USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 21
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Capt. James Walker was born in Weston, in November, 1732, and was a
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son of Nathaniel Walker. He settled in Belchertown in 1755, was twice married, and had eight sons, of whoin James, Hezekiah, Silas, Jason and Nathaniel lived to advanced ages in town. He served in the French war in 1757, and died in 1806, aged seventy-four years.
Col. Myron P. Walker, one of the best known of Belchertown's sons at the present time, was born February 18, 1845 ; was educated in the public schools. At the age of fourteen he was accepted as the drummer boy of the first Con- necticut valley Massachusetts regiment, the famous toth. With it he was in all the hard fought campaigns of the army of the Potomac, frequently at the front and under fire. Returning, after three years' service, he went into a country store, from whence he took a clerkship in Springfield. At majority he struck out for the Pacific slope. He went into a Sacramento life insurance company, whose cashiership he at length resigned for the secretaryship of a new corporation, to which was given the Pacific coast business of the great New York Life Insurance Company. While in California he won the repu- tation of a sound, skillful and successful insurance man. Able at length to select a residence, irrespective of business considerations, he returned to his native town and has developed a fine country seat. In the fall of 1884 he was placed in nomination for the Hampshire senatorship, and was hand- somely elected, leading every candidate on the ticket, whether state or na- tional. His own town gave him all but twenty-nine of her 392 votes, and at his re-election the following year all but eleven, a wholly unprecedented occurrence. This time he led his ticket by 700 votes. During his two terms he has held the chairmanship of the insurance committee and has been a member of the military and of the treasury committees. One of his most im- portant services was the passage of a law regulating assessment insurance. The bill, which was mainly his work, became a law with scarcely a word of debate, and is regarded as the best existing law on the subject. In military and agricultural matters he has won the cordial regard of those especially in- terested. His record in legislation is an honorable one, and has gained him many friends. He is now assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gov. Rob- inson, with the rank of colonel, and was last year on the staff of the national commander of the G. A. R. For two years or more he has been president of his regimental association. He is, besides, a member of several military and civic bodies. As he is not yet forty years of age, it is fair to anticipate other honors and services yet to come.
Capt. Roger Clapp came to Dorchester, Mass., from England, about 1630, and was one of the most important men of the colony. His son, Preserved, was born in Dorchester, November 23, 1643, married Sarah Newbury, and died September 20, 1720. Samuel, son of Preserved, was born in Northamp- ton in 1677, and died in 1761. He married three times, first, Sarah Bart- lett ; second, Thankful King, and third, Mary Sheldon. Ebenezer, son of William, was born in Northampton about 1707, and married Catherine Shel- don, in 1726. Ebenezer, Jr., was born in Northampton in 1730, married
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Mary Tileston, and died in Pittsfield, Mass. James Harvey, son of Ebenezer, Jr., was born in Northampton, March 5, 1792, married twice, first, Marilla D. Francis, and second, Mrs. Sarah Roy, and was for many years proprietor of a line of stages between Boston and Albany. He served in the legislature three terms. In 1812 he located in Belchertown and resided here until his death. April 23, 1871. Of his nine children four are living, namely, Evereit, of the firm of Rice, Clapp & Co., of New York city, Dwight P., Edward L., of the firm of Clark, Clapp, & Co., of New York city, and Mrs. Jane A. M. Gilmer, residing in Belchertown. John F., the oldest son, who died July 28, 1882, was of the firm of Simpson, Clapp & Co., of New York city. He left a fund of $40,000.00 in trust to his brothers, Everett and Dwight P., to build a library in Belchertown, with the stipulation that it be completed within the term of five years, and then given to the town. This request has been com- plied with, and the fine structure that now ornaments the village is the result of his generosity.
Benjamin Stebbins, son of Samnel, was born in Northampton in 1711, and is said to have been the first settler in Belchertown. He died in 1789, aged seventy-eight years. His son, Captain Gideon, was born in this town in 1740, married Mary Hinsdale in 1768, and had born to him five sons, Ben- jamin, who died many years ago, Darius, who died in infancy, Zenas, Samuel H. and Henry.
Joshua Barton, son of Samuel and Hannah Barton, was born in Oxford, Mass., December 24, 1697, and died February 13, 1773. His son, Reuben, was born March 28, 1728, served in the Revolutionary war, and died in Bel- chertown, December 22, 1819. Reuben, Jr., was born in this town, January 17, 1772, married Candace Darling, and reared seven children, viz .: Augus- tus, Nancy, William, Theodore, Orin, Horace and Marcus. The mother of these children lived to the great age of 102 years, the greatest age ever at- tained by any person in Belchertown. Theodore was born February 3, 1805, married twice. first, Rachel Cowin, November 22, 1832, and second, Electa C. Bush, February 16, 1852. Mr. Barton lived and died on the farm where his son, Myron S., now resides. The oldest child, Lydia, was born August 6, 1835, and lives in the village. Myron S. married Celestia E. Fisher, and has two children, Frederick S. and Harold E.
