USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 33
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" Resolved that these resolutions be extended upon the records of the town, and a copy of the same be sent by the clerk to his widow."
Two thousand five hundred dollars was appropriated to pur- chase and equip a stone crusher.
August 28, 1886. The town first determined to employ night police, and appropriated $750 for that purpose.
410
ACTION ON TREASURER'S BOND
[1886-1888
November 2. The selectmen were authorized to light the streets and public buildings by electricity.
March 7, 1887. One hundred dollars was appropriated to furnish gravestones for soldiers of the late war.
April 5. William M. Smead offered the following motion : " That the selectmen be instructed not to begin any suit against the bondsmen of Frank W. Foster, the late town treasurer."
"Voted, that when a vote is taken upon the above motion, it be taken by ballot and that the check list be used."
Motion was made by Frank H. Hardison, to substitute for the above motion, " That the selectmen be instructed to bring suit against the bondsmen of the town's late treasurer, Frank W. Foster, unless their obligations are discharged to the satisfaction of the selectmen, on or before July 1, 1887."
" Voted that the vote on substitution be taken by ballot, and that the check list be used."
" Voted that the motion offered by William M. Smead be laid on the table."
" The motion offered by Frank H. Hardison having been withdrawn, by unanimous consent, it was moved by Charles H. McClellen, that the selectmen be and are hereby instructed to commence suit upon the bonds of F. W. Foster, late treas- urer of the town."
" Voted that the vote upon this question be taken by ballot, and that the check list be used."
" Tellers were appointed, a ballot was taken, the check list being used, and declaration made that 51 votes in favor and 75 against the motion, and it was declared lost."
In view of the substantial gift to the town by the late Ben- jamin Henry of Springfield, in recognition of this leniency of the town to his brother, Charles Henry, who was the only responsible bondsman upon the Foster bond, the full record of the town's action is inserted here.
April 2, 1888. An attempt was made to purchase the
411
ELIJAH COLEMAN'S LEGACY
1888-1890]
Graves property adjoining the town hall lot on the south, but without success. The plan was to build here an armory for the use of the militia.
April I. The by-laws of the town were reported and adopted.
April 2, Adjourned meeting. The town decided to occupy the east store under Washington Hall for an armory.
April 22. The town voted upon the proposed amendment to the constitution : " The manufacture and sale of intoxicat- ing liquors to be used as a beverage are prohibited." Two hundred and sixty-eight votes were recorded in its favor, and 420 against the amendment. One thousand five hundred dol- lars was voted for a new heating apparatus for the town hall building and for heating Washington Hall.
June 17. The Free Library was voted the use of the west store under Washington Hall, and the selectmen were directed to take for their office a portion of Franklin Hall, and $200 was raised for making the alterations.
March 3, 1890. Five hundred dollars was appropriated for procuring the survey and making a map of the village streets and sewers. One hundred dollars was voted for the care of cemeteries belonging to the town.
" Voted, that this town does not object to the construction of an electric railway within the limits of the town, under proper restrictions."
A resolution was passed calling for a change of grade be- tween the highway and the railroads near the freight stations and Union depot.
March 31. Adjourned meeting. Voted to sell the iron fence around the common, at auction.
Voted to sell the town farm for not less than $4,000, and to build a new almshouse nearer the village.
November 4. Voted to accept the trust of the legacy under the will of Elijah Coleman, a former resident of Greenfield, for the perpetual care of the North Meadows burial ground.
412
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT ADOPTED [1891-1894
January 19, 1891. The Australian ballot system was adopted by the town to be used for the election of town offi- cers.
April 6, 1891. The first annual meeting of the town to be held in April, all annual meetings before having been held in March.
The unauthorized action of the board of selectmen in pur- chasing the land now constituting Highland Park was, after much discussion, acquiesced in by the town.
February 13, 1902. Nahum S. Cutler, Charles Keith and Elihu C. Osgood (selectmen), were made agents of the town to carry into effect the orders of the special commission ap- pointed by the Superior Court, for the separation of grades near the Union station, and were empowered to borrow the funds necessary to complete said work.
