USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Easthampton > History of Easthampton: its settlement and growth; its material, educational, and religious interests, together with a genealogical record of its original families > Part 6
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Caleb Loud of Loudville, owns a saw-mill in the north-
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OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.
west part of the town, and near it is situated the grist- mill of Franklin Strong, at which a good flouring busi- ness is done. Another saw-mill in the south part of the town is owned by Alva Coleman.
There are three meat markets in town at present, owned by W. H. Avery, E. H. Ludden and A. S. Ludden. The following facts appear from the census of 1865. The number of pounds of dressed beef, 102,251. The num- ber of feet of lumber prepared for market is 915,000. The two flouring mills report the number of bushels of grain ground during the year at 25,000. There are two master builders in this place, E. R. Bosworth and T. J. Pomeroy, who employ 39 hands. The number of buildings crected in the year previous to the taking of the census was twenty, whose value was $107,000. This, however, does not include all the buildings put up in the place during the year, nor nearly all the men thus employed.
The business of steam and gas fitting is carried on by Geo. L. Manchester, dealer in steam, gas and water pipe, and fittings of all descriptions. Mr. Manchester settled here about three years since, and the large amount of building which has been done has given him a good business.
Oliver N. Clark and Ralph Smith are established here as carriage makers ; Erwin Robinson, and L. O. Toogood, as painters and glaziers ; Edward R. Smith as a photo- graphic artist ; George P. Shoals and Wm. E. Topliff as masons ; J. E. Janes, as market gardener ; R. Golden- blum, Dennis Lyman, T. Colgan, and G. Friday, as shoe- makers ; and James Connell, Edward Reed, and Wm. Parlow as blacksmiths. Wm. R. Searle has recently open- ed coffin warerooms, and is prepared to furnish anything which is needed from an undertaker.
There are three livery stables in town, kept by D. S. Jepson, Hiram Knapp, and Edwin E. Janes.
CHAPTER VII.
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
PHYSICIANS.
The number of physicians who have practised in East- hampton, is not large. Rarely, if ever, until within a few years, has there been more than one at a time. The pop- ulation was small, and general health has prevailed.
Dr. David Phelps commenced the practice of medicine here about 1780, and remained six or eight years.
Dr. Hophni Clapp, a native of Southampton, studied medicine with Dr. Woodbridge of that town, and came here about 1790. His medical reputation was good. He interested himself considerably in town affairs, and was honored with several offices of trust. His life was spent in Easthampton.
Doctors Hall, Munson, and Edson, were here for a short time.
Dr. Zalmon Mallory, a native of Montgomery, settled here not far from 1815. He acquired an extensive prac- tice, and, during his stay in the town which lasted twenty years, he endeared himself to the people, by his sympathy and considerate attention. In his feelings, he was uncom- monly ardent, but they seldom led him to the performance of injudicious acts. He took a warm interest in the com-
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
mon schools, and was for some years a member of the general committee. He was always very upright, and cherished a high regard for the institutions of religion, so much so that, unless circumstances absolutely demanded it, he would not call upon patients during the services of the Sabbath. But it was not until 1831 that he professed an interest in Christ. From that time he was a very active and exemplary member of the church. In 1835 he removed to Michigan, where he died.
In the same year, Dr. Atherton Clark commenced the practice of medicine here. For many years he was the only physician in the place, and won the esteem and confi- dence of the community. He was considered a very suc- cessful practitioner, and enjoyed a high reputation among the members of the medical fraternity, for a thorough knowledge of the science.
Dr. Solomon Chapman, Dr. Addison S. Peck, Dr. Thom- as Henderson, and Dr. Barker, each practiced medicine here for some time. Dr. Chapman died here, and the others removed from the place.
The physicians at present residing here are Dr. F. C. Greene, and Drs. Winslow & Ward.
Dr. Greene has enjoyed considerable opportunity for the practice of surgery, as well as medicine, having been con- nected, for a short time, with our army in the Mexican war, and more recently as army surgeon, he served in Virginia and Louisiana, during a period of two years.