David Pratt came to this town from Ware, at an early day, and settled on road 23. He served in the Revolutionary war, and died in 1806. His son Elisha was born on the homestead, where he always lived, in October, 1785, married Abigail Sherman, and reared ten children, viz .: David, Hiram, So- phia, Virgil, Maria, Coolidge E., Caroline, Mary S., Experience and James H. Virgil was born in 1816, married Mary A. Randall, and has had born to him five children, two of whom are living, Homer S. and Almon L. Mr. Pratt lives on the homestead.
William Shaw, son of William, was born in this town in 1776, on the farm now owned by Edwin Kimball. He died February 14, 1859, aged eighty-
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four years. His son Oziel was born in 1806, married Lovina Bassett, and reared nine children, viz : William B., George F., Francis H., Ellen L, Aus- tin H., Elmer P., Laura A., Mary I. and Eva A. William B. married Julia M. Gamwell, and has three children, Lillian J., Ida L. and Myron A. Ellen L. married Edwin Kimball in 1862, and they have had born to them nine children, viz .: Angie E., Edwin E., William A., Clara L., Henry E., Nettie N., Austin L., Leila I. and Edith L.
Marcus L. Goodell is a son of Moses Goodell, a native of Woodstock, Conn., where he was born March 30, 1777. While an infant his parents moved to Belchertown, locating upon the farm now owned by LaFayette Goodell, where he died October 15, 1854, aged seventy-seven years, and is buried in the old cemetery near Dwight's Staton. Marcus, the fifth of his twelve children, was born on the old homestead April 24, 1807. He mar- ried for his first wife Amanda Aldrich, September 18, 1831, who bore him two children, both of whom died in infancy. For his second wife he married Dorothy Dickinson, of Amherst, November 9, 1837. She died without issue, March 2, 1370. His present wife, Julia A., daughter of Aretas Cadwell, of North Hadley, he married October 23, 1873. Mr. Goodell located upon the farm which he now occupies, on road 16, in 1831. In 1876 he built a resi- dence in Amherst, where he resided a short time, but returned to the old farm. Mr. Goodell began as a poor boy, and has, by perseverance and good management, worked his way to wealth.
Luther Holland was born in Petersham, Mass., in 1776, and came to this town in 1808. He married Clarissa Ashley, and reared five children, namely, Nelson, George, Ashley, Luther and Clarissa. Luther, Jr., was born in 1810, married Dorothy W. Stebbins, and reared eight children, three of whom are living, Harriet, Caroline and Charles. Harriet married Horatio Holland, and has one child, Dorothy S. Caroline married Edward Fisk, of Amherst. Charles L. married Cornelia Eaton, in 1876, and has two children, Ella E. and Charles L., Jr. The farm now owned by Mr. Holland has been in the family for four generations.
Thomas Sabin, son of Thomas, was born December 22, 1783, came to this town in 1813, and purchased the farm now owned by Lyman Sabin. He married twice, first, Abigail Durfey, who bore him five children, Lewis, Laura, Sherman, Lyman and Abigail. He married for his second wife, Abigail, widow of Horace Gates, and died March 29, 1885, at the great age of 101 years. His son Lyman was born in 1813, married Lucy C. Stebbins, and has three children, namely, Maria D., widow of Joshua Longley, Abigail D. (Mrs. Lewis K. William), and Laura S., who resides with her father on the home- stead, which is located on road 79. This farm was awarded the first pre- mium as being the best managed farm in the county, in 1871, by the East Hampshire's Agricultural Society. It also affords one of the finest views along the Connecticut valley, being at an elevation of 1,000 feet.
Henry Graves was born August 19, 1793, married Selina Smith, and had
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born to him four children, namely, Henry, Sophia S., who married John Elliott, a dentist; William and Austin L. Mr. Graves moved to South Had- ley Falls from Williamsburg, lived there seven years, moved to Ware in 1824, built a house there, which place he exchanged for the farm where he died, which event occurred March 25, 1865. Henry, Jr., was born in 1819, married for his first wife Hannah Wales, October 9, 1844, who bore him one son, Moses Wales, born April 1, 1846. She died April 16, 1863, and he married for his second wife Nancy Witt, May 8, 1866. Mr. Graves located on the farm where he now resides in 1853. He served in the late war, enlisting August 7, 1862, and serving three years. Mr. Graves has been deacon of the Baptist church for twenty-five years.
