Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 39

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 39

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The Methodist Episcopal church, located on Fenn street, was organized in 1791, by its first pastor, Rev. Robert Green. The first church building,

TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

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BRADLEY CHE

(THE M. E. CHURCH-PITTSFIELD.)

erected in 1828, gave place, in 1872, to the present elegant brick structure which was erected at a total cost of $115,000.00. It has accommodations, including lecture room, for 1,600 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $120,000.00. The society has 682 members, with Rev. George Skene, pastor.

The Baptist church .- A small Baptist society was formed here in 1772, under the ministrations of Valentine Rathbun. In 1780, he and his people joined the Shakers, though they only remained three months, when Mr. Rath- bun renounced their doctrines, but was not able to re-collect the whole of his flock, though the church had, in 1786, twenty-four members. About 1798 it became extinct, and on the 27th of October, 1800, a new society was formed, with sixteen members, the organization taking place at the house of

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TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.

John Francis, who became their first pastor, the first communion being observed August 3, 1801. But it was not until December 27, 1849, that the church became a regularly incorporated body. Their first church building was erected in 1827, and was succeeded by the present structure, located on North street, in 1850. The society is now in a prosperous condition, with Rev. E. O. Holyoke, pastor.

St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church, located on Park place, was organ- ized according to law in 1830, consisting of one male and two female mem- bers only. Rev. Edward Ballard was installed as the first rector, and in 1832 the present fine stone building was erected, at a cost of $14,000.00. It will seat 400 persons and is valued, including grounds, at $25,000.00. The society now has 280 communicants, with Rev. William W. Newton, rector.

The Second Congregational church .- In 1846, the colored people of Pitts- field, belonging to the various churches and congregations, came together and formed the Second Congregational church with twelve members. Rev. Dr. Todd, Hon. E. A. Newton, and other gentleman, took an active interest in the new church, and mainly through their efforts the present church building was re-constructed from an old Wesleyan Methodist church, being dedicated in the month of February of that year. Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, then of Troy, supplied the pulpit for a few Sabbaths, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas P. Hunt, of Philadelphia, who remained a little over a year. In 1849 they called Samuel Harrison, then a theological student, to labor as a missionary. In 1850 he was licensed to preach, and August 13th, of that year, he was ordained as pastor of the church, a position he now holds. During the war he served for a time as chaplain of one of the Massachusetts regiments. He has been pastor of the church continuously for the past twelve years. The society now has about fifty members, their church building and property being valued at $2,500.00.

South Congregational church .- November 12, 1850, a colony of 130 per- sons was organized as the South Congregational church, being dismissed from the First church for that purpose, Rev. Samuel Harris, D. D., being ordained as their first pastor. Their first church building was destroyed by fire when nearly completed, and another was immediately built in its place, which was dedicated the day after the organization of the society, so that the building, considering the loss, cost $15,000.00. It is located on South street, will seat about 750 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $14,000.00, while the society has also a parsonage valued at about $5,000.00. The so- ciety now has about 320 members. Its pastors have been, since Mr. Harris, Revs. Charles B. Boynton, D. D., Roswell Foster, Samuel R. Dimock, Edward Strong, D. D., Thomas Crowther, William Corruthers, and C. H. Hamlin, the present incumbent.

St. Jean Le Baptiste French Roman Catholic church .- About the year 1869, Rev. Mr. Lemarque, assistant pastor of St. Joseph's church, collected the con- siderable number of French Catholics in town, into a congregation by them-

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selves, to whom he preached in their own language. When the congregation of St. Joseph's took possession of their new church, the French Catholics purchased the old church, a neat, commodious wooden building. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. A. L. Desaulniers.

(ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH AND PARSONAGE-PITTSFIELD.)

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church .- The first Catholic services were held here in 1835, at the house of a Mr. Daly, on Honasada street, by Rev. Father O'Callahan. of Vermont. From that time until 1839 Father O'Cal- lahan visited Pittsfield yearly until 1839, and was succeeded by Rev. John D. Brady, as mission priest, who, in 1844, bought of Henry Callender a lot 21*

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TOWN OF RICHMOND.

on Melville street for a church and burial-ground, and the church was built that year. In 1854 the present pastor, Rev. Edward H. Purcell, was called to the charge. In 1864 the present fine stone structure on North street was commenced, the first ground being broken in July, and the corner-stone laid August 20th, the church being consecrated November 20, 1866.

