USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Gazetteer of Hampshire County, Mass., 1654-1887 > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
NORWICH VILLAGE containing the town's only other past postoffice, lies nearly in the geographical center of the township. It is locally known as " The Hill." Here it was that the Kirklands, the Knights, the Hannums, and, not far away, the Fairmans, Fobes, and others located in 1773. The village is divided into two sections, the northern part, where are mills, shops, school- house and postoffice ; and the southern part, where are the church, a school- house and dwellings.
NORWICH BRIDGE is a hamlet just above Huntington village.
KNIGHTSVILLE is a hamlet still farther up the valley, opposite " The Hill," taking its name from the Knight family.
MANUFACTURES.
The Highland Mills .- Atherton J. Stanton, of Pittston, Pa., son of Jabez, was one of the early manufacturers at the village. In company with William Little, son of Benjamin Little, he built on the site now occupied by the High- land Mills. They manufactured bed-spreads, and claimed to be one of the first to make these goods, at least by power looms, in the country. They also made flannel. Little & Stanton's mill was burned, and the Hampshire Man- ufacturing Company was formed and built the present mill. A number of local parties were induced to invest in the stock of the company, and A. J.
322
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON.
Stanton was the agent. The company failed. In 1873 the mills came into the possession of the present company, of which R. S. Frost, of Chelsea, Mass .. is president ; R. F. Greeley, treasurer, and H. J. Brown, superintend- ent. The mills are operated by both water and steam-power, and are at present used in the manufacture of fancy cassimeres, employing about one hundred hands.
The Chester Paper Co .- This mill was erected in 1853, by the Greenleaf & Taylor Manfg. Co., and began the manufacture of book and news paper in the spring of 1854, making about 1,800 lbs. per day, which was considered a large product for the times. After running several years on this class of goods, the company decided, in 1855, to change the mill on to fine writing papers, and immediately took steps to put in the necessary machinery, and in 1856 the first fine writing papers were made. For years the mill has been famous for the uniformly fine quality of its goods, and has run with but little or no interruption (except for the necessary repairs incident to a paper-mill) for more than thirty years, during which time its capacity has been more than doubled. The present company was organized in 1882, with a capital of $75,000.00, the property having been owned by the original founders up to that date. The mill is probably the oldest in Western Massachusetts now in successul operation. The property has a fine water-power ample for its needs during nine or ten months of the year. During low water in the river the power is supplemented by a 150 horse-power steam engine, which is capable of driving the whole works if necessary. The number of hands employed aver- ages seventy-five, and the annual product of the mill amounts to about 500 tons of fine papers.
W. P. Williams's grist-mill, on road 27, has one run of stones and grinds about 16,000 bushels of grain per year.
M. R. Fisk's saw and grist mill, located at Huntington, is operated by a thirty horse-power engine, is equipped with circular, lumber and lathe-slitting saws, etc., employs five men and cuts annually 500,000 feet of lumber. The grist-mill has one run of stones and grinds annually about 25,000 bushels of grain.
H. E. Stanton's saw-mill, located at Huntington, is operated by water- power and gives employment to ten men in the manufacture of lumber, whip- butts, basket-rims and handles, lath, shingles, etc.
CHURCHES.
Christ's Congregational church, located at Norwich village, was organized by Rev. Jonathan Judd, of Southampton, Jonathan Huntington, of Worth- ington, and Aaron Bascomb, of Chester, with twenty-five members, in July, 1778, and Rev. Stephen Tracy, of Norwich, Conn., was the first pastor. Ser- vices were held in the school-house till 1796, when the first church building was erected. The present building was erected in 1842. It is a wooden
323
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
structure capable of seating 225 persons, and valued at $2,500.00. The soci- ety now has seventy-three members, with Rev. Ernest F. Bochers, pastor.
The Second Congregational churh, located at Huntington village, was or- ganized by the Hampden Association of Ministers, with twenty-eight mem- bers, August 26, 1846. Rev. Perkins K. Clark was the first pastor. In 1847 the society built a church, which was destroyed by fire in January, 1862, and in 1863 the present edifice was erected. It is of wood, capable of comforta- bly accommodating 300 persons, and is valued at $5,000.00. The society now has seventy members, with Rev. William F. Avery, pastor.
The Huntington Baptist church, located at the village, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. John Green, and others, with ten members, October 7. 1852. Their church building was erected in 1836, by the Methodist society that formerly flourished here. The society now has III members, with Rev. How- ard R Mitchell, pastor.
