USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > West Springfield > Account of the centennial celebration of the town of West Springfield, Mass. : Wednesday, March 25th, 1874 : with the historical address of Thomas E. Vermilye the poem of Mrs. Ellen P. Champion, and other facts and speeches > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
69
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
lies, and they are both there still. When then you arrive in our harbor, and have somewhat satisfied yourselves by looking around upon the beautiful scenery, walk to the side of your steamer and call out "kaikjee." Soon a little boat will come along-side. Go down into it, but be careful to step into the middle of the boat lest you tip it over, and get a cold water bath. Say to the boatman, " Bagletché kapouse." When he brings you to a landing place, drop a shilling in the bottom of the boat and step out. As you enter the street passing by, turn to the right, go on till you come to Yene Jami mosque, pass through its court, then through Musir tcharshees, and keep up the street till you see written on a corner in Arabic letters, " Fin- jonjilee Sokak," turn that corner, and you will at once get sight of our Bible House, where you may be sure of a welcome from my brother or myself, or any one whom you may find there, and we shall be happy to show you our work and the city in which we live. That Bible House is an ornament and a blessing to Constantinople, and it is in a sort a West Springfield contribu- tion to missions, for my brother has had a principal agency in collecting funds for it, and in its erection.
" The Park Street Church," was responded to by the pastor, REV. L. D. CALKINS :
MR. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF WEST SPRING- FIELD :- Though barely naturalized amongst you, and therefore inclined to remain a listener on such an occasion as this, I am, nevertheless inspired, by the theme proposed, to respond as well as may be to your call.
I have heard it said by naturalists that the descending axis of a plant, with all its rootlets and fibers is equal to the ascending axis with all its branches. In other words, that the entire root of a tree is equal to the entire body and branch. This being so it is true that in transplanting, except young and small growths, while we remove to the new place the entire body and branch, we always leave behind a considerable portion of the roots.
One of the earliest writers among the ancients, and who re- corded his own interpretation of certain facts of nature; the movements of heavenly bodies, the flight of birds, the habits of
70
WEST SPRINGFIELD
wild beasts, said of plants ; " There is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground, yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."
Well, sir, it happened in our town once, that there was a famous tree growing, whose seed had been planted a hundred and two years before, by the sainted John Woodbridge, on whose face we looked this morning in another room. It stood and it flourished in the midst of this Common, so near that its morning shadow must have reached to where you now sit, sir ; and it was called, because of its comforting shade and healing leaves, the Balm of Gilead tree.
Three several gardeners, Woodbridge, Hopkins and Lathrop, watered and tended that tree, and dispensed its healing virtues to the honest people who rested beneath its shade, and together were encouraged to endure life's trials.
But now the time had come when the tree must be trans- planted. It must be literally taken up from the valley to be set on the hill. It was a large tree, and an old tree, and required much care for such a change. So they dug deep, and they dug wide, and they enriched and watered well the new soil, and it struck root, grew, and spread itself yet more nobly than ever before, and it stands to-day a joy and a rejoicing to all who sit under its shelter and are nourished by its fruitage. But, sir, when that tree was moved the branches were wide and the roots both numerous and long, and some of these must needs be cut off and left to rot in the ground. But sir, they did not rot ! or if they did it was only as the seed must first decay that the germ may burst forth, and after seventy-one years a shoot sprang from the ground, where the old rootlets hid themselves, as fair and fresh as if it were the first twig sprung from John Woodbridge's planting.
Mr. President, while we thank God for the old tree trans- planted to yonder hill, let us also thank God for the old tree blooming again in the sprouting of its roots.
In conclusion let me humbly express my gratefulness to Him who has counted me worthy to water and tend this new tree sprung from that whose seed John Woodbridge sowed one hun- dred and seventy-six years ago. And let me also express the
71
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
earnest and devout hope that it may always distill the same Balm of Gilead in which the forefathers took so much delight."
