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 141
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The name of Dr. Fay appears in 1774 as one permitted, with Dr. Bradish, to open a hospital for inoculation. If this is the Nathan Fay whose homestead Deacon Hamlin supposes to have been on West Hill, in Plainfield, it would indicate his settlement, and that of others, at or before that date. We ob- tain no further names from the records until five years later.
At the first town-meeting in Cummington (1779), Lieut. Joshua Shaw was chosen one of the selectmen. Andrew Cook and Isaac Joy were named among the surveyors of high ways. Caleb White was chosen a deer-reeve. Lieut. Colson was chosen upon the committee of correspondence. These five families were undoubtedly settled here between 1774 and 1779. It is not probable that all the settlers were appointed to office, and hence there must have been a few other families that came in during that period of five years.
In March, 1780, at the town-meeting of Cummington, Lieut. Samuel Noyes apparently took the place of Lieut. Colson upon the committee of correspondence, indicating his settle- ment here that year or earlier. At this same date, 1780, there oceurs also the name of Ebenezer Bisbee, and this agrees with the statements of his son. Abraham Beals and John Streeter were appointed surveyors of highways in Cummington, 1780. The same year we also find the names of Win. Robbins and Jonathan Munroe, also Noah Packard. We thus determine seven more families, giving twelve names, in all, of those ap- pointed to office. This statement indicates the settlement of twenty to twenty-five families in Plainfield by 1780. This applies to only that part of Plainfield taken from Cummington. The section afterward annexed from Ashfield may have also had one or more settlers by 1780, as well as the two tiers of } lots taken from Hawley.
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Plainfield was thus settled during the Revolutionary war. Notwithstanding the civil commotions, hardy pioneers were continually pushing westward from the towns of Abingdon and Bridgewater, which, with others, seem at that time to have constituted a human hive, teeming with inhabitants, and send- ing out swarms to settle Western Hampshire. Under their efforts, " the wilderness blossomed as the rose, and the desert became a fruitful field." In their system of town-meetings they brought with them the great principles of local home rule, the very sources of constitutional liberty throughout the world. In their religious institutions they kept unbroken the faith of their fathers, kindling its altar-fires upon every hill- top, and sending forth streams of light and truth to illuminate the dark places of the earth.
SPECIAL FAMILY NOTES.
Isaac Joy, Sr. Warrant for first town-meeting issued to him ; homestead was in the south part of the town, now
426
427
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
owned by Nelson Shaw ; buildings gone. Among his chil- dren were Isaac, Jr., Plainfield ; Joseph, Plainfield (father of Leonard Joy, now living in town) ; Hannah ( Mrs. Taylor, Ilawley). The children of Isaac, Jr., were Lucinda ( Mrs. Tay- lor, Ilawley) ; Mrs. James Cook, Plainfield; Mrs. Abisha Nash, Plainfield ; Alonzo, Plainfield ; Zenas, Northampton ; William, Stamford, Vt .; Isaac, went from town early. The children of Joseph were Leonard, Plainfield ; James, Plain- field ; Polly (Mrs. Beres Patrick), Plainfield, moved to Ash- field ; Merila (Mrs. Dura Torrey); Electa ( Mrs. Levi Clark) ; Clarissa (Mrs. Levi Campbell).
Mr. MeIntyre. Supposed to be the first settler ; homestead probably near where Mrs. Mary Dunning now lives. The marriage of two who were probably his daughters is given elsewhere; and there is also recorded the death of Widow MeIntyre (1802), aged eighty-three, who was very probably the wife of this first pioneer.
Simon Burroughs. There was one son, Simon, Jr .; the fam- ily went West at an early day. Lieut. Ebenezer Colson, home- stead a little southeast of the village, now owned by O. C. Shumway. The family removed to Hamilton, N. Y. Their children were Ebenezer, Jr., Josiah, Russell, Lyman, Allen, and Bonaparte.
Lieut. Joshua Shaw, first town-clerk ; one of the first select- men of Cummington (1779); homestead on the present farm of O. C. Shumway ; one son, Thomas, afterward town-clerk.
Lieut. John Packard was here several years before the town was organized, as his name is among the town officers of Cum- mington (1779). Children : John, Plainfield, later to Ohio, and Mrs. Eldridge, who also went West, to Ohio.
