USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 26
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For many years an excellent school for young ladies was conducted in Lenox by Mrs. Charles Sedgwick, and among the pupils educated there were Charlotte Cushman and Harriet Hosmer.
In 1828, Volume I. No. 1, of the Berkshire Star and County Repub- lican was issued at Lenox, under the joint management of Mr. Charles Webster, previously editor, at Stockbridge, of the Berkshire Star ; and Mr. J. D. Cushing, publisher of the Adams Republican. The Berkshire Star had first appeared in November, 1789, and was issued at Stockbridge by Loring Andrews, of Boston, under the name Western Star. After- ward, under the successive management of Benjamin Rossiter, Heman Willard, Edward Seymour, Elisha Brown and Jared Curtis, Richard Ash- ley and Charles Webster, it has been known as the Political Atlas, Farmer's Herald. Berkshire Herald, and Berkshire Star. After its union with the Republican, in 1828, this paper was published at Lenox for two years, when Mr. Webster disposed of his interest to Mr. John Stanly, who soon sold it to Mr. John Z. Goodrich. The paper was then continued for a time under the name Berkshire Journal, when Mr. Sam- nel W. Bush, publisher of the Pittsfield Anms, mimovel Lis paie1 to Lenox, and there united it with the Journal, with the title Journal way
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Argus. In 1833 Mr. Charles Montagne bought it, changed its name to Massachusetts Eagle, and employed Heary W. Taft, now clerk of the County Court, as editor. Mr. Taft continued editor until 1840, when Mr. Montague himself assumed the chair. In 1842 the paper was removed to Pittsfield. It remained in the hands of Mr. Montagne until 1852, when it was purchased by Samuel Bowles & Co., of Springfield. Mr. O. F. R. Waite leased it from them, changed the name to Berkshire County Eagle. and published it one year. It was then sold to Mr. Henry Chickering, of North Adams, and H. A. Marsh, of Pittsfield, but it still retains the same name.
About the year 1800 Dr. Eldad Lewis edited and published a cam paign paper called the Watchlight. in opposition to Thomas Jefferson. The only copy extant, so far as known, is one that was found lining an ancient trunk.
In 1832 John G. Stanly published, for a short time the Berkshire Herald, also a campaign paper, advocating for president, William Witt, of Maryland, and for vice- president. Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania.
In running over the files of these old papers one gets many glimpses into the everyday life of the generations that are gone. He reads of the curious custom of the curfew bell at nine o'clock, when all the boys were wisely ordered home : of the public proclamation of betrothals from a corner of the church gallery : of meetings called to discuss the possibility of horse railroads : and later, of agitation caused by the first announce- ment of a steam locomotive engine ; he finds regular returns from the commissioner of agriculture. e. g. in 1939: .. Average number of bushels produced per acre, corn 40, wheat 20, rye 15 ; " in one place he notes the derivation of the name Berkshire, from Berroe-shire. originally Bangrak- shire, so called from the old bare oak in Windsor Forest, England, maler whose branches the ancient Assembly used to meet before England was shorn into shires ; in another place he learns of the unscrupulous under- mining of the town by avaricious iron men, until the surface settles! and Mr. Tucker's house sank down one night to the second story windows. while the frightened iron contractor fled from the town never to return ; he may find casual references to the six "hangings" that occurred in Lenox in the days from 1786 to 1826, when burglary was a capital offeuse in Massachusetts : here he gleans the elevation of the town, "1,178 foot above the Hudson at Albany : " then he learns from a letter of Fanny Kemble that " There are now ( 1840) many people from cities who take up their summer residence in Lenox," no less than forty being here in one week ; he notes that the population in 1820 was 1.315 ; that in 1999. $220.22 was raised for " the suffering Greeks:" that in the same yeni a public meeting was called " to promote the interests of a Lenox library?' that in 1824 militia men were fined six dollars for failure to attend at drill : that in 1838 a Young Men's Whig Convention, in its zeal to secure the best man for president of the Union, applauded the orator, who de. clared of the presidency that "we care not whether
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RESIDENCE OF DR. R. C. GREENLEAF, LENOX.
