History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 148

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 148

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As late as 1833 church business was still done at town- meeting, $450 being voted that year for the supply of the pulpit ; but that seems to have been the date when church business ceased to be done by the town.

The organization of the church is supposed to have been July 7, 1779, the same day of Mr. Briggs' ordination. The actual date is not given, but the account of the church being "embodied" follows that of the ordination so closely as to jus- tify the above conclusion. The names of the male members only are given in the church book: Joseph Farr, Stephen Farr, Barnabas Packard, Ebenezer Snell, Ebenezer Beals, Stephen Warner, Timothy Moore, and John Reed. Undoubt- edly there were at least as many females who joined from these or other families.

From the few records in possession of Deacon Rogers we add the following notes :

July 22, 1779 .- Voted that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper be administered immediately after divine service, in the former part of the day.

July 29th .- Voted to admit to baptism the children of those who belonged to other churches, or had owned the covenant.

It is difficult to give much additional history of this vener- able church,-the church of the pioneers, the church of the fathers. The choice of site, whether wise or not, was generally acquiesced in for fifty years or more, and up to this " Mount Zion" two successive generations came regularly to worship, those from the north side descending to the valley of the Westfield, and then climbing the heights beyond; those from the southwest coming up to meet them. This could not con- tinue, in the nature of things. Business, which, like the pio- neers themselves, first located on the hills, began to open up along the stream below. Cummington village grew up. Those living there, as well as those northeast, east, and south- east, desired to have the meeting-house removed to the village, while those beyond the hills to the west naturally objected. After considerable negotiation it was decided by a council, and consented to by this church, that a new one should be formed at the village. A few years later one was formed at West Cummington. The friends of the church upon the old historie " Hill" still persisted, and erected a new house of worship, about 1840, on the west side of the road, near Deacon Rogers', and a little north of his residence. The church or- ganization was continued. Pastors succeeded pastors, but the number of families interested in that point was too few for strength and efficiency, and the church gradually, if not for- mally, dissolved. The last item of business upon the book is under date of June 17, 1869. Not long after, the meeting- house itself was sold, taken down, and the timbers used in the erection of a building for manufacturing purposes at Swift River Village.

Ministerial Record .- Ist. Rev. James Briggs, ordained July 7. 1779; died Dec. 7, 1825; a long and faithful pastorate of forty-six years. 2d. Rev. Roswell Hawkes, settled as col- league to Mr. Briggs, April 20, 1825, and after the latter's death continued as pastor ; dismissed July 1, 1839. 3d. Rev. S. D. Darling, ordained Feb. 17, 1841, and services continued until Aug. 14, 1813. 4th. Rev. James D. Chapman, installed

June 12, 1844. His services were continued a little more than ten years ; died in town Dec. 21, 1854. 5th. Rev. Nelson Barbour appears a delegate to councils in 1856, and preached probably a year or two.

The carly deacons were Ebenezer Snell, Barnabas Packard, chosen in 1799; Abel Packard, Jr., Benoni Pratt, in 1798 ; Jacob Whitmarsh, in 1822, resigned ; James W. Briggs, in 1822; Amos Cobb, in 1822, resigned 1828; Enos Porter, in 1828. This was the last down to the division of the church.

BAPTIST CHURCH IN CUMMINGTON.

This society was organized in 1821 with 14 members, viz. : Samuel Whitman, Freedom Whitman, Nehemiah Richards, Polly Sprague, James Snow, Pamela Sprague, Elias Sprague, Susannah Thayer, Amos Tirrell, Polly Whitman, Philanthro- pus Hayden, Joseph Gloyd, Josiah Hayden, Asa Thayer.

During the first ten years this church received, besides these 14, 103 members. The whole number of names upon the church-record is 300. The meeting-house was erected in 1823, in the village of Cummington, at the cost of about $3000. It was dedicated Feb. 5, 1821.

List of Pastors .- Rev. Asa Todd and Rev. J. Grant served the church from their organization, 1821, until the dedication of their house, 1824. From Feb. 24, 1824, until June, 1826, Rev. Hosea Trumbull was pastor. From 1826 to 1834, Rev. David Wright pastor. From 1834 to 1839, Rev. Edwin San- dys. From 1839 until 1844, Gardner C. Tripp. In 1844 George M. Willard was ordained, and continued his labors until 1848, after which the church had no stated preaching until September, 1877, when Rev. H. C. Coombs commenced labor, and is their present pastor.

The following is a list of the clerks from the formation to the present time: Nehemiah Richards, 1821 to 1834; John Hubbard, 1834 to 1838; Alonzo Gurney, 1838 to 1842; Hiram Beals; Nehemiah Bates, 1842 to 1849.

