History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 150

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 150

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Nathaniel Daniels was settled quite early at the Tillson Bartlett place. The first night this family spent in town they are said to have encamped in the woods on the easterly slope of the hill, not far from the residence of Miriek Cole, and that mosquitoes were very prompt in their attentions to the new settlers. It is stated in Rice's history that early in the Revolutionary war the people laid out the road curving to the right from the corners to the Tillson Bartlett place, so as to give Nathaniel Daniels the benefit of the travel and take it away from Miller, the latter being a loyalist and the former a Whig. This is sustained by tradition, though a town in which Dr. Morse, the well-known Tory, had so much influence as to remain on committees of importance during nearly the whole of the war, must have out-voted him pretty decidedly when they made such a change. Along this old road Nahum Eager was located very early, and also Lient. Timothy Meech.

From the names appearing in the town records, 1768 to 1772, and from the inquiries made by Mr. Riee in the prepa- ration of his work twenty-five years ago, it is evident the following list comprises the pioneers before the Revolution. Several of the prominent publie men of Worthington came in, however, a few years later, as Starkweather, Brewster, Parish, Ward, and others.

EARLY PIONEERS.

Nathan Leonard, homestead where his grandson, Alanson Leonard, now lives. Samuel Clapp; his first log house was near the house now owned hy Dwight Stone. Nathaniel Daniels built the first frame house in town, nearly opposite to the present dwelling of Levi Blackman. Nahum Eager rep- resented the town in the Provincial Congress at Cambridge ; his pioneer home was on the place where Jonathan II. Eager now lives, a great-grandson ; his sons were William and Na- thaniel, of Worthington, the latter father of Jonathan H. Dr. Moses Morse, the earliest physician ; his house was be- tween the dwellings of Mr. Heman Burr and Abner Witt ; the site now marked by a butternut-tree. John Kinne, home- stead the place lately owned by Dr. Phelps, of Adams, at Worthington Corners. Ebenezer Leonard, homestead the place now occupied by Mr. Heman Burr. Thomas Clem- mons, homestead the present place of John Campbell. Ben- jamin Biglow ; he settled northeast of what is now the Dan Pease farm. Thomas Kinne, homestead the present Dan Pease farm. John Watt, homestead a few rods east of the site of the first meeting-house; Lyman Granger now lives there ; he had one son, John. Ephraim Wheeler, homestead near the house known as the Harvey place. Mr. Collamore settled opposite Ephraim Wheeler. Alexander Miller settled on the well-known " Buffington" place, and was the first to open a tavern in town ; his farm was the present Alonzo Bel- den place, and the house was opposite Alonzo Belden's; the well is still there, one pear-tree, and a few apple-trees.

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Joseph Marsh, homestead the place now owned by Clement Burr. Amos Frink, homestead on " Cold Street ;" house near the grove; known now as Frink Woods. Abner Dwelly settled at Worthington Corners, on the present farm of Hor- ace Cole. Jeremiah Kinne, homestead where Mr. Calvin Tower now lives. Stephen Converse, homestead on the present Wm. C. Higgins place. Davis Converse, homestead same as that of Stephen Converse. Phinehas Herrick, home- stead on the Warren Cushing lot; house gone. Gershom Randall; he settled on the present place of the widow of Jonathan Prentice. Asa Cottrell, homestead present place of Albert Randall. Asa Burton, homestead present place of Dwight Perry. Zephaniah Hatch, homestead present place of Elihu Squires. Nathan Branch, homestead present place of Morgan Hall; one of the oldest houses in town. John Buck, homestead on ground now occupied by Billings Higgins, or near by. Timothy Mecch, homestead the present place of John K. Strong; was an old tavern, east of the corners a mile. Samuel Crosby, pioneer ; home where Col. Oren Stone now lives. Daniel Morse, homestead on the present Henry Bates place. John Skiff, homestead on the place now owned by Horace Cole. James Benjamin, homestead the present farm of fra Johnson. Beriah Curtis, homestead near the present house of Alden Curtis. Jonathan Prentice, home- stead the "Cushman" place, now owned by William JJohn- son ; the house burned a few years since. Samuel Morse, homestead near the present house of Webb Alderman.

