History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 158

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 158

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Soapstone exists in the northeast part of the town. Two extensive quarries were opened about thirty years ago. Some- thing in the way of quarrying for local use had been done still earlier, the stone having been eut out for jambs to fireplaces and similar purposes. In 1853 " The Metropolitan Soapstone Company of New York City" was incorporated with a capital of $200,000, which was afterward increased to $300,000. This company commeneed extensive operations, marketing 100 tons per week. Gen. Charles B. Stuart was president of the com- pany. The bed is several hundred feet in length, and has an average width of 30 feet. It is of a gray color, although it is in some places slightly variegated, which is the best and hand- somest quality for building purposes. The company had two mills at work for sawing this stone and grinding a portion of it into powder. They had a yard-New York City, at No. 260 West 13th Street-occupying an aere of ground, with a steam- engine, an iron building, and machinery for working of the stone. In Middlefield they employed 18 or 20 hands, and the teaming from the works to the station-four miles-afforded considerable occupation to citizens of the town. The com-

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

pany, however, only continued these operations for a few years, finally abandoning the whole business, 1860-61. It is understood that the operations failed to be as remunerative as was expected, owing to the expenses of quarrying, manu- facturing, and shipment. There is no doubt of the abundance and richness of the deposit in Middlefield.

MILL-SITES, FACTORIES, ETC.

On the Middle Brauch of the Westfield, forming the east boundary-line of the town, the water-power has not been im- proved by any mills upon the Middlefield side of the stream. Upon Tuttle's Brook, in the northeast part of the town, were the mills of the Soapstone Quarry Company, above mentioned. Upon the site of these, or near, was the old factory of Addison Everett, for the making of wooden bowls. Mr. Everett was an ingenious man, and devised machinery for turning bowls which almost revolutionized the business in this country, making rapidly and skillfully what had before been done slowly and imperfectly. It is said he was offered a great price for his invention, but declined to sell, and that afterward the secret of his methods was rather more privately than legally obtained, and he failed to realize any valuable result for himself. Farther up the stream a few rods was an old saw-mill, dating back to the early times.

Tracing the brook known as " Den Stream" from its june- tion with the Middle Branch, the first business establishment was a tannery, run for some years by Prentice & Robbins. It was given up probably 1838 to 1840. Earlier than the above firm it had been carried on by Rutherford. Above, on the Wright farm, is the site of the old grist-mill built and run by Mr. Rhodes, one of the two earliest settlers. The property next passed to Mr. Noney (or Nooney), and then to the Wrights. The grist-mill was given up sixty or seventy years ago. A saw-mill at the same point was continued till later times. Farther up this stream were the turning-works of Giles Churchill, afterward owned by L. Churchill. These were abandoned some years ago. Next above was a saw-mill, huilt, it is thought, by Josephi Little, afterward owned by G. & C. Churchill. This was fifty years ago or more, and the mills were given up soon after. Still above is the saw-mill of Jonathan MeElwain, built by Ithamar Pelton fifty or sixty years ago. There was a saw-mill in very old times near the present residence of M. J. Smith, built by his grandfather, Matthew Smith. In the south, on " Tan-House Brook," was a large tannery at one time ; John Metcalf was an early pro- prietor. Later tbe business was carried on by Mr. Dickson, and afterward by Robbins & Handy. They gave up the busi- ness 1840-42, and it has not been renewed since. On this site, or near, was located the cheese-factory, owned by a company, and continued for five years, from 1871-72 to 1876-77. The building is now used for a dwelling-house. Above was a cider- distillery, carried on first, it is said, by Dr. William Coleman, afterward by successive owners, Holcomb, Alderman, Pease. On Cole's Brook was formerly a saw-mill, operated by Theo- dore Coats. It was very near the town-line. Factory Stream, so called, remains to be traced. Commencing at the northi, there was once a saw-mill, owned by Mr. Parish, on the pres- ent Lyman Meacham farm. This continued for only a few years.

At Factory village the earliest improvement of the water- power was probably by Mr. Ilerrick, who erected a fulling- mill perhaps 1790 to 1792, though it may have been earlier than that. This was bought about 1800 by Amasa Blush, and run by him for a time. He built a saw-mill upon the west side of the river about 1805, and also built a new elothing- mill for finishing custom-work. This was opposite the resi- dence of the late W'm. D. Blush. 1815 to 1818 he followed this with an enterprise of greater magnitude, erecting a fac- tory a little below. This, with the subsequent additions and improvements, was a building 36 feet by 80, and three stories

in height. In this factory Oliver Blush and Win. D. Blush succeeded their father about 1830, and carried on the business together for many years. The factory was destroyed by fire about 1850, and rebuilt, and the second one was destroyed at the time the reservoir gave way in 1874, the building becom- ing a complete wreck and broken into kindling-wood. It was owned by Oliver Blush at the time of the flood, and has not been rebuilt. Some time previous to 1874, Win. D. Blush, retiring from the factory, established wood-turning works a little below, and manufactured spokes, shafts, felloes, and other parts of wagons. This building was also destroyed in the dis- astrous flood of 1874, and has not been rebuilt.

