History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 118

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 118

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t Journal of Sewall White.

910

IHISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Jolin Ashley, whose benevolence has been exemplified by leg- acies for various Christian and educational purposes.

SCItOOLS.

When this territory was yet in the first parish of Spring- field " a tract of land at the lower end of Chicopee Plain, on the west side of the 'Great River,' is said to have been ap- propriated by the town in 1654, either for the helping to main- tain a schoolmaster or ruling elder, or to bear any other town charges."

This land was rented for many years, and the rents applied to the support of schools. The following extracts are from the town records of Springfield, and are the first official action in reference to schools in the second parish :

March 13, 1704 .- " At the town-meeting the Committee for the precinct on the west side of the Grt River, in behalf of ye said Precinct, did Petition that the Towne would either direct and establish a school on that side of said Hiver, or else acquit them of paying any rate for the Town's school on the East side of ye gret River."

March 26, 1705,-" At a Towne Meeting it was voted to pay out of the Towo Treasury an addition of fifteen ponnds, to encourage the inhabitants on the west side of the great River & of Long meadow to prontote the Learning of their children for the present year, & the Selectmen are to see to the disposing of said sum according to their best discretion."

March 12, 1706 .- " The Inhabitants of the west side the River presented a Petition to the Town, that they would allow them support for encouragement of their schoole. And it was voted that, if they keepe a schoole, to continne the support of the Towne."

March 26, 1705 (on the back ward page) .- " Nathaniel Sikes and Eben Warriner dissent from this vote."

May 30, 1706 .- " It was voted and agreed at a Towne meeting that the said west side inhabitants have Liberty to get a schoolmaster to teach their children to read and write, and that the charge be carried on by the Towne in the same manter as the school affaire is carryed on on the east side of the gt river, as the law directs."

" At a Parish meeting held Dec. 10, 1706, it was voted to build a school-house and that Deacon Parsons, Samuel Day, am) Samuel Ely to see the same accom- plished as soon as may bee. And to raise a rate to defray the charge of s'd worcke."

· June 2, 1708,-" At a town-meeting of Springfield it was voted & concluded to ratify the vote of the towne at the meeting May 30, 1708, respecting the school affair on the west side of the gt river, & further that the Selectmen of this Town of Springfield be empowered to provide them, the said west side inhabitants, a meet person to teach children to read and write, and that the inhabitants of said west side the grt River have Liberty to adde from among themselves some one mao to join with the said selectmeu to carry the said affaire, that the children of said West side inhabitants may be taught to read & to write, & that what the scholars' part to pay folls short of satisfying the charge, that it be paid as other town charges are paid."

Dec. 7, 17IL .- " It was declared that the selectinen agree with Mr. Benjamin Colton to keepe schoole on the west side of the gt river, & to pay him after the rate of twenty pounds for halfe a year, but he kept the school for four months only, viz., from the thirteenth day of April to the 13th day of Ang. ; amount, £13 65. xp."

" At a Parish meeting Dec. 9, 1712, it was voted That the Present Comity tack the care of Building a School-House Hod procuer a schoolmaster."

" At a town-meeting of Springfield, Aquil 1, 1713, Dea. Parsons, John Day, and Pelatiah Glover, Selectmen, agreed with Mr. Nathaniel Downing for the keep- ing of School on the west side of ye Great River for the terms of halfe a yeare, and to pay to the said Mr. Dowoiog 15£ in Graine or Money, and to alow him a fortnight time in the said halfe yeare for his Harvest and Getting in his Hay."

He taught also in 1714, 1715, and 1716.

Jan. 10, 17IG .- " There was granted to Mr. Nath'] Downing twenty-five pounds for teaching the school on the west side of the River."

