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 155
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
A new store was built near his dwelling, where his son, Gen. David Mack, traded for some years, and perhaps David Maek, Sr., was in partnership for a time. This building was afterward removed to the corner at the village, and Gen. Mack traded there until his removal to Amherst. Solomon Root and his son, Solomon F., also traded in that building, and several others. In later years Matthew Smith was the mer- chant at the corner. The store is now kept by Joseph Ingham, grandson of the early pioneer, Solomon Ingham, and it is the regular successor of the David Maek store, first opened ninety to ninety-five years ago, up-stairs, at the present house of By- ron Haskell. Besides this store there was the old company store, at the place where Mrs. Root now lives in the village. This was established sixty or seventy years ago, and was not very successful. It was then run for a few years by Oren Smith, a son of one of the company. Solomon Root bought this and carried on the mercantile business there for some years, his son, Solomon F. (better known as Franeis), being associated with him. Mrs. Root, who is thoroughly conversant with the trade of Middlefield both through her father and her husband as well as her son, gives a glowing description of the old times before the opening of railroads. Then this now quiet village was lively with the stir of trade and business : teams coming and going, farmers from Middlefield and from adjacent towns making all their purchases here, and selling large quantities of produce to the local merchants.
There was also opened some years ago the Church store, so ealled, at the centre, where Mr. Geer now lives. This was afterward changed to the Factory village, and is now carried on by John W. Crane.
TAVERNS.
The first tavern was that of Enos Blossom, or if not the first it was very early, as a town-meeting was called at the " house of Enos Blossom, innholder, in 1784;" while " the house of David Mack, innholder," is not mentioned until 1786, al- though the dwelling-house of Mr. Maek is spoken of earlier than that of Blossom. The Blossom Tavern was where Ar- nold Pease now lives. David Maek built his frame house about six years after he came here,-that is, about 1781. A few years later he opened it for a tavern, and after it was re- paired and improved by the addition of a piazza it was a handsome house for the old times. The well-known tavern at the centre, kept so long by Oliver Blush, was the present residence of Mrs. Newton. This was a favorite place with the public in the days of travel by stage and private convey- ance, before the opening of the Boston and Albany Railroad. In the north part of the town was the tavern of Alexander Diekson, on the present Lyman Meacham place. There was also a tavern in the northeast part of the town, kept by Asa Smith. It was on a new stage-route, opened because of the destruction of the old by the work on the railroad, and which was abandoned after a short time, and the tavern closed. There has been no tavern in town for several years.
.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Wright was the earliest one to settle in Middlefield. He was a brother of the pioneer Nathan Wright. It is stated that the doctor lived where Arnold Pease does at the present time. He did not remain in town many years. Dr. Wil- liam Coleman was the successor of Dr. Wright. He first lived in the gambrel-roofed house east of the village, and there his son was born, afterward the distinguished Rev. Lyman Coleman. Dr. Coleman afterward lived at the pres- ent place of Arnokl Pease. This may indicate that he was here before the departure of Dr. Wright, and when the latter left Dr. Coleman bought his homestead. Dr. Coleman mar- ried after he came here, and practiced twenty-five or thirty years ; removed to Hartford, afterward to Pittsfield, and died there. Dr. Joseph Warren was for a long time the only phy- sieian in Middlefield. He spent his professional life, extend- ing to thirty-five or forty years, and then returned in old age to his native town, Ashfield. Dr. James Church (grand- son of the pioneer Uriah and son of James) practiced for several years here in his native town. He had an extensive ride, was popular and successful. His useful and active life came to an end by accident. Riding down one of the steep hills of Peru, the harness broke; he was thrown from his wagon, his limbs broken, and so badly injured otherwise that he died in a short time.