St. Thomas' Catholic church, located at the village, was organized by the Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly, April 4, 1886, and Rev. Lawrence J. Dervin was ap- pointed its pastor. The church building was erected in 1880, at a cost of $6,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $14,000.00. The parish includes the organizations in Russell, Blandford and Montgomery. Among other good works, Rev. Father Dervin immediately instituted a temperance society when he came here in April, now known as the St. Thomas Total Ab- stinence Society, which has eighty-five members, with the interest steadily increasing.
M IDDLEFIELD* lies in the southwestern part of the county, between the Middle branch of Westfield river, and the Western branch, hav- ing the former for its eastern border, and the latter for its southwest- ern, with Peru on the north, Worthington on the north and east, Chester on the southeast, Becket on the southwest, and Washington on the west. It was incorporated March 12, 1783, including within its boundaries what had been the southwest corner of Worthington, the northwest corner of Chester, the northeast corner of Becket, the south side of Peru, and a part of Wash- ington, together with " Prescott's Grant," a considerable tract of land lying out- side the limits of any corporate town. The reason given in the act of incor- poration for granting the request of the petitioners was " the great difficulties and inconveniences" the inhabitants labored under "in their present situation."
The surface of the town is broken. Bold highlands in continuous ranges extend through the territory from northwest to southeast, interlaced by streams and valleys, and covered, during the summer months, with abundant foliage
*Prepared by Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood.
224
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
and luxuriant vegetation. Between the two branches of Westfield river which enclose the town, and emptying into these, are several considerable streams- the Den stream, the Factory stream, Cole's brook and some others. In the earlier days of the town the saw mill and the grist-mill and other establish- ments devised by a thrifty community were planted upon these streams ; and so they have contributed largely -- especially the Factory stream-to the pros- perity of the town.
Agriculture, particularly in the department of stock-raising, fattening cattle and dairying, has been the leading pursuit in the town. The organization of the Highland Agricultural society, in 1857, contributed much to the farming enterprise of this and the neighboring towns. Of this society, Matthew Smith was the first president. It has held its annual meetings for thirty years, with a creditable exhibition of stock and farm products, and furnished in its series of annual addresses much to awaken an enlightened zeal and a becoming self- respect in the farming fraternity. The ten leading articles of farm produce and their value, for the year ending May 1, 1885, are reported as follows : Butter, $6,034 ; beef, $6,502 ; hay, $18,018; milk, $5,667 ; potatoes, $3,749 ; firewood, $5.431 ; manure, $3,540 ; maple sugar, $3,396 ; pork, $1,741 ; wool, $1,552. At one time sheep-husbandry was prosecuted extensively. In Hay- wood's Massachusetts Gazetteer it is said that "in one year there were sheared in the town nine thousand seven hundred and twenty five fleeces of Saxony wool, which weighed twenty-six thousand, seven hundred and forty-one pounds, and sold for seventeen thousand, three hundred and eighty-two dollars."
Early Settlers .- Three of the earliest settlers, Rhodes, Taggart and Taylor, were on the ground as early as 1773. Which came first is not perfectly clear ; let each enjoy the distinction of being "perhaps" the frst. Rhodes settled on land now owned by Clark B. Wright ; he is said to have built the first grist-mill in town. John Taggart occupied a part of the flat now covered by the reservoir. Samuel Taylor built on land a little east from the grounds of the Highland Agricultural society, and erected the first frame building in town. He came from Pittsfield, where he first settled in 1752.
Two years later, in 1775, there were eight families in the town. David Mack became a resident, with his family, this year, who was so prominent in all the enterprises of the town. It was through his influence that the town came to be organized and incorporated. By his energy, persistency and large-hearted generosity the material and moral interests of the community were greatly furthered. He came to town with little else than his own ca- pacity and indomitable purpose ; he amassed wealth, and distributed it wisely and with a princely bounty.
At the date of the incorporation of the town, 1783, there were said to be sixty-eight resident families. Some of these did not long remain. The fol- lowing names appear upon the records at an early date : John Ford, Malachi Loveland, Amasa Graves, Thomas Blossom, Enos Blossom, Solomon Ingham, Thomas Bolton, James Dickson, Eliakim Wardwell, Samuel Jones, John
-
325
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
Jones, John Newton, Daniel Chapman, Job Robbins, Benjamin Eggleston, Anson Cheeseman, Abel Cheeseman, Benajah Jones, Timothy McElwain, Benjamin Blish (or Blush), Joseph Blish (or Blush), David Carrier, Israel Bissell, Justice Bissell, Matthew Smith, Timothy Allen, Erastus Ingham, Bis- sell Phelps, John Spencer, Ebenezer Emmons, Josiah Leonard, Nathan Wright, Thomas Durant, Uriah Church, William Church, Elisha Mack, Dan Pease, Thomas Root, Solomon Root, Daniel Root, Elijah Churchill and Calvin Smith.
