History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 52

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 52

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A man by the name of Rood was soon after placed in the same cell, charged with having, by mistake, "taken some cattle not his own." The two were later joined by another, named Hutchins, alias Warner, who was charged with passing counterfeit bank-bills. Burroughs planned an escape, the story of which he tells as follows:

" Notwithstanding the assistance of Rood was not to be ex- peeted, Warner and I were determined to make the attempt immediately after the approach of night, as that was the only time in which we could work without an immediate detection. Therefore, after the time of retirement, we pulled off our coats and went to work with a great degree of energy upon the stone in the chimney ; we soon filled our room with stones and rub- bish. In this situation we experieneed great inconvenience for want of light, being obliged to have recourse to pine slivers peeled off from a board, which kept one hand constantly em- ployed in feeding the blaze lest it should be extinguished, which would at once defeat all our purposes. As I was the strongest of the two, I kept Warner feeding the light, whilst I labored like Sisyphus in rolling huge stones out of the chimney-way. Happy should I have thought myself at that time if, Hercules- like, I could have turned the course of some mighty river under the jail, to have assisted me with its force to sweep away those hugerocks. I labored and toiled without intermission till about midnight, when, coming to a roek I could not possibly get out of the hole, I for a moment despaired of success, after strain- ing with all my might a number of times to no effect. Rood, seeing the situation in which matters stood, jumped out of bed and helped to lift the stone from its place, and then returned again into bed. I again renewed my labor, and had overcome the greatest part of the difficulties before us when the light became extinet for want of fuel, the board being all consumed. I tried to pursue the business in the dark, but found it in vain, and therefore was obliged to quit our undertaking. How much would I now have given for a farthing candle! but wishes were as vain as our expectations were unfounded."

Toward morning the attempt was renewed, without success : " The jailer came into the room, and what was the seene pic- tured to his view ? Rubbish, rocks, stones, and dirt filled the room. Two men almost naked, covered with sweat and dust." Burroughs and Warner were given "ten lashes" each, put into the dungeon, where they lay two days, and were then transferred to another room. The narrative continues : "The second day of my confinement, nearly night, I heard a terrible

elanking of massy chains approaching toward my apartment. The door of the dungeon opened, when lo! horrid to relate, a deformed Vulcan attended with his grisly Cyclops, earrying with them a huge iron chain and all the tools for their infer- nal purpose. I was ordered into another apartment, and to work went those engines of cruelty. They, in the first place, made fast a flat ring around my leg, about six inches wide and an inch thick. This was connected with a chain weighing about thirty-six pounds, and ten feet in length. The other end of the chain was fastened to the timber composing our floor, with a staple driven in with a sledge which made the whole jail tremble. After I was fixed in this manner they left me to my reflections, inwardly exulting at their mighty power and making a poor wretch secure from enjoying the cold comfort of hoping for better times."*

It is probable that Burroughs was confined in the last-men- tioned jail, built in 1704. If such be the fact, this vivid description furnishes the only remaining elew to the charac- teristies of that edifice, whose old joints trembled under the blows of the sturdy blacksmiths. The handcuff's made for Burroughs are preserved, with other gyves and bonds of iron, in the eustody of Christopher Wright, the present deputy sheriff of the county, and bring to the sensitive imagination visions of the Bastile and of instruments of the Inquisition. The annexed eut represents two pairs of handcuffs, one pair of leg-fetters, the great bull-ring, and the key to the outer door of the prison. Their combined weight is thirty-six pounds. The key belonged to the prison next described, and may also have been used for its predecessor.

SHACKLES OF THE OLD JAIL AT NORTHAMPTON.

The second " gaol" was ereeted in the years 1800 and 180!, concerning which the first discoverable record bears date in January of the latter year. The Court of Common Pleas then ordered "that the county treasurer pay to Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr., Charles Phelps, Esq., and Mr. Josiah Diekin- son, the committee for building the gaol in Northampton, one thousand dollars, they giving their receipt to be account- able for the expenditure of the same." There had already been expended, Jan. 1, 1800, $1443.84 for materials furnished, including 6000 feet of square timber, 5000 feet of two-ineh oak plank, 600 feet of boards, 15,000 shingles, 50 hogsheads of lime, 600 loads of stone at 3s., 300 loads of stone at 5s., and 7000 bricks. The iron required was estimated at 4 tons, at £40 per ton. This jail was of stone principally, was situ- ated on Pleasant Street, in the rear of William R. Clapp's present residence, and cost $8321.12, exceeding the estimate $3137.27. May 30, 1801, Benjamin Smith, David Mack, and Samuel Taylor, Esq., who were appointed to examine the accounts of the building committee, reported a " balance of

* Memoirs of Stephen Burroughs, published by M. N. Spear, Amherst, Mass., 1858.