April 3, 1893. The town raised $100 for repairs of fence and tomb in the Federal street cemetery ; $300 to keep the town offices open during each business day, and $75 for the purpose of printing the vital statistics of the first seventy-five years of the town's existence.
The election of selectmen and assessors, one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, was provided for, in the election to take place in April, 1894.
February 19, 1894. An effort was made to rescind the ac- tion of the town in electing selectmen and assessors for one, two and three years, but it failed.
April 2. Lyman G. Barton's map of the village streets was accepted by the town.
Under the new arrangement, Job G. Pickett was elected selectman for one year; Eugene B. Blake for two years, and Francis M. Thompson for three years. Francis H. Ballou was elected assessor for one year ; Seorem B. Slate for two years, and George Pierce for three years.
One hundred dollars was appropriated for repairs at Federal street cemetery.
413
ELECTRIC RAILWAY
1894-1897]
The vote on the question whether licenses should be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors was announced as 487 "yes," and 487 " no." Those in favor of license demanded a recount, which was had, and the moderator declared the vote to be, 487 "yes " and 487 " no."
. August 7, 1894. One hundred and fifty dollars was raised for the repair of the town clock.
April 1, 1895. The selectmen were instructed to lease to Fire District No. I, the building known as Fireman's Hall, for fifty years, providing the Fire District would furnish the public buildings of the town free water during such time as they occupied the premises.
The selectmen were ordered to sell the house on the George W. Potter place (high school lot) at public auction.
The town voted to rescind its action in regard to electing selectmen for three, two and one years.
It was voted that in the sense of this meeting that the loca- tion of the Greenfield and Turners Falls Street Railway as asked for through Main, River and Mill streets be granted.
It was voted to allow the Free Library to take the east store under Washington Hall, and provide new quarters for the armory, and $450 was appropriated for repairs.
April 6, 1896. One hundred dollars was appropriated for the Federal street cemetery. Eight hundred dollars addi- tional for changes to accommodate the Free Library.
October 7. The selectmen were authorized to bargain with the Greenfield and Turners Falls Electric Railway for relaying the macadam on Federal street, for the sum of $2,000, the town to do the work.
November 3. The Cheapside district had been annexed to Greenfield, and E. B. Blake, F. L. Greene and N. S. Cutler were made a committee with full powers to settle all questions arising between Deerfield and Greenfield under the act setting Cheapside off to Greenfield.
May 3, 1897. Three hundred dollars was appropriated for
414
STATE ROAD GRANTED
[1897-190
improvements on Highland Park, and chapter 154 of the Acts of 1882, in regard to the laying out of parks was accepted by the town.
One hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for the bonding of the town treasurer and the collector, in an insur- ance company.
June 27. The electric road was empowered to carry mails and small express packages within the limits of Green- field.
John A. Aiken, Levi J. Gunn and Fred E. Hawkes were elected park commissioners.
July 14. Five hundred dollars was appropriated in addi- tion to former sums for repairs on Washington Hall.
July 28. The town voted to take the contract to build the state road in Cheapside district, and $6,000 was raised for that purpose.
November 5. Highland Park was placed in the hands of the park commissioners.
April 2, 1900. After much discussion the town voted to purchase of John D. Pierce what is known as Pierce's grove for park purposes for the sum of $20,000 and made provision for raising the money therefor.
The town purchased the Judge Fessenden property at the corner of Main and Hope streets, for $6,500, and granted the use thereof to the E. E. Day Grand Army Post, and reserved a portion for a kindergarten school.
May 19. The town after much talk and deliberation voted 223 to 154 to reconsider its action in regard to the purchase of Pierce's grove for park purposes.
The selectmen were authorized to borrow $5,000 for the purpose of taking the contract for the town to build the ex- tension of the state road at Cheapside.
The town for many years have as a rule made annual ap- propriations of $100 for Memorial day; $200 dollars for the support of sick paupers at the Franklin County Hospital ;
415
TOWN HISTORY
$200 for aid to indigent soldiers' families ; $150 for rent of the armory ; $100 for the public dump.
