USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 1 > Part 31
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Before the incorporation of the place the inhabitants met at regular intervals and adopted such rules and regulations as seemed for the gen- eral good, and expressed by vote their interest in public affairs. The first meeting of which any record appears was held June 7th, 1775. Capt. Gideon Kent was chosen moderator of the meeting and Salmon Gregory. clerk. A committee of correspondence was chosen, consisting of Capt. Gideon Kent, Sammel Lewis, Lient. mariah Babbit, Dudley Hamilton, and Caleb Beach, and this vote was passed : Voted. "to abide by the doings of the Continental and Provincial Congress."
The place was incorporated as a district February 26th, 1781. with all the privileges of a town except that of choosing a representative to the General Court, a privilege which it enjoyed for several years in connec- tion with Lanesborough. The first meeting of the district was held at the house of Nathaniel Kent, September 28th. 1781, when Captain Kent was chosen moderator ; Comfort Barnes, clerk of the district ; Abel Kent.
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town treasurer : and Amariah Babbit, Gideon Kent, and John Pratt, Se- lectmen and assessors.
From 1805 to 1813 the district united with Lanesborough in choosing representatives to the General Court. For this purpose the voters of New Ashford met with the voters of Lanesborongh at the town house in Lanesborough, and in 1809 and Jelo Richard Whitman, of New Ashford. was chosen, with another from Lanesborough, to represent both in the Legislature.
The district was fully incorporated as a town May 1st. 1836, and was represented in the legislatures of 1840 and 1841 by Phinchas Harmon. and in 1851 by Norman G. Baxter, and in 1952 by Noble F. Roys. Phinehas Harmon was a delegate in the Constitutional Convention of 1853.
Since 1837, for the purpose of representation in the Legislature, the town has formed with the towns of Williamstown, Lanesborough and Hancock, the 1st Representative District of Berkshire county, and in 1865 Noble F. Roys, of this town, was chosen to represent the district.
The first town meeting to act upon matters in relation to the war of the Rebellion was held on the 5th day of November, 1861, at which it Was voted " To pay to the family of Charles Goo lell fifty dollars, he having volunteered in the military service of the United States. provid- ing it be found that he is a citizen of this town." This was not paid. but meetings in 1861, '62, '63, and '64 provided for liberal bounties for the volunteers from the town, beginning with $75 and advancing to $125 for each man. The town furnished twenty-three men for the war. a surplus of one over all demands.
Elihu Ingraham, jr., was chairman of the board of selectmen and Phinehas Harmon, town clerk, and Hosea Beach town treasurer during all the years of the war.
For the support of schools the town has been divided into two or three school districts. At a meeting September 7th, 1795. "voted to raise $18 to support a school for the district," and in November follow- ing the entire district was divided into three school districts. There are now in the town two school houses, and the number of children on the 1st day of May, 1884, between the ages of 5 and 15, was 33, and the ex- penditure for the year ending April, 1884, was $373.02.
A half acre of land was purchased of Gideon Kent in 1800 for a burying ground. The price paid was 810. The ground was enlarged in 1870 by a purchase from A. A. Jordan.
Soon after the incorporation of the place into a district, viz., Deceni- ber 17th, 1782, at a meeting of the citizens, it was voted .. That we will build a house of public worship." Voted " That we will build said house 24 feet by 20, with eleven feet posts."
" Chose Samuel Hand. Daniel Burbank, and Gideon Wheeler. Esq .. a committee to pitch a stake where said house shall stand."
The significance of this last proceeding is, that the men chosen to
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pitch the stake were from adjoining towns, from Hancock. Williams- town, and Lanesborough.
The house which is now used for public worship was built as a union church, in 1828, and dedicated in January, 1822. There is a tradi- tion that the subscription for its erection originated and was well filled in the bar room of the tavern, which was kept near the site of the church, during an evening of caronsal. Whether this be true or not. it is certain that the subscription list contained the names of nearly all the people of the town, whatever may have been their social habits, and whether church going or otherwise.
The inhabitants of the town are mostly Methodists. and the church building has been generally occupied by that denomination, the minister sometimes residing in this town and sometimes in another town of the circuit. The house has. however, been open to other denominations. and occasional services were formerly held here by Elder John Leland, widely known as a Baptist minister, by Prof. Albert Hopkins, of Williams Col. lege, by Dr. Samuel B. Shaw, of the Episcopal church in Lanesborough. and others. The building has been lately repaired, and is a neat and commodious house of worship.
