USA > Massachusetts > Gazetteer of the state of Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 28
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Mr. Williston was born in 1795, the son of an esteemed pastor ; and after a youth of necessary economy, married Miss Emily Graves. In their industrious home originated the manufacture of covered buttons in America; and this has proved the germ of the subse- quent remarkable growth and prosperity of the town.
From the first Easthampton has provided liberally for the educa- tion of her sons ; and many of them, after the home, have received
WILLISTON SEMINARY.
a college training; and in all the walks of life many are the children who have done her credit. The religious cultivation of the town is provided for by churches of the Congregationalists (First, and Pay- son Congregational), by the Methodist Episcopal, and the Roman Catholic. "The Easthampton News " is a bright and able local paper, issued weekly.
The Indian name of this place was Pasacomuck. It was detached from parts of Northampton and Southampton, and incorporated as a district June 17, 1785, and as a town June 16, 1809. The earliest white settler was John Webb, who built a log house at Nashawan- nuck. The first saw-mill here was erected in 1674 or 1675. The village of Pasacomuck was, on the 24th of May, 1704, destroyed by the Indians, when about 20 of the inhabitants were killed. The first church was organized November 17, 1785, at the house of Captain Joseph Clapp; and the Rev. Payson Williston (father of Hon. Samuel Williston) was settled over it August 13, 1789.
East Hollow, a village in Pelham,
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GAZETTEER OF MASSACHUSETTS.
East Longwood, a locality in Boston adjoining the town of Brookline.
East New Boston, a village in Sandisfield.
Easton forms the northeastern angle of Bristol County, and is 24 miles south of Boston by the Old Colony Rail- road, which runs north and south through the midst of the eastern half. It is bounded on the north by Sharon and Stoughton, east by Brockton and West Bridgewater, south by Raynham, Taunton and Norton, and west by the latter and Mansfield. Its territorial form is quite regular, but with its western side shortest. The assessed area is 15,862 acres ; and more than one-third of this is woods, con- sisting mostly of oak, maple, birch and pine.
Wilbur's, or Leach's, Pond, containing 197 acres, Flyaway, of 70 acres, Ames Pond and several smaller scattered over the town beautify the landscape. Leach's Stream, the outlet of Leach's Pond on the northwestern border of the town, flows south, and furnishes power near Furnace village. Cohesset River, which rises in Stoughton and Sharon, flows across the northeasterly part of the town, affording valuable power at North Easton and at Easton, near the middle of the eastern border. The underlying rock is sienite and carboniferous, in which occur beds of iron ore.
The land is for the most part level, and the soil not very good. It is, however, well cultivated, the 122 farms yielding, in 1885, products valued at $137,112. The wood product was especially large in pro- portion, being $25,739. The main business of the town is manufac- turing; and it is chiefly noted for its shovels, produced at the various factories of the Ames family. Twenty years ago these factories turned out 25,000 of these articles weekly, which was said to be three fifths of the product of the world. Other manufactures are iron castings, agricultural implements, hinges, artisans' tools, philosophical instruments, lumber, thread and cotton yarn, carriages, clothing, food preparations, building stone, paper boxes, and boots and shoes,- the latter made in eight small factories, and their prod- uct having the value of $148,820. The aggregate value of the manu- factures in 1885 was $1,018,239. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $3,691,171, with a tax of $5 on $1,000. There is a national bank here with a capital of $300,000; and a savings bank having deposits at the close of last year to the amount of $579,555. The population is 3,948, of which 851 are voters. The dwelling-houses number 789.
There is a beautiful town-hall, Romanesque in general style, con- structed of brick in the upper half, and of the pink-gray granite of Easton in the lower half and tower, with brownstone trimmings throughout, and costing about $60,000. This was a gift to the town, in 1881, in memory of the late Oakes Ames, by his sons. A few years previous another member of the family, Hon. Fred L. Ames, had presented to the town a beautiful library building, with a collec-
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EAST PARISH-EDGARTOWN.
tion of books,- to be called the Ames Free Library. The books now number 14,000 volumes. The "Easton Journal," the local newspaper, is issued weekly, and is a useful institution.
The public schools are graded, and occupy nine buildings valued at nearly $60,000. The Congregationalists (Trinitarian) have here one church; the Unitarians, two; the Methodists, two; and the Roman Catholics, one. This town furnished its full quota of sol- diers in the war for the Union, and those who were lost have an appropriate memorial.
