USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 30
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August 13th, 1846, the church was re-established by a council of del-
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TOWN OF ALFORD.
egates from neighboring churches. These persons were admitted to mem- bership : Harlow Pease, Ann J. Pease, Berthia Nooney, Levi S. Nye, Laura Nye. Cornelia Dewey, Roxy Van Deusen, Livinia Van Densen, Caroline Barnum, Polly Calkins, Orman Shead. Asenath Shead, Anna V. Crandall, Sophrona Crandall, Mrs. James Shead, Malinda Dewey. Caroline Fitch. Harlow Pease was elected deacon, and so continued until his death, December 23d, 1870.
June 20th, 1867, a council met and a union was formed with the Methodists, which soon proved a failure, and in 1874 the church was again reorganized, with Lester T. Osborne and Horace S. Fitch, deacons.
Since 1846 the pastors have been : Rev. A. L. Crandall, to 1850: Rev. Gardiner Hayden, to 1852: Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, a short time ; after which a vacancy to June, 1873, when Rev. Joseph Swallow. of Canaan, Ct., was called. He remained till 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. Jay J. Dana. Since 1846 the clerks have been : Grove S. Nooney, William Bolton, Henry Pease, Horace S. Fitch.
Methodist Episcopal Church .-- The Methodist Episcopal church of this town was organized in 1794, and was one of the appointments on the Pittsfield Circuit until 1830 : from 1830 to 1834, on Lee Circuit ; and from that year to the present on the Egremont Circuit. Among the pioneers between 1781 and 1800 were Hezekiah Lambert, Eliphalet Jewell, Elijah Ticknor, Nathan Husted, and Isaac Tuttle. Rev. Ebenezer Stevens, from Litchfield. Ct., who traveled the circuit in 1797, resided in this town for awhile, about half a mile north of the village, near the west end of lot No. 32. He was called the ". Hemlock Preacher," because his log house was surrounded by lofty hemlocks. Two chairs and a bench for the children to sit on were all the seating accommodations of his dwelling.
In 1799 Lorenzo Dow traveled the circuit and was hospitably enter- tained at the house of Moses Fairchild. A revival began and several were added to the church.
The class books of 1807 and 1812 contain the following names of mem- bers : David Wooster, Joanna Wooster, Erastus Brown, Matilda Brown, Nathan Husted, Annie Husted, Jabez Hamlin, jr., Esther Hamlin, David Peirson, Anna Peirson, Daniel Fenn. Rebeckah Fenn, Phebe Brown, Phi- lander Hulbert, Clarinda Hulbert, Lucinda Fairchild, Isaac Tuttle, Olive Tuttle, Hannah Brown, Sally Hamlin, Polly Tuttle. Fanny Kellogg, Na- than Wooster, Philo Sperry, Lois Willoby, David Pardy, Aaron Chapin. Patty Chapin, John H. Fairchild, Sally Kelsey, Truman Willoby, Mar- garet Hamlin, Parmelia Hamlin, Phebe Stanard, Fanny Hamlin, Richard Hulbert, Edward Stevens, Almira Fairchild, Orna Stillson, Harlow Fenn, Eliza Fairchild, Edmond Mills, Alfred Peirson, Samuel Patridge, Annie Patridge, Daniel Ball, sen., Daniel Ball, jr., Hubbard Hulbert, Esther Hulbert. Sally Lawrence, Almira Wooster, Cynthia Fenn.
The class leaders have been : David Wooster, Philo Sperry. Nathan Husted, Daniel Fenn, Isaac Tuttle, Chester Foote, Lewis Sperry, San- uel Laird, Calvin Davis.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Jabez Hamlin, jr., was a local preacher ; he removed to Ohio in 1830. Erastus Brown was a local preacher and a poet. He died at Freemont, Ind., in 1847, aged seventy-seven.
