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 145
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 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186
llenry A. Vining, enl. Dec. 5, 1863, Ist Cav., Co. I ; disch, June 29, 1865.
Robert Lond, cul. Sept. 26, 1862, 46th Regt., Co. F; re-enl. May 28, 1863, 2d II. A., Co. 1 ; disch. Sept. 3, 1805, by general order disbanding troops.
William A. Hallock, enl. Aug. 4, 1802, 23d Regt;, Co. K ; re-enl. Dec. 1, 1863, Allen Smith, enlisted Sept. 26, 1862, 46th Regt.,
Co. F; re-enl. June 4, 1863, 21 II. A. ; disch. Sept. 3, 1865, by general order disbanding troops.
William J. Nash, enl. March 1, 1864, 34th Regt., Co. D.
Maurice Bishop, enl. Feb. 13, 1864, 27th Inf., Co. K; died June IS, 1864, at Fortress Monroe; a substitute; lost h's life in the serv.co for Plainfield.
Jolin C. Dean, enl. Ang. 25, 1864, 20 11. A., Co. F; disch. June 26, 1865, by general order disband- ing troops,
Arthur W. Robinson, enl. Aug. 25, 1864, 2d 11. A., Co, F; disch, June 26, 1865, by goueral order disbanding troops.
Winthrop B. Robinson, enl. Ang. 25, 1864, 2d II. A., Co. F; disch. June 26, 1805, hy general order disbanding troops.
William L. Lucas, enl. Aug. 25, 1864, 2d. II. A., Co. F ; di-ch. June 20, 1805, by general order dis- banding troops.
John T. Stewart, cul. Aug. 25, 1804, 24 H. A., Co.
439
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
F; disch. June 26, 1865, by general order dis- banding troops,
Alfred Vidletto, eul. Sept. 1, 1864, regt. not known ; supposed disch. nt exp. of service.
Goodloe Il. Taylor, enl. Sept. 1, 1864, 2d HT. A. ; disch. May 23, 1865, by general order disband- ing troops.
Almon M. Warner, Ist. sergt., enl. Aug. 30, 1862, 37th Inf., Co. HI; pro. to 2d lieut., June 7, 1865; was suffering from wounds received in Virginia, April 6, 1865; disch, June 21, 1865. Lorenzo Streeter, corp., enl. Ang. 15, 1862, 37th Inf., Co. H ; disch. Nov. 21, 1863, for disability, occasioned by long marches and sufferings in the battle of Fredericksburg.
Nelson M. Cook, enl. Aug. 15, 1862, 37th Inf., Co. II ; disch. Ang. 14, 1863, for disability,-bleod- ing at the lungs,
William W. Van Alstyne, enl. Dec. 7, 1863, 54th luf., Co. B; missing in action, Feb. 20, 1864; town record makes it 2d Il. A., and states that he chied in the service ; probably one of the unknown dead on the fields of Virginia, or in the Southern prisons.
Oliver C. Burr, enl. Oct. 15, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. E; disch. July 29, 1863.
Fordyce A. Dyer, Ist sorgt., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; pro. to 2d lieut., Jan. 28, 1863; Ist lient., June 8, 1863, in Heavy Artillery ; diedl of yellow fever, Oct. 26, 1864, at Newbern, N. C .; body brought bome for burial; he had been detailed as city inspector during the yellow fever in Newbern, and fell, a brave man, at his post of duty and of danger. Clifford Packard, corp., en1. Sept. 26, 1862, 46tl M. V. M., Co. F; disch. Inly 29, 1863.
Tra W. Ilamlin, corp., enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co F; disch, July 29, 1863.
Franklin Cook, enl. Sept. 26, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; died June 20, 1863, at Beaufort, N. C., and buried at that place.
Aldeu Il. Dyer, enl. Sept. 26, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F ; diel April 19, 1863, at Newbern, N. C., of typhoid fever; remains brought to Plain- field for burial.
Newcomb Dyer, enl. Sept. 26, 1862, 46th M. V. M , Co. F; disch. July 29, 1863.
Charles C. Gloyd, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M.,
Cn. F; disch. to re-enl. May 27, 1863; must. in again, May 28, 1863, 2d 11. A., Co. A ; disch. Sept. 3, 1865, by general order disbanding troops.
J. Wesley Gurney, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F ; disch. to re-enl. June 4, 1863; must. in again June 5, 1863, 2d Regt. H. A .; as a minor, his parents endeavored to detain him home, and he was arrested as a deserter; but after serving one month was honorably disch. Dec. 30, 1863.
