History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 126

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 126

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The Swift River Company dates its origin baek to the small beginnings which were made in cotton manufacturing by the old firm of D. & A. Smith, composed of Alfred, David, and Alvin Smith, who succeeded to the control and man- agement of the industries that already existed there, and which have been already referred to, in the year 1821. The factory was burned in 1836, but immediately rebuilt. They carried on the enterprise until the year 1852, when they were joined by Edward Smith. The Swift River Company was then formed, and consisted of Alfred, David, Alvin, and Ed- ward Smith. The new company started the mill on satinets, and also continued making cotton-warps. They added several sets of satinet-machinery, and made other improvements. They ran that way until the year 1863, when the capacity of the mill was more than doubled, the cotton-warp-machinery was thrown out, the old mill was thoroughly remodeled, and eight sets of machinery were started on all-wool fancy cassi- meres, and are still engaged in that manufacture. The num- ber of hands employed by the company is about 100. The amount of stock annually used up is from 300,000 to 400,000 pounds, and the average annual production is about 300,000 yards. The quarterly pay-roll of the company is about $8000. The original capital stock of the company was $40,000, and the amount has never been changed. The present stock- holders of the company are Edward P. and Henry M. Smith, of whom Edward Smith is president and treasurer.

In addition to the woolen business conducted by the com- pany, they have also a saw- and grist-mill, planing-mill, and machine repair-shop.

The Minot Manufacturing Company has a less remote origin. The first mill for making cloth at the lower dam was built by Elihu Lyman and Ichabod Pope about the year 1825. It was used in the manufacture of satinets, and was run by Elihu Lyman, Ichabod Pope, Abner Hale, and Moses Woods. The enterprise was not a profitable one, and was succeeded by the Swift River Manufacturing Company, which was or- ganized by Marshall and Thomas Jones, Leonard and Josiah B. Woods, Ephraim Richards, George Howe, and a few others. This company not only manufactured satinets, but also carried on the carding business, which Leonard Woods had established about 1820. Their factory was burned in 1830. A stone mill was then erected, but the inside, with all its machinery, was burnt out in 1848. The walls were not injured, and the fac- tory was again rebuilt and is still standing.

The Swift River Manufacturing Company was short-lived. The business was divided up. M. S. & T. Jones continued the manufacture of satinet, and the Woods, with Marshall Jones, carried on the carding business, under the name and style of Jones, Woods & Co. In 1837, M. S. & T. Jones failed, and the Minot* Manufacturing Company was incorporated, on

* The maiden name of Robert Field's wife, the mother of the Jones brothers.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

April 7th of that year, having as incorporators Marshall Jones, Leonard Woods, and Alvin Smith, with a capital stock of $75,000. The company, with an occasional change of owners, has been running ever since, at first manufacturing satinets, but now Shaker flannels and light-weight cassimeres. The present company consists of the George II. Gilbert Manu- facturing Company, of Ware, Edward B. & D. B. Gillett. They have two mills, with five sets of machinery, employ about 50 persons, manufacture about 300,000 yards annually, and pay out to employés about $1200 a month. The company also owns the grist-mill on the opposite side of the road, near the bridge, and the present officers are E. B. Gillett, Presi- dent ; Charles D. Gilbert, Secretary ; and D. B. Gillett, Treas- urer.

After the failure of M. S. & T. Jones, and the formation of the Minot Manufacturing Company, Leonard and Josiah B. Woods carried on the earding business with great success until the year 1850. They were then sneceeded by Rufus D. Woods and D. B. Gillett, under the name of Woods & Bro. In 1852 the partnership was dissolved, and Rufus D. Woods erected a mill at Holyoke, Mass., and engaged in the manu- facture of card-clothing until the year 1857, when he re-estab- lished the earding business in Enfield for two years. Ile then sold the machinery to Stedman & Fuller, of Lawrence, Mass., who, after continuing the business for one year in Enfield, re- moved the machinery to the former place.

Alvin Smith, Oramel Walker, and Albert Warren com- menced the manufacture of card-clothing in the year 1847, and about 1850 removed the business to Lawrence, Mass.

Anson M. Howard, formerly proprietor of the Swift River Hotel, has been engaged sinee the summer of 1876 in manu- facturing steel type, for use in type-writing, and other goods. Hlis shop is on the east bank of Swift River, between the upper and lower villages. Mr. Howard is a skillful me- chanic, and has taken out several valuable patents for useful inventions made by him in the manufacture of type, and machines for making them.

THE MILITARY RECORD

is necessarily brief, as the town was not incorporated until after the termination of all the carlier wars, and its history during those periods is identified with that of the town of Green wiel.

