History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 124

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 124

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A man by the name of Carver settled early in the town, and owned a large tract of land on the south side of the Swift River, including the farms of S. Boynton and S. S. Pope, and a wide strip of land on that side down to the Cabot place.

Other families who settled early in the town, all of them prior to 1793, were Sylvanus Howe, son of Lieut. Howe, who preceded him, and who lived on the road to Belchertown, about two miles from the village of Enfield, where his son, Joseph J. llowe, now resides ; Daniel Howard, who loeated on the " old lloward place," where his father had preceded him, and where his descendants, the Crosbys, still reside ; David Newcomb, who lived in the east part of the town ; Capt. Joseph Ilooker (grandfather of Gen. Joseph Hooker, prominent in the late war), who was a large tract-owner in the town, owning most of the land between the two villages, and who lived on the spot now occupied by the residence of Edward P. Smith ; Robert Field, also a large tract-owner, and a man of enterprise, public spirit, and great personal popularity, and who lived opposite the present residence of Chas. Richards, Esq. ; Benjamin Harwood, who early left Hardwick, where he was born, settling first in Greenwich, where he married a daughter of Rev. Robert Cutler, the first minister of that town, and who settled finally at the upper village of Enfield, where he passed the remainder of his life ; Nathan Hunting, who settled on the Cabot place, and early engaged in the business of a miller ; Caleb Keith, who settled in the west part of the town ; William Stone, who located where Ezra Cary now lives; Ebenezer Daggett, who located where Warren Sadler now resides, and who had a blacksmith- shop near his house; James Richards, who was born Dec. 13, 1766, and who finally settled in the east part of the town, where Sidney R. Richards now resides, passing an honorable and useful life, and leaving a posterity that have been an honor to his name and to the town in which they were born ; Joseph Ruggles, who lived about four miles south of the vil- lage ; Abner Eddy, who resided where Washington Aldrich now lives ; Ebenezer and Barnabus Rich, the first of whom owned an early grist-mill in the town, and lived where Benj. Ilarwood now resides, and the latter of whom served in the Revolutionary war; Joseph Fobes, who lived in the south part of the town; William Morton, who lived on the old Monson turnpike, where L. M. Morton now lives, and Nathaniel Lane, who lived about half' a mile south of the village, where Geo. L. Richards now lives.

Other early families were those of Oliver Kinsley, who lived in the south part of the town, near where John Rohan now lives ; Phineas Howe, who lived on the place now occupied by C. M. Howe ; John Rich, father of William, who lived where the Thurston family now resides ; Moses Colton, who occupied the house now the Swift River Hotel; Simeon Stone, who

lived in the old " Flemming house;" Paul Paine, who re- sided on the old Monson turnpike, near the Richards place, and who was a sea-captain ; Rufus Powers, who resided at the upper village, where Mr. Bliss now lives ; Ichabod Ran- dall, who came from Bridgewater, and settled, as early as 1775, in Enfield, in the south part of the town, on the place now occupied by Alvin Randall, and whose descendants still live in town; and Simeon Waters, who settled early in the town, and was a cloth-dresser and wool-carder by trade, and who removed to Millbury about 1830.

Other early names are those of Rider, Cadwell, Clifford, Colburn, Drake, Collins, Wheeler, Mitchell, Lathrop, Rug- gles, Swetland, Pratt, Underwood, Winslow, Bailey, Rice, Briggs, Gross, Gibbs, Clark, Torrance, Lyman, Osborne, For- bush, Messinger, Woodward, MeIntosh, Adams, Chickering, Bartlett, Shearer, Newell, Gilbert, Hanks, Barton, Lamson, Kentfield, Weeks, Cary, Snow, Pope, Smith, Hawes, Woods, and Jones.

All traces of most of these earliest families have entirely disappeared from the town, and concerning those that are still nearly or remotely represented in the town but little reliable information can be obtained. Mention may be made of a few.

The Woods family is one of the earliest of those now rep- resented, and has probably contributed more than any other to the industrial, educational, and moral development of the community.

Aaron Woods came from New Braintree, at the age of twenty, and settled in Enfield about the year 1780. Hle es- tablish ed himself south of the village, purchasing Great Quab- bin Mountain and the adjoining land. On that mountain he erected his first dwelling-house, which finally gave way to a second. This house was afterward removed and remodeled, and is now the farm-house of Capt. William B. Kimball. Mr. Woods had a family of ten children,-five sons and five daughters. The names of these children were Aaron, Moses, Leonard, Sally, Josiah B., Catharine, Serena, Patty, Jon- athan E., and Anna. Anna died quite young.

