USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > History of Hatfield, Massachusetts, in three parts: I. An account of the development of the social and industrial life of the town from its first settlement. II. The houses and homes of Hatfield, with personal reminiscences of the men and women who have lived there during the last one hundred years; brief historical accounts of the religious societies and of Smith Academy; statistical tables, etc. III. Genealogies of the families of the first settlers > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
The next house was the home of Samuel Hastings, son of Hon. John Hastings; afterward occupied by John A. Billings and then by Otis C. Wells. It is now owned by Albert W. Morton and occupied by tenants.
The next house, across Bridge Lane, was Dwight Par- tridge's home. He removed to New York state and it was the home of Moses Morton, who married Sophia, daughter of Dea. Cotton Partridge. Both died in Hatfield, and their son, Dwight P. Morton, lived here with his wife, Chloe Cole. Their unmarried . son, Albert W. Morton, is now upon the place. Their oldest son, Josiah L. Morton, was a member of Co. K, 52d Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war, and afterward removed to the West.
The site of the old toll house at the bridge is now in the Connecticut river. It is not known when the old bridge was removed, but the bridge company sold the toll house and site to Peter Ingram of Amherst in 1823, and it was probably removed before that date. It was built in 1807 by lottery and Dr. Joseph Lyman preached a sermon on the opening of the bridge.
The house standing at the head of Main Street, called
307
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
the Capt. Thaddeus Graves house, was long occupied by his widow, who was Polly Gerry, a daughter of Nathan Gerry. Her son, Edwin Graves, was first sergeant in Co. F, 37th Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war, and died of wounds received in the Battle of the Wilderness. His widow, who was Ursula Moody, was made postmistress and for many years kept the post office in the house. The place was then occupied by Edgar P. Lyman with his cousin, Achsah Lyman, a niece of Mrs. Israel Morton. One part of the house is occupied by Eugene Bushee. It is owned by E. Langdon Graves.
VALLEY STREET, EAST SIDE.
The next house, on the east side of Valley Street, was built by the maiden daughters of Nathan Gerry, Martha and Lucretia, about 1836. They were tailoresses and made clothing for the youth of the village. Afterward Mary Esther, daughter of Capt. Thaddeus Graves, who married Sylvanus Miller of New York, lived here, then Edwin M. Graves, son of Sergt. Edwin Graves, lived here with his wife, Carrie L., daughter of William B. Langdon. She survives him and now occupies the place with two sons and one daughter.
The next and last house is the Erastus Cowles place, built in 1831. He married Olive, daughter of Zebina Dick- inson. Both died in Hatfield. Their son, Augustus D., was a member of Co. K, 52d Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war. A younger son, Edward C. Cowles, was a member of Co. F, 27th Regiment, M. V. M., in the Civil war. Ernest Godin, who married Amelia, daughter of Joseph Smith, now occupies the place.
SOUTH STREET.
Coming back to the East Division road and below the meadow gate we follow the building of recent years. The first house on the east side of the road was built by Joseph Viszaway in 1903. His daughter Theresa, who married John Wesaloski, was the first girl of Polish descent to be bound out under the will of Oliver Smith.
The next house, built by Erastus Billings for his foreman, Gottlieb Decker, is now occupied by Charles I. Stowell,
308
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
who married Fannie, daughter of Dexter and Emeline Jones.
The next house was built in 1903 by Michael and Mary Banasz.
The next house, on the west side of the road, was built by Michael and Katie Piwatka in 1908.
The next house was the Windsor Smith store, moved from the corner of the Capt. Thaddeus Graves place, and was long the livery stable of Horace Shumway. It is now owned by John Yarrow.
The next house was built by Frank Zagrodnick.
MAPLE STREET.
Beginning on the north side of Maple Street, on the Zechariah Field allotment, is the house built by Pliny Day, son of Joel Day, who lived on School Street. Pliny's wife was Chloe. She afterward married Capt. Samuel Parsons of Northampton. They had no children and after his decease in 1853 the wagon shop on the opposite side of the road was closed. The place is now owned by Miss Cornelia A. Billings, a daughter of Capt. Silas Billings.