Union Meeting House .- February 20th, 1781, the town voted to build a meeting house north of the road leading from Lieutenant- Simeon Hul- bert's to Daniel Kelsey's, and west of the main road to Lieutenant Abner Kellogg's. William Bronson, Simeon Hulbert, and Joshua Hulbert were chosen a building committee. This vote was not carried out. In 1817 Phi- lander Hulbert conveyed one fourth acre near the center of the village to these corporators : Nathan Wooster, Philo Sperry, Chester Foote, Chris- topher Miner, Elihu Lester, Samuel Stoddard, Elisha Kenne, Forward Barnum, Jabez Prindle, Mason Church, Jonathan Tobey, Erastus Brown, Augustus Tobey, Elisha Stoddard, Jonathan Hill, Jonathan P. Tobey, Enoch Sperry, Elisha Tobey, Daniel Barrett, John Williams, Ansel Sperry, Nathan Husted, John Scripture, King Williams, Cornelius Wil- liams, Jabez Davis, William Hollenbeck, Daniel Ticknor, Moses Fair- child, Reuben Wilcox. and Daniel Fenn.
The edifice of wood known as the Union meeting house was erected in 1817. The interior was not finished until 1826, benches being previ- ously used, and the church was without a stove until 1832. The Metho- dists own one half of the edifice and the Congregationalists, with the Baptists, one half.
The justices of the peace since the incorporation of the town have been, previous to 1800 : Dr. John Hulbert, William Bronson, Abner Kel- logg. Between 1800 and 1830, Erastus Hamlin, Amos Kellogg, Philander Hulbert, Elihu Lester, Reuben Wilcox, Elijah Fitch. From 1830 to the present, Hugo Dewey, Roswell Picket, William Milligan, Reuben C. Fitch, Ezra C. Ticknor, Elijah K. Williams.
The merchants have been numerous and a complete list cannot be given. Previous to 1800 there were Oliver Grace, Ashbel Hull, Asahel Gilbert, Erastus Hamlin. Between 1800 and 1820, Philander Hulbert, James and Joseph Bloss, Sylvanus and Augustus Tobey. From 1820 to 1845, Eastman & Garner, Atwood & Race, John Lester, William Stod- dard, Albert Church, Henry C. Thurston, Stephen E. Smith, Roswell Pickett. From 1845 to the present, Mark R. Van Deusen, Henry Pease, Prindle & Landon, James Edwards.
The physicians have been Dr. John Hulbert, died June 22d, 1815 ; Forward Barnum, died September 11th, 1828, aged thirty-nine ; Dr. Drake, previous to 1829 ; Dr. Peyton R. Hulbert, removed to Poughkeep- sie ; Dr. Giles Hulett, removed to Great Barrington. Richard Beebe, a graduate of the Berkshire Medical College in 1854, is now the only doctor in town.
The town house was erected in 1855, and the new school house op- posite, the same year. In 1855 a high school was opened on the lower floor of the town house, and was maintained during the winter months
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until 1861. The teachers for the successive terms were Mr. De Costa, Joshua Graham, John R. House, and James F. Stone.
In the winter of 1851-2 Rev. Gardiner Hayden maintained a select school at his residence.
During the late Civil war the town furnished its share of men and bore its portion of the public burdens. From 1861 to 1866 the selectmen were William Stoddard, Stephen M. Church, Horace S. Fitch, Jonathan Baldwin, Orvil J. Brusie, Russell Prindle, Elijah K. Williams, Henry W. Smith, and Elihu Church.
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CHAPTER XXX.
TOWN OF BECKET.
BY JARVIS NORCOTT.
Descriptive .- Settlement .- Incorporation .- First Town Meeting .- Productions .- Ponds and Reservoirs .- Scraps of Early History .- Roads, Taverns, Stores, and Post Offices .- Physicians .- Churches .- Cemeteries .- Schools .- Clerks and Magistrates .- Becket in the National Wars.