James Wybourn, homestead near the plat of ground known as the " Vineyard," on the Hollis farm. Israel Houghton, home- stead nearly opposite that of James Wybourn. Col. Ebene- zer Webber, homestead now the place of Charles Parsons. Samuel Day, homestead the present place of Abel Drury. Robert Day, homestead same farm as that of Samuel. Amos Day, homestead same farm as that of Samuel Day. Joseph Follett, homestead present farm of W. and M. A. Drake. Isaac Follett, homestead the same as that of Joseph. Stephen Fitch, homestead the present house of Franklin Robinson. Ezra Cleaveland, homestead a little north of the present house of George Pease. Samuel Buek, homestead the present resi- dence of David D. Powers, and the house is said to have been erected in 1780. Edmund Pettengill, homestead present place of David Scott. James Kelly, homestead the present place of Ransom Scott. John Kelly, homestead same as that of James. Isaac Herrick, homestead south of the school-house in the Alden Curtis District ; buildings gone. Joseph Pren- tice, homestead the present place of Thomas Hunt. John Partridge, homestead about one hundred rods north of the present place of William Leonard. Seth Sylvester, home- stead a little south of the house owned by Capt. Edwin Dodge; house in the " Mills Pasture." Amos Leonard, homestead present place of Dwight Prentice. Elijah Gardner, home- stead nearly west of Ring's Factory ; present land of George Pease.

Joseph Dewey, homestead nearly west of the " Buffington Grove," on land now owned by Horace Cole. Luke Bonney, homestead in the present pasture of Ira Jones. David Brun- son, homestead same as that of Luke Bonney ; they were the first millers in town. Asa Spaulding, homestead the present place of David Reese, of Greenfield. Hezekiah Maheuren, homestead east of the grove now owned by Selden Blackman. John Howard, homestead present place of Miriek Cole. Thomas Hall, homestead farm now owned by Col. Oren Stone ; buildings gone. Joseph Gardner, homestead opposite the pres- ent place of Royal Cushing. Miner Oliver, homestead where Russell Tower now lives. Capt. Constant Webster, homestead the present F. J. Robinson place. Joseph Geer, homestead where Osman Watt now lives. Samuel Tower, homestead a few rods west of the old church, near Mr. Watt's place. Nathaniel Collins, homestead south of that stated as the pion- eer home of Ephraim Heniek. Reuben Adams, homestead

Ringville ; the owner of the second saw-mill and the second grist-mill built in town. These mills were on the site of Cole & Hayden. John Drury, homestead the present place of Abel Drury. Matthew Finton, homestead on the present farm of Gordyce Bates. James Bemis, homestead the place where Abram Granger now lives. Thomas Buck, homestead the present place of Simeon Merritt. Moses Buck, homestead same as that of John Buck, already mentioned. Samuel Pettengill, homestead where David Scott now owns. Noah Morse, homestead the present farm of Lewis Adams; build- ings gone. Nehemiah Proughty, homestead present place of Henry Tower. Seth Porter, homestead present place of Widow Smith. Stephen Howard, homestead present place or near that of Ira Jones. Mr. Ilickbey, homestead south part of the town, near the Methodist church. Elihu Tinker, home- stead the residence now of Nathan Johnson.

John Parish, homestead on Snake Hill, on land now owned by Milton Parish. Children : Roswell and Truman, went west ; Oliver, Hartford, Conn .; Consider, Mississippi, still living ; Justice, Hinsdale ; Spencer was the father of M. J. Parish and O. B. Parish, now of West Worthington.

Of other early settlers, concerning whom but little positive information is now obtainable, Rice's history mentions Wil- liam Burr, Jonas Bellows, Jonathan Eames, Mr. Wilkins, Thomas Butler, Simeon Lee, Samuel Taylor, Samuel Clay, Mr. Rice, Mr. Ford, Samuel Wilcox, Rufus Stone, Moses Ashley, Joseph French, Samuel Converse, Nathan Morgan, Lewis Church, John Ross, James Tomson, Lewis Porter, Moses Porter, Joseph Lee, Alexander Chillson.

The following settlers were somewhat later : Dr. Ezra Stark- weather, from Stonington, Conn., was a Revolutionary soldier, and four of his brothers lost their lives in that struggle. He settled in Worthington in 1785.

Jonathan Brewster, from Preston, Conn., settled in Wor- thington in 1777; homestead present place of Daniel Pease. Children : Jonathan, Jr., Worthington ; Josiah, on the old homestead ; Elisha, Worthington ; Moses, a physician, settled at the centre and died there ; Mrs. Ezra Starkweather, Mrs. Joseph Marsh, Worthington.

Deacon Jonathan Brewster, of the present time, is a great- grandson of the pioncer. E. II. Brewster was the son of Elisha Brewster. Azariah Parsons, from Northampton, settled here in 1782; noted for his abundant charity to the poor. William Ward, from Cummington, came to Worthing- ton a young man, in 1795, as a clerk in Mr. Gove's store ; homestead afterward at the Corners ; he had one son, Daniel, and one daughter, Mrs. Chauncey B. Rising. Another daughter died young.