The next house, the Moses Field place, was purchased by Alpheus Cowles, who married Sophia Wells of Leyden. A new house was built in 1841 and they now live there at an advanced age.
The next house was built after the Deacon Warner house was burned in 1855, by his son, Moses Warner, who lived here with his sisters, Mrs. Mercy Hubbard and Mrs. Sarah Morgan. They all died in Hatfield in February, 1857. The place is now owned and occupied by John Firtch and wife, Anna.
On the opposite side of Maple Street is the house built by Hon. George W. Hubbard, who married Philura T., daughter of Solomon Dickinson. They afterward lived with their brother, Samuel H. Dickinson, on Main Street. Both died in Hatfield. They had no children. E. Seward Warner purchased the place and married Mary Julia Hunt of New York. She died at the age of twenty-seven. Mr. Warner and his two daughters now live on the place.
The brick house next was the home of James W. Warner,
309
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
who married Louisa Longley. The place is now owned by his son, E. Seward Warner, and occupied by tenants. Jonathan D. Warner, brother of James W., was a member of Co. C, 10th Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war.
The next house was built by Baltazar John Goetoski in 1903. This man is called Joe Belden. He now occupies the place.
ELM STREET, SOUTH SIDE.
Now crossing Hill bridge, going up Elm Street, is the Edward Church place, owned and occupied by Dea. James Porter, who married Sarah Randall of Belchertown.
The next house, built by Col. Oliver Partridge, was the home of Levi Graves, Jr., who married Tabitha, daughter of David Field of Conway. He removed to Springfield with
A VIEW ON ELM STREET, THE "MISSIONARY HOUSE" AT THE LEFT.
his family and, at his decease, willed the use of his Hatfield farm to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the Congregational Home Missionary Society, and the American Bible Society. It has since been called the "Missionary Farm" and for many years has been occu- pied by Alfred E. Breor as tenant. He married Catherine Dalton.
310
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
The next house, called the Levi Graves house, was, after his decease, occupied by his son, Dea. Jonathan S. Graves, whose wife was Caroline Smith, followed by his son, Alfred H. Graves, who married Anna H. Breed of New York. Their son, Murray B. Graves, and his wife, who was Emma B., daughter of Charles A. Jones, live with them.
Next, on the Ebenezer Fitch lot, Benjamin M. Warner built a new house in 1898. He married Ella E., daughter of George C. Fitch. They now live on the place with their three daughters.
The old Fitch house on the same lot was occupied by John T. and George C. Fitch and afterward by Benjamin M. Warner. It is now occupied by tenants. The house has been kept in good repair.
The next house, also on the Fitch lot, was built and occupied by John T. Fitch in 1843, and also occupied by George C. Fitch. It was long the home of William M. Jones, whose first wife was Julia Packard of Pelham, and second, Nancy F. Rhoades. After their decease it was used by Benjamin M. Warner as a tenement.
The next house was the Henry Hitchcock place and was occupied by Silas and Leonard Hitchcock. Eldad Stebbins and his son, Giles Stebbins, lived here a few years; afterward it was occupied by Charles L. Graves, who mar- ried (1) Fanny Hamilton, and (2) Susan Wing. His widow now lives here with her son, Edward, and daughter, Eva.
The next house was occupied by widow Bethia Packard and son, George. Both died in Hatfield and the house was torn down. The site is vacant and is now a part of the Charles L. Graves home lot. Seth Kingsley, father of Moses W. Kingsley, once occupied this house.
The next house was built by Charles E. Kingsley about 1857. His wife was Chloe Dane of Whately. The place is now owned by Thaddeus Graves, and used as a tene- ment.
The next house, on the Solomon Graves place, is owned and occupied by his son, Thaddeus Graves, who married Mary A., daughter of John . Hubbard. The two small houses on this lot were built by Thaddeus Graves and used by him as tenements.