168

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

$13.56 due to the committee, after deducting the proceeds of the sale of the old gaol."

The building was approximately forty by fifty feet in size, was of two stories, about eight feet between joints, and had five or six rooms besides the dungeon, which was on the ground-floor. It contained a " debtors' room," described as being " more cheerful" than the others. The common cells had rings in the floor, to which prisoners were chained; one had a stone floor and a fireplace. The house of Mr. Clapp, already mentioned, was the residence of the jailer, and con- nected with the prison by a covered passage. The house has since been remodeled.

No further record concerning a prison or house of correction is found prior to March 1, 1825, when the following occurs :

"No fit and convenient house of correction being provided in the county of Hampshire, it is ordered by the court that the common prison in said county be made use of for that purpose, to be used and employed for the keeping, correct- ing, and setting to work of rogues, vagabonds, and common beggars, and other idle, disorderly, and lewd persous; and Cephas Clapp, of Northampton, is nomi- unted and appointed master of said house of correction."

May 3, 1833, Charles Phelps, Joseph Lyman, and Daniel Stebbins, a committee appointed for the purpose, made a con- tract with Asahel S. Abel for the "erection and finishing of a county house of brick, to be connected with and to accom- modate the gaol." The building was examined and accepted Sept. 8, 1834, and cost $4100. The same committee, finding the roof of the gaol very defective, caused the same to be sheathed with tin, at a cost of $225.90 .*

The jailers from 1825 to 1852 were Cephas Clapp, Ansel Wright (one year), Frederick W. Clark, William W. Part- ridge, Christopher Wright, and Hiram Ferry.

The present jail and house of correction was ordered built in September, 1850, and was finished in 1852. It is of brick, consists of a central edifice, four stories or sixty-six feet in height, with basement and attic, and with ground dimensions forty-six by sixty-one feet ; and two wings, each with a front- age of sixty-five feet and a width of forty-five, and fifty feet in height. The jail wing contains two departments,-one for males, the other for females, that for males including twelve cells, eight by ten feet in size and ten feet high, while that for females has twenty-two cells, four by ten feet and ten feet high. The other wing is the " house of correction," and has fifty-four cells corresponding in size to the cells for females in the jail wing. These are all for males. The cell-floors are of brick.

The building contains also the keeper's residence, chapel, poor debtors' room, hospital, and bathing-room. In the rear of the main building is a workshop, thirty by sixty feet and two stories in height.

The jailers who have served in the present institution are Hiram Ferry, Cornelius Delano, and James Bangs; the last uring five years,-1856 to 1861. Since the last date named the sheriff has discharged the duties of a jailer.

CHAPTER III.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS-CIVIL LISTS.

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.

PRIOR to 1857 each town in the county was entitled to separate representation in the General Court. Districts were first formed in that year, each comprised of two or more towns, and each empowered to send one or more representatives. Two changes in the composition of these districts have since been made.

From 1857 to 1866, inclusive, the districts were as follows :

First District .- Easthampton, Hatfield, Northampton, and Southampton .- Two representatives.

* Thomas Pratt was employed by the committee to make a " survey and plan of the county ground."

Second District .- Chesterfield, Huntington, Westhampton, and Williamsburg .- One representative.

Third District .- Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, Plain- field, and Worthington .- One representative.

Fourth District .- Hadley and South Hadley .- One repre- sentative.

Fifth District .- Amherst, Granby, and Pelham .- One rep- resentative.

Sicth District .- Belchertown, Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott, and Ware .- Two representatives.

From 1867 to 1876, inclusive, the districts were as follows : First District .- Easthampton, Northampton, Southampton, and Westhampton .- Two representatives.

Second District .- Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Mid- dlefield, Plainfield, and Worthington .- One representative.

Third District .- Hadley, Hatfield, and Williamsburg .- One representative.

Fourth District .- Amherst and South Iladley .- One repre- sentative.

Fifth District .- Belchertown, Granby, and Pelham .- One representative.

Sixth District .- Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott, and Ware .- One representative.

From 1877 to the present time (1879) the districts have been as follows :

First District .- Easthampton, Northampton, and South- ampton .- Two representatives.

