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 156
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May 2, 1785 .- Voted to raise 20 pounds, lawful money, for the support of schooling the ensuing year, said money to be paid in the articles of provision or clothing. Sebool Committee, John Taggart, Matthew Smith, David Carrier, and Ephraim Sheldon.
The report of the formation of the school districts is not recorded. One is given under date March, 1796, " that the people living west of Taggart's Brook, from the Widow Goddard's and on to the town-line northward, except Daniel Spencer, Mr. Emmons, and Widow Goddard, be a school District." School dis- tricts generally were organized in 1789, or perhaps rearranged.
The modern organization of the school system of the State dates from about 1825. . That year Middlefield appointed as committee, under the new law to examine schools and teachers, Matthew Smith, Jr., George W. MeElwain, and Alexander Ingham. The following spring, $300 were appropriated for
471
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
schools. For many years before and after that they averaged about that sum. In later years they have been much higher.
The following statistics Comprise a large amount of valuable information, comparing the past with the present :
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
January, 1837 .- Nine schools; attending in the summer, 143; average, 13]; winter, 156 ; average, 144; in town between 4 and 16, 183; summer schools, 32 months, 15 days; winter, 19 months, 7 days ; sommer teachers, 8 females; winter, 5 males, 2 females ; average wages of male teachers per month, $17.80; female teachers, $11.36.
January, 1847 .- Ten schools; attending in summer, 155 ; average, 104 ; winter, 216; average, 166; in town between 4 and 16, 193; attending under 4, 9; over 16, 28 ; summer schools, 32 months ; winter, 32 months, 4 days ; total, 64 months, 4 days ; summer teachers, 9 females; winter teachers, 7 males, 3 females; aver- age wages of male teachers per month, $19,52; female, $11.50.
January, 1857 .- 11 schools; attending in summer, 90; average, 71; winter, 159; average, 119 ; attending under 5, 10; over 15, 23; in town between 5 and 15, 166; summer teachers, 7 females, winter, 6 males, 4 females ; summer schools, 22 months; winter, 29 months, 14 days; total 51 months, 14 days; average wages of male teachers per month, $21.68; female, $13.91.
January, 1867 .- Eleven schools; attending in the summer, 156; average, 124; winter, 179, average, 146; attending under 5, 14; over 15, 29 ; in town between 5 and 15, 158; summer teachers, 9 females ; winter, 3 males, 6 females; summer schools, 26 months, 5 days; average wages, male teachers, per mouth, 829.33; female teachers, $19.29.
January, 1878 .- Eight schools; for repairs, $10; attending, 189; average, 129; uuder 5, 6; over 15, 27; in town between 5 and 16, 143; teachers, 5 males, 11 females, 2 of them from normal; school 50 months, 5 days; average wages, male teachers, per month, $21.54; female, $22.93; taxation, $900; expense of superintendence, $55; printing, $10; income of local funds and dog-tax, $129 ; 1 private school ; 3] scholars; tuition, $160; town share of State funds, $220.57.
Besides the excellent system of district schools, there has usually been maintained at the village a select school during the winter season. This has offered superior advantages for obtaining a higher education. Languages and higher mathe- matics are taught, and young men fitted for college. The school the present winter (1878-79) is taught by Professor M. J. Smith, who has also had charge of it several previous terms. He is a citizen of the town, and has taught considerably abroad. Returning here, his school has become a favorite resort for the young people of the town, offering, as it does, equal advantages with those of more elaborate seminaries at only a fraction of the cost.
Deacon Ingham states that when Miss Mary Lyon, with the aid of Rev. Mr. Hawks, was raising money for the found- ing of Mount Holyoke Seminary she made her home for a time at his residence. He speaks of her as a woman of un- common energy and devotion to her work. She secured $1000 in this town,-$500 from Col. David Mack, and $100 apiece from five other citizens.
