Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 31

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 31

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The North Adams Savings Bank, located on Main street, was incorporated in 1848. Its officers are C. F. Thompson, president ; V. A. Whitaker, treas- urer ; and George Walter Olds, assistant treasurer.

The Hoosac Savings Bank of North Adams was organized in 1871, with O. A. Archer, president ; Sylvander Johnson, W. S. Blackinton, Charles H. Reed and C. R. Taft, vice-presidents ; and Austin Bond, treasurer. The present treasurer is William W. Butler.

The Berkshire National Bank of North Adams was organized in 1878, with Jarvis Rockwell, president; N. W. Hodge, vice-president ; J. Rockwell, N. W. Hodge, James Hunter, A. D. Cady, W. H. Gaylord, S. W. Ingalls, Joseph White, James C. Chalmers and J. R. Houghton, directors ; and C. H. Ingalls, cashier. The only change made in this list of officers has been the election of Keyes Danforth to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Joseph White. The original capital of the institution was $100,000.00, which has since been increased to $200,000.00.

Medical Association of Northern Berkshire .- On the 15th of August, 1876, the local physicians of North Adams met at the Arnold (now Wilson) House and organized a society, under the above title, for the purpose of mutual im- provement, by fellowship reports of cases and discussion of the same, and the circulation of approved medical journals among its members. The fol- lowing officers were chosen : N. S. Babbitt, president, and O. J. Brown, secretary and treasurer, and the plan of holding monthly meetings adopted. These meetings the society has continued to hold, with good, practical re- sults and an increased fraternity feeling. Several prominent members have died during the time, including Drs. Howkes, Phillips, and Lawrence, of North Adams, and Drs. Sabin and Duncan, of Williamstown. The society now has a membership of eighteen, extending south into Cheshire and north into Pownal and Stamford, Vt. The present officers are Homer Bushnell, president ; A. F. Davenport, vice-president ; and C. J. Curran, secretary and treasurer.

The Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society .*- In the autumn of 1859 this society held a cattle show and fair, and during the following winter secured an act of incorporation, approved March 5, 1860, in which it mentioned the

*This sketch should have been printed with those of the other agricultural societies, on page 27, but the information did not arrive in time, so we insert it here.

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following gentlemen as incorporators : Clement Harrison, Edward R. Tinker, and Rodman H. Wells. In 1876 the records of the society were destroyed by fire, so the data of the early proceedings of the society are difficult to obtain. The first president, however, was Hon. Joseph White,of Williams- town, who held the office two years. He was succeeded by Sylvander John- son, of North Adams, 1862-63 ; Daniel Upton, of South Adams, 1864-65 ; Asahel Foote, of Williamstown, 1865-66; Benjamin F. Mills, of Williams- town, 1866-69; John M. Cole, of Williamstown, 1869-76 ; O. A. Archer, of Blackinton, 1876-79 ; J. R. Houghton, of Stamford, Vt., 1879-82 ; William S. Johnson, of North Adams, 1882-84, and William L. Brown, elected No- vember 18, 1884, the present incumbent. The treasurers have been Henry W. Kingsley, of North Adams, 1860-61 ; Salmon Burlingame, of North Adams, 1861-76; Rufus G. Welden, of North Adams, 1876-82; William Burton, of N. Adams 1882-84; and S. B. Dibble, elected November 18, 1884, the present offi- cer. The secretaries have been William W. Gallup, of North Adams, 1860-69; H. Clay Bliss, of North Adams, 1869 to the present time. The society has had its grounds and track located in North Adams badly damaged by fresh- ets at different times, rendering it necessary to build a new track, and remove its buildings, entailing considerable expense, so that at the present time it owes $3,600.00. In other respects it was never in a more flourishing con- dition, the receipts for the past year being larger than those of any former year. The building, consisting of a large exhibition hall, a barn with twenty- two stalls for horses, a judge's stand and a grand stand, were erected some five or six years ago by an association, and at the expiration of ten years are to revert to the society. They are all in good repair and were newly painted in 1883.

The North Adams Gaslight Company was organized in 1864, with a capital stock of $50,000.00, and with John B. Tyler, president; W. W. Freeman, treasurer ; and H. Clay Bliss, secretary. This company furnishes a very good grade of gas and are quite liberally patronized. The present officers are W. L. Brown, president; J. B. Tyler, vice-president ; Arthur D. Cady, sec- retary ; and Frank S. Richardson, treasurer. The company's works are located just off Main street.