At Factory village, Uriah Church (son of the early pioneer Uriah) built a clothing-mill perhaps as early as 1808 or 1810. It stood just below the present upper mill. He carried on this business until 1823 or 1824, when he built a woolen-factory on the site of the upper mill, and manufactured broadeloth. This business was continued steadily. Mr. Church died in 1851, and he was succeeded by his sons,-Sumner U., James T., Lyman, and Oliver. This factory was burned in 1870. A new building was commenced upon the same site in 1873, but work upon it was delayed by the freshet of 1874, and it was not finished until 1875. It includes three sets of machinery, and requires the employment of about 30 hands. The line ot work made is Union broadelotlı.

In 1848, Uriah Church erected the lower mill, and this has been run to the present time except as interrupted by the dis- aster of 1874 and other damages from time to time. It in- eludes three sets of machinery. The four brothers succeeded their father in this factory also, and the two mills have been under their united management since his death. The finishing is done at the lower mill, and about 50 hands are required there. During the war large quantities of army blankets were made at these mills. The goods of the firm are sold in New York, through the house of Van Valkenburg & Leavitt. To obtain water-power of sufficient volume and regularity, a large reservoir was built just above by the united mill-owners of the village.

This was afterward built higher. Two more were added above in later years. The breaking away of the upper one caused the great wash-out of 1874. The upper reservoirs have not been rebuilt, only the lower one being retained.

A mile below Factory village is the site of the early saw- mill and the grist-mill of John Ford. The grist-mill was abandoned a long time ago, and the saw-mill and damn were torn away by the flood of 1874 and not rebuilt. The paper- mills in the vicinity of the railroad station are not in the town of Middlefield. The " shoddy-mill," so called, a mile or more below, was just within the town. Its original business was to grind up " waste" for use in other mills, and its name was ob- tained in that way. Manufacturing was, however, afterward carried on. Badly damaged in the freshet of December, 1878, the proprietors decided not to rebuild, and have removed their machinery from town.

The ten leading articles of farm produce for the year ending May 1, 1875, were as follows, with their several values stated : Butter, $6034; beef, 86502; hay, $18,018; milk, $5667 ; pota- toes, $3749; firewood, $5431; manure, $3540; maple-sugar, $3396; pork, $1741; wool, $1552.

MILITARY.

The town was not organized until the last year of the Rev- olutionary war, 1783, and previous to that the settlers were attached to several other towns, and it is difficult to trace the connection which the citizens of the present territory of Mid- dlefield may have had with that struggle for national indepen- dence. The following citizens are understood to have been in the Revolutionary army,-whether before or after the set- tlement in Middlefield is not determined : Timothy Mell- wain, Lewis Taylor, John Smith, Elijalı Churchill, Solomon

478

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Ingham, Erastus Ingham, Amasa Graves, Sr., Thomas Du- rant, Sr.

SHAYS' REBELLION.

The difficulties following the Revolution were felt in this town, and quite a number of the people favored the insurgent plans of Shays. A requisition was sent to Capt. David Mack to appear at Springfield with a certain number of his men and join the government forces. He accordingly drafted his men and gave orders for their appearance at his house the next morning prepared to march, but in the mean time the company appointed new offieers and declared for Shays. Early on the morning appointed they surrounded the house of Capt. Maek, declaring him a prisoner. The captain, after exhorting to his utmost the men to abandon their disloyal course, and without avail, then as a prisoner asked for a furlough of three days, which they granted. At their request he wrote it, and, having procured the signatures of the newly-apppointed officers, he put the interesting doeument in his pocket and hastened to Springfield. On his arrival he immediately repaired to head- quarters and presented himself to Gen. Shepard, to whom he exhibited his furlough. After examining it, Gen. Shepard said, " Well, Capt. Maek, as you have no men to fight with, you may go home; we shall immediately attend to the men who have signed this paper." They were soon arrested and placed in Northampton jail.