The Indian name of this place was Hockamock. It was origi- nally a part of Norton, from which it was detached and incorporated December 21, 1725 ; being named, perhaps, in honor of John Easton, who was governor of Rhode Island from 1690 to 1694.
The Rev. David Reed, editor and founder of "The Christian Reg- ister," was born here February 6, 1790. He died June 7, 1870. The Hon. Oakes Ames, M.C., distinguished for his business capacity and for his effective promotion of a noble enterprise, the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, was born here January 10, 1804; and died here May 8, 1873. He left property amounting to more than $5,000,000.
East Parish, a village in Haverhill.
Eastville, in Cottage City; also one in Bridgewater, and one in Edgartown.
Eddyville, in Middleborough.
EDGARTOWN, the seat of justice in Dukes Coun- ty, occupies the southeastern sec- tion of Martha's Vineyard. It lies 85 miles southeast of Boston, and is bounded on the north by Cottage City, on the east and south by the ocean and on the west by Tisbury. The assessed area is 10,988 acres, - of which 1,667 aeres are woodland, containing oak and pine.
The harbor, formed by Chappaquiddick Island on the east and the mainland on the west, is about five fathoms deep, - broad and well protected. It is esteemed one of the best on the coast; and several thousand vessels find anchorage here in bad weather during the course of the year. The lighthouse on the pier in the harbor is in latitude 41° 25' north, and longitude 70° 26' west. At the north- east extremity of Chappaquiddick Island is Cape Poge, on Great Neck, where is a lighthouse. Between the southwestern and the southern arm of Great Neck is Cape Poge Pond, of which a narrow portion extends southward along the entire eastern side of the island, enclosed by the narrow strip of sandy land nearly five miles long which connects with the island at Washqua Bluff, the southeast extremity. Near the middle of this strip of land, on the eastern side, is one of the national life-saving stations. On the southwest of this island is Katayma Bay, with Katayma Point on its west side. In the mainland south of this point is Mattakeset Bay. A similar
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sandy strip of land extends westward along the south side of the town, entirely enclosing large bodies of salt water known as Herring, Job's Neck, Paqua, and Oyster ponds. The first extends quite to the centre of the town.
Chappaquiddick Island, five miles long and two in width, has a varied surface, the highest point of which is Sampson's Hill; and a street passing across the island north of this contains dwell- ings enough to constitute a village bearing the name of the island. The other villages of the town are Katama, near the southeast point of the mainland, and Edgartown village at the north, on the southwest side of its harbor. The town in general is rather level, yet at two or three points it rises to an elevation of 70 to 120 feet above the sea. On the eminence near the line of Tisbury is a pond 20 rods in length by 10 in breadth, which is not only curious but very useful, since it is the only body of water within about four miles' distance. There being no streams nor water-power in the town, the only mill is turned by wind. The geological structure is drift and alluvium. The climate is mild and salubrious, and the people are strong and hardy.
The farms number 71; and their aggregate product in 1885 was $50,305. The erops and live stock are of the usual kinds and pro- portion, except the flocks, which are large, aggregating 1,424. The usual rural and shore manufactures are carried on to a small extent, amounting in value to 834,063. The product of the fisheries in the year mentioned had the value of $67,529. The catch of blue-fish was much larger than any other, amounting to $7,216; the catch of cod being $1,907. The valuation of the town in 18SS was $712,014, with a tax of $14.20 on $1,000. The population was 1,165, and the voters 373 ; and these were sheltered in 319 dwelling-houses.
On a level plain along the shore of its harbor is the ancient village of Edgarton. Many of the dwellings are of imposing size, for many retired shipmasters reside here. At the outskirts are narrower streets, grass-grown, lined with trees, and bordered with low-roofed dwellings. The whole place has an old-fashioned appear- ance, for which it is all the more attractive and none the worse. Here are the court-house, county offices, the custom-house, a national bank, a Congregational, a Methodist, and a Baptist church, all large wooden edifices. The town-hall, too, is here, looking like a super- annuated church. The village is six miles south from Cottage City landing, which is reached either by the narrow-gauge railroad or by the beach drive. This railroad also connects with Katama and the south shore, three miles in the other direction. At both villages are good hotels.
The public schools of this town are completely graded, occupying four buildings, which are valued, with appurtenances, at nearly $5.000. There are a public-school library of some 150 volumes and three Sunday-school libraries. The " Vineyard Gazette" is the local newspaper of the county, and has a good office outfit.
