Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 49

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 49

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John Prindle came to Williamstown, from New Milford, Conn., about 1790, and settled as a farmer on Birch Hill, in the western part of the town. Here he remained a few years, then went West as far as Genesee county, N. Y., where he remained a few years, though he eventually returned to Will- iamstown, where he continued to live the remainder of his life. He married Nellie Johnson, about 1810, and reared nine children, only two of whom reside in Williamstown, viz. : Marshall Prindle, an active, energetic farmer, and reliable citizen residing near the village, and Adaline (Mrs. Daniel B. Galusha) in the southern part of the town. John Prindle led an exemplary and honorable life, and died at the age of sixty-two years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Prindle resided with her son, Parley J., in the western part of the town, till her death, aged seventy-six years.

Nathaniel Chamberlin, came to Williamstown, from Colchester, Conn., about 1790, and settled in the wilderness on Northwest Hill (road 2). Late in life he bought the farm which his grandson Nathaniel Chamberlin, now owns and occupies. Here he lived until his death, in 1843, at the age of eighty-four years. He was the father of four children, all sons. The elder two, when young men emigrated to Chenango county, N. Y. The other two settled here. Emory located as a farmer in the immediate neighborhood but later removed to the village, and eventually died in Illinois. Ralph, the youngest son, remained on the homestead until his father's death, then removed to the place his son Nathaniel now occupies. Ralph Chamberlin died on this place in 1868, aged seventy-five years.

Porter R. Cole, born in New Ashford, June 26, 1819, came to Williams-

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town in 1837, when a little less than seventeen years old. He lived on River Bend farm, the homestead, until 1840, when he married Miss Mary Rich- ardson and settled as a hotel-keeper in the "Stone Tavern," only a few rods from his present residence, in Coleville. Here he remained only two years, when he moved to his present location, built a store adjoining his residence, and occupied it for the next twenty-five years, as general merchant. In 1869 he built, in company with his brother, John L. Cole, the mills he now owns and runs. This partnership continued one year, when Mr. Cole bought the interest of his brother, and continued the lumber business alone. In 1874 he formed the firm of P. R. Cole & Sons, which continued about seven years. He is now the sole owner.

John Krigger, of German parentage, came to Williamstown, from Pownal Vt., during the Revolutionary war, and immediately erected the first grist- mill at Sweet's Corners. A part of the same building is now the mill of D. J. Sweet. One set of the mill stones which he used are now in the Green River Mills, at Williamstown, and doing good service for its proprietor, C. S. Tower. Mr. Krigger remained here the remainder of his life, dying at about the age of seventy years.

Nathan Smith, the eighteenth settler of the town, as we are informed, located upon the farm now occupied by W. H. Meacham. He was a Revo- lutionary soldier and present at the battle of Bennington. He reared a family of four sons and two daughters, and attained the great age of 102 years. His only descendants now in Williamstown are his grandchildren, Mrs. Mercy (Bennett) Read, and Lyman Bennett.

Daniel Timothy, for many years familiarly called " Uncle Daniel," came to Williamstown at an early date and settled on Northwest Hill, near the State line. Here he remained several years and cleared up his farm, but later he bought another farm, in Pownal, Vt., to which he removed but a few years before his death. He lived with a friend in Cummington, where he died, at the great age of 100 years. He was a Revolutionary soldier. He married Anna Boyd, a French lady, early in life, and they were parents of two sons and two daughters, though only one, a son, survives him. His only relative in Williamstown for the last thirty years has been his grandson, Elkanah Cronk now aged eighty years.

Elkanah Cronk was born in Williamstown, October 19, 1803, on the farm where his grandfather, Daniel Timothy first settled. Mr. Cronk has followed farming and has always resided in this town. He married early in life, Clarissa Foster, who was the mother of his ten children-five sons and five daughters. Mrs. Cronk died at the age of seventy years. Five of the children still live, three in Williamstown, viz .: Elizabeth (Mrs. George Rick- ards), Helen (Mrs. Patterson), and Dwight E. Norman L. lives in North Adams, and Benjamin F. in Beloit, Wis. Mr. Cronk still lives and enjoys a green old age at a little over four-score years.

Capt. Stephen Hickox, of Welch descent, and a captain in the Revolu-

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tionary war, came from Granville, Conn., to Williamstown, in 1781, locating on Bee Hill, road 18, where he purchased a lot on which was a log-house. He moved his wife and two children to this place, from Granville, on horse- back, the common mode of traveling at that early day. With his own hands and the aid of his two sons, as soon as they were old enough to assist, he cleared a large farm, where he continued to live in his log-house until 1813, when he and his sons, Stephen, Jr., and John, built a fine two-story house, which is now owned and occupied by his grandson, Chauncey E. Hickox.

