USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Granville > History of Granville, Massachusetts > Part 13
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more fertile soil, he organized the group of pioneers and assembling them at the home of Jesse Spelman, after a most earnest prayer by Dr. Cooley, he led them through the new country to the wilderness of the "far west" and founded the Town of Granville, Ohio. The journey occupied 44 days but the entire party arrived in safety the middle of November. As the settlement grew and the surrounding area was settled, there arose the need for a court. Licking County was established and Timothy Rose was appointed Judge to preside over its Court. He served in that capacity the rest of his life, dying November 27, 1813. When the little hamlet in the woods needed a post office, he took the necessary steps to have one established there and he was the first postmaster. Hon. Timothy Rose was a citizen of whom any community might be proud and was a normal product of the hills upon which he had been bred.
Another citizen to whom Granville owes much must be men- tioned, Col. Timothy Robinson. He was born in Durham, Connect- icut, and came to Granville with the migration from that Town soon after 1741. He lived in West Granville. He was the third Clerk of the District of Granville and retained that office for Dis- trict and Town continuously for twenty years. He served as one of the Selectmen during twenty-eight of the years from 1762 to 1795, all through the trying times before, during and after the War for Independence. He was the first man chosen to represent the Town in the General Court, and he served the Town as one of its Repre- sentatives, and frequently the only one, for thirteen of the years from 1777 to 1794. He was chairman of the Committee elected by the District "to inspect the debate between the Colonies and Great Britain," and prepared and drew up their report. He was captain of the third Company of soldiers sent out from Granville in the Revolution, but because of unforeseen delay only part of his Company was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. He specially represented the District and Town many times on urgent missions before the General Court. He was a deacon of the church for thirty years. It almost seems as though he was Granville, for he was the leader and adviser in every public enterprise. His death occurred April 1, 1805. There appears to have been every reason and justification for the epitaph on his tombstone in the
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West Granville cemetery : "He lived respected and died lamented."
One anecdote concerning him is well worth preserving. It is con- tained in an excerpt from a letter of Elizur D. Moore to the Westfield Times and Newsletter about August 13, 1881, and is as follows: "Titus Fowler, my grandfather, moved into Town just before the Revolutionary War ... At the time of Shay's Rebellion (1787) Esq. Fowler and Col. Robinson started for Springfield. Mr. Shay took them at East Granville, kept them over Sunday and let them go on to Springfield."
This little fracas occurred in a rather more serious mood than Mr. Moore states and had a rather more comic outcome. From other sources it is learned that the group which took "Esq. Fowler and Col. Robinson" prisoners were part of the Shay armed forces and were in no peaceful frame of mind. The capture was made on Satur- day, at a point on the main road between Granville Center and West Granville near its intersection with Regan Road, a few rods east of the site of the second meeting house. During that evening and all day Sunday the prisoners argued with their captors over the errors of the rebels and the justice of the position of the Congress, and their own inoffensiveness, with the result that the prisoners were turned loose on Monday morning and told to go on about their business, which they did quietly and expeditiously. This is the nearest to a military skirmish that ever occurred on the soil of Granville.
Another boy from the hills of Granville who attained conspicuous political success was John Eaton Mills who was born October 14, 1796, in the West Parish. At the age of nineteen he went to Canada and settled in Montreal where he engaged in business and by means of integrity and perseverance rose to prominence in that city and was elected to the office of Mayor by an appreciative constituency. He died November 11, 1847, at the age of 51.
Not all the people who have gone out from Granville gravitated into the political life. There were many who were spiritual leaders, of whom the mention of a few will suffice.