At the annual meeting in April, 1900, the following vote was passed :
" That the town procure the writing of a town history, and that the selectmen be instructed to confer with Judge Francis M. Thompson in relation to the same, and that the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated therefor."
CHAPTER XXXII
THE WAR WITH SPAIN
T T HE situation of affairs in the island of Cuba had for years been growing worse and worse, and the Spanish government had been extremely jealous because of the aid and sympathy rendered to the Cubans by the American people in their struggle for liberty. The Maine, one of the finest ships in the American Navy, lying in fancied security in Havana harbor, was destroyed by an explosion on the 15th of February, 1898. Two hundred American seamen lost their lives. Whether the loss of the Maine was accidental or the result of carefully planned enmity, it served to unite the country in a determination that there should be a change in Cuban affairs. Soon after the destruction of the Maine, Senator Proctor of Vermont visited Cuba, and upon his re- turn he read to the Senate a carefully prepared report of the conditions existing upon the island. In it he said : "To me the strongest appeal is not the barbarity practised by Weyler, nor the loss of the Maine, if our worst fears should prove true, terrible as are both.these incidents, but the spectacle of a million and a half of people, the entire native population of Cuba, struggling for freedom and deliverance from the worst misgovernment of which I ever had knowledge."
On the 1 1th of April, President Mckinley sent his message to Congress recommending armed intervention in Cuban af- fairs. His views were upheld by a great majority of the people, and on the 19th of the same month the House of Representatives passed by an overwhelming vote an ulti-
416
417
GREENFIELD COMPANY IN CUBA
matum demanding that Spain retire from the Island of Cuba.
The 2d Massachusetts Infantry was organized just after the close of the War of the Rebellion, but there was no mil- itary company in Greenfield until 1887, when Captain Franklin G. Fessenden gathered a command to help fill the regiment up to the new requirements of twelve companies.
Governor Russell soon called Captain Fessenden to be a member of his official staff, with the rank of Colonel, and Frederick E. Pierce, then First Lieutenant, became Captain, which rank he held upon the call for troops for the Spanish war. The services of the regiment were tendered to the gov- ernment, and were accepted, and the members of Co. L put upon a twenty-four hours' call, the notice to be ten blasts of the fire alarm.
Tuesday morning May 3, 1898, at five o'clock, came the prearranged signal and fifteen hundred people gathered in the pouring rain to bid the boys Godspeed. The Greenfield Continentals, under the command of Captain Edward Blake, represented " Young America," and performed escort duty in a soldierly manner. The Grand Army and the Fire Depart- ment also turned out to do honor to the departing soldiers. The regiment formed at Camp Dewey upon the state muster grounds at South Framingham, but their stay was short, as the regiment took its departure May 12th, by way of Provi- dence and the Sound, arriving at Lakeland, Florida, May 16th. They were soon ordered to Ybor city, near Tampa. After vexatious delays the regiment finally left Tampa, June 16th, and landed June 22d, at Daiquari, on the south Cuban coast. The first real military experience of the 2d regiment was guard duty at the village of Guasimo. They were joined in the ad- vance movement against Santiago and July Ist suffered heavy loss at the battle of El Caney. Leiutenant Charles H. Field of Greenfield was shot through the forehead and died instantly. Corporal George M. Brooks and privates George Blackmer,
27
418
THE HORRORS OF WAR
Henry E. Ariel, Frank M. Breslin, Robert A. Carey, Ed- ward M. Cornell, George H. De Revere, W. H. Muller, Frederick C. Schiller and Charles P. Wilson were wounded. Santiago surrendered July 17th. August 12th, Spain accepted the protocal for the suspension of hostilities. Peace commis- sioners met at Paris, October Ist, and on November 28th, Spain yielded to the terms imposed upon her by the United States and Cuba was free and the Philippines and Porto Rico became American possessions. After suffering untold mis- eries in the malarious camps of Cuba for many weeks, the 2d regiment was taken on board of the transport Mobile and on August 19th, arrived at Montauk, L. I., 306 men be- ing upon the sick list. E. B. Blake, chairman of the board of Greenfield selectmen, immediately went to that camp to see that the members of Co. L were given all possible care, and that the sick, who were able to bear the journey, be taken home. Contributions for the comfort of the men were freely made and a committee of patriotic citizens volunteered their aid at the hospitals. Eight members of the regiment died during the home passage. Captain Pierce, sick with the ground fever, reached home August 25th, but hovered be- tween life and death for many days. On the 3d of Novem- ber, just six months from the day they went into camp, the men were mustered out: Although the length of service of these men was short, the extremes of temperature, the miasma of the Cuban jungles, the want of proper nourishment, the terrible passages in the crowded transports, and the fierce fight, all combined to severally affect even the strongest members of the regiment, causing a large percentage of sickness and death among the returning members.