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TOWN OF LENOX.
" Old Massachusett- wears it Within her lordly crown. Or young Ohio bears it In all her fresh renown ;"
that in 1839, the " silk craze" reached Lenox, and many visionary per. sons planted mulberry trees in vain : that in 1828 a terrible thunder storm "of evil foreboding " burst upon the town, during which the old meeting house was struck and several persons were "severely affected ; " and frequently among the reading matter he comes across quaint advertise. ments that also, in their way, give him hints about that early life in Lenox. In 1827. for example. the village grocery store advertised ". St. Croix. Antigua, Jamaica and N. E. Rum : Cogniae and cider brandy. Holland and American gin: methoglin. Madeira, Sicily, Malaga, Teneriffe. Lisbon, Samos and Port wine." The patent medicine fiend was in the field in 1838 with " Wa a-hoo, an Indian remedy, " and "Arabian balsam for the rattles ; " among dry goods the ladies had choice of "Brown cam- blets, Black Circassian, Scarlet bombazettes, blue ratinets, black sinchews. ladies' rolls, and bang up cords." and in 1838, the Hudson and Back- shire Railroad Company, announced that " Having provided themselves with 2 Locomotives, they would start their cars from Hudson and West Stockbridge at 8 A. M., and 3 P. M., meeting and passing at Chatham 4 corners, so that the public would see that it was absolutely necessary to leave each end of the road precisely on time." It was added that "The trip is usually made in about 2 hours unless detained by snow. for which reasonable allowance must be made."
Owing to its central position in the county, and to the fact that it was the county town for nearly ninety years, Lenox has been the scene of many conventions of every kind. Besides the important political meetings already noted. many important temperance conventions have assembled here, one of which, held July 24th, 1830, was said to be the "greatest ever known in Berkshire." Hon. William P. Walker presi- ed, and among the secretaries were C. H. Plunkett, of Hinsdale. Dr. Henry Sabin, of Williamstown, and Charles Sedgwick, of Lenox. Pres- ident Hopkins, of Williamstown, introduced the following resolutions: -
" That travelers who stop at public houses ought to pay for so doing whether they purchase anything or not." " That we are willing if it be necessary in order to sustain good taverns without selling ardent spirits. to pay more than has hitherto been customary for lodging and meals."
The Berkshire County Medical Society, at a convention held here May 14th, 1828, voted that " As a medicine ardent spirits are more fre. quently used as a convenience than a necessity, " and that " we shall not hereafter consider it a mark of civility or hospitality to be invited to partake of this insidious and baneful poison." Alfred Perry, presi- dent, Robert Worthington, secretary.
At a convention of an Anti-Slavery Society, held in Lenox court house, October 9th, 1838, after an address by Rev. Amasa Phelps, of
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Boston, it was resolved " That slave holding in its continuance as well as origin, is in all cases inherently and essentially sinful, and that imme. diate and complete emancipation is the only appropriate or righteous remedy for it."
For years the annual meetings of the County Bible Society were held in Lenox, and were occasions of the greatest interest. Hon. William P. Walker was its first president in 1817, and until his death, in 1831. he was present at every meeting except one, when he was ill. The society held its fiftieth anniversary here January 9th, 1867. Hon. Julius Rock- well president. After a biographical sketch of leading members of the society by Dr. Durfee, Dr. Mark Hopkins delivered the commemorative address.
Among meetings worthy of note have been occasional celebrations of Independence Day. In 1828. for instance, " The day was celebrated in a worthy manner, being ushered in by ringing of bells and firing of cannon, to be continued at proper times during the anniversary." The procession moved at 10 A. M., and marched to the meeting house with a military escort. The town still maintained its militia and kept them in training, and an imposing sight they were in their blue coats, white nous. ers, gaiters, and caps, with jingling swords and bayonet-tipped muskets. all under the command of Hon. Charles Mattoon. At the meeting house.
the Declaration of Independence was read, and after addresses, praver. and singing, the procession formed again, and moved to the Berkshire Coffee House (grown now to the magnificent proportions of the Curtis House), for a public dinner. On that day, among other toasts was this -" Andrew Jackson-we dislike him as a President and will exclude him if we can, but we will also honor him as a soldier and a patriot."