Dr. Winslow, who has for several years enjoyed a wide practice in our community, has recently united with him- self Dr. Ward, who was for a time employed in the army as surgeon of the 38th Mass. Reg. He was afterwards appointed to the position of Medical Inspector, on the staff of Gen. Sheridan, in which capacity he served during the Shenandoah and closing Virginia campaigns.
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
Dr. Winslow was formerly engaged in practice in En- field, where he was succeeded by Dr. Ward.
R. D. Brown, Thomas Bolton, A. E. Strong, R. E. Strong, and H. S. Bascom, have practised dentistry here, of whom the last two now reside in the place.
CASUALTIES.
One morning in January, 1780, Samuel Coleman and Ezekiel Wood went out hunting deer. By some means, they became separated, and, as it was a foggy day, objects could not be distinctly seen at a great distance. Pres- ently, Mr. Coleman noticed a rustling in the bushes not far from him, and supposing it to have been made by a deer, he fired at once. His feelings, when he discovered that his shot had taken deadly effect in the body of his friend, can better be imagined than described. This event filled with mourning the heart of his young wife, thus suddenly bereft of her husband, and of an aged widowed mother, and sent a thrill of sorrow through the hearts of a sympathizing community.
About the year 1790, Lucas, a little son of Lt. Asahel Clark was drowned, near where the cotton mill of Wil- liston & Co. now stands.
In April, 1798, Bohan Clark undertook to transport a lot of timber, from this place to South Hadley canal, on the river, for the frame of a store which he was about to erect. The water in the Connecticut was high, and he determined to avail himself of the opportunity thus pre- sented. The timber was lying at his saw-mill near where the cotton mill of S. Williston & Co. now stands. The water of the Connecticut backed up to his mill, and on this he rafted his timber, and set out with his brothers Eleazer and Asahel, together with two others, intending to guide the raft into the canal at the falls. But some-
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
how, as they approached the canal, an unexpected current seized it, and hurried it forward to the dam, which had been thrown across the river to turn the water into the canal. The raft was carried over the dam uninjured, save by the detachment of a small portion, on which Mr. Bo- han Clark was standing. That remained upon the dam, and he instantly seized a spike pole, and held by main strength against the force of the current. The other per- sons escaped the first fall unharmed, but below a fearful fate awaited them, unless they could get to the shore. A large natural fall lay about two miles below, near where the dam now stands. Mr. Eleazer Clark was one of those cool, self-possessed persons, whom no danger can deprive of judgment, who always distinguish themselves in great emergencies. To get the raft to land seemed to him simp- ly impossible. He therefore determined to construct has- tily a smaller raft, on which they might reach the shore. This being accomplished, three of them stepped on it, and then the fourth, Mr. Asahel Clark. His weight caused the raft to sink about eighteen inches. Almost in despair he stepped back, and commenced the construction of a small raft for himself. When it was finished, he stepped upon it ; but he had approached so near the fall, that all his efforts were of no avail, and he was carried over the fall. For some time he survived the shock, but before any boat could come to his assistance, he became exhaust- ed and sank. The other three, by great exertion succeed- ed in reaching the shore in safety. Mr. Eleazer Clark, after seeing that efforts to save his brother Asahel were useless, turned his attention to the rescue of his brother Bohan, who was upon the dam, and for two terrible hours had maintained his position against the current, while no one came to his aid. By the well-directed efforts of his brother and others, he was removed from his perilous po-
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
sition, and brought to shore. The very instant he left the detached portion of the raft, it was carried over the dam. The body of Mr. Asahel Clark, was not recovered for some time. He was 31 years old at the time of his death, and left a wife and two small children.
In January, 1797, Moses Gouch and Joseph Davis were felling trees in a lot of woodland, on Manhan river, back of the house formerly owned by Solomon Ferry. While thus engaged, Mr. Gouch was struck by a limb of a falling tree, and instantly killed.
In'January, 1817, while Eleazer Ring was superintend- ing the moving of a building, he received injuries which resulted in his death. The floor of the house had been taken up, and while in the building, he missed his foot- hold and fell, and before the team could be stopped it had passed over his body. He survived but a few hours.