Mr. Hickox was the father of two sons and five daughters, and lived to his ninetieth year. He assisted to build the first church and Williams college. His son Stephen drove four yoke of oxen to draw the heavy timbers from the mountains for these buildings. Stephen, Jr., succeeded his father on the homestead, and John, with the aid of his father and brother, built for him a house only a few rods distant, on their farm, which then contained about 600 acres. Stephen, Jr., raised a large family, only one of whom now lives in town. Chauncey E. Hickox, before mentioned, resides on the old homestead. Like his father, the pioneer of the family, he lived to the great age of eighty years. Henry D., oldest son of Stephen, Jr., and brother of Chauncey, resided with his father on Bee Hill till he was about thirty years old, when he bought the fine farm near the village of South Williamstown where he lived about thirty-five years, when he sold it to his son Stephen A. Hickox, the present proprietor, and emigrated to Beloit, Wis., where he died, in March, 1880.

Daniel Galusha, of Welch descent, came from Vermont to Williamstown in 1797, and settled where his grandson, Daniel B. Galusha, now lives. Here he remained till the close of his life. His son Daniel succeeded him on the homestead, reared seven children, and lived here to the age of eighty-one years. His son Daniel B., as before named, now owns and occupies the place, aged sixty-two years, and is assisted by his son, Daniel. It will thus be observed that the homestead has been owned for three generations by a Daniel Galusha.

Benjamin Briggs, born in 1759, a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner, came from Rhode Island and first settled in Berlin, N. Y. About 1786 or 1787, however, he removed to Williamstown and settled on the Holmes place, now owned by Daniel Phelps. "Uncle Ben," as he was familiarly known, married Lydia Howard, and reared seven children, all of whom settled in Williamstown, and some of whom are now living. His daughter Cynthia, born in town, in 1787, was the mother of twelve children, who all lived to at- tain an adult age. Three grandchildren only represent the family in Will- iamstown, but none bear the name of Briggs. Mr. Briggs was a thrifty farmer, and at the time of his death was owner of a number of improved farms and was accounted a rich man. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years, and Mrs. Briggs to the great age of ninety-four years.

Jared Leet came from Connecticut to Williamstown and settled on road

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16, where his great-grandson, William A. Leet, now lives, about 1794. He cleared up a farm, reared a family, and was succeeded by his son William, who reared a large family, but eventually removed to Ohio, with an ox team, where he died at the age of sixty-five. Alonzo Leet, son of William, suc- ceeded his father on the homestead, where he lived during his life, dying in February, 1883, aged sixty-seven. He married Laura Hill, who was the mother of seven children, and is now living, aged sixty-six years.

William A. Leet, as before mentioned, the only descendant of this ancient family, residing in this town, now occupies the homestead which has de- scended from generation to generation, with some additions to its territory, for nearly 100 years.

Valentine Worthy, a British soldier, in the service of George III., at the close of the Revolutionary war, escaped from that army at Williamstown, after the battle of Stillwater, when the troops were en route for transporta- tion to England. He went to Springfield, Mass., where he married, then returned to Williamstown and settled as a farmer at White Oaks, where he died at an advanced age. He reared a family of five children. William, his eldest son, born at White Oaks in 1782, married Rachael Williams, of Col- chester, Conn., and removed to Genesee county, N. Y., where he remained about a year, then returned to Williamstown at the outbreak of the war of 1812. He came on foot, carrying his knapsack, which weighed sixty-five pounds, and made the journey of 300 miles in five days. His wife followed alone, and drove the team which brought their goods. They settled on the old homestead, cleared from it the wilderness, and remained there till his death, in 1868, aged eighty-six years. Rachel survived him till 1871, aged eighty- four years. They were the parents of twelve children who lived to mature age. Only two of this large family are now living, Henry Worthy, living in Wolcott, N. Y., and Elisha Worthy in Williamstown.