In 1876 the Centennial anniversary of the nation's independence was most appropriately celebrated in Lenox. Hon. Richard Goodman was president of the day. After the historical address of Judge Rockwell the people moved from the church to a mammoth tent, 145 by 84 feet. pitched on Kemble street. Here fully 1,000 persons sat down together at tables bountifully provided and beautifully decorated by the ladies of the village. Mr. Thomas Post responded to the first toast, "The Presi. dent of the United States," and there followed many stirring addresses. tender reminiscences, and cordial greetings from absent friends, extracts from which have been quoted in other places.
A successful literary lyceum was organized in 1838. Horace Bacon, president. Lectures and concerts were provided, and a special feature was a weekly letter from Miss Catharine Sedgwick.
Had the publication of these Lenox papers been continued, later issues must have contained grateful notices of the marble and iron fence built as a labor of love around the cemetery by Mr. Ammi Robbins. in 1865, the Robbins fund of $1, 000 generously contributed by his heirs to keep the fence in perpetual repair, and also of the clock which, given to
INTERLACKEN. RESIDENCE OF DAVID W. BISHOP, LENOX.
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TOWN OF LENOX.
the town by Fanny Kemble, is a lasting memorial of her graceful liber- ality.
On January 9th. 1824. The Charles Sedewick Library and Reading Room. which was given to the town by Mr. Schermerhorn, was dedicated with appropriate services. Albert G. Bellen was president of the day. W. D. Curtis, secretary, and speeches were made by Richard Gomiann. Esq .. and John F. Morell. The address of dedication was delivered by Hon. Frank W. Rockwell, of Pittsfield, and he was followed by P. Augustus Schermerhorn. Hon. Julius Rockwell, and George J. Tucker. Esq., of Pittsfield. From these addresses the following facts have been gleaned :
The removal of the courts to Pittsfield and the consegnent abandon- ment of the building here suggested to Mrs. Schermerhorn a plan for the public good that she was prompt to exeente. In 1571 she authorized Judge Rockwell to secure it for the benefit of Lenox. Her own words were: "There is but one object in the purchase-that of benefitting the town of Lenox, its inhabitants, and sojourners." Mrs. Schermerhom selected as trustees Hon. Julius Rockwell. Mr. F. A. Schermerhorn, Colo- nel R. T. Auchmuty, Mr. Charles Kneeland, and Richard Goodman, Esq. The children of Mrs. Schermerhorn, at an expense of $10,000. enhanced the value of their mother's gift by causing the building to be put in perfect repair. In his address of dedication Hon. F. W. Rock- well spoke of the literary life of Berkshire. " Bald Head, yonder, has its brow wreathed with a garland of rich story telling. There stands ' Shadow Brook ' hard by the lake that
--- takes the tribute of the rills 6
Distilled from mountain shows."
The cottage where Mrs. Kemble lived here in Lenox is pointed out on the road to Stockbridge : Hawthorne lived in the little red cottage von der by the lake ; Miss Sedgwick graced the Lenox home of her brother Charles: Beecher interspersed his . Star Papers' with bits of Berkshin scenery viewed from here ; Dr. Channing delivered his last publie ad dress in Lenox." The orator then touched upon the history of the ven. erable building itself. " Lenox was made the county seat in 1787. The first court house was finished about 1792. Having been turned about (upon a cannon ball placed under one corner, says tradition it is now our town house. The building in which we are now assembled was first ges cupied by the courts in 1816. In 1868 the courts were removed to Pitts field. and this county property was sold at auction." " Charles Sale. wick, in whose honor the library was named, from 1821 to 1856 want in and out of this building as Clerk of the Courts of this county. He was a faithful public officer, a man of elegant and refined tastes, an accom. plished gentleman." Subsequently associated with Mr. Sedgwick in the occupation of the court house were Judr . William Walker and William P. Walker, father and Son. Mr. George.I. Packer. along the county tige urer, and the Hon. Henry W. Bishop. -Tidight well alladen said Han.
