Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 27

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 27

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).

Nathaniel Miller came to New Lenox in 1783, locating on the Dr. Trask place, and purchased the mill. His son, Collins S., born in 1778, served in the war of 1812. He married Mary Williams, of Washington, Mass., who bore him four sons and four daughters. One son, Levi C., born in 1820, married Jane E. Howland, and has owned and run the grist-mill on Mill brook for forty-eight years.

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TOWN OF LENOX.

Jacob Washburn, son of Miles, married Phebe, daughter of Samuel Northrop, in 1786, and was the father of ten children : Samuel, Ira, Sophia, Laura, Amos S., Thomas, Olive, Mary, Miles and Anna S. Jacob Wash- burn was a prosperous farmer, and was much respected. He died in 1828, aged sixty-five, and his wife Phebe survived him until the twenty-eighth day of February, 1867, when she died at the age of 100 years and nine days. Nine days before her death her Centennial birthday was celebrated. Gathered around her were four generations. She has had sixty-five lineal descendants, viz .: Ten children, eighteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, and seven great- great-grandchildren. She had spent ninety-seven years of her life in Lenox. Miles Washburn, Jr., married Emily Hatch, who bore him two sons, George T., who married Eliza Case, also rearing two sons, Edwin C. and David S., and Edward M., who married Anna O. Judd, rearing two sons, Robert and Henry J., and resides upon the old Washburn homestead.

Sela Cook, a native of Southington, Conn., married Lois Dunbar, and located in this town in 1786, rearing four sons and three daughters. John, born in 1800, married Thankful Butler, of this town, and located upon the farm now occupied by Cornelius Butler, rearing one son, John W., and two daughters, Lucinda, and Mrs. George Winchell.

Jethro Butler, in early life a seaman, was born at Martha's Vineyard, and removed to Lenox about the year 1791, rearing a family of seven sons and seven daughters. A son, Levi, born in 1794, married Nancy Sears of Lenox, by whom he had six children, three sons, Luther, Albert C., and John W., still residing in Lenox near the homestead of their grandfather. Thankful, sister of Levi Butler, married John Cook, and now resides in Lenox with her son John.

Nathan Barrett, son of Nathan and Ruth (Bond) Barrett, of Conway, Mass., removed to this town in 1799. He married Rachel Foster, and had born to him three sons and three daughters. He engaged in the marble business, erect- ing a mill for sawing marble on road 7, where S. E. Nichols now resides. James L., born in 1815, is now in the marble business. He married Harriet Curtiss, of this town, and has one son, F. J., and two daughters, Fannie and Lizzie. Nathan's wife dying in 1830, he married Lucy Lathrop, who bore him one son, Edwin. Nathan died in 1837.

Erastus Dewey, born April 15, 1779, located in Lenox early in the present century. He married Matilda Willard in 1833, and reared nine children, and both died in the year 1865. Chauncey E., the fourth child, a prosperous farmer, who resides on the former Levi Sears place, was twice married, hav- ing for his first wife Phoebe, daughter of John Mattoon ; and for his second, Caroline Bailey, of Rupert, Vt., becoming the father of four children : Duane B., Harvey H., Mary Josephine, and Caroline E.

Hon. Julius Rockwell was born in Colebrook, Litchfield county, Conn., April 26, 1805. He entered Yale college in 1822, graduated in 1826; stud- ied law at the New Haven law school, and was admitted to the bar in Litch-

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field county in 1829, commencing practice at Pittsfield in 1830, when he was admitted to the bar of Berkshire county, and removed to Lenox in 1865. He was a member of the State house of representatives from 1834 to 1838, and was speaker from 1835 to 1838, in which latter year he was appointed bank commissioner, holding the office three years. He was a representative in Congress from 1847 to 1851, and United States senator for two sessions, by appointment of Gov. Washburn, to fill the vacancy made by the resigna- tion of Mr. Everett. In 1853 he was a member of the convention to revise the constitution of the State ; a presidential elector in 1856 ; in 1858 he was again speaker of the house of representatives of Massachusetts, and at the organization of the superior court, in 1859, he was made one of its judges, which position he still retains. He was the eighth president of the Berkshire County Bible Society.

Amos Shepardson, of Milford, was a captain in the war of the Revolution, being at the battle of Lexington, also in the vicinity of the scene at the time capture of Major Andre. Lovit, son of Amos, served in the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of Plattsburgh. He married Sally Perry, of New- fane, Vt., in 1816, and came to Lenox in 1826. His son, W. T., who is extensively engaged in the manufacture of brick, married Celia Balcolm, and resides on road 1. Munro, brother of W. T., married Siloma Ingalls, and has had born to him fifteen children, of whom five sons and three dauhhters survive. Munro has been deputy sheriff twenty-two years, and constable twenty-five years.