T F HE town of Becket, which lies on the Green Mountain range, orig- inally comprised what was known as No. 4 of the line of four townships established by the General Court in 1735. These together reached from the Connecticut River to the Housatonic valley, and the title of the Stockbridge Indians to the land which they included was afterward conveyed to the government.
The town as originally chartered was eight miles in length by four miles and 210 rods in breadth, but various alterations have since been made in its limits, and its boundaries are now very irregular.
In 1783 the most of that part of the town which lay northeast of the west branch of the Westfield River was united with certain other tracts, and formed into the present town of Middlefield, Hampshire county. In 1798 a tract lying between Becket and Blandford, and that part of Otis then called Loudon were annexed to Becket on the south. In 1810 another small tract was annexed from that part of Otis formerly called Bethlehem. The area of the town is now about 26,000 acres.
Becket is bounded on the north by Washington, east by Middlefield and Chester, south by Otis, and west by Tyringham and Lee. The town- ship was granted, in 1735, to Joseph Brigham and fifty-nine others, and in 1740 a few settlers came into it and built a saw mill in the east part of the town. The site of this mill is still visible. Through fear of the In- dians these immigrants abandoned their undertaking and returned to their former homes ; but there is no reason to believe that they would have been molested had they remained. The first permanent settlement was made in 1755. The settlers were mostly from Connecticut, and bore the names of Birchard, Goss, King, Kingsley, Messenger, Wait, Wails-
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TOWN OF BECKET.
worth, and Walker. The first child born in the town was Jabez Wads- worth. His birth was in December, 1755, and he died in Becket in 1826. There is now but one family in the town that bears the name of any of the first settlers, though there are here some of their descendants.
The town was incorporated by its present name, June 21st, 1765, and the first town meeting was held on the 15th of July, in the same year. At this meeting Nathaniel Kingsley was chosen moderator and town clerk; Nathaniel Kingsley, James Birchard, and Eldad Taylor, selectmen ; James Birchard, treasurer ; and Jonathan Walker, constable. Of these, Mr. Birchard, who died July 27th, 1828, aged ninety, was the last survivor.
The surface of the town is hilly, broken, and rocky. Boulders of almost every kind are found, but granite is the prevailing rock. It is found near the surface, and in many places above it. Large quantities of this rock are taken from the eastern part of the town by the Ches- ter Granite Company, for building purposes, paving blocks, and monu- ments. It takes a polish equal to the Scotch or English granite. It is sent to all parts of the country, and these rock bound hills may yet prove sources of wealth to their owners.
The native kinds of timber were beech, birch, maple, ash, hemlock, and spruce. During many years after the completion of the Boston & Albany Railroad large quantities of charcoal were burned from the hard woods, and sent to Boston, New York, and other places. Chaffee Broth- ers were engaged in this business. The hemlock and spruce timber was converted into lumber and sent away. Rudd & Smith, Harvey Phelps, Milton Barnes, and others were engaged in lumbering, and the annual production was about 2,000,000 feet. Eighteen saw mills were then run- ning in different parts of the town. Only three exist in town now. During many years from 5,000 to 8, 000 cords of wood were annually delivered at Becket station ; but the primitive forests have fallen, and the sound of the woodman's axe is no longer heard. Much of the land from which the timber has been taken has not been cultivated, and a thick growth of young timber covers many a hillside.
