USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 26
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INDUSTRIES.
Cummington has always been a manufacturing as well as an agricultural town. During the first years of settlement measures were taken to induce parties to purchase and build here. In September, 1764, the owners of the town agreed to give Charles Prescott one hundred acres of land if he would " build a saw-mill on the north end of lot No. 45." The old foundation may still be seen on the land of O. B. Bartlett, near the dwelling of Jacob Higgins. This was the first mill in town ; but set back as it was on the hills, it soon gave way to the more substantial and easily accessible mills built on the river, which was then a much larger stream than at present. There were at one time two cotton and four or five woolen mills ; but with the exception of one small woolen-mill these have all long since disappeared.
B. E. & C. M. Bradley's variety wood-work shop, on road 33, was estab- lished by them in 1877, where they manufacture all kinds of variety wood- work, the principal market for which being New York city. The site they occupy was formerly occupied by the cabinet shop of Ebenezer Gilbert. This shop was burned and re-built in 1846.
The L. L. Brown Paper Co. are engaged in the manufacture of bond and linen paper here, employing twenty-five hands. The present firm took possession in 1886. The officers are I. L. Brown, president ; T. A. Mole, treasurer ; and John Wiethuper, superintendent. The mill was erected in 1856, by J. D. Nelson.
Nathan S. Stevens & Son's mill, on road 32, was established in 1860. During that year N. S. Stevens purchased the factory of Alanson Bates, where he did quite a business in sawing and planing and the manufacture of pen- holders, and was also connected with A. Rhoades in the manufacture of scythe stones. The latter connection he severed in 1865, continuing the former till
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1874, when he admitted his sons A. S. and A. V. as partners, and added the manufacture of brush blocks and handles. In February, 1883, the building was destroyed by fire and immediately re-built, and subsequently the manufacture of lead pencils was added. In 1884 A. S. Stevens died, since which time the firm name has been Nathan S. Stevens & Son. The firm imports its own leads for its pencils directly from Germany, in 10,000 gross lots, and its machinery is original with it and especially adapted for its own work.
H. F. Bradley is engaged in the manufacture of pencils, pen-holders and brush handles, and also does custom sawing. His mill is located on road 18.
CHURCHES.
In 1771 the proprietors located a "meeting-house spot " very nearly in the geographical center of the town, which was on the rocky ledge northwest of what is now known as the " Daniel Dawes place ; " but when they found how unsuitable it was, a dispute arose as to the proper locality. This dispute lasted seven years and was only settled when, a part of the town having been set off to Gageborough (now Windsor), the center of Cummington was changed. Meantime a meeting house had been built by private individuals near the "four corners," between the Adam Porter and Squire Snell farms. After the set off to Gageborough the town bought this meeting-house, and moving it about a mile east on to the old " Meeting house Hill," enlarged it by putting a sec- tion in the middle. Services were held in this church till another was built, a few rods south of it, in 1839. The first act of the town as a corporate body was the installation of a minister of the gospel. Before this time Rev. Mr. Hooper, Jesse Reed, Mr. Porter, Mr. Billings and Mr. Hotchkiss had offici- ated at brief intervals, but no minister had been 'settled until on the 7th of July, 1779, the little church consisting of eight male members ordained Rev. James Briggs. According to the terms of purchase two lots were set off for the minister at the first division, and these were on the west side of Remington hill, a very unsuitable place to locate the people soon discovered, and Mr. Briggs was given land in another part of the town. He officiated for forty-six years. This first Congregational organization existed for eighty-nine years. When it became extinct, two organizations were formed and churches were built, at East and at West Cummington. A Baptist church was organized in 1821, and about 1837 a Methodist church was built at " Lightning Bug," mid- way between the two villages. This church as well as the one on the hill was removed several years ago. There are now four churches in town, two Con- gregational, one Baptist and one Universalist.
The Village church of Cummington was organized July 1, 1839, by forty- seven members dismissed from the First Congregational church, Rev. Royal Reed being their first pastor. The society now has one hundred and forty- three members, with Rev. Franklin G. Webster, pastor.
16*
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TOWN OF EASTHAMPTON.
The Congregational church of West Cummington was formally organized September 1, 1841, though the building was erected in 1839. The present pastor is Rev. Joseph B. Baldwin.
The Baptist church at Cummington village was organized in 1821, with fourteen members, the first pastor being Rev. Asa Todd. The church build- ing was dedicated February 5, 1825. The present pastor is Rev. George E. Spaulding.
The Universalist Church of Cummington .- As early as 1835 occasional Universalist meetings were held here, and in 1839 a council of Universalist churches was held in Cummington. The present church building was erected in 1845-46.
