Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 25

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885 > Part 25

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).

Paper Mills of South Lee .- " The first mill built in Lee, by Mr. Church, was the second to be built in the county, the first being erected at Dalton in 18or. The Lee mill was sold by Mr. Church to the firm of Brown & Curtis, and in 1822 it was sold again to Messrs. Owen & Hulbert. As the means of the latter firm increased they enterprisingly increased their business, buying of Billings Brown his grist-mill, which they converted into a paper mill, and they purchased other mill-sites and lands for future use. They also bought the 'forge,' on the east side of the river, so as to control the entire water- power of the vicinity, and on that site erected a flouring-mill, which site is now covered by the Hulbert Paper Company's new mill. Owen & Hulbert put in a cylinder machine in 1833, a calender in 1834, and ruling machines in 1836, showing an early adoption of all improvements in their business. This firm also built the mill in Housatonic now owned by the Owen Paper Company. In 1860 the firm dissolved, Mr. Hulbert retaining the property at South Lee, and Mr. Owen taking that at Housatonic, and each associated with him a son in the business. The new firms, as stated already, took new names,-at Housatonic, the Owen Paper Company ; at South Lee, the Hul- bert Paper Company. The founders, Mr. Hulbert and Mr. Owen, were both born in 1794, the former in Wethersfield, and the latter in Windsor, Conn. They won a grand reputation as paper manufacturers, and as honorable, sterl- ing citizens of their town. The water mark and stamp of "O. & H." was always a guarantee of good goods. Mr. Hulbert, devoted to his occupation, cared little or nothing for public life, his chief delights being his family and his business. He died in 1861. Mr. Owen was more pleased with public honors, and deserved them. He was a major of militia, served in both branches of the legislature and in the governor's council. He died in 1870. The two sons of Mr. Hulbert, Thomas O. and Henry C., are his successors to the name and business of the Hulbert Paper Com- pany. Charles H. Plumb was a stockholder in this company in 1865, and remained till 1868. He is now the keeper of the old and popular hotel at Stockbridge, and a prince of good fellows. Under their management it has prospered and greatly increased. In 1872 they built one of the largest and best mills in the country. It is 373 feet long, 50 feet wide, and, including the basement and attic, four stories high. The whole product of their mills is 10,- ooo pounds of fine writing paper per day.

The Lee National Bank was incorporated in 1835, and June roth of that

201

TOWN OF LEE.

year George Hull, of Sandisfield, was chosen president, and July 31st John Furber cashier. The capital stock was $50,000.00, which was increased at various times until it amounted to $300,000.00. In 1864 this was reduced to $210,000.00, its present capital. After four years service, Mr. Hull resigned, and since then the following presidents have served : William A. Phelps, elected in 1839 ; Walter Laflin, 1841 ; Leonard Church, 1844; Thomas Sedgwick, 1856; Harrison Garfield, 1862. The cashiers have been, after Mr. Furber, Thomas Green, chosen in 1840 ; Edmund D. Chapin, 1848 ; Edward A. Bliss, 1850; John M. Howk, 1862; John L. Kilbon, 1868; The bank is now in a prosperous condition, its officers, aside from those men- tioned, being P. C. Baird, vice-president, and Frank Savage, teller.

The Lee Savings Bank was chartered March 5, 1852, and commenced bus- iness in June following. Harrison Garfield has been its president, with the exception of the first year, when William Porter was chosen. The cashiers of the national bank have served as treasurers of the savings bank. 'The institution now has in its charge an aggregate deposit of $570,000.00.

EAST LEE a post village located about two miles southeast of Lee village, on the Green Water river, is another bright, busy manufacturing community, where many tons of paper are made each year. Although a postoffice was established here in 1848, it was abandoned for a time, and revived again in the summer of 1884.

SOUTH LEE, is post village and station on the Housatonic R. R., strung along the Housatonic river in the southwestern part of the town.