Deacon Ingham furnishes the following list of graduates : Elisha Mack, a lawyer, and afterward a judge at Salem. Alvin Nash, son of Rev. Jonathan Nash, minister and teacher in Northern Ohio, founded a school on the Mount Holyoke plan ; removed to Painesville. Ebenezer Emmons, graduated at Williams College, studied and licensed as a physician, but was too much of a naturalist to follow his pro- fession. Dr. Lyman Coleman, the very distinguished minister, traveler in the Holy Land, author of sacred geography, etc., graduated at Amherst. Azariah Smith, educated at MeGraw- ville ; became a distinguished business-man in the State of New York ; his son became a missionary to Armenia; now in Boston publishing-house. General Mack, son of David Mack, was a noted merchant; afterward Senator and councillor. William Church, one of the five sons of Uriah, went to Cin- cinnati ; was a prominent man of Ohio; organized the State department of insurance; and was commissioner for several years, until removed by a different administration. Judson Smith, a noted professor in Oberlin Theological Seminary ; he graduated at Amherst. Rev. Edward Smith, graduated at Amherst ; mostly engaged in Worcester as an educator. Pro- fessor M. J. Smith, now teaching, was educated at McGraw- ville.
The four Smiths were brothers. Samuel Ingham, son of
Deacon Ingham, graduated at Westfield Normal School; es- tablished a graded school at Norwalk ; studied for the minis- try and went as a missionary to the Dacotahs, and died at the Santee Agency. He had a large church, and a great work was done there. His wife was matron of the home for the educa- tion of the Indian girls. A daughter of Deacon Ingham graduated at Mount Holyoke, and became the wife of Rev. Nathaniel G. Bonney. Two daughters of Samuel Smith graduated at Mount Holyoke. One daughter of Sumner Church graduated at Mount Holyoke. The Durants and Newtons that went to Albany were eminent business-men, and various members of the Eggleston, Morgan, and other families have also become noted abroad.
In the account of the educational interests of the town there should be included a notice of the valuable work, under the Jead of Deacon Alexander Ingham, among the Irish popula- tion of 1000 to 1200 that were gathered here during the con- struction of the railroad between 1836 and 1840. Two school- houses were opened,-one in the vicinity of the " shoddy-mill," and one near the present station. A genuine missionary work was accomplished. Children were gathered in by the hun- dred, and taught to read and write. The families of the laborers improved in habits ; they clothed their children better, and the latter grew self-reliant and blessed in after- years Deacon Ingham's schools. With his heart full of the work, Mr. Ingham attended the State Convention, laid the matter before that body and before Horace Mann, then secre- tary of the Board of Education. The result was the naming of a committee, with Deacon Ingham chairman, to interest other towns in the matter, and thus the work was extended all along the line between Springfield and " State Line." As the laborers moved west to work upon the Erie Canal in New York, Deacon Ingham visited Albany and Schenectady, and interested Gov. Seward, School Superintendent Spencer, Bishop Potter, and others in the same work. Legislative action was had, and temporary instruction secured for the children of the laborers.
CHURCHIES.
As in other New England towns, the records in the office of the town clerk contain the first account of church work.
At the second town-meeting, two weeks after the organiza- tion, April 24, 1783, called by the newly chosen selectmen,
Voted that the town will raise 30 pounds, money to support the gospel; that it be paid in by the first of July next, and that Ens. Elisha Mack, James Dixon, Joseph Blush be a committee to procure preaching. Voted that the committee be paid for their own and horse expenses, and for the journey of said horses. Voted that Ens. Elisha Mack, Jolin Dixon, Benjamin Eggleston, William Church, aud Joseph Blush be a committee to find the centre of the town.
May 28, 1783 .- Voted that Daniel Chapman be a committee to assist to pro- care preaching. Voted that Solomon Ingraham be a committee to procure a surveyor to find the centre of the town. Voted that Benajah Jones be a com- mittee to assist in finding the centre.