The North Adams Roller Skating Rink, located on Marshall street, Ladd Bradley & Co., proprietors, was built in November, 1883. It has a floor 86x 36 feet.

The North Adams Hospital was established in 1884, the by-laws providing that the corporation shall be managed by the board of control, which includes all the officers and directors. These are, as also established by the by-laws, composed of ladies from all the local churches.

The North Adams Electric Light Company was organized in December, 1884. The officers are George M. Darby, president, and F. L. Tilton, clerk.

The Arnold Print Works .- This company, whose mills are located on

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Marshall street, at North Adams village, was organized as a stock company, October 10, 1876, with David A. Brayton, of Fall River, president, and Albert C. Houghton, treasurer. They have eight printing machines and manufacture about 15,000 pieces of from forty-five to fifty yards each, per week, giving employment to 450 hands. The president of the company is A. C. Houghton, and the treasurer is William A. Gallup.

The Eclipse Mills, located on Main street, are owned by the same company, and superintended by R. R. Kelly, have 300 looms running on print cloths, making about 1,800 pieces per week, giving employment to 175 hands. 1

The Beaver Mills, Gallup & Houghton, proprietors, were established in 1871-72 by Gallup, Bailey & Co. They have 230 looms, give employment to 135 hands and turn out about 1,300 pieces of print cloth per week.

The North Adams Manufacturing Company was organized about 1863, with Sanford Blackinton, president. October 23, 1877, it was re-organized with H. G. B. Fisher, president ; and E. D. Penniman, treasurer and agent. The works have fifty looms and turn out about 20,000 yards of six-quarter fancy cassimers per month, giving employment to 250 hands.

The S. Blackinton Woolen Company was organized in 1876, with S. Black- inton, president, and O. A. Archer, treasurer. Their mills have fifty broad and thirty-six narrow looms, and turn out about 50,000 yards of fancy cassi- meres per month, giving employment to 300 hands.

The Greylock Mills .-- These mills were established by a stock company organized in 1880, with Theodore Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, president, and a capital stock of $250,000.00, for the manufacture of fine ginghams. In 1882 William C. Plunkett became president of the company, which position he held until his death. The present officers are Wellington Smith, vice-president ; S. H. Pomeroy, of Pittsfield treasurer; and W. B. Plunkett of Adams, business manager. These mills have 325 looms, give employment to 325 hands, and turn out about 250,000 yards of goods per month.

The Glen Woolen Company .- The mill owned by this company was built in 1863, by Chester Baily, who operated it as a batting-mill for about six months, when it was taken by Perry & Penniman, who operated it as a woolen- mill from that time until 1868. For the next ten years it was operated as a woolen-mill by S. Blackinton & Son, and from 1878 to 'So by S. Blackinton & Son and Frank A. Walker, and December Ist of that year it was taken by the above named company, which was organized under an act of incorpora- tion at that time, with S. Blackinton, president, and F. A. Walker, treasurer. The mill has eight sets of cards, employs 150 hands and turns out about 22,000 yards of fancy cassimeres per month.

The Freeman Manufacturing Company operates three mills in the manufac- ture of print cloth, viz. : The Eagle mill, erected in 1862, for spinning and weaving ; the Estes mill, built about 1840, for carding, spinning and repairing ; and the Stone mill, erected in 1824, for weaving alone. The product of these mills is about 90,000 yards of print cloths per week.

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D. J. Barber's tannery, located on Union street, was established by Hatch & Merriam, about 1834, and in 1836 was sold to Captain Bixby, after which it passed through many changes of proprietors, until it finally came into the hands of Mr. Barber.

I. F. Loftus's marble works were established by John Flaherty about 1863, and were purchased by Mr. Loftus in 1879. He manufactures and deals in foreign and domestic marble and granite of all kinds.

James L. Comisky's furniture and undertaking establishment, located on North Church street, was established in 1883, by Kelly & Comisky, where the latter now does all kinds of furniture repairing and everything pertaining to the undertaking business.

S. B. Dibble's sash, blind and box factory, located on State street, was estab- lished in 1875. He does all kinds of work in this line, employing about twenty-five men. He also is engaged in the lumber business, which he pur- chased of E. J. Carey, in 1874.

