History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 154

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 154

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).

George Thayer, enl. Oct. 22, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K; diach. July 29, 1863.

Lyman J. Tower, enl. Oct. 22, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K ; disch. June 1, 1863, to re-enl. in 2d II. Art.

John Wright, enl. Oct. 22, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K ; disch. July 29, 1863.

Isaac L. Percival, enl. July 20, 1863, 32d Inf., Co. F ; disch. June 29, 1865. The only man drafted from Worthington that entered the army ; he served his full term.

Levi J. Olds, sergt., enl. May 30, 1863, 2d II. Art .; disch. Sept. 3, 1865 ; had previously served full term in 46th.

Edward Meacham, corp., enl. Ang. 1, 1862, 34th Inf., Co. B; disch. June 19, 1865.

Franklin Myers, en1. Jan. 2, 1864, 34th Inf., Co. D; died Feb. 28, 1865, at Annapolis, Md.

George A. Robinson, sergt., enl. July 31, 1862, 34tlı Inf., Co. K ; disch. June 16; 1865.

Brainard E. Taylor, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. A ; re-enl. Dec. 24, 1863; died April 17, 1865, at Andersonville, Ga.

James F. Thayer, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. A ; died July 23, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga. Wm. B. Watts, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. A ; disch. Sept. 27, 1864.

Ansel Adams, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. K ; disch. April 5, 1862, for disab .; re-enl. Oct. 22, 1862, 46th Regt., Co. K ; disch. July 29, 1863; killed at home two or three years later by the fall of a tree.

Edward P. Meacham, enl. Sept. 25, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. K ; re-enl. Dec. 24, 1863; died Oct. 20, 1864, of consumption, at home.

Miles G. Smith, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, 27th Inf., Co. K ; disch. May 3, 1862, for disability.

Martin Sberman, enl. 15th Regt., Co. D.

Clarence P. Hewitt, enl. 27th Regt., Co. H; died July 22, 1865, of disease contracted in the army, having served full term of enlistment. John C. Adams, q.m .- sergt., enl. 86th Illinois; died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 19, 1863.

Wm. W. Adama, eul. 6Ist Regt., Co. I, N. Y. Vol .; died at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 26, 1861.

John Q. Ring, enl. 2d Regt., Mase. HI. Art .; died March 13, 1864, at Beanfort, N. C.

James Meacham was in the army; pro. to a cap- taincy, and was killed in South Carolina.

MIDDLEFIELD.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

BY what law of association Middlefield was made a part of the present county of Hampshire is a problem requiring some thought. And yet in the old times, before the era of railroads, the people of Middlefield traveled north to the Albany stage- route and then to Northampton as easily as to any other county- seat, and now by means of the railroads they reach Northamp- ton conveniently. Middlefield is bounded north by Berkshire County and Worthington ; east by Worthington and Hamp- den County ; south by Hampden County and Berkshire County ; west by Berkshire County. It is thus wellnigh surrounded by portions of counties other than the one to which it belongs. The town has a farm acreage of 13,436 acres, as stated by the census of 1875.

Middlefield was formed from portions of Worthington, Chester, Becket, Washington, Peru; to this was added the tract known as Prescott's Grant, not previously included, as it appears, within the limits of an organized town. Middlefield was therefore the result of a rearrangement of older towns, the earliest centres of town business not accommodating the settlers upon this territory. As a compromise they organized a new town upon this middle ground, and perhaps it thus received its name. The title, generally speaking, is of course traced to the same source as the towns from which the portions were taken. Prescott's Grant, from the language of the act of incorporation, must have touched the west border of the town and extended eastward. Mr. Alexander Ingham sup- poses it to have been a triangle of 800 or 1000 acres, the base at the west and the sharp angle extending to the east and just including the place of Mr. Charles Wright, north of the cen- tre. Middlefield is twenty-four miles from Northampton, the county-seat.

NATURAL FEATURES.

