USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Brimfield > Historical celebration of the town of Brimfield, Hampden County, Mass > Part 17
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Hle accumulated during his life a large fortune. Wealth was not with him, however, an object of desire for its own sake. He held it as a sacred trust. He be-
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lieved that God had given to him a talent for saving money, and training himself to habits of prudent econ- omy, he accumulated property by the slow process of adding a dollar earned to a dollar saved, rather than by risking a fortune for the chance of effecting an inflation of value. In the distribution of his wealth, he believed it to be his duty to contribute to objects and institutions of established and permanent value, rather than to those of only transient importance. He early became interested in Amherst College, and the aggregate of his donations to that institution, amounted to $175,000. His donations to Andover Theological Seminary, aggregate $120,000. In each of these institutions there is a Hitchcock Profess- orship, endowed through his beneficence. Other funds given were designed specially as scholarships, to pay the term bills of indigent students, or as contingent funds. He took an interest in the relation which his benefactions sustained to each other. Hence he founded an academy, (Hitchcock Free High School,) gave funds for colleges, added to the endowments of theological seminaries, and aided in building houses of worship, - thus providing means for helping young men in their entire course of study, and securing for them, if preach- ers, houses of worship to give efficiency to their labors. His donations to various institutions, as appears from published statements, amounted in the aggregate to very nearly $650.000.
Dea. David Brown and his wife, Molly (Watson) Brown, with a family of eight children; Samuel Watson, born November 28, 1779; Nabby, born April 25, 1782; Molly, born April 25, 1784; David, born July 12, 1788; died at Brimfield, July 25, 1808; James, born July 30, 1790; Lydia Berthia, born November 27, 1795; Cyrel Read. born April 5, 1798; removed from Ashford, Conn., to Brimfield, in 1805, and settled on the farm now owned
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by James B. Brown." where he resided about eleven years, when he removed to the west part of the town. where he remained until his decease. November 5, 1829. Deacon Brown was the son of James, the fourth of the name, and of the fifth generation in the line of deseent from Jolm Brown, who came to this county about 1631. and saidled in that part of Plymouth Colony, now the towns of Swansea and Rehobeth, Mass., and Warren and Barrington. R. I .; frequent mention being made of him and his sons James and John, in the records of those towns. also in the Plymouth Colony records. John Brown purchased Wamimosett in 1645. " He and his son James were witnesses to grand deed of sales of land from Osameguim. (Massasoit), and his oldest son Wamsetto, on March 29, 1653." John Brown was Governor's assistant for seventeen years, and commissioner for the Colony eleven years. He died at Wamimosett, near Rehobeth. April 10, 1662.
James Brown, father of David, was born January, 23. 1715. He resided in Barrington, R. I. Charles O. Brown, one of his descendants, has in his possession, handed down from family to family, the original warrant from William Fove, Treasurer and Receiver General of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, dated November 6, 1745, directed to James Brown, Collector of Barrington, requiring him to collect sixty-five pounds the same being that town's pro- portion of a Province tax, the warrant specifying the price he should allow for various commodities, and prod- uets receivable for taxes. In 1777. James Brown re- moved with his family to Ashford, Conn , where he died November 22, 1782, and where his son David resided till his removal to Brimfield.
Samuel W. Brown, engaged in the mercantile business soon after the removal of the family to Brimfield, occupy-
* Descendant of Jonathan Brown.
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ing the "Red Store," afterwards used by P. Warren & Sons, for a counting-room, and building the house, (since enlarged), now occupied by James J. Warren. He was not successful in the business, and removed to Canajoharie. N. Y., where he died November 10, 1813.
James Brown, the year previous to the removal of the family to Brimfield, was apprenticed to Marquis Converse to learn the trade of a saddler, and so much of harness making as was then required. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he removed to Canajoharie, N. Y., where he carried on the business for several years. After the deccase of his brother Samuel, he returned to Brimfield, and bought out Mr. Converse, and carried on the business of saddle and harness-making, alone and with his son. Henry F., for about forty years.
