History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 162

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 162

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The first meeting-house of 1782 stood nearly opposite the present one,-on what was then "the Common,"-partly in the road that opens to the east. It had neither bell nor steeple, and was probably never painted. In the great tornado of Aug. 14, 1834, it was partially unroofed, and so much injured generally that it was then rehuilt and located npon the site it now occupies. It was then provided with a bell, the gift of Col. Timothy Lyman. It was again remodeled in 1858, at an expense of nearly $1000.

Mr. Barrus, in his valuable " History of Goshen," says of the singing :

"This received early attention. It was voted, Dec. 28, 1780, that Brother Thomas Weeks read the I'salm in the church, and Bro. John Smith lead tho singing. During the next year the church appears to have been disturbed by

some outside influences respecting their singing matters, and they voted the church ought to govern in tho worship of God, and that the church shall govern, and that we disapprove of the present mode of singing. A committee was then chosen to make a selection of tunes to be sung in public worship. It was fur- ther voted to sing in the forenoon and the first time in the afternoon, reading line by line.

"It was voted, in 1784, that the singing be performed without reading as often as the quiristers see fit. In 1786, Ebenezer White was chosen to lead; in 1789, Josiah White; in 1793, Joshua Abell, Jr., Alpheus Narramore, and James Orcutt. Josiah White-known as Uncle 'Siah-served many years, and, like his brother Ebenezer, was an excellent musician. Calvin Cushman, Asahel Bil- lings, and Frederick P. Stono were also teaders for various periods. Maj. Joseplı Hawks was feader for thirty-two years, and connected with the choir more than forty. Elijah Billings was leader fifteen years. J. M. Smith did long and faithful service. C. C. Dresser for nearly thirty years was connected with the choir, and furnished an organ quite a portion of the time."

Among the teachers of singing may be mentioned James Richards, in the earliest times ; Capt. Anderson, of Chester- field, 1800; Capt. Frary, 1809-10; Asahel Birge, of South- ampton, a few years later; Nehemiah White, of Williams- burg, 1822-23; Asa Barr, 1837-38; Geo. W. Lucas, 1842-43 ; and in modern times, Prof. Jenkins.

Record of the Pastors .- 1st. Rev. Samuel Whitman, in- stalled Jan. 10, 1788; services for the church terminated in July, 1818, hy an ex-parte council ; he probably preached in town for some two or three years longer. 2d. Rev. Joel Wright, installed Sept. 26, 1821 ; dismissed September, 1828. 3d. Rev. Henry B. Holmes, settled Sept. 25, 1830; dismissed January, 1833. 4th. Rev. Stephen Mason, settled June 22, 1836; dismissed April 10, 1837. 5th. Rev. John C. Thomp- son, installed Oct. 4, 1837; his services closed by reason of ill health in 1842. 6th. Rev. Royal Reed, installed Oct. 19, 1842 ; dismissed June 15, 1847. 7th. Rev. William J. Board- man, stated supply ; services closed by reason of ill health in 1849. 8th. Rev. Robert Crosset; he came soon after Mr. Boardman left; his labors closed in 1853; one of his sons is now a missionary in China. 9th. Rev. Thomas H. Rood, labors commenced in 1853; installed Jan. 31, 1855; dismissed January, 1861. 10th. Rev. J. C. Thompson, again returned to the pulpit, but his health failed in a short time; he removed to Illinois. 11th. Rev. Sidney Hohnan, labors commenced in the fall of 1862; closed April, 1866. 12th. Rev. H. M. Rod- gers, preached during the two years following the departure of Rev. Mr. Holman. 13th. Rev. Townsend Walker, installed by a couneil Sept. 29, 1868; services closed January, 1874. 14th. Rev. George Juchau, labors commeneed Jan. 1, 1875; closed Dec. 31, 1876. 15th. Rev. D. P. Lord, the present pastor ; his labors in connection with this church and people commenced Jan. 1, 1877.