" Agawam, the Second Daughter," was responded to by Mr. SAMUEL FLOWER, of Feeding Hills :
MR. PRESIDENT :- Had I supposed that I should be called without a moment's preparation to respond for "the youngest daughter" of this grand old town, I might wish that I could ask the privilege of the genuine son of the "Emerald Isle," who said that if he knew the time when and the place where he was to die, he should be a good way from it. And I am more embar- rassed by the remark of my friend on my right, (Mr. S. L. Par- sons,) that " Agawam was a prodigal, feeding upon husks."
While it is true that we cannot make so grand and imposing a show, nor aspire to so lofty pretensions as our elder sister, yet taking into account the fact, that we are almost entirely an ag- ricultural population, we have advanced in material wealth, and in all the elements of prosperity, and of a healthy growth, to a degree of which we may be justly proud. In 1855, when Agawam was incorporated, we had a population scarcely ex- ceeding one thousand, and a valuation of about half a million. Our valuation is now almost $ 1,200,000, and our population is between two and three thousand. And I hazard nothing in saying that a more prosperous, intelligent and law-abiding com- munity cannot be found in the county of Hampden, or in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is probable that I may state one fact in relation to that part of the town (Feeding Hills,) in which I reside, which cannot be said of any other lo- cality containing an equal population, that there is not a place at which ardent spirits are sold. And we may point with pride to sons of Agawam, whose voices have been heard in both houses of Congress, and who are, and have been, ornaments to, and have risen to positions of enviable distinction in the legal and medical professions, and others who occupy the sacred desk.
And we may point to the descendants of her sons, who emi- grated to other parts of the country, who stand in the front ranks of our teachers, and who have contributed in no small degree to the prosperity of our educational institutions, which are among the crowning glories of the age in which we live.
72
WEST SPRINGFIELD
And in conclusion, I may say that we rejoice in the prosperity of our mother town, and hope that her future may be as pros- perous and happy as the past has been good and great.
" The Medical Profession," was responded to by Dr. P. LEB. STICKNEY, of Springfield, who interspersed his speech with many rich anecdotes :
When West Springfield was separated from Springfield, Dr. John Van Horn, being located in that neighborhood as a medical practitioner, became, in point of time, the first physician of the new town. Dr. Van Horn was the son of Sumner Van Horn, and was born in that part of Springfield in 1726. He had the advantages of a collegiate education, graduating at Yale Col- lege in 1749, at the age of twenty-three. After attending the required course of medical lectures, he located in that part of his native town, where he continued to practice his profession for nearly sixty years, dying in 1805 at the age of seventy-nine. He had the reputation of being a skillful physician, and was undoubtedly as well educated as the advantages and opportuni- ties of the times would admit. He was a scholarly man and fond of literary pursuits. He was prominent in public affairs, and was the first " Town Clerk " of the new town. In the later years of his life he became hypochondriacal, and imagined him- self incapable of making any effort whatever, and consequently betook himself to his bed, where he remained for nearly four years under the care of a constant attendant.
Dr. Seth Lathrop was the son of the Rev. Dr. Lathrop, and was born in 1762 in that parish which was then a part of Springfield, and over which his father was pastor. He studied medicine with Dr. Van Horn, became his partner and after- wards succeeded him in his practice. Dr. Bronson, who knew him intimately, says of him, "He had a strong mind, sound judgment and excellent common sense ; was frank, social, and fond of anecdote, and well read in the medical literature of the last half of the last century ; an able and acceptable practi- tioner. More than six feet high, with a large frame, and straight, his figure was imposing, his very appearance inspiring in him a reliable confidence." He was very successful in his business, for his good, practical common sense supplied the want of an extended liberal education, and gave him a success
73
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
which does not always accompany greater learning and accom- plishments. He lived all his life in his native town, and was for many years engaged in his professional business. He suf- fered in the later part of his life from consumption which as- sumed an asthmatic form. He died in 1831, aged sixty-nine years.
Dr. Reuben Champion was the first physician who was born in the town of West Springfield. He was the second son of Reuben Champion, and was born in 1784, ten years after the town was separated from Springfield. His grandfather, Reuben Champion, M. D., having removed to Springfield from Saybrook, Ct., in the early part of the Revolutionary war, in order that his family might be in a more retired place and away from the lia- bilities of intrusion from the opposing military forces. He there located his family and entered the army as a surgeon, in which capacity he served with eminent success. He was with the army at Ticonderoga, where he died in 1777, being fifty years old. He left two sons, Reuben and Medes, both of these, although quite young men, served as soldiers in the army.
