USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 12
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Thus far and no father extends the diary. It certainly lets in much light on the doings of that early and now prosperous church. The path of a leader is often beset with thorns. He was born in Connecticut in 1738 ; entered Yale College in 1758 ; was ordained in 1767 : was pastor in Windsor twenty-eight years, till 1795, when at the age of fifty seven. with a large family, he moved into what was then Dalton. He left Windsor because his parish and another united and left him free. His intention was to continue in the ministry ; we have seen how he suc- ceeded, supplying for a couple of years the church in Dalton. till IS02. For a number of years he was justice of the peace, and in town, as else. where, exerted a good influence. He died suddenly. December 28th. 1818, one month more than eighty years oldl.
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TOWN OF HINSDALE.
It may not be uninteresting to go farther back in this family history. Robert Hinsdale, one of the founders of the church in Dedham, Mass., in 1638, was made a freeman in 1639, and member of an artillery company in 1645. In 1672 he moved to Hadley where, while harvesting. he and three of his sons were killed by the Indians, September 18th. 1675. : Of his seven children, the second, Barnabas, born in 1039, had five children. Barnabas, 2d. moved to and married in Hartford, Com .. in 1653, and died in 1758. He had nine chillien. The eighth, Daniel. mar- ried Catherine Curtis, reared a family, and died in 1781. aged 73. His son, Daniel, became a merchant and a stockholder in the first woolen mill in America, in Hartford. of which he was made agent. In January, 1789. the first cloth was placed in the New York market. On the fourth of the next March was the appointed day for the meeting in New York, of the first Federal Congress. There was no quorum till the sixth of April, when word was sent to the president and vice- president elect. Vice-Presi- dent Adams reached there April 20th and Washington the 234. Federal Hall was not ready for inaugural ceremonies till April 30th. The dele- gates from Connecticut were Samuel Johnson and Oliver Ellsworth, sena- tors, and Jonathan Sturgis, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Huntington. Jon. athan Trumbull, and Jeremiah Wadsworth, representatives. Colonel Wadsworth took with him an open letter from Mr. Hinsdale to the presi - dent, accompanied with a piece of cloth for him, and also another piece (each of 30 yards) for Mrs. Washington, color dark brown. Of this was made the suit worn at his inauguration ; the vice-president and all the Connecticut delegates on the same occasion wore suits of the Hartford cloth. The Gazette of that day said, " The cloth is of so fine a fabric and so handsomely finished that it is universally mistaken for a foreign man- ufactured superfine cloth ; a circumstance which must be considered as not only flattering to our manufacturers in particular, but interesting to our countrymen in general, and that the appearance of the President and Vice-president and several members of Congress in suits of American manufacture was a distinguished token to the manufacturing interests of the country."
Captain John Hinsdale, an older brother of Daniel the first. married and lived in Berlin, Conn. The third one was Theodore of whom much has already been written. He had eleven children. Anna for Nancy, was the first born, and William, father of the present Franklin and James, was the last born.
Miss Nancy Hinsdale, eldest daughter of Rev. Theodore Hinsdale. was born April 16th. 1769. and died May 16th, 1851, aged eighty-two. Under her management of a select school for girls, beginning in 1800, the Pittsfield Female Academy was suggested. incorporated in 1806, and was made distinguished as the mother of all Pittsfield female seminaries : she was principal till 1813. In 1830, her cousin. Mrs. Emma Willard. about to visit Europe, invited her to take druge of the Troy Female Seminary. There she remained till her death. She was always devoted to good
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
works, counseling teachers, instructing pupils, faithful to the church. the friend and adviser of clergymen, and the benefactor of her age. Her · portrait, presented by John Willard, Esq., of Troy, may be seen in the Berkshire Athenaeum.