Sept. 2, 1783 .- Samuel Jones, Moderator. Voted that the town will have Mr. Smith to preach with us a certain number of Sabbaths, provided he will agree to on reasonable terms, Voted to give Mr. Smith twenty shillings per Sabbath. Voted that the town will not accept of the place proposed by the committee for a centre. Voted a committee of seven to find the most convenient and proper place for the meeting-house to stand, viz. : James Kelly, Samuel Jones, Benja- min Blush, John Spencer, Job Robbius, David Mack, and James Dickson. On the first Monday in October the committee made a report, which the town ac- cepted, fixing a site for the meeting-house, viz. : "to stand on the main road, on the line between Mr. Joseph Blush and Widow Ford's."
Dec. 18, 1783 .- Voted that the selectmen have power to settle the accounts of the committee appointed to provide preaching.
March 1, 1784 .- Voted that the committee for the procuring of preaching do employ the Rev. Mr. Griswold to preach with us four Sabbaths more. The same day they voted that town-meetings be held at Mr. Enos Blossom's, and that the Selectmen set up benches for the people to use on the Sabbath.
July 20, 1754 .- Voted that the town will raise 30 pounds to support preaching. Voted that the town will hire Mr. Timothy Woodbridge to preach with us twenty Sabbaths on probation. Joseph Blush, Daniel Chapman, and Capt. David Mack appointed committee ou preaching.
Dec. 2, 1784 .- In the warrant for a meeting was the clause : " To see if the town will give Rev. Mr. Woodbridge a call for a settlement in the work of the minis- try ;" but it does not appear to have been acted upon.
.
472
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Monday, May 2, 1785 .- Voted to raise 20 pounds lawful money for the sup- port of the gospel. David Mack, Joseph Blush, aud Daniel Chapman were appointed a committee to dispose of said money.
May 2, 1785 .- Voted David Mack 3 pounds for the use of his house for meet- ings on the Lord's day during the present year.
Sept. 6, 1785 .- Voted 30 pounds for the support of the gospel.
Oct. 17, 1785 .- Voted to give the Rev. Mr. Thompson a call to settle in the ministry, and offered him a salary of "50 pounds a year, to rise 40 shillings a year till it amounts to 60 pounds a year, and then to stop rising."
Thirteen voters, however, filed a written protest dissenting from the above vote, and the call evidently failed, for Dec. 12, 1785, it was voted that the committee apply " to some candi- date to come and preach for us on three or four Sabbaths, and, if the town likes him, to lay in with him to preach with us next summer."
The protest mentioned above was in the following words :
" We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Middlefield. in consequence of the town's giving Mr. Thompson a call to settle in the work of the ministry, dissenting from the vote of said town, enter this our remonstrauce against the proceeding of said town with regard to the said Mr. Thompson, and order the town clerk to enter this our protest on record.
" SAMUEL JONES.
JAMES DICKSON.
JAMES TAGGART, JR. JOHN DICKSON. TIMOTHY ALLEN.
DANIEL BABCOCK. BENJAMIN BABCOCK. JOSEPH DICKSON. DANIEL MIELZEA.
ELNATHAN TAYLOR.
MOSES EGGLESTON.
JOHN PINNEY.
" MIDDLEFIELD, Oct. 17, 1785."
May 4, 1786 .- A warrant for a town-meeting contained the clause: "To see if the town will raise a sum of money to provide materials to build a meeting- house ;" Imt it seems to have been passed over at the meeting.
Aug. 3, 1786 .- Voted to hire Mr. Joseph Strong four Sabbaths more than what the committee have agreed with him for.
The warrant for a meeting, Ang. 15, 1786, contained the clause : " To see if the town will agree upon any method to settle the unhappy differences subsisting in said town, occasioned by different sentiments in religion;" but it was not acted upon.
Sept. 4, 1786 .- Voted to hire Mr. Joseph Strong to preach the gospel in the town five Sabbathıs. He was not, however, settled.