James Hunter & Son's foundry and machine shop .- In 1848 Mr. Hunter established a foundry here, taking into partnership with him, about a year later, David Temple. Two years later, Abel Weatherby purchased Mr. Tem- ple's interest, and subsequently sold it again, the firm becoming Hunter, Thayer & Co. They added a grist and planing-mill and box factory, continuing the business thus five years, when the firm became James Hunter & Co., and three years later James Hunter & Son. In 1861 they built the present wood- work shop, and commenced the machine shop business. They manufacture shaftings, hangers, friction pulleys, couplings, etc., also Hunter's patent hand drills, Hunter's patent improved fulling-mill, and the improved wool washing and scouring machine, employing about seventy-five hands.

T. E. Brigham's broom factory, located on Liberty street, was established by him and Benjamin Smith, in 1865. At the end of about a year Mr. Brigham purchased the entire business, taking into partnership with him C. M. Hibbard, and in August, 1871, again -became sole owner. He employs eight men, manufacturing about 6,000 dozen brooms per year.

O. Wells & Son's acid and iron liquor works were originally established by James Ward, and were purchased by Mr. Wells in 1839. They manu- facture pyroligneous acid and iron liquor, from wood, a cord of wood yielding about 150 gallons.

Fisher & Morgan's soap factory, located on road 15, was established by the present firm in 1879. They manufacture about $2,500.00 worth of soap per year.

Whipple Bros.' lime kiln, located on road 15, was established by the present firm in 1884. They have two kilns and manufacture about 30,000 barrels of lime per year. They also have kilns at North Pownal, Vt., where they man- ufacture about 15,000 barrels per year.

Moses Willard, located on East Brooklyn street, is engaged in the manu- facture of "temperance porter," where he has been in the business since 1880.

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TOWN OF NORTH ADAMS.

Eugene Church's carriage manufactory, located on the corner of Marshall and Center streets, was established by him in March, 1881. He does a general repairing business.

The Eagle Grist-Mills of M. D. & A. N. Hodge, were built by James A. Marshall in 1842, and were bought by the present firm in 1873. The mills have five runs or stones and six sets of rollers, give employment to eight men.

The Vienna Bakery, A. G. Mclaughlin proprietor, was established by J. Wilbur, about 1853, and came into the present proprietor's possession in 1881.

H. T. Cady's shoe manufactory was established in 1866, by William G. and Hiram T. Cady, under the firm name of Cady Bros., who continued the business until 1880, when H. T. Cady became sole owner. He gives employ- ment to 150 hands and turns out about $250,000.00 worth of manufactured goods per annum.

Charles Feige's bottling works, located on Main street, where he bottles ales, larger, porter and all kinds of mineral water, were established by him in December, 1881.

Levi W. Boyd's turning and carpenters' supply shop, located on Main street, was established by him in November, 1883.

J. H. Adams's furniture business, on Main street, was establishd by Ezra Ingraham, in 1828, who, with various changes of partners, conducted the same until 1852, when it was purchased by J. H. and David S. Adams. Since the death of David S., in 1860, it has been carried on by J. H. Adams alone.

Edgar P. Loomis's bakery, was established by S. F. Kimball in 1878, who, in 1833, took into partnership with him Edgar P. Loomis, who subsequently became sole owner.

Edward Vadner's carriage shop, located at the rear of 72 Main street, was established about 1869. He employs sixteen men in new work and in gen- eral repairing.

William H. Turner's carriage shop, located at Willow Dell, has been operated by him since May 1, 1883. He manufactures all kinds of carriages, wagons and sleighs, and does also a general repairing business.

James M. Barber's carriage factory, located on West Main street, was established by him in the spring of 1878. He employs about ten men in the manufacture of all kinds of wagons, carriages and sleighs and in general repairing.

William F. Hodge's foundry and machine shop, located on Brooklyn street, was established by O. J. & W. F. Hodge, in 1867, and was conducted by them until the death of O. J., July 6, 1853, since which time it has been car- ried on by W. F. Hodge.

Oliver. S. Miner's carriage shop, located at Willow Dell, was established in 1872. During the year 1883, he did about $3,000.00 worth of work.

Abner L. Isbell commenced the manufacture of carriages, sleighs, etc., in 1850, located on Main street, where he carried on the business about seven-

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teen years, then moved to the place he now occupies on North Eagle street.

Albridge Hodskins English ale brewery was established on Church street, about 1864, where he carried on the business about fifteen years, then built a brewery on Brooklyn street, which was burned in 1883, when he removed to his present location, on the same street.

The early settlement, etc., of the town having been noticed on page 95, we will turn our attention immediately to the building of old Fort Massa- chusetts.