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Julius Rockwell, was contemporaries of these men, to such representa- tive men as Colonel Charles Mattoon and Colonel Barrett. I have spoken of Mr. Hotchkiss. The library was due to his exertions, and when placed in this building it will be illustrated by his name. Among the venerable men who surround you are three, to whom, though present. I ask leave to refer as representative men. Mr. Eldad Post, ninety-three years of age, General Lyman Judd, useful and honored in civil and mili- tary life, Mr. Samuel Washburn, a monument of health in advanced age. the effect of temperance. industry, and integrity."
Lenox has always been noted for its intelligent and cultured fami- lies. Professor Thomas Egleston. of New York, said recently. "Thirty years ago, every house in Lenox was the home of a refined and intelligent household."
With regard to the present condition of the town, I can do no better than quote the words of Colonel R. T. Auchmuty, one of our most eminent and public spirited citizens : " We have heard a good deal of the past of Lenox: with regard to the present. I would say that Idoubt if a more enterprising town, in proportion to its wealth and population, can easily be found in the New England States. During the past four years upward of $45,000 has been contributed for public improvements. This includes the money spent on the court house, on the club house. the Town Library. the water works, and the sewers. This has not been the gift of any one family, nor has it been raised by any one class, but both rich and poor have helped."
The hold that the natural beauties of Lenox take on enltured hearts is well expressed in the following words from President Chapin, of Beloit College : " Let me send. through you, a filial greeting to old Bild Head. and my thanks, that swell with previous memories, to the genii of the Ledge and its pine grove ; of the Pinnacle and its rough. romantic paths. and to the mainds of the Mountain Mirror, whose placid beauty must be forever enchanting."
Here we must bring this brief and imperfect sketch of Lenox to a close. Much has been of necessity omitted. Time has not been grante l to secure the stories of many of our old and honorable families, no men- tion has been made of the wonderful flora of our valley, comprising nearly a thousand distinct varieties of vegetable life, and including many flowers and ferns of rarest loveliness : we have passed by the geological structure that underlies the town, although our rocks are of the most ancient and unblemished lineage, and rich in valuable stores of iron, and exhaustless strata of marble : we have barely hinted at the quaint tradi- tions of the place, which might lend a ghostly horror of nights to " Gal. lows Hill," and send a troop of antiquaries to explore the lonely grotto known as "Tory's Hole :" but in the simple story of the settlement and founding of the town, in the history of its churches and its schools, in the allusions to its pleasant literary life. in the glimpses of its restful scenery, and, above all. in the proofs of the sturdy, generous, and hos.
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W. O. CURTIS, Propr.
CURTIS HOTEL, LENOX.
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TOWN OF LENOX.
pitable character of its citizens, we have answered the oft recurring ques. tion, " How can you explain the peculiar charm that rests upon your town, and seems to win the lasting love of all who know it?" and have said enough to justify the words of our friend, the Hon. Henry L. Dawes. of Pittsfield, when, in response to an invitation to be present at the town's observance of the nation's one hundredth birthday, he wrote : " I regret exceedingly that a proper discharge of my duties here will deprive nieof all share in those interesting ceremonies. I know of no place where more interest can possibly center on that day than in the grand old town of Lenox."