Lieut. John Cunningham (1783-84), homestead on the so- called Strong place, now owned by Lewis Shaw. Of the children, there were John, Jr., Ohio; Jones, Ohio; James T., Artemas, Amos, and Cyrus. Two daughters; they went West at an early day.
Josiah Torrey, homestead on West Hill. Of the children, John settled in Cummington ; Josiah in Plainfield ; Mrs. John Ford, Cummington ; Mrs. Ebenezer Shaw, Cummington.
Solomon Nash, homestead where Oren Tirrill, Jr., now lives ; family went West at an early day ; one son was Reuel. Nathan Fay, homestead on West Hill; probably was the owner of a tract now the farm of Oren Tirrill. William Daniels .- A blacksmith at the centre, of that name, worked opposite the present house of Charles N. Dyer. The Daniels homestead was in the southeast part of the town. Jacob Clark, home- stead southeast part of the town, residence of Seth W. Clark. Children : Jacob, Jr., Mrs. James Jewell, Mrs. Daniel Coe, Sally (died unmarried), Lucy, Hannah, Nancy, Levi, David, Chester, and Alanson.
Abijah Pool, homestead a mile east of the centre ; buildings gone. Of the children, Jephthah entered the ministry ; Abijah, Ohio; Mrs. Jessie Dyer, Ashfield. Jonathan Munroe, home- stead south of the centre, the farm now owned by Lewis Shaw; formerly known as the Caleb Beals place. Daniel Streeter, homestead where Lorenzo Joy now lives perhaps, or near there. Of his children, Ozias settled in Adams; Salem, Daniel, Levi, Matilda, Chester, in Plainfield.
Lieut. Samuel Noyes, first surveyor of lumber, was here very early. Jonathan Noyes, perhaps a son, was a resident of Plainfield very early. Homestead where Edwin Kinney now lives. Children : Jonathan, Susannah, Vesta, Ira, Cephas, Sally, Samuel, Jason, Niles, Webster.
Azariah Beals, homestead on West Ilill, the George Vining place ; buildings gone. Samuel Streeter, homestead present place of Joseph Sears, north of the church. Children : Han- nah, Joanna, died young; Jacob, went West; Susannah, Anselm, went West; Lucena, Arnold, Plainfield ; Truman, went West; Samuel, Jr., went West ; Nahum. John Streeter is also mentioned among the early pioneers.
Caleb White, a town officer of Cummington, 1779. Home-
stead south of the centre, near where Orson S. White now lives ; the house gone; an old well marks the spot. Children : Ziba, Plainfield; Samuel, Plainfield (father of Orson S. White).
Josiah Shaw, homestead where Freeman Shaw recently lived. Among the children were Josiah, Jr., Plainfield ; Samuel, the well-known physician ; Dana, also physician ; Elvira, who died unmarried at an advanced age; Nancy (Mrs. Edmund Campbell) ; Freeman, who lived and died on the old homestead.
Elisha Bisbee. Ile was a brother of Ebenezer. His home was near Henry Packard's place,-a part of Ebenezer's farm. He moved to Meredith. He is said to have had nineteen children. Benjamin Bullen, homestead was on a part of the farm owned by John Ilamlin. Asa Streeter lived over the line, in Cummington, as now understood; grandfather of several now living in Cummington. Solomon Pratt, home- stead in the east part of the town. Abraham Clark was another of the brothers of Jacob Clark. Homestead, Lyman Thayer's place. Children: James, Elijah, Samuel, Betsey, Lydia.
Joseph Cook, homestead perhaps in the neighborhood of Andrew Cook ; among his children were Levi, Jason, Laura, Clarissa, Electa. Jacob Joy, homestead where Edwin Dyer now lives. Children : Cyrus, Plainfield ; Nathan, New York City ; Lucy, Lurinda; Ira, living in Hawley ; Sally, Orse- mus, who went West, supposed still living; Horatio N. Jeremiah Robinson, homestead where Osman Thayer now lives. Children : Mrs. Isaac Bisbee ; Clara, died young; Mrs. Ezra Williams, Joshua, William, Seth. Andrew Cook, appointed a town officer of Cummington, 1779; homestead southeast part of the town. Children : Hannah and John, and perhaps others.
John Jones, homestead east of the centre; he had a son, Jacob. John Shaw, homestead present place of Samuel Loud. Of the children were Mrs. Samuel Loud, and Oakes Shaw, who went West. Ebenezer Bisbee, homestead the present place of Henry Packard, southwest part of the town. Chil- dren : Isaac, Barton, James, John, Nabby, Jennette; Arza, died young.