Second District .- Hadley, Hatfield, Westhampton, and Williamsburg .- One representatative.

Third District .- Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Hunt- ington, Middlefield, Plainfield, und Worthington .- One rep- resentative.

Fourth District .- Amherst, Pelham, Preseott, and South Hadley .- One representative.

Fifth District .- Belchertown, Enfield, Granby, Greenwich, and Ware .- One representative.

CIVIL LIST.

Among the residents of Hampshire who have served the country in public offices are the following :

United States Senators.

Caleb Strong, Northampton, 1789-96; Eli Porter Ashmun, Northampton, 1816-18; Elijah Hunt Mills, Northampton, 1820-27; Isaac C. Bates, Northampton, 1841-45.

Governors of the Commonwealth.

Caleb Strong, Northampton, 1800-7.

Sreretaries of the Commonwealth.

Ephraim M. Wright, Northampton, 1853-56; Oliver War- ner, Northampton, 1858-76.

State Senators.

Levi Stockbridge, Hadley, 1865-66; Edmund II. Sawyer, Easthampton, 1867-68; Edward A. Thomas, Preseott, 1869 ; Stephen M. Crosby, Williamsburg, 1870; Rufus D. Woods, Enfield, 1872-73; Franeis Edson, Hadley, 1874 ; William M. Gaylord, Northampton, 1876 ; Lewis N. Gilbert, Ware, 1877-78.

County Treasurers.

Maj. John Pynchon, Springfield, May 27, 1660, to 1681; Mr. Peter Tilton, Hadley, 1682 to 1688; John Pynchon, Springfield, appointed Jan. 23, 1689 ; . . . William Pynchon, Springfield, from 1798, and perhaps earlier, to 1808, when he died ; Edward Pynchon, appointed March 30, 1808, continued until November, 1812; Daniel Stebbins, November 12, 1812, to 1845; Jonathan H. Butler, 1846 to 1849 ; Charles De Lano, 1850 to 1858 ;; Henry S. Gere, 1859 to 1876; Watson L. Smith, 1877 to -.

+ Prior to 1855 treasurers were chosen yearly. In that year, and subsequently, they were chosen for terms of three years.

169

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Sheriff's .*

The following have served as sheriff's of Hampshire County since the adoption of the constitution of the commonwealth in 1780. The dates are those of appointment :

Elisha Porter, Hadley, Sept. 20, 1781. Ebenezer Mattoon, Amherst, June 9, 1796. Thomas Shepard, Northampton, Oct. 8, 1811. Ebenezer Mattoon, Amherst, June 20, 1812. Joseph Lyman, Northampton, July 3. 1816. Samuel L. Hinckley, Northampton, Nov. 25, 1844. Alfred L. Strong, Easthampton, July 8, 1851. William A. Hawley, Northampton, March 10, 1853. Ilenry A. Longley, Belchertown, Jan 24, 1855.+

Judges of Probate.

Col. John Pynchon, Springfield, appointed 1692. Col. Samuel Partridge, Hatfield, 1703.

Col. John Stoddard, Northampton, 1729.

Col. Timothy Dwight, Northampton, 1748.

Col. Isaac Williams, Hatfield, 1764-74.

Dr. Samuel Mather, Northampton, 1776.1 Eleazer Porter, Hadley, 1779.

Samuel Henshaw, Northampton, 1797. Jonathan Leavitt, Greenfield, 1809.

Joseph Lyman, Northampton, 1810.

Samuel Hinckley, Northampton, 1816. Ithamar Conkey, Amherst, 1834.

Samuel F. Lyman, Northampton, 1858.

Samuel T. Spaulding, Northampton, 1873.

William G. Bassett, Easthampton, 1879.2.

Registers of Probate.

Samuel Partridge, Hatfield, appointed 1692.

John Pynchon, Springfield, 1703.

Timothy Dwight, Northampton, 1729.

Timothy Dwight, Jr., Northampton, 1748.

Solomon Stoddard, Northampton, 1764.

Israel Williams, Jr., Hatfield, 1769-74. John C. Williams, Hadley, 1776.| Samuel Hinekley, Northampton, 1787. Isaac C. Bates, Northampton, 1816. Samuel F. Lyman, Northampton, 1827. A. Perry Peck, Northampton, 1855. Luke Lyman, Northampton, 1859.

Clerks of the Courts. T

Elizur Holyoke, Springfield, appointed September, 1660. Samuel Partridge, Hattield, March, 1676. John Holyoke, Springfield, 1678.