David Foster, born in 1755, came to Williamstown from Rhode Island, as near as can be learned, about 100 years ago, and settled on Beechdale farm, where A. Walker now lives. He cleared a large portion of this farm, with the aid of his three stalwart sons. Here he remained the rest of his life, dying at the age of sixty-three years. He reared a family of five sons and four daughters, only one of whom settled in Williamstown, David, Jr., who remained with his father, and succeeded him on the home- stead, where he continued to live until about three years before his death, when he sold the farm and resided with his son Samuel till he died, October 28, 1859, aged seventy-six years. He married Polly Treadwell, and reared eight children, six of whom are now living, viz: David, John A., Angeline (Mrs. George Smith), and Samuel, who reside in this town. Phebe (Mrs. Albert Williams,) resides in North Adams, and Luna S., (Mrs. Maynard), in Bakersfield, Vermont.

Elisha Williams, born in 1746, immigrated from Connecticut to Williams- town when a young man, and settled on the farm where his grandson Charles

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now lives. Here he built a home, cleared his farm and raised his family of four children, and lived till 1832, aged eighty-six years. His son Elisha, børn on the homestead in 1781, succeeded his father, and also raised four children. He died on the place in 1856, at the age of nearly seventy- five years. The place is now owned and occupied by the Charles Williams above mentioned, grandson of Elisha and son and Elisha, Jr.

Sterling Daniels, born in England, a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner, came to Williamstown at a very early date and settled in the southern part of the town. He was the father of twelve children, who nearly all settled in the town. He lived to the great age of 102 years. His nearest descend- ant bearing the name living in Williamstown is his grandson, J. A. Daniels, a farmer, residing at Sweet's Corners.

William Torrey, of English descent, born January 21, 1744, married Han- nah Wheeler, and came from Middletown, Conn., to Williamstown in 1767, and located a claim where Mr. Gardner now lives, and settled there in 1768. Here he continued to live till his death, October 30, 1820. He cleared his farm and reared six children, viz .: Jason, David, Samuel, Mary, Josiah, and Ephraim. The second son, David, born in 1774, remained at home and always lived on the homstead, where all his family of ten children were born, and died in 1853. William, the oldest son of David, born in 1799, went to Pennsylvania, lived with his uncle a year or so, then he went to Lanesboro, Mass., and in 1839 succeeded his father and lived on the homestead till his death in 1881. William, by his will, left the place to his adopted daugh- ter, Minerva, who married Lewis J. Gardner, and died in 1882, leaving two young sons who are heirs to the estate.

John Torrey came to Williamstown and located on a farm adjoining that of his brother William, and carried on the business of tanning and shoemak- ing. He participated as a soldier in the French and Indian war, and was taken prisoner by the Indians and carried by the French to Canada. He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was present at the battle of Bennington. He was the father of twelve children.

George Sweet came from Rhode Island to Hancock during the time of the Revolutionary war, and settled where John Beebe now lives. He married Dorcas Hasdale, of Rhode Island, and they were the parents of six sons and two daughters. These sons grew to manhood, and were all drafted at the same time into the United States army, during the war of 1812. He came to this place with a cart drawn by one horse, which brought his wife and goods for house keeping, and they commenced life in a log cabin. By constant industry he added to his possessions till, at the time of his death, he was accounted one of the wealthiest men in the town. His children divided the estate between them. His daughter Dorcas (Mrs. Bentley), re- ceived the homestead, where she lived her life time. He is represented by numerous grandchildren, but in the vicinity of the homestead there are two only, Norman L. Sweet, of South Williamstown, and Marancy Sweet, in Han- cock.

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Nathan Eldridge came from Shaftsbury, Vt., to Williamstown, in 1796, and settled as a farmer on road 39, where Samuel Kellogg now lives. Here he remained the rest of his life, dying at the age of seventy-nine. He mar- ried Lydia Noble, of Pownal, Vt., and they were the parents of four chil- dren, viz. : Ruth, Mary, Reuben and Susan, none of whom are now living. Col. Reuben always lived on the homestead. He married Samantha Tyler, of New Ashford, and reared a family of nine children, six of whom still live. Reuben Eldridge died in 1856, aged sixty-two. His widow still survives, aged eighty-eight years. Only two of their children reside in Williamstown, Cordelia (Mrs. Sabin), of South Williamstown, and Helen (Mrs. J. E. Daw- ley), residing on a portion of the original homestead. Reuben Eldridge took an active interest in military affairs and was early promoted to the office of colonel. He also represented his town several years in the general assem- bly

Gurdon Bulkeley was born in Colchester, Conn., in 1773, came to Will- iamstown about 1805, and settled at South Williamstown, where he resided a few years. He then purchased the Stone Hill farm, where his son Dan A. Bulkeley now resides. Here he resided the remainder of his life, dying in 1845. He married Fanny Wright, of Colchester, and they were the par- ents of eleven children, of whom two live in Williamstown. On the farm is a barn now in a good state of preservation, built 144 years ago; also there is on the farm the site of an Indian camp or village, where relics are often found. The youngest son, Dan A., has a world wide reputation as the orig- inator of seedling potatoes of great value, among the best of which are " Bulkeley," "Berkshire," " Monitor," "Berkshire No. 2," and "Snow Flake."