By reason of the rocky broken surface but a small part of the land in Becket is suitable for cultivation. Corn, oats, and potatoes are raised in moderate quantities, but the farmers find their principal profit in the cultivation of grass, and in the raising and fattening of cattle for market. Dairying and wool growing were once sources of profit, but these are to a great extent abandoned. A large majority of the farms here are less productive than formerly, partly because of the soil becoming exhausted, and also because of the farms passing into the hands of those that have not the energy and perseverance that characterized the preceding gen- erations. The inviting city and the fertile West have allured the sons of Becket from their native soil to seek homes and fortunes elsewhere. The people here can point with pride to the large number from this town who have been and who are now acting well their part and filling important positions in all parts of the land. Many of these deserve honorable men-
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
tion, but space will not permit it. Only the names of some of those who have entered the professions can here be given. Of clergymen the names may be mentioned of Amos, Alvah, and Silas Kingsley, Norman Harris, Franklin, Henry, and Samuel Y. Austin, and John Short. Of physicians, John M. Brewster, Oliver Brewster, John M. Brewster, John and Ebene- zer Stephens, George E. Conant, Vassal White, Amos R. White, Elijah R. White, Alonzo Blair, James Freeland, Nelson Snow, Salmon Childs Harvey Harris, and Dwight J. Harris. Of lawyers, Bishop Perkins, Matthew Perkins, Crocker Conant, Matthew Birchard, Horace N. Chap- man, Ebenezer Walden, Charles Birnie, and Stillman F. Chapman.
The population of the town was, in 1860, more than 1,400. In 1880 it was 1,123. The valuation of the property in the town in 1884 was : real estate, $232,432 ; personal property, $119,436. The number of polls was 282. The selectmen for that year were Stephen W. Carter, William H. Snow, and Henry A. Jennings. Mr. Carter is a veteran selectman, having served longer in that capacity than any other man in the county, or possibly in the State.
In the extreme southwestern part of the town is Green Water Pond, which sends forth from its north end a small stream that unites with the Housatonic River in Lee. About two miles southeast from this is a small pond which gives rise to Farmington River. On the height of land about two miles east of Green Water Pond is Yokum Pond, thus called, it is said, from an Indian who died there. The outlet of this pond is at its north end, and it forms one of the branches of Westfield River. Bulk- ley, Dunton & Co. have control of this pond, and also a reservoir they have built a short distance west of it, which flows about 200 acres. East of Yokum is Reed Pond. A little north of this is another reservoir, built many years since by the Tanning Company, which also had control of Rudd Pond, but Mr. Ballon, the miller, purchased the right to the same. A short distance north of the Center Church is the Center Pond. This is the largest pond in the town. The stream from this also enters West- field River, and Bulkley, Dunton & Co. control the outlet. In the south- east part of town is Horn Pond, the outlet of which discharges into Westfield River.
Scraps of Early History .-- The first publication of an intention of marriage was on the 1st of November, 1765. The parties were Jonas Childs, of Becket, and Eunice Alford, of Simsbury, Conn.
In 1766 the whole tax of the town was £13, 4s., 6d.
October 3d. 1770, voted "to putty in the glass and git irons to fasten the Meeting House doors and that the selectmen take the care that this is done."
August 14th, 1781, the town "voted that for every 72 dollars old money to accept one dollar in silver.
March, 1796, " voted to pay a bounty of seven dollars for every Wolf killed within the town."
A few items are here given illustrative of trials, customs, and neces-
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TOWN OF BECKET.
sities of the early settlers. A volume might be filled with incidents of this kind.
In the very early settlement, and prior to the incorporation of the town. a fort was built for the protection of the few inhabitants, and that this was, to some extent, at least, used, is evidenced by the discovery of broken wares within the enclosure, which may still be seen. It is on the farm now owned and occupied by Joel Ames and William F. Taylor. about half a mile east of the Center Church.
Jonathan Walker and his wife passed their first winter here alone, near Walker's Brook. During the winter Mr. Walker cut his foot badly and they needed assistance. Their nearest neighbors were in Blandford, some miles away, an unbroken wilderness lying between. Mrs. Walker dared not leave her husband while she went for aid, but taking the bloody bandages from her husband's foot she fastened them around their horse's neck and started him for Blandford. There at length the animal arrived with his blood written message, and the desired assistance came.