Perhaps the most notable of these was Gordon Hall, a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Hall. He was born April 8, 1784, in the West Parish, now the Town of Tolland. He was a boy of boundless energy, unlimited perseverance and extreme versatility. He also
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had the rare ability to make sound decisions quickly. When he had acquired as much education as the local schools offered, Rev. Roger Harrison, the beloved minister of the parish, suggested that he go to college. This he decided to do. Mr. Harrison gave him addi- tional instruction so that he entered Williams College, where he graduated in 1808, the valedictorian of his class. After a year of intensive theological study he was licensed to preach and for a few months preached in Woodbury, Connecticut, and elsewhere. In 1811 he decided to become a missionary and conferred with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, then a young organization, as to ways and means. He was ordained Feb- ruary 6, 1812, at Salem, Massachusetts. He and Adoniram Judson, a kindred spirit, decided to start their labors in southeast Asia. Finally they sailed, though not on the same ship, from Philadelphia under the auspices of the American Board, and landed in Calcutta, India, in the summer of 1812, where they were forthwith ordered to be deported to England. After much buffeting around Judson reached Rangoon and Hall, with a companion named Nott, arrived at Bombay in February, 1813, where he proposed to establish a mission. Here was more trouble and delay, deportation orders and other difficulties. At long last everything was overcome and in December, 1813, he was allowed to establish the first Protestant mission on the west coast of India. Here he lived and labored success- fully the remainder of his short life. On a short journey inland from Bombay he was stricken with cholera at four o'clock in the morning of March 20, 1826, and in five hours was dead. He is buried at Doorlee-D'harpoor where he died. The Town of Tolland has erected a commemorative boulder on the green near the church.
Rev. Publius V. Booge, son of Rev. Aaron J. Booge, had his first pastorate in Winchester, Connecticut, and afterward in Vernon, New York. Others who served in the ministry long and with dis- tinction are Rev. John Seward, son of John; Rev. Harvey Coe and Rev. David L. Coe, grandsons of Samuel; Rev. Truman Baldwin and Rev. Benjamin Baldwin, son and grandson respectively of Amos; Rev. Charles F. Robinson, who died at St. Charles, Missouri ; Rev. Bela Newton Seymour, son of Deacon Ardon, graduated from Williams College in 1852, was ordained June 30, 1855, and went
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as a Christian missionary to that indefinite area described as the South Seas, and about whose departure Mrs. Sigourney wrote a short poem entitled : Farewell to the young missionary.
All these were nurtured in the unchanging hills of Granville, where they caught the vision of service. Others too, in those early days, struggled for the highly prized college education, and most of them were fitted for their tasks by that great teacher and preacher, Dr. Cooley, and doubtless were inspired by him to go on and make the most of themselves.
Granville has always been fortunate in having one or more resi- dent physicians. In the early days they generally lived in Middle Granville, but with the changing of the center of population, they have in later times resided in the eastern part of the Town. One of the earliest was Dr. Josiah Harvey, who was practicing about 1768, the year of his marriage, until his death in 1807. He clearly was much beloved by his townsmen, for in 1780 he was chosen one of the Town's representatives to the General Court, and he served the Town eight years as one of the Selectmen. He also served the Colonies in the Revolutionary War as a surgeon. He was a typical old-fashioned country doctor, who could and did help in any stress and time of need. His son Rufus followed in the footsteps of his father with equal success, but died in Granville in 1817 at the early age of 49 years.
Another of the same type who stands out sharply was Dr. Vin- cent Holcomb, born February 5, 1795, a son of Alvin and Mary. He began to practice his profession about 1818 and continued until his death in 1863. He too, was a versatile and resourceful physician, as one must be to be a successful country doctor. He knew his people, and he not only attended their physical ills, but also kept many from losing their psychological balance as well. He found time also to serve the Town as its Clerk seven years at different times; one year as a representative to the General Court; and two years as one of the Selectmen. He also served the country as a non-commis- sioned officer in the War of 1812, under command of Capt. Isaac Phelps. His house was on the north side of the road and is the first one west of Pond Brook, in the present village of West Granville.
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Here he not only diagnosed the troubles of his patients, but also compounded his medicine and made his pills for their cure.
Dr. David B. Curtiss was another Granville doctor who served in the War of 1812. He not only served, but died in the army in 1813.