Michael Broderick, of Newtown, Ireland, married Mary Gorman, in 1826, and emigrated to America in 1832, lived at Boston and New York, and finally came to Lenox in 1841, locating upon the Jessie Root farm, on Bald moun- tain. Elizabeth, daughter of Michael, became the wife of George H. Rus- sell. Three sons and five daughters of Michael are now living.

James A. Farrington, of Bennington, Vt., came to this town in 1847, where he took charge of the iron foundry. He was twice married, having a family of three children, Arthur R. of this town, Mrs. D. W. Shaw, and Mrs. O. P. French.

Thomas Leahey, a native of county Cork, Ireland, emigrated to this coun- try in 1848, and located in Lenox. He married Mary Coherty of Clare- mont, in 1853, and reared a family of seven children : Mary, Michael, Corne- lius, Anna, John, Thomas and James. Cornelius, married Eliza Mullen, daughter of Cornelius Mullen, of Galway, Ireland, and resides on road 37.

Frederic William Rackemann was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1821. His long residence in Lenox, his great love of the place and of the delightful scenery which surrounds it, and his zealous interest in the welfare of the town, were such as to make his foreign birth almost forgotten, although the first twenty years of his life were passed in Bremen. Born of a musical family, he manifested his unusual gifts in that line at a very early age, and performed at times the duties of the organist in the Cathedral while he was still too

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small to reach the pedals with his feet. Later, in spite of great obstacles, he devoted himself with great assiduity, to the piano-forte, though after the death of his father, the breadwinner, the student, of necessity, became the teacher, and at fourteen years of age he gave piano lessons in Bremen, the fruits of his industry being turned into his mother's scanty purse. He remained with her as long a her life lasted, and then, after making a success- ful debut as a concert giver in his native town, he sailed for America-then as now the hope of youth, the land of promise. He established himself in New York in 1842, where his acquaintance increased rapidly and spread widely, not more perhaps on account his unusual gift of music than by vir- tue of his social proclivities and his rapid acquirement of the English tongue, which eventually was like a second nature to him. There are now so many remarkable and distinguished pianists that it is difficult to-day to realize how great a mark the advent of one made in those days. As a teacher Mr. Rack- emann's great fidelity and enduring patience gave him a steady success and reputation-a great deal of the good amateur work which has been done in New York in the past years might justly be traced to his influence and inspira- tion. He was one of the early habitues of Lenox, before it was the thronged summer resort which it has become, and his friendship with Mr. Charles Sedgwick's family resulted in his marriage with Mr. Sedgwick's second daugh- ter, Elizabeth, in 1855, since when he always passed his summers in Lenox, and eventually settled in the Sedgwick homestead where he latterly resided throughout the year. From this time he identified himself with the place, taking a warm and active interest in it. When interest was first awakend in the project of reviving the "Lenox Academy," fifty years since quite a famous "seat of learning," to which pupils flocked from north, west, and south, but which had fallen into decay, it was mainly through Mr. Rackemann's unwearied personal exertion that sufficient funds were collected to render the undertaking feasible. He took an ardent interest in it, and became one of the trustees when the academy was re-established. He was also one of the trustees of the Lenox "Charles Sedgwick Library and Reading Room," and a chosen member of the "Lenox Improvement Society." His character was one of singular earnestness, purity and modesty. Of firm convictions, frank, gentle, hospitable and liberal to a fault, those who knew him best loved and esteemed him most. He died at Lenox, August 16, 1884.

Lenox has had several centenarians, among whom may be mentioned the following : Phoebe Washburn, aged 100 years; her step-grandmother, Mrs. Gates, who died at the age of 101 ; Mrs. Tabitha Scott, who died in 1821, aged 107 years ; Mrs. Jabez Ellis, who died in 1831, aged 100 years ; and Mrs. Silence Bonny, who died in 1859, aged 103 years.

The Congregational church of Lenox .- In 1769 Rev. Samuel Hopkins, of Great Barrington, organized this church. Rev. Samuel Munson, a graduate of Yale in 1763, was ordained as its pastor November 8, 1770. Soon after- wards a church building was erected near the site of the present building,

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which was occupied until 1806, when it was destroyed by fire. The present building was then erected, occupying one of the most commanding eminences in the town. In addition to the church, the society owns a beautiful chapel in the village, a parsonage and two wood-lots, the whole value of which is about $35,000.00. Rev. Mr. Munson was dismissed in 1792, and Rev. (after- ward Dr.) Samuel Shepard, was installed in his place April 30, 1795, retain- ing the charge for about fifty years. The present pastor is Rev. R. Dewitt Mallary.