Stephen Hayward. enl. Sept. 26, 1862, 4611 M. V. M., Co. F; disch. July 29, 1863.
Samuel W. Jones, enl. Sept. 26, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; disch. July 29, 1863.
Newell Dyer (2d), enl. Nov. 20, 1861, 31st Inf., Co. C; disch. April 11, 1862, for disab,; re-enl. July 12, 1863; rejected by examining surgeon ; drafted same day; supposed it not necessary to report ; arrested as a deserter; served in 12th Regt., Co. C, 5 months; honorably disch. for disability, Dec. 12, 1863.
Harrison D. Gloyd, enl. Feb. 1, 1862, 31st Inf., Co. C; disch. Jan. 31, 1865.
CUMMINGTON.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
CUMMINGTON is one of the western tier of towns in the peculiarly-shaped county of Hampshire, and is sixteen miles from Northampton, the county-seat, air-line measurement. It is bounded north by Plainfield and Franklin County, east by Goshen, south by Chesterfield and Worthington, west by Berkshire County. It contains 13,711 acres, as stated in the census of 1875. The title is dircet from the colony of Massa- chusetts Bay, the township having heen bought by Col. John Cummings, June 2, 1762, for £1800. The proprietors for whom he acted lived at Concord or near there. Systematic arrangements for settlement were made by them, committees being appointed upon roads, upon public worship, and other important matters. The town was laid out in three divis- ions, and the proprietors drew for their several shares in each division.
NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of the country is diversitied. Ranges of hills and separate elevations abound, leaving, however, a larger pro- portion of tillable land than in some of the neighboring towns. Remington Hill, standing alone, with an extensive area of productive land around it, is the only hill of sufficient import- ance to have a name attached to it upon modern maps. There are many other heights interspersed with valleys, forming de- lightful scenery, charming alike the poet, the painter, and the naturalist. Nearly every part of the town is drained by the streams which form the river system of the Westfield Valley. The local names of these streams are Swift River, north branch of Swift River, Shaw Brook, Roaring Brook, Childs Brook, Kearney Brook, and Whitmarsh Brook.
The winding course of the Westfield River through the town secures a large number of valuable sites for mills and manufactories. Only a small portion of the available water- power has been improved, however, few enterprises of magni- tude having been undertaken. By this same river the town is divided into the " north side" and the "south side," and in the early times considerable discussion occurred as to the location of public buildings and the holding of public meet- ings. In later years this question seldom appears in the public records, but the town may still be said to lack a common gen- tral point to which all sections consent, and which is equally ae-
cessible for all. The natural features of old Township No. 5 are unfavorable to a hearty unanimity upon a central church or a central village.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
There is no clearer way of showing the carly settlement of this town than by quoting liberally from the proceedings of the proprietors as they are preserved in the oldest hook in the custody of the town elerk. The settlement was different from that of some other towns. It was not so much by individuals penetrating the forest and ereeting their cabins singly and alone that the wilds of Cummington were opened up. Or- ganization was before settlement. There was an association of proprietors to sustain and assist each pioneer ; plans were made ; committees laid out roads ; encouragement was voted to erect mills ; and lots for the support of the gospel and the support of schools were set apart. Men first came to settle No. 5 as committees, surveyors, road-makers, mill-builders- at least, it seems proper to infer that from the records. Who built the first house within the present limits of Cummington is unsettled either in tradition or history. One writer has ventured to say that Samuel Brewer is supposed to have set- tled here in 1761. Another authority, many years earlier, pronounces one Melntyre to have been the first settler, and the date 1770. A recent writer, who evidently failed to ex- amine the old proprietors' book, repeats the MeIntyre story, as if this was the best that could be ascertained.
The variety of statement is accounted for to some extent by the fact that Mr. MeIntyre was probably an early, if not the first, settler of Plainfield,-a large portion of which town was a part of old No. 5.
NO. 5 PROPRIETORS' BOOK, 1762.
CONCORD, Dec. 21, 1762.