Record of Deacons .- Oliver Taylor, chosen in 1787; died May, 1826. Artemas Stone, chosen in 1787; died in 1790. Thomas Brown, chosen in 1790; died in 1801. Cyrel Car- penter, chosen in 1809; removed to Enfield, 1819. Jonathan Lyman, chosen in 1810; removed to Northampton, 1834. Stephen Parsons, chosen in 1822; removed to Buckland, 1838. Ehenezer W. Town, chosen in 1833; removed to Enfield, 1838. Asahel Billings, chosen in 1837; removed to South Hadley, 1846. Marcus Linsley, chosen in 1839; removed to Southwick, 1841. Benjamin White, chosen in 1845; died Jan. 25, 1873, at an advanced age. Francis Lyman, chosen in 1845; died July 5, 1851. Theron L. Barrus, chosen in 1858; present deacon (1878). llenry H. Tilton, chosen in 1861; removed to Williamsburg, 1865. Hiram Packard, chosen June 29, 1871 ; declined. Elijah Billings, chosen Jan. 4, 1872; present deacon (1878).

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF GOSHEN.

Under date of Dee. 24, 1814, this certificate appears in the town records :

To the Town clerk of Gosben :- The following is a list of those who have joined the Baptist Society of Goshen: Ebenezer White, Josiah White, Jesse Willeutt, Joshua Packard, Joshua Packard, Jr., Caleb Bryant, Ansel Amadon, Robert Webster, Gershom Bates, Enoch Willentt, Cyrus Stearns, Ezra Stearns, Phineas Manning, Nathaniel Abell, Alexander Miller's estate, John Williams, John Wil-

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

liams, Jr., Abner Damon, James Orr, Levi Vinton, Samuel Luce, Samuel Snow, Nathaniel Bates, Gordon Williams, Sanford Boies, Zebulon Willentt.

JOHN WILLIAMS, Clerk.

A true copy. Attest : JOSEPH WHITE, Town Clerk.

May 27, 1815, Roswell Ranney and Benjamin Gates, com- mittee of Ashfield, certify that Jonah Williams, of Goshen, is a member of the Second Baptist Society of Ashfield. March 6, 1820, John Williams, Clerk of Baptist Society, certifies that Isaac Wing is a member. Clement Sliter is also named as a member of the Baptist Church of Ashfield.

As a curious relic of the religious controversy of those days, we give the return of Elias White, constable, upon a warrant he had executed :

"GOSHEN. March 3, 1823.

"Pursuant to the within warrant, on the 23d day of February last I left an attested copy of said warrant to be posted up at the Baptist meeting-house in said Goshen, and on the 23d day of February last past posted up myself an attested copy upon the Pedo-Baptist meeting-house in said town. Therefore I conclude that tbe legal voters of said town qualified as within expressed, belonging to both Con- gregations, have had legal notice of the time and place as therein expressed to meet for the purposes within mentioned.

" ELIAS WHITE,"

There are also certified as members of the Baptist Society of Goshen, Lyman Hunt, 1821 ; Leonard Jenkins, 1827; Na- thaniel Tower, Silas Burgess, Daniel Carpenter, and Abner Damon, Jr., 1827; John Grant and Rufus Moore, Samuel W. Hall, Otis Ingraham, Joseph Bassett, Roland Rogers, Robert Rogers, Elihu Hubbard, Jabez Bement, Eleazer Hawks, David Whitman, Gordon Williams, Jonathan Vin- ton, Moses Hosford, Zelotes Bates, Asa Partridge, 1824 to 1828.

Lest the casual reader may suppose that all these were posi- tive converts to the faith of the Baptist Church, and received rite of baptism by immersion, it may be necessary to explain that, under the ancient law of Massachusetts, the whole peo- ple were required to support the preaching of the gospel, and were taxed for that as for any other town business. Of course, this made the " Regular Congregational Church of the Standing Order" a town church, and everybody was taxed for its support, whether he were Jew, pagan, or Chris- tian, Catholic or Protestant.