The sons and grandsons of Rev. Theodore Hinsdale have not been "dead heads" in matters touching the prosperity of the town. The " Hinsdale Manufacturing Company " was incorporated in March. 1836. with the names of Frederick Curtiss. D. M. Hinsdale, and William Hins- dale. Later the firm consisted of Messrs. Hinsdale & Richards: and it is now Hinsdale Brothers, Franklin and James. The very marked improvements they have made in the factory and its surroundings attest their energy and success, as well as their aid to the prosperity and wealth of the town,
Nathaniel Traey, brother of the first pastor in Partridgefield, settled in Hinsdale in 1774, and reared Walter. John, William, Charles K., and Er ... all more or less prominent. Charles K. died a justice of the peace. in :875 ; Ezra, a skilful engineer, built the Ashmere Reservoir, and died in 1881 : C. K. married a daughter of Mr. Durant, and lived in fine style for a farmer, having a 820,000 home, including the largest and finest baru in Hinsdale, on the same lot first purchased by Nathaniel. The Tracys have been greatly respected, because they were very useful citizens in
Hon. Samuel Huntington, president of the first Continental Congress of the United States, had a brother. Rev. Jonathan Huntington, the first settled minister in Worthington. He had a son, Simon, who livel in Hinsdale. To him was born, in 1796. a daughter. Sophia Huntington. who was married in 1820, to Joseph White, of Goshen, who, seven years later, moved into Hinsdale, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son. Simon. This Joseph White and family form an honored part of the history of Hinsdale. Mr. White was of scholarly tastes, familiar with the Bible : early a member of the Congregational church, earnest and consistent ; prominent in town and church, and greatly interested in giv- ing all his seven children "a start in life." in proportion to his pecuniary means. Note the result. Sarah H., born November 30th, 1821. in Goshen, was married to Charles T. Huntington, March 28th, 1848, now living in West Brookfield, Mass. ; was educated at the Academy in Worth- ington, and at Mount Holyoke Seminary, and she is justly held in high esteem for her intelligent and Christian character.
Joseph, born in 1524, was uncommonly energetic on the farm, and full of enterprise : was a clerk in Boston at the age of twenty-two. A year later was in the retail dry goods business in Manchester. N. H. Two years later he was in the same business in Hanover street. Boston. At the age of thirty he organized the importing and jobbing firm of White, Browne, Davis & Co. In ten years, 1864, this was changed to a strictly importing and package business in Boston and New York, as White. Browne & Co., and in 1874 they were rich enough to dissolve. he having
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TOWN OF HINSDALE.
a large fortune. He is a director in the Manchester Mills and the Elliot National Bank. By his counsel he greatly aided his younger brothers.
Sophia, educated at Easthampton, was married to S. J. Wilcox, of Lanesborough, who was for many years in trade in Boston. She now lives in Worcester, an active member of the Piedmont Congregational Church, kindly caring for her aged mother.
James, born in 1828, graduated at Williams College in 1851 : taught mathematics for two years at Williston Seminary ; commenced theology at Andover, but relinquished the study because of weak eyes, and went into the firm of White, Browne & Co. and in 1874 retired with an ample fortune. In 1876 and 1877 he was one of the representatives from Boston : in 1878 and 1879, a Senator, serving as chairman of the committee on claims, education, and treasury. He has been twice elected by the Alummi a trustee of Williams College ; he is a deacon in the Central Con- gregational Church. president of the City Missionary Society, and he has been president of the Congregational Club of Boston and vicinity. He was married in 1856 to Harriet Cornelia. daughter of Dr. B. F. Kittredge. of Hinsdale. The Boston Advertiser said " his services were of great value to the State, and large amounts were saved to the treasury by his careful scrutiny of demands upon it. He belongs to a class of citizens whom it is exceedingly desirable to encourage to enter public life."
Simon, born in 1831, resides on the farm. He has served on the board of selectmen. has been president of the Highland Agricultural Society at Middlefield, and the Berkshire Agricultural Society, and a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, serving on the committee on Prisons.
Jonathan was born 1836. In 1853 he became clerk and afterward partner with S. J. Wilcox. Since 1865 he has been one of the firm of R. H. White & Co., being the foreign buyer, and living in Paris.
Ralph, born in 1841, at 18 was a clerk in Boston ; at 21 commenced business for himself : in 1870, R. H. White & Co, including his brother Jonathan, removed to their present enlarged and magnificent store on Washington street, employing 2.200 clerks and help. and doing last year over twelve million dollars of business; exceeded by only one store in the United States in the same line.
These Ilinsdale White boys have all one trait in common, that of being home and taking care of their children evenings.
A visitor to Brooklyn, as he passes along Fulton street, may see, at No's 400, 402, and 404, one of the largest dry goods stores in the city. Upon entering he will find no less than 30 departments, each so thor- oughly organized as to form a good sized store in itself. Amazed at its mammoth proportions he seeks to know its history, and finds its origin in the Berkshire boy. A. D. Matthews, who left his native town, Hinsdale, in 1828. A family of sons have grown into the trade under his training. and they are now in company with him in this large establishment, un- der the firm name of A. D. Matthews & Sons. The father is now the
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
oldest dry goods merchant in Brooklyn, and has never forgotten the home of his childhood, nor the sterling qualities of his grandfather, Nathaniel Stowell, nor of his mother, Lois.