Deacons .- Sept. 5, 1821, chose Freedom Whitman, who served thirteen years; 1834, Calvin Alexander, eleven years ; 1845, Aaron Bigelow, who served until his death, Oet. 7, 1854.

The church did some earnest Sabbath-school work for sev- eral years ; Zalmon Richards, now of Washington, D. C., was engaged in it actively.

From 1849 till 1875 the society met only occasionally, and seemed likely to rank among the things that were. The once numerous and prosperous church was reduced to even two or three in number, and the meeting-house used for other purposes than a temple of the living God. They met at the house of Mrs. Deacon Bigelow, July 21, 1875, and received additions increasing the number to seven, and in September, 1875, chose Lanman Snow church clerk, and Dec. 20, 1875, appointed L. Snow deacon. In 1876 commenced repairs upon the church edifice. Sept. 1, 1877, called II. C. Coombs as pastor. Since then additions have been made to the church, and the society too, and the house has been repaired.

The meeting-house of the Baptist Church was built in 1823. Levi Kingman was chairman of the committee, and managed the business. He states that it was built very cheap. Large amounts of material were given, and considerable labor. In accordance with the usual custom of those times, he rolled out a barrel of rum upon the grass for the entertainment of the peo- ple at the raising. The clerk of the society is Joseph Macomber. As stated above, the church was at one time reduced to two communicants,-MErs. Crosby and her daughter, Mrs. Willcutt. Two were added by baptism from the same families, and Mrs. Bigelow joined by letter, from Northampton. The persever- ance of these fire saved and perpetuated the church.

VILLAGE CHURCH IN CUMMINGTON.

The reasons that led to the formation of this society and the successive steps taken are briefly these, as appears from the records :

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

The old meeting-house on the " IIill" was in a dilapidated condition for some years prior to 1836, and considerable dis- cussion ensued upon the subject of rebuilding. Quite a por- tion of the congregation desired to build in the village, but could not secure a vote of the chureli to do so. They were themselves unwilling to contribute toward rebuildling upon the Hill. After two or three unsuccessful attempts to bring about a harmonious result, those in favor of the village loca- tion took steps to build a meeting-house there, without waiting for any further action, hoping perhaps to induce the church to remove the services there if a house was once built and offered for the purpose; or more likely they foresaw that, with the growing village and the un willingness of the people of the east to climb the hill, a new society would be formed, and it was wise to have a meeting-house built, ready.

June 6, 1836, a meeting was held to forward this object. The land now occupied by the Union Hotel was bargained for, but not finally secured, and the site of the present house was purchased of Mr. Harvey Tirrell, for the sum of $100. The place was a fine gravelly knoll, nearly as high as the caves of the present church, and was of such peculiar symme- trical shape that older citizens still regret its removal, think- ing it was a landmark worth retaining. The hill was leveled to its present form and the house built. The building com- mittee consisted of Jonathan Dawes, Seth Ford, and John Oreutt; about $2000 were subscribed and paid, the house raised July 16, 1838, finished during the year following, and dedicated Sept. 11, 1839. All this was done by individuals, without any parish organization. Various negotiations had preceded this, eouneils were summoned, and on the 1st of July, 1839, a new church was constituted, consisting of forty- seven members. Hiram Brown was elected the first elerk ; Enos Bates, Joseph Warner, and Francis Bates, the first standing committee. A call was extended to Rev. Royal Reed, July 6, 1839. It was accepted, and he was installed as the first pastor of the church the same day that the house was dedicated, Sept. 11, 1839. Enos Porter and Hiram Brown were chosen the first deacons, and Francis Bates treasurer.