Nov. 2, 1786 .- Voted to hire Mr. Robinson to preach with us.
Dec. 21, 1786 .- Voted to hire Mr. Robinson eight Sabbaths more, and voted 30 pounds for preaching, and appointed a committee to treat with Mr. Robinson.
Jan. 22, 1787 .- It was voted to set the meeting-house ou the most convenient place, nearest the centre of the town, on the public or town highway
June 1I, 1787 .- Voted to set the meeting-house on the height of land between Bissell Philips and Justice Bissell's.
Voted to build a house 52 by 44. Voted to raise 200 pounds to provide mate- rials to build, and to become due by the 1st of April next.
Committee appointed : William Church, Malachi Loveland, Daniel Chapman, Bissell Philips, Matthew Smith.
Voted that all proper materials for the house shall be received in payment of the tax.
But the question where the house should stand was not yet settled.
Dec. 6, 1787 .- Voted Deacon Jonathan Brewster, of Worthington, Deacon Jesse Johnston, of Chester, and Licut. Scott, of Norwich, to be a committee to repair to this town and fix the spot for the meeting-house. A committee to notify aud wait upon said committee were Matthew Smith, Samuel Jones, James Dickson, Malachi Loveland, Samuel Skinner, and Jub Robbins.
March 17, 1788 .- The warrant called for action on the support of the gospel, but none was taken at the meeting.
April 7, 1788,-Ebenezer Babcock's minister rates were abated from the time he joined the Baptist Church in Chesterfield, Sept. 18, 1785.
At the same meeting a committee of three was appointed to procure a place to hold meetings ou the Sabbath,-Samuel Jones, Matthew Smith, Erastus Ingham. June 6, 1788 .- Voted 40 pounds for the support of the gospel, thirty pounds to be paid in money, and ten pounds in the produce of the earth.
June 16, 1788 .- Voted to give Mr. Frederick Parker a call to settle in tho ministry.
Aug. 25, 1788 .- Voted to give Mr. Parker 150 pounds as a settlement, to be paid in nent cattle at cash price, to he paid within three years from his ordination. Salary the first three years to be 55 pounds annually, and after that 75 pounds, half cash and half in pork, beef, and grain at market rates.
Mr. Parker seems to have deelined the call and left town. lle had preached for some time, as board bills presented by David Mack for 17 shillings, and by Oliver Blush for 4 pounds 17 shillings and 6 pence, were allowed. The town made quite an effort to secure the return of Mr. Parker, voting that they would settle him on either Presbyterian or Congregational principles, as he might choose, and sending a committee to desire him to return.
March 2, 1789,-Voted a committee to provide a place to hold religious meet- ings,-Abuer Clapp, Job Robbius, and Samuel Jones.
April 27, 1789 .- Voted to annul the old tax authorized years before for building a meeting-house. Voted to reconsider the vote fixing the site hy Cyrus Crane's house.
All this was slow progress toward either building a house or settling a minister.
Aug. 24, 1789 .- Voted 300 pounds in money to build a meeting-house. Chose a committee " to pitch upon a spot" for the meeting-house, between Oliver Blush and Josiah Leonard's,-Samuel Jones, David Mack, Erastus Inghaus, William Church, Benajah Jones, John Newton, and Amasa Graves.
Report of committee accepted, viz. : " on the height of land near Oliver Blush's, and west side of the highway."
Voted to divide the town into districts, to provide materials for the meeting- house.
Voted that the tax should be paid by the first of next June. Voted to invite Rev. Joseph Strong to preach as a candidate, and chose a committee to treat with him,-James Dickson, David Mack, and Bissell Phillips.
Sept. 28, 1790 .- Voted to hire Mr. Joseph Strong on probation. Voted to have the assessors make the 300 pounds into "four equitable bills."