John Pynchon, Springfield, Dec. 26, 1693.

Israel Williams, Hatfield, 1735. William Williams, Hatfield, Feb. 14, 1758. Robert Breek, Northampton, May 21, 1778. Joseph Lyman, Northampton, 1798.

Josiah Dwight, Northampton, 1810. John Taylor, Northampton, 1811. Josiah Dwight, Northampton, 1812. Solomon Stoddard, Northampton, 1821. Samuel Wells, ** Northampton, 1837.

William P. Strickland, Northampton, 1865.

Registers of Deeds.

The first record of real estate conveyances for the middle distriet of Hampshire County made in Northampton bears

* Sce ante, " Civil Organization."

+ The office was made elective in 1856.

# A vacancy of about two years preceded Dr. Mather's appointment.

¿ Varunvy in 1878.

| A vacancy of about two years preceded Mr. Williams' appointment. I See ante, "Courts."

** Office made elective in 1856. Mr. Wells was accidentally shot in October, 1864, Mr. Strickland succeeding for the unexpired term of two years.

date Aug. 1, 1787. The office of the register for the old county of Hampshire was previously kept in West Spring- field, from whence it was removed to Springfieldl. The follow- ing have been registers of deeds from the several dates named, respectively : Ebenezer Hunt, Ang. 1, 1787; Levi Lyman, May 20, 1796; Solomon Stoddard, May 24, 1811 ; Levi Lyman, May 15, 1821 ; Charles Hooker, ++ Jan. 29, 1830; C. P. Hunt- ington, May 16, 1833; Giles C. Kellogg, Dec. 30, 1833; Har- vey Kirkland, June 9, 18-16 ; Henry P. Billings, Jan. 1, 1871.

Trial-Justices.

In 1858 a law was passed giving certain powers in criminal cases to justices of the peace, who were entitled Trial-Justices. These were appointed by the Governor, to hold office for three years. The county of Hampshire is entitled to ten trial-jus- tices. The names of those persons who have held the office since the law went into effect are given below. Those still in otlice are designated by n *.

Horace 1. Hodges, Northampton, appointed May 7, 1858.

James W. Boyden, Amherst, May 7, 1858.

Willinm S. Brackenridge, Ware, May 11, 1858.

Elisha II. Brewster, Worthington, May 7, 1858. Epaphras Clark, Enfield, May 7, 1858. Elijah N. Woods, Huntington, June 3, 1858. Franklin Diekinson,* Belchertown, June 8, 1858. Albion P. lowe, Amherst, Dec. 8, 1859.

Albion P. Peck,* Northampton, June 29, 1860.

Francis De Witt, Ware, Det. 3, 1860. Franklin D. Richards,* Ware, Jan. 20, 1863. Samuel Wells, Northampton, Oet. 7, 1863. Charles Richards,* Enfield, May 28, 1864.

Iliram Smith, Jr., South Hadley, Dec. 30, 1864.

Oliver Pease, Amherst, May 5, 1865. Wm. P. Strickland, Northampton, May 17, 1865. Seth Warner, Easthampton, May 25, 1865. R. Ogden Dwight, South Hadley, Jan. 23, 1868. C. Edgar Smith, Northampton, March 23. 1869. William G. Bassett, Easthampton, May 28, 1869. . Alfred M. Copeland, Huntington, June 11, 1869. Francis HI. Dawes,* Cummington, April 5, 1870. , Garry Munson,* Huntington, June 14, 1872. Edward A. Thomas,* Amherst, May 19, 1874. Haynes I1. Chilson,* Northampton, May 12, 1875. Nathan Morse,* South Hadley, 1876. Lafayette Clapp,* Easthampton, 1877.

County Commissioners.

The following have served as commissioners, during the periods named, as nearly as could be ascertained : Hon. Levi Lyman, 1829-30; Hon. Charles P. Phelps, 1828-34; Alvan Rice, 1829-33; Ithamar Conkey, 1830-34; Osmyn Baker, 1834-37; Elisha Strong, 1835-40; Joseph Cummings, 1835-52; Channeey B. Rising, 1838-40; Roswell Hubbard, 1838; Israel Billings, 1841-43 ; Timothy A. Phelps, 1841-43; Mark Doo- little, 1844-46; Joel Hayden, 1844-52; llon. William Bow- doin, 1847-48; Benjamin Barrett, 1847-18; Haynes HI. Chil- son, 1850-52; Horace 1. Hodges, 1853-54; Elisha II. Brewster, 1853-65; John Warner, 1853; William P. Dickinson, 1855-59; Elkanab Ring, Jr., 1856-58; Daniel B. Gillett, 1859-61 ; Enoch Il. Lyman, 1860-66; William C. Eaton, 1862-67; P. Smith Williams, 1867-69; Elisha A. Edwards, 1868-79; Justin Thayer, 1869-74; Samuel Mills Cook, 1871-75; Elnathan Graves, 1875-79; Flavel Gaylord, 1879.

