USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 27
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GENERAL CALEB HYDE.
General Caleb Hyde was born at Norwich, Conn, July 29th, 1739. the fourth son of Elijah Hyde and Ruth Trury, and grandson of Samnel Hyde of the third generation. He married, in 1764, Elizabeth Sacket, daughter of Captain John Sacket. of Oblong, N. Y., and niece of Admiral Richard Sacket, of the British navy. He settled at Lenox in 1769, and took an active part in opposing British aggression. He was delegate from Lenox to the third Provincial Congress, represented the town in the General Court five years, and for a time was sheriff of Berkshire county.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
He removed to Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., probably with General Pat- erson, whose eldest child, Josiah Lee Paterson, had married, January 1st, 1788, General Hyde's daughter, Clarissa. He soon became a leading man in Broome county, was major-general of militia, twice elected State Sen- ator, and, in 1804, chosen by the Assembly a member of the Council of Appointment. He died at Lisle in 1820.
JOHN HOTCUKIN.
John Hotchkin, born in Guilford, Conn., March 25th, 1794, was the son of Ruth Hubbard descended from George Hubbard, who emigrated from England to Boston in 1630) and Ebenezer Hotchkin (descended from John Hodgkin, who emigrated from Essex. England, and settled in Guil- ford, Conn., in 1654). Ebenezer Hotchkin removed with his family to Richmond, Mass., in 1798. His son, the subject of this sketch, fitted for Union College at Lenox Academy under Levi Glezen, and, graduating in 1817, returned to spend the next four years as assistant there. He then entered Andover Theological Seminary, from which place he was invited. in May, 1823, to Lenox Academy as principal. He accepted, making Lenox his home and teaching his occupation. To it he devoted all his energy ; in his own words : " Having made up my mind to teach, I made up my mind to love it." As a teacher he required absolute thoroughness of study to the smallest detail. Unfailing patience with honest endeavor. and an indomitable assurance of success by means of such endeavor, made him cordial and hopeful even with his slowest pupils, who could not forget his well known motto : "Get what you get, and then review it." He resigned his post in 1848, but continued to give private instruc- tion with tireless devotion until within a few weeks of his death. Febru- ary 19th, 1862. With him all life's employments were equally his "Father's business," and his whole soul went out to each ; continually to promote " pure religion " was not his duty but his joy. . He was in- variably the minister's friend, a friend of unswerving loyalty, ever ready to meet with genuine heroism the serious crises so liable to arise in churches. Thus, through his scholars -- his " living epistles"-through his devotion to man's welfare, through his championship of religion, temperance, and all reforms whose end is the highest good, his life was a power. In his own town he identified himself with every projeet for improvement ; almost his last effort was the founding of the Free Town Library. This-the cherished object of his later years-is at once a legacy and a record of his loving care for others, and is his lasting memorial.
THE SABIN FAMILY.
Captain Origen Sabin, eldest son of Ziba and Lydia ( Welch) Sabin, was born in Norwich, Conn., December 20th, 1771, and came to Lenox with his parents in 1776. He married Hannah Osborn. Their third child. Millen, born September 9th, 1800, married, in 1829, Melicent Bidwell.
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a descendant of Edward III .. in the fifteenth generation. She was the tenth child and eldest daughter of Adonijah Bidwell and his second wife, Jemima Devotion. and granddaughter of Rev. Adonijah Bidwell. the first Congregational minister in Monterey. Millen Sabin graduated at Berkshire Medical College in 1822, and the next year began the practice of medicine at Pittsfield in partnership with Dr. H. H. Childs. In 1829 be removed to Monterey and ten years later to Lenox. In 1868 he re- moved to Aurora. Il .. and two years later retired from practice and joined a son at Troy. III., where he died. He was secretary of the Mas- sachusetts State Medical Society from about 1840 until he left the State. He was an old line whig and a member of the Congregational church. He had six children : Frances Henrietta, who married William Perry, of Lee, and is now deceased ; Henry Millen ; Frank A .: Horace Bidwell, who dwells at Fort Scott, Kansas ; Augusta Cecilia, who died at Monterey in 1881 : and Wallace Edgar.