The town increased in wealth and population during the first half century of its history. reaching its most prosperous days from 1814 to 1825. There were over 300 inhabitants, and 60 families and 50 dwelling houses. There were May 1st, 1885, 163 inhabitants and 36 dwelling houses.
ยท
CHAPTER XVI.
TOWN OF OTIS.
BY GEORGE A. SHEPARD.
Loudon .- Bethlehem .- Town of Otis .- Natural Features. - Productions,-Mills and Manufac- tories .- Stores .- Hotels .- Lumber .- Settlement .- Manners and Customs of the Settlers. -- Roads and Fost Offices .- Otis in the National Wars .- Schools .- Churches .- Lawyers and Physicians .- Biographical Mention.
O TJS. as it now exists, is composed of the town of Loudon and the district of Bethlehem, the two being united in 1800, and still re- taining the name of Loudon after the union. Whence the town of Loudon derived its name there is some uncertainty : probably from Lord Loudon, who was appointed commander-in-chief of the American forces in 1756, during the French and Indian war. Loudon was incorporated in 1773. Prior to incorporation it was known as the " Tyringham Equiva- lent," a tract of land given to Tyringham-township No. 1 of the grant of 1735 of certain territory lying between Westfield and Sheffield-to make good certain losses they had sustained. It was bounded north by Becket, east by Blanford, on the south by the west parish of Granville- since incorporated and called Tolland-and by Sandisfield and the dis triet of Bethlehem on the west. Its length was more than twice its breadth, and it was considerably wider at its northern than at its south- ern boundary. It would not vary much from seven miles in length, north and south, and three in width on an average, making, as was formerly estimated, not far from 13,000 acres. The central point of business was at what is now called East Otis. The territory covered some other lands not included in the " Tyringham Equivalent."
About 1775 the people of the town voted to build a school house. and Ephraim Pelton obtained the contract for building the same. he being the lowest bidder. The house was " to be framed, and clapboarded on the outside and well finished," and he was to receive his pay in " boards and shingles." except for the nails and glass, which were to be cash. The house was to be fifteen feet square. They also voted 53 for the support of schools the ensuing year, and thought themselves, no doubt, liberal
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TOWY OF OTIS.
supporters of education : but in 1778 they voted to raise and appropriate $15 for the year's schooling. At a meeting March 7th, 1778, the vote on the State Constitution stood eleven for and one against it. In 1781 the town was divided into four school districts, the same number as Bethle- hem had soon after its incorporation. December 24th. 1787, Joshna Lawton was chosen representative to go to Boston with the special object of acting on the Constitution, and was instructed to oppose it by his vote. and they also opposed the revision of the constitution in 1795, through their representative to the General Court, Ephraim Williams. In 1791 they appointed a committee to commence an action against Thompson J. Skinner, of Williamstown, then acting " high sheriff," for not prosent . ing for collection of taxes in the hands of Asher Cook, the constable.
The last town meeting called under the name of Loudon was May 7th, 1810, Abner Loveland, constable, and Roderick Norton, clerk. At this meeting Paul Larkcom was chosen representative to the General Court.
Bethlehem was incorporated as a district June 24th, 1789, and was composed of the " North Eleven Thousand Acres." This tract, and also the south eleven thousand acres, were subsequent grants, for specific pur- poses, to the towns of Sandisfield, New Marlboro, Tyringham, and Becket. It was laid out four miles square. Becket lying on the north. Loudon east, Sandisfield south, and Tyringham west. What is now Otis Center was included in Bethlehem, and it is only about one half mile from the northeastern corner of Sandisfield.