This ancient rigor was relaxed quite early in this century, by the passage of an act enabling any one to " sign off" to the Baptists, to the Methodists, or to any other denomination, and then be clear of taxation to support the Congregational Church. The theory still was, every man must belong some- where. If he could not show that he was an actual member of some other religious society, the Congregational Church still claimed him. These changes were required to be actually made, and were therefore a matter of record. It is probable that some sought escape from what they deemed oppression by joining a Baptist society, but not the Baptist Church.

The organization of the Baptist Church seems to have been as early as 1814, and probably 1806 to 1809. Elders Todd, of Chesterfield, and Keyes, of Conway, were early ministers of this denomination in Goshen ; and tradition states that Elder Winans was ordained here in 1809. From 1813 to 1819, El- der William Hubbard was pastor, and he was succeeded by Rev. David Woodbury, 1820 to 1823. Rev. Orra Martin then preached six years,-half-time services. Elder Hubbard again preached, from 1831 to 1837. The last regular pastor was Rev. Isaae Childs, who died Dec. 24, 1842. Preaching was still continued by various ministers for a few years ; but the church was weakened by extensive removals. The services were finally discontinued, and the society virtually disbanded. They met for several years in Williams' old store.

The meeting-house was erected in 1822, and was a com- fortable place of worship. It stood near the present residence of Hinckley Williams. The last religious service held in it was the funeral of Mrs. Mercy Williams, relict of John Wil- liams. Her family had been among the first members and the main active supporters of the church. The building was

sold in 1862, remodeled into a barn, and burned on the ground where the new barn now stands.

THE FIRST CALVINISTIC SOCIETY OF GOSHEN.

This church originated to some extent-perhaps wholly- from the difficulties arising at the time of the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Whitman, in 1818. Certificates appear (1828) in the town records that Mr. Benjamin Tilton, Mr. Stephen W. Tilton, Mr. Stephen Hosford, Mr. John Fuller, and Mr. Holland Hubbard are members of " the said first Calvinistic Society in Goshen." It is evident that the unpopular laws with reference to taxation for church purposes had some in- fluence in giving rise to this new organization. This society held meetings for a while at private houses. Owing to the omission of certain formal legal steps by the old society, there was a reasonable opportunity for the new church to claim to be the first. The new organization did not continue for many years, but it undoubtedly had an influence in effecting a separation of "church and town" and the formal organiza- tion of the parish of the Congregational Church, which took place in 1828.

SECOND ADVENTISTS.

A church of this denomination was formed in the west part of the town in March, 1858. It included members from Ches- terfield and Cummington. Jared Damon and Joseph Crosby were chosen the first deacons ; Abner Damon and Andrew Baker, elders. For several years they met at private houses, with an occasional preacher from abroad. They have recently removed their meetings to the village, and have erected a small, neat, and convenient house of worship.

BURIAL-PLACES.

Some items with reference to burying-grounds appear in the town records. The action the first year, 1781, respecting the location of the church, shows that a burying-place was already in use at the centre.

April 1, 1800 .- Voted to raise ten dollars "to purchase a burying-cloth."

The "improvement" of the burying-ground by pasturing was occasionally struck off to the highest bidder at the town- meetings. In 1806, Elijah Bardwell gave $2 for the privilege of mowing it.

May 6, 1816 .- Voted that the selectmen fence the burying-ground.

These items refer to what is still the principal place of burial, half a mile north of Goshen village. In 1877, $100 was voted to fence the ground. This burial-place is rather picturesquely situated on the southeastern slope of the hill, above the resi- dence of Hinckley Williams. Attempts at modern improve- ment have been made, but the ground is so full of graves, many of them marked simply with common field-stone, and ir- regularly placed, that little can be done, except to right up the old monuments, smooth the turf tenderly over the sacred dust of the olden times, and let Nature with each returning spring rear ahove the dead her annual tribute of blade and leaf and flower, emblems of the resurrection. A large addition has recently been made to the ground, and this can be laid out in any form desired. The first burial here is said to have been a member of the Nelson family.