Henry Millen was born at South Tyringham, September 6th, 1831 ; prepared for college at Lenox Academy and Williston Seminary : en- tered Williams College in his eighteenth year and graduated in 1853. After teaching a short time in Cincinnati and in the Pittsfield high school, he took charge of Lenox Academy for a few years. Heattended lectures in Berkshire Medical College. and in 1863 graduated from Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College. New York. He at once joined the 52d regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, taking full charge of the hospital at Port Hud- son. After the capture of Vicksburg he returned in charge of the sick of the regiment and in 1864 began practice at Edwardsville, Ill. In 1867 he married Mrs. Letitia McKee. a native of Edwardsville. of Kentucky stock.
While residing at Lincoln, Nebraska, Mrs. Sabin died. January 4th, 1872. leaving one son, William Henry, born April 16th, 1868. Dr. Sabin united with the Congregational church at Williams, in 1850. and is now a member of the Second Congregational Church in Rockford. Ill., where he resides.
Frank A. was born in Monterey, October 3d. 1835, graduated at Berk- shire Medical College in 1861, and settled at Troy, Ill., with Dr. John S. Dewey. He was married to Anna E. Lytle, March 14th. 1865. Their first three children died and the living are : Edward, born August 1st, 1875; and Mary Melicent, born November 9th, 1880. ,
Wallace E. was born at Lenox, April 8th, 1845. He attended the dis- trict schools. the Lenox Academy. and Williston Seminary. In 1866 he removed to Illinois to study medicine at Edwardsville, Madison county. He had previously commenced the study of medicine with his father at Lenox. He graduated February 28th, 1868, at College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. He entered the United States army as acting assistant surgeon in 1869, and continued in the service till June, 1882, when he secured the position of surgeon in charge of hospital N. P. R. R. Co .. where he remained eighteen months, after which he again entered the service as acting assistant surgeon United States army.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
HON. JULIUS ROCKWELL.
The Rockwell family are of genuine English stock. Judge Rockwell is the descendant in direct line from Deacon William Rockwell, who came from England in the ship Mary & John in 1630, and settled in Dorches- ter, Mass. The latter was born in 1595, and married Susannah Chapin, born April 5th, 1602. He was one of the deacons of the Dorchester church. the first that came into the country already organized. In the spring of 1637 he moved to East Windsor. Conn. where he died May 15th. 1640, aged 45. His widow was married to Mathew Grant. May 29th. 1645. She died November 14th, 1666. Of the seven children of Deacon and Susan- nah Rockwell, the three eldest were born in England.
Samuel Rockwell. their fourth child, was born in Dorchester, March 28th, 1631 : married April 7th. 1660, Mary, daughter of Thomas and Grace ( Wells) Norton, of Guilford. Conn .: and died in 1711.
They had seven children, of whom Joseph was the fourth : born May 22d, 1670 : married Elizabeth, daughter of Job and Elizabeth (Alvord) Drake. He died June 26th, 1733.
They had six children, of whom Joseph was the eldest : born Novem- ber 23d. 1695 : married Hannah, daughter of John and Abigail (Lathrop) Huntington, both of whom were great-grandchildren of Deacon William Rockwell. Joseph Rockwell died October 16th, 1746.
They had several children. of whom Samuel was the seventh ; born January 19th, 1728; married, 1757, Hepzibah, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Benton) Pratt. He died September 7th, 1794: his wife in 1816 He moved to Colebrook. Conn., in 1767. and was one of its earliest set - tlers.
They had nine children, of whom Reuben was the fifth : born at East Windsor. October 1st, 1765; married Rebecca, daughter of Colonel Bezaleel Beebe, of Litchfield, Conn., a gallant officer of the Revolution. Reuben Rockwell died in June, 1840 : his wife in 1853. They had five chil- dren, all but one of whom are living (1885).
Judge Julius Rockwell was their eldest child. He was born in Cole- brook. April 26th, 1805. His early studies were proseented, at first. in Lenox Academy. then under the guidance of the Rev. Ralph Emerson. of Norfolk. Conn .. and afterward under that of the Rev. Timothy M. Cooley. at Granville. Mass. Entering Yale College in October, 1822. he was graduated, A. B., in 1826, and subsequently received the degree of A. M. Having selected the profession of law he began the study of its principles and practice in the Law School at New Haven, where he spent the greater part of two years. Leaving there he next entered the office of Swan & Sedgwick. at Sharon. Conn .. and remained under their in- struction about twelve months.