At a meeting of the proprietors of the Township called by the name of No. 5 (legally assembled), purchased of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, by John Cummings, Esq., of snill Concord, on the 2d day of June last past, it was voted at said meeting that Charles Prescott, Esq., le moderator of said Propriety. 2d. Voted that Isaiah Barrett be Clerk of said Propriety. 3d. Voted that there be a standing committee chosen to call meetings for the future, and to act in other matters and things as shall seem best for the Proprietors. 4th. Voted that Messrs. Samuel Farrar, Col. John Cummings, and Col. Charles Prescott be the committee ns nlnive mentioned. 5th, Voted that Capt. Jamies Haywood be Treasmer of said proprietors. 6th. Voted that Lieut. Joseph Hay- ward be Collector for said propriety. 7th. Voted that Messrs. Lient. San;vel
440
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Farrar, Col. John Cumming, and Col. Charles Prescott be assessors of the Pro- prictors. 8th. Voted that we, the Proprietors, hear the report of a number of the Proprietors who have viewed said township No. 5. 9th. Voted that the minister's and the school lot in the first division of lots be laid where the Com- mittee for laying out the lots shall think most convenient, and are not to be drawn for by the Proprietors. The minister's lot is No. 25, and the school lot is No. 26, laid out by said committee. 10th. Voted that the Proprietors will receive the report of the Committee, and we do receive it accordingly, which is as fol- loweth, viz. : " Whereas, we, the subscribers, being chose by the Proprietors of the within-named township to go to said township and lay out 63 one-hundred- acre lots, accordingly have been und laid out 66 lots in form as follows, viz., 160 rods in length and 102 rods in width. The contents in each lot is 102 acres, the 2 acres in each lot being laid in order to make roads as shall hereafter he thought proper. We laid the overplus lots in order to pick them out and not have them drawed. We also have taken out the numbers following, viz., 65, 22, 15, not to be drawed.
(Signed) "SAMUEL BREWER. " THOMAS BARRETT.
" TILLY MERICK."
After anditing the accounts of the committee and of the surveyor, the proprietors adjourned.
This committee must have spent some time in No. 5 dur- ing the summer of 1762 preceding this meeting, and one of them may have had his family with him, and made a begin- ning; and further, it is entirely possible that Mr. Brewer may have penetrated here, as one writer states, in 1761, made a settlement, and then interested Col. Cummings and induced him to bid the township off at the public sale, June 2, 1762. It will be seen that the first drawing of lots took place at the next meeting, Dec. 29, 1762; and these three members of the committee appear to have been present, and it hardly seems probable that their families were left in Commington.
Dec. 29, 1762 .- Proprietors met in Concord, at the house of Thomas Munn. Adjourned to the house of Jonathan Heywood. Voted a committee to prepare the lots for drawing,-Capt. James Barrett, Mr. Thomas Barrett, and Mr. Jason Rarrett. Voted that any proprietors who may be dissatisfied with the lot drawn shall have the liberty of pitching up ou an other hit in the same township, to be laid ont in the same town, and adjoining to the lots already laid out. Voted that John Cummings dispose of four sixty-third parts of the township No. 5 to James McCannon, James Berry, William Park, and Sammel Hayward. Voted that the claims of the Proprietors be examined and received, and the name of each proprietor be set down against the number each proprietor shall draw.
DRAWING OF LOTS.
Joseph Bridge, Nos. 54, 55; Charles Prescott, 45, 49; Thomas Jones, 23, 30; John Cumming, 50, 68 ; Thomas Barrett, 53, 46; Tilly Merick, 1, 71, 29, 47; Isaiah Barrett, 3, 70; Samuel Brewer, 63, 22; Asa Douglass, 67, 55 ; Jonas Heywood, 19, 8; James Barrett, 43, 5; John Jones, Jr., 60; Edmund Munro, 40, 59; David Brown, 48, 41 ; Joseph Hayward, 9, 18, 12; Samuel Farrar, 7,34; Charles Barrett, 51, 2; James Chandler, 42, 38; Deacon Sammel Minott, 14, 10; Asa Douglass, six rights, 64, 66, 27, 21, 21, 17 ; Joseph Wright, two rights, 44, 57; William l'ark, one right, 56; Samuel Hayward, 58; James MeCannon, 4, 31 ; James Berry, 32; Robert Cunningham, 62; Nathan Harwood, 6; John Cunningham, 69.
Further arrangements continued to be made at various meetings held in Concord. One item was an application to the General Court, that " the township No. 5 may be made complete." The drawing of the second division of lots took place at Concord, Sept. 26, 1764. Committee : Isaiah Bar- rett, Jonathan Heywood, and Tilly Merick. No. 46, second division, was set apart as a minister's lot. Oliver Conant was voted a proprietor, having bought one right of Mr. James Barrett,-No. 43, first division. Voted that the clerk should draw three lots,-two for David Brown and one for John Jones, Jr., or whoever he may sell to.