James Richards, homestead the present Ansel Cole place. He came from Abingdon 1787 or 1788. Children : James, one of the founders of American missions; William, also a for- eign missionary ; Austin, who entered the ministry ; Jason (2dl), still living at Plainfield Centre; Nancy, Jason (Ist), and another died in infancy; . Joseph, who became a physician ; Lydia (Mrs. Ebenezer Snell), Cummington ; and Sally (Mrs. John Mack), Plainfield.
John Ilamlin, of Bridgewater, came to Cummington with his mother, a widow, when he was thirteen years old, in the year 1776. Ile used to say he remembered hearing the an- nouncement of the Declaration of Independence talked of as something just done when they came through Northampton. He married Sally Town, and settled in Plainfield in 1790; homestead the present place of James Warner. Children : John, died young; Oren, died young; Reuben, settled in Plainfield ; Mrs. Otis Pratt, Plainfield; Mrs. John Ford, Cummington ; Lyman, Western New York and Michigan ; Freeman, Plainfield, still living ; Mrs. Mason Ames, Chester ; Horace, now living, Granville, Ohio ; John (2d), died young.
Andrew Ford, homestead south of the Cudworth place. Of his children were Elias, Levi, Andrew, Jr., Ebenezer, Polly, Elizabeth, Matilda, and another. Perhaps the Andrew Ford of the early records was the father of the one here mentioned.
Elijah Ford and Solomon were brothers of Andrew, Sr. The latter died Oct. 16, 1790. Caleb Beals, homestead where Lewis Shaw now lives. Among the children were Jacob, Plainfield ; Comfort, Plainfield ; David, Plainfield ; Nancy, died unmarried ; Betsey (Mrs. Ira Hamlin) ; Eben, Plain- field ; Elijah, Plainfield.
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Abijah Snow, homestead on the West Hill; a man of con- siderable note. Joseph Clark, a brother of Jacob Clark. Jacob Hawes, homestead where Albert Gurney now lives ; family went West fifty years ago or more. Ephraim Lloyd, homestead where William Jones now resides. Of his children were Charles, who settled in Cummington, and Huldah. Benjamin Dyer, homestead present place of Samuel Bartlett, Ashfield, near the Plainfield line. Children : Benjamin, Jr., Plainfield ; Jacob, Ashfield; Anson, entered the ministry at the West, a missionary to the Indians; Mrs. Hiram Beales, Ashfield ; Christopher, Ashfield ; Alvin, now living near the old homestead ; Randall, Ohio.
Rev. Moses Hallock, homestead present Spearman place, Plainfield Centre. Children : William A. Hallock, the well- known agent, for so many years, of the American Tract So- ciety ; Gerard Hallock, editor of the Journal of Commerce; Martha, who died unmarried; Leavitt, Plainfield; Homan, the type-manufacturer. He first was a missionary in Smyrna, and returned to make type.
Abel Warner, homestead where Francis Joy now lives. Of his children were Ira, Lorenzo, Polly ( Mrs. Leonard loy), Theodore, Sylvanus, Justus Warner (father of the author, Charles Dudley Warner), Sally ( Mrs. Taylor), Fanny (Mrs. Reuben Hamlin), Rosamond ( Mrs. Townsley).
Elijah Warner, homestead south part of the town. Chil- dren : Betsey (Mrs. Simeon Streeter), James, Melancey (Mrs. Howlet), Cushing, William, Elijah, Jr., Wells, Roswell, Jennette. Cushing, Wells, and Jennette-all unmarried- reside on the old homestead.
Barnabas Packard (son of Barnabas of Cummington) was an early settler of Plainfield. Ilis homestead was in the southwest part of the town. Of his children, Barnabas set- tled in Plainfiehl; Norton, Pittsfield; Milton, Missouri ; Roswell, Racine, Wis. ; Achsah (Mrs. Hiram Upham) ; Patty (Mrs. Nathan Beales). Sally and Ruby died unmarried.