The Methodist Episcopal church, located at Lenox village, was organized at an early date, the first pastor being Rev. Clark Fuller. A church build- ing was erected in 1834, which gave place to the present edifice in 1851. It will accommodate 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $6,000.00. Its dedication sermon was preached by Bishop E. O. Haven. The society now has thirty members, with Rev. James M. Yeager, pastor. Among those who have officiated as worthy and efficient pastors of this church may be mentioned Revs. Albert Nash, Wesley Hubbard, J. W. Lindsay, Archibald Foss and John E. Cookman.

Trinity Episcopal church of Lenox was organized in 1774. It is not known when the first Episcopal services were held. In De- cember, 1793, the Rev. Daniel Burhans was engaged "to officiate in his public character, for one year, every other Sunday." The en- gagement with Mr. Burhans was repeated from year to year until 1796, when he removed to Connecticut. In 1800 the Rev. Ezra Bradley was engaged for "one-fourth part of the time." In 1804 the Rev. Samuel Griswold, brother of Bishop Alexander V. Griswold, was chosen rector of the church in Great Barrington and Lenox. He chose the former as his place of residence, and officiated in each town, preaching on alternate Sabbaths, until 1818. During his ministry the present church building was erected, in 1816. After his dismission, services were held only occasionally by different clergymen till 1826, when the Rev. Benjamin C. C. Parker, son of Bishop Parker, was chosen rector, who remained until 1832. He was followed by Rev. Samuel P. Parker, afterwards for many years the highly esteemed rector of the church at Stockbridge. Then came the Rev. George Walters, in 1841, and after him an interval of suspended services. The Rev. Dr. Pynchon, now a professor in Trinity college, at Hartford, took charge of the church in connection with that in Stockbridge, of which he was rector. In 1855, the Rev. William H. Brooks followed him. From 1858 to 1860 the church was again under the care of the Rev. Dr. Parker. The Rev. J. A. - was chosen rector at Easter, 1860. He was suc- ceeded at Easter, 1861, by the Rev. H. A. Yardley, afterwards professor in the Theological school in Middletown, Conn. He was obliged, in consequence of ill health to resign, and at Easter, 1862, the Rev. Justin Field, the present rector, was chosen. The church was enlarged in 1873, but as more room is now needed, it is contemplated to erect a new stone edifice.

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TOWN OF MONTEREY.

St. Ann's Roman Catholic church, located at Lenox village, was organ- ized in 1868, by Rev. G. H. Brennan, its first pastor, with 250 commu- nicants. Their church building, erected in 1875, will seat 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $10,000. The society now has about 550 communicants, with Rev. T. M. Smith, pastor.

M ONTEREY lies in the southern part of the county, in lat. 42° 12' and long. 3° 47', bounded northeast by Tyringham, east by Otis and Sandisfield, south by Sandisfield and New Marlboro, and west by Great Barrington. It was originally a part of Tyringham, to the records of which town we refer the reader for the early history of this town, though the first settlement of Tyringham was commenced in the portion of the town now Monterey. The division was brought about principally, on account of a range of highlands that divided the town into two nearly equal parts, ren- dering communication between the two portions exceedingly difficult. Accordingiy, November 23, 1846, the matter of division was brought up, voted upon, and the measure adopted by a large majority, the line of di- vision was brought up, voted upon, and the measure adopted by a large ma- jority, the line of division following this range of highlands. About a mile south of the original line, in New Marlboro, was a hill, called " Dry Hill," which extended parallel with the line, so as to separate the intervening terri- tory, making it appear as though a part of Monterey. The inhabitants of this section also being much more connected with Monterey than with their own town, an effort was soon instituted to effect an annexation, which, in 1851, resulted in success. Added to this was a small part of Sandisfield, April 24, 1875.