The German Evangelical Lutheran church .- In 1859, when the Protes- tant German population of Pittsfield was about 400, arrangements were made by a portion of them for divine service in their own language. These ser- vices were at first held in private houses, and with occasional visits by cler- gymen from New York. But in April, 1859, Rev. Augustus Grotrain, a learned and able minister of Albany, accepted a call, and organized the Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pittsfield. The town subsequently granted a pleasant site in the corner of First street burial-ground, where their church was erected, at a cost of $2,274.00, and which was dedicated September 14, 1865. The present pastor is Rev. John D. Hægar.

R ICHMOND lies in the western part of the county, in lat. 42°22' and long. 3º39', bounded north by Pittsfield and Hancock, east by Lenox, south by West Stockbridge, and west by the state line. The story of the original purchase of the town of the Indians, the re-creation of the town- ship, division of territory and changes of name have all been mentioned in connection with the sketch of Lenox, on page 207, to which we refer the reader.

The surface of the town is broken and picturesque, the central part, how- ever, being a charming valley extending north and south, with the highlands and mountains rising on the eastern and on the western borders. This depression into valleys and uprising into rugged mountains has been accom- plished when nature was in her happiest mood, and she has left evidence thereof in the charming scenic beauty for which the town is so justly cele- brated. The high altitude, also, fanned by the pure upper strata of air, ren- ders the town remarkable for its healthfulness, while the arable, productive land yields a plentiful reward to the toils of the husbandman, so that Rich- mond is almost exclusively an agricultural district, containing not even a hint of the crowded village or still more crowded city. Numerous springs and rivulets abound, imparting unusual freshness to the verdure and salubrity to the atmosphere, though there are no large streams. Near the center valley is formed the water-shed of the town, from which the streams flow into Rich- mond pond, and south into the Housatonic. In the northern section are Ford, Roye's, Tracey and Plummet brooks, while in the southern section Cone and Griffin brooks, flowing southerly, unite and form Williams river, a tributary of the Housatonic. Perry's peak, lying in the northwestern part of the town, is the highest summit of one of the largest mountain masses in

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TOWN OF RICHMOND.

the Taconic range, which, like many of the others, has several minor prominences. It rises 1,030 feet from its base, which itself has an altitude of 1,050 feet above sea level. From it may be obtained one of the grandest, most extensive and most picturesque views afforded in the county, extend- ing to Greylock on the north, Mount Washington on the south, the Catskills on the west, and the Hoosac on the east. "In the south the Taconics raise their noble dome against the sky, while nearer, for an interval, they present the appearance of pyramidal summits, the convential form in which the abstract mountain range is represented, but which this rarely assumes to the eye, and never in reality. The far off Catskills can sometimes hardly be told from the massive clouds which overhang and mingle with them. At the western foot of the mountain in New York, gleams Whiting's pond, better known as Queechy Lake, one of the prettiest lakelets among the hills. Upon the other side one looks down upon Richmond pond, another pretty sheet of water, and moreover, a favorite with sportsmen. Eight miles away may be seen the spires of Pittsfield. Scattered all about are points of individual interest ; but it is the grand coup d' œil, which it affords in several directions, that gives Perry's Peak its celebrity."

Geologically considered, the formative rock of the township is talcose-slate, limestone and mica-slate, the first underlying the western part, and the latter the eastern part, with the limestone region between them, where are found numerous deposits of iron ore. Richmond also is famous in scientific circles for its well-defined course of the " Richmond bowlder train." This is a range of bowlders of a peculiar chloritic schist, extending across Richmond and on southeastward, from Try's hill, in Columbia county, New York, and which were first discovered, or accounted for, in 1842, by Dr. Reed. These rocks were evidently dropped by floating ice during the glacial period. Some of them weigh many tons, while others are nothing more than pebbles. In Richmond, this trail of rocks is about three miles wide on the west line of the town, while in the eastern part it may be reduced to two miles. They are found most numerous near the center of the current, and at the west base of the acclivities over which the current passed, where, as appearances indicate, the barque that floated them ran aground, and threw ballast over-board to top lighten, so as to pass through shallow water. Sometimes we find them on the ridges, scattered plentifully, as though they, by dragging the bottom, had been stopped in their course. On the east side of Lenox mountain, near the road passing from West Stockbridge to Lenox, are some thirty of these rocks lying in confused order, as though, in passing away from the mountain, the transporting power had made a fearful plunge, and left a part of its burden.

