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 128
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The thoroughfares called upon to suffer most were Ellis, Franklin, Shepard, Charles, Jefferson, Madison, Hampden, Elm, Lincoln, Orange, Maple, Meadow, and Mechanic Streets. Elm Street was a roaring river from School Street to the bridge, through which latter Great River rolled its resistless tide to the depth of three feet over the bridge floor, but despite the onslaught upon it the ancient structure stood its ground. Elm Street was badly washed out, and in repair- ing the highway damages there and in other streets the town was subsequently engaged for a week or more. At Little River settlement, on the east, Morley's bridge and the county bridge, as well as a saw- and grist-mill, were swept away, while at various points in the town bridges were destroyed and roads rendered impassable by wash-outs. The first estimate of the actual loss caused by the flood placed the figures at $200,000, but subsequent careful computation fixed it at about $100,000. The effects of the overflow were largely felt in the neighboring river-country as well, but Westfield was conspicuously stricken with a calamity which, as " the great flood of 1878," will be keenly remembered for many years to come.
INCORPORATION.
Until the 28th of May, 1669, Woronoco was a part of Spring- field, and the history of the latter town necessarily embodies reference to the settlement of Wl'oronoco previous to that year. Upon the date in question, in response to a petition of the inhabitants of D'oronoco in 1668, and further in response to the action of the inhabitants of Springfield in the premises, the General Court passed the aet incorporating the town of Westfield.
From the Records of Massachusetts, vol. iv. page 405, it is learned that a petition was made to the General Court in 1668 by Aaron Cooke "in the name of the inhabitants of Wl'oro- noake," and " they judged it meet to make such an addition of land to the petitioners as may be to the contents of six miles square, so as they intrudeth not upon any former grants to towns or persons." The town of Springfield was authorized " to take the furtherance of the work for a township." Pur- suant to this the inhabitants of Springfield, at town-meeting held Feb. 2, 1668, passed the following :
" SPRINGFIELD,-Att a Towne Meeting ffeb, 2d, 1668. Uppon ye Motion of ye luhabitants at Worronoco This Town being willing to promote & further their desire of being a Township of Themselves (amongst other grants to them did, &c.), Dos leave the Inhabitants there to themselves to manage their own matters, or as the lonnord Genle Corte shall further Order : And we hope the Corte will see canse to Order them to he a Township, & that they through the favor of God
may grow up into a comfortable society & hee a happy Neighbourhood to Us, & Our freinds & Theires.
This is a true Coppy of the Town Ordr, vizt., soe much of it as is concerning the releasing of Woronoco from Springfield.
" Taken out of ye Town Records " By mee, " ELIZUR HOLYOKE, " Recorder." The following is a copy of the act of incorporation :
" There being a motion made to this Court in ye behalfe of ye Inhabitants at Woronoake belonging to Springfield, That they may be a Towneship of yourselves ; Springfield being willing theretoe, as appeares hy Coppy of an order of that. Towne, under their Recorders hand heretoe annexed. Leaving Woronoak to . ymselves, & referring ymn to this Court. This Court (therefore) Doth hereby Grant them to be a Towneship, & allows them all Priveledges according as other Townes have in this Collony, And that ye Sil Towne be called Westfield.
" The magists have past this, their bretheren, the Deputys, hereto consenting 28 May, 1669.
"Consented to by the Deputyes, " EOWARD RAWSON, Secty. "WILLIAM TOaREY, Cleric."
The committee appointed by the town of Springfield for laying out the six miles square granted by the General Court to the domain of Westfield consisted of Elizur Holyoke, Sanı- uel Marshfield, George Colton, and Rowland Thomas. In their report to the General Court they said :
" The said quantity of land is laid out to them five mile broad at ye Northerly end thereof extending from a pine tree marked at ye East Mountayne to a white oake marked at ye West Mountayne, & it running in length Southerly Ning mile, and at the Southierly end of their Nine Mile their limits are ffour miles broad Westward."