In the year 1819, the owner of a piece of woodland, on the west side of Mt. Tom, not far from its southern ex- tremity, had cut sixty cords of wood or more, and had piled it up compactly, intending to slide it down the mountain, in a road which he had prepared for the pur- pose. Of course an event of this kind, not being of com- mon occurrence, called together quite a company, espec- ially of boys, who after the wood had been slid down, went up to the top of the mountain, and commenced rolling down stones, before all had reached the summit. Cecil Brown, a boy of fourteen years of age, was the last to come up. One of his companions, who was a little in advance of him, called out to them to desist, saying thoughtlessly, " you have killed Cecil." In a short time they returned, and found him lying down, and apparently dead, he having received a blow from a stone which frac- tured his skull. He however, revived, was trepanned, and lived many years; but so severe was the shock that his
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
mental powers were very much impaired, and his intellect permanently enfeebled.
About the year 1826, Elijah Alvord, who lived in the east part of the town, started from home to walk to Northampton, on the . Connecticut river, which was then frozen over. As he did not return at the time expected by his friends, search was instituted and it was found that he had broken through the ice and was drowned.
. In 1831, Samuel Knowlton, who lived in the east part of the town, was kicked by a horse which was feeding in the street, and received injuries in consequence of which he died.
On the night of Dec. 15, 1835, an event occurred which filled the community with sadness. It was the death of Ocran Clapp, who perished in the snow. He had attended a public meeting that evening in the town hall, which stood near the recent site of the First Church. During the evening a snow storm of unusual violence had sprung up, attended with a severe and increasing degree of cold. He lived on the Northampton road where Ansel Bartlett now does, and, on leaving the hall, instead of taking the . road home, by mistake he took the one leading east, to -- wards Pascommuck. He passed on until he arrived near ... where the cotton mill of S. Williston & Co. now stands, when probably having discovered his mistake, he turned about. When he had gone back some distance, he turned off into the lot, probably intending to cross to his resi- dence, which would save considerable. Instead, however, of turning towards home, he turned directly opposite, passed on Broad brook, where it appeared : he had broken ., through the ice, and passed on the plain beyond. His age, sixty-five years, his bewilderment, and the wetting which he received at the brook, together rendered him unable to endure the storm and intense cold of the night. He was. 7*
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
found dead the next morning, at no great distance from the brook. The light which he carried was observed by sev- eral, but no one thought strange of it, since people were then returning from the meeting. Some effort was made to find him on the evening before, but it was finally thought that he might have gone into some house, and search was given up.
On the 11th of Oct. 1835, Ahira Lyman met with an accident which occasioned his death. He lived in the west part of the town, where Elijah Lyman now resides. He was chopping wood in a ravine, at some distance from his house, and while thus engaged, accidentally struck the top of his foot with the axe, which passed through the foot, and the sole of the shoe, and struck the log. He called for help but no one heard his cries, and he was com- pelled to crawl on his hands and knees nearly home. The great loss of blood weakened him very much, but the wound was skillfully dressed, and for a number of days there seemed to be a reasonable prospect of his recovery. The case however at length seemed to take an unfavora- ble turn. He sank very rapidly, and died on the 1st of Nov. 1835.
In 1836, Charles Brown, adopted son of Obadiah Clark, was run over by a cart and killed.
In November-of the same year, Bela Hannum was found dead in the Manhan meadow, somewhere between the res- idence of Edwin Hannum and that of John Bosworth of Southampton.
In May, 1842, a little child of Augustus Clapp was drowned in Manhan river, while returning from school, having accidentally fallen from the bridge which he was crossing.
On the 1st of August, 1844, Ichabod Wright, who re- sided cn Park Hill, was found dead in his field, lying be-
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
side a small brook, with his face in the water. There were no means by which the singular circumstances of his death could be satisfactorily accounted for. This event was deeply felt by all, since he was highly esteemed as a Christian man.
In the summer of 1845, Stephen Wood, Jr. was killed by falling from a load of hay upon a pitchfork.
In May, 1848, the wife of Justus Lyman died in con- sequence of injuries received from a fall.