Thus thoroughly prepared. by ample and varied studies. Mr. Rock- well was admitted to the bar in Litchfield county. Conn .. A. D., 1823. In
1
Julius Rockeach .
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1830 he removed to Pittsfield, Mass .. and there began the practice of his profession, pursuing it independently for nearly twelve years.
In 1842 he formed a copartnership, in legal business, with Mr. James D. Colt, and continued in that connection until 1859, when both were appointed justices of the Superior Court. Mr. Rockwell accepted the appointment : Mr. Colt declined it, and some years afterward was ap- pointed one of the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court. Although his elevation to judicial dignity involved the discontinuance of local prac- tice, Judge Rockwell yet continued to reside in Pittsfield. and did not remove thenee until 1865, in which year he removed to Lenox ; having purchased the old Walker homestead in that village and the birthplace of Mrs. Rockwell, where he still (1885) resides.
Judge Rockwell's political career began with early maturity. In 1834 he was elected to the Legislature from Pittsfield by the national re- publican party, and held the position of representative for four succes- sive years. Native talent and disciplined ability commanded speedy and flattering recognition. In the years 1835-6-7 he was honored with the position of speaker of the House.
About two years after the conclusion of his first term of legislative service, he was appointed one of the bank commissioners for the State of Massachusetts, receiving his commission from Governor Everett. in 1839. The board of bank commissioners consisted of three members, and was appointed for three years, during two of which Mr. Rockwell acted as chairman. It was the first board of the kind in the State.
In 1844 he was elected from the Seventh Congressional District to the House of Representatives. The district then comprised Berkshire county. and the western parts of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Three times after that the honor was repeated consecutively.
He represented his district from 1844 to 1852. During his service in Congress he formed an integral and influential part of the committee on territories, of which the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was chairman. The objective point in both parties was the territories. Their social character, when constitutionally determinel, woall solve the question of sectional supremacy in the Union, and consequent domination of plantation or free labor ideas.
True to the traditions and to the ineradicable political principles of his grand old commonwealth, Mr. Rockwell took an active part in the parliamentary strife. The speech made by him, upon the joint resolu- tion offered by Mr. Douglas for the admission of Texas as a State of the Union, was one of the most powerful delivered upon that occasion. A few of his closing sentences, which we quote. will give some idea of its character.
"As one called to represent in part the people of his ancient commonwealth, he must enter his 'solemn protest ' against the extension of slavery. as an evil directed against the truest interests of his country; as militating against her prosperity and freedom, and darkening that national character which she sought to hold up to all
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nations and ages of the world; as being in opposition to the Constitution which had preserved us hitherto in concord; as against the principles of the fathers of the republic, who lived themselves in slave-holding States; who would have saved us if they could, from so great an evil, and who openly confessed that they trembled for their country when they remembered that 'God is just.'"
Elevation to the Senate of the United States followed his eloquent advocacy of natural rights and of constitutional law in the House of Representatives. In 1854 he was appointed by Governor Washburn to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate occasioned by the resignation of the Hon. Edward Everett. He worthily sustained the dignity and re. sponsibility of United States Senator until the election of the Hon. Henry Wilson to that position by the Legislature in 1855. At the time of Mr. Rockwell's election to the Lower House he was a whig, and while in the House was a decidedly anti-slavery whig.
In 1855, when the republican party was first organized in Massachu- setts, he received the nomination at the first republican convention, held in Worcester, for the gubernatorial chair : and at the ensning election received the very gratifying number of 37,000 votes. The first repub- Jiean nomination for the governor, indeed. failed of immediate success, but prepared the way for a long succession of republican triumphs.
In 1858 the ex-Senator was again elected to the Legislature of the State, and was also again made speaker of the House, paralleling in this instance the action of another of Massachusetts' most distinguished sons, John Quincy Adams, who, having been president of all the States, did not hesitate afterward to represent his native State in the popular branch of the National Legislature.
On the organization of the present Superior Court of Massachusetts in 1859, Mr. Rockwell was appointed by Governor Banks to the position he now occupies. He is one of the original appointees, and is the oldest incumbent of the judicial bench.
The Pittsfield Bank has in him an able and efficient president. He is also president of the Berkshire County Savings Bank. He has for miny years been president of the Berkshire County Bible Society.