Those citizens of the town who served in the Revolutionary war, some of them from other towns, were Joshua Crosby, Benjamin Rider, Giles Rider, Barnabas Rich, - Pratt, - Newcomb, and John Stevens. The latter was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, and only escaped being killed, by the thrust of a British bayonet as he was leaving the fortifications, by having in his knapsack a loaf of bread that had been left in the oven too long before he left home, and had grown very hard. This checked the bayonet and saved his life.

In Shays' rebellion there were many active partisans in the town, but the only citizens who are known to have taken part were Benjamin Harwood, Joseph Fobes, Jr., and John Rea.

In the war of 1812, Ichabod Pope, Daniel Ford, Roswell Underwood, Henry Fobes, Joshua Crosby, Samuel Rich, Rug- gles Harwood, Samuel Barton, Packard Ford, Daniel Eddy, and Kingsley Underwood represented the town.

The record of the town in the late Rebellion is of the most honorable character. Money and men were promptly supplied to fill the ranks of the army and answer the demands of the war. The following is the list of soldiers who served in the army :

William M. Ayers, John L. Barton, Dexter Barton, Charles L. Burton, Frau- cis L. Bester, Isbon N. B -ster, Dwight Clark, Benjamin F. Conkey, George S. Corkine, Ira Currie, Ambrose B. Cowan, Julius C. Davis, Charles M. Carter, Thomas DevIne, Patrick Boyle, Lewis H. Donning, Thomas Dwyer, Joseph Ca- dienx, Frederick C. Kager, Walter R. Gardner, John R. Greenleaf, Jr., Michael Gleason, George L. tibbs, Oscar S. Griswohl, Michael Hughes, Colman Hanks, Tra L. Jones, Martin L. Jones, Charles F. Jones, Andrew J. Jones, Albert F.

Johnson, John W. Keith, Peter King, Jr., Justin Knight, Edmund Miller, John Merriam, Clark Lilabridge, Joshua C. Lazelle, Alexander McClellan, William Mahony, William W. Morse, Michael McMillan, Charles McClure, Alfred E. Manley, Anthony McGowan, Edwin II. Moore, William Newbury, John II. Newcomb, Calvin D. Newell, Charles W. Newell, Orin A. Powell, George W. Porter, Harvey Packard, George A. Pierce, Lafayette Smith, Henry D. South- wick, Lyman F. Shearer, Marshal Rider, Edward O. Randall, Henry A. Randall, Brigham D. Spront, John Sullivan, John W. Sadler, Warren M. Sadler, Charles 'Trumbull, Charles Underwood, Edwin F. Ward, Edward Wilder, Aaron Woods, James E. Woods, Willard A. Witherell, Daniel Welch.

In the compilation of the history of this town, generous as- sistance has been rendered by a large number of its citizens, to whom thanks are due, and especially by Ichabod l'ope, Hon. Rufus D. Woods, Charles Richards, Esq., William B. Kim- ball, Henry Fobes, Horace Hunt, and the pastors and manu- facturers of the town.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EPAPIRAS CLARK

was the son of Kenaz and Abigail Clark, and was born in Westhampton, Mass., where his boyhood was passed, June 28, 1790. Ilis education was obtained in the common schools of his native town. He had a strong desire for a collegiate education, and in his twenty-first year began to study under the care of the Rev. Enoch Hale, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church in Westhampton, and in nine months he was prepared to enter the Sophomore class of Williams College, where he graduated, in 1815, with high honors, being the vale- dictorian of his class. His father aided him in his collegiate course by removing with his family to Williamstown. Soon after his graduation he was offered a tutorship in the college, but declined on account of failing health. He studied law with Mr. Lathrop, a distinguished lawyer, at West Springfield, and began the practice of law in Granby, Mass., where he mar- ried Ruth M. Smith, daughter of Levi Smith of that town. He soon removed to South Hadley, Mass., where he remained five years, continuing the practice of his profession. From there he removed to Enfield, Mass., where he resided for up- ward of thirty years, being the only lawyer in the town. IJe generally held some important town office, was a trial-justice, and was a member of the State Legislature for five successive terms. He was, politically, first a Whig, and subsequently a Republican.