In April, 1857, the community experienced a severe loss in the death of Dea. Ithamar Clark. While attempt- ing to remove a heavy rock from its bed, a chain broke, and the rock, falling back, struck a lever, throwing it vi- olently against his head. His injuries were so great, that he survived only three days. At the time of his death, he was one of the deacons of the church, in which cap- acity he had acted for 24 years. He was a person of uncommonly sound judgment, unflinching integrity, and very conscientious. He early espoused the cause of tem- perance, and was always one of its firmest supporters. His attainments in piety were rare. He had drank deeply of the cup of affliction, and was ever ready, with a warm and generous sympathy, to comfort those who were called to mourning. A blow so unexpected filled the hearts of his family and friends with sadness, and left a void in the church which was deeply felt.
August 15, 1857, as Eli Taylor, a boy about fourteen years of age, was returning from his work, he was obliged to cross the railroad track, and in his haste or forgetfulness, attempted to cross while the cars were approaching with unusual speed. Just as-he was in the act of jumping from the track, as it appeared, he was struck by the engine, and instantly killed.
In December, 1858, Alvan Upson, a boy employed in
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the button factory of Williston, Knight & Co., met with a severe, and as it proved, a fatal accident. While in the wheel-room, his foot accidentally slipped and became en- tangled in the gearing connected with the water wheel, and was torn or crushed entirely off. The leg was amputated twice before the arteries could be taken up, but it was skillfully dressed, and the hope was entertained that he would recover with only the loss of a limb. On the sec- ond or third day, however, it commenced to bleed, and no surgical skill could save him.
On the 6th of June, 1859, a little daughter of Lewis S. Clark was so severely burned, in consequence of the taking fire of her clothes, that she died.
In the month of October, 1859, while the cotton mill of S. Williston was in process of erection, Issachar Ford, a carpenter employed upon the mill, received a fatal injury by the accidental falling of a stick of timber. He sur- vived only eleven hours. He had but recently removed to the place. The blow fell suddenly and heavily upon his family, who were thus deprived of husband and father, and awakened sorrow throughout the community.
In September, 1864, H. Bodisco Chapman, whose home was here, was killed on the New Haven and Northampton railroad, in the town of Southwick. He was baggage master, but was at that time acting conductor of an excur- sion train. Having occasion to pass over the top of a car, while doing so, he was struck by a bridge which they were passing, and, as is supposed, instantly killed.
The recent death of Edward I. Allen, a student of Wil- liston Seminary, by drowning, is too fresh in the minds of all, to need rehearsal. The sad event occurred while he was bathing, unaccompanied by any one. It occasion- ed a feeling of deep sadness in the Institution with which he was connected, and left his class to mourn the loss of one of their most promising members.
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
L. P. Lyman, who died Aug. 7, 1865, received an in- jury on his head, by the falling of a stick of timber at the raising of a house, which hastened, if it did not wholly cause his death.
Jan. 27, 1865, the death of a little child of Rev. Mr. Jackson was caused by tipping a cup of scalding water into its bosom.
On the 21st of April, 1866, William Whiting, a colored man, was struck by lightning, while on his way home from his place of labor. He was passing a large maple tree at the instant of the discharge, and a portion of the charge left the tree and entered his body, to all appearance kil- ling him instantly. He left a wife to mourn his loss. He had been in the place but a short time, having come from Washington about a month before his death.
The town has not been wholly, though to a great de- gree, exempt from scenes of murderous violence.
In 1780, Elisha Brown was killed by a person named Norton, in a fit of ungoverned passion, near the present location of the factories. A few years later, an Indian woman was killed just below the grist-mill, as it was supposed by her husband.
These are believed to have been the only events of the kind, until 1865, when Jacob Kretz, a saloon keeper, re- ceived wounds resulting in his death, from a party of drunken persons, who forced an entrance into his house in the night, for the purpose of procuring liquor.
When this chapter of casualties was commenced, we were not aware that there were so many instances of this kind ; but one after another has come to our knowledge, and perhaps even now the list is not complete. It is in- structive, as teaching us the dangers to which we are exposed, and the great uncertainty of life. Surely death has all ways, as well as all seasons, for his own.
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
"Verily 'his time there's none can tell,' nor yet his man- ner. He wearies out one with old age, and drags down another by disease. He surprises one in the labors of the field, and bewilders another in the highway he has often- est frequented, and lures him to the dreary waste to sink unattended and alone."