Middlefield is a mountainous town, for the term "hilly" fails to express the facts of the surface. There are three, and it may be thought correct to say four, ranges, nearly parallel, extend- ing through the town from northwest to southeast, and about an equal number of streams may be noted threading their way through the valleys. The west branch of the Westfield River, along which the Boston and Albany Railroad makes its way through the mountains, forms the south line of the town for some distance. Factory Brook makes a junction at the railroad station ; Cole's Brook, some distance to the west. The middle branch of the Westfield River, flowing from the distant north- ern towns of the county, forms the eastern line of Middlefield, receiving from the town three tributaries, two of them named upon the maps, Tuttle's Brook and Den Stream. Flowing from the slopes of the central range of hills is one small brook, known by the people as " Tan-House Stream."

The geological formation is especially interesting. The serpentine deposit on the borders of Chester and Middlefield is one of the most noted in the State.

EARLY SETTLEMENT, SUBSEQUENT GROWTH.

Upon the territory now constituting Middlefield, the first settlers are said to have heen Mr. Rhodes and John Taggart. The former established his pioneer home where Clark B. Wright now resides. It is understood that this was in the year 1773, and that he built a grist-mill not long after, the

first in the town. Mrs. Root states that her father, David Mack, soon after coming here, worked for Mr. Rhodes. The Rhodes family probably moved from town in a few years, and the place was sold to James Nooney (or Noney), and by him to the ancestor of the present Wright family. The same year, 1773, is mentioned as the date of John Taggart's settlement. He located some distance from Rhodes, in the valley of the Factory stream, and on the alluvial flats now covered by the reservoir. There is but little known concerning him. It is presumed he died at an early day. In the formation of one school district Taggart's Brook is mentioned, which was no doubt the old name for Factory stream.

This same year, 1773, is given, in the published history of Col. Mack, as the date when he purchased his land in this place. It is further stated that he came here in 1774, cleared two acres of land, and built a log house; removed the next year, and harvested a bountiful crop of grain from his two acres sowed the fall before. Mrs. Root, a daughter of David Mack, still living at the centre, says there were eight families here when her father settled. This refers probably to 1775. Be- sides Taggart and Rhodes, Samuel Taylor was probably here, and Josiah Leonard. The others were, perhaps, Timothy McElwain, Solomon Ingham, Joseph Blish, and Matthew Smith, and yet there may have been twenty others from whom a part of the eight should be selected.

The early town-meetings of Worthington, from 1768 to 1783, give little or no clue to names upon the present terri- tory of Middlefield. This southwest corner was to the people of the centre of Worthington pretty much an unknown land. After the settlement of David Mack, 1775, others came in rapidly, and most of them from Connecticut. There are said to have been sixty-eight families when the town was organ- ized, eight years later.

With so many to assist each other, the worst hardships of frontier life were soon mitigated ; yet it cost labor and courage and perseverance to carve out homes for their families upon the hills and in the valleys. The howl of wild animals was still in these woods ; provisions were scarce; there was little to sell and few to buy. Yet these hardy men of old successfully met all these difficulties, cleared their farms, educated their chil- dren, founded the institutions of religion, and transmitted to the present age an inheritance of Christian integrity solid as the everlasting rocks upon which their farms rested. This town, like others upon these mountain slopes, became a nursery where were trained strong men and women, who in dne time moved on, like their fathers before them, to settle newer and still newer lands ; carrying with them the church, the school- house, and the principles enshrined therein, and planting them all along the great highway of advancing civilization from the East to the West,-from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Some of the families remained here only a short time, and of their settlement but little is now known. Others abided in the homes they had made in the wilderness, their children succeeded them in the affairs of the church and of the town, and those of the third generation are now training their children, in some cases upon the same farms and in the same dwellings. Happy will they be who are now in the school or at the fireside of the ancestral home, if they drink in the brave, heroic spirit of these early pioneers, their earnest pur-

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

pose and their Christian faith. Then will they know the sublime truth,-

" That life is earnest, life is real, And the grave is not its goal."

NOTES UPON THE FAMILIES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.