He was appointed Deputy Sheriff about 1825, and held the office by successive appointments for nearly twenty- five years, doing a large business in Eastern Hampden. "Jim Brown," with his horse and gig being as well known in the towns of Brimfield, Holland, and Wales, as the vil- lage physician. He, early in its history, identified him- self with the cause of temperance, and for many years was prominent in his efforts for the suppression of the evils resulting from the traffic in intoxicating liquors. Hle was a firm believer in both " moral and legal sua- sion," and in 1848, wishing so far as possible to relieve the town from the evil effects of the sale of liquors at the hotel, purchased the property, for the sum of $2,000. one-fifth of the amount being raised by subscription, and paid towards its purchase on condition that the hotel should be kept as a Temperance House; and as showing the good results of the effort, from that time to the present, with the exception of two years, the hotel has been successfully kept without the sale of spirituous liquors. Mr. Brown died March 18, 1859, aged 69. He
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married, October 22. 1815, Emily, daughter of Theodore Field ; they had seven children, five of whom survive them.
Cyrel Read Brown, the youngest of the family, remained on the farm with his parents, and received the usual edu- cation afforded by the town schools, with the addition of private instruction by Rev. J. Vaill; he commenced teaching when eighteen years old, and with one excep- tion taught for sixteen successive winters, when, owing to the increasing cares of his farm and family, he was obliged to relinquish the profession, although through life he was active in the cause of education, serving as one of the board of school committee eight years. Resid- ing four miles from the center of the town in one of the small school districts, he felt keenly the inequality and injustice of the method for the division of the money raised for the support of schools ; allowing to each dis- triet only the amount they paid, while he claimed and advocated that every pupil in town was entitled to equal rights and so far as their location would permit, should receive equal advantages from the money raised for schools; he lived to see this principle adopted by the town, and the school district system abolished years be- fore the compulsory statute for that purpose. In this as in other matters he was governed by the principle of " the greatest good to the greatest number." In 1853. he left his farm in the care of his son and removed to Westfield where he resided several years to give his daughters an opportunity to attend the Normal School and qualify for teaching. Mr. Brown was often elected to town office, serving eight years as assessor, five years as selectman, and in many other offices, discharging the duties in all with credit to himself and to the acceptance of his fellow townsmen. From boyhood he was interested in the military profession. In 1822. August 26, he was
Gayret R Brown
.
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chosen Ensign of the West Militia Company of Brimfield ; was elected Lieutenant 1823, July 24, and Captain 1827. July 5. In 1828, on petition of Cyrel R. Brown and others the West company of Militia was disbanded, and the petitioners were authorized to raise by voluntary en- listments a rifle company, "provided forty-five members are enrolled." These conditions having been fulfilled, 1828, May 6, Mr. Brown was elected captain of the com- pany. While under his command the company was noted for accuracy of drill, precision of movement, soldierly bearing and deportment. Captain Brown was elected major of the regiment, but declining to accept the posi- tion, he continued in command of the company for three years when he resigned his commission and retired from active participation in military affairs. At the re-union of the company September 22. 1862, forty-five members present ; July 4, 1865, forty-four members present, and July 4, 1866. at the dedication of the soldiers' monument. forty members present. Hle, as senior captain, was in command for the day, as erect and with the martial spirit of his youthful days.
In November, 1831, he united with the Congregational Church and through life was one of its most active and influential members. He was chosen Deacon November 22, 1838, and held the office till his decease, nearly thirty- one years. His interest in the cause of education led him to take an active interest in the Sunday-school con- nected with the Church, of which he was Superintendent for nearly twenty-five years, discharging the varied duties of the office with marked ability, and to the acceptance of the Church and community. He died of apoplexy. September 4. 1869, eleven days previous to the celebra- tion of the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Sunday-school, and to which, knowing as he did more of the school and its scholars than any other person, he was
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expected to present much that would add to the interest of the occasion.