311
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
The next house, which was once the home of Elijah N. Sampson and stood on the corner of the lot of Isaac B. Lowell, was removed to this lot by Mack LaMountain, who came from Canada. It is now owned by his son, Henry LaMountain, who married Fosine, daughter of Alfred Jubinville.
The next house, built by Thomas Whalen about 1860, is now owned by his son, Dennis, and occupied by Thomas W. Ryan, who married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Whalen.
The next house was built by a Mr. Rowe, who was a blacksmith and soon left town. It was owned afterward by Henry S. Porter, then by Jonathan D. Porter, now by Patrick T. Boyle. It is occupied by tenants.
The next house is the Richard Fitzgerald place. He mar- ried Mary Brown and built the house about 1863. His wife died in Hatfield. He now occupies the place with his daughter, Mary, who married Edward Burke.
The next house was built by Peter Pianker and wife in 1904.
The next house was built by John Ryan and is now occupied and owned by Homer Raboin.
The next place was built by Joseph Bush, who removed from town. Afterward Louis Raboin moved the house to the east and used it as a shop and built a new two-story house on the old site. His son, Israel Raboin, now occupies the place.
The next house was built by Walter William Crump in 1898. He married Eva, daughter of Joseph Patrick, and removed from town.
The next house, the Mary Dunn place, was occupied by Joseph Patrick. He removed from town. This and the Crump house are now owned by Benjamin M. Warner and occupied by tenants.
The next house, opposite Banks corner, which at one time was the Samuel Graves cornhouse, was removed by Mack LaMountain to the present site and converted into a dwell- ing, where he lived until he removed to his later place on Elm Street. His son, Henry LaMountain, now owns the place and it is occupied by tenants.
The John Wilson house, near the Northampton line, was
-
312
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
torn down by Charles L. Warner, who now owns the land. This was called by Mr. Partridge the Kelly house.
On the northerly side of this road the Tom Banks house has disappeared.
BANKS CORNER ROAD.
The Ebenezer Dwight house, on the road leading to the railroad station, was burned, and Alvin L. Strong owns the farm. Mr. Dwight died in Hatfield. The family removed from town.
The next house, on the Col. Israel Chapin place, was built by Amariah Strong; afterward owned by Jacob Carl and now owned by Henry A. Wade, who married Kate Par- tenheimer. He enlarged and repaired the house and it is now occupied by him with his son, Charles W., who married Nellie, daughter of Henry W. Bardwell of Whately.
The next house, opposite the railroad station, was built by William Curtis and afterward occupied by John Vaile. John Denlein now owns the place. He married Mary, daughter of Henry Stenglein.
ELM STREET, NORTH SIDE.
Returning to the Northampton road we find the cabins of the negro settlement are now destroyed and the five houses recently built are owned as follows: John and Nellie Pelc, built in 1904; Jorko Watoszn, built in 1905; John and Agnes Kosior, built in 1906, now owned by Symko and Katie Karkut; John and Margaret Karakula, built in 1904; John Vachula, built in 1903. The negro cabins were for many years a picturesque feature on the road to Northamp- ton. They were occupied by descendants of some of the slaves owned in Hatfield in colonial times.
The next house was built by Michael Larkin about 1854. He married Ann Mack. The house was occupied by Daniel E. Cahill for some years. He moved to Holyoke and sold the place to Patrick Fitzgerald and Thomas Fitz- gerald, Jr.
The next three one-story houses were built by John T. and George C. Fitch. The first on the westerly side is owned by Thomas Fitzgerald, the next by Mary A. Graves, and the next by Joseph Raboin.
313
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
The next house was built by Francis Dunikin about 1860. It was afterward owned by Mary King, then by Mary Esther Miller, and is now owned by Nelson Allaire, who married Mary Callahan of Whately.
The next house, built by Joseph Douyard, who married Lena, daughter of Mack LaMountain, is now occupied by him. A house was burned on this site, owned by Patrick Mullany.