As soon as the declaration of war between England and France was pro- claimed at Boston in June, 1744, orders were issued by Governor Shirley for the building of a line of forts, more effectually to protect the western frontiers of Massachusetts from the ravage of the Indians. Of the routes which had been pursued by the enemy in the former wars in approaching the frontiers from Canada, the most northern was by the river St. Francis, through Lake Memphremagog, in Vermont, thence by portage to the Passumpsic river, and down that river to the Connecticut, and thence to the settlements bordering the banks of the latter stream. Sometimes the enemy, having sailed down Lake Champlain, as far as Whitehall, would proceed up Pawlet river to its sources, thence across the mountains to West river, and down that stream to the Connecticut. At other times they would approach that river by follow- ing up Otter creek to its sources. In 1724 Fort Dummer had been built on the Connecticut, where Brattleboro, Vt., now is, as an obstruction to the In- dians in their northern march into Massachusetts.

The forts which Governor Shirley commanded to have built extended from Fort Dummer to East and West Hoosac, now North Adams and Williams- town, and was located in the following towns : Fort Massachusetts, in North Adams ; Fort West Hoosac, on the public square in Williamstown ; Fort Shirley, in Heath ; Coghran's and Rice's forts in Coleraine ; and Sheldon's fort, in Bernardston. In the latter place, as well as in Coleraine, several houses were stockaded, and at Northfield and Greenfield the old defenses were repaired. The western cordon of forts was placed under the immediate command of Capt., afterwards Col. Ephraim Williams, who established his headquarters at Fort Massachusetts. Col. John Stoddard, of Northampton, commander of the militia regiment in the county of Hampshire, was charged with the general defense of the same quarter.

The rations allowed the garrison forces on the frontiers were, for each man, one pound of bread and half a pint of peas or beans per diem ; two pounds of pork for three days, and one gallon of molasses for forty-two days. March- ing forces were allowed a pound of bread for each man ; the same of pork, and a gill of rum per diem. Parties were kept continuously ranging from fort to fort on the line between Forts Dummer and Massachusetts, and thence to Pittsfield, for the purpose of ferreting out the Indians, and compa- nies of large dogs were trained to scent their trails. To induce soldiers to engage in this kind of warfare, a bounty of thirty pounds each was offered on

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Indian scalps. The officer who commanded a "scalping expedition," was required to keep a fair and correct journal of his marches and operations, and return it to the government of the province.

Fort Massachusetts was located near road 3, as numbered on our map, or the main road leading from North Adams to Williamstown, about four miles from the present village of Williamstown, upon a meadow of the Hoosac river, now a part of the Harrison farm. Its immediate site is marked by a large elm tree which was planted by Prof. A. L. Perry, of Williams college, in 1859. During the year 1744 no very important demonstrations were made by the enemy, and none within the reach of the forts, and even during the fol- lowing year, 1745, the vigilance of the scouts was rewarded with no discovery of, or collision with, the enemy. But May 6, 1746, as Lieut. John Hawks and John Miles were riding out from the fort, they were fired upon by two Indians and wounded. Miles made his escape to the fort ; but Hawkes fought for sometime and might have taken both prisoners, had he understood their language, for it was afterwards learned that they both asked for quarter. On the 11th of the following month, June, a party of the enemy attaked a number of men who were at a distance from the fort, and a skirmish ensued. After sustaining the fire a few minutes, the enemy fled, having lost one of their men. Elisha Mims and Gresham Hawks were wounded, and Benjamin Ten- ter was taken captive.

No attack then took place until the 20th of August, when an army of French and Indians under Gen. De Vaudreuil, their number being variously estimated at from 800 to 900, appeared before the fort. A more unfortunate time for the garrison could not have been chosen, as its ammunition was nearly ex- hausted, and there were but twenty-two able men in the fort. The French general made propositions to Sergeant John Hawks, then temporarily in command of the fort, to surrender, but he declined, thinking, perhaps, that succor might reach him during the time which he might be able to delay his surrender. The attack was accordingly commenced, and the brave little gar- rison defended the fort against forty times their number for forty-eight hours During all this time the enemy were kept at a respectful distance, and some of them were shot, at the long range of sixty rods, when they supposed them- selves entirely beyond the arm of danger. At the end of this long and most gallant defense, the ammunition of the garrison became exhausted, and no choice but a surrender was left, and even then the commander of the garri- son made his terms. One of the conditions was that none of the prisoners, numbering thirty-three men, women and children, should be delivered to the Indians. De Vaudreuil made the pledge, and the army next day, under the pre- tence that the Indians were mutinous in consequence of withholding prison- ers from them, one-half of the number were delivered over to them, and one of the number was immediately killed, in consequence of his being too sick to travel. The garrison lost but one man in the attack, while the enemy lost, in killed and mortally wounded, forty-five. The fort was destroyed and the cap-

