is unnecessary to speak further of him here than to call attention to the portrait facing page 176, which two of his grandsons have kindly furnished for the history of his town.
JOHN JENNINGS, Esq., was widely known in his day as the lawyer of the town. He is said to have lived at one time near the present home of Ezekiel Fuller, where he had a sort of office. It became his duty to make out many a deed of the lands of this region, and sign many an important document. His usefulness extended along many years, and found fields for display in larger circles than those of home.
.
xiv
INTRODUCTORY.
To THEODORE SIKES, yet lingering on the verge of time, belongs the distinction of representing the town oftenest in the political assemblies of the State. A hearty and honorable citi- zen, he retains in his old age the respect and love of his fellow- townsmen.
HON. CHESTER W. CHAPIN, an elegant portrait of whom appropriately opens our volume of sketches, is perhaps the best and widest known to the world at large of any of the sons of this good old town. Mr. Chapin was born in the "Torrey house," in the west part of Ludlow, December 16th, 1798. He is a direct lineal descendant, in the sixth generation, from Dea. Samuel Chapin, the founder of the family in this country. His grandfather, Ephraim Chapin, was one of the largest land own- ers of his day in this section, his estate covering lands in Chic- opee, Ludlow and Springfield. His father (also Ephraim by name) occupied a portion of the old Chapin estates, which at the time of his death had not been divided. Though rich in lands these early settlers were otherwise possessed of small means, and cultivated habits of the strictest economy. Yet these were days of families inversely proportionate to the ready means of the householder, Chester being the youngest of a family of seven children. In such circumstances are often formed the beginnings of the amplest fortunes and that strength of character which gives the widest influence.
Already, then, had there been instilled into the mind of the boy those lessons which have served him so well, when at a ten- der age his father died and left the family, then at Chicopee street, to manage for themselves. His older brother, Ephraim, having been sent to college, the duty of remaining at home to care for the interests of his mother and her farm devolved upon Chester. While so doing he attended the district school at Chicopee which ranked high as a school of its kind in those days, and was afterward sent to the Academy at Westfield, from which he entered upon the active pursuits of life. As was often the case at such schools, the culture acquired, how- ever valuable, was of no more use in after life than the ac- quaintances formed in the circles with which he became intimate. At twenty-one he went to Springfield, and first found employ- ment at the bar of the old Williams House, kept then by his
XV
HON. CHESTER W. CHAPIN.
brother Erastus. Not relishing the business he was next found keeping a store of his own at Chicopee street. Just across the way was another store kept by the late Stephen C. Bemis, and the two soon formed a copartnership which continued several months. At this time Mr. Chapin was married to a daughter of Col. Abel Chapin of Chicopee. He was next found at work upon the construction at Chicopee of the first mill ever built in this county where paper was made by machinery. He took the contract for the foundation and masonry of this factory for the Ames's, and did the work in so satisfactory a manner that when a few years later the mill was burned, they urged him to undertake a renewal of the job; but other engagements then intervened to prevent him from complying. A change in busi- ness then occurred which turned the attention of the young man in the direction of his real life's work. At the solicita- tion of Jacob W. Brewster of Hartford, he was induced to take an interest in the extensive stage lines in the Connecti- cut Valley. Here he first made the acquaintance of his life- long friend, the late Major Morgan of Palmer, who was engaged in the stage line running east and west from Springfield. Occa- sionally holding the reins on the Hartford and Brattleboro line, Mr. Chapin was soon found to be more needed in devel- oping the general interests of the route, which so prospered under his management as to yield him large returns on his investment.
Soon after the demonstration had been satisfactorily made by Thomas Blanchard that steamboats could journey from Hartford to Springfield, Mr. Chapin grasped the idea and utilized it. He bought out Blanchard soon after 1830, and for a dozen years controlled the passenger traffic between the two places. Ever since he has maintained his business relations with boating lines, until he now controls largely the New York and New Haven lines of steamboats. Two of his vessels were in government employ during the war of the rebellion.
Meanwhile, having, largely by his personal efforts secured a connection between Springfield and Hartford by rail, he became a director in the corporations, and took active interest in its management. Extensive postal contracts having been taken by him on the route from Terre Haute to St. Louis, he sent the
xvi
INTRODUCTORY.
stages there, and used the rail as the means of transporting mails under his charge from Hartford to Stanstead.
In 1850 Mr. Chapin became a director of the Western Rail- road, but resigned the position to accept the presidency of the Connecticut River Railroad in the same year. In 1854, having attracted attention by successful management of that road he was elected president of the Western road, and accepted. In two years fifty miles of rails had been renewed, the bridge over the Connecticut River rebuilt, twelve first-class locomotives, one hundred and forty-five freight cars and six passenger coaches had been added to the rolling stock of the road. The interests of the Company called him to England in 1855, where he was successful in negotiating a loan of half a million of dol- lars, for further improvements. Very soon the road began to pay handsome dividends, a practice so long continued that it has become a habit. The Albany bridges, the new iron bridge at Springfield, the continuous double track, and more particu- larly the grand consolidation of the Western and Boston and Worcester roads into the Boston & Albany, with magnificent tide-water facilities and the huge elevator at Boston and the grand depot under way at Worcester, have been enterprises owing a large share of their success to the shrewd management of Chester W. Chapin.