Aaron, the eldest, left home at an early age and learned the trade of nail-making, removed to Canada and taught school during the war of 1812, and, having married, returned to Enfield about 1825 or 1826. He located where his widow, Mrs. Caroline Woods, now resides, and engaged in the manu- facture of hand-cards and card-clothing. His children now living are Leonard, who resides in Boston and is a broker by profession ; J. Edwards, who keeps a store in Enfield and is postmaster of that town; Josiah B., residing in Enfield ; Caroline M., also living in Enfield ; Harriet D., formerly a teacher in the State Primary School at Monson, but now re- siding in Enfield ; and Catharine, who married John N. Lacy, of Palmer, Mass.

Moses, the next child, left town early, and learned the trade of a wool-earder and cloth-dresser, and, after living at South Hadley Falls and Montague, married and returned to Enfield about 1824 or 1825. He built the house where J. Scott Wil- der now lives, and after residing there for a time removed to a farm in the south part of the town, now occupied by llenry Webster, and there died, in 1845.

Leonard, the third child, was born May 7, 1792, and early in lite located near the present site of the Minot Manufac- turing Company's mill. The house which he first occupied stands near the residence of Augustus Moody. He afterward resided where Mrs. Martha S. Howe now lives. He was largely interested in the manufacture of cards and woolen cloth in Enfield. His children were Anna, the wife of Ariel Parrish, superintendent of public schools in the city of New Haven, Conn. ; Rufus D., residing in Enfield ; Persis C., the wife of Rev. George C. Curtis, D.D., of Canandaigua, N. Y .; Charlotte, deceased, wife of Daniel B. Gillett, of Enfield ; Amanda M. and Susan II., both deceased; Leonard A., who

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

died young; Elizabeth E., wife of Rev. Benj. Labaree, a missionary in Persia; and Ellen, who died young. Sally and Catharine Woods lived in Enfield until their decease.

Josiah B. first located in the village, but finally erected the building and lived where Capt. Wm. B. Kimball now resides. IIe was long and successfully identified with the manufactur- ing enterprises of the town. He had children : Henry, who died young ; Josiah B., Jr., who also died young ; Charlotte J., the wife of Edward P. Smith, of Enfield; Fanny, wife of Capt. Wm. B. Kimball, of Enfield; Anna and Elizabeth, who died young ; Mary, wife of W. E. Chandler, of New Haven ; and Robert M., pastor of the Congregational Church in Hat- field, Mass.

Patty became the first wife of Ichabod Pope, of Enfield, and died without children; Serena became the second wife of Mr. Pope, and had three children, all of whom are now living in Providence, R. I.

Jonathan E. settled in Enfield, and married a granddaugh- ter of Gen. Ebenezer Mattoon, of Amherst. He had one child, who died young and was buried with its father, the wife fol- lowing soon after.

Freeman Pope came from Bridgewater, and settled in 1799 in the south part of the town of Enfield, on the farm now oc- cupied by Lyman D. Potter. His son Ichabod was born in Bridgewater in 1796, and is one of the oldest of the early resi- dents of the town now living. Solon S. Pope was born Oet. 28, 1805, in Enfield, and is still living in the town. Wm. R. Pope, of Providence, R. I., was born in Enfield in 1803, and passed a large portion of his life in the town. Melenette, a daughter of Freeman Pope, was born in 1800, and is also re- siding in Providence. The remainder of his eleven children are deceased.

Jesse Fobes came from Bridgewater in 1796, and settled in an old house that stood on the Fohes farm, about thirty or forty rods from the present residence of Deaeon Henry Fobes, who was four years of age when his father came to town. Judge Charles Forbes, * of Northampton, judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, a son of Jesse Fobes and half-brother of Henry, was born in the town, and removed to Northamp- ton in 1818.

The Jones brothers, who afterward became prominently identified with the business interests of Enfield, came to town with their mother, who became the wife of Robert Field, Esq., in the first part of the present century. Their names, in the order of age, were Elnathan, Marshall, Thomas, and Samuel, and the impress of their energy and business qualifications is still felt in the town, where some of their descendants reside.

Elihu Lyman, Esq., located in Enfield early in the present century, and married a daughter of Robert Field, Esq. Ile was one of the first lawyers who practiced in town, built and re- sided in the present Congregational parsonage building, and died there.

Ephraim Richards came from South Deerfield to Enfield, in 1811, having formerly resided at Ashford, Conn., Ilolden, Mass., and Montague, Mass. Ile was a merchant and manu- facturer in Enfield, and a man of prominence until bis death. He was a representative to the General Court several terms, the first treasurer of Enfich, and a member of the last Con- stitutional Convention. His sons, Chas. Richards, Esq., trial- justice, and George L. Richards, still reside in the town.