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tives marched to Canada, where they all, except the murdered man, arrived in safety, being treated as humanely as circumstances would allow. Twelve of them, however, were taken sick and died there, while the remainder, with other prisoners, arrived at Boston on August 16, 1747, nearly a year after their capture, under a flag of truce, and were redeemed. This affair, one of the most gallant in the whole history of the frontier wars, has invested the locality of old Fort Massachusetts with patriotic associations, such as attach to few of the points made interesting by having been the scene of border struggles, and is regarded and spoken of with affectionate pride by those liv- ing in its vicinity. That Sergeant Hawks would never have surrendered if his ammunition had not failed him is very certain, and, as it was, the victory won by De Vaudreuil was no subject of boasting.

The fort was rebuilt during the following winter and spring, and on the 25th of May, while it was in progress of erection, there being several hun- dred people present, an army of the enemy came on with the design of hin- dering the undertaking. About a hundred men had been sent to Albany a few days before for stores of provision and ammunition. As these were approaching the fort on their return, a scout was sent forward, who, upon coming within sight of the fort, discovered the enemy and began an attack, which gave alarm to the people at the fort, who had not yet discovered the enemy. A few issued out and maintained a small skirmish, until the enemy fled. The people remained at the fort, and the commander of the party with the wagons were much blamed for not affording assistance, and were charged with cowardice. In this action three persons were wounded and a friendly Indian from Stockbridge was killed.

On the Ist of October following, Peter Burvee was captured near the fort ; and on the 2d of August, 1748, about 200 of the enemy appeared at the fort. It was then under the command of Captain Williams. A scout was fired upon, which drew out the Captain with about thirty men, and an attack was begun, which continued for some time; but finding the enemy numerous, Captain Williams fought upon the retreat until he had regained the fort. The enemy soon withdrew, but with what loss is not known. A man by the name of Abbott was killed, and Lieutenant Hawley and Ezekiel Wells were wounded. Colonel Williams was killed at Lake George, September 8, 1755, and afterwards a Captain Wyman had charge of the fort. The last sanguine affair at the fort, at which we have mention, was on June 7, 1756, when Benjamin King and a man by the name of Meacharn were killed, this being during the second French war.

We have already stated, on page 95, that some of the first settlers of the town had been soldiers located at Fort Massachusetts. One of these a John Perry, had settled here, built for himself an house, and had cleared a small farm at the time the prisoners were captured, of which he was one, August 20, 1746. His house and effects, it seems, were destroyed, and a short time after his release from captivity he petitioned the general court for compensa-

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tion for his losses. This quaint petition, which we print below, it seems, however, was disregarded by the court. It is dated November 5, 1747, less than three months after the return of the captives :-

" Whereas, your Honors' humble Petitioner enlisted in the service of the country, under the command of Capt. Ephraim Williams, in the year 1745, and was posted at Fort Massachusetts, in Hoosuck, and upon ye encourage- ment we had from ye late Col. John Stoddard, which was that if we went with our families, he did not doubt but that ye court would grant us land to settle on, whereupon I, your Honors' humble petitioner, carried up my family with my household stuff and other effect, and continued there till we was taken, when we was obliged to surrender to the French and Indian enemy, August the 20th, 1746. I would humbly lay before your Honors the losses I sustained, then, which are as followeth :- A house which I built there for my family, £ 80; two feather beds with their furniture, £100 ; two suits of apparel apiece for me and my wife, £150 ; two brass kettles, a pot of pewter with tramel tongs and fire slice, and knives and forks to ye balance of £20; one cross-cut saw, {20; and one new broad-ax, {6; three new narrow axes, £8 ; two steel traps, £14; two guns, £32 ; one pistol, £5; one one-hundred weight of sugar, £20; total, £457, with a great many other things not named. The losses your humble petitioner hath met with, together with my captivity, hath reduced me to low circumstances, and now humbly prayeth your Honors of your goodness to grant him a grant of land to settle upon near ye forts, where I fenced, which was about a mile west of the fort or elsewhere, where your Honors pleaseth, and that your Honors may have a full reward hereafter, for all your pious and charitable deeds, your Honors' humble petitioner shall always pray. "John Perry. "

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Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 31

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