March 28, 1716 .- " Those parts of the Town of Springfield which was by the Town voted to be precints are as follows: 1, The west side of the grt River ; 2, The Long meadow ; 3, The west side of Agawam River; 4, The I'pper Chicka- pee; 5, The Lower Chickapee; 6, And Skipmuck. It was further voted that each of the places above mentioned should be allowed precints respecting of schools. It was further voted that they should be contioned precints for three years. Voted that every precinct shall pay to them one school. Voted that that precinct which doth neglect keeping a school, that money which is raised upon them for the supporting of the schools shall return into the Town Treasury. Voted further to raise eighty-two pounds in pay in order to the supporting the schools in Springfield."

May 6, 1721 .- " Then agreed with Mr. John Hooker to keep school for the west side precinct, in Springfield, for the year ensuing to teach to read & write, and said Mr. Joho Hooker to have 30 pounds for his Labour, to be paid in money or in grain at the market price, as it passeth generally between man & man." Continued in 1722.

Dec. 9, 1726,-" Then agreed with Mr. John Woodbrige To keep the grammar school in Springfield for the space of three months; be is to have for his solorry after the reat of forty-five pounds yearly."

Mr. Woodbridge left the school the 27th of January, 1727.

" March ye 13th, 1717 -- It was voted at this meeting that there be application made to the General Conrt, In order to the settling of a school in this Precinet, and that Dracon Parsons, Samuel Day, John Day, Jams Mirick, and Sam'l Fly be a Commitey to manage that concern In behalf of this Precinct. It was fur- ther voted and concluded that that money which is the proportion of this l're- cinet of the eighty-two pounds granted by the town to be raised for the school, shall be disposed of for that use by the Comitey for the School."

" March 12th, 17]5 .- Vote. I that the present commity take care of the school."

" May ye 10, 1731 .- The Committee on ye west side of ye Great River have hired Mr. Samuel Ely to keepe ye schoole in said precints and ye Selectmen have consented to ye same, he to begin ye Schoole by ye Day said above. Ordered Mr. Henry Burt, Treasurer, to pay to Mr. John Ashley, Jun., the sum of Four- tren Pounds Seven Shillings and six pence, May ye 10, 1731, for his Services in ye Schools on ye West side of ye Great River."

" In 1732, Jonathan Bliss was paid nine pounds for keeping ye school on ye west side of ye Grt River."

Apr'1 5, 1734 .- " Mr. John Ely, Senr., began to keep the school on the west side of y gt River.

May 23, 1734 .- " An order was given to pay Josiah Miller four pounds six shil- lings in full for keeping the school on the west side of ye Grt River to the 3d day of Jan'y last past."

March 31, 1735,-" John Ely was paid $16 058. OGd. for keeping ye school. Nov., 1735, Nathaniel Atchinsen begun keeping school on ye west side, and Ile taught several years."

" There is no evidence on the records of West Springfield that a school-house was really built before 1752, but from an entry in the Springheld Records, Vols. IV. and V., page 15, and bearing date Nov. 21, 1737, it appears that there was 'Granted to Joseph Miller for building a stack of Chimneys on the west side of the Great Kiver at the School-House, two pounds & three shillings for oails & shingles about said honse.'"

This is followed by nine other grants concerning the work done at said school-house, one of which leads to the opinion the house had been built some time.

"Granted to Thomas Miller for Repairs at the School-House on the west side of ye Git River last year, 3 shillings & six pence.

March 10, 1752 .- " Voted and Granted unto the Inhabitants of the Second Parish io said Town on the west side of the Great River the sum of seventy pounds to be applyed for and toward building a School-House there, and that the sadie be paid to the Committee that may be chosen by said Parish for Build- ing said School-llouse, and that the said sum be raised in the next vote.

" At the Town-meeting May 15, 1752, voted that William Stebbins, Capt. Jos. Colton, & Nathaniel Burt be a Committee to view & consider, fix and determine the place where the School-House sball be built on the west side of the Grt River Toward the building of which there was Seventy pounds granted at the Town-Meeting in March last, & that Ensign Stebbins appoint the time and Place for attending said service.

" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Second Parish in Springfield, May 18, 1752, It was voted That Ensign John Ely, Benj. Day, & Capt. Joseph Miller be a Committee to lay out the money and provide materials in order to build a School-Honse in this Punish, according to the vote of the Town of Springfield in March Last past. Voted, 2d, To leave it with the Committee to Determine what Dimensions to build the School-House."

The school-house was built on the common, and served for many years the purposes of education. The lower story was divided into two rooms, and was used for the smaller schools, which were taught by Ann Cooley for more than twenty years, while the upper part in the gambrel roof had but one room, and was warmed by fires in the huge fireplace in each end of the building. In this room was kept the high school.

A record in the parish register of Jan. 29, 1770, records a vute

" To accept of the Report of the Committee chosen to confer with the Commit- tee chosen by Agawam and the people of the fourth Parish on the West side of the Great River, which is as followeth, viz. :

" SPRINGFIELD, 25th January, 1770 .- We, the subscribers, being appointed Committees from the second and the fifth Parishes in sd Springfield, on the West side of the Great River, conferred together about getting off as a town, do nrani- mously agree on the following particulars, viz .:

"First, that after the west side shall get off as a Town, or District, the Gramer School Shall be kept for the first Ten Years, one-half of the Time in the second Parish, and the other half in the fifth Parish, viz .: alternately in each Parish. Thirdly, That, whereas, the Inhabitants of part of the fourth Parish haveing agreed to relinquish their right to the Gramer school for the first Ten years, We do agree That after the first Ten Years the Gramer school shall be removed into each Parish in Proportion to what each Parish shall pay if the Inhabitants of the fourth shall desire the Gramer school any part of the time; otherwise, to be kept in the second and fifth Parishes for the future, io proportion to what the second and fifth Parishes shall pay towards the support of said school. Moses Leonard, Francis Stebbins, John Morgan, Samuel Palmer, Justin Ely, George Breck.

" "Test : NATH. ATCHINSON, Clerk."

911

IHISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

This ancient school-house is still well preserved, and is used for a barn by William White, in the rear of his house in Park Street. It was with great difficulty that the money was raised to ereet a new and more commodious school-house, and still more difficult to locate it, until 1818, when the centre distriet appropriated $800, the balance being raised by individual subscriptions. The new school-house was lo- cated where the new town-hall now stands. It was a brick structure, containing three school-rooms on the first floor, and a hall in the second story for the use of the town, and where town-meetings were held from 1820 to 1873, when it was taken down to give place to the new hall. The new town-hall was built in 1873, at a cost of $38,125. A part of the lower story is arranged for school purposes, and is occupied by the high school. The town has nine other substantial and commodious school-build- ings,-the Centre District, built in 1874, at a cost of $23,- 957.67; Main Street, built in 1872, cost, $20,745.56; Mit- teneague, built in 1871, cost, $16,449; besides school- houses on School Street, and at Riverdale, Ashleyville, Prospect 1Till, Paucatuck, and Amostown. There were abont 750 pupils enrolled in the different schools in 1878, and about $8000 were expended in that year. Of this amount $864 was received from the " Ashley fund," and $330 from the dog fund.

OLD TREES.

One of the largest trees in the State is the "Big Elm," situated on the west side of Main Street ( formerly Shad Lane), standing on land now owned by Mrs. Heman Smith and Mrs. A. W. Allen. The land was originally a part of the Heman Day farm, and the tree was brought by him on his shoulder

BIG ELM TREE.

from Agawam Meadow, and planted where it now stands on his twenty-first birthday, Jan. 27, 1776, it having then at- tained six or eight years' growth. The engraving here pre- sented gives some idea of its immense size.

The circumference of the trunk, at its smallest diameter, is 27 feet. Its branches extend about 130 feet. A few years ago a large branch was blown off, otherwise it is a splendid specimen of vigorous old age, symmetry, and strength. It is coeval with the Republic,

"and a beautiful emblem of that tree of liberty that has stood firm and majestic amidst all the stormus it has endured, and whose spreading branches cast a healthful shade over the entire continent.