Hartford IJawes came from Rentum by way of Belcher- town, where he tarried for a time, and settled in Enfield in 18II, in a house that stood about where George L. Richards' orchard now is. He died at the age of seventy-five. His sons, Lewis and John IF., still reside in the town, the former having pursued the occupation of a shoemaker for the last twenty- seven years.

David and Alvin Smith came from Granby about 1820,

and located at the upper village, where they carried on the manufacture of satinet warps until the formation of the Swift River Company, in 1852. They were then joined by their brother Edward, who, with his sons, Edward P. and Ilenry M., still eonduet the manufacturing enterprises of the upper village, which is denominated "Smith's" by the rail- road company. To the energy and business ability of this family the upper village is indebted for its present importance.

David Smith had, for children, Cornelia, who married Seth Richards, a native of Enfield, and a wealthy resident of San Francisco, Cal. ; Edwin, who died in Boston ; Edwin W., con- neeted with Smith's American Organ Company, in Boston ; David, Jr., who graduated at Williams College, now deceased ; and Henry W., connected with Smith's American Organ Company, in Boston.

Alvin had children : Frank, deceased ; Jane, still residing in Enfield; Isabella, wife of Hon. Rufus D. Woods, of En- field ; Samuel D., who is at the head of Smith's American Organ Company, Boston; and Richard B., a former merchant of Boston, now deceased.

C'apt. Benjamin F. Potter settled in Enfield about 1825, and was a mason by trade, as well as a farmer. lle lo- cated where his son, Lyman D. Potter, now resides. An- other son, Nathan D. Potter, also resides in town, and is the agent of the Springfield, Athol, and Northeastern Railroad Company. A third son, H. M. Potter, is one of the deputy sheriff's of the county, at Northampton.

The early inhabitants of the town came mostly from Bridge- water and Easton. They liked the hills; and, as they rode mostly on horseback, they did not need good roads. There were formerly at least ten inhabited houses on Great Quabbin Mountain ; now there are none. Game was very plenty in those days. Wolves were frequently heard howling in the night, and bears were quite numerous. Benjamin Cooley, who lived on the Hale farm, now in Greenwich, is said in one fall to have caught bears enough to buy a yoke of oxen that cost $40. A man named Weeks is said to have caught salmon in the west branch of Swift River at an early day.

Ephraim Woodward, another early inhabitant, went to Northampton with an ox-cart, and, being late at night in re- turning home, was attacked by a pack of wolves. He jumped into his eart, and with an axe kept them at bay until he reached a settlement. On the westerly point of Great Quab- bin Mountain is a pinnacle which was called the " Telegraph." In Revolutionary times a man named Grant began to arrange there a point for telegraph signals. The first station enst was in New Braintree, and west was Mount Holyoke. Before the work was completed the war closed, and it was abandoned.

TAVERNS.

It is impossible to name with certainty the first house of public entertainment in Enfield. Tradition says that early taverns were kept where Lyman D. Potter's barn now stands, and another where Daniel B. Gillett resides. One of the earliest known inns was kept by Robert Field, Esq., in the old Field residence. Another early tavern stood about where Charles Richards' residence now stands, first by Peleg Canedy, and after him by Ebenezer Heald and Sammel Kennedy. What is known as the "Old Tavern Stand," opposite the Congregational Church, was erected by Simon Stone, and kept after him by Luke Stone for a long time, and still later by Nichols Varney, Jonah Gross, Joab Bartlett, and Charles Scott, who closed it and removed to Ambrose Packard's tavern, the present Swift River Hotel.

This building was formerly the residence of Reuben Cooley, an early settler of the town. It was remodeled and repaired by Ambrose Packard about 1825 or 1826, and kept by him- self and various persons, including Patterson, Charles Scott, Church & Moody, L. V. B. Cook, Daniel Downing, in 1852; Rufus Church, a man named Gates, Henry Frink, Ruddock

* Name changed by act of General Court.

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

& Bliss, Col. Wilson Andrews; then a man named Estey, John G. Merriam, and Chester S. Hastings, in turn; and finally, April 1, 1866, or 1867, by A. M. Iloward. Edmund G. Wells, the present proprietor, took it from Howard, June 22, 1872. About the year 1867, Joseph E. Woods kept a tavern for a short time in the old Hooker house.

STORES.