Edgartown, whose Indian name was Chappaquiddick, was settled anterior to 1645 by several English families bearing the names of
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291
EDGEWORTH- EGREMONT.
Norton, Pease, Trapp, Vincent, and others, the descendants of whom still remain. A church was organized in July, 1641, under the care of Rev. Thomas Mayhew, governor of Matha's Vineyard. He, and also his father, the proprieter of the island, were very successful in their religious labors among the Indians ; and these remained faith- ful to the English through King Philip's War. An Indian burial place is still visible. The town was incorporated July 8, 1671. Four soldiers of the town's quota in the war for the Union were lost.
Edgeworth, a village in Malden.
Egg Rock, east of Lynn and north of Nahant.
Egremont is situated on the eastern slope of the Taconic section of Berkshire County, 140 miles south by southwest of Boston. Its nearest railroad stations are Great Barrington and Sheffield, on the Housatonic Railroad, eastward, - and Hillsdale, in New York, on the Harlem Railroad. It is bounded on the north by Alford, east by Great Barrington and Sheffield, south by the latter and the town of Mount Washington, and west by Copake and Hillsdale, in New York. The area is 11,437 acres; of which 2,421 acres are woodland.
Green River winds through the northeast section, receiving on its way the outflow of Winchell Pond; while Joyner Marsh Pond is the principal reservoir for Rainer River, which winds through the southern part; both flowing southeastward, in their general course, to the Housatonic River. On these two streams are two flouring and three saw mills.
Except a section in the southern part and a small area in the west, the surface of the town is either level or undulating. The geolog- ical formation is Levis limestone and Lauzon schists. Coarse marble is found at several points. The soil is gravelly ; but good crops of the usual kinds are raised by careful cultivation.
The town is generally well adapted for grazing; and in 1885 the stock of neat cattle was 854, and of sheep and lambs, 1,121 The crop of cereals was comparatively large, being valued at $16,037. The value of the aggregate farm product was $134,694. The princi- pal manufacturing establishment is the Dalzell Axle Works, whose product, in the year mentioned, was 877,051. Other principal manu- factures are carriages, glue, boots and shoes, food preparations, and lumber. The aggregate value of the manufactures was $118,2.26. The valuation of the town in 1888 was 8422,624, with a tax-rate of $9.50 on $1,000. The population is 826 (voters, 228), who are sheltered by 194 dwelling-houses.
Three school buildings, valued at some $4,000, are provided for educational purposes. The churches are the Congregationalist, Methodist and Baptist.
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A part of the present town of Egremont was included in the In- dian reservation made at the period of the purchase of the Lower Housatonic township; and a large section of this was leased by the Stockbridge tribe of Indians to Andrew Karner, October 20, 1740. Associated with him as first settlers were, among others, Robert, Nicholas and Jacob Karner; John, Isaac, Jacob and Cornelius Spoor; Ebenezer Baldwin, Elias Hopkins, Robert Joyner, Abraham Andrews and John Fuller. The place was incorporated as a town February 13, 1760; and, quite probably, may have received its name from Charles Wyndham, Earl of Egremont, who in 1761 was made English secretary of state.
The oldest house in the town stands near the south village; and the figures, "1761," with a square and compass, are well defined upon one of its massive brick walls. In 1667, the first house for public worship was erected; and the Rev. Eliphalet Steele was ordained June 28, 1770, as the first settled minister. The Congre- gational church at South Egremont was organized November 22, 1816. The Baptist church edifice was erected in the north part of the town in 1817.
During the Revolutionary War the citizens of this town exhibited an active patriotism ; and not a single Tory was permitted to remain amongst them. On a certain night during Shays' Rebellion, with which the minister, Rev. Mr. Steele, did not sympathize, some of the people entered his house, and, after treating him with many in- dignities, stole his watch and several articles of clothing. The dis- affected part of his congregation thus stigmatized themselves ; and the worthy pastor remained with the church until 1794.
Egypt, a village in Scituate; also one in Somerset.
Elizabeth Islands, constituting the town of Gosnold,
Dukes County, lie off the south- western angle of Barnstable County, Cape Cod.
Ellis Furnace, a village in Carver.
Ellisville, a village in Plymouth.
Ellsworth, a village in Acton.
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Elm Dale, a village in Uxbridge.
Elm Grove, a village in Colrain.