E ASTHAMPTON* is, in point of area, the smallest town in the county ; but in point of population, learning, wealth, manufactures, beauty and general thrift and prosperity the township ranks among the larg-
est. Its area is 6,613 acres, lying in the southern part of the county, bounded north and east by Northampton and the Connecticut river, south by a small part of the county line and Southampton, and west by Southampton and Westhampton.
In surface, the little township is quite level, though having mountains on either side, lying nestled at the very base of the bold and rugged Mt. Tom range. No more delightful location could be opened to the summer resident, and not a few avail themselves of the fact. Here one may enjoy the blend- ing of the beautiful, picturesque and even sublime in nature, charming drives and a healthful climate, without dispensing with any of the comforts of city life-a fine library, congenial society, banks, and stores of all kinds, while landlord Johnson of the Mansion House furnishes a cusine inferior to none. The soil of the township is deep, moist and fertile, and the farms well culti- vated and remunerative.
Two branches of Manhan river, one flowing south from Westhampton, the other north from Southampton, unite upon the western border and flow east- ward through the center of the town to the Connecticut, joining the lattter at the south part of the Oxbow. The tributaries of the Manhan from the north are Pomeroy brook, Saw-mill brook and several smaller rivulets. It has one tributary from the south of considerable importance, named Broad brook. This furnishes the power for most of the great manufactories. Broad brook has a small tributary in the south part of the town called Rum brook.
Settlement .- Originally and for many years Easthampton was a part of and subject to the jurisdiction of Northampton. Its Indian name was Pascommuck. The first white settler in Pascommuck, then, was John Webb. His land was
*For this brief sketch of Easthampton we acknowledge our indebtedness to the writings of Rev. Payson W. Lyman, of Belchertown.
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granted to him December 13, 1664, and he soon after located upon it, near the present Henry Clapp residence. Of Webb's subsequent history little is known, and some authorities place his death in 1670 ; but be this as it may he had two sons, and his widow married Robert Danks, of Northampton. His descendants were residents of Easthampton for three quarters of a cen- tury or more.
In 1668 the the first bridge over the Manhan river was voted. This was located near Webb's home, not far from where the meadow road now crosses the stream. Just across the Manhan from Webb's home, also, was a beauti- ful plateau. This was the location of the next settlement, and which bore the Indian name of Pascommuck. The settlers here were Moses Hutchin- son, John Searle, Benoni Jones, Samuel and Benjamin Janes, with their fam- ilies. To these were home lots granted in 1699.
On the morning of May 24, 1704, there descended upon this hapless ham- let a marauding band of Indians. Nineteen of the settlers were killed, nine of the name of Janes, either here or shortly after capture. Benjamin Janes escaped, and rowing to Northampton across the flooded meadows, gave the alarm. A troop of cavalry, under Capt. John Taylor, started in pursuit, who encountered the Indians, but with no other result than the death of nearly all the captives, and of Capt. Taylor himself. More than ten years elapsed before this ruin was repaired , but at length others came in to take the places of the ill-fated ones, some of them being children of the slain.
Twenty-five years before the settlement at Pascommuck, or in 1674, North- ampton gave "David Wilton, Medad Pumry and Joseph Taylor liberty to erect a saw-mill on the brook, on the right hand of the cart-way going over Manhan river." Twelve years later, 1686-87, they voted Samuel Bartlett liberty to set up a corn-mill "on the falls below the cart-way on the river." The cart-way was just above the covered bridge at the foot of Meeting-house hill. These mills were doubtless built soon after, though their owners did not effect a residence here. Samuel Bartlett gave the corn-mill to his son Joseph, in 1705, who made the first permanent settlement in the region of the pres- ent village, probably as early as 1725 or 1730. His house he kept open for the accommodation of travelers for twenty years. His nephew, Jonathan Clapp, ancestor of all the Clapps here, lived with him and succeeded to the greater portion of his estate, and to his business. About the same time at which landlord Joseph Bartlett built his house, his brother David settled some forty rods westerly from the Julius Pomeroy residence, and after him his son lived there till near or quite the time of the Revolution. Between the homes of the Bartlett brothers was the home of four brothers named Wait.
Twenty years later, May 28, 1745, Dea. Stephen Wright and Benjamin Ly- man bought of Northampton the Upper School Meadow, a tract of eighty acres of land, lying on both sides of the river above the cart-way, which the town had set apart for the support of schools. They were the ancestors of
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the Wrights and Lymans of Easthampton, and, until recently, most of their lands have been held by descendants.