A list of legal voters for the choice of governor, lieutenant governor. senators, and councilors for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the year 1803: Seth Abbot. Timothy Arnold, Oliver Belden. Oliver Beldon. jr .. Levi Belden, Eliab Brener. Moses Byxbe. Thomas Brown. Luther Bateman, Lemuel Booth, Jethro Butler. Ezra Blossom, John Benneti. Abner Bangs, Elisha Bangs, David Bosworth. Amos Benton. Matthew Butler, Solomon Bodfish. Asahel Brown. Enos Blossom. Enbs Blossom. jr., Daniel Butler. Waterman Baker, Samuel Collins, Lemuel Collins. James Carrol. Samuel Clark. Joshua Carpenter. Stephen Crittendon, Levi Carrice, Ebenezar Chapel. Daniel Collins. Levi Curtis, Thomas Curtis. Edmund Dewey, Joseph Denham, Daniel Dunbar, Samuel Dunbar. Paul Dewey, jr., John Dove, David Dunbar, Paul Dewey, John Davis. Istge Ellis, Jabez Ellis, Azariah Egleston, Jedediah Foster, John Fosdick. Samuel Falley, Ichabod Ford, jr., Jonathan Foster, Ichabod Ford, Sim- nel Foster, Samuel Falley. jr., Thomas' Foster. Luke Gates, William Goodspeed, John Gregory, Amasa Glezen, Joseph Goodwin, Elijah Gates. Elijah Gates. jr., Thomas Gates, -- Gaylor, Levi Glezen, Sammel Gray. Caleb Hyde, Ashbel Hills, AAndrew Hyde, Andrew Hyde, jr .. David Hob by, John Hunt, Moses Hayward, Gurden Hollister, John Hows. Zadock S. Hubbard, Benjamin Hunt, Jonathan Hinsdale. Barnard Hinsdale. Za dock Hubbard, Ichabod Hamlin, Nathaniel Hamlin, Enss Hows, Elwant Hatch, Richard Hamlin. Abraham Haskins, Henry Huxford, Urinh Judd. Samuel Judd, Isaac Jones, Nathan Isbell, James Ingalls. Samuel Judd. jr., Daniel Jones. Uriah Judd, jr., Thomas Landers, Asahel Landers, El. dad Lewis, Andrew Langworthy, John Langdon, Edward Martindale, John Mattoon, Charles Mattoon, Moses Murwin. Allen Metcalf. John Morel. John Morehonse, Thomas Morehouse, Nathaniel Miller, Nathan Messen. ger, Elijah Northrup, Elijah Northrup, jr., Josiah Newell. Josiah Newell. jr., Viens Osburn, Josiah Osburn, David Osburn, Elijah Peck. John Peck. Titus Parker, jr., Jonathan Parker, Elijah Percival. Titus Parker, Patrick Plunkett, Joseph Pisby, Isaac Palmer, Jabez Peck. Samuel Quincy, Josse Randal. John Robinson, Joseph Rogers, Jacob Rash, Stephen Root, Ames Root, Rev. Samuel Shepherd, David Sears, Zachariah Soars. Calvin Sears. Philip Sears, Amos Stanley. Enos Stone. jr., Enos Stone, Lemuel Stock- ing, Thomas Steel. Thomas Steel, jr .. Daniel Sterns, Origen Sabin, Zenus Smith, Luther Sears, James Sears, Thomas Stevens, Abner Smith, Jona-
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
than Smith. Elijah Treat. Thaddens Thompson, Joseph Tucker, Jushar Taylor, John Tyler, Elijah Thomas, Henry Taylor, Ebenezer Utley, Paul Weller. James Wadsworth. Daniel West, Solomon White, Stephen Warren, John Whitlock. William Whelpley. John Willard, Daniel Wil- liams, jr., Jacob Washburn, Stephen Wells, Ebenezar Williams, William Whiting, Samuel B. Whiting, Thomas West, Samuel Wright. Charles Worthington, William P. Walker. William Walker. Samuel Wright, jr .. Daniel West, jr., Thomas Yale, Justns Yale.
(In writing this history free use has been made of all available ma- terial, including Durfee's Annals, Holland's Western Massachusetts, His- tory of Berkshire, Taconic. Barry's Massachusetts, Bancroft's United States, Sparks' History of Washington, History of Stockbridge, Province Laws, etc., etc.)