Special County Commissioners.

Ithamar Conkey, 1828-29; Oliver Smith, 1850-34; Elisha Strong, 1830-81; Dyar Bancroft, 1835; Ephraim Smith, 1835-40; Benjamin White, 1835-40; William Clark, Jr., 1841-43; James II. Clapp, 1811-43; Joseph Smith, 1841-48 ;

tt Died 1833; C. P. Huntington appointed to fill the vacancy.

170

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Luther Edwards, 1844-49; John A. Morton, 1849; George Allen, 1850-52; Elkanah Ring, Jr., 1850-52; Adolphus Strong, 1853-56; Otis G. Hill, 1853-56; Charles Adams, 1857-62; Justin Thayer, 1857-68; Lorenzo S. Nash, 1863-68; Elnathan Graves, 1869-74; Austin Eastman, 1869-73 ;* Sam- uel L. Parsons, 1874-79 ; Charles E. Blood, 1874-79.

JUDICIARY.

Since the Revolution the persons whose names follow have been appointed to positions on the Bench :

Justices of Superior Court of Judicature and Supreme Ju- dicial Court .- Simeon Strong, Amherst, appointed in 1801, continued until his death in 1805; Charles Augustus Dewey, a native of Northampton, appointed from Worcester in 1837, continued until the year of his death, 1866; Charles Edward Forbes, Northampton, appointed in 1848, resigned in the same year, resides in Northampton.

Justices of the Court of Common Pleas .- Solomon Strong, Amherst, appointed in 1820, resigned in 1842, died in 1850; Samuel Howe, Northampton, appointed in 1820, left the Bench in 1828, the year of his death; Charles Edward Forbes, Northampton, appointed in 1847, and to the Supreme Bench in the following year.

William Allen, Northampton, was appointed in 1872 to the Bench of the Supreme Court, established in 1859, and is still in that position, 1879.

CHAPTER IV. SOCIETIES.

THE HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY

was organized in 1833, and embraced in that year the follow- lowing members : Joseph H. Flint, Benjamin Barrett, David Hunt, Elisha Mather, Edward E. Denniston, Northampton ; Reuben Bell, Iladley ; Isaac G. Cutler, Rufus Cowles, Am- herst ; Elihu Dwight, South Hadley; William Bridgman, Belchertown; Atherton Clark, Ira Bryant, Cummington ; Bela B. Jones, Southampton ; Caleh H. Stickney, Ilunting- ton ; Samuel Shaw, Plainfield ; Joseph Warren, Middlefield ; Edward Dickinson, John Ilastings, and Moses Porter.

The subjoined additional names first appear in the books of the treasurer of the society in the years given respectively : 1840, Watson Loud, S. Clapp, Lewis S. Hopkins (now, 1879, in Bridgewater), Gardner Dorrance, Amherst. 1841, Edward G. Upford, West Springfield ; T. II. Brown, Worthington ;+ Henry Orcutt, Westhampton ;t Chauncey A. Hall, North- ampton ; S. E. Strong, Amherst ; Philemon Stacy, Hadley, lost his eyesight and left the profession. 1842, Daniel Thomp- son, Northampton, to which place he removed in 1837; Thos. Meekins, Williamsburg; Addison S. Peck, ; Hatfield, removed to California. 1843, Horatio Thompson, Belchertown ; James Thompson, + Northampton ; Seth Fish, North Hadley, died at North Amherst ; Israel II. Taylor, Pelham, was a resident of Amherst in 1864. 1844, Artemas Bell, + Southampton; Wash- ington Shaw, died at Haydenville. 1845, Ebenezer C. Rich- ardson, Ware. 1846, J. W. Smith, practiced dentistry ; Lorin Allen, Belchertown, now in Illinois. 1848, Franklin Bonney, Hadley, where he is still in practice ; Samuel D. Brooks, Nor- wich, now at Springfield, Mass. 1852, Benjamin F. Smith, Amherst, where he died ; Samuel A. Fisk, Northampton. 1853, D. O. Perry, Chesterfield ; James Dunlap, Northamp- ton. 1854, Francis C. Green, Easthampton. 1855, Levi Chamberlain, Ilatfield; Cyrus N. Chamberlain, son of the preceding, Granby, is now in Lawrence. 1856, Edward S. Hill, Williamsburg. 1857, John H. Richardson, Chester- field. 1858, Henry C. Prentiss, Northampton ; Theron Tem- ple, Belchertown; Lebbeus E. Marsh, Granby. 1860, John