Lee Steam Marble Works, located on road 33, were established previous to 1850, by Rice, Baird & Heebner, who opened a quarry on the Culver farm. They furnished marble for the capital extension at Washington, during the years 1852 to 1865, furnishing therefor 491,000 feet. In 1867 F. S. Gross & Bro, succeeded to the business. This firm now employs seventy-five men, is supplied with all modern improvements for quarrying, and is now fur- nishing marble for public buildings at Philadelphia, Pa.

East Lee Flock and Shoddy Mill, on Green Water river, was formerly a cot- ton mill operated by Beach & Royce. The present proprietor, George T. Bostwick rebuilt and enlarged the mill in 1883, so that it is now a fine stone structure 70 x 40 feet, and five stories in height. Mr. Bostwick is running the mill in the manufacture of flocks and shoddy.

The East Lee Machine Shops, engaged in the manufacture of paper-making machinery, was originally established by Beach & Royce. In 1840 it was purchased by Edward P. Tanner, the present manager of the concern, with his son, J. Albert, agent. The shop gives employment to thirty hands.

Theron L. Foote's grist and flouring mill, located at East Lee, have the capacity for grinding 500 bushels of grain per week.

John Dowd's machine shop, located on road 26, was established in 1850. He employs six men in the manufacture of paper-engine roll-bars, bed-plates, trimming knives, rag cutter knives, etc.

202

TOWN. OF LEE.

Rufus L. Thayer's saw and cider-mill, located on Reservoir Pond brook, has the capacity for manufacturing 100,000 feet of lumber and 800 barrels of cider per year.

The first settler in the town was Isaac Davis, who, in 1760, located in the southern part of the town, on the banks of Hop brook, where John P. French now lives. He died at Chenango in 1801. During the ten years from 1760 to 1770, only thirteen families came into the town, among whom were Reuben Pixley, John Coffey, Hope Davis, Aaron Benedict, George Parker, William Chanter, a Mr. Atkins, Lemuel Crocker, Asahel Dodge and Samuel Stanley. They lived in small log houses, mostly located upon the mountain sides. No roads had been made. Marked trees served to mark the pathway through the forest, and a fallen tree across the river the only bridge. In 1770 John Winnegar, of German origin, built the first grist-mill, at "Crowe Hollow." His log house, the eleventh erected in the town, was built against a perpen- dicular rock, which served as the back of the house and of the chimney. The latter was so constructed that the wood cut from the hill in the rear of the house could be hauled to the top of the rock and thrown down the chimney into the fire-place. About 1775 Mr. Winnegar built another grist-mill, on Cape street, where John Mclaughlin's works are now located. He also built the dwelling which stands in front of them, it being now the oldest house in the town. Mr. Winnegar, while hunting deer with an Indian, got lost upon the mountain and wandered about for three days without food or fire, freez- ing his feet so badly that it rendered him a cripple for life.

During the years between 1770 and 1780, many valued citizens came into the town, among whom were Nathaniel and Cornelius Bassett, Jesse Gifford, Jesse Bradley, William Ingersoll, Timothy Thatcher, Oliver and Prince West, Arthur Perry, Samuel Stanley, Amos Porter, Josiah Yale, Ebenezer Jenkins, Nathan Dillingham, Job Hamblin and others. From that time until 1791 the population increased to 1, 170 souls.

"Cape street " was the name given to the eastern part of the town, because many of its settlers came from Cape Cod. This section, with its narrow valley and its convenient hill-sides for the homes of the early settlers, was at first the most populous part of the town, and there it was proposed to build the first meeting-house ; but Cornelius Bassett and Nathan Dillingham, in 1778, built the " Red Lion " tavern on what is now the Pease lot, which was occupied as a hotel till 1833, and remained as a landmark and memento of earlier days for some years after the more modern hostelry, built where the Memorial Hall now stands, took its place as the hotel. It was the first two-story house built in Lee, and it is said that the first store, to which Job Hamblin brought from Boston by a forty days' journey, a load of salt, was kept in its buttery. This imposing and important establisment had, of course, a centralizing tendency, and aided in drawing the population and the "meeting-house " to the pres- ent center.