MUSTER ROLL L COMPANY SECOND MASS. INFANTRY, U. S. VOLUNTEERS,
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Name. Rank. Age. Residence.
Occupation.
Pierce, Fred'k E.,
Capt. 36 Greenfield
Treas. St. R. W. Co. Single.
I Field, Charles H. Ist Lt. 33
Draftman 66 Mason, Fayette B., 2d Lt, 29
Plumber
419
MUSTER ROLL L COMPANY
MUSTER ROLL L COMPANY, SECOND MASS. INFANTRY, U. S. VOLUNTEERS,
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Name.
Rank. Age. Residence.
Occupation.
Class, Charles C. Ist Ser. 22 Greenfield
Supt. letter carrier Married.
Salisbury, Alston G. Qr. St.
20
Clerk
Single.
Murphy, Tho's D. Sergt. 22
66
Baker
2 Chapin, Charles E. Sergt. 28
3 Hale, Archie C. Sergt. 25 So. D'f'd
Pocket book
Single.
Aldrich, Don A. Sergt.
18
Greenfield
Student
Single.
Lobdell, Donald M. Corp. Slocomb, Edward M. Corp.
20
66
Clerk
66
4 Brooks, George M. Corp.
30
Hartford, Ct.
Greenfield
Baker
66
Murphy, Wm. H. Mus'n
20
Turners Falls
Cutler
66
Ariel, Henry E. Artificer 39
Colrain
Loom fixer
Married.
5 Stewart, Henry M.
Wag'n'r 23
Greenfield
Teamster
Single.
Anderson, Andrew B. Private Arnold, Charles C.
18
Turners Falls
Farmer
66
Bango, Gilbert C.
27
Greenfield
Clerk
Single.
Blackmer, George E.
32
Gill
Mill hand
Brassor, Frank J.
19
Greenfield
Hostler
66
Breslin, Frank M.
22
Millers Falls
Mechanic
Brown, Albert E.
23
Greenfield
Silversmith
Brown, Frederick W.
25
6 Campbell, Peter J.
20
Turners Falls
Cutler
Carey, Robert A.
21
Greenfield
Laborer
Carpenter, Frank W.
18
Shelburne
Farmer
66
Coates, Earl D.
22
Greenfield
Silversmith
Married.
Cook, James D.
25
66
Salesman
Single.
Cornell, Edward M.
29
Carpenter
Married.
Davis, Herbert H.
25
Farmer
Single.
Davis, Warren P. H.
19
66
Bill poster
Married.
Deverger, Henry H.
22
Mason
Single.
Farrel, James M.
31
Turners Falls
Cook
Fay, Willis B.
I8
Greenfield
Farmer
66
Forquette, Julius J.
19
Greenfield
Clerk
66
Freshour, Louis E.
20
66
66
66
Frost, Clark S.
21
66
Engineer
Married.
Fuchs, Peter C.
23
66
Laborer
Single.
Goland, Clayton D.
19
Turners Falls
Paper maker
Graves, Henry C,
20
Greenfield
Baker
66
7 Grenier, Peter C. Hall, Harry C.
23
Conway
Teamster
66
24
Turners Falls
Paper maker
66
Beckwith, Albert W. Corp. 24 Dennison, Albert E. Corp. 23
66
Machinist
Electrician
Jeweller
66
Dean, Merton R. Mus'n 22
19
Cutler
66
66
Paper maker
Married.
Barnes, Henry J.