Dr. Edwin Bidwell was a native of Monterey, Berkshire Co., and was a man of extensive education ; went West, was actively engaged in Iowa, assisted largely in organizing and developing the school system of that State. Returning to Massachusetts, he practiced medicine in Middlefield, and when the late war broke out entered the army as assistant surgeon, was promoted, and served with distinction. After the war he practiced here for a time and then went to Vine- land, N. J. Dr. Underwood is spoken of as having been a physician here, for a time, of the school known as " Thom- sonian ;" was popular among the families that employed him, and went from here to Boston. Since the departure of Dr. Bidwell there has been no settled physician here, except that Dr. Wheeler, retiring from his former practice in other towns and locating here, occasionally practices.
These two notices are taken from old files of the Hampshire Gazette :
October 28, 1800, Titus Pomeroy, post-rider from North- ampton to Middlefield, ealls upon all to pay np, as he intends to discontinue his labors in this direction, another rider having established a route from Springfield to Middlefield.
David Mack, Jan. 25, 1798, calls upon all indebted to him to settle up, or the next call will be attended with cost. This is the " faithful steward" of the well-known religious tract.
ORGANIZATION.
As already shown, this town was constructed by uniting several portions of other towns. Middlefield became a neces- sity as the settlement of the country increased. In that por- tion taken from Worthington, the settlers were obliged to travel down into the valley of the Middle Braneb, and out of it, climbing a series of hills to reach the place of worship or the place of business in that town. On the portion taken from Chester the people were suffering equal inconvenience; and so of the other portions. The movement to organize was evidently led by David Mack, whose enterprise and activity were contributing largely to settle this territory. He offered to undertake the work of a survey and an application to the General Court, his expenses to be refunded if he succeeded ; if not, he was to pay them. The application does not appear to have been opposed ; and the following records show the steps at the formation of the town. The full text of the law is given, as the boundaries and other matters stated are of con- siderable interest :
469
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
An act for erecting certain lands, hereafter described, inte a town by the name of Middlefieldl, and annexing the whole to the county of Hampshire.
Il'hereas, the inhabitants of the southwest corner of Worthington, in the county of Hampshire, and the northwest corner of Murrayfield (now Chester), in the said county, and the northeast corner of Becket, the south side of Par- tridgefield, a part of Washington, and the inhabitants of Prescott's grant (so called), all in the county of Berkshire, have represented to this court the great tlifficulties and inconveniences they labor under in their present situation, and have requested that they may be incorporated into a town. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate aod House of Representatives, in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said southwest corner of Worthington, in the county of Hampshire, and northwest corner of Chester, in the same county, and the northeast corner of Becket, the south side of Partridgefield, a part of Washington, and the land called Prescott's grant, all in the conoty of Berkshire, and bounded as follows, viz. : Beginning at an hemlock-tree standing on the river in Becket, directly south from the southwest corner of the said Prescott's grant, thence running north one thousand rods to a beech-tree, then north twelve de. grees east, to the north side of the first square in Partridgefield, to a stake and stones; thence south seventy degrees east, nine hundred rods to a stake and stones; thence north one hundred and forty rods ; thence east six hundred rods to the river at ao hemlock-tree, a west point from Worthington meeting-house; thence down the said river to the place where the same crosses Worthington south line at au heart beam-tree; theoce west, thirty-five degrees south, nine hundred and forty rods, to the place where the said river crosses Becket east line; thence up the said river to the first-mentioned bounds; with the inhabitants thereoo, be, and hereby are, incorporated into a towa by the name of Middlefield, and that the said town be, and hereby is, vested with all the powers, privileges, and imuu- mities which the towos in this commonwealth do or may enjoy by the constitu- tivo and laws of the same; and the whole of the said town of Middlefield shall forever hereafter be considered as a part of the county of Hampshire; and be it further enacted, that Job Kirkland, Esq., be, and he is, hereby empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant within the said town of Middle- field, requiring him to warn the inhabitants of said town, qualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble at some suitable time and place within the said town, for the purpose of choosing such officers as are necessary to manage the affairs of the said town ; provided, nevertheless, that the inhabitants of the said town of Middlefield shall pay their proportionable share of such town, county, estate, and other taxes, as are already assessed on them by the respective towns to which they have belonged, and all public debts and duties which may be due and owing from the said towu, until a tax shall be laid by the General Court upon the said town hereby incorporated.