Much might be added in commendation of the charac- ter and services of Deacon Brown, but his long continued, varied and successful service for the public, both civil and religious, is a better eulogy upon his character than any we can give. He married June 14, 1821, Mary, daugh- ter of Oliver Blair. They had nine children, six of whom survive him.
Of the men who have been prominent in the town for the last twenty-five years, perhaps no one is more desery- ing of notice than Dea. Paul W. Paige.
HIe came to Brimfield just previous to the formation of the party known as Abolitionists. Having lost all faith in the anti-slavery resolutions of the Whig party, with which he had been identified, and believing the question of slavery was of more importance than any or all the questions which divided the old political parties, he identified himself with the new organization, fully real- lizing the fact that it was to have a long and arduous struggle.
Yet never for a moment did he doubt its ultimate tri- umph. It is not easy for the younger portion of the community to realize the prejudice created against the little band of men, who stood up to be counted in the midst of a community a large portion of whom regarded them as little better than fanatics, and yet, year after year they stood, turning neither to the right or left, with the motto, " No compromise with evil," absolutely refus- ing to make any concession to either of the old parties ; with no hope of success for themselves, for years. Truly it required a heroism rarely met with.
The history of our country to this day furnishes no better evidence of true heroism than did the old Aboli- tionists. Among them Deacon Paige was recognized
Paul Wenige
.
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through their entire history, as one of their leaders in Brimfield, and not only on this question, but in all the movements for reform he bore a prominent part.
Notwithstanding the existing prejudices, through them all he ever manifested that serenity of disposition which comes only from a consciousness of being in the right. and such was the Christian spirit he uniformly manifested that the more candid portion of our people were ready to admit sineerity of purpose, and finally, when the great question was settled, our whole people saw and were ready to acknowledge not only the purity of motive that had governed him but that in the main he had been in the right. In the space allotted to individual history in this volume, 'tis impossible to do justice to his character. and perhaps 'tis sufficient to say that Brimfield has had few men whose influence will be felt for a longer time, none who have been more uniformly true to to their con- victions than Paul W. Paige.
He was the son of Deacon Paul and Peninah (Hamner) Paige, and was born at Hardwick, Mass., Jan. 10, 1807. ITis mother died when he was seven years old, and from that time he lived but little at home. Soon after the mother's death. the family moved to Hardwick, Vt., where Paul received a very scanty school education, attending the common school a few weeks in the winter till about fourteen. He was one of a family of thirteen children.
Paul was married to Mary, daughter of Elias Tarbell, Sept. 17, 1835; they had five children : Mary L., George W., Ellen W., Charles W. and Delisa T .; of these, Mary and Delisa are still living.
George W. was one of four young men, who first on- listed in the army and gave his life for his country. It marks not only the interest his father took in the cause. but also the unselfishness of his disposition, that he ad- vised his son to go to the war, although his own health
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had for some time been such that he felt sorely the need of his labor.
Immediately following his marriage, Deacon Paige went to North Brookfield to live, where he remained un- til March, 1838, when he came to Brimfield, where he spent the rest of his life. The wife and mother died Nov. 18, 1860. He was again married April 28, 1863, to Catherine P., daughter of James Brown.
Deacon Paige held a number of important official po- sitions in town, was a member of the Legislature of 1855 and took an active and prominent part for a new mem- ber. He believed in and voted for the law prohibiting the sale of ardent spirits, but advised that it be so framed as to exempt beer and cider from its restrictions, and although a radical temperance and "prohibitory law" man, he held ever that it was a mistake to try to prevent by legislation the use of these light drinks.
He was elected to the Legislature of 1859, serving with credit to himself and the town. Ile was one of the joint committee on railways, then as now, one of the im- portant committees of the Legislature. Really he never did anything for the town that was not done to his and its credit.
Sept. 3, 1862, he was appointed Assistant Assessor for the 10th Massachusetts district, having specially assigned to him the towns of Brimfield, Monson, Wales and Hol- land, and held the office till June, 1868.