23
Carpenter
Class, Edward J. Corp.
19
26 Belchertown
Shoemaker
Married.
Paper maker
Married.
Floury, Fred F.
23
Montague
Janitor
DeRevere, George H.
30
Laster
420
MUSTER ROLL L COMPANY
MUSTER ROLL L COMPANY, SECOND MASS. INFANTRY, U. S. VOLUNTEERS,
Name.
Rank. Age. Residence.
Occupation.
Kelleher, William D.
20 Turners Falls
Hotel porter
Single.
Kingston, William J.
21
Greenfield
Plumber
8 Lague, Edward C.
2I
Turners Falls
Carpenter
66
9 Lanois, Joseph M. Miller, William H.
2I
Greenfield
Clerk
66
IO Murphy, Timothy J.
22
Turners Falls
Cutler
66
II Norton, Frank P. O'Connell, William
32
Greenfield
Machinist
66
12 Patnode, George H.
18 Greenfield
Mechanic
Raymond, Walter C.
2I
Turners Falls
Farmer .
66
Riley, Thomas
21
Greenfield
Plumber
Married.
Schiller, Frederick C.
19
Cook
Single.
Smead, Charles A.
26
66
Carpenter
Married.
Smith, Frank A.
28
66
Hackman
Single.
Smith, Ward W.
24
66
Carpenter
Snow, Ralph J.
20
Laborer
Spaulding, Lovell S.
20
Charlemont
Lawyer
Stockberger, Robert
30
Greenfield
Coppersmith
66
13 Sullivan, Jeremiah J.
24
Turners Falls
Cutler
66
14 Thyme, John, Jr.
23
Hostler
66
Ungrich, August H.
21
66
Cutler
66
Van Petersilge, R. A. Watson, Harry A.
19
Greenfield
Farmer
66
15 Williams, Fred'k E.
19
Electrician
66
Wilson, Charles P.
18 Shelb'n Falls
Student
Wise, Harry A.
19
Turners Falls
Clerk
Woodard, Harry L.
19
Greenfield
66
66
16 Zeigler, Otto
24 Capt. Pierce's servant.
I Killed at
El Caney,
July 1, 1898.
Died at Camp Wikoff,
Aug. 30,
66
66
Santiago,
Aug. 15,
4
5
Greenfield,
Sept. 29,
6
66 Montauk Point, 66
Aug. 28,
7
66
Montauk Point
Aug. 26,
66
9
Santiago,
July 3,
IO
66
Turners Falls,
Sept. 6,
II
66 Montauk Point,
Aug. 22, 66
I2
Boston,
Sept. I,
66
Santiago,
Aug. II, " 6,
66
15
66 near Havana,
Sept. 9,
16
66
at Springfield,
Aug. 29,
17
66 Santiago,
Sept. 10,
Tailor
66
32
So D'f'd
Cutler
Married.
17 Stark, Jacob F.
Conway
Sept. I,
66
8
13
14
66
66
22
Turners Falls
Paper maker
Butcher
29
WAR WITH SPAIN.
66
3
Aug. I,
CHAPTER XXXIII
EARLY SETTLERS IN GREENFIELD
V ERY many of the first settlers of that part of Deerfield, which now constitutes Greenfield and Gill, were de- scendants of the men who settled Deerfield, and thus became entitled to large quantities of land upon the division of the common lands of the proprietors of Pocumtuck. During the short intervals of peace which now and then lighted up the dark cloud of war which for eighty-five years hung over this fair valley, the daring young men, anxious to begin life on their own account, pushed northward and built homes on the distant fields allotted to their fathers.