Dr. Reuben Champion received his early education at the academy in Westfield, and afterwards entered the office of Dr. Sumner of that town, with whom he began the study of his profession. He attended medical lectures at the medical school connected with Dartmouth College, which was then under the principal charge of the celebrated surgeon, Dr. Nathan Smith, who was the original founder of the school. During this time he was a private pupil of Dr. Smith, from whom he received more careful instruction respecting what was then termed the new method of treating and managing typhus fever ; a method, which with few modifications, prevails at the present time. Having finished his course at the Dartmouth school, Dr. Cham- pion attended a course of lectures in New York City, when returning to his native town, at the request of his fellow citi- zens, he there commenced the practice of medicine in 1809. With his new ideas of the treatment of typhoid fever, which he carried out notwithstanding the great opposition from both laity and the profession, he became quite successful in the treatment of the disease and gained an enviable reputation. He was an ardent Jeffersonian Democrat, and took an active part in local and general politics. He served the town in many public
IO
74
WEST SPRINGFIELD
offices, was Justice of the Peace, and represented his Senatorial District in the General Legislature. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and continued in the practice of medicine for nearly fifty years and died in 1865, aged eighty- one.
Dr. Henry Bronson settled in West Springfield in 1827. Having passed through a thorough preparatory course of study he entered the Medical Institute of Yale College, receiving his medical degree in 1827. He remained in the town but a short time, removing to Albany in 1830. Possessing fine talents which had been carefully cultivated, with refined and gentle- manly manners, accompanied with a genial social character, and a mind well stored with general and professional knowledge, he rapidly gained a large share of practice. He was greatly be- loved by many and had the respect and confidence of all.
Fond of literary and scientific pursuits, he devoted a large share of his spare time to these studies, in which he shortly gained an enviable reputation. In 1872 he was appointed Pro- fessor of Materia Medica in the Medical Institute of Yale Col- lege, a chair which he adorned and distinguished by his extensive and varied learning, and admirable style of lecturing. He resigned his professorship and the general practice of his profession in 1860, since which time he has been busily engaged in those more general and scientific studies to which he has been so long devoted.
Dr. Ebenezer Jones was born in West Springfield, and after preparing himself for the practice of medicine, settled in his native town. He remained there some twelve years, when he removed to the eastern part of the State.
Dr. Timothy Horton, whose father was a physician before him, was a practitioner of considerable ability, and had a good reputation as a physician and as a public man. Having suffi- cient means of living, he was noted for the extremely small charges for his medical services. His regular fee in his own immediate neighborhood was twelve and a half cents per visit, rarely ever charging over two shillings (33} cents), no matter how difficult the case or the distance traveled. He was fre- quently known to go a distance of four or five miles, spend con- siderable time in holding a consultation with some brother doctor, and charging for his fee one shilling. He was a man of
-
75
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
good sound judgment, and was much respected and esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
Dr. Dunham was a physician of good reputation, but of whom but little is known, having died some fifty years ago. He practiced in that part of the town known as Ireland Parish.
Dr. Calvin Wheeler settled in West Springfield, Feeding Hills parish. He was a surgeon in the army during the war of 1812 and in 1816. Although a man of limited education-like many others who at that time found it difficult to obtain the thorough knowledge of their profession which characterizes the progress of the present day-he gained by his strong mind and good judgment the confidence and respect of his patrons. He died in 1851.
Dr. Edwin McCrea practiced medicine for some twelve years in the town, in Agawam parish, settling there in 1832. His health was poor, which materially affected his ability to take care of his business. He was a good practitioner, and a genial and good-hearted man. He died in 1859.
Dr. Cyrus Bell settled in the parish of Feeding Hills in 1840. He graduated at the Berkshire Medical School in 1839, and soon after commenced the practice of his profession, locating himself in that part of the town in which he now resides, and which is now a part of the town of Agawam.