This record extends over a period of eighty-six years. How many of those who now inhabit this town, who walk its streets, carry on its business, and cultivate its fields, whose faces are seen and whose voices are heard in our public places, or how many of those who will come after us, will, within a similar period, be called away by a sud- den and violent death, is to us all unknown. Equally un- certain is it, to whom the dread messenger will come. " Let our souls be shielded in the faith of Christ, and our hopes folded around the throne of eternal mercy. Then will we grapple with death, and though we fall, we shall conquer the conqueror, and then lay off our armor, and rest forever in the bosom of our God and our Father."
CEMETERIES.
The first burial place in Easthampton, was in Nasha- wannuck, and many of the early settlers in that part of the town were buried there ; but many years have passed since then, and they are nearly forgotten; now but few can point to the place where they lie. It has been suppos- ed that the place could not be identified ; but there are a few who still remember the graves of their ancestors. The burial place is on an elevation, in a field belonging to Augustus Clapp, and about fifteen rods south-west from his house.
Would it not be well for those of the present day, to rescue these ancient cemeteries from oblivion, and by en- closing them, and erecting a plain and simple, but suitable
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PHYSICIANS, CASUALTIES, CEMETERIES.
monument, to show to posterity the last resting place of those daring, hardy ones, who braved the toils and dangers attendant upon the early settlement of our country ?
Since that time, there have been three burial places occu- pied. The one first used in the center of the town, was opposite the place where Williston Seminary now stands. The land was originally owned by Benjamin Lyman, son of one of the purchasers of School meadow, and was prob- ably given by him to the town for a burying ground. One of his children was the first person deposited there.
It is more than a hundred years since then, and, as the fathers and mothers of the town passed away one by one, here was their dust committed to earth, to rest until the resurrection morn. But the march of improvement dis- posed the present generation to devote it to other purposes. Hence, in the summer of 1865, the remains were re- moved to the grave-yard at present in use.
Another burial ground is in Pascommuck. It was given by Eliakim Clark, and the first one buried there was a child of Jonathan Janes, in the year 1775.
The other cemetery, situated about half a mile south of the churches, on the east side of Main street, was located in 1846. Mrs. Eunice S. Lyman, wife of Daniel F. Ly- man, was the first person buried there. The lot originally contained four and one-half acres. Since then it has been enlarged once, and it is proposed to enlarge it still further. Since it was first occupied, many have been laid to rest within its limits.
Within these silent cities of the dead, are a multitude of all ages, of every condition in life, from the aged man of hoary hairs, to the infant of a few days ; the bride just entering upon her new duties, with fondest hopes and an- ticipations ; the strong man of business, cut down in the midst of life and health ; those who have lingered long on
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HISTORY OF EASTHAMPTON.
the verge of the grave; merry laughing childhood, and youth, buoyant with life and happiness ; all have been summoned by the messenger of death, and consigned to these silent tombs, there to await the sound of the arch- angel's trumpet, at the dawn of the eternal morning. And, as we gaze on the spot where they rest from their labors, may we learn the impressive lesson, that since death comes alike to all without distinction of age, rank, or condition, we ought to live in a state of constant preparation to obey its summons.
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CHAPTER VIII.
MISCELLANIES.
THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The earliest records of this society have not been pre- served. Hence we have no means of determining the pre- cise date of its formation. It is presumed to have been as early as the year 1792. About thirty persons became stockholders by the payment of two dollars. Their meet- ings for the transaction of business, and the exchange of books, were held at the house of some member. Rev. Payson Williston, was, for thirty-five years, its efficient librarian. He performed in the aggregate a large amount of labor for the society, whose prosperity he regarded as of great importance. This association continued as a separate organization, through a period of fifty years, at the end of which time, it was united with the Youth's Library Association, a society which was formed in 1828. The object of this society, as stated in its constitution, was to excite in the minds of the youth a thirst for knowledge, to exalt and refine their intellectual and moral characters, by giving them access to such books as are of a moral tendency. Its members paid a fee of one dollar for membership, and an annual tax of twenty-five cents. Jan. 10, 1840, by a concurrent vote of the two societies, they were united under the name of the Easthampton Social Library Association.
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