DRAWING-SECOND DIVISION.
Samuel Brewer, 33, 49, 17, 21; Charles Prescott, 42, 14; Thomas Jones, 40, 18; John Cummings, 32, 34 ; Thomas Barrett, 23, 9; Tilly Merick, 24, 15, 1st division, 38, 47 ; Isaiah Barrett, 33, 20, both Ist division ; Asa Donglass, 8, 16, 1st division ; Jonas Heywood, 37, 11 ; James Barrett, 25; John Jones, Jr., 44; Edmund Munro, 20; David Brown, 19, 29; Joseph Hayward, 35, 28, 3; Samuel Farrar, 35, 1st division, 45 ; Charles Barrett, 50, 36, 1st division ; James ('handler, 5, 12; Samuel Minutt, 2, 43; Asa Douglas, 22, 4, 51, 31, 36, 39; Joseph Wright, 20; William Park, 65, 1st division ; Samnel Hayward, 41 ; James McCannon, 37, Ist division, 1G; James Berry, 52; Robert Cunningham, 10; Nathan Harwixxl, 1 ; John Con- mingham, G; Oliver l'onant, 7; Stephen Farr, 28, 1xt division ; Stephen Hayward, 30; the Committee, 27, 13, 15, 48.
Sept. 26, 1764 .- Voted that one dollar be assessed on cach single right to make a convenient road, and that Samuel Brewer and Stephen Hayward be a cont- mittee to lay out said roads, Voted that there be two saw-mills set up in the
township No. 5, one at the east end and one at the west end, with this encour- agement : one hundred acres of land voted as an encouragement to each of those who would undertake to build these mills. One hundred acres were voted to John Cummings for this purpose, and he was to have a saw-mill ready to work July 1st next ensuing. One hundred acres were voted to Charles Prescott to build a saw-mill at the east end of the town within twelve months.
May 15, 1765,-At Concord voted Jared Smith a proprietor. Voted a committee to choose a site for a meeting-house,-Charles Prescott, Samnel Brewer, Stephen Hayward. Voted Joseph Farr, Daniel Wheeler, Ephraim Powers, Ephraim Keys, Capt. William Barron be proprietors.
Charles Prescott seems, from the record, to have built, in the summer of 1766, the saw-mill which John Cummings was to have built, and had the land voted for that purpose ; but this is not sustained by tradition.
May 20, 1767 .- Voted to hire a regular learned gospel minister to preach four Sabbaths next summer. Voted to raise four guineas to defray the expenses of preaching.
Rev. John Hooker, of Northampton, was requested to supply the township with a preacher four days.
The first meeting within the town was called by Charles Prescott and John Cummings, committee, to meet at the house of Mr. Stephen Warner on Wednesday, the 19th of June, 1771.
Levi Kingman states that the house of Stephen Warner was near the present sheep-barn of Andrew Brewster, southwest of Fordyce Packard's.
June 19, 1771, the first proprietors' meeting was held in Cummington.
Chose Daniel Reed Moderator ; William Ward, Proprietors' Clerk ; Mr. Peter llarwood, Timothy Moore, William Ward, Assessors ; John Holbrook, Collector ; Peter Harwood, Treasurer; Committee to lay out Undivided Land, l'eter Har- wood, William Ward, Timothy Moore, Nathan Harwood, and Jacob Melvin. Voted six shillings upon cach right, to pay for preaching. Committee to pitch upon a meeting-house spot, Daniel Reed, Stephen Farr, and William Ward.
July 19, 1771 .- Promictors' meeting at the house of Mr. Joseph Farr, inn- holder, in said Township No. 5, Mr. Stephen Farr, moderator. Voted that Deacon Barrett shall have the privilege to lay his undivided land aljoining to his num- ber 20, in the second division, if he will build a grist-mill and suw-mill within six months,
Ang. 21, 1771 .- Mr. John Holbrook was appointed a committee to hire preach- ing as he shall receive instructions from time to time. Voted to accept of com- mittee's report npon this site for a meeting-house, viz .: on the Widow Merick's lot, No. 71. Capt. Joseph Warren was moderator.
Aug. 21, 1771 .- Proprietors voted that Justus Dwight be a surveyor to lay out nudivided land.