Dr. Sumner Ives was born in West Springfield, Ireland Parish. After obtaining a medical education, he located in this part of the town in 1826, remained there about five years and then moved to Suffield, Conn., and was there engaged in his profession as a successful practitioner until his death in 1845.
Dr. Solomon Chapman succeeded Dr. Ives in 1832 ; resided and practiced in that parish about ten years, then removed to Easthampton where he died.
Dr. Lawson Long succeeded Dr. Chapman in 1850. He still resides and practices his profession in the same parish, but which is now a part of the city of Holyoke.
Dr. Chauncy Belden was a graduate of the Yale Medical College in 1829. He was a private pupil of Dr. Woodward of Wethersfield, Conn. After graduating he served as an assist- ant in the Hartford Insane Retreat. He came to West Spring- field in 1832, but left in 1842 and removed to South Hadley.
76
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Dr. Belden suffered from ill-health for many years, finally dying of consumption in 1845. He was a well educated man and fond of scientific pursuits. In his practice he exhibited good judgment and skill, and was remarkably successful in the man- agement of disease. He was greatly beloved by every one, gaining and retaining their confidence ; he was kind and sympathetic in his nature and devotedly attentive to his pa- tients.
Dr. Edward Strong, a native of Northampton, settled in West Springfield in 1839. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1834, and studied medicine at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he graduated in 1838. He continued to practice his profession until 1845, when, on account of ill- health, he relinquished it. Since then he has been engaged in the State department of "Vital Statistics," in Boston.
Dr. P. LeB. Stickney settled in West Springfield in 1845, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1839, and studied his pro- fession at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where he graduated in 1842. He commenced the practice of medi- cine in that city, being connected with the Blockley Hospital as out-door physician and surgeon. Returning to his native State, he was induced to locate in this town where he remained six years, and afterwards removed to the city of Springfield where he now resides.
Dr. Nathaniel Downs, a graduate of the Harvard Medical School, settled in West Springfield in 1857. He remained but a few years and moved to Harvard in the eastern part of the State.
Dr. Edward G. Ufford settled in West Springfield in 1855. He gained a good practice and remained in the town till 1872, when, on account of ill-health, he removed to South Hadley and gave up the active duties of his profession.
Dr. Herbert C. Belden, son of Dr. Chauncy Belden, studied his profession in New York, graduating at the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons in 1867. He served a year as Assistant Surgeon in the Nursery Hospital, Randall's Island, N. Y., then went abroad, spending some time in study in Vienna, and re- turning home settled in West Springfield in 1871, where he now resides.
77
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
"The Hill Meeting-House and its Founder, Fohn Ashley," was responded to by Rev. AARON M. COLTON, of East Hampton :
He said there it stands, and there it has stood for seventy- four years, in queenly beauty. Beautiful for situation-mount- ain of the Lord's house-whither the tribes go up.
It began with the century, and we trust will bless the cen- tury to its close. There eleven pastors, " elect, chosen of God, and precious," have sounded out the word of the Lord. "Their line is gone out through all the earth." And there two gener- ations of the godly in Christ have worshipped, and waited for the consolation. That goodly house has breasted the storms of seventy-three winters. And strong as ever, foundation solid, timbers sound, spire erect, and "walls of strength embrace thee round." How many sermons in that house, how many prayers, how many songs, how many conversions ! How many hearts and tongues have there been trained and tuned for worship in the temple not made with hands. Like its prototype in Jeru- salem, it looks off on mountains round about. It has seen "fairy valleys rise," and villages blossom into cities, and the beau- tiful river, ever changing and still the same-a goodly scene-
" Beneath, beyond, and stretching far away, From inland regions to the distant main." " Heavens ! what a goodly prospect spreads around."