W. Barker, Easthampton ; William M. Trow, Haydenville ; William Lester, South Hadley ; Noah Gilman, Ilatfield. 1861, George F. Thompson,¿ Belchertown ; Lorin H. Pease, Amherst; Austin W. Thompson, Northampton ; Edward B. Barrett, Northampton. 1862, John W. Bement, Belcher- town. 1864, Alfred Montville, Hatfield ; } William H. Prince, present first assistant superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Northampton ; Joseph W. Winslow, Easthampton. 1865, David W. Miner, Ware. 1866, Cyrus K. Bartlett, then connected with the hospital at Northampton, now in charge of the State Lunatic Asylum, Minnesota ; Oscar C. De Wolf, now commissioner of health at Chicago, Ill .; Edwin M. Johnson, Williamsburg, studied medicine at the office of Dr. James Dunlap, Northampton, and with his entire family was swept away in the flood which devastated the former place, May 16, 1874; Edwin F. Ward, Easthampton, now practic- ing in New York City ; Dyar B. N. Fish, Amherst ; Harlow Gamwell and Josiah H. Goddard,¿ Huntington ; Albert H. Daniels and Orvis F. Bigelow, Amherst. 1867, Alonzo Lewis, Hatfield ; John Dolet and Edward R. Lewis, Amherst ; John Yale, Ware; Oscar L. Roberts, Belchertown. 1868, John B. Tyler, Ilenry B. Stoddard (now at Newtonville), and Charles L. Knowlton, Northampton ; Thomas D. Smith, Easthamp- ton ; Charles M. Billings, Hatfield. 1870, lohn B. Learned, Florence. 1871, Chester M. Barton, Worthington, now of Hatfield ; Gardner Cox, South Hadley Falls; Cyrus B. Smith, Granby ; Edwin A. Kemp, Enfield. 1872, Samuel E. Thayer, Southampton; John R. Greenleaf, Easthampton. 1874, Wil- liam Dwight, North Amherst ; George A. Pierce, Hatfield ; Thomas Gilfillan, Northampton. 1875, Christopher Seymour, Edward B. Nims, assistant superintendent of the hospital ; Pliny Earl, superintendent of the hospital, and Junius M. Hall, Northampton ; Joseph C. Yale, Ware, son of John Yale, M.D. 1876, Arthur II. Kimball, Cummington. 1877, Ilarmon Heed, Pelham ; Charles W. Parsons, Worthington ; Solon R. Towne, Enfield ; James D. Seymour, now of Whate- ly. 1878, Daniel Pickard, assistant at the hospital, North- ampton ; George W. Wood, Southampton ; Elbridge Gerry Wheeler, Middlefield ; James N. Dickson, now at Hunting- ton ; Charles W. Cooper, Amherst.

DR. JOSIAH GOODHUE .- This distinguished medical man, though not a native of the Connecticut Valley, was for a long time a citizen of Hampshire County, and foremost in his pro- fession. He was born at Dunstable, Middlesex Co., Mass., Jan. 17, 1759. Early in life he devoted himself to study, and entered Harvard University about the beginning of the Revolutionary war, but owing to the disturbances of that period the doors of the institution were of necessity closed, and he returned to his home. Here he was troubled by a white-swelling upon one of his knees, and applied to Dr. Kittredge, of Tewksbury, for medical treatment. While un- der the care of Dr. Kittredge he became interested in medi- eine, and afterward began the study of physie and surgery with him, continuing for two years, which was then the cus- tomary term. Hle then returned to Putney, Vt., where his parents then resided, and commenced practice, under very dis- couraging conditions, when he was about twenty years of age. The reputation of Dr. Kittredge, however, gave him some advantages, and he soon won the confidence of the people; and a successful operation soon gave him a reputation and brought him plenty of practice.

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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 52

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