January 12, 1736, Thomas Ingersoll, representative at the General Court from Westfield, presented a petition from the inhabitants of Westfield, praying for the addition to the town tract of a mountainous section on the western frontier, em- bracing about 6000 acres. The people of Westfield desired the possession of this tract because it contained excellent building-stone.
The petition was granted, and the tract so added was there- after known as "The New Addition." From this "New Addition" the town of Russell and a portion of the town of Montgomery were taken. In the sale of "New Addition" lands, Westfield reserved the right of quarrying stone forever from certain parts of the territory so sold. Previous to the acquisition of this new traet, the original domain was lessened by the creation, in 1770, of the town of Southwick.
SELECTMEN.
The early town records, dating from the incorporation of the town-1669 to 1696-have disappeared, and the copies thereof which were made early in 1700, and which are still extant, present them in a very incomplete form. These copies contain no record of a town-meeting earlier than 1672. In that year Capt. Cook, Deaeon Hanchett, Sergt. Dewey, John Sacket, and Joseph Whiting were chosen selectmen.
1676,-Isaac Phelps, Thos. Gunn, John Porter, John Ingersoll, David Ashley. 1677 .- Ens. Loomis, George Phelps, Josiah Dewey, Isaac Phelps, Thomas Dewey,
David Ashley.
1678 .- Lient. Moseley, Thomas Bancroft, Jedediah Dewey.
1679 .- David Ashley, Josinh Dewey, Isaac Phelps. 1680 .- Sergt. Dewey, Isaac Phelps, David Ashley.
1685 .- Eus. Loomis, Sergt. Phelps, David Ashley. 1686 .- Cornet Dewey, Ens. Dewey, John Root. 1687-88 .- Isaac Phelps, Lieut. Loomis, Nathaniel Weller.
1691-92 .- Lieut. Phelps, John Sacket, Nathaniel Weller. 1693 .- Isaac Phelps, Samuel Root, John Sacket. 1694 .- Deacon Dewey, Deacon Weller, David Ashley. 1695 .- Isaac Phelps, Samuel Root, Eus. Dewey. 1696 .- Isaac Phelps, Nathaniel Phelps, John Noble.
1689 .- Josiah Dewey, Samuel Root, Isaac Phelps.
1690 .- Isaac l'helps, Nathaniel Weller, Samuel Root.
1697 .- Isaac Phelps, Nathaniel Weller, Jedediah Dewey. 1698 .- Lient. Root, Ensign Dewey, Deacon Weller. 1699,-Jedediah Dewey, Isaac Phelps, David Ashley. 1701 .- Joseph Mundsley, Nathaniel Phelps, Thomas Noble.
1702 .- Nathaniel Phelps, Nathaniel Weller, Samuel Root.
1703 .- Isaac Phelps, Deacon Weller, Samuel Ashley.
1704 .- Isaac Phelps, Samuel Ashley, Nathaniel Phelps. 1705 .- Capt. Phelps, Nathaniel Phelps, Samuel Taylor.
945
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
170G .- Samuel Taylor, David Dewey, Isaac Phelps. 1707 .- Nathaniel Weller, Isaac Phelps, Samuel Taylor.
1708-9 .- David Dewey, Isaac Phelps, Nathaniel Weller.
1710 .- Nathaniel Weller, Nathaniel Phelps, Stephen Kellogg.
1711 .- Nathaniel Phelps, John Root, Stephen Kellogg. 1712 .- David Ashley, Nathaniel Phelps, John Root. 1713 .- Isaac Phelps, John Root, David Ashley.
1715 .- Nathaniel Phelps, Thomas Noble, Joho Root.
1717 .- John Root, Capt. Moseley, Thomas Dewey.
1718,-John Root, Daniel Bagg, Ens. Guun. 1719 .- John Root, John Gnnn, Mark Noble.
1720 .- Samuel Ashley, Thomas Nohle, Israel Dewey.
1721 .- John Guun, Thomas Ingersoll, Samnel Ashley.