The question of site was still in dispute, as appears by the meeting of November 30th, when they voted " to reconsider all previous votes" on the subject, and then voted to "set it on the height of land near Cyrus Crane's house." Meanwhile Mr. Stephen Williams seems to have been preaching for them during the following winter and spring, for March 11, 1790, they voted money for his support, to be due December Ist ; and this season the building of the meeting-house went on ; but the site last mentioned above was not yet definitely selected. Six shillings a day was voted to the master workman, William Church, and five shillings a day to other workmen.
The warrant for a meeting June 30, 1790, contained the clause : "To see which of the two places the committee should set the house, at the beach staddle, as hath been voted, or on the rocks, as a committee appointed for that purpose once decided." And it was voted " to set the house on the ledge south of Oliver Blush's." Voted " to raise the meeting-house by a general invitation, and that the master workman have the liberty to pick the hands that are to go on the frame and do the work aloft." The house was raised soon after, as the next votes are with reference to covering it. Difficulty oe- curred about collecting the church tax of the Baptists for this Congregational meeting-house. And it does not appear just how it was settled, though the records indieate that all were taxed according to the old custom. The finishing eost much time; but it was so far finished in the fall of 1791 that the seating was provided for, being " dignified" according to the age and valuation of the persons to be seated. The house had, however, been in use for some months before, the town-meet- ings being called there from and after March 26, 1791, and the meetings on the Lord's day no doubt began there about the same time.
June 7, 1792, it was voted to hire Mr. Jonathan Nash to preach six Sabbaths longer than the committee had agreed with him for, on probation. A call was voted to him Aug. 2, 1792; £100 settlement ; salary £60 the first year, to be paid in lawful silver money, £65 the second year, £70 the third, £75 the fourth, and this last to continue as the annual salary. This account of the pioneer church work brings us to the completion of the meeting-house and the settlement of the first pastor.
The church was constituted Nov. 16, 1783, and consisted of the following members : Sarah Taylor, Mary Maek, Elizabeth Brown, Luey Chapman, Mary Mann, Job Robbins, Elizabeth Blush, David Bolton, Asa Brown, Anson Cheeseman, Daniel Chapman, Oliver Bates, David Maek, Berzela Wright, Joseph Blish, John Taylor. The various places where meetings were held at first are shown in the extraets from the town records. They were very largely at the house, and often in the barn, of David Mack, at the present Haskell plaee. The meeting- house, built in 1791, then became the place of meetings; and there they have remained ever since. The first house, re- paired, improved, and considerably remodeled, is still the
473
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
house of worship for this congregation. Around its portals cluster many sacred memories. From its pulpit year after year have been heard the words of solemn warning and the loving invitations of the gospel. Ilither have the reverent foosteps of the fathers tended, and here the third and fourth generations now worship, abiding in the same everlasting faith that moved those noble men of old, and that animated them to make heroic sacrifices for the truth.
Like other churches this society has had times of depression and difficulty, to be followed by the brighter days of revival. Several of the latter appear in the records. In 1801-2, during a period of about thirteen months, 33 were added to the church. The year 1810 is spoken of as a time of much interest, though the actual additions do not appear to have been unusual. In 1820-21 there were 36 received, and during the great revival period throughout the Northern States, 1826 to 1832, there were 76 members received by the church of Middlefield. In 1842-43 there were 35 received. In 1857-58 about 50 were added by profession. In 1866, 33 united, 22 of them by pro- fession. The revival of 1876-77 produced a wide and powerful influence. Thirty-seven were received at the same communion, Jan. 21, 1877.
The present ample and convenient parsonage was built in the summer of 1865, the timbers from the old parsonage on the Mack farm being used considerably in its erection. The society have a chapel for social and conference meetings. It was formerly the house of worship belonging to the Methodist Church ; purchased after that society dissolved, and repaired about 1870.
The present number of communicants in this church is 127. Congregation, 100 to 120. Superintendent of Sunday-school, Jonathrn McElwain.