Early in the history of the town James Rudd and Micah Higley went out together, hunting deer. They separated, and Mr. Rudd, mistaking his companion for a deer, shot him. He was so overwhelmed with grief for what he had done that it was feared that he would become insane. Luke Viets was also mistaken for a deer in the bushes and shot. He died from the wound October 21st, at the age of 15 years.
Roads, Taverns, Stores, and Post Offices .- It is difficult to form any definite conclusion concerning the early roads in Becket except that the first road was from Blandford, and that the first settlers came over that road. There is evidence of a road having been laid ont and used, to some extent, during the Revolutionary war. This road extended from Bland. ford through the center of Becket, and passed over the hill between Cen- ter and Rudd Ponds. Thence it ran through the north part of the town and over Washington Mountain. On this road, as early as 1776, a tav- ern was kept by a Mr. Dewey. This was at what was long afterward known as the Deacon Kingsley place. It was the home, for many years, of Mr. Harvey Phelps, and it is now occupied by Michael McNerny. An old and well preserved sign was kept on the premises till quite recently. It is now in the possession of A. G. Cross, at the Claflin House. On one side of this sign is
" DEWEY IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE . (RUDE SKETCH OF A HORSE) ENTERTAINMENT FOR MAN AND HORSE BY ANDO 1776"
On the other side is
..
(PICTURE OF A MAN) ENTERTAINMENT FOR MAN AND HORS BY DEWEY. ANDO 1776"
:
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
A cut of this sign was given a few years since in Scribner's Monthly, in an article on "Signs and Symbols."
In 1800 a turnpike was chartered, and built through Russell and Chester in Hampden county. and through Becket and Washington, to the east line of Pittsfield. The same road is in use now, with some slight changes in its location in the east part of the town. For a time in the early part of this century there were four taverns in Becket on this road. One was kept by Hiram Messenger, on the place now owned by Ashel Ballou. Isaac Clark kept another near where Henry Turner now lives. A short distance beyond was one kept by Joseph Higley, and in the east part of the town. where Mr. E. A. Remington now lives, Amos Kingsley also kept a tavern.
In 1800 was chartered the Farmington River Turnpike, which ran through the west part of the town. In 1803 the Becket Turnpike was granted .. This ran from Chester to what was called West Becket, where it intersected with the Farmington road, and for many years West Becket was quite a business center. Mr. Asa Baird opened a hotel there, and was followed, successively, by Arthur Perry, Chaffee Brothers, Baird & Chaffee, and Kendel Baird. The last named Baird and the Chaffee Brothers were largely interested in the lines of stages that ran through the place, and these gentlemen were known far and wide as thor- ough business men.
A post office was established at West Becket. and Asa Baird was the first postmaster. Mr. Wolcott Chaffee opened a store there, and was fol- lowed by Alonzo Dewey, O. S. Wadsworth & Co., Seymour & Chaffee, and William Phillips. But the rattle of the stage has ceased, and the postman's bugle is no longer heard. Nearly all of those that played well their parts there formerly have passed away, and West Becket is left to the quiet tiller of the soil. A post office is continued there. and Joshua Shaw is the postmaster. A daily mail is received there from Lee. After the building of the Becket Turnpike Mr. Eliada Kingsley built what was long known as the Kingsley Hotel, where Daniel A. Camp now lives. A post office was established there in 1812, with Eliada Kingsley, postmaster. This was called Becket post office, but it has been changed to Becket Center, and Mrs. Mary A. Camp is now postmistress. At the time of the building of the Pontoosac Turnpike, which was in- corporated in 1826, and which ran across the northeast corner of the town, Mr. David MeElwain built a hotel, and had charge of one of the gates. A post office was also established under the name of North Beck- et, with D. McElwain as postmaster. The name of this office has been changed to Becket, and Jarvis Norcott is postmaster. As early as 1770 a tavern was kept at the center of the town by Benoni Messenger, and it was continued by him, Peter Porter, and Colonel Bille Messenger till about 1820, and by Luke Barber and others a few years later. A coun- try store was opened at the Center in the early part of this century, by John D. Stanley, and was continued, with some changes, by Edmund
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TOWN OF BECKET.