Always prominent, but in the last years of his life more eminent still was his earnest Christian character. It had ever been life of his life ; the governing principal in all his service, whether to family, town, state or country. It was steadfast faith, and bright hope in his God which made him what he was, loved and honored by all. In a few words of his own may well be shown his idea of a Christian life : " I will say that Christ is all to me and is
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available for faith, and love and power, and death to sin, and life in holiness to each and every true believer, now, as fully as in the days of the apostles." His heart and soul seemed centered in the church, for which he had labored faithfully and untiringly. He was ever ready with words of encouragement, earnest appeal, and prayers of faith. Although in sickness suffering intensely, yet to the hours of his death, he was anxious and interested in its welfare and true Christian growth. To any who came to him for advice, he gave it with a clearness and sound judgment, which was convincing and satisfying. Genial and true, his life seemed to throw out an atmosphere of strength and cheer about him. He died April 14, 1876, after a long and painful sickness, mourned and beloved by all who knew him. He left as the richest legacy within the power of man to leave, the influence and memory of a life nobly lived.
I have thus given you, in as brief compass as was prac- ticable, some results of the researches I have made in the time I could take from other duties during the last two months. Such an undertaking is usually the occupation of many years, often of a life-time. I have only begun a work which, I trust, will now be taken up and carried forward to some fuller measure of completeness. By few, only, is the labor involved in the preparation of such local histories appreciated ; by few, only, can it be per- formed. I have selected only such facts and incidents as I thought would have some general interest, out of a vast mass of materials that has accumulated on my hands. It is with the hope of inspiring in the people of Brimfield a laudable ambition to be worthy of their sires, that I have undertaken to discharge the duty which President Grant has recommended to the people of every town in the United States. We all, I presume, recognize the ap- 28
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propriateness of such a Centennial commemoration of the lives and labors of the patriotic and honored ancestry to whom, under God, we owe the country which we are proud to call our native land. We rejoice to welcome to-day, to old Brimfield, relatives and friends from War- ren. Palmer, Monson, Holland and Wales, that are grouped around this, their mother-town, like children around their mother's knees. We rejoice to welcome. also, the foster-children who have carried the name to other and far-off States, and built up there communities of similar thrift and stability-Brimfield, Ohio, Brimfield. Illinois, and Brimfield, Indiana.
From old Brimfield have gone forth to every section of our land our brightest and our best, and our gathering to-day, representing all sections, must go far towards proving that local attachments serve to intensify, not dis- sipate, our common love for our common country.
"Dear to us the South's fair land, Dear the central mountain band, Dear the prairied West."
We are children of the past, and I have sought to sat- isfy in some measure the filial reverence that prompts us to learn what we can of the lives and labors of our an- cestors. But it is far from my purpose to advocate or encourage a superstitious veneration for the past. There is a blind, senseless conservatism, which, in seeking vainly to preserve the old, simply because it is old, would make us slaves of the past. It is the ordinance of God, that many things shall die and be forgotten. It is hard to tell which is the more reprehensible, the superstition of olden times, that made mummies of the dead, or the callous-heartedness of modern days, that makes fuel of them.
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We are children of immortality, and heirs of Heaven. We have a future as well as a past. How to develop a true Christian brotherhood among our people, and among the nations of the earth, is the problem of our times. A true, worthy social life can be built up only on the basis of a true individual life. It is a process of construction as well as of growth. The spirit of life which is within the soul, originating in principles of righteousness most fully developed in the life of Christ, and by Him commu- nicated to all who are truly Christian, in this process of construction and growth, uses all physical forces as well as all good social influences.
In closing this review of our fathers' toils and trials, aspirations and achievements, I hope that every soul here will feel the duty of the present. That duty is neither contempt for the past, nor contentment with it. Nor is it doubt and despondency in regard to the future. As Coleridge truly says, "Faith in the perpetual progression of human nature towards perfection will in some shape always be the creed of virtue." It was once said to Na- poleon Bonaparte, " Sire, your son must be brought up with the utmost care in order to be able to replace you." "Replace me !" he replied ; "I cannot replace myself. I am the child of destiny." It is true, in a sense, that each one of us has his own divine mission, his own spe- cial work, which no one but himself can do. But it is also true that history repeats itself. National progress, social progress is a perpetual exodus to a promised land. The duty of the present is to have regard for the future as well as the past.