The surface of Monterey is peculiar. Extending nearly around the town's entire outline are high hills, which gives it the form of an elevated basin, rising to still higher elevations on or near its whole boundary line. In this outline, however, the hills are so broken that roads and driveways are con- veniently built. The soil is better adapted to grazing than grain-raising, though the southern part of the town has some farms that are excelled by those of none of the other hill towns in the county. The northern part is mountainous and mostly unfit for purposes of cultivation. Chestnut hill is a high elevation in the southeastern part, affording a fine prospect of the surrounding country. Brewer's pond, a fine sheet of water covering about 250 acres, lies near this hill, and Six-mile pond, covering an area of 344 acres, lies in the southwestern part, extending into New Marlboro. These ponds are well stocked with fish, and lend a pleasing diversity to the land- scape. Hop brook, so named from the wild hops growing on its banks, rises in the northern part of the town, while branches of the Farmington river flow over the southern part.

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The geological formation is made up of quartz rock, limestone, gneiss, and mica-slate. Iron ore is found in the southern part of the town.

In 1880 Monterey had a population of 635. In 1883 the town employed one male and eight female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $40.00 for male and $19.93 for females. There were III school children in the town, while the entire amount raised for school purposes was $873.48.

MONTEREY is a small post village located in the central part of the town.

J. K. Hadsell's saw, shingle and planing- mill, located on road 32, is oper- ated by water-power and cuts annually about 150,000 feet of lumber and 125,000 shingles.

The early history of Monterey, as we stated before, is written in connec- tion with that of Tyringham, the first settlement being made here in April, 1739, by Isaac Garfield, Thomas Slaton and John Chadwick.

Rev. Adonijah Bidwell, the first pastor of the first church in Tyringham, now Monterey, was the posthumus son of Thomas Bidwell, who sailed from Barbadoes in 1716, and was never heard from. His mother, Jemima Devo- tion, was the lineal descendant of the Norman kings of England, beginning with King William the Conqueror, born 1027, and in the line of the Henrys, I., II., and III., the Edwards I., II., and III., Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, Sir John Bouchier, Sir Humphrey Bouchier, John Haynes, first Colonial Governor of Connecticut, Rev. Edward Taylor and Rev. Eben- ezer Devotion, and in the hands of their descendants is a record still farther back through the Saxony kings of England, beginning with King Egbert the Great, who reigned 800 to 836. Rev. Adonijah Bidwell left four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom filled places of distinction. Adon- ijah, the first born, lived the most of his life in his native town, and left a large family, some of whom still live in Monterey, and of his grandchildren three are now living there, as well as some of two later generations. The second son, Barnabas Bidwell, a lawyer of distinction, removed from Stock- bridge to Kingston, Canada, and his son, Marshall S., was a lawyer, member of parliament, speaker of the house of assembly in Canada, and afterwards lived and died in New York city, and his namesake, Marshall Spring Bidwell, descendant of Adonijah, is now living in Monterey. One of the daughters, Jemima, married William Partridge, of Pittsfield, and was the mother of a large family, some of whom were ministers' wives and missionaries. The other daughter, Theodosia, married Elial Brewer, of Monterey, and was the mother of a large family, of which was the Rev. Josiah Brewer, who was the first missionary in Smyrna, Turkey. The descendants now living are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, judges and lawyers, ministers, doctors, bank presidents, etc. Rev. Mr. Bidwell was installed as pastor of the church here in 1750, preached here thirty-three years, and died June 2, 1784, aged sixty- seven years.

Tristian Stedman, from Rhode Island, near Tower Hill, came to Monterey in 1771, and located on road 8, near the Otis line. He married Penelope

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Hazard, to whom was born twelve children. Hazard and Olive Raymond located in Central New York ; Tristian Stedman, Jr., who married Hulda, daughter of Maj. Herrick, located on road 9, building the house now occu- pied by Mrs. William Warren. He had born to him a family of seven chil- dren-three sons and four daughters-five of whom survive. They were Lorenzo H., Abigail C., Henry A., Mary B., Anna E., Julia M., and Oscar A. Henry A. married Miss L. A. Couch, and reared three children. He has always resided in Monterey.

Isaac Benedict, among the earliest settlers of the town, located on road 18, and kept a hotel for a number of years. His son, Able, resided on the homestead and reared two sons, Abel and Isaac, of whom Abel continued to reside upon the farm. He had three sons who located in Pompey and Ho- mer, N. Y. Isaac was twice married, having, by his first wife, Anna Bond, two children, Mary and John. He afterwards married Martha Wickwire, who bore him four children, Amelia, Louisa, Harriet, and Egbert, of whom only Egbert survives. He resides in Lee. John married Sally Upham, who bore him eight children, five of whom survive, viz. : Mary, Eunice, Isaac N., Fanny and Melinda. Two died in infancy, and Phebe died at the age of eighteen. Isaac N. is of the fifth generation to reside on the old home- stead.