In 1880 Richmond had a population of 1, 124. In 1883 the town em- ployed one male and five female teachers in its public schools, paying an average monthly salary of $24.00 to the male and $26.54 to the females. There were 286 school children in the town, while the entire amount raised for school purposes was $1,231.96.

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TOWN OF RICHMOND.

RICHMOND (p. o.), a hamlet containing one store and also a station on the Boston & Albany railroad, located a little southwest of the center of the town, is the nearest approach to a village the town has. The postoffice was estab- lished here in 1806, and has since been in the hands of only three families, named Branch, Pierson and Williams, a Williams having had the office for the past forty-five years.

Richmond Furnace (p. o.) located in the southwestern part of the town, is a small settlement located about the works of the Richmond Iron Com- pany, being mostly employees of that concern. They have also a small store here for their accommodation, though most of the trading done by the in- habitants of the town reaches Pittsfield.

The Richmond Iron Company was originally organized as early as 1829, though it was not incorporated until 1842. Originally the company engaged in smelting only at the Richmond furnace, to which was added, at the time of incorporation, the Van Deusenville furnace, in Great Barrington, and in 1863 the Cheshire furnace, of Cheshire, was added. The company has two ore-beds in Richmond, and also charge of one of the Leet beds in West Stock- bridge. In Richmond, the company employs fifteen men at the furnace, fifty men in their mines near the furnace, and thirty men in their mine located on road 37. All the company's furnaces have been rebuilt, enlarged and im- proved, however, so that they now produce about 12,000 tons of iron per annum, giving employment to 700 hands. William H. Barnum, of Lime Rock, Conn., is president of the company, George Church, of Great Bar- rington, treasurer, and R. A. Burget, of Cheshire, agent.

The settlement of the town was commenced in 1760, by Capt. Micah Mudge and family, who located in the southeastern part of the town, near the Stockbridge line, and his daughter Elizabeth was the first white child born in the town. Mr. Mudge and his family remained there alone during the summer, but, in the autumn, Ichabod Wood, from Rehoboth, moved in, and settled on the lot where the Congregational church now stands. There, three miles apart, these two settlers spent the long and rigid winter that followed. In 1761, Elijah and Isaac Brown, John Chamberlin, David Pixley, Joseph Patterson, and David, Timothy and Aaron Rowley moved in with their families, and settled in the southern and southwestern part of the town. In 1762 the settlement was extended into the western part by Joseph and Paul Raymond, and into the southeastern part by John and Daniel Slosson. In 1763 the eastern part was settled by Prince and Jonathan West, Jacob Redington, Stephen Benton, John Higby and John Bacon, and the northern part by David Rossiter and Benjamin Merriman. From this time forward the settlement increased rapidly, the population reaching its maximum about 1791, which was 1,255 souls. During this period most of the families who came in up to 1774 or '75, were as follows : Nathan Peirson, from Long Island, Simeon and Elijah Tracy, from Preston, Ezekiel Olmsted, from Nor- walk, Ebenezer and Ephraim Welch, from Norwich, Eliphalet Redington,

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from Tolland, Silas and Aaron Parmelee, from Guilford, Edward Robinson and Samuel Fitch, from Stonington, Vine Branch, from Preston, Samuel Comstock Betts, from Wilton, David and Parker Stevens, and John Nichols, from North Killingworth, Benjamin Reeve, from Litchfield, Able Harrison, from Litchfield, Samuel Hockley, from Norwich, Benjamin Peirson, from Long Island, Benjamin Merriman, from North Guilford, William and John Lusk, from Newington, James Ford, from Norwich, Isaac Tilden, Joseph and Samuel Cogswell, from Southington, Daniel Hotch, from Lebanon, Conn., Alexander Gaston, from Salisbury, Amos and Daniel Rathbun, from Stoning- ton, John and David Williams, from East Haddam, Thomas Scott and Daniel Hand, from Long Island, Abner West, from Tolland, Isaac Cook, from Goshen, and John Dudley, from Guilford.

Schools were first established in 1781, James Gates was the first magis- trate, and Thomas Tarbell, from Bridgeham, L. I., was the first physician. The first town-meeting was held at the house of John Chamberlain, July 2, 1765.