"New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth. They must upward still and onward Who would keep abreast of Truth.
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Lo ! before us gleam her camp-fires, We ourselves must pilgrims be ; Launch our Mayflower and boldly steer,
In faith that shrinks not from the desperate winter sea." *
* The address, as now printed, was not read in full on the day of the celebra- tion. Only such passages were read as it was supposed would be of special interest. It was the writer's intention to supplement the brief preparation made for the anniversary occasion, by further researches among public records and family papers. But the writer's removal from the country put an end abruptly to this supplementary work, and must serve as an apology also for the inaccuracies of statement and inelegancies of expression, which the writer has had no opportunity to correct.
Many of the biographical sketches have been prepared since the address was written, and the work which Mr. Hyde left unfinished was completed by others.
TOWN HOUSE, ERECTED IN 1878.
APPENDIX.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY CAPT. F. D. LINCOLN.
FRIENDS :- I welcome you to this day's festivities in behalf of all there is left of the good old town of Brimfield. Not that I would be- little the present town in any sense other than that of numbers; on the contrary I declare and will "stoutly maintain" that we have as noble hearts here to-day as any of which the town could ever boast. Men and women who sympathize with their fellows in the days of their adversity, and rejoice in their prosperity; aye, who make the joys and sorrows of others their own, thus fulfilling the grandest in- junction ever laid on mortal, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- self."
To-day our fathers are to pass in review before us. I know how gladly you will applaud the recital of their virtues; I trust you will be as ready to spread the mantle of charity over their faults, remem- bering that one hundred years from to-day our children's children will gather on this very spot, perhaps, to review the history we have made, and are making. Heaven help us all so to live that when they shall come to review our history, they may find as much to approve, as little to condemn, as we now do in reviewing the history of our fathers.
But I am reminded that it is not my part to occupy your time by much speaking; rather is it my duty to name those who are to ad- dress you, and as a part of that duty I now introduce to you one to whom many of you have often listened with pleasure, the Rev. Dr. Hyde.
CAPT. LINCOLN'S INTRODUCTION OF REV. CHARLES HAMMOND.
FELLOW CITIZENS :- You have been told to-day that the town of Monson was the elder daughter of Brimfield. Among her citizens I see here one who has shown a deep interest in the early history of the New England towns, and who, I doubt not, is charged with some mes- sage he is willing to deliver, and I know you will be glad to receive. the Rev. Charles Hammond.
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APPENDIX.
REMARKS OF REV. CHARLES HAMMOND, OF MONSON.
The early settlement of Brimfield, is a matter of common interest to all the towns and parts of towns, included in its ancient domain. The separation of the original territory, into towns or districts, took place more than a century ago, and was made with entire amity and the good-will of the people in the several divisions.
The people of Monson and the other towns, once incorporated with Brimfield. must consider it an instance of rare good fortune, that the Historical Address of this occasion, has been allotted to one, so well qualified for the service. We rejoice in the revelation made by his study of the records and traditions, which relate to the first settlement of Brimfield. The names of the carly fathers and founders, are thus saved from oblivion ; their heroic deeds are made known to their de- scendants, and thus the dead live again, in the real and permanent in- fluence of their character and example.
The path of the antiquarian and the path of the pioneer settler, both lead to the wilderness, but from opposite points of history. The an- tiquarian searches out the trail of the earliest emigrants. He finds where they camped at night-fall, and, where, weary of wandering, they settled in their first homes, in that interminable forest, which once cov- ered these hills and vales, where the savage roamed by day and the wolf howled by night.
The orator of the occasion has revealed to us these ancient habita- tions, and made us acquainted with their occupants. If he has not brought them before us, face to face, he has given us their thoughts and purposes, in veritable documents, relating to the foundations of social life, established in the undivided town of Brimfield.
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