Much the larger part of the early settlers came from Connecticut; and they were generally of the religious body that prevailed in New England. They had no ideals for the future of their community which did not require for their realization intelligence and general morality, industry and thrift ; and they believed that the fear and worship of God were essential to the real in- terest and the true happiness of men.
Hiram Taylor was born in Middlefield, December 16, 1819, on the place where he now resides, on road Io. His ancestors are admitted to be the first settlers in Middlefield. He has always been a farmer, has filled the various offices of selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, and constable and col- lector, for many years. He has a farm of 650 acres, pays attention to breed- ing Short-horns, and fattens large numbers of beef cattle yearly. He is chair- man of the board of directors of the Highland Agricultural society, and is deacon of the Congregational church.
Timothy McElwain, one of the early settlers of this town, married Jane Brown, of East Windsor, Conn., and reared six sons and six daughters. His son Jonathan was born on the place now occupied by Jonathan, Jr., on road 9, married Lucy, daughter of John Smith, and reared five children. Jonathan, Jr., married Mary Smith, and has three children, viz .: Edwin S., married Maria L. Graves, and is a farmer on road 9. Mary J. married Capt. Fitz J. Babson, of Gloucester, Mass., and Lura V. is at home. Mrs. McElwain died March 7, 1886. Jonathan has always pursued farming as a business, has held various town offices, is at present town clerk, and is secretary of the High- land Agricultural society. Oliver is a resident of West Springfield. John S. is a paper manufacturer at Holyoke, having an interest in three paper com- panies in that city. Edwin is a member of Kibbe Bros. & Co., of Spring- field.
Jacob Robbins was born in the house where he now resides, on road 2, October 8, 1817. His father, Job, was among the early settlers of the town. He married Mary J., daughter of John S. Scofield, of Pittsfield, and has five children, viz .: William E., who resides in Russell, Mass., Edward C., who died at the age of twenty-four years, Sarah A., Edson D., of Russell, and Myron L., who is proprietor of the mail and express route from Middlefield station on the Boston & Albany railroad to the postoffice at the Center. Mr. Robbins has also an adopted daughter, Florence.
Erastus Ingham was one of the early settlers of this town, locating in the 22*
326
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
forest in the western part of the town, and afterwards removing to a place on road 6. He was a prominent man in the affairs of the town, holding the office of selectman for several years, and was succeeded on the farm by his son Erastus John. The latter married Vesta, daughter of John Dickson, and reared a family of six children, only one of whom is living in Middle- field, Erastus J. The latter was born in 1828, and carries on the farm oc- cupied by his father and grandfather. He married Julia Pease, February 4, 1851, and has had born to him four children, two of whom are living, Lillie C., who married Wayland F. Smith, of West Springfield, and Nora V., who married John T. Bryan, general merchant and postmaster at the Center.
Luther Granger came to this town about 1786, was a blacksmith by trade, and married twice, first, Miriam Waite, who bore him four children, and sec- ond Ruth Goodwell, who bore him eight children. Abraham, son of Luther, was born in this town, married Jane Adams, and located in Worthington. His children are Rebecca, wife of Russell Tower, Paul, Ruth, wife of E. J. Robinson, and Abraham.
Howard Smith, son of Ebenezer, and grandson of Calvin, who was one of the early settlers of Middlefield, was born in town November 4, 1838, mar- ried Maggie Ford, in May, 1871, and has three children. Mr. Smith resides on road 4, on the farm once occupied by his father, and adjoining the farm owned by his grandfather. He is perhaps the largest owner of fine-wool sheep in the town, for which industry the town was formerly noted.
Metcalf J. Smith was born in Middlefield, in September, 1830, was edu- cated at Cortland, N. Y., graduating in 1855, and taught school ten years in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Connecticut. He held a professorship of mixed mathematics and natural science in Central college, and in 1857 accepted the same chair in a Lutheran college in Indiana. He returned to the home- stead in 1864, and still resides there on road 2. He married Harriet L., daughter of Lyman Eldredge, of Cincinnatus, N. Y., and has had born to him seven children, viz .: Sophia S., Theodore W., who died in 1865, Gerald B., Louis C., Kate W., Edward C. and Samuel E.