The mental and moral traits of Judge Rockwell are in perfect har- mony with his public addresses whether delivered in Congress, in the State Legislature, or elsewhere. Historically accurate, accustomed to pierce through the surface and lay hold on the spirit of things, judi- cially discriminate, clear in exposition. foreible in argument, and able in the use of persuasive rhetoric, he carries his an liences to his own conclusions The address delivered by him at the centennial celebration in Lenox. July 4th, 1876, was eminently characteristic of the man, and will not soon pass from the memory of those who were fortunately present.
Judge Rockwell married in 1836, Miss Lucy F. Walker, of Lenox, daughter of JJudge W. P. Walker. They have had three sons and one daughter, viz: William Walker Rockwell, died in the service of his country .The W. W. Rockwell Post. No. 125. G. A. R .. of Pittsfield, is
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named in his honor): Hon. Frank W. Rockwell, lawyer, member of Mas- sachusetts House of Representatives in 1879; of the State Senate in 1881- 2 : elected to Congress to fill an unexpired term of Governor Robinson, January 17th, 1884. and reelected November, 1884; married Mary, dangh- ter of Deacon Henry Gilbert and Mary Bullard (Dowse) Davis, natives of Oxford, Mass .: five children, William Walker, Henry Davis, Samuel Forbes, Julius, and Lawrence Dowse; Robert C. Rockwell, resident of Springfield, Mass .; and Cornelia, wife of Charles P. Bowditch, of Bos- ton, four children.
CHAPTER XIL.
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TOWN OF MONTEREY.
BY O. C. BIDWELL.
Incorporation .- Geographical and Descriptive .- Congregational Church .- Good Templars .- Schools .- Industrial .- Descendants of the Early Settlers .- M. S. Bidwell.
T HE early history of Monterey is included in that of Tyringham. It was that part of Township No. 1 later distinguished as South Tyring- ham. On the 12th of April, 1847. it was incorporated as a separate town. and was named from Monterey, Mexico, in honor of the victory won there in the preceding year by General Taylor. For many years there had been a desire among the inhabitants of Tyringham, both north and south. that the territory be divided into two separate towns. The primary cause of this desire was the difficulty of getting from one part of the town to the other, as a high range of hills extended east and west across it, making a formidable barrier to intercourse between the two parts. The summit of this range became the line of division, and apportioned the territory and inhabitants about equally. The northern part of the town of New Marlboro was separated from the rest of that town by a range of hills known as "Dry Hills," which lie one mile south of where the southern line of this town then ran. In 1851, in response to a petition of its in- habitants, this part was annexed to Monterey. In 1874 a portion of Sandisfield was also taken into this town, bringing it to its present limits.
The town is now bounded north by Great Barrington and Tyringham. east by Tyringham. Otis, and Sandisfield, south by Sandisfield and New Marlboro, and west by Great Barrington. There are high hills on all its boundary lines forming an elevated valley in the eastern part of which lies Lake Garfield (formerly Brewer Pond) an expanse of water one and one half miles long ; and in the southwestern part, Lake Buel, a little longer, one half of it, however, lying in New Marlboro. These lakes are fed largely by springs in their bottoms. The hillsides also furnish many very superior springs.
The village of Monterey is situated in the low land near the center of
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this valley. There is abundant evidence that this valley was once either the abode of Indians or one of their much frequented hunting grounds. In very recent years arrow heads, stone pestles, and other Indian relics have been plowed up in various parts of the valley. We can imagine these to have been hunting grounds fit for the most exquisite Indian taste. Tradition has it that the early settlers found the lakes teeming with fish, and within the woods an abundance of squirrels. raccoons. foxes, and bears. It is known that many bears have been killed in this vicinity. The last one was shot by Capt. Amasa Curtis, in the hills of the northwestern part of the town, about the year 1804. Early in this century pickerel were placed in the lakes, and until late years have afforded the best of fishing. About fifteen years ago bass were intro- duced, which have thinned out the pickerel, but furnish a still more gamy substitute.
Lake Garfield was so named on the 4th of July, 1881, the day after the shooting of President Garfield, who had distant relatives in town. and was accustomed to visit here when a student at Williams College. This lake has been greatly enlarged artificially, and it supplies water for many mills, the paper mills of Mill River being largely dependent upon it.