Ministerial Record .- 1st. Rev. Royal Reed, ordained Sept. 11, 1839; dismissed Dee. 8, 1841. 2d. Rev. Theodore .J. Clark, or- dained Oct. 11, 1842; dismissed May 26, 1852; but, neverthe- less, supplied the pulpit for several years longer, elosing his labors April 10, 1859. The pulpit was then supplied temporarily by Rev. Edward Clarke, Rev. John C. Hutchinson, Rev. Mr. Hatch, Rev. Mr. Lord. 3d. Rev. J. C. Thompson, the last stated supply of the First Church, preached for this church for two-thirds of the time, from Nov. 1, 1859, to April, 1860, then gave his whole time to this church. At the same time an invitation was extended to the members of the First Church to attend public worship with the village church, and it was very largely accepted. Mr. Thompson's labors closed May I, 1861. Various temporary supplies were ob- tained. 4th. Rev. J. Jay Dana was employed regularly from the second Sabbath of June, 1861. His labors closed Oct. 29, 1865. 5th. Rev. Joseph II. Feltch was installed June 19, 1867. His pastorate terminated by his death, Jan. 19, 1869. 6th. Rev. Wm. M. Gay. His labors commenced April 12, 1870, closed Dee. 29, 1872. Temporary supplies fol- lowed. 7th. Rev. Mr. Alvord commenced his pastoral labor May 1, 1873 ; closed April 30, 1874. Temporary supplies tor a year. 8th. Rev. Henry A. Ottman began his labors Oct. 1, 1875, and closed in the fall of 1877. 9th. Rev. O. S. Morris, of the West Cummington Church, divides his services with the village church, preaching for the latter in the forenoon, and is the present acting pastor.

Record of Deacons .- Enos Porter, chosen July 27, 1839, died Jan. 14, 1867; Hiram Brown, chosen July 27, 1839, moved to Illinois; Ephraim Ford, chosen March 2, 1844, died Nov. 1, 1854; Elias Beals, chosen Jan. 6, 1855, still living in town, but not acting. William II. White, chosen

Jan. 1, 1876, Henry M. Dyer, chosen Jan. 1, 1876, present deacons.

Almon Mitchell was for seventeen years treasurer, collector, and elerk of the parish. Ile is still serving in the latter office. The present clerk of the church is Deacon Wm. H. White.

TIE METHODIST CHURCH OF CUMMINGTON

was established under the labors of Rev. Wm. Willcut, 1838- 40. Meetings were held to some extent in private houses, and then in the old factory, that became known as " the chapel." An amusing anecdote is related that one meeting was pretty much silenced by the noise of the water roaring through the old works, the gate having been raised above by some prac- tical joker, who succeeded in getting into the house and se- euring a quiet seat before the noise of the stream fairly began. The meeting-house was built about 1840, and was a building of fair size and convenient arrangement. It stood near the forge bridge, not far from the present residence of Stephen Benjamin. The land was given by a former proprietor, James W. Briggs.

Among the men specially interested and active in establish- ing the church were David Tower, John Ford, and Nathaniel Bartlett. Cyrus Warner erected the house. Successive minis- ters were Revs. Willeut, Todd, Cushman, Green, Strong, and Gage. After the society declined, and the Methodists ceased to use the building, it was occupied to some extent by Congre- gational ministers for neighborhood services. These finally were given up, the pews and furniture were taken out, and the building converted into a sugar-house, which it still remains.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WEST CUMMINGTON originated as follows : The old society on Cummington ITill being seriously divided, a new house erected at the East vil- lage, and a general disintegration taking place, Elisha Mitchell and Wm. Hubbard, the real founders of West Cummington village, took the decisive step of erecting a meeting-house in 1839. It was built in about three months, by Mr. Crandall, of Adams, contractor, and dedicated in August. In the sum- mer of 1840 meetings were held, and in November of that year Rev. Joseph HI. Baldwin commenced his regular pastoral service. Meanwhile, the Second Windsor Congregational Church, with something of an ancient history, and located in a neighborhood known as " the Bush," not far from West Cummington, were looking toward this latter place as a favor- able point to unite in a stronger church movement. This was hastened by the actual removal of some of the members to this neighborhood. This tendency culminated in a formal vote, Sept. 20, 1841, when 11 male members and 21 females changed their relations and founded this ebureh. The male members were Jacob Snow, Jacob Whitmarsh, Samuel Dawes, Amos Ford, Isaiah Whitman, Cyrus Latham, Lyman Bird, James Whitman, Wm. Payson, Josiah Allen, John Dawes.

The pastoral record may be briefly expressed as follows: 1st. Rev. Joseph B. Baldwin, installed Sept. 1, 1841, and continued sixteen and a half years. 2d. Rev. Josiah Pomeroy, sixteen months. 3d. Rev. Sardis B. Morley, three months. 4th. Rev. Mr. Brown, one year. 5th. Rev. David Rood, a returned mis- sionary, about six months. 6th. Rev. Henry Matson, a year and a half. 7th. Rev. Joseph B. Baldwin, four years. 8th. Rev. Charles Scott, a year and a half. 9th. Rev. Robert Samuel, a year and a half. 10th. Rev. J. U. Parsons, one year. 11th. Rev. O. S. Morris, the present pastor, who com- menced his labors among this people May 1, 1873, and is now in the sixth year of his pastorate, Between these stated periods of service there were vacancies, when the pulpit was filled by temporary supplies, or services were occasionally suspended.