ALLEN
One of the most numerous families on the Green River lands were descendants of Edward Allen, weaver, who was settled in Ipswich in 1658. He had a grant of land in Suf- field, where he removed. He died in 1696 having had thir- teen children born to him. His sons John and Edward set- tled in Deerfield and had lots granted them in the Green River lands, but did not occupy them. Sarah, the sixteen year old daughter of John, was captured in 1704, when Deerfield was burned, but at that time the other members of the family es- caped. May II, 1704, when living at the Bars, Mr. John Allen was killed, his wife captured and soon after was slain in the woods. John was the father of eight children. Ed- ward, his brother, was a prominent man in Deerfield, being town clerk and " clerk of the market." He had a family of nine children. John had a son whom he named John, and
421
422
EARLY SETTLERS IN GREENFIELD
Edward had a son whom he named Edward, and both of these became settlers at Green River. John, Jr., had a family of fourteen children, and Edward, Jr., only six. Sarah, a daugh- ter of John, married the Shubal Atherton mentioned below. Edward, Jr., was an innholder in Deerfield, moved to Green River about 1749, and built where the Hollister place now stands. His house was fortified during the French and In- dian wars. Samuel, a son of this Edward, lived at the Bars, in Deerfield, and was there killed by Indians, August 25, 1746. At the same time his daughter Eunice was tomahawked and left for dead, but partially recovered, and lived to be eighty-four years old. Her brother Samuel was taken prisoner at the same time, but returned to Deerfield from Canada and was a lieutenant in the Revolution and a captain in Shays's Rebellion. Amos Allen, son of Edward, Jr., was a leading citizen of Green- field and built the Allen house in Greenfield meadows. He was the father of the elder Quintus Allen and grandfather of that Quintus Allen who was president of the Franklin County National Bank. The descendants of the first Edward Allen furnished many settlers to Gill, Bernardson, Shelburne and northern Vermont. Of these many achieved honor and re- nown in civil and military life.
ATHERTON
The Athertons were another prominent family in the early history of the town.
They were descended from Major General Humphrey Atherton of Dorchester, whose son, the Reverend Hope Atherton, was the minister of Hatfield at the time of the Turners Falls fight. His miraculous escape is recounted in this work. Joseph, the son of Reverend Hope, settled in Deerfield in 1712, had nine children, and two of his sons, Adonijah and Shubal, settled at Green River.
June 20, 1720, the proprietors of Deerfield conveyed by deed to Joseph Atherton tracts of land at Green River, and
423
EARLY SETTLERS IN GREENFIELD
the home lot known as the mill lot of eight acres. (Fort Square is on this lot.)
March 26, 1751. Joseph conveyed the east half of this lot containing four acres and the fortified house to his son Shubal and the west half to his son Eber.
Adonijah was a soldier and died at Fort Massachusetts in 1748, aged thirty-two years. He had four children, his daughter Anna becoming the wife of Daniel Nash, an early settler and leading citizen of Greenfield.
Shubal had ten children and lived in a fortified house or stockade at west Main street, the site of which is now about the center of " Fort Square." He was killed by the Indians at Country Farms in 1756. His son Asahel was a soldier during the war of the Revolution, as was also Oliver, the son of Adonijah, who belonged to Captain Agrippa Wells's company. Oliver's son Joseph, was also a Revolutionary soldier. Several of this family settled in Gill and Bernard- ston, and in the northern part of this town.
Eber, another son of Joseph, born September 30, 1724, gained notoriety for his propensity to tell great stories. Willard relates several in his history. "He used to relate that on one occasion he wanted to go to the island at Turners Falls, to take shad, but finding no boat, they all being at the island, he bethought him that Mr. Howland, living near by, had a pair of snowshoes, which he procured and easily suc- ceeded in getting to the island on the backs of the shad. He took, that day, according to his own account, as he chose to express it, one thousand and fifteen hundred." Willard adds that this may appear to be a fish story, but that you cannot expect the writer to go about to establish the truth of it. Eber visited Boston about the time of the Revolution and used to tell about some of the officers letting him look through a large telescope towards the British ships of war in the har- bor. Eber said that he could plainly see the red coats and yellow buttons of the soldiers on board, and such horrid oaths
424
EARLY SETTLERS IN GREENFIELD
and imprecations as they uttered he had never before heard, and they continued their profanity as long as he continued looking at them, till at last it looked all blue around them. One time when he was hunting coons on Shelburne mountain a great earthquake occurred, "which when the earth closed sent the leaves up to the heavens." This propensity of Eber was probably the re-action of the orthodoxy of the Reverend Hope, his grandfather.
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