Nathan Wright came to this town from Chester in 1799, locating on road 25, married Asenath, daughter of Daniel Cone, and reared eleven children, only four of whom are living, namely, Clark, Charles, Louisa and Amos. Clark married Anna L., daughter of Sylvester Prentice, occupies the home- stead, which is called "Glendale Farm," has 500 acres, and is a breeder of Durham cattle. Charles married Sarah, daughter of Matthew Smith, and is a farmer on road I. Louisa married Lawrence Smith, and lives in Chester. Amos is a bridge builder, and lives in Athens, Pa.
Milton Combs was a native of this town. married Laura Meacham, and reared a family of six children, viz. : Louisa, who married Charles Smith, and resides at Smith Hollow; Almira, who married Austin Rude, of Hunt- ington ; E. Stacy married Jane Hazelton, and resides in Russell ; Andrew, who was a commission merchant at Albany, N. Y., and died there in 1885;
327
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
Charles M., who was born in April, 1830, married Sophronia Haskell, has seven children, and resides on the homestead, on road 39 ; and John, who was killed at the battle of Gaines Mills during the late rebellion. Milton died in 1855.
Lyman Meacham was born in Peru, Mass., October 2, 1825, spent his early life in that town, went to Brooklyn at the age of twenty years, engaged in the manufacture and sale of soda water, in which business he remained eight years, and afterwards carried on the business at Grand Rapids, Mich., two years. He engaged in the lumber business, having a mill at Blendon, on Grand river, Michigan, for a number of years. In 1864 he returned to Peru, carried on his father's farm, and about 1871 purchased the farm where he now resides, on road 1. He married Viola, daughter of Jesse Tarbell, and has had born to him nine children, three sons and six daughters.
Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood was born in Bellingham, Mass., July 1, 1818, attended Milford academy, Waterville college, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1837, and from the theological seminary at Newton in 1841. He commenced preaching in Rutland, Vt., in 1841, where he was pastor of the Baptist church for eight years, preached at the Baptist church in Belcher- town six years, at the Second Baptist church at Grafton seven years, and in 1865 was settled over the Baptist church in this town, where he has since remained. In the fall of 1864 he was in the service of the Christian com- mission at City Point, Va. He married Elizabeth H., daughter of Jonathan Bixby, and has four childen living, two sons at Worcester, and two daughters at home. His fourth daughter, Mary Agnes, was a missionary to the Shans, under the auspices of the American Baptist Missionary union. She died at Toungoo, Burmah, August 4, 1882, after a service of two years.
George W. Cottrell was born in Worthington, August 31, 1830, was a car- penter by trade, married Angeline M. Dyer, in 1854, and located in this town in 1863, on road 24. He served in the late war, in Co. F, 46th Mass. Vols., and died June 23, 1883, leaving a family of four children, as follows : George W., who married Elsie A. Wright, and lives on road 24, Mary V., who mar- ried Herbert Prentice, and resides in this town, Carrie H., who married King C. Phillips, of Peru, and John B., who lives on the farm with his mother.
Henry Ferris was born in New Milford, Conn., June 1, 1818, learned the trade of a stone mason, and came to this town in March, 1866, locating at his present home, on road 142. He married Selina Hall, August 22, 1841, and has four children living, and one adopted daughter. Mary J. married Will- ard Smith, of this town, who died in 1883. Clara L. married W. B. Graves, a farmer in this town. Katie A. and Charles live at home. Mr. Ferris has a farm of 400 acres, and makes a specialty of raising grade Durham cattle for market.
John T. Bryan was born in Worthington, February 17, 1808, spent his early life on his father's farm, and on attaining his majority commenced trade at the center of the town, keeping a general country store. He has
328
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
been often entrusted with public business, is now chairman of the school com- mittee, and has been director of the Highland Agricultural society. He has been postmaster three years, and holds the office at the present time. He married Nora V., daughter of James Ingham, in April, 1885.
The growth and fluctuations in the town's population may be seen by the following : In 1790 its population was 608; 1800, 877; 1810, 822; 1820, 755; 1830, 720; 1840, 717 ; 1850, 737 ; 1855, 677; 1860, 748 ; 1865, 727; 1870, 728; 1875, 603; 1880, 648.