One of the first stores was by Field & Canedy, the early part of the present century, where the Congregational parsonage now stands. It was afterward kept by Field & Dickinson, Jolin Boyden, Ebenezer Heald, Marshall S. and Thomas Jones, and Jones, Woods & Co.

In the year 1805 or 1806, Alfred Arnold opened a store in a building standing where Haskell's store now is, and was suc- ceeded by Franeis Howe.

Joseph Jones kept a store at an early day in the batting- and wicking-mill that stood near the site of the present grist-mill of the Minot Manufacturing Company. Jones & Belcher also kept store there for a short time.

The store at present occupied by J. E. Woods was built, about the year 1830, by Jones & Cutler, who traded there for several years. It has since been kept by Jones & Saxton, Saxton & Field, S. F. Howe, Ephraim and Charles Richards, and Oliver Bryant, about the year 1841; Oliver Bryant alone, Cyrus F. Woods, Woods & Hale, George E. Wilson, George E. Walker, and finally by J. E. Woods, who took it Sept. 1, 1872.

The building in which Fra Haskell does business was erected about the year 1825, and was first occupied for trading pur- poses by Brown & Andrews, and afterward by Oliver Bryant & Co., E. Richards & Co., Ezra Cary, Warner & Leland, Leland & Gillett, Johnson & Morton, Johnson & Daniels, Haskell & Towne, and Ira Haskell for the last decade.

In March, 1828, J. M. Crosby, a grandson of the first min- ister of the town, settled in Enfield, and engaged in tailoring over the store now occupied by J. E. Woods. Several years after he removed to the corner now occupied by Goukl's tin- shop, and traded in ready-made clothing, boots, and shoes, and carried on a general business. In the year 1861 lie changed the character of the enterprise to that of a general dry-goods and grocery business, in which he remained until November, 1876, when a fire destroyed not only his store, but all the build- ings up to and including the residence of Charles Richards, Esq.

J. M. Crosby, Jr., a son of Mr. Crosby, then opened a gen- eral store in the old town-hall, and continued in business there until his death, in June, 1878. J. M. Crosby is now running the store at that place, closing up his son's estate and pursu- ing at the same time the tailoring business.

Tucker & Northam had a store for a time opposite the pres- ent post-office. E. P. Tueker followed alone, and then Joseph Jones for a short period.

The store at the upper village was opened by E. P. Smith in 1854, and has been kept continuously sinee by him.

Horace Hunt came from Prescott, and in 1872 ereeted a store east of the railroad. He traded there for about six years, and then sold to William F. Howe, in May, 1878, who now trades at that point.

Several smaller establishments of various kinds exist in the town, among which the most prominent are the meat-markets of L. S. Boynton and Benjamin J. Harwood.

PIIYSICIANS.

The first practitioner of medicine who resided in the town was Dr. William Stone, who lived where Ezra Cary now re- sides, and practiced in the first part of the present century. The next was Dr. Rice, who was accidentally shot at a regimental muster in Hadley. Dr. Rufus Stone engaged in practice some time after, and is mentioned in the Greenwich records as early

as 1818. Other physicians have been Drs. Alvord, Brigham (afterward superintendent of the Utica, N. Y., Insane Asy- lum), Cleveland, who built the house back of the hotel, practiced for a number of years, and then removed to Spring- field ; J. N. Hastings, a contemporary of Cleveland, and who subsequently removed to South Hadley; Claggett, who died in town ; Gray, Church, McGregor, Wright, Beamis, Smitlı, E. 11. Roekwood, who came from Longmeadow and practiced a great many years ; Joseph Hastings, who came from Palmer, and a nephew of Dr. J. N. Hastings ; Perkins, a contempo- rary of Hastings; Ward, Joseph Winslow, a physician of great popularity, and at one time a partner of Dr. Perkins ; Norman A. Smith, Knights, Edwin A. Kemp, who removed to Great Barrington in 1876, and Solomon R. Towne, who settled in town June 10, 1876, and is still in practice. John Northam practiced dental surgery in the town for a long time. John N. Felton, D.D.S., settled in the town in October, 1875, and now practices that profession.

LAWYERS.

The town has had a goodly array of lawyers. The first was Joshua N. Upham, who came from Brookfield early in the history of the town, and married Mary, a daughter of Robert Field, Esq. He was an active man, and it is said he could jump over a span of horses standing side by side. He lived but a few years. The next was Elijah Alvord, who came from Greenfield ; Warren A. Field followed for a short time ; Elihu Lyman came soon after, and was followed by Epaphras Clark, who was admitted to the Bar in 1819, practiced first in Granby, and, removing to Enfield, praetieed for a long time. He is credited with the delivery of one of the briefest and most pointed legal arguments on record. The next was Hon. George Ashmun; he was admitted to the Bar in 1830, and immediately settled at Enfield ; in a few years he removed to Springfield and formed a copartnership, which lasted for many years, with Hon. Reuben A. Chapman. He was subsequently a member of the State Legislature, of the National House of Representatives, and its speaker in 1840, and was in practice many years in the city of Washington .* William M. Lathrop followed next, and Epaphras Clark was the last regular prac- titioner in the town.