George Hubbard was born in Fabius, N. Y., in 1828, where he lived un- til he was eleven years of age, and then came to Belchertown. He married Maria Town, and has had born to him four children, namely. Lyman, Alfred, Edwin and Jennie S. Lyman married Malvina Burns, and has six children. Alfred married Julia Bisbee, and has two children. Jennie S. married Jerome Draper, and has one child.
Jefferson White, son of Amos and grandson of Jesse, was born in North- bridge, Mass., in 1805, and came to Belchertown in 1841. He was married three times, first, Abigail Eastman, who bore him eleven children, viz. : Mary J., Thomas J., Martha A., Wilbur F., Rufus B., William O., Charles A., Hannah E., Albert E., Amos L. and Eugene E. He married for his second wife Dorcas Lorring, and for his third wife Marion Cady, in April, 1885. Mr. White lives on road 86.
Martin I .. Hastings was born in East Boylston, Mass., in 1821, and resided there until he was eleven years of age, then moved with his father to Leo- minster. He moved to Barre when he was nineteen years of age, and came to this town in 1856. He married Mary Corbit, of Ware, and has had born to him one child, who died in infancy. He worked in Smith's cotton factory in Barre three years, worked for the Thorndyke Company, in Palmer, as overseer, and was employed in Otis Company's cotton mills in Ware, for about nine months.
Isaac Prouty was born in West Boylston, Mass., married Betsey Bear, and reared seven children, viz .: James, Jane (Mrs. Elias Cook), Benjamin, Isaac, Irena, Forester and Edward. Forester was born in Shutesbury, Mass., in 1826, married Elvira Pratt, in 1846, and has had born to him four children, three of whom are living, Emerson, Luther and Judson.
Philander Chandler, son of Jonas C., was born in Hardwick, in 1805, mar- ried Myra Keith, in 1833, and has had born to him five children, three of whom are living, namely, Minnie M., who married Arthur D. Howard, a cor- respondent of The Homestead, George F., who lives with his parents, and Susan E., who married T. W. Chapman, of this town. Mr. Chandler came to this town in 1865, locating on the farm where he now, lives. His son Charles, who died in Boston in 1885, was a graduate of Amherst college,
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soon after obtaining a position on the Boston Herald, and eventually became assistant editor.
Russell Jenks was born in Spencer, was a manufacturer of twisted whip stocks, and had born to him thirteen children. He moved to Palmer about 1806, and settled a place which was at that time a dense wilderness. His son Russell was born in Palmer in 1820, married Minerva Cary, of Westfield, Vt., and has one child, Abbey. The latter married Orcian Feague, who car- ries on business in Palmer, but resides in this town.
John S. Green was born in Monson, Mass., September 27, 1806, married Arminda Jenks, who bore him six children-Rachel, Sophia, Susan. Laura, Oliver and Josiah J .- and died here in November, 1881. His grandfather, Lovell Green, came from Sheffield, England, about 1667, and settled in Mon- son. John S. was the seventh of the eight grandchildren, brought him by his son Reuben. Josiah J., son of John S., was born in Palmer in 1829, and located upon the farm he now occupies on road 115, in 1877. He was over- seer in the Dwight Manufacturing Company's works at Chicopee twenty five years. His son, John C., is now overseer in a cotton mill at Millbury.
George Warner, son of Martin, was born in the state of New York in 1832, and came to this town with his father in 1847. His father died here at the age of seventy years. His children were as follows: Abraham, Eliza, Sarah, Magdeline, Martha E., Maria and George. Sarah married Asa Canterbury, and has three children, George, Fred and Eva. Magdeline married Joseph N. Towne, and has four children, Edwin, Byron, Carrie and Fannie. Martha E. married Frank Brewster, of Norwich. George married twice, first, Catherine Holden, who died in 1861, and second, he married a Miss Cushman, and has four sons, Frank L., Fred E., David H. and Arthur E.
Henry D. Moulton was born in Wales, April 5, 1842, and served in the late war, enlisting in Co. K, Ist Conn. Cav., January 1, 1862; was wounded at the battle of the Rapidan in 1864, and after recovery again rejoined the army. He married Anna Dyer, who died in September, 1882, leaving four children, Carrie B. and Cora B. (twins), Fannie A. and Arthur G. Mr. Moulton mar- ried for his second wife Marion E. Hurlburt, January 1, 1884, and moved to this town in August, 1885.