The first town meeting was held at Peter Wilcox's homestead, December

203

TOWN OF LEE.

22, 1777. It is supposed that the population was then about 200. In 1780 the meeting was adjourned "for eight minutes, to meet in Peter Wilcox's barn," indicating probably an increase of population which made the one room of the log house inconveniently small. The next place of meeting was at Major Dillingham's tavern, and after that, at the meeting-house for many years. Notices of town meetings were posted on the whipping-post, near the meeting-house, and at the two grist-mills. Upon the site of Wilcox's dwelling now stands the house since occupied by Mrs. Smith, mother of Elizur. At this first meeting the following officers were chosen: William Ingersoll, moderator; Prince West, town clerk; William Ingersoll, Jesse Bradley, Oliver West, Amos Porter and Prince West, selectmen ; William Ingersoll, treasurer ; Reuben Pixley and James Penoyer, constables ; Daniel Church, Job Hamblin, John Nye and William Ingersoll, highway surveyors ; Abijah Tomlinson and Samuel Stanley, tythingmen ; Samuel Stanley, leather sealer ; William Ingersoll, Jesse Bradley and Oliver West, committee of cor- respondence. The first lawyer was Alvan Coe, a native of Granville, who settled here in 1807. Gideon Thompson, a native of Goshen, Conn., was the first physician. Jedediah Crocker was the first postmaster in Lee, in 1803, and kept his office at his tavern in Cape street. The postoffice was first opened at East Lee, in 1848, L. S. Sturgess being the first postmaster. At South Lee a postoffice was established in 1826, and Thomas Hulbert was postmaster. Among the natives of Lee who have been graduated from col- lege, are the following : Solomon Foote, M. D., Rev. Cyrus Yale, B. Hinck- ley, M. D., William Dillingham, Charles Dillingham, John D. Crocker, Law- rence Warner, Issac Howk, Jonathan Foote, 3d, Rev. Alvan Hyde, Joseph Hyde, William Hyde, Alexander Hyde, Solomon Foote, Jr., Rev. Barnabas Phinney, Rev. Noah Sheldon, Rev. William Bradley, Rev. Thomas Scott Bradley, Rev. Elisha P. Ingersoll, Elisha Bassett, Rev. Edward Taylor, Rev. William Porter, Rev. Charles B. Ball, Addison H. Laflin, Rev. Lavius Hyde, Asahel Foote and Rev. Stephen Peel.

The part taken by Lee in the wars, in Shays Rebellion, and its newspaper history have already been given in the county chapter.

Rev. Alvin Hyde, D. D., came to Lee early, and was their pastor for forty years, being for many years the only minister in the town. He made it a practice to visit each school four times annually. The poor in him found a generous friend. He buried the original settlers and many of their children, and married the fathers and mothers of Lee, their children and grandchil- dren during a period of forty years. He knew every person in town, and could call them, even the children, by name.

Jonathan Foote, grandson of Nathan, who was granted a tract of land in Connecticut by Charles II, for saving his life from the enemy, by assisting him to hide in a hollow oak, came to Lee about 1770, and took up a large tract of land. His son, Captain Alvin Foote, was born on the homestead in the year the town was incorporated,

204

TOWN OF LEE.

Job Child immigrated to Lee in 1791. He married Rhoda Hatch, and had born to him a daughter, Temperance, and one son, Joseph H. Joseph, born in 1803, was married to Electa Hulet, rearing one son and two daughters, namely, Lucinda E., Almira and William D., the later residing upon the old homestead, on road 11. Lucinda E. married J. G. Davenport, and has long resided in California.

Stephen Bradley, son of Elisha Bradley, of Stockbridge, Mass., was born in 1774, and immigrated to Lee in 1799, having married Lydia Cork four years previous. Of his six sons and two daughters, one son, Ebenezer, born in 1796, is dow residing in Illinois. Another son, Stephen, who was born in Lee in 1801, married Hannah Austin, of Becket, rearing two sons and four daughters. Of these, John E. is principal of the high-school at Albany, N. Y., and Edwin A. married Aggie Clark, of this town, and resides with his father on the old homestead on Bradley Hill. He is the father of three sons.