The surrender of a large company of the insurgents took place in the town of Middlefield. After the defeat at Spring- field, Jan. 25, 1787, one division, under Shays, fled to Pelham, another to Northampton under Luke Day, and a third, under Capt. Luddington, westward. This last consisted of some 80 men in 10 sleighs. They were pursued by 50 Brookfield vol- unteers, under Col. Baldwin, and 100 cavalry, under Col. Crafts. The men showed signs of fight even after their leader, Capt. Luddington, had yielded, but resistance was useless ; they went back from Middlefield prisoners of war.

The following official action by the town appears in the records during this period of excitement.

A town-meeting was called Nov. 2, 1786, with the following clause in the warrant :

" To choose a delegate or delegates to meet other delegates from towns through- out the county, at the house of Mr. Elisha Cook, innholder, in Hladley, on the first Tuesday in Nov. next, at one o'clock P.M., for the following very necessary purposes, viz .: to choose a committee to confer with committees from other counties on the present distressful situation of public affairs. 2ndly. To choose a committee to prepare a ' nervis' petition to the Honorable General Court, with such justness, perspicuity, and suitable address as may not fail to be effective for our public relief." Voted Lieut. James Dickson a delegate to the Hadley con- vention.

Ang. 15, 1786 .- Chose Mr. Sanmel Jones and Lieut. James Dickson delegates to attend a Convention at Hatfield.

Jan. 22, 1787 .- Chose James Dickson a delegate to a Convention to meet at Hadley. At this time an address from the General Court to the people of this

commonwealth was read, and a petition for redress of grievances to the General Court seems to bave been considered, but not acted opon.

WAR OF 1812.

In the warrant for a town-meeting to be held July 13, 1812, were the clauses :

" That the town may have an opportunity in a public manner to manifest their opinion concerning the late declaration of war by the government of the United States against Great Britain," and " To see if the town will choose dele- gates to meet in convention at Northampton on the 14th inst."

They voted the war inexpedient, with only seven dissenting voices. The well-known publie sentiment of New England eould searcely permit any other result ; but the seven who thought it right to stand by the national government and patriotieally voted so are worthy to be remembered,-viz., M. Smith, Esq., William Skinner, William Church, Green IT. Church, Warren Church, Lieut. A. Diekson, and Deacon J. Newton. Erastus Ingham was chosen to the Northampton Convention. The only other allusion to this matter in the records seems to be a vote to pay the expense of carrying a detachment of men from this town to Palmer in the fall of 1814, probably a part of the foree that was called out for the defense of Boston. The following went to Boston, and prob- ably others : Maj. David Maek (afterward the general), Lieut. Matthew Smith, Capt. Solomon Root, Abel Cheeseman, and Abraham Moffett.

CIVIL WAR, 1861-65.

Several meetings were held, known as "war-meetings," during the progress of the war. If they were not strictly official, their action was afterward approved and acquiesced in with the same patriotie promptness as appeared in all the towns of this section. Bounties were voted, aid provided for families, and the several- quotas of the town speedily filled. From 40 to 45 citizens of the town went into the service, and 13 lost their lives. Two substitutes were killed, making the number of the dead 15. Quite a number of men were hired abroad under the direction of John L. Bell, chairman of the town board ; so that Middlefield furnished 86 men in all for the war, which was a surplus of 7 over and above all de- mands. Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount of aid paid solely by the town was $14,490; the assessed valu- ation of the town in 1860 was $308,332, and the population 748. The war expenses paid were equal to $19 per head of the whole population,-men, women, and children. Aid for fam- ilies, afterward paid by the State, was in 1861, $146.74; 1862, $536.62; 1863, $902.80 ; 1864, $260; 1865, $111; total, $1957.76.

Generous contributions were privately made for the various departments of patriotie work. The ladies united in making up clothing for the soldiers, and boxes of general supplies, of considerable money value, were sent forward.

SOLDIERS' LIST.

Clarkson Smith, Ist sorgt., eul. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; dischi. July 29, 1863.

Wm. C. Blush, ent. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; disch. July 29, 1863.

George W. Cottrell, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F ; disch. July 29, 1863.

John Damon, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; discb. July 29, 1863.

Henry Dickson, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; died April 8, 1863, at Plymouth, N. C .; afterward brought to Middlefield for burial.

Henry E. Dimmock, onl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; disch. July 29, 1863.

James Espy, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M , Co. F; disch. to re-enl. May 30, 1863; re-enl. Aug. 1863, 2d II. Art., Ce. D).

George Ingham, enl. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K; disch. July 29, 1863.

James Rowen, enl. Sept, 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; disch. July 20, 1863; disabled by rheu- matismu and helpless.