Among the early inscriptions are the following :

Mr. Samnel Grimes, died Jan. 6, 1789.

Mrs. Ruth Abell, died Ang. 29, 1777, aged 48.

Mrs. Elizabeth Abell, died Ang. 29, 1774, aged 40.

Joshua Abell, died Ang. 29, 1811, aged 80.

This is a singular faet, if correctly engraved and correctly copied,-three deaths the same day of the same month and so many years apart.

Daniel Nelson, died Sept. 26, 1775.

Col. Ezra May, died Jan. 11, 1778, aged 46.

Widow Margaret May, died Jan. 19, 1788, aged 56.

Samuel Narramore, Dec. 9, 1777.

There may be stones with earlier dates, as some are very

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HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY,

difficult to read, and there were no doubt burials still earlier than these inscriptions. We mention a few others prominent in history :

Col. Nehemiah May, died Sept. 10, 1813, aged 59. Dr. Benjamin Burgess, died Dec. 13, 1807, aged 70. Maj. Ambrose Stone, March 18, 1850, aged 93.

Capt. Thomas Weeks, April 20, 1817, aged 80.

Rev. Isaac Child, Pastor of the Baptist Church, Dec. 24, 1842.

There are said to have been a few burials upon the Beals farm, in the west part of the town, but the remains were re- moved. In the extreme eastern part of the town, on the road to Williamsburg, is another burying-ground of ancient date, where a considerable number of persons were buried.

The fearful pestilence of 1777 ought to be mentioned in con- nection with this subject. The dysentery, introduced, it is said, by a sick soldier, raged fearfully. Husbands and sons were absent to resist the march of Burgoyne, and the mothers were left to battle almost alone in the fearful struggle. Some lost all their children, often burying two in one grave. In twenty-one days there were twenty-one deaths. Other sad years of sorrow are mentioned in tradition,-the fever of 1813, of 1824, and also the scarlet fever of 1803, '4, '31, '44, and '52.

In the old cemetery is buried Mrs. Elihu Parsons, a dangh- ter of the eminent theologian, Jonathan Edwards; no monu- ment marks the spot. Four clergymen are buried there,-Rev. Samuel Whitman, Elder Isaac Child, Abel Farley, Frederick W. Burgess. Four physicians,-Benjamin Burgess, Ellis Coney, George M. Burgess, Daniel Pierce. Four early mag- istrates,-Wm. White, Oliver Taylor, John Williams, Tim- othy Lyman.

TOWN SOCIETIES.

In Goshen the only societies were and are now missionary organizations, sewing-circles, and similar unions that cluster around the church, and are really an effective part of its work.

PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR OF SPECIAL NOTE.

In the western part of the town have at times been found traces of Indian occupancy. In 1840 a stone gouge, that had evidently been used in tapping the sugar-maple, was found upon the farm of Col. Stone. Two miles north, the fragments of a stone kettle, surrounded by decayed fire-brands, was found several years ago, still further indicating the manufacture of sugar by the Indians.

Fragments of flint and arrow-heads are found in such quan- tities as to show that the Indians made their weapons in this vicinity.

It is an old tradition that a gang of counterfeiters carried on their operations in Goshen. They are said to have had a secret hiding-place in the forest that still stretches along the highway between the house of Hiram Packard and the top of the hill eastward. Certainly in these rocky fastnesses there was ample opportunity for concealment, but there seems to be no record that any counterfeiting was ever really proved.

Moore's Hill, already mentioned, is a point of great interest. Its altitude, 1713 feet, gives it a commanding view. From here the eye looks down upon Mount Holyoke and Mount Tom; Mount Monadnoe in New Hampshire, and Mount Wachusett in Worcester County, are both in sight. More than thirty church-spires can be counted in a clear day. Am- herst College is in full view. A good road ought to be opened to the summit, so that it might become a popular resort.