Kelso, Williams & Collins, Jabin B. Williams, and Benjamin Phelps, till 1849. Another store was kept for some years by E. Kingsley & Son, David Cannon, and others, at the old tavern stand. After the completion of the Boston and Albany Railroad the business of the town centered around the station at North Becket, and trade was abandoned at the Center, as at West Becket. In 1835 a store was built and occupied at North Becket by Edwin Higley and J. L. Jennings, but at the commence- ment of building the Western Railroad they leased the store to Bemis & Weld, parties from the eastern part of the State, and it was occupied by them while the construction of the road was in progress, then no perma- nent business was done till 1849, when Wright Barnes and Benjamin Phelps entered on a mercantile business there which was continued about twenty years. Mr. Phelps then left, and Mr. Barnes retired to a small store near and engaged in the sale of boots, shoes, and clothing. In 1870 William E. Higley purchased the store and occupied it as a tail- or's shop. He afterward engaged in the sale of drugs and groceries, in which he continues.
In 1846 Mr. William M. Geer opened a small store in a part of the house formerly occupied by Zenas Smith, where he continued business four years. He then erected a new building, which he enlarged from time to time as his business extended, till his stock came to comprise every- thing required in such an establishment. He is the veteran merchant of this region, having been in business here forty years.
Soon after the opening of the railroad the Chaffee Brothers opened a store near the depot, and they continued business till 1853. when they sold to Henry A. Bidwell, who had been in their employ. He formed a part- nership with J. W. Wheeler, of the Tanning Company, and they built a large store on Main street, where they conducted business many years. When the tanning business ceased the store was closed. and it is not now occupied. Mr. Bidwell has since died.
In 1857 Milton Barnes built a store on Main street, near the railroad crossing, and commenced trade there. Business was afterward conducted there by Barnes & Eames, Frank Barnes, H. M. Spear, E. D. Graves, A. W. Cross, A. W. Cross & Son, and A. G. Cross, till 1876, when the store was closed, and it has not been reopened. In 1858 Mr. Frederick Stover built, in the center of the village, a shop and store for the manufacture and sale of tin ware, stoves, etc. In 1867 he sold the establishment to Clarkson Smith, who, in turn, sold, in 1869, to Jarvis Norcott, the present proprietor.
In 1860 Z. Ames built, near the center of the place, a shop and store for the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes, a business in which he had previously been to some extent engaged. After a time he ceased to manufacture, and engaged in general merchandise till 1876. when A. G. Cross rented the place, transferred his stock of goods there, and remained till 1878. He then opened the Claflin House, and in the following autumn
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
sold his stock of goods to O. S. Willis, who has since purchased the building, in which he continues the business.
During some years previous to the opening of the Claflin House by Mr. Cross there had been no regular hotel in town. City people were however looking for and finding homes, to some extent, among the far- mers on the Becket hills. For the especial accommodation of that class of patrons Mr. Cross opened his hotel, and it has been patronized beyond his expectations. This resort and the Becket hills have become some- what noted among pleasure and health seeking people elsewhere. The pure air and water, the beautiful scenery, and the quiet resorts here are more and more highly appreciated by a class of people who enjoy more highly the beautiful in nature than the unsatisfactory pleasures and ex- citement of fashionable watering places.
The hillsides in Becket abound with the purest of water, and the streams are numerous and rapid ; but nearly all of them have their sources in the town, and they are too small to supply abundant water for manu- factories. In early times, therefore, only a small amount of manufac- turing was done in the town.
The first grist mill was in connection with a saw mill in the east part of the town. A saw mill, grist mill, and carding machine were built in the west part of the town at an early day. They were long since aban- doned, as were also similar establishments in the north part of the town.
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