Asa Joy came to' Plainfield very early ; he had two sons, John and Walter, and one danghter, Ruth, who died unmar- ried. Stephen Hayward, appointed on a committee to lay out roads in No. 5, Sept. 26, 1764. He was very probably a brother of Joseph Hayward, the grandfather of Stephen Hayward, now living in Plainfield ; but, according to the family tradi- tion as stated by the latter, they did not settle here, nor in Cummington, though they were proprietors,-the Haywards of Cummington being more distant connections, if related at all. To throw more light on this point, however, we add the statement (as furnished by Stephen ) of his grandfather's family of Concord, Joseph Hayward. Children : James, of Plainfield, as elsewhere stated ; John, Concord ; Simeon, Phillipstown ; Stephen, who went West ; Joseph, New Hampshire ; Asa, died young. There were also six daughters.
Noah Packard, homestead present Roswell Davison place. Children : Mrs. James Bisbee; Tram, who went to Ohio; Mrs. Jacob Porter, Cummington ; Olive, who died unmar- ried ; Noah, who went through to Ohio on foot, starting the day after he was twenty-one; David, who later in life went to Ohio.
Joseph Beals came in 1779 and settled opposite the present residence of Albert Dyer, in a small house afterward burned, as stated in the tract " Mountain Miller." He then built on the other side a house which is a part of the present dwelling, the kitchen being the identical room where his conversion took place, as stated in the tract. He afterward removed to where Nelson Cook now lives. Children : Samuel, Plainfield ; Jo- seph, who succeeded his father for many years in the mill ; Robert (father of Mrs. Albert Dyer) ; Lydia, died young (the first death described in the tract) ; Polly (the other death mentioned in the tract) ; and Mrs. William Reed, Albany.
Gideon Clark, spoken of in Cummington affairs as early as 1772. James Porter came about 1780; among the children were Polly, Abigail, Hannah, and James. Jacob Nash, about
1780-83, was a Revolutionary soldier ; homestead the present place of Stephen Parsons. Children : Arvin, Plainfield (father of James A., the present proprietor of the grist-mill); Rox- ana and Sybil, who died unmarried; Mrs. Jacob Pratt, Mrs. David Crittenden. Peter B. Beals, whose family went West . at an early day. Eli and Peter were two of the children.
James Hayward came in 1793 and settled where his son Stephen is now living, at the advanced age of ninety-one. Children : Stephen, on the old homestead ; James, the pro- fessor in Harvard University ; Joseph, a bridge-builder of Troy, died in South America ; Tilly, entered the ministry of the Swedenborgian Church, died the present year (1878). Two children died in infancy. One daughter, Mrs. Elisha Mack, of Albany. Stephen says there were five brothers came to this country originally, and all spelled their name differently.
Levi Stetson, homestead west part of the town. Children : Levi, Whitcomb, Judson, all of Plainfield ; Mrs. Levi Cook, Mrs. Philip Packard. Jesse Dyer came about the close of the Revolution, and settled in Ashfield, near Plainfield, on the present farm of Alvin Dyer Children : Jared, Plainfield; Oakes, Plainfield; Bela, Plainfield, moved to Ohio late in life ; Albert, Plainfield ; Samuel, Plainfield; Mrs. Ebenezer Crosby, Wisconsin ; Newell Dyer (father of Charles N. Dyer, present town clerk), Plainfield.
David Whiting, came from Abingdon in 1790 or 1791; homestead in Cummington ; then to Plainfield on the farm now owned by Deacon Clark; buildings gone. Children : Addison, died young ; Mrs. James Joy, Mrs. James Warner, Plainfield ; Mrs. Dr. Dana Shaw, moved West; Mrs. Freeman Shaw, Mrs. Freeman Hamlin, Plainfield; Randall, Plainfield, moved to New York; Theodore, New York State; Mrs. Royal Hibbard, New York; Chandler, Plainfield ; Lewis, Saratoga. Oliver Tirrell, homestead east part of the town. Children : Mehitable (Mrs. Apollos Gardner) ; Ezra, Jason, Jeremiah, Joshua, Plainfield ; Silence (Mrs. Win. Winslow), Salome, Marila (Mrs. Daniels). Benjamin Town, homestead where Russell Tirrell now lives. Among the children were Candace (MIrs. Steele) ; Benjamin, Plainfield ; Chloe, died unmarried ; Younglove, Plainfield ; John, died young.
Ebenezer Diekinson, homestead on land owned in Hawley ; buildings gone. Among the children were Abner, died young ; Anna ; Roxana, unmarried ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Codding) ; Eben- ezer, Jr., Hawley ; Abner (2d), died young ; Apphia (Mrs. Crowell Hawley) ; Hannah (Mrs. Hunt) ; Mary (Mrs. Noyes) ; John B., Plainfield ; Erastus, a minister.