Not far from 1732, Samuel and Eldad Pomeroy settled upon what is now the Hannum homestead. In 1742 the Pomeroys entered a protest to the general court against being set off from Northampton with the then recent settlers in what is now Southampton, who were moving for a separation, and with whom they had had no connection. In their address, they state that they had improved their lands, and paid taxes on them for forty or fifty years. This would seem to show that their land came under cultivation not later than 1700. They were afterwards, at their own request, received into the new society at Southampton.
As early as 1750, Josiah Phelps established himself upon Park hill, upon the place for many years occupied by J. Rockwell Wright.
The first settler npon the plain upon which the village stands was Sergt. Ebenezer Corse, who built a house where Spencer Clapp formerly lived, and cut his road for a mile through the forest to this point. He was followed soon after by Stephen Wright, Jr., and Benjamin Lyman, Jr., sons of the purchasers of School Meadow, and also by Benjamin and Aaron Clapp. The first settlement in the southeastern part of the town was effected by Israel Hendrick.
The settlement gradually increased so that in 1790 the first government census gives the town a population of 457 souls. The steady increase from that down is given by the following figures, a record for each decade since : 1800, 586; 1810, 660; 1820, 712; 1830, 745; 1840, 7:7; 1850; 1,342; 1860, 1,916; 1870, 3,620; 1880, 4,206.
Organization .- Just before the Revolutionary war some steps were taken to establish a separate town. The people upon the territory now included in Easthampton expressed their views by petitions to Northampton and South- ampton in 1773. In the former town a committee reported favorably, and the report was adopted. Southampton opposed the proposition, and the troubles of the Revolutionary period delayed any further action until 1781- 82. The project was then revived, but required several years of effort to secure the act of incorporation, which was passed by the general court in the summer of 1785.
Robert Breck, Esq., of Northampton, issued a warrant for the first meet- ing. It was directed to Benjamin Lyman, and the people met accordingly at the house of Capt. Joseph Ciapp. The territory was set off as a district, having all the rights of a town except that of representation in the general court. This district feature was a remnant of colonial policy, intended to retain power in the hands of the royal authorities, by not allowing a rapid increase of the people's representatives in the legislature. The policy sur- vived the Revolution, districts continuing to be incorporated for a few years.
The name Easthampton was rather appropriate, not so much from its loca- tion, as from the fact that the three other Hamptons were already named,
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and it needed this to complete the natural series. And, though almost in- closed by the others, this town extends at one point to the east line of the original tract, and has so far a right to be called Easthampton.
The act incorporating Easthampton as a district was approved by Governor Bowdoin, June 17, 1785. The warrant was issued June 29, 1785. It was directed to Benjamin Lyman, who "truly and faithfully notified and warned the inhabitants."
The list of officers chosen at this meeting, Monday, July 4, 1785, was as follows : Robert Breck, moderator ; David Lyman, clerk; Aaron Clapp, Jr., constable; Jonathan Clapp, Capt. Philip Clark and Enos Pomeroy, surveyors of highways; Stephen Wright, Capt. Philip Clark and Eleazer Hannum, selectmen and assessors; Joel Parsons and Benjamin Lyman, tithingmen ; Obadiah Clark and Lemuel Lyman, Sabbath wardens ; Daniel Alexander, sur- veyor of shingles and lumber ; Solomon Ferry and Elijah Wright, fence view- ers ; John Brown and Joel Hannum, howards; John Clapp, David Chapman, Jr., and Elisha Alvord, hog-reeves; Capt. Joseph Clapp, treasurer ; David Chapman, clerk of the market ; Zadock Danks, sealer of leather ; and Benja- min Clapp, packer.
The first municipal meetings of the inhabitants were held at the " dwelling- house of Capt. Joseph Clapp," down to July 13, 1785, when they were held at the church for nearly half a century. In 1833 a town-hall was built, and was superceded by a new structure in 1842. This in turn did service till 1868-69, when the present elegant building was erected, at a cost of $65,000.00.
Military .- Except the massacre at Pascommuck, no Indian troubles dis- · turbed the peace of the settlement, except in one instance when Nathaniel Edwards, of Northampton, was shot and scalped here in 1724. Alarms there often were, but no serious results followed.
Several who resided within the present limits of the town were in the battle near Lake George, in 1755, in connection with the Hampshire regiment which suffered so severely on that occasion. Eliakim Wright, son of Stephen Wright, was among the slain. Lemuel Lyman, son of Benjamin Lyman, was saved from a fatal wound by his bullet pouch, which checked the bullet which struck him.