The " Great Meadow, " so called, in the northerly part of the town, is supposed to have been a beaver pond at some period before the white men settled here, and it is claimed that the first settlers of Goshen saw old logs constituting the dam, dis- tinetly showing the marks of the beaver teeth. Before the settlement of these western towns the people of Hatfield are said to have cut and stacked hay here in large quantities, and then sent their cattle to be fed while the hay lasted. This " Great Meadow" is now the basin of the upper reservoir.

Lily Pond does not seem to be as poetical a place as its name would indicate. It is described by a modern writer as a natu- ral reservoir of mire and water. Cattle cannot cross it in safety, and the bridge which passes over it is continually sink- ing, so as to require repeated layers of logs and earth to bring it up to a suitable height above the water to make travel safe. Samuel Olds lowered the natural outlet twenty feet, but failed to drain the land sutheient for cultivation, as he expected. The two reservoir ponds add features rather attractive than other- wise to the natural scenery of Goshen.

The " Devil's Den" is a wild, rocky gorge, through which Mill River flows for some distance, in the south part of the town. To enjoy it travelers should descend the bank with a guide ; travel down the bed of the stream, between and under the overhanging walls of granite ; and tread cautiously along the rocks carpeted with the beautiful but treacherous moss, avoiding if possible an unexpected bath in some deep, dark pool.

The " Cascade" is a short distance above the upper opening of the " Devil's Den," and at some seasons of the year is really a waterfall of considerable beauty.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

Agriculture is the principal business of Goshen. More or less of lumber, in the early times, and fire-wood found their way to market, as they do yet to some extent. Goshen has some fine farms. Indeed, if it is not a land " flowing with milk and honey," and if the sons of the early settlers have left their native hills for the fertile fields of other States, yet here is still many a pleasant home on the hill-side or in the valley. There are still many farms where skill, industry, and economy-those old-fashioned virtues-may yet secure a com- fortable living, a reasonable competence.

MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.

On the Dresser Brook, one of the tributaries of the Dead Branch, was located, more than a hundred years ago, the saw- mill of the pioneer Reuben Dresser. The property has re- mained in the family to this day. The works have always comprised a saw-mill. A broom-handle factory was added forty years ago or more. In later years the button-mold manufacture has been carried on, and is, to some extent, at the present time. The present owner is C. C. Dresser, son of Moses Dresser. About two miles above the Dresser mills, on the same stream, was formerly a saw-mill, built by Emmons Putney about 1835, and run for twenty years or more, pass- ing meanwhile into the possession of William H. Webster. The works were abandoned several years since.

On Swift River, a tributary of the Westfield, flowing from Goshen into Cummington, was, in ancient times, a grist-mill, below what is known as Shaw's Bridge, and not far from the Cummington line, probably built by Deacon Bigelow, as early as 1800. Above, at the present mills of Amos Stone, was originally located the clothing-works, built in 1780, by Maj. Ambrose Stone. He carried on the business for many years with the aid of only hand-machinery, and had few or no com- petitors, even in adjoining towns. A saw-mill was built per- haps fifty years ago; the broom-handle business was also added a few years later. The works at the present time com- prise a saw-mill and a brush-handle factory. They are owned by Amos Stone, a grandson of the pioneer, and have always been in the family. A short distance above the mills of Mr. Stone is said to be the site of the first grist-mill in town ; some traces of the dam and the race still remain. Still farther above on the stream was a saw-mill, built perhaps forty-five years ago, by lliram Packard. It was run for a few years and abandoned ; no buildings now at that point. On the site of the present mills of Freeman Sears was an old saw-mill of early times, owned by Deacon Stephen Parsons. Near the north line of the town, on what is called the Williams Brook,

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

a branch of Swift River, a saw-mill and a grist-mill were erected, no doubt before 1800, by Daniel Williams, of Ashfield. They were continued in the hands of various owners for many years. In later times the grist-mill was given up. The pres- ent owner, Mr. J. D. Shipman, has an establishment for the manufacture of children's wagons, and also continues a saw- mill.