1722 .- Thomas Noble, James Dewey, Joha Root.
1723 .- Jolin Shepard, Joho Gnon, Daniel Bagg.
1724 .- Thomas Ingersoll, John Ashley, Samnel Bush (2d).
1725 .- Thomas Ingersoll, John Root, Jonathan Ashley.
1726 .- John Guon, Lieut. Root, Joseph Dewey.
1727 .- Thomas Ingersoll, Samuel Bush (2d), Jonathan Phelps.
1728 .- John Gunn, John Shepard, Thomas Ingersoll.
1799 .- John Guun, Consider Mandsley, Thomas Dewey.
1730 .- John Gunn, Samuel Fowler, Adijah Dewey, John Shepard, Consider Mandsley.
1731 .- John Root, John Guan, Thomas Iogersoll, Nathaniel Bancroft, Elizur Weller.
1732 .- Deacon Shepard, James Dewey, Nehemiah Loomis.
1733 .- Thomas Ingersoll, Eldad Taylor, James Dewey.
1734 .- Lient. Ingersoll, Deacon Shepard, Ensign Taylor, Lieut. Ashley, James Dewey.
1735 .- Deacon Shepard, Lient. Jogersoll, Easign Mandsley, Samuel Fowler (2d), Ensign Taylor.
1736 .- Samnel Fowler (2d), Joho Lee, Elizur Weller, Ensign Mandsley, Lieut. Ingersoll.
1737 .- Deacon Shepard, Ensign Mandsley, Lient. Ingersoll, Joseph Root, David Dewey.
1738 .- Thomas Ingersoll, Joseph Root, Ensign Mandsley, Matthew Noble, John Gunn.
1739 .- Joseph Root, Ensigo Taylor, Deacon Shepard, Thomas Ingersoll, John Gunn.
1740 .- Abijah Dewey, James Dewey, David Dewey, Matthew Noble, Samuel Fowler.
1741 .- James Dewey, Ensign Mandsley, Joseph Root, David Dewey, Matthew Noble.
1742 .- Thomas Ingersoll, Ensign Mandsley, Joseph Root, Deacon Dewey, Israel Mandsley.
1743 .- Eosigo Mandsley, Deacoo Dewey, Israel Mandsley, Ensign Taylor, Thomas Ingersoll.
1744 .- David Moseley, John Shepard, Deacon Taylor, David Bagg, Ensign Noble. I745 .- James Dewey, David Moseley, Eldad Taylor, Thomas Ingersoll, Joha Shepard.
1746 .- Abel Cadwell, John Shepard, Capt. Ingersoll, David Moseley, Eldad Taylor.
1747 .- Israel Ashley, Ahel Cadwell, David Moseley, Joho Shepard, David Weller.
1748 .- David Moseley, John Shepard, Ahel Cadwell, Asa Noble, Stephen Naslı. 1749-50 .- David Moseley, Aaron Phelps, Moses Dewey, Dr. Ashley, John Shepard.
1751 .- Jonathan logersoll, Israel Moseley, Israel Dewey, Ens. Noble, Stephen Nash.
1752 .- David Moseley, Noah Ashley, Dr. Ashley, Abel Cadwell, Jonathan Io- gersoll.
1753 .- Noah Ashley, David Moseley, Dr. Ashley, Wm. Sacket, Ahel Cadwell. 1754 .- David Moseley, Israel Ashley, William Sacket, David Weller, Jonathan Ingersoll.
1755 .- David Moseley. Israel Ashley, David Weller, Jonathan Ingersoll, Samuel Fowler.
1756 .- David Moseley, Israel Ashley, Moses Dewey, David Weller, Saomel Fowler.
1757 .- Israel Ashley, Eldad Taylor, David Moseley, John Shepard, Martin Dewey.
1758 .- David Moseley, Israel Ashley, Martio Dewey, John Shepard, John In- gersoll.
1759 .- David Moseley, John Jogersoll, Ezra Clapp, Moses Dewey, Aaron King. 1760-61 .- Matthew Noble, Samnel Noble, Samuel Fowler, Joseph Root, Aaroo King.