David Blodgett came to this country from England, locating in East Wind- sor. He afterwards moved to Amherst, married a Miss Dickinson and reared six children, viz .: Asahel, Jerusha, Sabrey, Eunice, Sally and Alma. Asahel was born in Amherst, married twice, first, Eunice Calkins, who bore him eight children, namely, Israel P., Elisha B., Jerusha, Asahel, Alonzo C., David, Asahel, 2d, and Eunice. The mother of these children died January 21, 1812, and Mr. Blodgett married for his second wife Lucinda Clapp, and had born to him four children, namely, Eunice, Lucinda, Theodore and Edward S. Alonzo C. was born in Amherst, April 24, 1805, married twice, first, Rosalind Hyde, December 2, 1830, and has had born to him five children, Edward P., Mary M., Ellen M., Rosalind H., who died in infancy, and Rosalind, 2d. Mr.
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Blodgett lived in South Hadley about fourteen years, and then came to this town. His wife died November 16, 1849, and he married for his second wife Mary Pease, January 3, 1854. He now resides near the village.
MILITARY.
The "old " French and Indian war broke out in 1744, being the fifth of the series, and there were wars and rumors of wars almost up to the time of the Revolution. In the early colonial struggles the town bore its full part, and it taxed the people heavily.
Coming down to the Revolution, the records show that when the first provincial congress in 1774 directed the municipal tax-gatherers not to pay the incoming tax to the regular treasurer, whom they regarded as too much of a Tory, but to Henry Gardner, whom they styled receiver-general, Belchertown was the first of all the towns to pay its tax to him, thereby inaugurating a severe blow against the loyalist government. In accordance with the advice of this congress the people of the town gathered in their meeting-house No- vember 4, 1774, and organized a militia company with Caleb Clark as cap- tain, Joseph Graves and John Cowles, lieutenants, and Elijah Dwight, ensign. They had previously laid in a stock of ammunition, having sent a team to Providence for powder, and at this meeting Ensign Dwight was made custo- dian of all their war material. Having been thus on the alert, they were ready for the call to arms when the conflict was precipitated at Lexington. The day after that battle two companies marched from Belchertown, one of thirty-five men, under Capt. Jonathan Bardwell, and Lieut. Aaron Phelps and Silvanus Howe, was attached to the regiment led by Col. Jonathan Warner, of Hardwick. Capt. John Cowles was at the head of the other company, Asahel Smith and Eleazer Warner being the lieutenants, and it formed a part of the regiment which Col. Ruggles Woodbridge, of South Hadley, com- manded. It contained thirty-four Belchertown and twenty-six Granby resi- dents. These minute-men served only a fortnight, but many of them re-en- listed and others joined them, so that Capt. Bardwell led a company in Col. David Brewer's regiment, which served over three months up to August. Moses Howe was the first lieutenant. Capt. Cowles also commanded a com- pany in the army for the same period.
One of Arnold's captains in this terrible expedition across the wilds of Maine the next winter was Elihu Lyman, son of Deacon Aaron Lyman, of Belchertown, who was afterward promoted to be major. His brother, Josiah Lyman, was a captain in the regiment of Col. Elisha Porter, of Hadley. They left Belchertown, March 22, 1776, marching to Ticonderoga, thence up Lake Champlain, by way of St. Johnsbury to Quebec. They had a very arduous campaign, and were consequently credited, by vote of the town, with double the months during which they actually served. Capt. Lyman was afterward major in Col. Nathan Tyler's regiment. serving in Rhode Island in 1779. A
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Belchertown company of twenty-seven men, led by Lieuts. Aaron Phelps and James Walker, marched one hundred and forty miles in July, 1777, to join Col. Porter's regiment, just before Burgoyne's surrender. This band included the leading men of the town. Bardwell's company in the same regiment contained a dozen Belchertown nine-months' men in 1779. At the Benning- ton alarm Capt. Elijah Dwight and Lieut. Gideon Hannum were the officers who marched at the head of the leading men of the place to repel the in- vaders. But as they were gone from home only five days it is fair to presume they did not reach the scene of action. Belchertown men saw considerable service around New London in 1779, the officers being Maj. Elihu Lyman, Capt. Dwight and Lieut. David Barton. Lieut. Daniel Smith served at Dor- chester in the winter of 1776-77. Calls for special service were frequent, and some citizens were in the Continental army four years or more. Dr. Estes Howe, Belchertown's first physician, who practiced in the town fifty years, was a drummer in his father's company at Lake George in 1759, and he served as surgeon at two different times during the Revolution, being on General Gates's staff through the Saratoga campaign. When General La Fayette was riding through Belchertown on his way from Albany to Boston, in June, 1825, hearing that an old officer of the Saratoga army lay sick in a neighboring house, he stopped his carriage and went in to greet Dr. Howe. Capt. Joel Green was credited in the town average rolls with more service than almost any other man. He led a company in Ezra Woods's regiment at Peekskill and White Plains in 1778, and was adjutant in the regiment of Lexington minute-men which Col. Jonathan Warner, of Hardwick, com- manded.