Among those who served in the Revolution were Capt. Joseph Clapp, Capt. David Lyman, Quarter-Master Benjamin Clapp, Dr. Stephen Wood and his sons Daniel and David, John Clapp, Jonathan Janes, Benjamin Lyman, Sam- uel Judd, Stephen Wright, Jr., David Chapman, David Clapp, Joel Parsons, Levi Clapp, Phinehas Clark, Eliakim Clark, Barzillai Brewer, Zadock Danks, Stephen Wright, - Brooks, Daniel Braman and Willet Chapman. Dr. Wood died in service at West Point, David Clapp never returned from the war, and Messrs. Brewer and Chapman both died in the army. Moses Gouch, who was brought up in Easthampton, served through the war and was sud- denly killed here in 1797.
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TOWN OF EASTHAMPTON.
In the war of 1812 the town sent out the following: John Alpress, Elisha Alvord, Worcester Avery, Levi Brown, George Clapp, James Clapp, Philip Clark, Gershom Danks, Stephen Hendrick, Moses Gouch, Luther Pomeroy, Spencer Porneroy, Jesse Ring, Harris Wright, Collins Wood, Ebenezer Wood, Thaddeus Parsons and Jesse Coats.
For the late great war Easthampton furnished 200 men, a surplus of eighteen over all demands, five of whom were commissioned officers. The whole amount of aid paid solely by the town was $30,367.00, while the the amount of aid to families, subsequently refunded by the state, was $6,705.03.
Notes .-- Lemuel Lyman was born August 28, 1735, married Lydia Clark, and died July 16, 1810, aged seventy-four years. His children were as fol- lows: Lydia, Lemuel, Justus, Ahira, Sylvester, Daniel, Esther and Elihu. Ahira located on the plain, west of the Center, building for himself the house now occupied by Elijah A. Lyman. He died November 1, 1836. His son Quartus P. was born here December 28, 1809, married Tryphena Wright for his first wife, November 7, 1832, who bore him two children, a daughter, who died in infancy, and John W., born November 9, 1836. The latter married Lucy Matthews, has two children, Carrie T. and Quartus, and is engaged in the wholesale vegetable and fruit business in Northampton, where he resides. Quartus P. married for his second wife Amelia Smith, June 26, 1851, and re- sides on road 26, where he has lived fifty-four years.
Eliakim Clark, son of Dea. John Clark, came to Easthampton at a very early day. His sons, Obadiah, Asahel and Job settled near him. Job was born September 10, 1733, married Eunice Strong, and reared six children. His son Luther moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., but soon after returned. He married Deborah Robinson, January 28, 1802, and his children were as fol- lows : Luther, Alanson, Jason, Horace, Rowland, Emeline, Maria, Harriet, Cornelia and Cordelia (twins), Elvira and Henry. Henry was born in this town October 17, 1824, married Climena T. Benton, March 23, 1854, and resides on the homestead which is located on road 17. Horace was born in Skaneateles, N. Y., November 16, 1808, and came here with his parents when eight years of age. He married Lois Janes in 1833, who bore him three children, Emily J., George and Flora L. Mrs. Clark died April 20. 1880. George was born February 27, 1842, and married Hattie Cooley, who died in 1875.
Franklin W. Janes, son of Luke, who was a native of this town, was born here November 13, 1828, married Harriet A. Clark, and has had born to him one son, Harry L., born in June, 1873, and died November 21, 1880.
Israel Hendrick was the first settler in the southeastern part of the town, locating there about 1774. His son James moved to the opposite side of the brook, reared eleven children, viz .: Jesse, Pearson, who died in early child- hood, Huldah, James, Lovy, Reuben, Joseph, Stephen, Pearson, Jabez and Rachel. Joseph was born November 24, 1790, married Lovina Newhall, and reared five children, only one of whom is living, Joseph N. He was a very
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energetic man, and lived to be over eighty years of age, up to which time he was engaged in business. Joseph N. was born July 17, 1824, and married Miss R. J. Olds, October 7, 1846. He has always lived on the homestead with the exception of about seven years spent in Wisconsin. He deals largely in live stock, and is located on road 30.
Pearson Hendrick married twice, first, Mary Mosely, and second, Elisheba Newhall, who bore him ten children, as follows : Daniel N., Mary L., Sarah B., Martin V. B., Sarah L., Charles B., Mary V., Huldah J., Ellen M. and Pearson. Mr. Hendrick died February 22, 1870, and his widow died March 4, 1886. Charles B. was born July 5, 1841, married Abby C. Barnes, De- cember 25, 1865, and has had born to him thirteen children, namely, Charles Alfred B., Martin V., who died in 1872, Jennie, who died in 1873, Leslie N., who died in 1876, Oseola, who died in 1876, Lester B., Abbie I., Mary B., Ella B., Arthur G., Frank H., who died in 1885, and Lucy.