An address by Rev. Jonathan Nash, Oct. 31, 1813, on the twenty-first anniversary of his settlement, contains the following statistics: There were about 68 families settled when the town was organized. The meeting-house was raised in July, 1790. During the twenty-one years the deaths were 205, the births about 710. Mr. Nash during this period married 124 couples ; baptized 327 persons, 10 of them adults; admitted 122 mem- bers, 78 of them on profession of faith. Mr. Nash added, " Families are frequently changing, some moving into town and others out. Not less than 150 can be recollected to have removed from town in a family state during the twenty-one years. "
Record of Ministers .- Ist. Rev. Jonathan Nash, ordained Oct. 31, 1792. Ilis pastoral labors extended over a long series of years. He was dismissed at his own request by reason of age and infirmities, July 11, 1832; died Ang. 31, 1834, aged seventy-four. 2d. Rev. Samuel Parker, from Ithaca, installed July 11, 1832; dismissed at his own request, May 23, 1833 ; went to Oregon, exploring agent for Home Missionary Society, 1835 to 1837; died at Ithaca, N. Y., March 21, 1866, aged eighty-seven. 3d. Rev. John 11. Bisbee, ordained Feb. 20, 1834; dismissed at his own request, Dec. 3, 1838, to accept a call to Worthington. 4th. Rev. Edward Clark, ordained and installed June 19, 1839; dismissed at his own request, Aug. 10, 1852. 5th. Rev. Moody Harrington, installed June 27, 1854; dismissed May 12, 1857; labors continued to Nov. 1, 1857. 6th. Rev. Lewis Bridgman, date of the call Aug. 30, 1858; installed May 11, 1859 ; dismissed May 19, 1863. 7th. Rev. John Dodge, commenced his labors in Middlefield Oct. 22, 1865; closed June 24, 1867. 8th. Rev. C. M. Peirce, installed July 1, 1868, the present pastor, and now in the eleventh year of his labors among this people.
Record of Deacons .- Malachi Loveland, chosen (probably) Nov. 16, 1783 ; died Oct. 13, 1779. Daniel Chapman, chosen (probably) Nov. 16, 1783; removed to Pittsfield. David Mack, chosen Nov. 18, 1783; died March 24, 1845. Job Robbins, chosen Nov. 18, 1783 ; died April 23, 1829. Zachariah Field, chosen Dec. 16, 1807; removed May 25, 1823, to Peru. Wil-
liam W. Leonard, chosen May 1, 1828; withdrew and united with the Baptist Church. George W. MeElwain, chosen May 1, 1828 ; removed April 23, 1848, to Hinsdale. Abner Wing, chosen May 1, 1828; removed Feb. 26, 1837, to Hinsdale. Alexander Ingham, chosen June 9, 1837 ; still living, having been in that office nearly forty-two years. Erastus J. Ingham, chosen June 2, 1851 ; died July 9, 1851. Amasa Graves, chosen June 2, 1851 ; one of the present deacons. Ambrose Meacham, chosen Nov. 1, 1851; removed April 1, 1855, to Hinsdale. Harry Meacham, chosen July 5, 1872; one of the present deacons.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF MIDDLEFIELD.
There were families of Baptist sentiments among the first settlers. This appears to be the fact at least soon after the organization of the town. April 7, 1788, the minister rates of Ebenezer Babcock were abated because he had joined the Baptist Church of Chesterfield; and at the time of the build- ing of the meeting-house, in 1790-91, considerable discussion appears to have been had over the question of taxation, and perhaps some of the differences that arose during the eight years previous had been due to this cause. The thirteen who protested against the settlement of Mr. Thompson included perhaps these families. And it is possible that there was some prospect that they might be in the majority and establish the first church, in which case the principle of the then existing laws would have given them the benefit of universal taxation. Perhaps there is no sufficient evidence that this was the case, yet some statements in the old records may be explained upon this theory.
A Baptist Church having been formed in 1797 in Hinsdale, several from Middlefield united with that society. The pastor of the Hinsdale Church included this town within the field of his labors.
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