Of Mill River, whose waters reach the Connecticut at Northampton, instead of through the Westfield, there is one tributary flowing down from the vicinity of Moore's Hill. On this was a saw-mill, built by Asa White, perhaps fifty years ago. It was run for a few years and allowed to go down. On the main stream was a saw-mill, built 1812 to 1815, by Eben- ezer White, Elias Lyon, and another partner. It was after- ward owned by Capt. Horace Packard. It was abandoned, however, many years ago. A mile below, on the same stream, about on the line of Williamsburg, was an old grist-mill, built more than a hundred years ago by Col. Nehemiah May. It was abandoned fifty years ago perhaps. The site of a dwelling-house, and even the outlines of the garden, appear, but no mills or buildings of any kind are there, not a vestige of the old timbers remaining. Maj. Hawks remembers going to mill there when he was a boy. Farther up-stream is the Emmons Putney mill-site, where he erected a saw-mill in 1839. He has continued business of some kind there nearly all the time since. In later years he has made button-molds, and does so yet to a limited extent. As showing the per- fection of modern machinery, and the case and rapidity with which the molds can be made, Mr. Putney states that he has known one girl at work for him turn off in one day 150 gross, or 21,600 molds. Farther up is found the site of the "Su- mac Mill," established to make ground sumae, to export to Europe for tanning the best morocco. The mill was built by Nehemiah May and Ebenezer Putney about 1788, on land belonging to the former. It was run only a few years; the business could not be made profitable, as other materials were discovered in Europe and brought into use for the same pur- pose. There is little now to mark the place except some re- mains of the old dam. Still above, toward the reservoir, is the present saw-mill of Rodney Hawks. On the site of this was formerly an old mill, built perhaps by Washburn & Russ, thirty-five or forty years ago. Mr. Hawks rebuilt it about 1870.

Coming up to the road running east from the meeting-house, there was originally a saw-mill, built as early as, perhaps earlier than, the incorporation of the town,-probably by John Wil- liams, known as "Carpenter John," to distinguish him from the merchant and tavern-keeper at the burying-ground. This afterward passed into the hands of Abner Moore, who es- tablished a manufactory of broom-handles, and afterward of button-molds. He added also a small grist-mill. The oldest dam was somewhat above the present reservoir-dam, and still shows in low water. All these works were bought out and given up when the reservoir was established.

At the upper reservoir, built in 1873, the dam is erected upon the site of the old dam belonging to the Lyman saw-mill, built by Francis and Thomas Lyman, 1820 to 1828; continued in the hands of the Lymans down to the construction of the reservoir, though the mills had been out of use for some time before. At Goshen Centre, lower reservoir, there were also built, about 1845, a saw-mill and plane-making works. The proprietors were Oscar Washburn and Ralph Utley. The en- terprise was abandoned after a few years. The old-time cider- mills were those of Dresser, White, James, Gloyd, Lyman Parsons, Packard, and Narramore. Present cider-mills are run by Joseph Beals and by Edward C. Packard.

Other business enterprises may be noted : Levi Kingman, 1812-14, made what was known as Tuscarora socks,-a patent overshoe. Solomon Parsons and John James engaged in the manufacture of potash, and continued for many years. Oliver

Taylor had a tannery on the William II. Webster farm, before the Revolution, and tanners were thought so important to the country that when he enlisted the authorities sent him home again to make leather, rather than to fight. Benjamin Tilton had a tannery for some years. In old times, Thomas Weeks, Jason Olds, Silas Olds, and Levi Stearns were the principal cabinet-makers. Spinning-wheels were made by Weeks, and at a later day by Reuben Kingman. The blacksmiths of Go- shen may be mentioned as John Williams, Jonah Williams, Thomas Brown, Cyrus Stearns, Thomas W. Stearns, Asahel Billings, and Elijah Billings. The latter came here in 1816, and the ring of his hammer upon the anvil has been a familiar sound to Goshen for a long series of years. Joshua Packard, Sr., was a shoemaker in the olden times. In later years may be noted Ilattil Washburn, Sr., John V. Hunt, Lysander and Spencer Gurney, and Lowell Hunt.

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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 162

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