Sept. 28, 1772 .- Mr. Jolin Reed, Moderator. Capt. Dwight, Deacon Tupper, Gideon Clark were appointed to pitch upon a site for the meeting-house. Joseph Ford, Timothy Moore, Isaac Benjamin appointed a committee to pitch upon the public lots.
Oct. 26, 1772 .- Voted to ordain Mr. Jesse Reed, Nov. 25th, at the dwelling- house of Mr. Timothy Moore. Voted that Win. Ward shall make preparation for the council.
Nov. 19, 1773 .- Voted to petition the General Court for incorporation.
May 25, 1774 .- Proprietors met at the dwelling-house of Mr. Moore, Voted that Doctors Fay, Mick, and Bradish have the privilege of setting up a hospital in said township, for the inoculation of the small-pox, on the southwest corner of Lieut. Joseph Warner's lot, for the space of one year from the date hereof.
This was on the present farm of Franklin Warner, accord- ing to the opinion of Dr. Joy.
Proprietors' meetings sometimes assembled at the house of Ensign Harwood.
Ebenezer Snell and Asa Hatch were appointed a committee to get the town incorporated. A proposition to set off the west part of the town to Gageborough was favorably acted upon Sept. 3, 1778. Voted Sept. 14, 1778, that Lieut. Jared Smith go to the General Court to get the town incorporated.
It is evident that the town was largely settled between 1762 and 1771. The order in which each family moved cannot be determined. The men appointed on committee by the propri- etors' meetings at Concord may very likely have been the first settlers, It is said that Jacob Melvin became a settler in 1766, and that there were then but seven families in town ; that all the men from these seven families assembled, cleared a house-spot, and erected a log house for Mr. Melvin, and that he moved into it the same day. It is probable that Stephen Farr, Joseph Farr, Samuel Brewer, Thomas Barrett, Tilly Merick, Stephen Hayward, Charles Prescott were these seven
2
2
RESIDENCE OF L. J. ORCUTT, CUMMINGTON, MASS.
.
441
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
families ; that Daniel Reed, William Ward, Peter Harwood, Timothy Moore, Nathan Harwood, with others, located during the next three or four years. The majority of the proprietors were evidently in Concord, or that vicinity, until 1770 or about that time; but in the spring of 1771 they were so largely settled here that future meetings of the proprietors were held within the township.
As another theory of first settlement we add that a recent writer in the Gazette, in an article upon the late Ebenezer Shaw, claims that his old place was the site of the first settle- ment,-the Dencon Bigelow farm.
The first frame building is said to have been erected on the present place of Alanson Rred, by John Tower. It had no floor.
PHYSICIANS.
In 1774, as noted elsewhere, Dr. Bradish, Dr. Mick, and Dr. Fay were authorized to open a small-pox hospital. Of these the name of Dr. Bradish is familiar in all the early annals of Cummington. He practiced for many years, leaving town, however, before he died. Dr. Peter Bryant came to this town considerably later than Dr. Bradish, and entered upon an ex- tensive practice. Ile was widely consulted in other towns. Several students for the same profession studied in his office, and became distinguished practitioners. In the Hampshire Gazette appears the following: "Sept. 12, 1794 .- Dr. Peter Bryant advertises that having provided a hospital and other suitable accommodations for inveulation, any person wishing to take the small-po.c will be attended to." Dr. Shaw was in partnership with Dr. Bryant, and afterward moved to Plain- field. Dr. Howland Dawes was contemporary with Dr. Bry- ant, beginning to practice perhaps as early as 1780, and con- tinuing through life in this town. Dr. Robert Robinson practiced from 1815, ten or twelve years, and moved to North Adams. Dr. Clark succeeded Robinson, and practiced for several years, down to 1834, then sold his place and practice to Dr. Royal Joy. Dr. Joy was born in this town ; studied with Dr. Peter Bryant, who was then in partnership with Dr. Shaw. When the partnership was dissolved and Dr. Shaw removed to Plainfield, Mr. Joy studied with him at his office in that town ; received his diploma in 1822; prac- tieed in Plainfield four years, West Cummington eight years, before settling at Cummington village. He is still living, and has furnished many items of valuable information for this work. At West Cummington was Dr. Tobey, 1840 to 1845; Dr. Richards also at West Cummington and at Cummington village, removing later in life to Bridgewater. Dr. Barton was also at West Cummington three or four years, afterward of Worthington, and later of Hatfield. Dr. Stedman was in town a few years, 1850 to 1860. 1860 to 1865 Dr. Bemus was also here, and removed to lowa. The present physician is Dr. Kimball, who has been in prac- tier here but a short time, and is now the sole physician of Cummington. Dr. Joy remarks that at times Cummington has been " crowded with doctors," three or four attempting to do business at the same time. Dr. Thomas Gilfillan was the practicing physician here from 1856 or about that time down to 1874-75. With his brother, James Gilfillan, now of the Treasury Department, Washington, D. C., he had fought his way up from the ranks almost of poverty to a thorough edu- cation and to distinguished prominence.