Mr. Rhodes. Holland's " History" mentions him as one of the first two settlers, and gives the date as about 1773; home- stead in the " Den," where C. B. Wright now lives. He sold out at an early day ; little is known in Middlefield concern- ing him. John Taggart was the other settler mentioned as coming at the same date as Mr. Rhodes, in 1773. His home- stead was in the valley, above the factories. John Ford is said to have built the first saw-mill, in 1780; homestead below the factories a mile, where Leach's mill stood in later years, until swept away by the freshet of 1874. Malachi Loveland, homestead two miles south of the village, on land now owned by Orrin Pease; buildings gone. Among his children were Andrus, Payne, Malachi, Mrs. William Taylor, Mrs. Campbell Chester, Mrs. Partridge Worthington. Amasa Graves, homestead south, now owned by Dwight Graves, a grandson. Children : Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Timothy Graves, Erastus, who went West ; Nathan, to New York; Amasa, to Middlefield ; Stephen, on the homestead ; Mrs. Payne Love- land. Thomas Blossom, homestead on land now owned by Matthew Smith, east of the village. House moved, and now the dwelling of John L. Bell. Among his children were Thomas, Middlefield ; Rowland, Middlefield; William, Canandaigua, N. Y. ; one daughter, Mercy. Enos Blossom. His family removed from town in a few years. He opened the first tavern on the Arnold Pease place, when he soon after exchanged places with Ephraim Sheldon. Mrs. Root states that Sheldon came from Feeding Hills, and that Mr. Blossom went there.

Solomon Ingham, from Hebron, the first town clerk ; home- stead on land now owned by Milton Smith ; buildings aban- doned. Children : Solomon, Jr., Indiana ; Polly ( Mrs. Andrus Loveland), New York ; Daniel, New York, afterward Mich- igan ; Mehitable (Mrs. Abner Wing), Hinsdale ; Tryphena (Mrs. Zera Wing), Ilinsdale ; Alexander, still living, eighty- two years of age, and acting postmaster at the centre. To the latter we are indebted for much valuable information embodied in this sketch of the town.

Thomas Bolton was one of the founders of the church, in 1783, but intist have removed at an early day. James Diekson, homestead half a mile north of the centre, where Orrin Pease now lives. Ofhis children, John settled in Middlefield ; Joseph, in Washington Co., N. Y .; James, in Middlefield ; Alex- ander, in Middlefield ; Mrs. Russell Gillett, Mrs. Eggleston, Mrs. Uriah Church, Mrs. Wm. Church, Mrs. Isaac Gleason, Mrs. Comstock. Eliakim Wardwell, homestead where Lewis Carroll now resides. There was one son, Dennis Wardwell. James Noney bought the farm of the first settler, Rhodes, but sold out to Nathan Wright and went to Chester. Samuel Jones, one of the first seleetmen ; homestead present place of George Bell. John Jones, perhaps a brother of Samuel, above mentioned. He lived at the gambrel-rooted house, afterward Dr. Coleman's residenee. John Newton, homestead present place of Henry Sternagle. Of his children, William settled in Albany ; Amasa went West; Milton, to Albany ; Ambrose, Middlefield ; Asa, a physician of Illinois ; a daughter, Lucy, dicd young. Daniel Chapman, the first town treasurer ; homestead present place of Charles Wright. Family removed to Pittsfield at an early day. Job Robbins, one of the first selectmen ; from Attleborough ; homestead two miles east of the present place of Jacob Robbins, a grandson. The father of Jacob was Job, Jr.

Benjamin Eggleston. Ile notified the first town-meeting, 1783; homestead two miles west, .on land now owned by Henry Ferris, where there are the ruins of a brick house.

Among the children were Martin, Joseph, Betsey, Susanna, Chauncey, Achsah, Harriet ; all went to Ohio soon after 1800. Anson Cheeseman and Abel Cheeseman were two brothers. They removed at an early day ; are thought to have been na- tives of Hinsdale. Benajah Jones, homestead two miles south from the centre, where James Granger now lives. There was one son of the same name. The family left town at an early day.

Timothy MeElwain, from East Windsor, Conn., homestead present residence of Jonathan MeElwain. Children : Tim- othy, settled in Hinsdale; Anna (Mrs. John Shapley), New York ; Jane, died young ; Alexander, settled in New York ; James, Ohio ; George W., Middlefield ; Sally (Mrs. Solomon llateh), New York ; Betsey (Mrs. John Hatch), New York ; David, settled in Becket; Jennette (Mrs. Lewis Taylor), Middlefield ; Jonathan, on the old homestead (father of the present ,Jonathan ) ; Laura (Mrs. Reuben Smith). The family have some papers which indicate that their ancestors came in 1771, which would be earlier than the date assigned to Rhodes and Taggart by two years. The papers do not, however, de- cide the date of settlement elearly.