1762 .- David Moseley, John Ingersoll, John Moseley, Eldad Taylor, Samnel Fowler.
(The records covering the period between 1762 and 1774 have been lost.)
1774 .- John Ingersoll, Joho Bancroft, William Shepard, David Fowler, Elisha Parks.
1775 .- Elisha Parks, Joha Moseley, William Shepard, Eldad Taylor, Daniel Fowler.
1776 .- John Moseley, Daniel Fowler, Daniel Bagg, Dr. Mather, Daniel Sacket.
1777 .- David Moseley, Daniel Sacket, Benjamin Saxton, Martin Root, Samuel Mather.
1778 .- John Ingersoll, Bohaa King, David Weller, Jr., Daniel Fowler, John Kellogg.
1779 .- John Kellogg, Israel Ashley, David Moseley, David Weller, Elisha Parks. 119
1780 .- Israel Ashley, Daniel Sacket, Samuel Fowler, Israel Dewey, Esquire Ingersoll.
1781 .- Dr. Ashley, Samnel Fowler, James Taylor, Deacon Dewey, Esquire Ingersoll.
1782 .- Capt. Sacket, Dr. Ashley, Samuel Fowler, Capt. Taylor, Aaron Dewey. 1783 .- John Ingersoll, Samuel Fowler, Jolin Bancroft, Bildad Fowler, Jr., Noah Phelps.
1784 .- John Ingersoll, Capt. Bancroft, Col, Shepard, Israel Ashley, Samuel Fowler.
1785 .- William Shepard, Israel Ashley, David Moseley, Paul Whitney, John Ingersoll.
1786 .- Samuel Fowler, Col. Shepard, Col. Moseley, Dr. Whitney, Jedediah Taylor.
1787 .- David Moseley, Gen. Shepard, Samuel Fowler, Dr. Whitney, Jedediah Taylor.
1788-89 .- Samuel Fowler, John Bancroft, Joho Phelps, Gad Noble, Ezra Clapp. I790-91 .- Samnel Fowler, William Shepard, John Phelps, Warham Parks, Aaron Dewey.
1792 .- Aaroo Dewey, William Shepard, Bohan King, Zachariah Bush, Jr., Paul Whitney.
1793 .- Aaron Dewey, l'aul Whitney, Zach. Bush.
1794 .- Zach. Bush, Aaron Dewey, Paul Whitney, William Shepard, James Taylor.
1795-96 .- William Shepard, James Taylor, Warhanı Parks, Zach. Bush, Jr., Zadock Martindale.
1797-98 .- James Taylor, Warham l'arks, Abel Whitney, Silas Bush, John Dewey.
1799 .- Warham Parks, James Taylor, Silas Bush.
1800 .- James Taylor, John Dewey, Silas Bush, Jedediah Taylor, Gea. Parks.
1801 .- Jedediah Taylor, John Dewey, James Taylor, Silas Bush, William Mose- ley.
1802 .- Jedediah Taylor, Israel Ashley, William Moseley.
1803-4 .- Israel Ashley, Jedediah Taylor, William Moseley, Silas Bush, Solomon Phelps.
1805-7 .- Silas Bush, Jedediah Taylor, Solomon Phelps, Frederick Fowler, Isaac Ensign.
1808 .- Solomon Phelps, Jedediah Taylor, Silas Bush.
1809,-Silas Bush, Jedediah Taylor, Frederick Fowler, Benjamin Hastings, Enoch Holcomb.
1810 .- Silas Bush, Benjamin Hastings, Enoch Holcomb, Azariah Moseley, Fred- erick Fowler.
181I .- Frederick Fowler, Jededialı Taylor, Enoch Holcomb, Benjamin Hastings, Azariah Moseley.
1812,-Jedediah Taylor, Frederick Fowler, Azariah Moseley.
1813-14 .- Jedediah Taylor, Frederick Fowler, Azariah Moseley, Ambrose Day, Isaac Allen.