There are some facts about early roads of considerable in- terest. The selectmen describe the first "as the direct road through Worthington to Boston." This road joined the Ches- terfield road at " the gate," and ran northwest by the farms owned at one time by Mr. Harrington and by Mr. Drury, till it reached the Buffington place, where stood at that time the inn of Alexander Miller.

From this place it was laid out directly north till it passed the Tilson Bartlett place, and then it was continued north and west, passing through a part of Peru and Windsor, till it inter- seeted with a road which led more directly to Pittsfield.

In later years-to make the road " morestraight and direct," as the town fathers expressed it-this road was laid out over Snake Hill. Another important road laid out was from Cum- mington to Chester. This road passed through Cole Street, so called, and passed the inn of Capt. Daniels and the Buffing- ton place, till it intersected a road near where Mr. Alden Cur- tis lived in after-years. From there it crossed directly to Middle River, where it continued on the banks of that stream until it reached Chester.

During the years 1768 and 1769-70 great activity in road- making prevailed, and twelve cross-roads were surveyed and

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

partially opened, all of which except two were afterward abandoned. On the 17th of April, 1770, the town voted to raise £45 for repairing the highways ; 3s. a day was allowed for men's work ; for the work of a yoke of oxen, 1s. 6d. ; and for the use of a plow, 8d. Previous to 1868 there could scarcely be said to be a road in town, bridle-paths, trails, and routes marked by blazed trees being the only highways.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Morse was the earliest physician here, and evidently a man of ability, having much publie business assigned him, notwithstanding his Tory principles. Dr. Stark weather came in 1785, practiced many years, and was almost continually in public life. He died July 27, 1834. Subsequent physicians have been Dr. Marsh, Dr. Brewster, Dr. Porter, Dr. Richards, Dr. Dwight, Dr. Spear, Dr. Rodgers, Dr. Case, Dr. Peirce, Dr. Meekins, Dr. Holland, Dr. D. Pierce, Dr. II. Stark- weather, Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Bois, Dr. Coit, Dr. Brown, Dr. Prevost, Dr. Lyman, Dr. Knowlton, Dr. Freeland, Dr. Smith, Dr. A. Pierce.

LAWYERS.

Joseph Lyman, Samuel Howe, Daniel Parish, Jonathan Woodbridge, Elisha Maek, Chauncey B. Rising. All of these practiced at various periods in the town, and several rose to distinction and eminence here or elsewhere.

TAVERNS.

The taverns of Revolutionary times or earlier were those of Alexander Miller, of Nathaniel Daniels, and of Lieut. Meech, already mentioned. Very early, too, on the same general route, was a tavern opposite the present school-house, north of the Eager place ; also on the town-line at the Partridge place ; the Isaiah Kingman House, at the present E. HI. Brewster place ; the Pearse House, at Worthington Corners, now kept by Mr. Winslow, is one of the oldest houses in town. The Daniels Tavern passed to the son, Capt. Dan Daniels. The latter and Mr. Kingman had each lost a leg. A traveler, meeting them both within a short distance of each other, somewhat aston- ished, asked if it was the custom in Worthington to take off one leg. " No," said Mr. Daniels, " but when they find a man peculiarly honest they mark him." There was also a tavern for some years at West Worthington, on the site where Mrs. Adams now lives, opened by William Williams. He was fol- lowed by Capt. Lindsay. It was closed at his death. The present Bartlett House, at Worthington Corners, has been established only a few years. A part of it was originally a wool warehouse, used by Horace Cole. Mr. Bartlett has re- cently enlarged it extensively, providing accommodations for summer boarders.

STORES.

The old store of William Ward was at Worthington Cor- ners. E. C. Porter followed Mr. Ward, and continued until about 1860. The present store of Samuel Cole (formerly Horace Cole & Son) was built in 1860, the previous build- ings having been burned. Isaae T. Thrasher traded a few years at South Worthington. At West Worthington Mr. Medberry traded for some years; Russell Bartlett, also, from 1830 to 1840. In 1820 the Ward store was carried on by the firm of William & Trowbridge Ward. The building is the present basket-shop of Horace Bartlett. White & Daniels were proprietors, before 1820, of the old Gove store, on the stage-road.

The following are from old files of the Hampshire Gazette :

March 19, 1790 .- John Cunningham wants a boy about fourteen years of age is an "apprentice to the taylors' business."