Benjamin Blish, homestead northeast part of the town. Joseph Blish, homestead at the centre, where the Widow Newton now lives Children : Oliver, settled in Middlefield, on the old homestead, and was the well-known tavern-keeper; Joseph, in Bennington, Vt. ; Amasa (father of William D., recently deceased), Middlefield ; Mrs. John Smith, of Middle- field; Mrs. Little, of Peru. According to the usage of the younger families, this name is now written Blush, but the other is no doubt the family name of ancient times.

David Carrier, homestead two and a half miles south; fam- ily left town at an early day. Israel Bissell, homestead a mile or more east of the centre ; removed to Hinsdale in a few years. Justice Bissell, homestead half a mile west of the Ford mill; buildings gone; land now owned by Hiram Taylor. Among the children were Justice, Blodgett, Horace, Barber, Roxy, Eunice, and Mrs. Isaiah Leach. Deacon Ingham states that Justice Bissell, Sr., was a carpenter, and framed the barn upon the old Solomon Ingham place.

Matthew Smith, in town very early ; homestead now owned by M. J. Smith. Children : Azariah, Manlius, N. Y. ; Matthew, Jr. (father of Mrs. Charles Wright), Middlefield ; John, died young ; Samuel (father of four sons, who graduated at college, and two daughters, at Mount Holyoke), Middlefield ; Joseph, Manlius, N. Y. ; Anna (Mrs. Clark Martin), Wash- ington : Mr. Martin dying, she afterward became Mrs. Daniel Root, Middlefield ; Asenath, died young.

Timothy Allen, from East Windsor, Conn., homestead where Henry Raymond lives, near the cemetery. Children : Noadiah, Ilosea, Spencer, and David; family went to West- field. Erastus Ingham, came in 1779, was a brother of Solo- mon Ingham, from Hebron, Conn .; homestead where his grandson James Ingham now lives. Children: Erastus JJohn (father of E. J.), Middlefield ; Samuel and William, twins, the former settling in New York, the latter in Middlefield, and afterward West; Mrs. Amos Mack, Middlefield; Mrs. Reuben Blossom.

Bissell Phelps, homestead east of the centre. John Spen- cer, homestead west, on the present Ferris farm. Children : John, of Middlefield ; Samuel, went West; Selden, Hinsdale; Brainard, went West; Susan (Mrs. Little), Ohio; and another daughter, Sally. (A daughter of Jobn, Jr., is Mrs. John L. Bell.) In the family of John, Sr., there were other children, Oliver, George, Anna.

Ebenezer Emmons, homestead where Milton Smith now resides. Children : Ebenezer, the distinguished naturalist ; Polly (Mrs. Justice Browning), Lenox ; Amanda ( Mrs. Tim- othy Root) ; Mrs. Hamilton, of Hartford; and Mrs. S. U. Church. Josiah Leonard, homestead where the old parsonage stood before it was removed to the village; the family went

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

West at an early day. Nathan Wright, from Chester, 1798, homestead where C. B. Wright now resides (a grandson). Children : Nathan, Jr., who settled on the old homestead ; Amos, who died young; Jesse, who settled on the present place of Mr. Howe, in the same neighborhood; Mrs. Dan Pcase, Middlefield ; Mrs. . oh Robbins, Middlefield ; Mrs. Thomas Durant, Pittsfield ; Mrs. Milton Johnson, Beeket. Dr. William Coleman, homestead given elsewhere. Children: William, Lyman, the well-known minister and author of religious works ; Sarah, married in Ohio; and one daughter unmarried.

Samuel Taylor, a very early resident, coming from Pitts- field, among probably the first three or four settlers; home- stead on lands now owned by Byron Haskell ; buildings gone. Children : Lewis, seven years a soldier of the Revolution ; William, who settled two miles west of the centre and after- ward went to Ohio; Samuel; Mrs. Malachi Loveland.