" The hills are covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof are like the govilly cedars. She sends out her boughs unto the seas and her branches unto the rivers." <

The elms that stand in Ramapogue Street were set over me

ESETE

ANCIENT SCHOOL-HOUSE.

hundred years ago by Luke and Ebenezer Day and John Ely, and were brought from Barber's Swamp, in Tatham, in the west part of the town. The large button wood-tree that stands in the yard of Joseph Morgan was planted in 1782.

INITIAL EVENTS.

The first wagon in town was owned in Amostown, and was without springs. Brooms were carried from West Springfield to Boston by Solomon Todd, who, with his own team, trans- ported produce and brought back goods for Jesse Stebbins and others. In 1752, Rev. Samuel Hopkins published a pamphlet giving an account of the Indian way of manufacturing maple- sugar.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Through the instrumentality of the Rev. Dr. Lathrop, a library was founded in 1775 with 40 subscribers. It was peri- patetic, going from house to house in a two-bushel basket. It attained at last to 56 volumes, and in October, 1807, was divided among the shareholders.

About the year 1810 another library was started, with head- quarters in the town-house. This collection was sold about 1840.

There is a town library containing 2288 volumes. It was inaugurated in 1855 by individual contributions, but subse- quently transferred to the town on condition that $50 be appropriated annually for new books. A committee of three is appointed annually to purchase books, and by the payment of 50 cents per anumno books can be drawn from the library, on the first and third Mondays of each month. J. M. Harmon is librarian, and the books are kept at the library- rooms in the town-hall.

NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS.

A newspaper called the American Intelligencer was estab- lished in West Springfield, Ang. 15, 1795, by Richard David- son, an Englishman. It was soon after purchased by Edward Gray, who continued it weekly for three years, when he re- moved to Suffield, Conn., and later to Hartford. The office was a few rods west of the old meeting-house.

In 1796, Mr. Gray published a small pamphlet (which passed through eleven editions ) entitled " The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Married State, under the Similitude of a Dream."

A copy of the American Intelligencer, dated Dec. 5, 1797, No. 121, contains an account of the sickness and death of a little child, daughter of Joseph Ashley, Jr., who was bitten by a mad dog on the 14th of October previous.

* Centennial address of Rev. Wm. B. Sprague, 1874.

912

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

POST-OFFICES.

There are three in the town, West Springfield, Mitteneague, and Ashleyville. The postmasters at West Springfield are given below, as accurately as can be ascertained : Jere. Steb- bins, appointed Dee. 18, 1802; Benjamin Stebbins, Feb. 19, 1817 ; Miner Stebbins, Oct. 26, 1819; Elias Winchell, Aug. 27, 1824; Henry Cooley, Nov. 16, 1836; Edward South worth, Sept. 30, 1841 ; M. M. Tallmadge, May 9, 1845; Michael Marsh, April 29, 1846; Lester Williams, Aug. 31, 1847 ; P. Le B. Stickney, June 5, 1849; Lewis Leonard, June 2, 1851, W. E. Cooley, July 24, 1866; Henry A. Phelon, Feb. 13, 1867 ; George D. Gilbert. The postmaster at Mitteneague is Luke Bliss, and at Ashleyville, Franklin F. Smith.

IHIGH-WATER-DYK ES.

The lower portions of West Springfield, now occupied by the shops of the Boston and Albany Railway, and the new town which has sprung up around them, were subject, in former times, to considerable overflows by the Agawam and Connec- ticut Rivers.

The highest uprisings of the latter stream, commencing with 1801, have been as follows : 1801, ealled the " Jefferson Flood," 19 feet ; 1804, 10 feet ; in 1818 there was a great rise, which carried off the old bridge, built about 1805, but the height is not given; 1843, 18 feet 6 inches ; 1854, 22 feet 2 inches ; 1862, 22 feet 1 inch; 1864, 22 feet; 1869, 18 feet ; Dec. 11, 1878, 18 feet 6 inches.