There is but one church in the town, the Congregational. The his- tory of this has been given in full in the history of Tyringham. up to the time this town was organized. In 184S the third meeting house built in this town was erected, one mile and a half to the southeast of the old one. and on the first Sabbath of 1849 the first sermon was preached in it. It had been accepted by the Congregational church and society of the town as their place of future worship, but this was not to the satisfaction of that part of the society living more convenient to the old church, and there resulted a suit of equity " to compel the Officers of the First Con- gregational Church and Society to appropriate the income of the fund (established in 1809, as related in the history of Tyringham) to the sup- port of preaching in the old house." It was decided by the Superior Court that the income of the fund had been rightly appropriated. For several years meetings were held in both houses, but in 1873 the old meeting house and bell were disposed of at auction. They were pur- chased by the Methodist Episcopal society, of Housatonic, and the old timbers of this church are still doing service in the Methodist Episcopal church of that town. By this sale 8430.62 were added to the church fund, of which the average income since its foundation has been about 8225.
Rev. Samuel Howe, pastor when the town was organized, remained with the church nine and one half years, "a good minister, a skillful manager, and an admirable adviser." He was dismissed February 14th, 1854, and was succeeded on the 27th of December the same year by Rev. Winthrop H. Phelps, who had been previously settled in Curtissville. It is from items collected by Mr. Phelps, and left by him among the
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church records, that many of the facts given here have been obtained in regard to the early history of the church. Having studied out the short- hand of Rev. Adonijah Bidwell, on one occasion he read a sermon to the people which had been preached to their ancestors one hundred years before. After a successful pastorate of a little more than six years he was dismissed January 22d. 1861, and is now residing in New York city. Mr. Phelps was the last settled pastor.
Since that time many preachers have supplied the pulpit, but no one as long as Rev. James A. Clark, who preached from 1864 to 1869, and again from 1875 to 1877. After leaving here the second time he became settled in Hillsdale, and died there in 1881. In 1874 and 1875 there was a great revival in the town, and seventy-one joined the church in the latter year alone. Those who have supplied the church during six months or more since 1861 besides Mr. Clark are: Rev. Scott Bradley, 1802 ; D. O. Timlow, 1863; Thomas Hall. 1870-1; George W. Kinne, 1871-2 (since died in Bath, N. II., where he was settled) ; D. D. T. MeLaughlin, 1873-4 (now residing in Litchfield, Conn. ); and A. E. Todd, 1877-80, the present pastor of the Congregational church at Chester. Rev. William A. Fobes, who now presides over the church, began labor here May 29th, 1881, and, with the exception of Mr. Clark, has remained longest of any one since 1861. The church has at present 112 members and is in a very prosperous condition. It rejoices in the strength of 134 years standing and a total membership of 789. There have been in all sixteen deacons : John Jackson. Thomas Orton, William Hale. David Taleott, Nathan Abbott, Justin Battle. Joseph Chapin, Lystra Taylor. Amos Langdon, John Bently. Daniel McCollum. Thomas D. Hale. Jonathan Townsend, Marshall $. Bidwell. Charles Phelps. John K. Hyde.
About sixty years ago, when the Rev. Joseph Warren Dow was pas. tor, a Sabbath school was organized. The superintendents of whom there is record or remembrance have been : Stephen Fairbanks, Stephen Bently, Paul Chapin. Daniel McCollum. Elias Wright. Jonathan Town- send, Marshall S. Bidwell, James Dowd, Martin V. Thomson, Rev. A. E. Todd, and Rufns Barnum. The last mentioned young man died while still superintendent, February 26th, 1883, at the age of 26. having en- deared himself to all by his beautiful Christian character. James L. Twing is the present superintendent. The school has been prosperons since its foundation. The average attendance for several years past has been over one hundred.
December 16th, 1868. a lodge of Good Templars was organized with fourteen members, to whose prosperous existence of nine years is largely due the credit of making Monterey so decidedly a temperance town. In 1883 the town voted no license with one dissenting voice, and in 1884 the vote was unanimons.
There are at present but six district schools in town, and 110 schol- ars. These schools are continued during eight months of the year. school is also provided for more advanced scholars during three months
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of the winter. The town raises yearly. for educational purposes, $800, which, together with the State fund, dog tax, and income from local fund. amounts to about $11.50 per scholar. Martin V. Thomson has been a member of the school committee most of the time since 1868. At that time there were nine schools and one third more scholars in the town Rev. Mr. Todd, during his stay here, did much to bring the schools up to their present standard.
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