Record of Deacons .- John W. Bisbee, still living in Plain- field ; James W. Briggs, died in Lanesboro'; Jared Bisbee, moved West ; Joseph Allen, died, 1873; Darius Bird, present

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

acting deacon; Samuel Rice, moved away; Wm. II. Packard, present acting deacon.

The elerks have been Rev. Joseph Baldwin, Dencon Joseph C. Allen, William Henry Packard. The present number of communicants, 46; congregation, 100 to 150. The Sunday- school averages 90, with a library of 200 volumes. Superin- tendent of Sunday-school, Mr. Corser.

The society have a good parsonage. The house of worship has been recently repaired, and is really a neat and handsome edifiee. It has a fine situation, just in the rear of the village, with the beautiful slopes of Deer Hill rising to lofty heights beyond. The poet Wm. Cullen Bryant often worshiped with this rural congregation. Ilis religious belief was here ex- pressed by partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper with this church, thus showing that with him the closing pas- sage of " Thanatopsis" rested, as it minst rest, upon the solid and everlasting foundations of Christian faith. Near the close of his residence here in the summer of 1877, and on the last Sab- bath he ever spent in Cummington, he came to this church with his daughter. The pastor was absent, and no supply for the pulpit arranged. After waiting some time, Mr. Bryant arose and said that it was evident they were to have no min- ister ; that if the people wished he would read selections from the Bible. Then, going to the desk, he opened the sacred vol- ume and read for some time in his own inimitable manner. Then, in devout, ehildlike simplicity, he closed by reciting the Lord's Prayer. To many of that audience this is the last personal reminiscence of the great poet, as he soon after left town never to return ; for in the opening months of the next summer, amid the roses of June he loved so well, he passed away "like one who wraps the drapery of his eouch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF CUMMINGTON.

Before the organization of a society, and perhaps as early as 1835, occasional meetings were held, and Rev. William Wilcox, a minister of this denomination, preached in the school-house at West Cummington. Receiving considerable encouragement, a society was formed and regular services es- tablished. A council of the Universalist churches was held here in 1839, and is remembered by many as an occasion of great interest. The house of worship was built in 1845 or 1846, by Zebedee Randall, contractor; probably cost about $2000. The land for the site was given by Charles Shaw. The house is conveniently situated on the main street, and has one of the old-time spires, which have scarcely been suc- ceeded by anything more appropriate in modern church archi- tecture. It needs some repairs and improvements at the pres- ent time, but is otherwise a handsome edifice. Services were maintained with considerable regularity for twenty years or more. The ministers were Rev. Almond Mason, Rev. Earl Guilford, Rev. Moses Stoddard, Rev. Mr. Gifford, Rev. Mr. Plumb, Rev. Mr. Ilughes, Rev. Mr. Mandel, Rev. L. W. Brigham, and Rev. Mr. Trask. The latter was the last reg- ular minister. Since he closed his labors there have been only occasional speakers.

Those most active in establishing this church were Eben- ezer Shaw, Brackley Shaw, Spencer Shaw, Charles Shaw, Jacob Bates, William Thompson, and Andrew Babbitt. The society still retains its legal organization and its property. The present clerk is Horatio Jordan, and the trustees are Almon Pearse, Charles Harlow, and Lorenzo Tower.

BURIAL-PLACES.

At a proprietors' meeting, Aug. 21, 1771, John Holbrook, Joseph Farr, and Timothy Moore were appointed a committee to lay out a burying-place. Oct. 30, 1771, voted to accept of the burying-place laid out by the committee on lot No. 71. Dec. 28, 1772, voted to clear one acre for a burying-place.

This, though not very clear in description, is supposed to

refer to the one a short distance west of Bryant's summer res- idence. The lot No. 71 is the same as was voted by one of the early town-meetings for the location of the meeting house, which fact may throw some light upon the location of the latter.

The small-pox hospital of 1774 may have been on the pres- ent farm of Milton Porter. There is a grave at one point and evidence of a building, though some suppose it was on the Warner farm, as stated elsewhere.

Besides this pioneer burial-place, there is the old one on Cummington Hill, which dates back at least to the location of the meeting-house near it. There is another on Thomas' Hill, in the northeast part of the town. This is in general use by the people of that section. The cemetery at the Baptist Church, Cummington village, is in very good preservation, with a portion of the lots neatly terraced, showing evidence of loving care. There is another small, but still a public, burial-place near Francis Streeter's. At West Cummington is a cemetery in which general burial occurs for that place and vicinity. Besides these public grounds, there are private fam- ily burial-places in different parts of the town, upon the farm of Ebenezer Shaw, of E. W. Tillson, of Widow Cobb, of Milton Porter, of Deacon Rogers, and on the old farm of Domer Guilbert.