Capt. Samuel Mills was born in Wallingford, Conn., and came to Will- iamstown about 1776. He purchased several original lots of land on the " oblong," where he cleared a farm and erected a house and barn. The house he continued to occupy till his death, and it is now standing. Mr. Mills was early identified with the military interest of his town, was a captain of militia, and participated in the battle of Bennington. He married Jemima Har- rington, the union being blessed with four sons and three daughters. Two of these, John and Reed, settled as farmers on the "oblong " and occupied the old homestead. Theodore S., the third son, became a successful physi- cian and settled in the town of Western, Oneida county, N. Y., but later emigrated to Half Day, Wisconsin, where he located his large family and remained until his death. Samuel, the youngest son, died in early manhood. John raised a family of five sons and four daughters. The sons went west and became farmers. Reed had a family of three sons and one daughter. Benjamin F., his oldest son, and his brother Josiah A., inherited the old homestead and possessed it together until October, 1883, when they sold it. In 1842 these brothers organized Greylock Institute. Josiah, who was a law- yer, severed his connection with the Institute in 1858, and located in Buff- alo, N. Y.

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Dr. Henry L. Sabin was born in Williamstown, May 29, 1801, and died here. He was the son of Jesse and Esther Bulkeley Sabin ; he won his education at Lenox academy and Williams college less easily than boys are "put through college " in these days ; he taught school and studied medicine at Chatham, N. Y., and attended lectures at the Pittsfield medical school and at New York ; and then, ready for his life work, he came back to Williams- town and never left it. The young doctor identified himself with all the local concerns, including his alma mater, and the results of a career so cir- cumscribed are worth noting: No man knew so intimately and sympathetic- ally as Dr. Sabin the lives of the people among whom he practiced. He shared in their joys, sorrows, hopes and associations. He remembered faces, incidents, dates and family records, and his visits were a household event. Outside of his profession Dr. Sabin assumed his full share of public duties. His religion was the old-fashioned, genuine New England article, and for just half a century he was a deacon of the Congregational church. When abolitionism was a reproach, Dr. Sabin took it up with usefulness, made his house a center for its advocates, and he preached temperance when New England rum was a popular beverage. The industrious village doctor never narrowed his interests within his immediate limits, but kept abreast of the great popular movements outside. He early became a Republican, was sent to the lower branch of the legislature, served with credit in the senate of 1857, and was prominent in county affairs. His life spanned great events in national progress, and none of these found him heedless of their passage or significance. This made him a most entertaining companion, and he learned much by contact with men. Besides holding many offices under the county medical society, Dr. Sabin was for many years a trustee of the North- hampton lunatic hospital, and also medical examiner. He was the oldest trustee of Williams college, having assumed the office in 1838, about the time Mark Hopkins became president. Dr. Sabin enjoyed this official asso- ciation, and was cordially esteemed by his associates of the board, among whom was for many years his classmate, the late Judge E. C. Benedict of New York. He was twice married, first to Lucy, daughter of Nathan Ben- jamin, in November, 1829, and after her death, April 24, 1833, to Abby B., daughter of Nathan Benjamin, of Catskill, N. Y., who died in April pre- ceding his death. The doctor's surviving family consists of two sons,- Nathan Henry and Charles, who are in business in New York city ; and three daughters,-Mrs. John Adriance and Mrs. Frederick Leake of Williamstown, and Mrs. Joseph Benjamin of New York.

Dr. Mark Hopkins, the late president of Williams college, was born in Stockbridge, February 4, 1802, a son of Archibald Hopkins, and grandson of Col. Mark Hopkins, the first lawyer who settled in Great Barrington. He was fitted for college partly in Clinton, N. Y., and partly at Stockbridge, un- der the tuition of his uncle, the Rev. Jared Curtis, and for a short time was a member of Lenox academy. He entered Williams college in the autumn of

Thes & Phelps

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1821, joining the sophomore class, and was graduated in 1824, when he pro- nounced the valedictory oration. Directly after leaving college he became connected with the former medical institution of Pittsfield, and devoted a portion of the year to teaching in his native town. He was a tutor in his alma mater two years, and received the degree of M. D. at Pittsfield in 1829. In August, 1830, he was appointed professor of rhetoric and moral philosophy in Williams college, and after the resignation of Dr. Griffin, in 1836, he was made his successor and professor of moral and intellectual philosophy. He married, December 25, 1832, Miss Mary Hubbell, of Williamstown. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Dartmouth, in 1837, and from Harvard in 1841, and that of LL. D., from the board of regents of New York, in 1857.