Thomas Sturges came with his brother William, to Lee, from Cape Cod, about the year 1800, Thomas engaging in the marble business, in 1810. His son Edwin, born in this town in 1807, in 1852 succeeded his father in the marble works, in which business he is still engaged at East Lee, on road 26. He married Charlotte Hewett in 1828, rearing two sons and one daugh- ter, George, Edwin, and Frances A. Edwin was collector of taxes for many years.

Charles Hinckley, son of Benjamin and Puella (Goodspeed) Hinckley, was born in Lee in 1800, and married Harriet Bassett, who bore him five chil- dren : Charles Edgar, Evalina, (who became Mrs. Edward A. More, and died in 1883,) Frank K., residing on the homestead, John W., of Connecticut, and Harriet B., residing with her mother.

Elial, son of Timothy and Dorothy (Phelps) Thatcher, was born in Shalor Hill, in 1812, and began working at the blacksmith's trade when but fifteen years of age, which trade he has followed for more than sixty years, having learned of Amos G. and S. A. Hulbert, of Lee. He marred Emily Gale, of Hadley, Mass., rearing three daughters. He resides on Main street. Ema- line Phelps married James Finney.

Pliny M., son of Reuben and Amelia M. Shaylor, came to Lee in 1816, where he kept a hotel on Cape street for nineteen years. He married Han- nah Owen. His son, Pliny M., Jr., born in 1830, married Josephine L. Perrin, by whom he had one daughter, Mrs. Frank Belden, and resides on road 7.

Amos G., son of Adams Hulbert, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Weathersfield, February 7, 1799, and came to Lee with his brother, Samuel A., at the age of twenty-one years, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons, sleighs and carriages, continuing prosperously until 1849, when he engaged in the insurance business. He has one son, Henry C., of New York, and a daughter, Mrs. Dr. Wright, of Lee.

John, son of Miles and Mary McLaughlin, and a native of Sligo, Ireland,

205

TOWN OF LEE.

emigrated to America in 1820, entered the machine shop of Beck & Royce, in Lee, when about fifteen years of age, working there eleven years, after which he purchased the grist and saw-mill of Jacob Winegar. In 1847 he be- gan the manufacture of iron and paper calendar rolls. Mr. Mclaughlin married Alida Westfall, of Chatham, N. Y., in 1843, rearing four children, among whom are James H., who is with his father, and Henrietta (Mrs. J. J. Wolfinger).

Eliphalet, son of Samuel Wright, and a descendant of Abel, one of the first settlers of Springfield, was born at Hinsdale, Mass., in 1818, and came to Lee when eighteen years of age, studied medicine with Dr. A. G. Welsh, graduated from the Berkshire medical college in 1841. After practicing seven years in Granville, he settled in Lee, in 1849, where he has since maintained an exten- sive practice.

Nicholas Spoor, son of John and Maggie (Walker) Spoor, was born in West- moreland, N. Y., in 1800, married Dotia McKee, who bore him two sons, George N., and Albert J., and immigrated to this town in 1836. His son, George married Lydia C. Clark, rearing a son Albert M., and a daughter, Zoe Jane, now Mrs. Frank Brace. Albert M. married Maggie Howison, of Glen- dale, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He is a paper maker by trade.

Thomas, son of John and Mary Norton, of Ireland, was born in 1838. He came to America and located in Lee about 1852, and died in October, 1864. He married Mary Purcell and had three sons and two daughters. Of these, John married Jennie Doyle, Michael married Mary Ryan, and Ellen became the wife of James Waddock. John and Michael are machinists by trade.