Stephen Hendrick was born July 9, 1792, married Nancy Phelps, March 1, 1821, and had born to him seven sons and three daughters. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died August 8, 1871, and his widow died in 1883. James M., son of Stephen, was born March 28, 1833, married Cor- nelia Sperry, February 1, 1876, and has had born to him one son, Lewis S., December 22, 1878. Mr. Hendrick has been engaged in railroad contract- ing until within the last few years, and is now located on roads 32 and 26, engaged in farming.
Theodore H. Hendrick was born May 10, 1822, married twice, first, Par- melia Ashley, and second, Mary L. Wood, of Plainfield, N. Y.
Benjamin Strong, great-grandfather of Calvin L., was the first settler in the Strong settlement, located in the southeastern part of the town. He came here from East street with his wife and son, all on horseback. Benjamin, Jr., married Dolly Wood, and reared nine children. C. L. and Calvin S. Strong now live on the homestead. C. L. married Lida Upson, October 8, 1879, who died December 20, 1885.
Stephen Wood was born July 7, 1774, married twice, first, Jemima Clark, who bore him four children, and second, Sally Braman, September 4, 1821. By his second wife his children were as follows : Ezekiel, who died Decem- ber 28, 1864, Enoch E., Spencer C., Newton and Sarah. Enoch E. was born July 15, 1825, married three times, first, Achsah E. Strong, who bore him two children, Hattie E. and Edward E. ; second, Miss S. E. Tilden, and has had born to him one child, Charles A .; and third, Carrie A. Frary, Octo- ber 3, 1883. Newton, son of Stephen, was born April 16, 1828, married Mary M. Stebbins, July 30, 1856, and has had born to him three children, namely, Arthur N., Wallace W. and Francis. Mr. Wood served in the late war, in Co. K, 52d Mass. Vols. He is a carpenter and lives on road 27.
John M. Clapp, son of John, was born in this town, August 2, 1814, mar- ried twice, first, Lucia M. Frost, May 14, 1837, who bore him two children, George M. and Frederick O). The former resides in Westfield, and the latter
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died in 1871. The mother died May 12, 1862, and Mr. Clapp married for his second wife, Sophia Chapman.
Edmund Parsons was born in Northampton, January 20, 1803, married Emeline E. Morgan, and reared four children, namely, Eliza S., Sarah J., Harriet and Lucius E. Mr. Parsons died May 27, 1867, and his widow died in April, 1877. Lucius E. was born in Easthampton, May 19, 1841, mar- ried twice, first, Emily W. Ferry, January 25, 1866, who bore him one child, Herbert S., and second, Clara M. Clark, December 31, 1867.
Joel L. Bassett was born January 13, 1825, and married three times, first, Phœbe Thompson, who bore him children as follows : Nancy L., Elizabeth and Justin H. He married for his second wife, Lucy A. Dudley, who bore him two children, Cynthia L. and Joel, both deceased. He married for his third wife, Fannie W. Rogers, July 2, 1886. Mr. Bassett came to Easthamp- ton in 1854, has been engaged as a contractor in stone mason work, has built the foundations of most of the finest buildings in town, and also built the mill dam. He was one of the company of the Mt. Tom thread mill, whichi was incorporated in 1873. Previous to this the miil was used as a saw-mill, and was burned 1882.
Gerard Searle was born in Southampton, March 7, 1778, married Salome Burt, February 20, 1816, and reared six children, viz. : Rhoda, Sloan, Sophronia, Luther B., Charles H. and Alvin C. Charles was killed in the late war, at the battle of the Wilderness. He served in Co. F, 27th Mass. Vols. Gerard died July 29, 1869, and his wife died November 14, 1863. Luther B. was born in Southampton, May 10, 1825, married Eunice Ranger, October 16, 1850 and came to Easthampton in 1866. He has had born to him seven children, as follows : Lelia A., born August 2, 1852, married Edward H. Clark, and resides in town ; Emma E., born in 1856, died in 1858; Frank L., born in 1859; Hattie E., born in 1861; Emma E., 2d, born in 1863 ; a daughter who died in infancy ; and Lewis H., born in 1872, and died in 1873. Mr. Searle has served as selectman from 1879 to 1885.
Dr. Frank C. Bruce was born in Peterborough, N. H., was educated at the Peterborough high school, Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and University of Vermont, Burlington, from which institution he received his degree of M. D. He then returned to Peterborough, where he resided until October 13, 1885, when he located in Easthampton, where he now resides.
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