About 1864 the people began to construct dykes, and the old bridge company built from their bridge to the railroad bridge, and in 1868 the town finished it northward nearly to the park, and the same year constructed the one on the south toward the Agawam River. These dykes or levees have proven so far substantial barriers, and prevented the spreading of the waters through the settled portions of this part of the town. They are similar to the Mississippi lerees, and have been constructed at considerable expense. The Agawam River, in December, 1878, rose three and a half feet higher than ever before known.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

On the 21st day of February, 1649, " there was granted Deacon Samuel Chapin a parcel of land by Agawam Falls, where he hath one acre and a half already adjoining to Mr. Moxon's meadow ground, which acre and a half is to be made up to six acres." This land is supposed to be what is known as the old " Original Mill Grant," and tradition says that it was granted on condition that a grist-mill be erected to grind grists for families on the west side of the river ; and it is said that a few years later a mill and a dam were erected, and from that time to the present the site has been occupied for that pur- pose. The property is now, and has been since 1859, in pos- session of Mr. J. L. Worthy, after having passed through many changes. The dam was rebuilt about 1850, and the mill is now conducted as a flouring- and grist-mill, and contains two runs of stone.

The site of the present grist- and saw-mill, owned by An- drew Bartholomew, on Darby Brook, has been improved for more than one hundred years. A saw-mill was first erected, and the property has belonged to the Baggs, Ashleys, Whites, and others among the old families. The power was never extensive, and consequently not very valuable. The present mills use steam in connection with water-power. The tan- neries at Ashleyville were once quite important, but are doing very little at present.

At the beginning of the present century, and for several years thereafter, more business was done on the west side of the river than on the east. There was located on Park Street a hat manufactory, the business being carried on so late as 1840 by Lester Williams, who now resides, at an advanced age, on the corner of Park and Elin Streets, and has been a promi- nent man in town for many years. Farther up on Park Street,

at "New Boston," were located a large tannery and a factory for dressing cloth, and still farther up on the Agawam road was an extensive gin and brandy distillery.

The manufacturing interests of West Springfield are not large .. It has a valuable water-power in the Agawam River, which is turned to good account. A dam was built across this river at Mitteneague Falls in 1840, furnishing power for several manufactories. The Agawam Canal Company built a cotton- factory in 1848. The capital stock is $377,250, and the company manufacture cotton-sheetings at the rate of 100,000 yards per week, employing 300 hands. The officers of the company are Chester W. Chapin, President; W. K. Baker, Treasurer ; 1. B. Lowell, Agent. The Southworth Paper Company manu- facture fine writing-paper, and produce annually $125,000 worth, employing about 80 hands. The paper-mill is owned by Wells Southworth, of New Haven, and the heirs of Edward Southworth, of West Springfield. H. W. Southworth is agent and manager. The Agawam Paper Company's mill was built in 1859; its capital stock is $50,000; makes fine writing-paper at the rate of one and a half tons per day, and employs about 60 hands. These three obtain their water-power from the Agawam Canal. Goodhue & Birnie have a manufactory in the southern part of the town for making iron water-pipes lined with cement. They supply water-works in all parts of the country. The carriage-works of Edson Clark, in the northern part of the town, manufacture wagons, sleighs, and carriages to a considerable extent. There is also in this part of the town a tannery, which formerly did a large busi- ness. Riverdale steam saw-mill and grist-mill, at the centre, are owned and run by C. A. Bartholomew ..

MILITARY RECORD.

The town has a noble military history, and the patriotism of its citizens has been conspicuous from the days of the Revo- lution to the close of the great Rebellion. When the General Court, in June, 1776, ordered 5000 men to be raised in the colony, 754 were to come from the Connecticut Valley, and the quota of West Springfield was 48, a larger number than from any one town in the valley,-1 more than Northampton, 4 more than Springfield, and 17 more than Westfield.

Previous to this, upon hearing the news of the battle of Lexington, a company of Minute-Men numbering 53 was raised and sent forward to the scene of action. The officers of this latter company were Capt. Enoch Chapin and Lieuts. Samuel Flowers and Luke Day.