Edward J. Cassidy, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1839, emigrated to America at the age of sixteen. He had worked as a paper maker in Ire- land. He, with his brother Michael, operated the old Turkey mill for a few months, when it was burned. After working in the South mill several . years, he became a manufacturer of furniture and an undertaker, combining the two. He married Susan C. Dunn, who bore him eight sons and two daughters. He died in 1880, leaving a wife and seven children. His widow continues the business on Main street.

Frank A. Goussett, born ir: Alsace, France, in 1822, emigrated at the age of thirty-two, with his wife and two children, Sebastian and Justine. He came to Washington Mountain, going from there, after two years, to Wisconsin, and from thence came to Lee, where he purchased a large farm, where he is now residing on road 27. He was the father of six children. One son, Jus- tine, married Constant Roy, of Lenox Furnace ; another, Julius B., is post- master and merchant at East Lee.

The Congregational church, located at Lee village, was organized May -25, 1780, by Rev. Daniel Collins, of Lanesboro, with thirty members, the first settled pastor, Rev. Elisha Parmelee, being installed July 3, 1783. Their church building was erected in 1780 and did service until 1800, when an-

206

TOWN OF LEE.

other was built, used until 1758, when the present edifice was erected. It will comfortably accommodate 900 persons, cost $30,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $50,000.00. The society now has 472 mem- bers, with Rev. Lyman S. Rowland, pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Rev. D. Starks, a circuit preacher, in 1830, by the appointment of George Benton as class leader over a class of about thirty. In the spring of 1840, Rev. William Gothard was appointed over the new station of Lee, then established by the New York annual conference. The church was then re-organized, consisting of 195 members. Their church building, erected in 1839, was enlarged in 1849-50, and remodeled, improved, and a steeple added in 1866-67, so that it is now a neat structure capable of accommodating 500 persons, and is valued, including parsonage and grounds, at $15,000.00. The church has now 200 members, Rev. D. McCarthy being pastor, the twenth-third in charge. The church has also an ecclesiastical society connected with it, incorporated un- der the laws of the commonwealth, which holds the property in trust for the use and benefit of the members of the " Methodist Episcopal church forever," the land being deeded to the trustees and their successors in office, though the " Methodist Episcopal Society " was organized, in accordance with the discipline of Methodist denomination, in January, 1839. The church build- ing and parsonage was built by the latter society, funds being raised by gen- eral subscription, the land, also, being a nominal gift for the above purpose. The interest in the church is healthful, the finances based on solid principles, the church nor society having no standing liabilities, current balances being adjusted at the end of each year.

The Bethel Baptist church, located at Lee village, was organized Septem- ber 14, 1850, by its first pastor, Rev. Amory Gale, with twenty members. Their church building, erected in 1852, will seat 600 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $12,000.00. The society now has 100 members, with Rev. John D. Pope, pastor.

St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, located at Lee village, was organized by Rev. P. Cuddihy, with 500 communicants, about 1850, Rev. Peter Eagan being the first pastor. Their church building, erected in 1855, which will seat about 750 persons, is valued, including grounds, at $20,000.00. The society has now about r,ooo communicants, with Rev. T. M. Smith, pastor.

St. George's Protestant Episcopal church, located at Lee village, was organ- ized with the following members, in 1856 : William T. Fish, B. F. Bosworth, James Levy, J. A. Weed, W. F. Davies, J. Evans, J. G. Wakefield, C. Smith, J. Holmes, J. F. Cook, S. Hellewell and C. C. Holcombe, Rev. George F. Chapman being the first pastor. The first house of worship was erected in 1857, the second in 1864, and the present one in 1879. Two of these were destroyed by fire, and afford an apt illustration of the value of proper insur- ance, as the latter building could not have been built had it not been for its insurance, as the parish, weakened by deaths and removals, could not other-

207

TOWN OF LENOX.

wise have afforded a new building. It is a neat stone structure, capable of seating 300 person, and valued, including grounds, at about $9,000.00. The society now has fifty members, with Rev. Samuel Haven Hilliard, rector.

The East Lee Union Chapel was built in 1864. It is valued at $4,000.00, about its original cost.