At various times during his presidency of the Western road, he has been solicited to take the management of other large railroad interests, but has always refused. In business relations elsewhere, we find Mr. Chapin mentioned as a stockholder and director in the Hudson River and New York Central Railroads, as a prominent manager and owner of the Collins' Paper Com- pany's property and business at Wilbraham, and of the Aga- wam Canal Company at. West Springfield, and as president of the Chapin Banking and Trust Company of Springfield, (having been formerly founder and president of the Agawam Bank of the same place.) He has at the recent election been honored with a seat in the national House of Representatives, a fitting testimonial from an appreciative public-a testimonial, more- over, in which his little native town claims the privilege of giving a modest share.
The honor thus conferred, coming in the way it seems to have
xvii
HON. GORDON M. FISK.
done, precludes the necessity of extended eulogistic remarks concerning Mr. Chapin's personal excellencies. Kind and oblig- ing, of unblemished reputation, cool and decided but consider- ate, one whose "promise is as good as his bond," his native town rejoices to hold him up as an exemplar for her young peo- ple. Mr. Chapin's presence at the Centennial was highly appreciated.
" While Mr. Chapin is naturally and by instinct a prudent and somewhat conservative man, a careful observer of his career will find that he has always been among the foremost to em- brace every improvement in the onward march of civilization. At first a stage owner, he was quick to see and utilize the appli- cation of steam, first upon the waters of the Connecticut and then upon its banks. Instead of resisting the march of events as bringing into the field an element of rivalry and perhaps destruction to his interests in old methods, he was the foremost to contribute his capital and practical experience to the devel- opment of each new and improved project in the direction of cheap and rapid transportation."
The other son of Ludlow who has, perhaps, acquired promi- nence next to that of Mr. Chapin, is HON. GORDON M. FISK, the veteran editor of the Palmer Journal. He was born at Ludlow, May 9th, 1825, being also one of seven sons. His father, William H. Fisk, lived at the "City," the northwest district of the town. He was named after a son of Dr. Aaron John Miller, who accompanied the name with a gift of three sheep. The family was large, the mother an invalid, the income small, and so here again was an opportunity for building up a first-class man. The district school and family fireside afforded the only means for educating the children. A studious boy, Gordon early mastered all the books within reach, even to Dr. Johnson's dictionary and the Westminster catechism.
At the age of twenty-one he found an opportunity to gratify the longings of years, and purchased a printing press of one John Howe, of Enfield, who had used it in the publication of anti-orthodox pamphlets. It was a rude establishment, with ancient Ramage press, and ink balls instead of composition rollers. Having mastered the business by assiduous labor by nights, he established the " Village Gazette," in Ware, in June,
C
xviii
INTRODUCTORY.
1847. He sold out in December, 1848, and moved to Palmer, where on the first of January he opened a printing office. In the fall he undertook, with another, to establish the " Holyoke Times," but abandoned the project, and issued the first number of the " Palmer Journal" April 6, 1850, whose publication he has continued ever since, also sending out the " Ware Standard" for nineteen years.
His official record covers a period of over twenty years. In 1860-1 he served as State Senator, attending an extra session each year, and serving on a special commission to sit in the recess, for three years, for the purpose of surveying a ship-canal from Barn- stable Bay to Buzzard's Bay. Was Deputy United States Col- lector 1862-8, and Inspector of the State alms-house and Primary school at Monson 1857-74, and since 1866 has been connected with the visiting agency of the Board of State Charities.
Mr. Fisk possesses a pleasant local reputation as a poet, and several of his sketches are to be found in this volume.
HON. S. BLISS STEBBINS was for a while postmaster at Jenks- ville, and since has been on each board of the Boston city gov- ernment.
HON. EDWIN BOOTH also commenced his business career at Jenksville, as clerk of the Springfield Manufacturing Company. He was long in the employ of the government, and now resides at Philadelphia.
HON. DEXTER DAMON, of Willoughby, Ohio, has been a member of the Legislature and a trial justice.
REV. SIMEON MILLER, now of Springfield, is a graduate of Amherst College, and has labored at Holyoke and South Deer- field statedly, supplying often in the desk of the Congregation- alist Church in his native town.
PLAN OF THE WORK.
IT will be convenient in these annals, to divide the space of time covered thereby into five periods, and group the facts in divisions accordingly. These divisions are as fol- lows :
I. Ante-Ludlow, a description of the region before it received a corporate existence ; Ludlow before it was Lud- low. This period will close with the date of incorpora- tion, 1774.
II. Ludlow in the eighteenth century, comprising the incorporation, the revolution, the building of the old church and settlement of the first minister, 1774 to 1800.
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