The next house is owned and occupied by John Gendron and his wife, who was Kate Callahan of Whately.
NEGRO CABIN ON THE ROAD TO NORTHAMPTON.
The next house was first the shoemaker's shop of Henry Childs and stood where S. W. Kingsley's house now is. Austin Abels moved it to its present location and occupied it with his wife, who was Aleatha Jones. He built the two- story addition now attached to the old shop. Afterward Moses W. Kingsley and wife, who was Rachel Curtis, lived here. It is now owned and occupied by Mack La- Mountain, who married Evelina, daughter of Alfred Jubin- ville. Dwight G. Abels, son of Austin, was a member of Co. K, 52d Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war.
314
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
The next house was built by Lorenzo P. Dole, who married (1) Abigail Packard, (2) Anna Dunikin. He had one daughter, who died young, and one son, Benjamin, who now lives in Hatfield. The place is now owned by Valentine Porado.
The next house was built by Ashley Graves, who removed to the West. It was the home for about forty years of Jonathan D. Porter and after him of his son, Frank K. The former married Phila E., daughter of Jeremy Morton. She sold the place in 1909 to Patrick T. Boyle.
The next house, the Timothy Graves place, is now owned by Charles L. Warner and used as a tenement. The large elm trees mentioned by Mr. Partridge are now standing in front of the house.
The next house was built by Samuel Graves. It was afterward owned and occupied by Fred Allaire and now by Patrick J. Whalen, who married Catharine A. Mahar of Easthampton.
The next place, the Ebenezer White tavern, was moved to the rear by John T. Fitch and used as a tobacco ware- house. He built in 1861 the large two-story house on the same site. His widow, who was Julia A. White, lived, until her death in 1909, in this house with Charles L. War- ner, who married her daughter, Maria L. Fitch. Charles E. Warner, son of Charles L., who married Myra, daughter of Henry H. Field of North Hatfield, now lives here also.
The next house, the Chester Porter place, was occupied for many years by Lewis S. Dyer, who married Mary, daughter of Chester Porter. The family removed from Hatfield. The place is now owned by Dennis Whalen, who married Margaret Sheehan of Hatfield.
The next house, the Henry S. Porter place, is owned by Fred Wenzel, who married Hannah S. Hor. The house standing before this one was burned while the family were at the Sunday service and was rebuilt in the winter season, a thing unusual at that period.
The next place, the Roswell Hubbard home, descended to his nephew, Dea. Henry S. Hubbard, who married Mary Houghton of Putney, Vt. Mr. Hubbard died in 1908. His widow and sons, Silas G. and Claude H., and one daughter, Olive, now live on the place.
315
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
The next house, on the Silas D. White place, was built by Dea. Jonathan Graves in 1868. The old house was moved in the rear to the Mill pond and since then has burned. Alfred H. Graves first occupied the new house, now owned and occupied by Isaac B. Lowell, who came from West Springfield. His wife was Annie Addie Streeter of Chico- pee and their daughter, Annette, married Ashley H. Thorn- dike, principal of Smith Academy 1893 and 1894, and now a professor in Columbia University.
. The next house, on the corner of this lot, was the home of Elijah N. Sampson and was removed to the Mack LaMountain place as already mentioned. Mr. Sampson removed to St. Louis, Mo., where one of his sons is now living.
The next house, the M. N. Hubbard place, was built in 1863. Mr. Hubbard married Julia Bodman of Williams- burg. After his decease the place was owned by Eli A. Hubbard. He was a prominent instructor and a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education. The place was bought by John S. Carl, who married Mary Augusta, daugh- ter of Thaddeus Graves. He died Dec. 29, 1909. Thaddeus Graves, Jr., who married Cora King of Sandusky, Ohio, occupies a part of the house. The old house on this place was moved farther east and used as a tenement till it burned in the winter of 1910.
On the site of the tenement was once a house occupied by Ebenezer Boynton. He died in Hatfield and his widow and son removed from Hatfield to South Hadley, and the house was torn down. Before this the house was the home of Capt. John White.