The town had little to do with the war of 1812 until Gov. Caleb Strong called out the militia, in the fall of 1814, to defend the Atlantic coast. Bel- chertown contributed an artillery company of fifty-four men to Col. William Edwards's regiment, the officers being Capt. Zenas Stebbins and Lieuts. Eliab Washburn and Theodore Bridgman. The company was on duty in Boston from September 8th to November 5th. An infantry company was also raised at this same time from Belchertown and vicinity of seventy seven men, with George Gilbert as captain and Thomas Field and Samuel Rich, lieutenants. These men served at Boston from September roth to November 7th, but none of the troops saw an enemy.
Just as soon as the war for the Union became a certainty, the Belchertown militia company was recruited to its full strength, but so many such organi- zations were offered for the Tenth regiment, that they could not all be ac- cepted, and this one was broken up, although many of the members enlisted in other companies. Belchertown's soldiers were mostly found in the Tenth, Twenty-seventh, Thirty-first, Thirty-seventh and Forty-sixth regiments, al- though a good many sons of the town fought elsewhere, a few being mem- bers of cavalry and artillery regiments and the navy. The list of officers comprises Col. Eliot Bridgman, Twentieth corps de Afrique, Maj. Harry Wal-
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ker, a cavalry officer, Dr. George F. Thomson, assistant surgeon of the Thirty-eighth, and surgeon of a regiment which served on the Canadian frontier at the close of the war. with the ranks of major ; Capts. Mason Abbey and George Darling, Thirty first; Lieut. Martin M. Pulver, Thirty-first ; Lieut. M. V. Brown, Twenty-seventh ; Lieut. William Shaw, Forty-sixth ; Lieut. Solomon C. Shumway, Burnside's staff.
The town furnished, in all, two hundred and eighty men, being twenty over her quota under all calls. It furnished $29,000.00 to the government, aside from the $13,576.40 which was afterwards refunded by the state.
VILLAGES.
BELCHERTOWN village is located about at the geographical center of the town, on the New London Northern railway, and occupying the site of the earliest municipal enterprises of the town, is to-day, as it ever has been, the chief point of interest in the township. Lying about 1,000 feet above sea level, in the midst of much that is beautiful in nature, these beauties and salubrious climate attract many summer residents. The stores, hotels, etc., are grouped about a fine park of five acres, which was presented to the town by Col. Elijah Dwight, in 1791. It is oval in form, is nicely kept, and con- tains a fine band-stand and a graceful soldier's monument. At the north end of this park is the quiet, home-like, popular hotel of Mr. Dwight V. Fuller,
BELGHER HOUSE
(BELCHER HOUSE, D. V. FULLER, PROPRIETOR.)
the Belcher House. as shown in the accompanying engraving. At the oppo- site end of the park is the fine summer hotel erected by Mr. B. Butler during the past season, the Highland House. This building is a wooden structure 40x170 feet, three stories in height, and surrounded by broad verandas. It
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is equipped with all the appliances of modern hotel art, and bids fair to become a popular resort. Just south of the latter hotel stands the town's pride, its elegant $40,000.00 library building, erected through the munificence of the late Mr. Frank Clapp, of Brooklyn. The building is of stone and a model of architectural beauty and convenience. Aside from these buildings, the village has several fine summer residences, notably those of the Messrs. Clapp and Senator Walker.
In brief, the village has three churches, a town-hall, library building, high, grammar, and intermediate schools, two hotels, eight stores, including a drug store, eight mechanic's shops and a large number of dwellings.
DWIGHT'S STATION, a hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, on the New London Northern railway, perpetuates the name of the Dwight family. It has the only postoffice in the town outside of Belchertown village. There are, however, several other hamlets, as follows :-
BARRETT'S JUNCTION, in the southern part of the town, where the Athol branch crosses the New London Northern railroad.
BARDWELL VILLAGE,, deriving its name from the Bardwell family, in the southeastern part of the town, where formerly quite a manufacturing business was carried on.
SLAB CITY, in the eastern part of the town, on Swift river.
INDUSTRIES.
Hawkes, Smith & Co.'s carriage shop .- For many years Belchertown was noted for its extensive carriage, wagon and sleigh manufactories. though of late years this business has almost entirely passed away, there being only two or three small shops in the town, of whom Hawkes, Smith & Co. do the largest business, employing seven hands.
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