This act passed March 12, 1783.
WARRANT FOR THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
To Mr. Benjamin Eggleston, of Middlefield, in the county of Hampshire, yeo- man, greeting. In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to waru all the freeholders and other iuhabitants of the said town of Middlefield qualified to vote in town affairs, to assemble and uret at the dwelling- house of Mr. David Mack, io said towo, vo Thursday, the 10th day of April, instant, at nine o'clock in the forenvon, in order to choose all the officers necessary to manage the affairs of said town, agreeably to an act of the General Court of said Commonwealth, passed the 12th day of March last. Hereof, fail not, and make returo of this warrant with your doings thereon to myself before said meeting.
Given under my hand and seal, this first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and in the seventh year of the Independence of America,
JOHN KIRKLAND, Justice of the Peace.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
Agreeable to the above warrant, the inhabitants of said town of Midellefield met on the day above, said John Kirkland, Esq., presiding as Moderator in said niceting. The following officers were chosen : Solomon Ingham, Town Clerk ; Samuel Jones, David Mack, Job Robbins, Selectmen and Assessors; Daniel Chapman, Town Treasurer; David Taylor, Constable; James Nony, William Church, Wardens; Anson Cheeseman, Amasa Graves, Tythingmeo; Benajah Jones, Timothy MeElwain, James Dickson, John Jones, Surveyors of High ways; Benjamin Blush, Enos Blossom, Fence-Viewers; William Church, Sealer of Weights and Measures; John Jones, Sealer of Leather ; Thomas Blossom, Pound- Keeper; Eloathan Taylor, Samuel Gould, Hog-Reeves.
April 24, 1783 .- Voted that the town will raise a sum of money to mend the highways. Voted that two days' work be done by each person on the roads, and an equal proportion ou the estates, the year ensuing. Voted to allow those persons who have no roads to work where they expect to have roads under the direction of the surveyors. Voted that the money paid by men to get the town incorporated be refunded them on their exhibiting their accounts.
May 28, 1783 .- Voted that the pound for this towo he David Mack's yard, near lis barn.
At a meeting first Monday in October, 1783, voted to accept grain for the re- mainder of the town rate, allowing rye at 3s, per bushel, Indian corn at 2s. 6d. Voted David Mack, Samuel Jones, and Daniel Chapman be a committee to re- ceive suidl grain, aud the collectors to receive from taxpayers receipts from the above committee. .
At the first regular " March meeting," held on the first day of the month, 1784, chose Mr. David Mack, Moderator; Solomon Ingham, Town Clerk ; Samuel Jones, David Mack, Job Robbins, Selectmen and Assessors; Daniel Chapman, Town Treasurer; Anson Cheeseman, Constable; John Jones, Joseph Blush,
Wardens ; David Carrier, Timothy McElwain, Tythingmen; Uriah Church, John Dickson, James Nony, Amasa Graves, Surveyors of Highways; William Church, Sealer of Weights and Measures; James Nony, Sealer of Leather ; Israel Bis- sell, Benjamin Eggleston, Fence-Viewers ; Justice Bissell, Enos Blossom, Ilog- Reefs; Thomas Blossom, Pound-Keeper. Voted that a pound be built near Mr. Thomas Blossom's. Voted that in future, roads laid out hy the selectmen shall be three rods wide, except the road from Daniel Chapman's to Partridgefield, which is established to be four rods wide. Voted that the road between Warren Mack's and Sergeant Root's be discontinued, Voted three pounds bounty to any one who shall kill a full-grown wolf in this town, and one pound ten shillings for killing " a young or whelp wolf."
Twelve roads were approved at this town-meeting as laid out by the selectmen.
June 5, 1784, the selectmen called a meeting to consider the highway work, " as the rate laid is found to be so much that the town are not able to pay the work and carry on their farms besides." The subject of taxation and the inequality of valuation caused considerable discussion, and the selectmen were empowered, Dec. 27, 1784, “ to fee a representative to represent our canse at the General Court with respect to a new valuation."