GENERAL JOHN PATERSON.
General John Paterson, only son of Major John and Ruth (Bird) Paterson, was born at Farmington, Conn., abont 1744. His father was a British officer in the French war, and was with Wolfe at Quebec. Gen. eral Paterson graduated at Yale College in 1762, taught school and was a practicing attorney and was justice of the peace in New Britain. June 2d, 1766, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Josiah and Hannah (Warren) Lee, of Farmington, and before 1774 removed to Lenox. He was selected to represent the town in the Provincial Congresses of 1774 and 1775. Entering the service as colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment he was made a brigadier general February 21st, 1777, and in 1780 he was one of only eight generals of his rank in the States from New Hamp- shire to Pennsylvania. In 1785 he represented Lenox in the General Court. During the Shays rebellion he headed a detachment of the Berk- shire militia. In the army General Paterson was associated with Kosei- usko, with whom he formed an intimate friendship. They were at the battle of Saratoga, and made the northern campaign together, and were stationed at West Point after the escape of Arnold. General Paterson was appointed one of the judges at the trial of Major Andre. He is fre- quently mentioned in the correspondence of General Washington. He removed from Lenox in 1791 and settled at Lisle. Broome county. N. Y. Shortly after this he was chosen a member of the New York Legisla- ture. He was also a member of the New York Constitutional Conven- tion of 1801, and in 1803-5 represented in Congress a large portion of Central Southern New York. For twelve years he was the presiding judge of the Court of Broome coanty. He died July 19th, 1808.
JOHN MORELL.
John Morell came to Lenox about 1778, and died there in 1818. Of his nine children. the eldest. George, was bora at Lonox, graduated at Williams College in 1807, admitted to the bar in 1811. appointed United States judge for the territory of Michigan in 1832. in 1843 became chief
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TOWN OF LENOX.
justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan. and died in Detroit, March 8th, 1845. His only son entered the Union army as a staff officer, and for gallant conduct was made a major general. Captain Morell's other sons may be mentioned : Major Alvah Morell, who died at East Wind- sor, Conn., in 1867 ; Frederick A., who became a successful teacher in the South : William H .. who became chief engineer of the State of Missouri. and who died in Canada in 1860 ; Horace F .. who remained in Lenox and conducted the homestead farm until his death in 1866. One of his two sons, John F. Morell, resided in the old homestead until 1882, when he removed to Amherst. Mass. He was for many years chairman of the school committee of Lenox, and connected with the press both as cor- respondent and editor. He still retains a portion of his father's farm.
AZARIAH EGLESTON.
Azariah Egleston was born February 23d, 1757, and died January 12th, 1822, at Lenox. His ancestors came from Exeter, in Devonshire. England. in 1630. He was the son of Seth Egleston, who removed from Windsor to Westfield. He came to, Pittsfield previous to the Revolu- tionary war, and there enlisted in Captain Noble's company of minute men, April 22d. 1775. This company belonged to the regiment com- manded by Colonel Paterson. He returned to Pittsfield from Boston in December, 1775. He was afterward lieutenant and paymaster, and be- longed to Colonel Vose's regiment. He was in the advanced guard at the battle of Trenton and was in the battle of Princeton. He was in the battle at Bemis Heights and at Saratoga at the capitulation of Burgoyne. He was at Monmouth, Newport. and Stony Point. He was at New York at the British evacuation. and returned to West Point and settled the accounts of the 1st Massachusetts regiment. March 4th. 1784, he left West Point and came to Lenox. At the close of the war he was a major. He was personally acquainted with General Washington. August 11th, 1785, he married Miss Hannah Paterson, daughter of General John Pat- erson. Major Egleston was one of the leading citizens of Lenox. distin- guished for public spirit and hospitality. He had several children, among whom were Mrs. James W. Robbins, of Lenox, and Mr. Thomas Egleston. merchant in the city of New York.
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