Thomas A. Willson, ent. Sept. 25, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. F; died May 2, 1863, at Newbern, N. C.

Edward L. Higgins, enl. Oct. 22, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K; disch. July 29, 1863.

Levi J. Olds, enl. Oct 22, 1862, 46th M. V. M., Co. K ; disch. June 1, 1863, to re-enl, in Il. Art., which he joined in Aug. 1863; died in the service.

Napoleon F. Filloo, enl. Dec. 18, 1863, 2d Cav., Co. D ; disch. July 20, 1865.

Charles Kelly, enl. Dec. 31, 1861, 2d Cav , Co. G; disch. July 20, 1865.

George R. Robbins, corp., enl. Dec. 31, 1863, 2d Inf, Co. B; disch. July 14, 1865.

George Bliss, eul. Dec. 21, 1863, 2d Inf., Co. B; disch. July 14, 1863.

Francis Murray, enl. May 25, 1861, 2d Iuf., Co. B; disch. July 26, 1863; died soon after his re- turn.

Charles W. Robbins, enl. Dec. 31, 1863, 2d Inf., Co. B; died at Louisville, Ky., before joining the regiment.

Robert Burns, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G ; died of wennds, May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va. Ur'nh F. Cheeseman, cul. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G; disch. July 1, 1864.

Wm. M. Churchill, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf, Co. G; disch. Oct. 29, 1862, for disability.

Edwin D. Bemis, eul. Oct. 14, 1861, 15th Inf .. Co. 1; re-ent. Feb. 2, 1864; trans. July 27, 1864, to 20th Iuf .; disch. July 13, 1865, for disability ; wounded in the head.

Charles M. Buck, enl Aug. 23, 1861, 21st Iuf., Co. B; dird March 27, 1862, ou steamer " North- erner."

Edwin C. Bidwell, asst, surg., enl. Feb. 20, 1862, 31st Inf. ; pro. to surg., April 29, 1862; disch. Sept. 9, 1865; was the physician in practice ut Middlefield when the war broke out.

Seth Wait, enl. Jan. 28, 1862, 31st Inf , Co. I ; disch. June 20, 1862, for disa ility, and died from effects of service.

Calvin Noble, enl. Aug. 1, 1862, 34th Inf., Co. B ; died Dec. 15, 1862, at Fort Lyon, Va.

Henry Noble, enl. Aug. 1, 1862, 34th Inf., Co. B; died Dec. 4, 1862, at Fort Lyon, Va.

Michael Stanley, enl. March 10, 1864, 57th Inf., Co. I; killed May,6, 1864, at Wilderness, Va. ; substitute who lost his life for the town. John Waters, enl. March 10, 1864, 57th Inf., Co. I;

Photo, by Moore Bros., Springfield.

The family of this well-known citizen was among the earliest settlers of Middlefield. His grandfather, Joseph Blush, from Colchester, Conn., located about the commence- ment of the Revolutionary war at what is now Middlefield Centre.

Amasa Blush, one of the sons of Josepb, was an early manufacturer in Middlefield, as shown in the general notes upon that town. His wife was Naney, daughter of Thomas Durant, of Middlefield, formerly of Boston.

William D. Blush, whose portrait appears upon this page, was a son of Amasa, and passed his whole life in Middle- field. He was born Feb. 3, 1809, in the old family dwelling, which was torn down some years ago and replaced by the fine residence now occupied by Mrs. Blush, his widow.

Ile was educated in the common schools, and received a careful business training, under the supervision of his father, acquiring a thorough knowledge of manufacturing in all of its departments.

He married, June 13, 1833, Eliza Senett, of Blandford. Their children were five, of whom only one survives at the present time,-William C. Blush, of Bridgeport, Conn. Mrs. Blush died Aug. 1, 1844.

Mr. Blush married (second) Lucy Johnson, of Chester. She died May 21, 1847.

He married (third) Harriet Stone, of Chester, Mass. By this marriage there were three children, two of whom are living,-Arthur Blush, merchant, of Mouson, Mass., and Harriet, wife of George K. Brown, of Middlefield.

Mrs. Blush died June 26, 1855, and Mr. Blush married (fourth) Mary W., daughter of Rufus Prentice, of Worth- ington, and who was the widow of George F. Fox, of Hay- denville. This fourth marriage took place Jan. 3, 1856,

and there were four children born to them, all of whom are living: Emma, born April 24, 1857, and now the wife of Frederick B. Hatheway, of Suffield, Conn. ; Edward Durant, born Dec. 8, 1860; Agnes Ulin, born Sept. 26, 1862; Martha Sampson, born March 28, 1866.