March 14, 1785,-Voted that the towo will be at the expense of procuring a plan of the town to aid in the making of future valuations.
Other extracts from the records occur in the notice of churches, schools, and military.
Town-meetings were held as follows: "at the dwelling- house of David Mack ;" " at the house of Mr. Enos Blossom, innholder" (July 20, 1784) ; " at the dwelling-house of Lieut. Blossom ;" "at the dwelling-house of Mr. Joseph Blush ;" "at the house of Capt. David Mack, innholder" (Nov. 2, 1786), and were continued there down to the time of the meeting-house, March 26, 1791 ; then they were called "at the meeting-house," for many years, and the expression was changed to "at the centre meeting-house" April 3, 1820, showing another house erected by that time.
May 11, 1846, they met "at the centre school-house," and after that, for a few months, sometimes " at the lower room of the centre school-house." Nov. 8, 1847, "at the town-hall," and have been so held to the present time. The first town- hall was a low, one-story building, 26 by 36, erected during the summer of 1847, standing beween the present hall and the chapel of the Congregational Church. The present building, combining both the school-house of the centre district and the town-hall, was erected in 1872, and is a neat and substan- tial building.
SELECTMEN.
1783-84 .- Sammuel Jones, David Mack, Job Robbins. 1785,-Malachi Loveland, Timothy MeElwain, Solomon Ingham. 1786 .- Lient. Malachi Loveland, Timothy McElwain, William Church. 1787-88 .- Capt. David Mack, Matthew Smith, Bissell Phillips. 1789 .- Samuel Jones, James Dickinson, Daniel Chapman. 1790 .- Daniel Chapman, Malachi Loveland, Amasa Graves. 1791 .- Malachi Loveland, Matthew Smith, Amasa Graves. 1792 .- Matthew Smith, Samuel Woods, Elisha Mack. 1793-95 .- Matthew Smith, Erastus Ingham, Elisha Mack. 1796-98 .- Erastus Ingham, Elisha Mack, Thomas Durant. 1799-1800 .- Matthew Smith, Uriah Church, Solomon Ingham. 1801-3 .- Matthew Smith, Solomou Ingham, Erastus Ingham. 1804-5 .- Solomon Ingham, Erastus Ingham, John Smith. 1806 .- Matthew Smith, John Dickson, Ebenezer Emmions. 1807-10 .- Uriah Church, Johu Dickson, Ebenezer Emmons. 1811-14 .- Erastus Iogham, John Dickson, Capt. Daniel Root. 1815-16 .- John Dickson, Daniel Root, John Metcalf. 1817 .- Solomon Ingham, Daniel Root, Cyrus Coue. 1818 .- Daniel Root, Cyrus Cone, Alexander Dickson. 1819-20 .- Cyrus Cone, Alexander Dickson, Green II. Church. 1821-23 .- John Dicksou, Daniel Root, Matthew Smith, Jr. 1824 .- Daniel Root, Matthew Smith, Jr., Solomon Itoot, Jr. 1825-27 .- Matthew Smith, Jr., Solomon Root, Jr., Gaston Dickson. 1828-29 .- Solomou Root, Jr., Gaston Dickson, Sammel Smith. 1830 .- Salomon Root, Samuel Smith, James Church. 1831 .- Samuel Smith, Erastus J. Ingham, Ambrose Smith. 1832 .- Erastus J. Inghami, Ambrose Smith, Solomon Root. 1833 .- Ambrose Smith, Solomion Root, James Cross. 1834 .- Solomou Root, James Cross, Jonathan McElwain. 1835 .- Erastus J. Ingham, Samuel Smith, Oliver Smith. 1836-37 .- Oliver Smith, Jesse Wright, Ambrose Newton. 1838 .- Samuel Smith, Ambrose Newton, Oliver Smith (2d).