Thomas Durant, from Boston, settled where Harry Meacham now resides. Children : Naney (Mrs. Amasa Blush), Middle- field ; William, settled in Albany; Edward, in New York ; Polly (Mrs. Wheeler), New York; Sally ( Mrs. William Newton), Albany ; Betsey (Mrs. Walter Tracy), Pittsfield ; Thomas, Pittsfield; Clark, Albany and New York City. The wife of Thomas Durant, Sr., lived to be one hundred and one years and six months ; she used to tell her children and grandchildren about hearing the cannon at the battle of Bunker Ilill; her husband was in the army of the Revolu- tion.

Uriah Church, homestead a mile north of the eentre, where Edward Graves now resides. Children : Uriah, Jr. (father of the five brothers, Sumner U., James T., Lyman, William F., and Oliver) ; James, who settled on the homestead (father of Tallmadge B., Dr. James U.); Mrs. Munyan, Northampton ; Mrs. John Ward, of Middlefield ; William L., of Peru; Henry C., of Middlefield.

William Church; a brother of the pioneer Uriah, homestead a half mile west of the centre, on land now owned by Henry Ilawes; buildings abandoned. Children : Green, settled on the homestead ; William and Warren, both in Middlefield; one daughter, Mrs. Horace Bissell.

Elisha Mack was the father of Col. David Mack; he came here some eight or ten years after his son ; his homestead was where Charles Combs now lives ; of his children, besides " the faithful steward," may be mentioned Capt. Elisha, who set- tled on present place of Mr. Ferguson, and moved away at an early day ; Mrs. Oliver Blush, Mrs. Abel Cheeseman, and John, the long-time merchant of Plainfield.

David Maek, the well-known merchant of whom the tract was written entitled "The Faithful Steward." Homestead the present place of Byron Haskell. His first log cabin, erected in 1774, stood at the north end of the old garden, north of the present house. His frame dwelling was erected six years later. His wife was Mary Taleott, of Hebron, Conn. Children : Mary (Mrs. Ebenezer Emmons), Middlefield ; Lois (Mrs. Jacob Robbins), Warren, N. Y .; David (known as Gen. Mack), Middlefield and Amherst ; Mindwell (Mrs. Ichabod Emmons), Hinsdale; John Talcott, Hinsdale ; Elisha, lawyer and judge, Salem, Mass. ; Anna (Mrs. Isaae Clark), Beeket ; Phebe (Mrs. Uriah Church, Jr.), Middlefield ; Zilpha (Mrs. Azariah Smith), Manlius, N. Y. ; Lucy ( Mrs. Selden Spencer ), Hinsdale ; Hannah (Mrs. George McElwain), Middlefield ; Abigail (Mrs. Wm. Elder), Homer, N. Y. ; Laura ( Mrs. Sol- omon Root), Middlefield. The latter is still living at the age of eighty-four, with intellect undimmed, a rare specimen of aetive, vigorous old age. To her we are indebted for many particulars respecting the history of Middlefield. She states that her father's family were probably never all at home to- gether. She remembers the ten daughters being at home once, and all attended meeting together.

Dan Pease, homestead present place of John Williams. Ilis

father's name was Israel. The children of Dan were Dan Pease, Jr., of Worthington ; Sally ( Mrs. Harvey Root) ; Mary, died unmarried ; Walter, Stephentown ; Sybil ( Mrs. Ebenezer Smith), Middlefield; Eldredge, Middlefield ; Morgan, Mid- dlefield; Amanda (Mrs. George Crane), Washington ; Arnold, Middlefield ; Harriet (Mrs. Hezekiah Taylor), Westfield; Laura A. (Mr>. Wm. Stevens), Chester.