LAWYERS.
Cummington has never been a favorite place for lawyers to settle in. Lawyer Cushman is spoken of as having resided on " the Hill," in a house still standing, and as having quite an extensive legal practice.
TAVERNS.
A very early tavern was the one opened by Wm. Mitchell on the present place of Charles Streeter. Town-meetings
were held there a part of the time until the meeting-house of 1781 was finished enough for that purpose. The tavern of Adam Packard, on the present Mason place in the Bryant neighborhood, was opened in 1785. The sign was a handsome affair in its day, swung in a neat franie, with the picture of a vessel in full sail, bearing the words " Entertainment by A. l'ackard, 1785." It is now in the possession of a granddaugh- ter, Mrs. Pettengill, of the East village. Earlier than cither of these was the tavern of Joseph Farr, who is described as an innholder July 19, 1771, located in the southwest part of the town, probably the first inn, and very likely the first house. On the main road, through the north part of the town, were two other taverns besides that of Win. Mitchell. The second one from the cast was kept by Asa Strreter, on the present place of H. S. Streeter. Then there was the Lazell tavern, on what is still known as the Lazell farm. These were all very early houses of entertainment. Others followed.
The more modern taverns are the following: A tavern was kept by Seth Williams at the lower end of the village near the present Robbins place. This was 1812 to 1815. It was continued by Sawyer, and was afterward burned with the store. Levi Kingman, in 1817, came to Cummington. In 1821 he opened a tavern nearly opposite the place where he now lives. The large Imilding erected by him, with the elm-tree near it, was a familiar place to citizens and travelers for a dozen years or more. The Union Ilouse, now kept by Charles MI. Bab- bitt, was erected in 1846 by Wm. White, and used as a dwell- ing-house for several years; afterward opened as a tavern, and been continued by various proprietors to the present time. John Ford kept a tavern at "Lightning-Bug." At West Cummington the tavern now kept by Ebenezer Hunt was opened in 1840 by Elisha Mitchell and Wm. Hubbard. Mr. Albro also kept tavern there.
STORES.
Joseph Lazell was an early merchant, 1770 to 1800. Ilis store was in the north part of the town. The place is now owned by Clark Strecter, and occupied by a tenant. Allen Miner succeeded him. Otis & Fobes had a store near Lazell. Mr. Otis also had a distillery, for the manufacture of whisky from potatoes, a mile or so from the store near the river. A bridge is still known by his name at that place. The Lazell neighborhood lost its business partly by the setting off of Plainfield and the tendency of trade to seek the centre of a township. On " Cummington Hill," opposite the old moet- ing-house, Roswell Hubbard was the first merchant, perhaps before 1800. The cellar of this early store is still visible, and the present quietude of the place presents a strong contrast with the busy times of old, when the town came up to these heights not only for their theology, but for their dry-goods, groceries, rum, and codfish. Mr. Hubbard was followed by Elisha Mitchell, by Col. Swan, and by Robert Dawes. Elisha Mitchell went to West Cummington, 1822 or 1823, and opened a store there; established a large and profitable trade, continu- ing business for many years. At the East village was the early store of Robert Dawes & Co. Levi Kingman soon after came there, and succeeded to the business. Oak Shaw opened a store in connection with his shoe business where the present post-office is kept. Francis Bates followed him. John Albro, Luther M. Packard, and Franklin R. Joy have been subse- quent proprietors. From the latter it passed to the present merchant, D. W. Lovell. N. F. Orcutt commenced trading in 1844, opening first in the buikling of Levi Kingman. In 1846, Mr. Orcutt erected his present buildings and moved his goods to them. He has been in business there ever since,- nearly thirty-five years in all. During the war L. J. Orcutt opened a store across the river, at the lower end of the village. Darwin Lyman succeeded him, and is the present merchant at that point. In this village is the fur business of Austin Shaw, -gloves, eaps, robes, etc.
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.