That grand old house is a munition of rocks, fortress, citadel, watch-tower, sentinel, not frowning, but benignant, and saying, " All's well !" Standing on that elevation, and crowning it, and looking off northward, eastward, southward, on a hundred thous- and people, seen and seeing, and blessed by the vision, greeting all and severally " with an holy kiss." Itself pulpit, preacher, choir, song and benediction. "How amiable !" How many hearts have warmed, how many eyes been filled with tears at beholding. How many souls from afar, have had longings to look upon it yet once more. What memories, sacred and pre- cious, cluster around that house !" " A thousand blessings on it rest !" There the old meeting-house stands to-day, stately, grand, goodly, silent, eloquent, preaching righteousness, plead- ing for God and goodness, testifying the gospel of the grace of God. I beg you, sirs, not to claim for yourselves, of West Springfield, an exclusive proprietary interest in that house. No,
78
WEST SPRINGFIELD
sir, please. Not yours only, are the air and the sunshine, the stars, the trees, the streams. These are for all, and upon all- the common heritage. That house is for many, and me. If you built the house, you didn't the hill-top. "A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
But let me advert to an item of history. Having been a preacher in this valley for nearly thirty-four years, I have had scope for knowing something of the men who filled the pulpits here in an earlier time. Among them were three men, “ in stat- ure proudly eminent,"-excuse the "proudly"-Dr. Joseph Lyman, of Hatfield, Dr. Nathan Strong, of Hartford, and Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield. Dr. Lyman, rigidly orthodox, cool, sagacious, born to command, learned, great in council. Dr. Strong-like his name-sound in doctrine, an able sermon- izer, in style of writing clear and logical, in manner "decent, solemn, chaste," not a model of ministerial gravity in social in- tercourse.
Dr. Lathrop equalling the other two in their best qualities, and excelling them in easy natural grace, in suavity, in personal magnetism, with wonderful facility of adaptation to special oc- casions, not so strenuous upon extreme points of Calvinism, a bishop blameless, model of a man rounded out, complete-
" Taken for all in all, " We ne'er shall see his like again."
And now one more name to be had in honor. A new meet- ing-house must be built. And where to be located ? A vexed question-vexing a thousand parishes. So here ; and thus a strife among brethren. Should the house be on the hill? The south side were not willing to go up the hill, and the north side were not willing to go over the hill. And the contention was sharp, and for a time threatened a rupture. And how was the difficulty adjusted? Happily the parish had a man of masterly wisdom and prudence in their pastor, Dr. Lathrop. A thought occurs to him. "The history of a thought is the history of a life." So here, Dr. Lathrop has not the money, but he knows who has-a prince of a parishioner, John Ashley, Esq. The proposition is made, and is generously acceded to. Mr. Ashley will give the eminent domain, will contribute largely to the ex- pense of building, and, in addition will endow the parish with a generous fund for the maintenance of the gospel. He comes
79
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
forward with the offer, which is accepted-" So making peace." The meeting-house on the hill is thus a peace-maker; and with that sign it conquers. My apprehension is, that the hill-location was a pretty fair compromise, when considered in reference to the geography and population at that time. And then Mr. Ashley's grand donation for the schools of his town. Thus he idealized the great thought of the early Puritans and Pilgrims of New England-religion and education together-the meet- ing-house and the school-house side by side. Considering the times, those givings by Mr. Ashley were very liberal-princely. Those were not days of "shoddy" and stock-gambling. Men did not then spring to sudden riches. What was gained, was gotten by industry and prudence, by honest, patient, plodding toil. "The hand of the diligent maketh rich." All the greater and better the munificence in this case. The hundreds of thous- ands given in our day are not so much. All honor to the name and memory of John Ashley Esq .! Many among you, I am glad to know, still bear that name. May they all be worthy of it, and ever prove themselves worthy sons of worthy sires, by their liberal devisings for God's dear house and worship. The next time you pass along up Ashley street, look upon that very unpretending dwelling-house at your left on the hill. Not " an house of cedar" that, certainly. There lived and died John Ashley, "every inch a king," and of like zeal with Israel's king, for a dwelling-place for the most high.
I am so much of a stranger in your beautiful town, as not to know the spot where Mr. John Ashley was buried. From my distance I am fancying that grave to be on some sightly and sunny spot looking down on the Connecticut-your Thames. And to that hallowed shrine let many a pilgrim come, doing honor to the "dear parted shade" of one whose name is honor- able, and should be had in everlasting remembrance. "Would you see my monument ? look around !"
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.