Not all the Granville boys who became physicians remained at home. Among those who went to other fields, was Dr. Charles C. Holcomb, a son of Dr. Vincent, who was born in Granville in 1829, graduated from Yale in 1850, and when his medical studies were over, went to Lee, Massachusetts, to hang out his shingle. He must have studied with his father and also must have inherited much of his father's ability, for he practiced there fifty-four years, until his death February 1, 1908. No doctor can practice medicine in a small town or country village half a century unless he is able, respected and successful.
It seems permissible at this point to mention an unusual feature which prevailed in Granville, and probably elsewhere as well, in the first part of the nineteenth century. A letter from Dr. Samuel B. Barlow, then of New York, dated July 16, 1873, gives many recol- lections of his boyhood days. He was born in Granville April 19, 1798. He discussed many things and among them the change in fashion in coffins. Perhaps being a doctor that subject was one which forced itself upon him at most unwelcome times. He says coffins were black in color at the time of his earliest recollection. They were stained with lamp black mixed with vinegar, and then rubbed down to a very high polish. Later the color was changed to a tone of red somewhat brighter and lighter than cherry. He says he vividly remembers the first red one he ever saw. It did not make a sensation, but it was the subject of considerable comment.
Another fact or tradition ought to be rescued from oblivion. Copper in considerable quantity had been found in Granby. Why should it not exist in Granville ? Sodom Mountain seemed a likely place. Toto, in his deed, had conveyed all the "Rockes, mynes, Minerals." So from time to time this idea was acted upon. Pros- pecting, more or less thorough, was done at intervals and about the middle of the last century somebody made up his mind there was something to be found there. The late Town Clerk Silas B.
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Root, who was born at the foot of that mountain, told the writer that a company was once formed and secured a lease or deed of the mining rights in Sodom Mountain for 99 years; that his father owned land on the south side of the mountain and he with others, notably John A. Root, Martin T. Gibbons, Bevil C. Dickinson and all the other owners of land on that side of the mountain executed some sort of document to that effect. This occurred between 1850 and 1870. Mr. Root could not remember further details, except that a small deposit of lead was found at the southerly end of the mountain, but not in sufficient quantities to be profitable. A very exhaustive search has failed to uncover any record of any instru- ment showing any trace of such an operation or the name of any company or individual connected with it. Mr. Root was in a position to have known of the fact and his memory was very reliable. In any event, it is interesting.
Nearly every hill town has, at some time, had one or more resi- dents who have "wondered if there was gold in them thar hills." Granville is no exception. Some one found a trace of gold at the Dan Holloway farm near the end of North Lane, West Granville, and started a mine there, but it turned out to be a trace, and not a mine.
A similar experience, only it was silver instead of gold, occurred on the farm of one of the Ripleys on Beech Hill. This too, proved to be but a trace, just enough to stir the imagination.
As an historic Town, Granville ought to have some very ancient houses, but with nothing of importance in the way of fire protection most of the really old houses have fallen prey to conflagration, while others have been demolished as being on the water shed of some municipality. In the village of Granville the dwelling which was formerly the first meeting house of the Baptist church was built in 1824. The house where Miss Clara E. Wilcox lives is very old, and is older than the one just mentioned, probably having been built about 1809. At Granville Center there are some old houses, notably the Dr. Cooley house, now owned by Mr. Louis Stevenson; the parsonage ; the small house just west of the Steve Seymour house ; the house immediately east of the meeting house, formerly known as the Sabbath Day House; and the house west of the meeting house
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now owned by Dr. Holland N. Stevenson, which was built in 1814. There are some eighteenth century houses in various parts of the town, but exact data is very difficult to unearth. In West Granville the John Phelps house seems to be older than any others. Without doubt the meeting house in West Granville is one of the oldest buildings in town, having been built in 1778. The meeting house at Granville Center was built in 1802. The house owned by Dr. Stevenson is said to be the most beautiful mansion in town.
Another house, though not now standing, deserves to be men- tioned. It was the old Peebles mansion in the Beech Hill section of the town. It was large, well proportioned and built of brick. This grand old mansion had the misfortune to have been erected on land now owned by the City of Springfield as a part of its Borden Brook Reservoir. It stood beside Peebles Brook, now for some unaccount- able reason called Borden Brook, where the present reservoir over- flows the land. Before the reservoir could be filled, this old mansion had to be demolished, which was done. The brick of which it was constructed were made by hand and burned not far from where it stood and were of such good quality that, in the process of demo- lition they were saved and used to make the house occupied by the Superintendent of the Borden Brook Reservoir.