During the war of the Rebellion he was strongly interested in the success of the Union canse. Too advanced in life to enter the service, he did much toward stimulating others in the patriotie work of the hour. Ile eagerly read the news from the seat of war almost to the day of his death, April 30, 1864. Ile was, with one exception, the oldest member of the Hamp- shire Bar, the one older being Dyer Bancroft, Esq., of Ches- terfield, Mass. Mr. Clark was familiar with the literature of his day, had a remarkably retentive memory, and could repeat page after page of the poets Young, Milton, Cowper, etc. Ile possessed a fund of anecdotes, was quick at repartee, hav- ing that rare wit which amuses and cheers, but never wounds. He was a genial companion, having a kindly interest in all whom he knew. Ile united with the Congregational Church in Enfield in 1848, and was a consistent Christian.

The following, from an obituary notice which appeared in the Hampshire Gazette, was suggested to the editor by the late Judge Spalding, of Northampton : " Epaphras Clark was a man of sound morals. strict integrity, and fine literary culture; distinguished for his modest, quiet, and unassuming bearing. As a lawyer he was safe in counsel, elear in argument, and was always held in high esteem by the public."

Ppephras Palack

Photo, by Moffitt.

Kingsley , Underwood,

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

KINGSLEY UNDERWOOD.

Kingsley Underwood, son of Daniel Underwood and Ex- perience Kingsley, was born in Woodstock, Conn., March 2, 1770. His grandfather was one of the original settlers of the town, and died in 1772 upon the farm which he had cleared from forest. llis father met with an accident, from the effects of which a lingering illness ensued, and he died in October, 1779. There was no one in the family, there- fore, of an age to serve in the Revolutionary army but the boy. Kingsley well remembered the time when the Minute- Men set out for Roxbury and Cambridge, and he retained through life a most vivid reeollection of the events of the war. In the absence of so many men, the women and chil- dren suffered great hardships, especially in collecting wood for fuel. Kingsley, when only nine years old, aided by his younger brother, had to go into the woods with a hatehet and cut down such trees as he could manage, and drag home the limbs in a hand-cart. His first schooling was for a few days in the winter of 1779-80. The school was two and a half miles distant, and, as the snow was deep and the roads were not broken out, the boy went on snow-shoes. He made good use of his time, however, and in those few days learned to read. When he was about thirteen, and his mother had mar- ried again, Kingsley was befriended by a kind neighbor, 'Squire Fox, who sent him to school about six months, and this was the sum-total of his education, except what he gained unaided, yet he read the Bible through eight times before he was six- teen. Later in life he read many books, especially after he was forty, in which period he was a diligent student, and he came to be as well informed as most professional men. He served an apprenticeship to a blacksmith in Sturbridge, Mass.,

and afterward, in that town, at the age of twenty-three, was married to Elizabeth Allen, daughter of John Allen, a lineal descendant of Rev. James Allen, who came from England and settled in Dedham in 1629. A year later he removed to Enfield, Mass., where he spent the remainder of his life. He set up a triphammer-shop, and toiled strenuously at his trade; but while still in middle life he was compelled to give up business on account of incurable lameness. But the events of his life were neither striking nor important; it is with the character of the man that we have to do. That a man born in penury, inured to hardship from tender years, and furnished with less than seven months' schooling should become a eredita- ble scholar and a forcible writer, and, guided solely by native taste, should become familiar with the rarest stores of English poetry, is a triumph worth holding up for emulation. He was afflicted with an obstinate habit of stammering, and his ordi- nary speech was painful to hear; but in singing or reading poetry, the nervous tremors ceased and the metre of the verse flowed in an unruffled current. His descendants well remem- ber his rapt look and his beaming but misty eyes when re- peating some grand Miltonian line. The great Puritan bard was his idol, and, as he read, the majesty of his verse seemed moving to solemn music in his hrain. He was an Abolitionist from the first, and devoted most of his time to the work. For many years he cast the single anti-slavery vote in his town, and cheerfully bore the jeers of the shorter-sighted, confident of the coming justice of time. lle had a ready wit and a talent for off-hand rhymes which made him a favorite in all companies. lle died Nov. 2, 1849, in his eightieth year. His descendants are widely scattered, and at this date, April, 1879, only one son survives.

HATFIELD.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

HATFIELD is the northernmost of the towns of llampshire County which lie upon the west bank of the Connecticut River. It is bounded north by Franklin County, east by Iladley, south by Hadley and Northampton, west by North- ampton and Williamsburg. It is finely situated above the great bend of the river, comprising a large extent of rich alluvial plains. The farm acreage is 8339 aeres, according to the census of 1875.