Thomas and Nathaniel Stowell Matthews came from Cape Cod to Peru about the same time. Mr. Matthews married Lois, daughter of Mr. Stowell. Young A. D. Matthews began his education in the building then a school house, but now used as a wood shel by his friend and schoolmate, Horace Spring, who says the same clapboards and shingles that kept out the rain 20 years ago are doing so yet. In 1820 when he was 11 years old, Mr. Bawlov, was the minister, and Golden Spencer, merchant. was chosen Sunday school superintendent. After much advising together it seemed best in their combined wisdom to stimulate the memory of pupils by the offer of one cent for every 30 verses learned and recited without a mistake, to be paid at the end of the year. Three cent tickets were issued as "rewards of merit." On the appointed week day they met, each class was called to the communion table and received the cash in hand. When all had been paid, the pastor introduced a missionary sub- ject, and concluded by asking the pupils to give all or a large portion of their several stipends. The superintendent seconded the appeal and a clergyman from the place where the money was wanted pressed the duty and argued that they had the full value of the money in the verses of the Bible they had learned and therefore ought to be glad to give it all. This was not all received in solemn silence but with much whispering and very expressive looks. Said one girl, " I shall not give it all." and her elder sister said, with clenched fist. .. I'll not give one cent." Our young hero had learned 900 verses and received 30 cents. He had bar- gained at the store for 15 cents worth of buttons ; he gave the rest and went home a happy boy. The cash system was used only a year. His first lesson was Prov. iii., " My son forget not my law but let thy heart keep my commandments : for length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee." Says Mr. M .. "all has been fulfilled in me." His father's failing health made it necessary for the boy to seek employ. ment in 1823, 30 miles away. The father, being consumptive. role on horseback and the boy walked all the way by his side. The same year the father died and all things were sold to pay expenses. His brother, James, went to Pittsfield and learned the tailor's trade in the firm of Reed & Wells. After five years in Conway and getting some education in the common school and the Sunday school he joined the Congrega- tional church, at the age of 16. Having an older sister in Brooklyn. he. by her invitation, went there when about IS. He went from Boston in a sailing vessel, having earned his way to Boston by driving a drove of cattle. His first employment was in the grocery store of Simon Rich- ardson ; he left, unable to do enough. Next he was employed in a new leather store for $60 a year and board. In 1836 he was offered an interest : but the panic of 1837 frustrated all plans and after eight years of service he left with good feelings, and in December of that year began the diy
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goods business with the small capital saved from his eight years · earnings.
Eli Adams, born in Hinsdale in 1797, graduated at Williams in 1824. studied theology at Andover for a time, became missionary in the South- ern States, in 1834 went to Ohio. He became an Episcopalian, and his last known residence was Council Bluffs, Iowa.
John W. Yeomans, from Hinsdale, was in the same class. He after- ward studied at Andover. He settled in North Adams in 1828, in Pitts- field in 1832, and in Trenton, N. J., in 1824. He was president of La Fayette College in 1841, and in 1845 was pastor of a church in Danville, Va. From three colleges, the same year, he received the title D.D. He was moderator of the General Assembly in Rochester, N. Y .. in 1800, and died in 1863. at the age of sixty-three.
Jonathan Huntington was born in Hinsdale, and graduated from Williams in 1827, and from Princeton in 1830. He was active in the work of the ministry till 1845, when he went to Nashville in the same work. He was chaplain in the Union army three years, and afterward chaplain in a penetentiary in Nashville, where he died in 1860, aged sixty-tive.
John Richards, of Hinsdale, graduated in the class of 1831, studied law, and moved into one of the Northwestern States, where he has since followed his profession.
Eli A. Hubbard, born in Hinsdale in 1814, graduated from Williams in 1842. He was a teacher at Worthington High School. in Lee.in North- ampton, in Fitchburg, and twelve years in Williston Seminary. He was superintendent of schools in Springfield, and agent of the board of edu- cation for Massachusetts.
William E. Merriman, born in Hinsdale in 1825, graduated from Williams in 1850. and from Union Seminary in 1854, and in 1863 became president of Ripon College, Wis., a position he still fills.