The first district meeting was called by virtue of a warrant issued by Daniel Brown, Esq., of Sandisfield. June 20th. 1789, "to meet at the dwelling house of Lieutenant Hezekiah Sumner. At said meeting John Plumbe was elected district clerk ; Robert Hunter, treasurer ; Adonijah Jones. John Spear, and Daniel Fowler. selectmen : James Breckenridge. Thomas Ward. and Daniel Fowler, assessors : and William Crittenden, constable." Other meetings were called shortly afterward to make pro- vision for laying ont roads, and to fix a location for a burying ground. and other matters. In 1790 the district was divided into four school districts. conveniently arranged for the accommodation of the citizens. A survey was made in 1791 for the purpose of determining the central point of the district, which was ascertained to be nearly east of Hay's Pond, and, perhaps, a little more than a mile distant. It was the business center of the district, but no church was ever erected there. In 1795 a vote was passed to build a " town hall," the same to be used for religious meet- ings, regardless of the denomination. The building of the same was let to the lowest bidder, and sixty pounds was the lowest sum bid. Highway distriets were first laid out and described in 1796.
In 1809 a vote was taken to set off a section of the district to Becket. to which measure there was considerable opposition, and remonstrance was made: but the project finally prevailed and a portion was set to Becket the first of March, 1810. They held their regular meetings and
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
transacted business the same as towns in their corporate capacity, until the union with Loudon was effected.
The first town meeting called under the name of Otis was November 5th, 1810. Paul Larkcom was chosen moderator and Roderick Norton, clerk. There had been talk of changing the name of the town, and one name proposed was " Mountville." It was finally decided to leave the matter with their representative, Paul Larkcom. Esg. June 13th, 1810, he succeeded in getting the name changed to Otis, in honor of Hon. Har rison G. Otis, of Boston, who was at that time speaker of the House of Representatives. A section of unincorporated land, known as part of the east 11,000 acres, was annexed to Otis April 9th. 1838. since which time the limits have remained unchanged.
The surface is quite uneven and broken, granitic boulders and other surface stones abound, and are seen cropping ont from the hillsides over- looking the Farmington River valley. On either side of this river is a range of hills rising to a moderate height, and the highest point north of the center is called " Filley's Mount." These ranges of hills are gener- ally well wooded. and in some places present a wild and romantic appear. ance, and a ride along the valley through this section is not devoid of interest. The soil. generally, is a darkish heavy loam overlying a hard and tenacions substratum. It is very retentive of moisture. and is well calculated to withstand protracted drouths. It is said that there have been discovered some traces of iron in one section of the town, but not enough to encourage any outlay in mining it. The town is watered by many springs of pure. cool. and delicious water, and numerous small streams. The Farmington River is the largest stream, and it runs the whole length of the town from north to south. It takes its rise in Becket. is formed by the union of two streams, one issuing from Shaw's Pond, the other from Thomas' Mill-pond, and in its course is fed by several tributaries. Ward Brook rises in the northwestern part of the town and unites with the Farmington a short distance below the Center. affording water for mill privileges. Another stream of about the same size rises in the northern part of the town and flows into the Farmington from the east, near the Center. Roaring Brook, which proceeds from Parish Pond (frequently called Benton's Pond), joins the Farmington some dis tance farther down. Fall River, the main outlet of the chain of lakes in the eastern section of the town, and a rapid stream in most of its course. forms a junction with the Farmington a little north of Cold Spring. Otis abounds in ponds, and there is considerable marshy ground on some of their borders. Hay's Pond is located in the western part of the town. near Tyringham line. Thomas' Mill-pond is in the north part of the town. bordering on and extending a short distance into Becket. The stream issuing from it forms the main eastern branch of the Farmington. In the northeast part of the town is White Lily Pond, and a short dis- tance east of that is Little Pond, directly south of which is Haley's Pond. A short distance north of East Otis is the Great Lake. said to be
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TOWY OF OTIS.