There seems to have been a general store at Middle Granville from about the time of the migration from Durham in the early 1740's, also one at East Granville Hill from the earliest settlement, but Jockey Corners was not of sufficient consequence to have a store until along in the 1840's, but it is now making up for lost time. The first store at the Corners was, so far as can be ascertained, in a part of the house formerly owned by Herbert A. Hiers. According to one of the old residents, this house was built by Edmund Barlow. Soon afterwards a store was established in a building which stood immedi- ately west of the site of the Gibbons store, which was kept by Timothy C. Gillet. In 1851 Carlos Gibbons opened a store beside Mr. Gillet and after a short time his son J. Murray Gibbons was asked to run it. This he did so successfully that the business grew immensely. Mr. Gillet went out of business. The drum shop was causing more families to reside at the Corners and the Gibbons business grew correspondingly, but it met with a temporary check
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when the store was destroyed by fire September 1, 1884. Nothing daunted, Mr. Gibbons, the owner at that time, opened temporary quarters in the building now owned by the Granville Grange, while a new building was being built. As soon as the new store was ready for occupancy, he moved back to his old location. It was the largest building, except the meeting houses and the drum shop, in the east part of the town. A large hall occupied the second floor, and a wing was arranged for a dwelling. Mr. Gibbons later died and his four sons carried on the business. In the passage of time two of the sons died also. Then one cold Sunday morning, December 4, 1934, with the thermometer registering at zero, fire again broke out in the Gibbons store. In addition to the store and hall, various parts of the building were occupied by four different families. The fire was discovered about four o'clock in the morning. Fortunately there was no wind. In response to telephone calls, equipment from South- wick and Westfield responded. Twenty-three minutes after receiving the call, the Westfield engine was pumping water from the brook where it crosses the road to Granby, on the burning building. By good fortune all the inmates of the building were saved, as well as a large part of their belongings. All the equipment of the Post Office, which was located in the store, was saved, but the building was doomed, and in four hours it was all in ashes. Arrangements were made so that the mail service could be resumed in the basement of the Library building, and mail was received and delivered as usual Monday morning. Also in the Library basement a rough and ready sort of store was, according to the Gibbons tradition, main- tained while a new store building was erected. Now Granville has as fine and up to date a country store as can be found. For over 90 years, except a few months when it was conducted by a partnership known as Bailey & Tinker, or by Mr. Tinker alone, this Gibbons family, father, son and grandsons, maintained a first class country store and incidentally has made a nation-wide reputation for the cheese they sell. Granville is not a cheese making town. All of this staple article, which the Gibbons brothers sold, was made in various parts of the country. First they knew a good cheese when they examined it, and second they knew how to take care of it until it is in its best condition to eat. In 1934 they sent away by mail to cus-
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tomers, many of whom are of long years standing, between 7000 and 8000 pounds. This is in addition to what was sold to customers who came to the store and carried away their own purchases. This record ought to be one not easily eclipsed.
In 1944 the Gibbons interests in the store were sold to Paul C. Nobbs who successfullly conducts the business according to the Gibbons tradition.
One can never tell what a hero may look like nor when he will appear, but when the right sequence of circumstances occurs, the stage is then set, and behold, there is your hero. In 1913 Thomas Jensen was a young farmer living with his parents on Sodom Street. On the 10th of July in that year he chanced to be in Westfield. Suddenly a horse drawing a vehicle containing a woman and two children came madly dashing down the street, a runaway. Every one and every thing was giving it a wide berth. The wagon was swaying from side to side threatening to spill, and probably kill, the frightened occupants. Tom saw it. Something must be done, and that quickly. There was no time to consider, if they were to be saved. He stepped out into the street, seized hold of the wagon as it passed him, swung himself up into it, stopped the runaway horse and saved the woman and children. In so doing, however, he slipped and one leg was caught in one of the wheels. He was so seriously injured that he died three days later. True, one cannot tell what a hero may look like-till afterwards. The following January Thomas Jensen was cited as a hero by the Carnegie Hero Fund Committee and his parents were granted a pension of $30.00 a month. The people living on the everlasting hills of Granville have not degenerated. There are just as many heroes now as there ever were. All it needs to make them appear is the right combination of circumstances.