Nov. 10, 1791 .- James Blackmar gives notico that he has completed upon the most approved modern plan a linseed-mill, on the stream near his dwelling- house, in the southeasterly part of Worthington. He offers four shillings a bushel for flaxseed.

Ang. x, 1792 .- Spencer Whiting, merchant, calls on those indebted to settle up, offering to take beef, pork, flax, flaxseed, butter, cheese, salts of lye, and ashes, and offers a general assortment of Went India and English goods.

March 28, 1793,-" Jooculation for the small-pox is carrying on in Worthing- ton by the subscribers agreeable to the latest and most approved method. " JOB MADSII, JAMES BRADISH."

July 6, 1801 .- The 4th of July was celebrated here by a large concourse of people from Worthington, Chesterfield, Goshen, Cummington, and Plainfield. Rev. Thomas Allen offered a devout and fervent address to the Author of all blessings. Jonathan Woodbridge, Esq., delivered an ingenious, elegant, and well-adapted oration. Mr. Briggs made the concluding prayer. Toasts were drank, interspersed with appropriate music.

We give two: "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,-a long tough link in the Federal chain."

" The American Fair. She will do us good, and not evil, all the days of her life."

ORGANIZATION.

The incorporation of the town followed more closely upon the first settlement than in the case of certain other towns, because the pioneers moved in nearly at the same time. The township was purchased June 2, 1762, but it was probably two or three years later that the actual settlement began ; and then in four years there was sufficient population to justify incorporation. That it was incorporated as a town, and not a district, indieates a " plantation" of considerable numbers and importance. The act of incorporation was passed June 30, 1768. The town was called Worthington in honor of Col. John Worthington, of Springfield, one of the proprietors. Col. Worthington erected a grist-mill and a meeting-house at his own expense, and donated 1200 acres of land for minis- terial and school purposes. He lived for many years to wit- ness the prosperity of the town he had founded.

The territory of the town as incorporated was considerably greater than at present. It extended from Cummington, on the north, to Chester, on the south, and from Peru, on the west, to the north branch of the Westfield River. This em- braced a portion of what is now Chesterfield, and also a por- tion of Middlefield. The place of the first town-meeting was at the inn of Alexander Miller. This was opposite the pres- ent house of Alonzo Belden. The place is identified by tradi- tion. The old well is still to be seen. There is a singh pear- tree and a few apple-trees remaining of the primeval orchard. . We add a copy of the warrant and extracts from the early records, showing the officers chosen and the proceedings of the first year :

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, 88. :

To Nathan Leonard, of Worthington, in the county of Hampshire aforesaid, yeoman .- Porsuant to an act of the province for erecting the new plantation, called No. 3, in the county of Hampshire, into a town by the name of Worth- ington, and investing the inhabitants of said town with all the powers, privileges, and immunities that other towns within this province enjoy, and impowering Israel Williams, Esq., to issue his warrant directed to some principal inhabitant of said town, requiring him to call a meeting of said inhabitants in order to choose such officers as towns by law are impowered to choose in the month of March annually ; these are, therefore, in his Majesty's name to require you, the said Nathan, to notify and warn the inhabitants of Worthington to assemble together at the house of Alexander Miller, innhobler in said town, on the first Monday in Angust next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, then and there in said meeting to choose all such officers as towns within this province are impow- ered and enabled by law to choose in the month of March annually ; hereof you nor they may not fail.

Given under my hand and scal at Hatfield, in said county, the 11th day of July, in the eighth year of his Majesty's reign, Anno Domini 1768. ISRAEL WILLIAMS, Justice of the Peace.

WORTHINGTON, in HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, July 19, 1768.

By virtue of the within warrant, I notified the inhabitants of said town by putting up a notification at the dwelling-honse of Mr. Alexander Miller, jon- holder, to appear at the time and place within mentioned to choose town officers as the law directs.

NATHAN LEONARD.

FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

At a legal meeting of the frecholders and other inhabitants of the town of Worthington at the dwelling-house of Mr. Alexander Miller, innholder in said town, on Monday, the 1st day of Angust, 1768, at ten of the clock in the fore- nout, pursuant to warrant. Ist. Chose Capt. Nathan Leooard moderator.

And then the town proceeded to the choice of other town officers: Nahnm Eager, Town Clerk ; Capt. Nathan Leonard, Capt. Nathaniel Daniels, Mr. John Kinne, Selectmen. Mr. Thomas Clemmons took the oath of constable and leather-sealer. Mr. Samuel Clapp took the oath relating to a surveyor. Mr. Benjamin Bigelow took the oath relating to wardens. Mr. Ephraim Wheeler

HON. ELISHA H. BREWSTER.