Organization .- After its organization the town prosecuted its work of lo- cal government, not unmindful of its relation to the interests of the state and nation. At the first town meeting Solomon Ingham was chosen town clerk. Other persons who have held the office are Timothy Allen, John Dickson, David Mack. Jr., Matthew Smith, Jr., George W. Lyman, John Smith, Solo- mon F. Root and Jonathan McElwain. At the same meeting, Samuel Jones, David Mack and Job Robbins were chosen selectmen and assessors. Their successors in office have included most of the business talent of the town. Daniel Chapman was chosen town treasurer. The first school committee, chosen April 24. 1783, were Joseph Blush, Benjamin Blush, Timothy McEl- wain and John Jones. In the list of their successors appear the names of the town's most successful teachers, and business and professional men. The first representative to the general court was Uriah Church. His successors have been Erastus Ingham, David Mack, John Dickson, Daniel Root, Ebe- nezer Emmons, David Mack, Jr., George W. McElwain, Matthew Smith, Jr., Solomon Root, Daniel Root, Green H. Church, Samuel Smith, Oliver Smith, James Church, Ambrose Newton, Alexander Ingham, Matthew Smith, Uriah Church, Jonathan McElwain, Amos Cone, Harry Meacham, Almon Barnes, Eliakim Root, Oliver Smith, 2d, Milton Combs, W. L. Church, Arnold Pease, S. U. Church, Matthew Smith and Metcalf J. Smith.
Educational .- The schools of the town have received much of its care, and have richly repaid the attention given them. At the first meeting that occurred after the organization of the town, April 24, 1783, it was voted to "raise ten pounds for the support of schools for the year ensuing." Twenty pounds were voted on each of the two following years; and the sum was increased with the increasing needs of the rising community. It is interesting to notice that in 1843 the town appropriated $2.72 for each child of school age, and contributed as much more for board and fuel. It ranked third in the county in the amount appropriated for scholars. In 1857 it had increased the amount per scholar to $3.55, yet not enough to retain its relative position among neighboring towns. In 1874 it appropriated an amount equal to $7.31 per scholar.
Besides the system of schools maintained in the several neighborhoods, it has been usual by voluntary effort to secure the services of a competent teacher during the winter of each year to give instruction in advanced studies, including the languages and higher mathematics.
329
TOWN OF MIDDLEFIELD.
The select school has attracted the youth of the town, and many from neighboring towns, numbers of whom have been prepared for the college and the seminary, or have qualified themselves for teaching in the public school. The select school has done much to elevate the standard of scholarship throughout the town. For some twenty years the school has been under the very competent management of M. J. Smith, Esq., a native of the town and a graduate of New York Central college. A considerable list of young men who obtained the rudiments of education in Middlefield have completed full courses of study in the college and professional school; and as many young women have graduated from the higher seminaries. The several professions have had their representatives from Middlefield ; minister and missionary, college and theological professor, have dwelt tenderly upon the school-days of their early home. Prominent among the educated youth of Middlefield may be named, Rev. Alvan Nash, Ebenezer Emmons, LL. D., Rev. Lyman Coleman, D. D., Elisha Mack, LL. D., Rev. William Crowell, D. D), David Mack, Esq., Edward King, and the four Smith brothers, M. J. Smith, Aza- riah Smith, Rev. Judson Smith. D. D., and Prof. Edward P. Smith.
Physicians .- The earliest physician was Dr. Wright, brother of Nathan Wright, who lived where Arnold Pease now resides. The next was Dr. Will- iam Coleman, who lived where Mr. Friend now resides. Here his distin- guished son, Lyman Coleman, was born. Dr. Coleman practiced in town for twenty-five or thirty years. After him came Dr. Warren, Dr. Underwood, and Dr. James U. Church. Dr. Edwin Bidwell was here in practice when the late war commenced, and for a short time after its close. He served with distinction as army surgeon. Latterly Dr. Elbridge G. Wheeler has rendered occasional service.
Military .- Of those who became residents of Middlefield, the following persons it is pretty certain had served in the army of the Revolution: Timothy McElwain, Lewis Taylor, John Smith, Elijah Churchill, Solomon Ingham, Erastus Ingham, Amasa Graves, Sr., and Thomas Durant, Sr. The story of want and suffering that prevailed at the close of the Revolutionary war, and the sympathy felt for the sufferers, culminating in Shays Rebellion, has often been told. The town sympathized largely with the sufferers, and was the theatre on which some of the revolutionary proceedings of the Shays men took place. One of the companies of these men that had bled to this place before its pursuers was captured here. This was in January, 1787. Soon after this an oath of allegiance to the commonwealth and to the congress was administered to twenty of the inhabitants of the town-and silence held un- disputed sway.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.