St. Francis Roman Catholic church, located at South Lee, was organized in 1883, with 300 communicants, Rev. George Brennan being the first pas- tor. The church building, erected during that year, will seat 400 persons and is valued at $4,000.00. The society now has 250 members, with Rev. Father Smith, pastor.

L ENOX occupies nearly a central position in the county, lying in lat. 42° 22' and long. 3º 44', bounded north by Pittsfield, east by Washington and Lee, south by Lee and Stockbridge and west by Stockbridge and Richmond. It originally formed a part of the territory of the last mentioned town, its early history being briefly as follows: In 1760, a company, through their agent, Samuel Brown, Jr., of Stockbridge, purchased of two chiefs of the Stockbridge Indians, named Ephraim and Yokun, a tract of land lying just north of Stockbridge, between the New York line and the Housatonic river, paying therefor £1,790. On the 2d of June, 1762, this territory was sold at auction in Boston, as township No. 8, to Josiah Dean, for £2,550, and by him was transferred, in February, 1773, to Mr. Brown and his associates for £650. The tract was divided into lots, and the future erection of two towns anticipated by a dividing line, commencing at the present southeast corner of Richmond, and running thence north 2° west to the north line of the pur- chase. The territory west of this line embracing about 9,000 acres, was called Mount Ephraim, and that east Yokun-town, both in honor of the sachems of whom the first purchase was made. June 20, 1765, the territory was incorporated, under the name of "Richmont," in honor of the Duke of Richmond, which was subsequently, March 3, 1785, changed to Richmond. By an act of the legislature passed February 26, 1767, the easterly portion of territory was taken to form the District of Lenox. Subsequently, however, on the division of the town, 1,700 acres of the western portion of the Yokun purchase was annexed to "Richmont." Dwight's grant, Williams's grant, and a part of Hartwood (Washington), were added in 1770, and again, January 31, 1795, and February 18, 1802, other annexations from Washington were made, while the area was again slightly changed by the final establishment of the Lee line, February 7, 1820.

Lenox received its name, as did Richmond, in honor of Charles Lenox, Duke of Richmond, an early defender in the House of Lords, of American colonial rights. The word itself, however, is of Scotch origin, said to have been derived from the section along the river Levan, which flows from Loch

208

TOWN OF LENOX.

Lomond into the Clyde ; the section was called " Levanocs," finally corrupted into Lenox. What could be more appropriate than this adoption of a name which had its birth amid the beauties of Loch Lomond. The surface of the town is broken into gentle swells and hills, which rise in succession from the valley of the Housatonic westward to Prospect hill and Lenox and Bald mountains, whose summits overlook a large portion of Berkshire county. The principal streams are the Housatonic, flowing a southerly course along the eastern border of the town, and the Yokun river, which rises in the south- westerly part of the township, flows northeasterly nearly to the northern line, then turns southeasterly, uniting with the Housatonic. There are other streams and brooks, but of minor importance. In the southern part of the town, lying partly in Stockbridge, is a handsome sheet of water called Laurel lake, which is quite a resort for pleasure seekers.

These gentle swells, rounded hill-tops and winding valleys, unite in form- ing a scene that is alike charming and captivating to all, though lacking the elements of rugged grandeur so admired by some. It is a fact that the beauty of Lenox has a world-wide fame ; but it is the reposeful beauty of a charming face which possesses a classic contour of features, but lacking the sterner lines of energy and character. Indeed, it takes hold of one's senses with a mysterious spell that it is difficult to analyze, but still has, to quote from one whose long familiarity with, and undoubted love for, its charms should render an authority, "remarkable natural scenery which steadily holds the first place in the love and esteem of many constant beholders, whose tastes have been moulded or corrected by extended travel at home and abroad : scenery whose charms seem to me to exist more in an unusual combination of satisfactory quantities, and freedom from blemish, than in any specific splendor of land- scape-however striking instances of the latter may here and there present themselves."

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.

Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 25

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 972

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 972