470
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
1839-40 .- Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Smith, Amasa G. Loveland. 1841 .- James Church, Daniel Pease, Jr., Horace Pease. 1842 .- Daniel Pease, Jr., Ambrose Newton, Henry Hawes. 1843 .- Daniel Pease, Jr., Samuel Loveland, Harry Meacham. 1844 .- Samuel Smith, Timothy Root, Samuel Ingham. 1845 .- James Church, Jonathan MeElwain, Ambrose Newton. I846 .- James Church, Ambrose Newton, Samuel Ingham. 1847 .- Ambrose Newton, Samuel Ingham, Sammel Loveland. 1848 .- Samuel Inghim, John L. Bell, Harry Meacham. 1849 .- John L. Bell, Henry Ilawes, Jonathan McElwain. 1850 .- Henry Hawes, Jonathan McElwain, Matthew Smith, Jr. 1851 .- James Church, Samuel Ingham, Milton Combs, 1852-53 .- Henry Hawes, Jonathan MeElwain, Oliver Smith (2d). 1854 .- Ebenezer Smith, Amasa Graves, Amos W. Cross. 1855 .- Amasa Graves, Jr., Amos W. Cross, Daniel Alderman. 1856 .- Daniel Alderman, Matthew Smith, Ambrose Robbins. 1857 .- Matthew Smith, Ambrose Robbins, Morgan Pease. 1858 .- John L. Bell, Ambrose Robbins, Morgan Pease. 1859-62 .- John L. Bell, Morgan Pease, Jacob Robbins, 1863 .- Matthew Smith, John W. Cross, Samuel Smith, Jr. 1864-66 .- John L. Bell, Morgan Pease, John W. Cross. 1867-68 .- John 1. Bell, Morgan Pease, Hiram Taylor. 1869 .- John L. Bell, Hiram Taylor, Henry Ilawes. 1870 .- Hiram Taylor, Arnold Pease, Metcalf J. Smith, 1871-72 .- Hiram Taylor, John L. Bell, M. J. Smith. 1873 .- Hiram Taylor, Morgan Pease, George W. Cottrell. 1874 .- Hiram Taylor, M. J. Smith, George W. Cottrell. 1875 .- Metcalf J. Smith, E. James Ingham, Howard Smith. 1876 .- Metcalf J. Smith, John L. Bell, Howard Smith. 1877-78 .- Metcalf J. Smith, E. James Ingham, Howard Smith.
TOWN CLERKS.
Solomon Ingham, 1783-84 ; Timothy Allen, 1785; Solomon Ingham, 1786-88 ; John Dickinson, 1789-95; Solomon Ingham, 1796-1807 ; David Mack, Jr., 1808- 31; Matthew Smith, Jr., 1832-43; George W. Lyman, 1844-48; John Smith, 1849-53; Jonathan McElwain, 1854; Solomon F. Root, 1855; Jonathan MeEl- wain, 1856-79.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Uriah Church, 1808; Erastus Ingham, 1809-10 ; David Mack, 1811-12; John Dickson, 1813-15; Daniel Root, 1816-17; Ebenezer Emmons, 1819-20; David Mack, Jr., 1821-24 ; George W. McElwain, 1829-31; Matthew Smith, Jr., 1832- 33 ; Solomon Root, 1834; Daniel Root, 1835; Green II. Church, 1837-38; Samuel Smith, 1839 ; Oliver Smith, 1840; James Church, 1841 ; Ambrose Newton, 1842; Alexander Ingham, 1843; Matthew Smith, 1844; Uriah Church, 1845; Jonathan MeElwain, 1846; Amos Cone, 1847; Harry Meacham, 1849; Almon Barnes, 1850; Eliakim Root, 1852; Oliver Smith (20), 1853; Milton Combs, 1855; Wm. L. Church, 1861 ; Arnold Pease, 1866; Matthew Smith, 1878.