Samuel Stoddard, homestead southeast part of the town; buildings gone. Among the children were Malinda (Mrs. Lincoln), Sally (Mrs. Whitman), Sukey ( Mrs. Philo Pack- ard), Electa (Mrs. Oakes Dyer), Laura (Mrs. Packard), Mrs. Willard Beals, Mrs. Wm. Packard, Cummington. Giles Atkins, homestead extreme northwest part. Among the children were Elisha, Plainfield; Freeman, Isaac, Hawley ; Sarah (Mrs. Jordan). Benjamin Gardner, east part of the town. Among the children were Benjamin, Jr., Rachel, Warren, William, Gideon. Jacob Gardner, east part of the town. Among the children were Jacob, Jr., Apollos.
George Vining, Abingdon, 1785-90; homestead west part of the town; buildings gone. Children : Melvin, who went West; Freeman, Derby, Vt. ; George, Plainfield; Scott, Sand Lake, N. Y .; Marcus Cullen, Cummington ; Mrs. Thomas Kingman, Mrs. Robert Beals, Mrs. Ilunter Chester, Mrs. Jacob Stetson, Mrs. Joseph Woods, Springfield. Tract No. 354, American Tract Society, relates to a member of this family.
Jacob Allen, homestead on West Hill, where Mr. Brown now lives. Among the children were Mehitable ( Mrs. Dr. Richards ), Molly ( Mrs. John Packard, Jr. ), Celia ( Mrs. Daniel Richards), Jacob, Jr., Ward, Susannah, Philena, Timothy, Almon, Alden, Miranda. Family all removed from town at an early day.
429
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
Ebenezer Nash, homestead half a mile north of the church ; buildings gone. Among the children were Electa (Mrs. Amos Tirrell, Jr.) ; Polly ( Mrs. Josiah Torrey, Jr. ) ; Vinson, Ohio ; Sally, died unmarried ; Diadama (Mrs. Sadler), Abisha, Plain- field.
Amos Tirrell, homestead where Merritt Torrey now lives, west part of the town. Among the children were Hannah (Mrs. Samuel Thayer), Isaac, Amos, Jr., Oren, Arza, Abra- ham S., Plainfield ; Clarissa, died young ; James, Plainfield.
Joseph Gloyd, homestead southeast part of the town. Among the children were Levi, Joseph, Jr., Bethuel, and several daughters. David Stowell, homestead east part of the town ; buildings gone; land owned by William Jones. Among his children were Nahum, Sally (Mrs. Caleb Packard), David, William, Mehitable (Mrs. William Torrey), Hannah, Clar- issa. Jeremiah Stockwell, homestead where James A. Wins- low now lives. Among the children were Hannah, Jonathan, Plainfield; Jeremiah, Consider, Plainfield; Parley, Plainfield ; Hannah, Matilda, Sally. Caleb Joy, homestead where Char- lotte Lincoln now lives. Among the children were John, settled on the homestead; Sally ( Mrs. Noah Pixley).
John Campbell came very early ; homestead where Levi N. Campbell now lives; house near the present. Children : Ebenezer, Northampton ; Levi (father of Levi N., now living at the old place) ; Edmund, Plainfield; Sally, Amasa, Plain- field, Vt .; Betsey (MIrs. Pool). Whitcomb Pratt, homestead west part of the town; came from Weymouth. Among his children were Jacob, Plainfield; Otis, Plainfield; Austin, Cummington ; Mrs. Pool, Mrs. Charles Gloyd ; two daughters were married abroad. Daniel L. Pratt, brother of the above, homestead in what is popularly known as " Shoe-String Hol- low." Among his children were Harvey, who went West ; William, Plainfield, then to Ohio with his father and the family. Amos Crittenden (his father probably came into town with him), homestead near where Mark Howes now lives, Among the children were Amos, Jr., Plainfield ; Matthias, Plainfield ; Azriel, Plainfield.