ROADS AND STAGE-ROUTES.

The first record of a publie highway through Enfield was one from Pelham line to Chicopee in 1754; the second, from Palmer to Greenwich in 1761; the third, from Belchertown to Hardwick in 1763. Between the last date and 1794, the majority of the publie highways now in use were laid out, although many of them have been altered since. In 1801 a turnpike-road was granted from Belchertown through Enfield to Hardwick line, and the Monson turnpike was run through the east part of the town in 1803. One or more proprietary roads were laid in the territory of Enfield as early as 1740.

The principal stage-route in early days was the Northamp- ton, Worcester and Boston line, whose stages arrived in the town every other day, their arrival causing great excitement and interest.

OLD HOUSES.

Among the oldest houses now standing, mention may be made of the Reuben Fleming house, near Hunt's store; the John Crosby house, one mile south of the village; the Widow Aaron Wood's house ; and the one where Deacon Moore lives, which was early occupied by a Mr. Messinger.

MEN OF SPECIAL NOTE.

Among the men of special note that Enfield has produced or fostered may be mentioned Elihu Lyman, Esq., who was a lawyer of reputation, and the first State Senator from the

* See history of the Bar, general chapters.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

town. He died at an early age, while in the discharge of the duties of that office, in 1826.

Hon. Josiah B. Woods, a native old resident of the town, now deceased, was State Senator in 1845, a member of the last State Constitutional Convention, and a business-man of supe- rior ability and integrity.

Hon. Daniel B. Gillett was State Senator in 1866, and is now the treasurer of the Minot Manufacturing Company.

Hon. Rufus D. Woods, a native and present resident of the town, was State Senator in 1872, and has filled other offiees of trust and responsibility, being at one time president of the South Hladfey Falls Bank.

Robert Field, Esq., was also a prominent citizen of the town in its early history, was noted for his breadth of thought, liberality, high Christian character, and business qualifica- tions, and in recognition of whose worth the town was named.

Judge Charles E. Forbes, of Northampton, an eminent lawyer and learned judge of the Supreme Court of the State, was also a native of Enfield. He was appointed justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1847, and of the Supreme Court in 1848.

Other citizens of note have been Solomon Howe, who was a printer, musician, and singing-master, and published singing- books, spelling-books, almanacs, and hymn-books.

Sylvanus Lathrop was a skillful draughtsman and architect ; designed and built the present graceful steeple on the Congre- gational meeting-house, when only twenty years of age, and in 1816 removed to Pittsford, N. Y., took a section of the Western Canal to build, and made money; then removed to Pittsburg, Pa., built a bridge over the Allegheny River, and was appointed the head of a committee to clear the snags and obstructions which hindered navigation.

David Smith, J. B. Woods, Frederick Downing, Benjamin Harwood, and others, were skillful mechanies, and the latter had several sons who were very ingenious men.

Timothy and Lemuel Gilbert, the celebrated piano-makers of Boston, were natives of Enfield ; and the Smiths, of organ- making fame, in the same city. Other citizens have graduated at various colleges, entered the professions, and become useful and respected in their chosen callings.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

The territory at present comprising the town of Enfield was originally the south parish of the town of Greenwich, which was incorporated June 20, 1787, and embraced all of the south part of Greenwich and parts of Belchertown and Ware. The town of Enfield was duly incorporated Feb. 15, 1816, the fol- lowing being the words of the act referring to its territorial limits :

" That all the lands in the towns of Greenwich and Belchertown which are comprised within the limits of the South Parish, of the town of Greenwich, as they are now settled and established according to the provisions of an act enti- tled ' An act to divide the town of Greenwich into two parishes, and for including the northeast corner of the town of Belchertown in the South Parish,' passed on the twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven; an Act in addition thereto passed on the twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, together with the farm of Robert Hathaway, in said Greenwich, with all the in- habitants dwelling thereon, be, and herchy are, incorporated into a town by the name of Enfield, and vested with all the powers, privileges, rights, and immuni- ties, and subject to all the duties and requirements, of other towns of this com- monwealth."

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 124

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700