The Phelpses are an ancient Staffordshire English family. From high and reliable authority Rev. Professor Austin Phelps, of Andover, Mass., John J. Phelps, Esq., of New York city, and Judge Phelps, of Vermont, assert, and many more besides affirm, that this ancient and honorable family, whose earliest traces date back to the eleventh century, and that about ten years after the " Mayflower" landed her first installment of one hundred and one "live Yankees" on Plymouth Rock, in New England, the "Mary and John," another British ship of 400 tons burthen, after a comfortable passage of ten weeks, disembarked another installment of one hundred and forty passengers, May 30, 1630, at Boston, Mass., among whom were William Phelps, wife and four sons,-William, Samuel, Nathaniel and Joseph,- and George Phelps, William's brother, with his son Richard, the first Phelps pioneers, all of whom came from the boroughtown of Exeter, in the beautiful county of Devonshire, England. Isaac Phelps, Esq., of Patchway, near Bristol, England, writes a member of the family in this country, under date August 31, 1859, that the Phelps family's coat of arms is "A Mailed arm, two Wolves Heads." John G. Phelps also writes, September 21, 1859, that Arms has been granted by the English Herald's college-"Phelps" (Russell's Square, London), Walter Phelps, Esq., of Hartford, Ct., sent from Cherry Valley, N. Y., a pencil sketch of still another description of the family coat of arms, drawn by his nephew, James L. Phelps, Jr., son of Dr. Phelps, of New York city. From colonial and other records we learn that William Phelps, Sr., the pilgrim father and pioneer sire, with his wife, were original members of Rev. John Warham's church, in Exeter, England; that on the 9th of November, 1630, he was chosen a member of the first jury impanelled in the colony, to try Walter Palmer for killing Austin Bratcher, on the 9th of May, 1632, and was also one of two commissioners for the Dorchester plantation, appointed to confer with the general court about raising public stock ; that on the 14th of May, 1634, he was a member of the general court held at Boston, and at this court was appointed one of four commissioners to "view the place and certify to the next general court whether Boston shall have convenient enlargement at

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Mount Wallaston ;" that on the 6th of May, 1635, he was a member of the general court held at New Town, and that in the course of this year, by order of the general court, he established the bounds between Hingham and Wey- mouth ; that on the 15th of October, 1635, William Phelps and family and his brother George Phelps, set forth from Dorchester, Mass., on their long, toilsome and wilderness journey to the valley of the Connecticut river. Never before had the forests of America witnessed such a scene-the compass, their only guide through the unbroken forest. Dr. Stiles says that William Phelps was an excellent, pious and upright man, both in his public and private life ; that he was truly a pillar of church and state, and that he was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in this then British colony. In the year 1658 he was appointed magistrate.

Nathaniel Phelps, third son of William Phelps, September 17, 1650, removed to and was one of the pioneers of Northampton, Mass., where he died, May 1, 1690. He had four children,-Nathaniel (2), born April 2, 1653, married Grace Martin, and was the grandfather of Martin Phelps, who was born at Northampton, January 3, 1724, and who died November 12, 1795. Martin married and had nine children, -- Spencer, Eliphalet, Martin, Seth, Dan- iel, Andrew, Martha, Sarah and Mehitable. Sarah, second daughter of Martin, moved to Williamstown and married Dr. Porter, of that place. Daniel, fifth son of Martin, born at Northampton in 1762, married Mary Hanes, removed to Williamstown, July 4, 1799, and had three children, -Weltha, born August 22, 1791 ; Maria, born in 1793, and died March 14, 1798; and Thomas C. born July 24, 1795. Weltha Phelps married Eliakim Foster, of Leyden, Mass., in December, 1815, by whom she had five daughters and two sons,- Maria L., born December 21, 1816 ; Mary A., October 19, 1819 ; Caroline, June 12, 1820; Weltha P., September 18, 1822 ; Harriet E., February 20, 1825 ; Horace B., April 26, 1828 ; and Lucius Foster, April 26, 1831.

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Gazetteer of Berkshire County, Mass., 1725-1885, Part 49

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