the largest natural body of water in the county. Passing from this in a southerly course over " Fuller Hill " Parish Pond is found lying near the road from East Otis to Otis Center. A little south of East Otis is Rand Pond. This body of water covers a large area because of a high and substantial dam built by the " Farmington River Water Company" at the final outlet of this eastern chain of lakes. The water after issu- ing from this pond has a rapid descem over precipitous ledges of rocks, forming what is known as Otis Falls. When viewed from an advanta. geous point in this weird and romantic defile the scene is grand and sublime. The river has a rapid movement through a narrow defile in most of its conse to the Farmington. About three fourths of a mile westerly from Rand Pond is the Larkrom Pond-named from Paul Larkcom -- lying in a deep basin formed by high hills which surround it on every side, and it connects with Fall River through a small channel. Though but a short distance from Rand Pond. it is estimated to be nearly four hundred feet lower, and Rand Pond is nearly one hundred feet lower than the Great Lake. In the southerly part of Rand Pond is a floating island of considerable extent. It is composed of debris. the tangled and matted roots of shrubbery, mingled with a marshy. spongy soil, the whole dense mass lying upon the surface of the water. When walking over it a quaking, vibrating motion is imparted to it. extending some distance from the pedestrian. This is a favorite resort for fishermen, who cut holes through to the water, and. sitting upon their verge, cast their lines and take from the water beneath large quantities of bullheads. A tradition of a singular incident has been handed down from the early settlers. One Daniel Sumner was hunting for deer on the range of hills just west of Otis Center, and while so engaged he was startled by a loud explosion near by. He sought for the cause, and discovered a rock with quite an opening, and judging from the discoloration smrounding the fissure and other indications there was no doubt that it was a spontaneous explosion resulting from an accumulation of highly explosive gas.
The town is bounded on the north by Becket, east by Blanford. south by Tolland and Sandisfield, and west by Monterey and Tyringham. It lies abont 125 miles west of Boston and 375 miles from Washington.
The land is better adapted to grazing than to the raising of cereals. With good cultivation the meadows and uplands produce abundantly of grass, and the hill lands afford good pasturage. Potatoes do exceedingly well when free from blight. Corn requires thorough cultivation and abundant fertilizers. Rye does well on land newly cleared. and oats where the land is well cultivated. Sufficient garden vegetables for home supply may be easily raised. Apples are the staple fruit, and where prop- erly cultivated and cared for, do exceedingly well. Of small fruits black- berries abound in their season among the hedges and recent clearings. In some parts of the town the whortleberry flourishes, and cranberries do finely upon the marshes bordering Rand Pond. The principal varieties of timber are beech, birch, maple. oak, hemlock, and pine. When the
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
town was first settled there were considerable quantities of chestnut and walnut scattered through it, and in the eastern part were quantities of pitch-pine from which pitch was at one time made and sent to market. The soil in the eastern and some other sections of the town seems pecu- liarly adapted to white pine, which grows spontaneously and very rapidly.
The first grist mill was built in London, or what is now called East Otis, by the Kibbes, who were among the first settlers. It is impossible to ascertain the date of erecting the earliest mills. The second grist mill was erected near the tannery now owned by Deacon William Tinker, on the Farmington River, about one mile and a half north of the Center. Saw mills have been and they are now abundant. Soon after the settle. ment of the town one was erected on Roaring Brook, near the outlet of Parish Pond. One Manley built one on Fail River, near Rand Pond. Another was built above Great Pond, near Becket line. Abont one mile and a half east of the Center, on the road to East Otis, there were for- merly two saw mills near each other, and on the same stream, near Da- vidson's, was another. There was formerly one on a stream that comes from White Lily Pond. A little later than the one mentioned above another was built on Fall River, and on the same river further down Jonathan Norton erected one which is still standing. At an early date a saw mill was erected on Ward Brook, near Sandisfield line. by Captain Adonijah Jones, and another by George Catlin. Years since there was a mill on the west branch of the Farmington. near Shaw's Pond, on the West Becket South line. In the north end of the town Moses Baird built another on the Farmington River. Farther down, on the same river. one Welles erected a mill, and Robert and Isaac Hunter another. not far from the old forge. One was put up on the Timothy Jones' place, and later. another, which is still in use. C. Carter has near the Center a mill which is on or near the site of one built many years ago. One is now in use at Cold Spring, and one or two at East Otis. Allen Jones built a grist mill near the center many years since. Not many years after settlement Captain Joseph Hunt built an oil mill at East Otis. Colonel Samuel Pickett had an ashery at what is now Otis Center, and another was in use long since near Parish Pond. Daniel Sumner erected a tannery near Otis Center, and Dr. Bancroft built another a little further northwest, on Ward Brook. Spencer Watson erected a tannery at East Otis, called Loudon then. North of the Center about one and a half miles Joel Kilborn, one of the first settlers, erected a tannery on the Farmington River, the largest ever built in town. It was subsequently owned by an eastern company, and a Mr. Stone was then overseer. It is now the property of Deacon William Tinker, a resident. Joseph Hunt owned a carding machine at East Otis, and carried on the business of dressing cloth. It afterward passed into other hands, and it is now extinct. Isaac Benton had carding works near the outlet of Parish Pond. About a mile north of Otis Center David Bushnel had a fulling mill some years ago, and a Mr. Dorman another on the west branch of the Farmington,
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not far from Shaw's Pond. Otis in its early days abounded in dish mills. Zenas Smith had one near Dorman's; there were two more near Tinker's tannery ; Oliver Bushnel had one still further south, all on Farmington River. Harvey Owen owned one on Fall River, Daniels & Ives two near Otis Falls, there were three at East Otis, and as many more on Roaring Brook. Isaac Benton formerly owned a small chair factory on this last named stream, and also a distillery : and Albert Benton a mill for manu- facturing wrapping-paper. There was at one time another chair factory on the Farmington, north of the Center, owned by Davison & Norcott.