Richard K. Adams, born in Hinsdale in 1831, graduated from Wil- liams in 1854. became a lawyer, and settled in Geneseo. N. Y., where he still practices.
Rufus Apthorp, born in Hinsdale in 182%, was a graduate of Wil- liams in the class of 1857, and from Auburn in 1861. He at first souled in Cooper, Mich., and later at Alpence, in the same State.
Charles M. Pierce. born in Hinsdale in 1835, was in the same class. After being tutor in Williams College for ten years he studied at Anburn Theological Seminary. From 1863 to 1867 he was pastor of a Congrega- tional church in West Boxford. Then for a few years he was professor of mathematics in his Alma Mater, then a pastor in Middlefield, which place he has recently left, in poor health.
Henry C. Haskell, born in Hinsdale in 1835, gra Inated in 1859. He is now a missionary in Turkey.
Chauney Goodrich, born in Hinsdale in 1836, graduated at Williams in 1861. In 1965 he went as a missionary to Pekin. China.
Thomas Allen, a lawyer, was born at Sharon, Conn .. October 10th.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
1775. He became a resident of Pittsfield, Mass .. where he studied his profession with Chandler Williams, became a member of the Berkshire bar, and about the beginning of the present century took up his residence in Hinsdale. He entered the practice of his profession, which he con- tinned during more than forty years, being the only lawyer in the town. and his practice extending to some of the adjoining towns in which there were none of his profession. He was prominent in town affairs, being generally called on to act as moderator at town meetings. He was pro. verbind for his integrity, always recommending to his clients an amicable settlement of their differences where it was practicable, and thus he se. cured the respect and confidence of the people of Hinsdale and the towns adjoining. He was twice married : first. to Miss Pierson, of New York. by whom he had one son : she died about two years after their marriage. He was afterward married to Mrs. Howard. formerly Miss Colt, of Pitts. field. widow of Henry Howard, a merchant of Hinsdale, by whom he had four children, and who died in September, 1834. Mr. Allen relinquished the practice of his profession in 1843, and after passing two years in Pitts- field, removed to Detroit. Mich., where he lived in the family of one of his sons. until October, 1859, when he died at the age of eighty-four years.
Lewis Allen, a brother of Thomas P. Allen, of the class of '23. Wil- liams College. was born in Hinsdale in 1805. He gra luatel in 1833 at Williams, taught in Virginia, studied law with Senator Howard. of De troit. Mich .. was admitted in 1838. practicel in Green Bay, Wis., till 1849, and in 1850 retired from active duties. He now lives in Detroit. In 1839 he married Miss Julia C., daughter of General Charles Larnel. of Detroit.
Another family, whose influence for good has long been felt. is that of Kittredge. Dr. Abel Kittredge, born in Tewksbury in 1773. had a brother. William, a doctor in Conway, afterward settled in Pittsfield. With him Abel studied and then came to Dalton : thence for a time to Hinsdale. and then back to Dalton, where he was married. in 1795, to Eunice Chamberlain. In 1800 he was commissioned surgeon's mate, with all the wealth of capital letters then used after the German custom, as see the following commission :
"By his Excellency Caleb Strong Esq., Governor & Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
" Caleb Strong to Abel Kittredge, Gentleman, greeting; Reposing Special Trust & Confidence in your Ability & Skill in Physic & Surgery I do by these Presents constitute & appoint you Surgeon's Mate of the third Regiment second Brigide & Ninth Division of the Militia of this Commonwealth.
" You are therefore Carefully & Diligently to Discharge the Duty of-to said Regiment in all things appertaining thereto, observing such Orders & Instructions as you shall receive from Time to Time from the Commanding Officer of the said Regiment, or others, according to Military Rule & Discipline.
"Given under my Hand & Seal of the said Commonwealth this first Day of September in the Year of Our Lord 1800 & in the 25th of the Independence of the United States of America.