The title to the soil of Hatfield was derived direct from the Indians, with the approval of the provincial authorities. The first purchase by the Hadley proprietors was Dec. 25, 1658, and comprised a large extent of territory upon the east side of the Connecticut River. No part of this became the property of llatfield. The second purchase was made July 10, 1660, and comprised the " lands on the west side from Capawong Brook (now Mill River) on the south to the brook called Wunekeompss, which comes out of the great pond, and over the brook to the upper side of the meadow called Mincom- muck on the north, and extending westerly nine miles into the woods." This was the beginning of what afterward con- stituted the town of Hatfield. The price paid was 300 fathoms of wampum and sundry gifts. The deed was signed by Umpanchala, and approved by his brother Etowomq. The " Chickens," or planting-field, was reserved, and also the lib- erty to hunt deer and other wild animals, to take fish, to set wigwams on the commons, and to cut wood and trees for use.

The third purchase was the meadow called Capawonk, lying in the south part of the town, and this came under the juris- diction of Ilatfield at the time that town was incorporated.

The deed for this is dated Jan. 22, 1663. It was sold to Had- ley by the Northampton planters for £30. They had bought it of the Indians in 1657 for 50s.

Oct. 19, 1672, the town of llatfield purchased a traet to the north, comprising what is now the town of Whately, and a portion of the north part of Hatfield. This was the land of the Indian chief Quonquont, and the deed was signed by his widow, Sarah Quonquont, his son, Pocunohouse, his daughter, Majesset, and two others. The price paid was 50 fathoms of " wampumpeag." The south line was from a walnut-tree stand- ing by the river, in Mincommuek Meadow, westerly out into the woods. It was bounded on the north by Weekiannuck Brook, where the Poeumtuck path erosses it, the line running east to the great river and west six miles into the woods.

Of these four purchases, the last three cover the present territory of Hatfield. Every man's deed is really based on these, and we must suppose the lands subject to the original reservations, and that the descendants of Umpanchala and Quonquont have still a right to hunt and fish along these streams, and plant their wigwams on the common.

NATURAL FEATURES.

A large portion of this town consists of the valuable mead- ows bordering the Connecticut River. Mill River (not of Williamsburg) enters the town from Franklin County about the middle point of the north line, flows due south until it receives an important tributary from the west, where it de- fleets sharply to the cast, and by an irregular route, almost doubling upon itself, finally enters the Connectient on the north side of the great Hadley eurve. The western branch

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

above described is formed of Broad Brook and Running Gutter. The southern part of the town within the bend of tbe Connecticut and along the lower portion of Mill River is swampy. The only hills are in the west part of the town,- two ranges, one just west of Mill River, known as " The Rocks," the other parallel to it and on the west line of the town, known as Horse Mountain. Great Pond lies north of the centre, on the east side and not far from the Connecticut.

In the variety of rocks and minerals the hill-towns west far exceed Ilatfield in richness and beauty. But along the out- lines of Hatfield and in its general formation there is much to be studied of the great truths of creation, written upon the rocks and the soils and the river-beds. The sweep and power of currents, the abrasion of banks, the cutting of new chan- nels, and the creation of new meadow-lands may all be studied here; and while the student of nature traces this wonderful story beneath his feet and along the broad Con- necticut, he may lift his eye and read the grander lessons of the mountains that are outlined against the sky and bound this alluvial plain.

EARLY SETTLEMENT-SUBSEQUENT GROWTH.

Hatfield was settled at the same time as Hadley, 1659 to 1661. Together the two towns became the property of a colony from Wethersfield and Hartford, Conn.

Differences with reference to church organization led to the removal. The faith and firmness of the fathers are thus clearly indicated. So conscientiously and tenaciously did they cling to what they deemed to be right that they were ready at any time to abandon home and lands and found new settlements, facing for this purpose not only the hardships of the forest, but the dangers of a savage foe.

" These settlers were men of wealth and high social position, and were re- garded by Massachusetts authorities as a most desirable addition to her popula- tion. They had, as their subsequent history proved, the self-reliance and earn- estness and courage which usually attach to men who strike out a new path for conscience' sake."

It is thought that a few families spent the winter of 1659 and 1660 in the new colony at the present site of Hadley village. The following summer, 1660, it is understood that six families located on the west side of the river, now Hatfield, though the land was not divided until a year later.

Among these six Richard Fellows is said to have been the first, and he established himself at the south end of the pres- ent village, just below the intersection of the Northampton road, as appears by a list herrafter given. The other five families were Richard Billings, Zechariah Field, John Cole, John White, Jr., and Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr. It is not certain that either Fellows or the others located on the lots they afterward received at the regular division. They would, however, very likely be permitted to keep what they had really occupied.

This was the beginning of the town of Hatfield nearly two and a quarter centuries ago : six families, separated from their companions on the other side, grouped in the forest at the south end of the present street, the new settlement of North- ampton, their nearest neighbors, on the south, and all around the unbroken forest.