Walter Cook, one the early settlers, removed from Goshen, Conn., locating on the farm now owned by Charles H. Dorr, on road 12. He was a farmer. His son, Walter Cook, Jr., married Betsey Birchard, daughter of Lieut. Birchard, of Becket, and cousin of ex-President, Hayes, by whom he had a family of ten children, only four of whom are now living. Of these, George, and his two sisters, Florella and Betsey, all single, reside on the old home- stead, on road 23, and Walter, a tanner, lives in Oneida county, N. Y. George has been chorister of the Congregational church for the last forty years, where he has been deacon for the past eight years. Walter Cook, Jr., died at Boston after an illness of but about three weeks, having been elected representative in 1846, by both parties.

John Nichols, one of the earliest settlers in Richmond, was born July 21, 1759, on Long Island. He married Phebe Hand, by whom he had a family of nine children, all of whom are now dead. The family are represented in the town by one grandson, John S., and family, who live on road 20, and by another, William L., residing on road 13.

Alexander Gaston came to Richmond from Salisbury, Conn., about 1770, and reared a family of five children, one of whom, William, had several chil- dren-one of whom, Elisha, always lived in Richmond and is still represented here by one son, Franklin H., residing on road 36, who married Sarah M. Cook and reared a family of six children, Ella, Robert F., William C., Fred- erick E., Charles E. and Ida. Of these, Frederick C., who married Emma Reynolds, and Robert F. reside on the homestead with their father.

Nathan Rossiter, from Guilford, Conn., located, in 1775, on the farm now owned by Abram N., on road 26, corner 28, and reared a family of seven chil- dren. One son, Nathan, moved to Williamstown, where one of his daugh- ters married Prof. Hopkins. Noah and Abram always resided upon the farm. Abram had seven children, Nabby, Polly, Abram, Samuel, Lucy,

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TOWN OF RICHMOND.

Sarah and Nathan. This family are represented in the town by Joseph Peir- son, grandson of Nathan, who resides on road 27, and another son, H. M., a prominent citizen of Pittsfield, and by Abram N., son of Abram, who resides upon the old homestead. Abram N. has always been a farmer and has been a selectman in Richmond for the last twelve years, and has held various other town offices.

David Perry, from Harwinton, Conn., came to Richmond in 1784, was in- stalled pastor of the Congregational church, and preached there for more than thirty years, when, on account of the infirmities of age, he was com- pelled to resign, and consequently, was dismissed January 1, 1816, dying June 17, 1817, at the age of seventy-one. He married Jerusha Lord in 1776, by whom he had eleven children-David L., Frederick, Alfred, John B., Je- rusha L., Mary, Erastus, Asa, Florella, Sarah and Daniel, only one of whom, Asa, is now living. David I .. was a preacher in Sharon, Conn .; Asa, now ninety-five years of age, married Philura Aylsworth, of Canaan, by whom he had five children-Albertus, George, David, Edward A., and Kate P. Albertus, a graduate of Williams college, is now a lawyer in New York city ; George is editor of the " Home Journal," and is also a graduate of Williams college ; David is now in Florida ; Edward A. attended Yale col- lege, and is now a lawyer in Pensacola, Florida ; Kate P. now lives in Rich- mond on road Io.

Timothy Griffing, son of Jasper, came to Richmond in 1795 and located on road 422, his father having previously come to the place and purchased a farm for each of his sons,-Timothy, Jasper and Russell. Timothy reared a family of nine children. One son, Martin, was a painter and carpenter by trade, living on road 29. When twenty-two years of age he fell from the steeple of the Congregational church, which he was repairing, and broke his back. He lived to the age of seventy-five and reared a family of six children. One, Martin H., who is married and lives in Danbury, Conn., has placed a fine memorial window in the present Congregational church here ; Susan E. married John A. Sharp and had a family of eight children, one of whom, A. Granville, still resides on the old homestead, on road 29. He is a prosperous farmer, engaged in growing small fruits, and for four years has been superin- tendent of the Sunday-school here ; Richard F. is living in Illinois ; the other children of Martin's are dead. Timothy Griffing was the inventor of a machine for working profiles.