TOWN SOCIETIES, LIBRARIES.

A Masonic lodge existed in this town, aceording to the recollections of Levi Kingman, for probably fifteen or twenty years before the Morgan excitement, when it died out. It was known as Orion Lodge. The place of meeting was in the hall over the old store bought by Mr. Kingman, 1818. When the lodge dissolved he was appointed to wind up the affairs. The property was sold, dues collected as far as possible, dehts paid, and a small balance given to the American Bible Su- ciety through William Packard. The lodge celebrated St. John's Day in 1823; Cyrus Ford, chairman of committee.

Temperance societies and several benevolent or literary as- sociations have existed from time to time, but quickly dis- solved. There was an early temperance movement about 1830. Lawyer Holland, of Belchertown, eame out and deliv- ered an address in the old church on the Hill, and a society was formed. The hall over. Mr. Kingman's store was exten- sively used from 1820 to 1835. Singing-schools met there, courts and arbitrations, religious meetings, and miscellaneous gatherings.

The Bryant Library was founded by the poet for the benefit of his native town in 1872. Ile devoted something like $20,000 to this purpose, about half of which is invested in buildings and grounds, comprising the library itself and a dwelling- house for the librarian and his family. The collection of books is very valuable, embracing a great variety of subjects, and particularly rich in the historical department. It is open for consultation and circulation. Mr. Lorenzo N. Tower is the present librarian (1878). The town is required, by the conditions of the gift, to make a small annual appropriation for the benefit of the library.

PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR OF SPECIAL NOTE.

It may be proper to mention as one the house of Stephen Warner, where the proprietors, in 1771, held their first meeting in town, and transacted business in due form. To reach this spot they had come down from the hills of Plainfield, from the "north side" of the river, from the extreme west and the extreme east, a few scattered pioneers,-bold spirits,-contend- ing with the forces of nature, and equally ready to face the questions of national peril involved in the impending revo- lution.

Then there is the place of the first town-meeting. It was held "at the house of Ens. Packard, Dec. 20, 1779." The second, January 5th, and, by adjournment, January 17th, was

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

also assembled at the house of Ens. Packard. The third, March 6, 1780, was held at the house of Ens. Abel Packard. It only seems a fair inference that these three were all at the same place, and, as there is no dispute that the house of Abel Packard was at the cellar with the butternut-tree growing out of it, it is a reasonable conclusion that that was the place of the first town-meeting. This view is strengthened by the fact that the inn of Adam Packard was not opened until six years later, 1785. Adam Packard was a white-haired boy of sixteen when he came to town with his older brother, Abel.

The locations of the several pioneer meeting-houses naturally have considerable historic interest connected with them. The first, a log building, said to have been not far from the present house of David Tirrell; the second, supposed to have stood at the Four Corners, east of the present residence of Francis Dawes ; and the third, known to have been on the " hill above the pound," west of the high ledge. Around the doors of the first, the old pioneers, before and after divine service, must have talked over the opening events of the Revolution, the stirring news from Boston Harbor, from Lexington, from Bunker Hill, and from the Continental Congress. Around the second they conversed of the events of 1781 and 1782, the campaigns of the Carolinas, the treason of Arnold, the sur- render at Yorktown, the treaty of peace, and the adoption of the Federal Constitution. The third was scarcely eight years finished when it was in mourning for the death of George Washington ; and then, as forty years went hy, how many solemn scenes the venerable house witnessed ! There the chil- dren were baptized. With the blessing of the white-haired old minister the vows of marriage were pronounced, and around the open graves in the okl cemetery, not far away, there fell upon hushed and mourning souls the blessed words of Christian hope.

These places are local in their associations, but there is another,-the birth-place of William Cullen Bryant,-which has a national, a world-wide, interest. This spot, sacred in the annals of American poetry, was on Cummington Hill. The house stood in the corner of Mr. Tower's orchard, and nearly opposite the old cemetery. Then the Bryant farm itself, where he passed his childhood, where he wrote " Thanatopsis," where are the streams and the forests whose melody breathed in the poems of his youth and inspired the songs of his ad- vancing years. Here are the retreats of elassie taste, where he loved to gather around him poets and statesmen, and with them seek relief from the engrossing cares of public life in " sweet communion with Nature in all her varied forms."

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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 148

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