In polities, Mr. Blush was first a Whig and then a Re- publican, but was averse to holding office, and unwilling to share in the excitement of politieal campaigns. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Middlefield, active in its support, and contributed freely to carry on its various enterprises.

Through his long business career lie was known as a man of integrity, enjoyed the confidence of those who were asso- ciated with him, acquired many friends, and was esteemed by all the community. Ile was genial in his intercourse with others, and his home was a place of hospitality and generous entertainment. Ile was interesting in conver- sation, and could relate numerous incidents of the olden times prior to the days of railroads.

His business life was long and active, extending over a period of forty years, as given in the history of the town. He was a man of great energy, pushed his various enter- prises in the face of many opposing obstacles, and, by his diligence and industry, gained a handsome competence.

When his buildings were burned, in 1850, he replaced them promptly, and continued in business. When his factory was swept away, in the flood of 1874, he was then in ad- vanced life, and decided not to rebuild. He retired from his life-work of manufacturing, and engaged in farming, devoting his attention especially to the raising of fine stock. In these peaceful pursuits he passed the last years of his life. He died March 19, 1879, aged seventy years.

Harry Swot

HARVEY ROOT traces his ancestry on his paternal side back to John Roote. He was believed to be the son of John Roote, of Badby, Northamptonshire, England, who married Mary Russell in 1600. He was born in Badby, according to the parish records, Feb. 26, 1608. Emigrated to this country with a company of Puritans, and settled at Farmington, in 1640, being among the first settlers, ITere he was a prominent eitizen. Soon after the settlement he married Mary. daughter of Thomas and Frances Kilbourne. John Roote died Aug- ust, 1684, in his seventy-sixth year. Ile had eight children, of whom Thomas was the third son. He was born about 1648, in Farmington, Conn., and removed with his brothers, John and Samael, to Westfield, Mass., where he died Aug. 16, 1709. Thomas Roote married three times. His sceond wife was Mary Spencer, whom he married Oct. 7, 1675. By this union they had six children. Timothy, his son, was born Dec. 3, 1685, in Westfield, Mass., and died Nov. 2, 1743. He married, in 1710, Sarah, daughter of John Pease, of Enfield, Conn. He removed from Westfield to Enfield, and from there to Somers, Conn., about 1713, where he was one of the first settlers. He had seven children. Thomas, his second son, was born in Somers, Conn., in 1726, and married twice; his second wife being Aliee, daughter of Israel and Sarah (Booth) Pease. She died Dee. 30, 1821, aged eighty- five. They first settled in Enfield, Conn., and removed to Middle- field, Mass., in 1783, where he died March 15, 1821. By this marriage there were four children, of whom Solomon was the eldest. Born in 1765, in Enfield, Conn., where he married Mary Selden, and removed to Middlefield, Mass., where he died Aug. 8, 1831, aged sixty-six. They had seven children,-five sons and two daughters. These chil- dren were Polly, Julia, Solomon, Timothy, Selden, Harvey, aud Nathan. Solomon and Timothy were merchants in Middlefield. The former was a soldier in the war of 1812. Nathan is a farmer, and lives in Chester, Mass.

Ilarvey Root was born in Middlehield, Mass., April 26, 1795. Hc passed his boyhood at home, working for his father on the farm, and attending the common schools, until about his sixteenth or seventeenth year, when he left home for a time, engaging with George Blake, a contractor, of Springfield, Mass., who was delivering the stone for the floor of the present jail of the city, then in process of construction. He worked for him two winters, returning home and assisting his father during the summers. He also did other work for Mr. Blake, and, with another young man, chopped from pine trees divested of the limbs twenty-two cords in one day, the same having been measured.

Mr. Root had about this time obtained considerable experience in laying stone walls, or "walling," as familiarly known, and, there being a demand for experienced " wallers" in Connecticut, he went to Danbury, and engaged with various parties in this work. One summer he built, himself, one thousand rods. We are informed by his neighbors that Mr. Root eould build eight to ten rods a day, and so smoothly and perfectly was it done that his services were constantly in demand. This was prior to his twenty-first year, and his earn- ings went to his father. When he had reached his majority he had saved $40, nearly all in old coppers, which he had carned by pick- ing the wool from off sheep-pelts for neighbors. The pelts were given

him for his labor, and he sold the same for ninepenee apiece. This amount he loaned to a party, and it is still on interest. He worked une moonlight night at reaping, receiving a silver dollar for the same, and took up his next day's work as usual.

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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 158

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