" JOHN AVERY, Sec'y "
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In 1802 he removed to Hinsdale and practiced there till the " West- ern Sore Eyes" caused him to abandon his profession in 1827. He was among the first to represent his town in the General Court. After giving his practice into the hands of his son, Benjamin F., he became much in- terested in agriculture, being one of the largest farmers in the town, where he died in 1847, aged seventy-four. In the town he was useful and public spirired. Of him this anecdote is told by Mr. F., who, when a young man, bought, and in a few days, sold some sheep at a profit of 8100. The doctor meeting him. said. " I hear you have made $100 in four days." The fact being admitted, the doctor added : .. You will find that the dearest $100 you ever had." Mr. F. doubted his opinion, and bought and sold again at a large profit. A third time he bought and drove to New York, and sold, losing all that he had gained. Mr. F. was forced to admit that the doctor was right. This story exemplified the doctor's belief in economics and moderate profits as the best foundation for a young man's prosperty along with thas first requisite in all dealings -integrity. He had nine children. of whom eight grew up ; three born in Dalton. Marinda, born in 1798, became the wife of Rev. Mr. Lombard. had two children. the elder becoming an Episcopal clergyman ; she died in 1880. William C., born in 1800, graduate of Williams Col- lege, because a lawyer, judge, and lieutenant governor of Vermont : prominent in his profession and a zealous worker for religious interests in every po-sible field. He died in 1870.
Benjamin F., born in 1802, graduated from the Medical School in Pittsfield. had his degree from Williams College : and his father's eyes failing him, succeeded him as a physician in Hinsdale. He died in 1861. himself and his father having been the only settled practitioners in the town to the time of his death. His ride was extensive. He had nine daughters, who have mostly lost their family name.
Judith, born in 1805, married a Dr. Wells, of Windsor, and with him went to Attica, N. Y., and died in 1882.
Mary, born 1809, became the wife of Charles H. Plunkett : died in 18441.
Eunice, born 1811, married Mr. Hiram Paddock, of Hamilton. N. Y .. and was the mother of the Drs. Paddock, of Pittsfield and Dalton.
Sophronia, born 1816, married a Mr. Bardin. of Hamilton. N. Y.
Charles .J., born 1818, married Frances M. Burchard, had seven chil- dren, of whom four are living, two boys and two girls. He was first a farmer, then a merchant for ten years with C. H. Plunkett, then with him went into the woolen manufacture seven years, till Mr. Plunkett died : then united with his heirs in the Plunkett Woolen Company in 1861. and was president of the company till 1875. During that time he started the woolen manufactory in Dalton with his brother, AAbel, and his own son. James. Charles has always lived in Hinsdale, respected and honored with various trusts by the citizens. Besides being selectman, county commissioner, and for three years State director of the Boston &
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Albany Railroad. representative in 1868 and State Senator in 1869 and 1870, trial justice from its origin till the district court was formed, he has been deacon in the Congregational church for twenty-five years.
Abel, the last, born 1822, married Sarah Hooker, who has died. He was a farmer till 1866, when he went into the woolen manufactory in Dal- ton, where he now resides, useful, like his brother, in the church.
About 1780, Nathan Hibbard, tanner and shoemaker, came to Hins. dale from Connecticut, having with him a boy, " Billy, " about nine years of age, who afterward was known as an eccentric Methodist minister, and the inventor of Hibbard's celebrated pills In 1825 he published a memoir of his own life, and in 1843, a second edition, styled " Hibbard's Memoirs." When about twelve he had divine intimations of some coming events in his own life, such as when he would first preach, and who would invite him, and at what house, and who would be converted by that first sermon, his after travels in given years-all of which, he shows by his memoirs, did happen. Meanwhile he married, moved west, came back, tried farming, but, called to preach, gave up everything else and heeded the call. The first sermon was January 1st, 1797, on the Flat, in the tavern kept by Mr. Haskell ; the convert was Phineas Watkins, who had been a deist and a hindrance to the cause of truth, as appears in the diary of Rev. Theodore Hinsdale, who, the same day, preached in Nathan Hibbard's house Mr. Watkins, about six months later, died with full faith and happy in the Lord, Billy Hibbard being then about twenty-five years old. While in Hinsdale he formed a class and was leader, and sometimes, as chance offered, preached : and no doubt his in- fluence helped forward the Methodist canse, so that about 1825. largely aided by Mr. Durant, merchant, a Methodist church was formed. and later a comfortable brick meeting house was erected, which house is now doing duty as a dwelling house, the society having been disorgan- ized for several years.
Somewhere near the time the Methodist Episcopal church dis- banded, in 1851, the village growing up around the depot and the factories, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was organized by Rev. P. Cud- dihy, and a house, with seating capacity for 400, was erected. Almost immediately there were 200 members. Now there are nearly 500, with the Rev. Daniel F. Cronin as pastor.
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