The records of the various proceedings show more in detail the steps taken for settlement.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first town-meeting in Hadley-which then included Hatfield-was held at the house of Andrew Warner, Oct. 8, 1660.

Voted that all who sit down on the west side of the river (Hatfiehl) shall be one with those on the east side in both ecclesiastical and civil matters that are common to the whole, they paying all charges from their engagement and all purchase charges from the beginning. Those admitted for inhabitants on the west side of the river are to be inhabiting there in honses of their own by next Michaelmas (Sept. 29, 1661), und to sign an engagement by themselves or some others for them.

Most of those who wished to settle on the west side of the river signed an engagement for themselves or their friends to be dwellers there before Sept. 29, 1661.

Some signed at the meeting October 8th, others November Ist, and some in January, February, or March, 1661. Twenty- five persons " manifested an intention" before March 25, 1661, to establish themselves on that side of the river in the new town, viz., Aaron Cook, Thos. Meekins, Wm. Allis, Nathaniel Dick- inson, Jr., John Coleman, Isaae Graves (with his father, Thos. Graves), John Graves, Samuel Belden, Stephen Taylor, John White, Jr., Daniel Warner, Richard Fellows, Richard Bil- lings, Edward Benton, Mr. Ritchell ( with his son), Ozias Good- win, Zechariah Field, Lieut. Thomas Bull, Gregory Wilterton, Nathaniel Porter, Daniel White, William Pitkin, John Cole, Samuel Church, Samuel Dickinson.

Of these 27 persons, Aaron Cook and Samuel Church did not remove to the west side of the river. Ozias Goodwin, Lieut. Bull, Gregory Wilterton, and William Pitkin con- tinued to reside at Hartford; Nathaniel Porter at Windsor ; Mr. Richell (and son) and Edward Benton at Wethersfield. Seventeen appear to have become permanent residents on the west side, and thus constituted the first settlers of Hattield. They were from Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield, Conn., except Thomas Meekins and William Allis, who belonged to Braintree, Mass.

Several families whose names were afterward very prom- inent in all the public business of Hatfield, as Hastings, Par- tridge, Williams, Smith, and others, settled a few years later.

The home-lots in Hatfield village were assigned so that they were owned from 1668 to 1672 about as follows, commencing at the north end, east side of the street, ut the old highway to the river (present Bliss Hotel corner) : Thomas Bravy ; Ilezekiah Dickinson, 20 rods wide; William Scott, 20 rods wide; Daniel Belden, 16 rods wide; Samuel Allis,.16 rods wide; Sammuel Marsh, 16 rods wide ; Nathaniel Foote, 16 rods wide ; a space lett for a street; Philip Russell, 4 acres ; Samuel Gillett, 4 acres; John Wells, 412 acres; John Coleman, 16 rous wide; Samuel Belden, 8 acres; William Gull, 8 acres ; Samuel Dickinson, 8 acres; Edward Benton, Nathaniel Dickinson, Sr., 6 acres; John White, Jr., Nicholas Worthington, 8 acres; Nathaniel Dickinson, Jr., 8 acres ; Richard Bil- lings, Samuel Billings, 8 acres ; Daniel Warner, 8 acres ; Thomas Bull, by the town to Mr. Atherton, 8 acres.

Returning to the north end, and beginning on the west side of the street, opposite the Bliss Hotel, the proprietors were

William King, afterward Samuel Field, 16 rods wide; Benjamin Wait, 16 rods wide; Jolin Graves, Jr., 16 rods wide ; Samuel Foute, 16 rods wide ; Robert Danks, 16 rods wide ; space for Deerfield lane; Isaac Graves, Jr., 16 rods wide; Samuel Northam, 16 rods wide; Richard Morton, 20 rods wide; n town-lot, 16 rods wile; space reserved for street; John Hawks, 4 acres; Mill lane; Samuel Kel- logg, 4 acres; Obadiah Dickinson, 4 acres; John Allis, 8 acres; Daniel White, 8 acres; Win. Allis, 8 acres; Thomas Meekins, Thomas Meekins, Jr., 8 acres; Eleazer Frary, 8 acres; John Graves, 8 acres; Isaac Graves, 8 acres; Stephen Taylor, Barnabas Hinsdale, 8 acres; Ozeas Goodwin, Mr. Hope Atherton, 8 acres ; Zechariah Field, John Field, 8 acres; highways to Northampton ; John Cowles & Son, 8 acres ; Richard Fellows, Widow Fellows, 8 acres.

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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 126

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