1815 .- Azariah Moseley, Frederick Fowler, David King, Jacob Cooper, Roswell Dewey.
1816 .- Frederick Fowler, Azariah Moseley, David Kiog, Roswell Dewey, Isaac Alleo.
1817 .- Roswell Dewey, Azariah Moseley, Eager Noble, William Atwater, Isaac Alleo.
1818 .- William Atwater, Eager Noble, Ambrose Day, Isaac Allen, Jared Noble. 1819 .- William Atwater, Ambrose Day, Eager Noble, Jared Noble, Elisha G. Cook.
1820 .- Azariah Moseley, Ambrose Day, James Fowler, Eager Noble, Elisha G. Cook.
1821-22 .- James Fowler, Elisha G. Cook, Azariah Moseley.
1823 .- Ambrose Day, Warham Shepard, Elisha G. Cook, Heory Fowler, William Hooker.
1824 .- Ambrose Day, Warham Shepard, Elisha G. Cook, James Fowler, Roland Taylor.
1825 .- James Fowler, Ambrose Day, Elisha G. Cook, Elijah Arnold, Eager Noble. 1826 .- Elisha G. Cook, Charles Donglas, Harvey Champion, Warbam Shepard, John Shepard.
1827 .- Charles Douglas, Harvey Champion, John Shepard, Ransford Allen, Wil- liam Atwater.
1828 .- Charles Douglas, William Atwater, John Shepard, Sylvaons G. Morly, Sturges Upsoo.
1829 .- Sylvaons G. Morly, Asahel Bush, John Shepard, Sturges Upson, Lewis Fowler.
1830 .- Asahel Bush, Sturges Upson, Lewis Fowler, Chauncey Pease, Joshna Loomis.
1831 .- Asahel Bush, Sturges Upson, John Shepard, Thomas Ashley, William Sibley.
1832 .- Asahel Bush, Chauncey Pease, Thomas Loomis, Ezra Allen, George Taylor.
1833 .- Chauncey Pease, Henry Douglas, S. G. Morly, Lucas Cowles, Adoa Avery. 1834 .- Asahel Bush, Chauncey Pease, Thomas Loomis, Charles Noble, Adna Avery.
1835 .- Asahel Bush, Chauncey Pease, Thomas Loomis, George Taylor, Adna Avery.
1836 .- Lucius Wright, Asa B. Whitman, George W. Noble, Israel Sack ett, Thomas Loomis.
1837 .- Lucius Wright, Asa B. Whitman, Israel Sacket.
1838 .- Lncins Wright, Israel Sackett, Ashbel Dewey, Charles Dewey, Orin Cowles. 1839 .- Asa B. Whitman, David Moseley, Lucins Wright, Orin Cowles, Ashbel Dewey.
946
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
1840 .- David Moseley, Hiram Harrison, Roswell Sherman, David Drake, Salmon Ensign.
1811 .- David Moseley, Roswell Sherman, Salmon Ensign, David Drake, William Noble, Jr.
1842-43 .- David Moseley, Lewis Fowler, Martin Sackett, Chauncey Pease, Alonzo Allen.
1844 .- David Moseley, Joseph M. Ely, Stephen Harrison, Micajah Taylor, Alonzo Allen.
1845 .- Dennis Hedges, Joseph Arnold, George HI. Moseley.
1×16 .- Dennis Hedges, George Il. Moseley, Horace Root, Edwin Brewer, Jason Fox. 1847 .- Dennis Hedges, Gen. H. Moseley, Jason Fox, Edwin Brewer, Horace Root. 1×48-49 .- Joseph M. Ely, Stephen Harrison, George Sackett, James Noble, Fred- wick Morgan.
1850 .- Joseph M. Ely, Geo. Noble, Ebenezer W. Couk, Stephen Harrison, William Moseley.
1851 .- George Noble, Ebenezer W. Cook, William Moseley, Dennis Hedges, Silas Root.