Elmwood, a village in Dedham ; also one in East Bridge- water and one in Holyoke.
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293
ENFIELD - ERVING.
Enfield is a farming town of varied and picturesque scen- ery, lying in the easterly part of Hampshire County, near 100 miles west of Boston. It is bounded on the north by Pelham, Prescott and Greenwich, east by the latter and Hard- wick, south by Ware, and west by Belchertown and Pelham. The assessed area is 10,041 acres, of which 2,471 is woodland.
Ridges of high and wooded land extend from north to south through the town, and through the valleys intervening flow Swift River and two or three small tributaries. Beaver Brook, having its origin in Sunk and Morton Ponds, flows southerly from the south- east section. These streams furnish motive power for a woollen factory and several saw and box mills.
The farmns-89 in number- yield fair crops in the usual variety ; and these, with the dairies, domestic animals and the poultry yard, yielded an aggregate product, in the census year of 1885, valued at $75,118. The valuation in 1888 was $606,210; with a tax of $9 on $1,000. The population was 1,010 ; and there were 209 dwelling- houses. The principal village is Smith's Station on the Springfield and Athol Railroad, which passes through the midst of the town.
The primary and grammar schools occupied six school-houses, val- ued at about $2,500. The public library has nearly 2,000 volumes ; and two Sunday schools have about 1,000. The churches are Con- gregationalist, Methodist and Roman Catholic.
The early settlers -among whom were Robert Field, a clothier, John Sawin, Caleb Keith, Abner Eddy, Reuben Colton, William Morton, and William Patterson - came, in part, from Bridgewater and Easton. The first meeting-house was built in 1786, and had for seats movable benches instead of pews. The Rev. Joshua Crosby, settled December 2, 1789, was the first minister. The first saw mill was built by Ephraim Woodward, and the first grain mill by Robert Field prior to 1773. The " Quabbin whetstones " were manufactured here from 1790 until 1820, and were then the principal articles of export.
The town was incorporated as the South Parish of Greenwich in June, 1787 ; embracing the south part of that town, together with parts of Belchertown and Ware. The place was incorporated as a town February 18, 1816; and, according to Dr. J. G. Holland, was named in honor of Robert Field ; prefixing a syllable, however, to his family name.
The Hon. Josiah B. Woods of this town was the principal donor of the " Woods Cabinet " of Amherst College.
Erving is a long narrow town, of irregular form, lying along the north side of Miller's River, in the easterly part of Franklin County. It is 91 miles west of Boston on the Fitchburg Railroad. It is also reached by the Vermont and Massachusetts and the Vermont Central railroads, at its eastern and western ex- tremities. Northfield bounds it on the north, Warwick and Orange on the east, Wendell and Montague on the south, and the latter and Gill on the west.
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The Connecticut and Miller's rivers separate it from the western towns. In the eastern part of the town is Keyup Brook, flowing from a pond of 16 acres on the Northfield line, through fertile valleys, southerly into Miller's River. Scott's Brook is an affluent of the same river in the western part of the town. Miller's River is here a rapid stream, running circuitously through a narrow valley flanked by rocky and wooded eminences on either side. The otter still frequents its waters, and among the wild hills above it the wild cat and the porcupine are still found. Far up in a secluded ledge which rises almost perpendicularly on the right bank of the river, there lived a few years ago (and may yet live) a long-bearded hermit, - kindly, industrious and literary ; spending his time in knitting stockings, picking berries, cutting wood, reading, writing, and in en- tertaining visitors.
The soil of this town is excellent for the growth of timber and for grazing. Large numbers of telegraph poles and railroad ties were cut here formerly, - 1,495,000 having in one year been prepared for market. In 1870 the acres of land devoted to wood was given in the census as 2,983. In 1885 it was 5,496; there being 8,405 acres of assessed land. The farms now number 37, against 42 at the former date. Proportionately, values of the wood product and of fruits, berries and nuts were large. The entire farm product in the last year mentioned was $30,589. The town has three saw mills, two chair factories, a door, sash and blind, a pail, a children's carriage, a piano key, an artisans' tool, and a bit-brace factory. Considerable quantities of stone are quarried, and there are also food prepara- tions, boots and shoes, and some other manufactures; the aggre- gate value, in 1885, being $149,309. The valuation in 1889 was $343,901, with a tax of $20.50 on $1.000. There were 183 dwelling- houses, and the population was 873, including 247 voters.