VILLAGES. MIDDLEFIELD CENTRE
is at the original point selected a few years after the organiza- tion of the town for the location of the meeting-house. It was then decided to be the geographical centre of the town. The early Mack store was only a short distance south, and the meeting-house being built here eighty-six years ago, and the town-meetings held here continually, made it the business centre as well as the geographical. It is now one of the finest rural villages among the mountain towns of Hampshire County. Located on a commanding eminence, the view em- bruees a wide extent of surrounding country, hills and valleys stretching away, a mingled and varying landscape of rocky heights and gentle slopes, steep declivities and smiling meadows, cultivated fields and wood-crowned summits, while beyond all, and partially encireling all, is the blue line of the distant mountains. The publie buildings are in good repair, and the private residences mostly have a neat, freshly-painted appearance, indicating that they are cared for by men of thrift and energy. The post-office was established about 1811. Postmasters have been Edmund Kelso, Gen. David Mack, Solomon Root, Bartholomew Ward, and Oliver Church. As deputy postmaster, Deacon Alexander Ingham has managed the office for twenty-three years.
FACTORY VILLAGE.
This place is situated about a mile from Middlefield Centre. Its business interests were founded by Amasa Blush, who pur- chased the old Herrick clothing-mill, and by Uriah Church, Jr., who, a few years later, also established a clothing-mill. These were followed in each case by the building of factories,
and the founders were in each case succeeded by their sons. The village suffered severely in the disastrous flood of 1874. The chain of three reservoirs gave way (caused by the failure of the upper one), and the water poured down through the valley with immense force, demolishing the upper mill of the Church Brothers, the woolen-mill of Oliver Blush, the turn- ing-works of Wm. D. Blush, and doing much other damage. It has been a hard struggle to recover from these losses, and it will require many years to restore the former prosperity of the place. There are included in the village the handsome private residences of Wm. D. Blush and Sumner Church, also a few others. There is a school-house, but post-office facilities and places of religious worship are at the centre village above. There is one store, kept by John W. Crane.
MIDDLEFIELD STATION
is upon the Boston and Albany Railroad, in the south part of the town. It bears also the name of Bancroft Post-Office. To a traveler looking from the windows of a passing train there only appear the small station-house and one or two other buildings. There is, however, located here a large paper-mill, built by John Mann in 1845, for the manufacture of wrapping-paper. In 1851 the Buckley Brothers, of New York City, erected another mill, for the manufacture of wall- paper. The post-office has been kept by Mr. Davison, Wm. S. Cross, James N. Cross, Joel Haskins, Chester W. Merry- field, Edwin C. Cheeseman, and G. E. Manley ; the last-named is the present incumbent.
SCHOOLS.
The location of the first school-house is not determined. Probably there was but little done upon this territory either in building school-houses or establishing schools until the formation of Middlefield. The account of Mr. David Mack, as given in the tract entitled "The Faithful Steward," indi- cates that there were schools somewhat before that time. Ile came to Middlefield in 1775, and one year after his marriage. It is said he learned to read in the same school with his six- years-old son. Doubtless there were small family schools opened by two or three neighbors uniting at first. Even after the ereetion of the town the sums voted were for several years small. Individual exertion largely sustained the early school system. But the record then made in training up educated men and women is not one to be ashamed of, compared even with these days of intellectual progress. A town that sent out such men as Dr. Lyman Coleman and the eminent geol- ogist Ebenezer Emmons may well have a just pride in the efforts and sacrifices of the pioneers to lay broad and deep the foundations of universal education.
The following extracts from the records show the action of the town during the first two or three years :
April 24, 1783,-Voted to raise 10 pounds for the support of schooling for the year ensuing. Voted that Joseph Blush, Benjamin Blush, Timothy McElwain, and John Jones be a school committee, Voted that the selectmen be authorized to divide the town into school districts.
March 1, 1784,-Voted to raise 20 pounds for schooling, and that it may be paid in rye, Indian-corn, flax, or oats. Voted that James Dickson, Job Rob- bins, Samuel Jones, and Benajah Jones be a school committee for the ensuing year.
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.