In the war of 1812-15, the town, having strong Federal sentiments, sent Peletiah Bliss and Timothy Burbank as dele- gates to a convention held at Northampton, which sent a memorial to the President praying that commissioners might be appointed to negotiate peace with Great Britain upon hon- orable terms. It was largely represented in a company of artillery which marched out of Springfield in 1814, under the call of Gov. Strong.

A history of the part it took in the civil war of 1861-5 will be a matter of interest to the reader. The following facts relative to those who went from West Springfield and were killed or died are copied from a " Decoration Day" ad- dress, delivered by L. F. Mellen, in 1872 :

" Corp. Wm. Richards, 34th Mass. Regt, killed in action at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864. lle was retreating, after a skirmish, and was shot through the heart while getting over a fence. He was buried on the battle-field.

" Lient. Wm. Arthur Ashley, IOth Mass. Regt., was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. His comrades wrapped his body in a blanket, marked his name on a piece of paper, and left him in the hands of the enemy. The place of his burial was never known.

" Corp. Nelson R. Hoisington, 34th Muss. Regt., wounded at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Died in the hospital at that place, Sept. 24th, and was buried in the hospital yard. His remains were afterward brought home and deposited in Park Street Cemetery.

"Corp. Aaron Clapp, 34th Mass, Regt., wounded in battle at Piedmont, Va., May 24, 1804. Died of his wounds, June 5, 1864; buried on the battle-field.

" Private Parvin Clapp, 34th Mass. Regt., killed instantly, July 5, 1864, at Pied- mont, Va., and was buried South.

RES OF EDSON CLARK

CLARKS CARRIAGE MANUFAC

N.E.VIEW OF CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY & OFFICE

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REPOSITORY AND MANUFACTORY, ONE HALF MILE WEST OF CHICOPEE BUNCH

ONCTION, WEST SPRINTEN

SPRINGFIELD. (P. O. ADDRESS, CHICOPEE, MASS.)

Henry A Photon HEton

HENRY A. PHIELON was born in Nantucket, Mass., Oct. 12, 1831. Ilis paternal grandfather, Henry Phelon, was among those who early settled at Feeding Hills, Hampden Co., Mass,, and was a very successful farmer. His father, Henry Phelon, Jr., was born at Feeding Hills, in 1799. When but a boy he left the paternal roof and went to Nantucket, and with a seeming natural desire for a seafaring life, and an ambition to know something of the world, he engaged in the whale- fishery. For twenty-one years he was in the employ of Star- buck Brothers, working his way up from the humble position of sailor to be commander of some of the finest ships that ever left that port. In 1841 he retired from the sea, and bought a small farm in West Springfield, Mass., where he lived for seven years, and became one of the prominent men of the town, taking an active interest in all that pertained to the welfare of his fellow-men, and being elected to represent them in the State Legislature. In 1848 he was prevailed upon by Swifts & Nve, of New Bedford, to become part owner and take command of the ship " Plough boy" for a whaling voyage, and with his son (the subject of this narrative), then seventeen years of age, sailed for the Pacific Ocean on a four years' voyage; but in the fall of 1849 the vessel was wrecked off the coast of Peru, South America, and the crew picked up by a Spanish catamaran and taken to Guayaquil. This ended the father's seagoing life. He returned to West Springfield, and died in the year 1851. The mother, Mary Ann ( Folger ) Phe- lon, was a lineal descendant on her mother's side of Thomas Macy, who was the first white settler on Nantucket Island, in 1659. He was dwelling in Salisbury, Mass., when a fine of five dollars an hour was imposed on him for entertaining two Quakers a day and a night. He preferred the society of the Indians (some three thousand of whom dwelt then upon Nan- tucket ) to such foolish laws. He died in 1682. His wife, Sarah Hopeott, of Chelmarth, England, died in 1706, aged ninety- four. On her father's side the Folgers were a numerous race.

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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. II, Part 118

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896