Henry Peirson came to Richmond, from Long Island in 1799, locating on the farm now owned by J. J. Peirson, on road 27, and reared a family of five children. The three daughters, Betsey, Harriet, and Sophia, never married, and lived and died upon the homestead, where Harriet kept a scool called " Maple Valley Seminary." Josiah was born on Long Island, but most of his life was spent upon the homestead here. He had born to him seven children, namely: Mary R., Henry M., Sarah R., Nelson R., Abbie E., Phebe S., and Joseph J. Mary lives in Goshen, Conn .; Henry M. is a hardware dealer in

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Pittsfield; Sarah resides in Cornwall, Conn .; Melisia lives in Waterbury, Conn .; Abbie (Mrs. John S. Nichols) resides on road 20, in Richmond ; Phebe resides in Sharon, Conn .; Joseph J. married Elvira L. Noble, of Pitts- field, and lives upon the old homestead.

Nehemiah Williams, a farmer, and an early settler who lived in the house now owned by James Truran, on road 29, had born to him four children. One son, Eleazer, married Rebecca Holbrook, of Pomfret, Vt., by whom he had eight children-Jerusha P., John C., Jennie E., Elisha, G. Washington, Eleazer Ist, Eleazer 2d and Catherine E. P. He was a merchant, and postmaster in the town. Of his children, Jerusha is married and lives in Michigan ; John is married and is a merchant in Toledo, Ohio ; Jennie is postmistress in Rich- mond, and also has a store; G. Washington is in Cleveland, Ohio; Elisha is wood agent for the Richmond Irom Co .; Eleazer Ist died in infancy ; Eleazer 2d is a hardware dealer in Pittsfield ; Catherine E. P., wife of Charles Nich- ols, resides on road 5, in Richmond.

Gilbert Woodruff, who married Eliza Benton, of Richmond, is a shoemaker residing on road 39, corner 28.

The Congregational church of Richmond, located in the Central part of the town, was organized in 1764, with sixteen members. Since that time, cover- ing a period of nearly 120 years, the church has had only five settled pastors. In 1765 Rev. Job Swift was settled, and remained until 1774. The church was then without a pastor for ten years, though the pulpit was constantly sup- plied. In 1784 Rev. D. Perry was installed. He had a most successful pastor- ate of thirty-two years. and died surrounded by his children and children's children, blessing each one with prayer and benediction in his last hour. In 1819 Rev. Edwin Dwight was installed, and remained eighteen years. Rev. E. L. Clark accepted a call in 1838, and remained fourteen years. Rev. C. J. Renshaw was installed in 1853, and remained seven years, when he died. In 1869 Rev. Lupton W. Curtis was called, and has remained the pastor since. During Mr. Perry's pastorate there were three or four revivals of very great power, and as a result nearly 200 were added to the church. During Mr. Dwight's pastorate there were three seasons of great interest, and from two of them 130 were added to the church membership. The first church building, a small wood structure, was built in 1766. This was superseded in 1795 by another structure, erected by the town at a cost of $4,000.00, which was used until November 1, 1882, when it was destroyed by fire. In its place has been erected the present fine structure, finished in 1883. It will seat 250 persons, cost $9,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at $11,000.00. The society now has ninety-two members.

The Methodist Episcopal church .- About the year 1817 the Methodist fanii- lies in the town began to hold meetings, and in 1825 built the present church located near the center of the town. It will seat 200 persons and is valued, including grounds, at $2,000.00, its original cost being $1,500.00. The first pastor was Rev. Daton Avery. The society now has forty members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William Stevens, of West Stockbridge.

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TOWN OF SANDISFIELD.

S ANDISFIELD lies in the extreme southeastern part of the county, in lat. 46° 6', and long. 3° 54', bounded north by Monterey and Otis ; east by Otis and Tolland, in Hampshire county, south by the Connec- ticut line, and west by New Marleboro and Monterey. The town was origi- nally granted in 1735, to a company of men from Worcester and Middlesex counties. They petitioned the general court for a grant of four townships. Their petition was referred to a committee, and on January 15, 1735, Ed- mund Quincy, Esq., from the committee of both houses, gave in the follow- ing report, which was accepted :-

"That there be four townships opened upon the road between Westfield and Sheffield, and that they be contiguous to one another, and either join to Sheffield or to the township [Blandford] lately granted to the proprietors of Suffield, each of the contents of six miles square ; and that there be sixty- three home lots, laid out in a compact and defensible form, in each town- ship, one of which to be for the first settled minister, one for the second set- tled minister, one for schools, and one for each grantee, who shall draw equal shares in all future divisions ; that the grantees be such petitioners as have not been grantees or settlers for the seven years next preceding, and give security to the value of £40 each for a performance of the usual conditions ; and that a joint committee of five be appointed for this purpose."

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Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 39

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