Sergeant Thomas Root, from Somers, Conn .; homestead the present place of Wm. Alderman. Only a part of the chil- dren came to Middlefield. Solomon, homestead where Daniel Alderman now lives. Capt. Daniel Root, on his father's place. Mrs. Green Church, Middlefield ; Mrs. John Metcalf, Middle- field ; Mrs. John Spencer, Middlefield ; Mrs. Nial Little, of Becket. The sons of Solomon were Solomon, Jr., Harvey, and Selden, Middlefield; Nathan, of Chester, and Timothy. Daughters, Mrs. Dan Pease, Worthington; Mrs. Elder, of Ohio. The sons of Capt. Daniel Root were Daniel and Sylves- ter, of Pennsylvania ; Justin, Greenfield; Eliakim, of Mid- dlefield. Daughters, Mrs. Asa Smith, Middlefield, and Mrs. Oliver Smith ; Mrs. Daniel Alderman and Mrs. Collins, Mid- dlefield ; Mrs. Wm. Fay, Chester.

Mr. Churchill' was an early pioneer; homestead in the Wright neighborhood. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and left two sons, Giles and Charles, and one died young. The family name has been identified with that section of the town to the present time.

Calvin Smith came in 1788, from East Haddam, Conn. ; set- tled on the present Thompson place, so called. He bought a traet of 400 acres, and subsequently increased it to 1500. Children : Temperance, died young ; Asa, settled in Middle- field ; Hannah (Mrs. Daniel Ingham), Michigan ; Orrin, Mid- dlefield ; Oliver, still living, aged eighty-five, in Middlefield (father of Clarkson Smith) ; Mrs. Wm. Ingham, Cato, N. Y .; Obadiah, Middlefield ; Ambrose, on the homestead ; Ebenezer, Middlefield. One daughter died young.

The pioneers, Calvin and Matthew, were brothers.

Intentions of marriage,-the first according to the order in which they are recorded in the town book :

Sept. 10, 1783 .- These may certify all whom it doth or may concern that John Crane, of Beckett, and Ilannah Bissell, of Middlefield, have been published according to law.

By me, SOLOMON INGHAM, Town Clerk.

May 24, 17×4 .- Then the intentions of marriage between Moses Eggleston and Mary Dickson have been published according to law, both of Middlefield. Attest, SOLOMON INGHAM, Town Clerk.

June 6, 1784 .- Then the intention of marriage between William Taylor and Priscilla Loveland, both of Middlefield, were published according to law, by SOLOMON INGHAM, Town Clerk.

The first deaths, in the order they are recorded in the town book, are the following :

May 24, 1783 .- Died, Ens. Elisha Mack, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.

April 12, 1784 .- Died, a child of Ephraim Sheldon and Miriam his wife, being about one day old.

Jan. 8, 1785,-Daniel Ingham, son of Solomon Ingham and Mary his wife, died. April 1, 1785 .- Samuel Robbins, son of Job Robbins and Cynthia his wife, died. July 19, 1778 .- James Bates, son of Oliver Bates and Rachel his wife. John Taylor died July 16, 1786.

Ann Jones, wife of Samnel Jones, died May 14, 1788.

Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin Thomas, died Nov. 15, 1790.

MERCHANTS.

David Mack was the first merehant in the town. It sounds a little humorous in these times of quick transit to New York and Boston to read in the old accounts of Mr. Maek that he went twice a year to Westfield to purchase his assortment of goods, and that they were mostly transported on horseback. He was undoubtedly a man of unusual foree of character, un- questioned integrity, and devoted piety. His early education was so limited that he attended school with bis own children, spelled in the class with his six-year-old son, who was once very proud of getting above his father. He began life not only ignorant, but poor, yet by prudence, steady toil, and

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

economy he amassed wealth, and expended it largely for the purposes of Christian benevolence. He wielded mueh influ- enee, filled many publie offices, and died at last, full of years and honors, at the ripe age of ninety-four. His history was many years ago written in the form of a traet, and has been scattered widely over the world by the American Traet Society.

Mr. Maek began in a small way at first, keeping a few goods for sale in the chamber of his dwelling-house. The statement in the tract quoted above, that he brought his goods twice a year from Westfield, must refer only to this commencement. Mrs. Root says that the goods were brought generally from llart- ford. Mr. Maek built an addition to his dwelling-house, and this was his place of trade for many years. His wealth was acquired not wholly by this one store, but by " branching out," establishing stores in other towns, and doing a very large business.

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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 154

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