The next house, on the John Hubbard lot, descended to Roswell Hubbard, 2d. He married Fanny, daughter of Sergt. Edwin Graves. Both are now living on the place. The elm trees spoken of by Mr. Partridge were removed for the street railway in 1898. The old cemetery on the east of this lot is kept fenced and well cared for by the town. Few stones are broken.
The brick schoolhouse was built in 1869, an old two-story schoolhouse having been moved to the south end of what is now Porter Avenue.
316
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
SCHOOL STREET, SOUTH SIDE.
Beginning on the south side of School Street the first building is the schoolhouse before mentioned, built in 1871.
The next house was built by Oliver Warner in 1874. Mr. Warner died in Hatfield and the family removed from town. He was a member of Co. F, 37th Regiment, M. V.M., in the Civil war. The place was afterward occupied by Joseph S. Wells, and is now owned by Dr. Chester M. Barton, who married (1) Clara Whitman, and (2) Jennie, daughter of George Stearns of Conway.
The next house is the rectory of St. Joseph's Church, built in 1906. The church was built in 1892. It has since been enlarged and is now the place of public worship of 1300 people.
The next place was the Zebina Dickinson home. The brick house now standing was built by Dr. Alonzo Lewis, who died in 1873. It is now owned and occupied by Hugh McLeod, who married Helen, daughter of Jonathan E. Porter.
Next, the Jabez Belden place, is owned and occupied by Miss Mary A. Dickinson with her sister, Fanny M., who married Marshall H. Burke. He died in Hatfield in 1906.
The next place was occupied by Richard Smith. It is now owned and occupied by Jacob Carl, who built the present house. He married Abby Partenheimer. Their son, Henry W., who married Fanny Stearns of Galesburg. Ill., lives with them. The house occupied by Richard Smith was removed to the side of the lot. He died here in 1854, and the house was then removed to another site, where it was burned. Obadiah Smith, son of Richard, was a mem- ber of Co. G, 31st Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war.
The house of Abraham Billings was occupied by Silas Bardwell and his son Oliver. It was torn down by Elijah P. Dickinson, who rebuilt upon the site. The place is now occupied by his widow, who was Phebe Hemmingway, and her niece, Julia, who married William W. Gore.
The next is the Joel Day place, now occupied by Joseph Smith, who came from Canada with his wife, Betsey Good- child.
The next house is occupied by Patrick McGlynn, who married Rose Lawler in 1892.
317
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
The next house is occupied by William P. Boyle, who married Annie, daughter of John B. Ryan.
The next house, owned by Margaret Hade, widow of Michael Hade, was once the wing of Squire Bardwell's house on Main Street, moved to this location in 1868.
The next house, on the Benjamin Morton lot, was torn down and a dwelling built by Alfred Jubinville on the same site. Mr. Jubinville removed from Hatfield and Smith E. Briggs now lives on the place with his sister, Mary E. Briggs.
SCHOOL STREET, NORTH SIDE.
Crossing to the northerly side of School Street, the first house is on the Nehemiah Waite home lot. It is now occupied by George Sulick. The house was built in 1900.
On the Nehemiah Waite place, where Lewis Dickinson and sisters lived, the dwelling which Mr. Partridge called the Richard Morton house remains standing and for many years was occupied by Joseph Godin, who married Emily, daughter of Joseph Smith. It is now owned and occupied by Michael W. Kiley, who married Armena Rohoda of Florence.
On the site of the Jonathan Dickinson house, William Hayes built a new house in 1898. He married Nellie, daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Powers. His widow now lives on the place.
The Elisha Hubbard place is owned and occupied by Michael Hayes, who married Margaret A. Ryan of North- ampton. A part of the house is rented to Thomas Mul- lany, who married Katherine Higgins of Gloucester.
The next house is occupied by Charles K. Morton and his wife, who was Mary W. Kellogg of South Hadley. He was a member of Co. K, 52d Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war. The old sycamore tree is still standing in front of the house.