About 1824 Miles Welles built a puddling furnace, or forge, about three miles north of the Center, on the Farmington, and for many years did an extensive and thriving business. AAbout 1848 George Welles, son of Miles Welles, and Edward Smith, of Lanesborough, built puddling works at Cold Spring, so called from an intensely cold spring near by. The building was quite large, and had a capacity for doing a large amount of business. A good sized boarding house and several cottages. barns, sheds, store, and school house were erected at a large ontlay of money. The property changed hands two or three times, and considerable busi. ness was done ; Bartlett & Co., of Boston, owned it awhile, and later a Mr. Canfield, of Salisbury, Conn., but after a few years the works were burned and were never rebuilt. The store, in which a post office was kept, was burned shortly afterward. The business ceased entirely, and the houses are now mostly vacant, and desolation reigns where but a few years since was a thriving little village. There were formerly two stores and a post office at East Otis ; Elijah Owens had charge of one store and Willis Strickland the other. Only one is there now, that of H. B. Norton. Camp & Cummins had a store at Otis Center as early as 1772. It was a little further north than those of to-day. Colonel Pickett and his son-in-law, Hiram Sears, were in trade many years at the Center. There are two stores there at the present time : Samuel Norton, Esq., is proprietor of one and Norton & Smith conduct the other. Daniel Sumner formerly had a store in what was known as Bethlehem Center. There was a Farmer's Company store at East Otis earlier than many of the in- habitants can remember. It changed owners once or twice. One Porter Hunt was also in trade there for a time.
One of the first hotels was located on the " Great Boston and Albany road," and was kept by Lieutenant Jonathan Norton, grandfather of the present Elam P. Norton, a man between eighty and ninety years of age. This being one of the main thoroughfares leading west from Boston, there was much travel over it in early days. It is asserted that Mr. Norton had been known to slaughter a large ox in the morning and serve it all to his customers within twenty-four hours. During the Revolution this road was traversed by Major General Amherst and his troops, with their stores, en route for the taking of Ticonderoga. After the defeat and cap- time of Burgoyne and his army, at Saratoga, he, with a detachment of his men, passed over this road on his way to Boston or Cambridge, where
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
he took up winter quarters. Their large cannon required eight or ten yoke of cattle to move it over the hills.
Nathaniel Wood kept a large hotel about half a mile west of East Otis. Another in the village was afterward erected. It was kept by different persons, and for many years by Porter Hunt. The present hotel is conducted by Wilbert Denslow. For many years a hotel was maintained at West Otis. Colonel Samuel Pickett kept a public house at the Center for a long time. For many years it has been owned by the Day family, E. L. Day, a deputy sheriff, keeping it several years, and it is now owned and kept by Henry Day, his brother. Basil Seymour conducted a hotel in that vicinity some years since, and also had a dis- tillery. On what is called the Pomeroy place there was another tavern, kept by Elisha Pomeroy, and one half way between Oris and New Boston called the " Half- way house." kept by one John Hawley.
One of the most available and profitable industries at the present time is the manufacture of lumber. It consists mostly of pine and hem- lock, but pine predominates. The most of this finds a ready market in Lee. As far back as 1855 the lumber prepared for market amounted to 1,175,200 feet. The last State statistics fail to mention this article, but the amount some years undoubtedly exceeds that named. The most ex- tensive dealers are Volney Haskell. H. B. Norton, C. J. Carter, George M. Beach, and James Clark.
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