The primary and grammar schools occupy four school-houses, val- ued at $3,500. The public library contains about 1,000 volumes, and the Sunday-school library nearly 300. The churches are Congrega- tionalist and Baptist. Erving sent 58 soldiers to the late war, of whom the large proportion of 30 were lost.
This place was originally called Erving's Grant, and was incorpor. ated as a town April 17, 1838. A part of Northfield known as .Hack's Grant was annexed to it in 1860. With its water-power, productive soil, beautiful scenery and railroad facilities, the place seenis well endowed for increased prosperity.
Essex is a finely diversified and beautiful town in the east- erly part of Essex County, long noted for shipbuild- ing and the hardy and enterprising character of its people. It lies northeast of Boston, and about 27 miles distant by the Essex Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, which connects with its several villages. It is bounded on the north by Ipswich, on the east by Gloucester, south by Manchester, and west by Hamilton. Its as- sessed area is 7,841 acres, 1,180 being woodland, containing pine, oak, maple and beech.
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ESSEX RIVER-EVERETT.
The rock is sienite. On the summit of a ledge cropping out in the central village is a mass of cloven bowlders piled up grotesquely, called Martin's Rock, which has served to bear up a liberty pole. From Burnham's Hill in the north, White's Hill in the centre, and Perkins' Hill (a survey station), the observer obtains delightful views of the valley of Chebacco, of the bay with its various creeks and rounded islands, Castle Neck, Annisquam Harbor, and the ocean. From Chebacco Pond, a fine sheet of water in the southwest section, covering 260 acres, flows Chebacco or Essex River centrally through the town, affording some motive power, and conveniences for con- structing ships. It is a deep, narrow and serpentine stream, but very useful to the place. There is a small pond near the central vil- lage, which adds much to the beauty of the landscape.
Essex has for many years been celebrated for building stanch and handsome vessels. Cooper, in his " Pilot," makes Captain Barnstable, the commander of " The Ariel, " come from " Old Chebacco;" and Dr. Kane made a polar voyage in a vessel built on Chebacco River. By the last industrial report (1885), there were within the town seven ship-yards, employing nearly 150 men ; other manufactures being boots and shoes (product valued at $363,865), cordage and twine, carriages, lumber, leather, liquors, food preparations and others. The aggregate value of goods made was $669,460. There are 79 farms, whose various products amounted to $112,456. The clam-banks of Essex, too, are noted for an abundant and excellent supply of shellfish, while the salt marshes afford large quantities of hay. The fishings product of the town in the year mentioned was $18,244; of which $6,000 came from oysters and $11,930 from clams. The valuation of the town in 1888 was $852,792, with a tax of $18 on $1,000. The population was 1,752 (456 being voters) ; and their dwelling-houses numbered 388. The principal villages are Essex (centre), Chebacco Pond, Essex Falls. The public schools are provided for in eleven school-houses, valued at about $15,000. The churchies are a Congregationalist, Methodist and Universalist.
For 121 years this township was known by its Indian name of Chebacco and as the Second Parish of Ipswich. The first minis- ter was the Rev. John Wise, ordained in 1682. The town was incorporated February 18, 1819. It contains many descendants of the original settlers, who bear the familiar names of Burn- ham, Choate, Cogswell and Perkins. Rufus Choate, LL.D., the eminent lawyer and orator, was born here October 1, 1799. He died July 13, 1859. His brother David Choate, who died later, was a man of different tastes but large ability. Others of eminence were George F. Choate and Jonathan Story.
Essex sent 200 men into the war for the Union, of whom 30 were lost.
Essex River. See town of Essex.
Everett is a flourishing young town having an attractive site in the easterly part of Middlesex County, three
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miles northwest of Boston, and on two branches of the Boston and Maine Railroad system. It is bounded north by Malden, east by Revere and Chelsea ; south by the Mystic River, which divides it from the Charlestown district of Boston; west by Somerville and Malden; the former also separated from it by the Mystic.
The assessed area is 1,824 acres, including twelve acres of groves. There are also numerous trees, mostly elms from 10 to 20 years old, along the streets. From the higher parts of the town there are delightful views of surrounding towns, of Boston Harbor and of the ocean. The geological formation is upper conglomerate, drift and the St. John's group. The soil is a sandy loam in some parts, in others clayey. It is well adapted to the production of garden vegetables, fruits and flowers, to which its agricultural space is largely devoted.
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