On the Elijah White place was the home of his son, Daniel, who married Lucy Elvira, daughter of Josiah Rice of Conway. After his decease his brother, Quartus, who married Julia Ann Wilkie, lived here. The widow of Quartus also occupied the place. She married (2) E. L. Dickinson and died in Hatfield. Jonathan E. Porter pur-
318
HISTORY OF HATFIELD.
chased the place, tore down the old house, and built a fine new one in 1907. He married Mary D. Smith of Hadley.
The next house, the home of Alpheus Longley, was occupied by Quartus White before he lived on the last men- tioned place. Dexter Jones afterward occupied the place. His widow, Emeline Jones, now lives here.
The next house, on the Silas Porter tan yard, was built by his son, Theodore Porter, in 1824, and purchased by Josiah Allis, who married (1) Salome Osborn of Hadley, (2) Louisa, daughter of Seth Bardwell. Josiah Allis had by his first wife Augusta S., who married John D. Brown, and Harriet, who married James Morton. John Bury now lives here.
The next is the market and a tenement built by Graves & Pellissier. It is now owned by Louis J. Pellissier, who came from Hadley. He carries on a successful meat market.
The next and last house on School Street was built by Harry E. Graves, who married Ella, daughter of Philip Carl. They now occupy the same. This house stands on the home lot formerly of Dexter Allis, deceased.
PROSPECT STREET, EAST SIDE.
Beginning on the easterly side of Prospect Street after crossing Hill bridge was the home of Moses W. Kingsley, who married Rachel Curtis. The house he lived in has been removed to the foot of the hill and is now a part of the blacksmith shop. This was once occupied by Henry Childs, a shoemaker, who married Sarah, daughter of David Field of Conway. A new house was built on the site by Seth W. Kingsley, who married Mary E., daughter of Quartus White. He was a member of Co. K, 52d Regi- ment, M.V.M., in the Civil war and now occupies the place.
The next house, on the above home lot, was built by Herbert D. Smith, who came from Hadley. He married Lida, daughter of Seth W. Kingsley. They now occupy the place.
The next house, on the same lot, was built by Harry N. Hunt, who came from Hadley and married Harriet, daugh- ter of Seth W. Kingsley. After Mr. Hunt's decease the
319
REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL W. WELLS.
widow returned to her father and Henry F. Kingsley, a son of Moses W. Kingsley, occupies the place.
The gas house, next to this place, was built in 1895.
The next place was the home of Lucius G. Curtis, whose wife was Maria Frary. He was a prosperous broom maker. Both died in Hatfield. The place is now owned and occu- pied by Lewis H. Kingsley, the town clerk of Hatfield. He married Lizzie J., daughter of Jonathan W. Dickinson of Whately.
The next house was built by Stephen G. Curtis, who mar- ried Mary Reed of Whately: They had two children, who both died in Hatfield. It was the home of John E. Doane for many years. His widow, Sarah E. Sanderson, married John H. Sanderson and they lived there until their death. The place is now occupied by Sanford L. Sanderson. He married Martha, daughter of Chauncey Davis of North Amherst. John E. Doane was a member of Co. K, 52d Regiment, M.V.M., in the Civil war.
The next house was once a store built by Fitch Brothers and afterward the home of Edward Curtis. It is now occupied by tenants.
The next is a brick store built by John T. and George C. Fitch. It is now occupied as such by Matthew J. Ryan.
The next is the lathe shop of J. E. Porter and Hugh McLeod, and the gristmill of H. D. Smith on the site of the first mill of Thomas Meekins. Harvey Moore once had a gristmill here, which was burned.
Across the mill bridge is the gun shop of Maj. C. S. Shattuck and a storehouse a little to the north of the shop. This is also the site of the Prescott pistol shop, which was burned a number of years ago. Before this Harvey Moore had a sawmill here as did also the Fitch Brothers and it was probably the site of the first sawmill built by Thomas Meekins. The Bay State Screw Company commenced the Imanufacture of automobile supplies here in 1909.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.