Many times an event which will be passed by without a thought in a large place, will be an occurrence of the seven-days-wonder type in a small place. Such an event stirred Granville September 5, 1909. A circus, full-fledged with elephants, camels, lions, tigers, red wagons and all, arrived in town. It was a Friday. The management parked it on the then baseball ground, which is the field where the Village School building now stands. It did not come to give a per- formance, but was passing from West Springfield to Winsted, Con-
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necticut, and the road through Granville was the shortest route. It was a real thrill to see a real circus in the Granville hills. It stayed over Sunday and the entire village turned out to gaze in wonder at the appearance of such a group of captive animals, with Sodom Mountain in the background. Of all things! A circus in Granville. Aye, quite correct. It actually happened. And what is more, after- noon and evening performances were given.
From 1686 to 1906 is a considerable span of time. For Granville it meant a change from a state of natural wilderness to a state of high cultivation; from an abundance of wild game to a scarcity of it and as to some species, its extinction. Yet in November of that latter year Wilbur E. Pendleton caught an otter in a trap set for a quite different animal. Otters had been supposed to be extinct in this region for nearly a hundred years. Then again in October 1914, another stranger appeared in Granville. This time it was a moose. It was seen by several different persons in the front yard of Charles A. Sheets' home. It was in the bright light of day and the animal was only about thirty feet from the house. After a time it moved on as though a call in a civilized community was nothing unusual. It was said to have been about as large as a medium sized cow, but had much longer legs.
Another fact which ought to be mentioned, because it may well be important some time, is regarding the disappearance of the chestnut trees. From the earliest knowledge of the town, chestnut trees had been very abundant. They grew to a large size, four, five, or even six feet in diameter. They made excellent lumber for some purposes, as well as the most lasting fence rails and posts. The nuts too, were a source of income every year. All in all, it was one of the most useful trees in this region. They generally were in full bloom about July 4th, and their dark cream colored blossoms were very conspicuous against the green leaves of the surrounding trees. The blossoms gave off a very strong and pleasant odor which could be readily noticed at very great distances, if the wind was that way. About 1900 or 1901 a curious disease seemed to attack the younger trees. It was called a blight. Whatever it was, there seemed to be no cure for it. It grew progressively more destructive and in ten years there was not a live chestnut tree in Granville. Science could
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not find any means of checking this immense loss. The larger trees just died and remained standing until either they were cut down or the roots rotted and they fell down. Where the trees were tall and straight, they were as a rule cut down at once and made into lumber. Such lumber seemed to be none the worse for the fate which had befallen the tree. A few ghostly spectres may be still standing with stark limbs pointing to the sky, but they are not many and a very short time will see the last one fall.
Curiously enough many long dormant nuts buried in the ground have sprouted and grown, sometimes to a sapling two inches or more in diameter, but the blight still gets them all. It is hoped that at last the sprouts will become immune, so that in the future chestnut trees will again grow abundantly on the hills of Granville.
A rather unaccountable fact in connection with the loss of our chestnut trees is worth noting. When the chestnuts flourished there were practically no white, or paper, birches in town. Not many years after the chestnuts had all died because of the blight, the white birches began to appear. They grew tall, slender and beautiful. Thirty-five years (1945) after the chestnuts were gone this species of birch was conspicuous for their vast numbers where none had been before. The query immediately arises, how did this come about? How did the seed get there? How long had the seed been in the ground before it germinated? Why didn't the birches grow while the chestnuts were plentiful? Is there any connection between the disappearance of the chestnuts and the appearance of the birches ? If so, what is it? Perhaps some scientist may know the answers, but to a layman it is very strange.
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