Deacon Jonathan Brewster, from Prestoo, Conn., settled in Worthington in 1777. Ilis son, Capt. Elisha Brewster, was born in Preston in 1755. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war, having early eulisted in a regiment of light dragoons for and during the war, and served as an officer of the same to its close, completing a period of seven years and six months. Ilis regiment was exercised in cavalry tacties hy Count Pu- laski, the distinguished Polish disciplinarian.

After the close of the war he served as captain of cavalry and brigade quartermaster. At the time of Shays' rebellion he volunteered his services to Gen. Shepard, and was one of his aids in that memorahle insurrection.

Ho married, April 24, 1788, Sarah, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Hunting- ton. Their children were twelve in number. The youngest son, and last survivor, was Hon. Elisha II. Brewster, whose portrait appears upon this page, who was born in Worthington, Aug. 5, 1809. He was educated in the common schools and at Hopkins Academy. He married, June 8, 1831, Sophronia Martha, daughter of Isaiah Kingman, of Worthington. Their children were two sons and five daughters, two of whom survive,-C. K. Brewster, of Worthington, and Mrs.

George M. Green, of Danbury, Conn.

He remained for several years upon his father's farm, and in 1842 removed to the centre village, and located a little south of the church and town-house, where he com- menced the mercantile business in company with his cousin, Mr. Sidney Brewster, under the firm-name of S. & E. II. Brewster. That copartner- ship continued ten years, when it was dissolved, Mr. E. Il. Brewster retiring to attend to his increasing public duties, In 1848 he was chosen as a Whig to represent his town in the Legislature, and again, in 1853, he was chosen to the same office. In 1852 he was elected county commis- sioner, and heki that office sixteen years. For fifteen years he was chairman of the board, and distin- guished himself hy his excellent judgment and the aptness and faith- fulness with which he discharged the difficult and often perplexing duties of the position. At the end of his sixtieth year (in 1868), when at the height of his popularity and usefulness, he voluntarily withdrew from that office, declining the offer of a certain re-election, much to the regret of the people of the county. In 1871 he was chosen a member of the State Senate, to represent the Berkshire and Hampshire district. In 1873 he was chosen a member of the governor's council for Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties, and was re-elected in 1874. This closed his public life.

In his earlier business years he was often called to fill various town offices, and served in almost every capacity, from constahle to selectman. Ile could have served oftener if he had wished, for his townsmen were always willing to elect him. He was also the leading justice of the peace in his region, and was appointed one of the first trial-justices under the new law, holding the office and discharging its duties with marked ahility and dignity until he resigned it several years ago. He was often called as a referee to settle disputed questions, both at home and abroad; and, after his retirement from the board of county commissioners, his services were frequently sought as counsel in important road cases. Ile was the principal legal adviser of the people in his section, wrote numerous wills, and settled many estates in the probate and insolvency courts, --- doing more of that business, probably, than any other man in the county.

While a member of the governor's council, he was one of a committee to receive General Grant, who, as President, came on an official visit to the State. He was active in the formation of the Worthington Agricul-

EH. Bruster 1

tural Society over twenty-five years ago, and was its first president. Ile was long connected with the old Northampton Institution for Savings as one of its trustees, and for twenty years (1848 to 1868) was one of the di- rectors of the Hampshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, exerting in their behalf an active and valuable influence. Ten years ago, his sou, Charles K. Brewster, having become of age, the two formed a copartnership, and hought out the mercantile business of S. Brewster & Son, and that business was continued until his death, under the firm-name of E. II. Brewster & Son.

Mr. Brewster was first a Whig and then a Republican. Though a strong party man, he never allowed his party ties to prevent him from remaining true to his friends. These incidents of his political life are worthy of men- tion : in 1856, after he had served four years as county commissioner, the machinery of the party was turned against him, and he was refused a re- nomination. The people, however, almost against his wishes, insisted upon voting for him as an independent candidate, and he was elected hy a hand- some majority. At the close of his service as commissioner he was ten- dered a supper at the old Mansion House, in Northampton, as a testimonial to his long and faithful official work, at which an elegant gold-headed cane was presented him by the county officials. The supper was attended hy about eighty of the leading men of the county. In the presentation speech on that occasion, the hope was expressed that the cane, after being a support to the recipient in his declining years, might he left as an heir-loom to his children. This wish he was careful to observe. The cane-ever highly prized hy him-he left to his son, Mr. C. K. Brewster, with the request that he hequeath it to the grandson of the deceased, now a lad of six years, who bears his name.

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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 150

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