Benjamin Carr, homestead near where Deacon Barber now lives. Among his children were Oliver, Plainfield; Benja- min, Plainfield; John, l'lainfield, afterward to Buckland ; Lucinda, died unmarried; Dolly, died unmarried; Candace (Mrs. Howard, of Hawley) ; Sally, married in Buckland. Philip Packard, homestead northwest part of the town ; build- ings gone down; land owned by Joseph Sears. Among the children were Amasa, Ohio; Philip, Ohio; Nabby, Patty, Jane, Josiah. Benjamin Gloyd, homestead where Charles C. Gloyd, a grandson, now lives. Among his children were Stephen, Plainfield ; Philena (Mrs. Consider Stockwell), Plainfield ; James, Plainfield ; Benjamin, Plainfield ; Sarah, married in Hawley. Elijah Gloyd, homestead north part of the town ; buildings gone. Elijah, Harvey, James, Almira.
REMINISCENCES OF JOHN BISBEE.
There is now living at Plainfield Centre, Dec. 26, 1878, one who was nearly four years old when Gen. Washington took the oath as President of the United States, in 1789. John Bisbee is a venerable relic of a past age. He was born July 3, 1785, and is therefore twenty-two days older than the dis- trict of Plainfield. His father, Ebenezer Bisbee, was in the Revolutionary army during the first three years or a part of that time. Of his wages he saved $20 Continental money, and depreciated at that. Coming to Cummington in 1779 with the $20, he bought twenty acres of land where Henry Packard now lives, paying out all of his money, but having left a robust constitution and an iron will to carve out a home for himself and his family. John Bisbee was born at the homestead, and has lived at Plainfield all his life except seven years spent in Cummington. He said to the writer that he "had often been to the grist-mill of Joseph Beals when young ; that Mr. Beals always reached out his hand quick to greet
any one coming in. When asked if Mr. Beals ever told him he must be a good boy and become a Christian, he replied in substance, " His talk always looked that way."
Mr. Bisbee resides with his daughter, Mrs. Campbell, and is ealmly waiting the end of life, every night at a stated hour of prayer committing himself to the arms of his heavenly Father with a childlike trust that all is well, whether the morning dawn upon him here or in the better land beyond .*
The first marriage notice upon the books of the town is the following :
" A purpose of marriage made public Aug. 11, 1785, between Elijah Ford and Amia Cook." Same date, "between Joseph Easton and Mary Wood."
It is difficult to give from the record the first birth in town, as the place is not usually mentioned, and children born in families before removing to town are often recorded afterward. The first may be the following :
" Isaac Bisbee, son of Ebenezer, born April 2, 1779."
The following early marriages appear :
Married in Ashfield, by Rev. Jacob Sherwin, Jan. 23, 1777, Amos Crittenden, of Ashfield, to Phehe McIntyre, of " Hatfieldl Equivalent."
Stephen Smith and Hannah McIntyre, both of " Hutfield Equivalent," July 17, 1777.
Simon Burroughs, of " Hatfield Equivalent," and Hannah Noyes, of Cumming- ton, Ang. 20, 1782.
MERCHANTS.
Jonathan Perkins was an early merchant. Ilis advertise- ments appear in the Hampshire Gazette of 1794. Jason Rich- ards supposes Perkins did not trade after 1803 or '4. He was very likely the first merchant. Perhaps down to his time the Lazell store in Cummington may have been the principal point of trade for this seetion, as that was probably opened during the Revolutionary war. John Mack was also an carly merchant, commencing 1803 or '4. His store was in a building south of and near to the main building now owned by Mr. Smith. About 1821 he built the store now occupied by Mrs. Packard. There he continued in trade until his death, abont 1833. He had for a time associated with himself his son John, Jr. The store was then run by John and Elisha Mack. Later were Whitney Hitchcock, Aaron Sawyer, Alden Clark, Eugene Shaw, Wanton Gilbert, Charles Mack, and others down to Charles Burt, who sold to the present proprietor. Mr. Pool was an early merchant at the east corners.
The store of Iram Packard, now the dwelling-house of Levi Clark, opposite the meeting-house, was established about 1830. After Packard, Aaron Sawyer was in trade there for some years. He sold to Jacob Clark & Brother. They traded till 1858 or about that time, and then closed their business.
The present store of Leonard Campbell succeeded the hat business carried on by Ira Hamlin. Mr. Campbell opened in trade about 1852, and has continued to the present time. About 1825, and for a few years later, a store was occupied by Isaac K. Lincoln, in the eastern part of the town, opposite where Newton Lincoln now lives. He was followed for a short time by Gurney & Brother, after which the store was closed.
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