Nora Martin, formerly from Woodbury, Conn., came to Monterey about the year 1783, at the age of twenty-two, and taught school. Having gotten a house under process of erection, he sent for his family-consisting of a wife and two children-who made their journey thither on horseback. He married Hannah Munn and reared a family of three sons and six daughters, one daughter of whom is now living, at the age of ninety-one.

Charles Thomson, from New London, Conn., came to this town with his wife and five sons, Lemuel, Samuel, Gideon, Jared, and Aaron, locating up- on the place now occupied by C. L. Bunce, on road 25, on Mount Munger. Aaron removed to the western part of New York. After a residence of a few years here, Lemuel, a farmer, carpenter and joiner, and who was also some- what of a preacher, although never ordained, married a Miss Judd who bore him six children, all living to maturity, but only one, the eldest, Alanson, is now living. Samuel reared a large family, but two of whom survive, who now reside in other towns with their children. Samuel was killed by a mad bull ; Gideon located on road 11, where he passed the remainder of his days, and on which road Lemuel and Samuel also resided. Jared married Lois Judd and located on the homestead, where he died at an advanced age. His wife, who bore him a family of nine children, all living to maturity, died at the age of ninety-three. Jared served his town as representative, and was also cap- tain of a militia company. One of his children died at the age of twenty. Of his other children Jared married and removed to Pennsylvania ; Charles and Davis moved to New York ; Lester, who located in Sandisfield, married, for his first wife, Miss Fargo, and for his second, Jane Walker ; Lyman mar-

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ried Mary Turner, and located on the homestead, where he cared for his grandfather ; Sardis, who married Emily Bosworth, was a carpenter and joiner, and was a rover and never long settled in one place ; Matilda, wife of Frank- lin Fargo, is now residing in Illinois ; Melinda resides in this town ; Lyman reared a family of six children. He was assessor for thirteen years, and a se- lectman for several years. His wife survives him at the age of seventy, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Hastings. M. V., son of Lyman, married Fanny Brewer, and resides on the Ann Wheeler place. He is a large farmer, has a creamery and silo, and was the first person in this town to en- gage in that business. He has been a school committeeman. Silona married S. W. Thompson, of Albany, N. Y., but is now dead. J. M. died at the age of twenty-two ; Matilda M., wife of Dr. Hastings, resides at Feeding Hills, where here sister, Lois L., also resides ; Ellen M. married Charles Hastings, of Agawanı, Mass. E. O., son of Sardis Thomson, is employed by a con- densing milk company, in England. Lester had two children, Myron, who married Harriet Walker, and Angeline, wife of Thomas S. Webb, of Sandis- field.

David Munson, from Wallingford, Conn., came to this town about 1807 and located on the place now owned by Lester Busby. He married Miss Dorman, and reared six children, the aggregate weight of whom, at maturity, was over 1,300 pounds. But one of the family, David, Jr., located in this county, the others locating in New York. David, Jr., resided in New Marl- boro until his death, in November, 1851.

Oliver Smith was born in Southwick, Mass., February 14, 1780, and came to this town in March, 1813, locating on the place now owned by his son, Amos. He married Ruth Boardman, of East Hartford, rearing seven chil- dren, Eunice, Lyman, Asa, Oliver, Jr., Louisa, Eli, and Amos, only two sons of whom survive.

Aaron Tyrrel immigrated to Monterey, from Norfolk, Conn., in 1814. He married Candace Stoddard, of Connecticut, to whom was born six children. One, Mary, married and resides in Williamstown, Mass .; Mrs. Hanott Morey resides in Kansas ; Grove married Lucy Brewer, of this town, and removed to Iowa ; Jared, who married Lucinda Hale, resides in Fairfield, Conn .; El- bridge married Lydia Searles and reared four children ; and after marrying his second wife removed to Wisconsin. Lewis, who married Eunice Lang- don, had born to him a family of fourteen children, all living to maturity, ex- cepting one, who died at the age of thirteen. Six reside in this county.

Norman S. Sears, a resident of this town, has been a selectman for eight or ten years, and assessor for about five years. He came to this town from New Marlboro, before Monterey was taken from Tyringham.

Samuel Townsend, from Needham, Mass., came to Monterey about 1788. He married Ruth Tolman and reared eight children, viz .: Sarah, Rufus, Jon- athan, William, Lemuel, Elizabeth, Samuel, and Esther. Lemuel remained on the old homestead, married Mary Jenkins and reared two children, Lem-

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Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 27

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