1852 .- Dennis Hedges, Frederick Fowler, Jehial Shepard, Geo. W. Noble, Francis S. Eggleston.
1853 .- Francis S. Eggleston, Jehial Shepard, G. W. Noble, Frederick Fowler, Henry Fuller.
1854 .- Henry Fuller, David Moseley, M. L. Robinson, Daniel Bush, Noah Sackett. 1855 .- Silas Root, J. S. Knowles, Thomas Cowles, Barnum Perry, E. W. Cook. 1856 .- Samnel Morton, Thomas Kuvil, Thomas Cow les, L. B. Blood, Chas. Fowler. 1857 .- Caleb Alden, Dennis Hedges, Joseph Arnold, Franklin Arthur, Merwin Loomis.
1858 .- Hiram Hull, Geo. H. Moseley, Joseph Arnold.
1859-60 .- Ilham IInll, Geo. II. Moseley, Seth Bush.
1861 .- L. C. Gillett, Hiram Hull, Seth Bush.
1862 .- I. C. Gillett, Renben Loomis, William Provin.
1863 .- William Provin, L. C. Gillett, L. F. Thayer.
1864 .- L. F. Thayer, L. F. Root, William Provin.
1865 .- II. B. Lewis, Elihn Gaylord, William Provin.
18GG-67 .- H. B. Lewis, Elihn Gaylord, Geo. E. Knapp .. 1868 .- Win. Provin, Elibu Gaylord, John Fowler.
1869 .- 11. B. Lewis, John Fowler, Chas. II. Bush. 1870 .- F. S. Egleston, J. M. Ely, Daniel Fowler. 1871 .- Alexander McKenzie, F. S. Egleston, Elilin Gaylord.
1872 .- F. S. Egleston, Jos. S. Clark, E. P. Parks.
1873-74 .- F. S. Egleston, Jos. S. Clark, M. R. Van Densen. 1875 .- F. S. Egleston, J. S. Clark, W. S. Bush. 1876 .- L. F. Thayer, Wm. S. Bush, Alexander Mckenzie.
1877 .- L. F. Thayer, L. F. Root, Wm. S. Bush.
1878 .- L. F. Thayer, L. F. Root, Jos. S. Clark.
TOWN CLERKS.
The first reference, in a copy of the early records, made to the election of a town clerk was under date of 1693, when John Ashley was chosen. In 1694, Joseph Sexton was elected. In 1695, Isaac Phelps was chosen, and served until 1702. The following is a list of the town clerks who served from that date to the present :
Joseph Sexton, 1702-5; Isaac Phelps, 1705-15; John Root, 1715-31 ; John Gunn, 1731-47; Eldad Taylor, 1747-63 (the records between this date and 1774 are lost); Eldad Taylor, 1774-77; Samuel Mather, 1777-81; Samnel Fowler, 1781; Israel Ashley, 1782-88; Samuel Fowler, 1788; Israel Ashley, 1789; Paul Whitney, 1790-95; Abel Whitney, 1795; John Atwater, 1796; Abel Whitney, 1797-99; John Ingersoll, 1799-1813; Charles Douglas, 1813-15; William Blair, 1815-17; David King, 1817-23; Alfred Stearn, 1823-26; Eli B. Hamilton, 1826; Matthew Ives, Jr., 1827; Charles Douglas, 1828; Matthew Ives, Jr., 1829-32; Homer Hol- land, 1832-34 ; Joseph S. Stebbins, 1834-36; Norman T. Leonard, 1836-42 ; William 0. Fletcher, 1842-45; Renben Noble, 1845-47; Hiram A. Beebe. 1:48; Asahel Bush, 1848-50; Henry C. Moseley, 1850-52; Gilbert W. Cobb, 1852-54; George R. Whitman, 1854; P. HI. Buise, 1855-65; Dwight W. Stowell, 1865-68; George Il. Douglas, 1868; William Il. Foote, 1869; R. B. Robinson, 1870-74; E. W. Dicker- man, 1874-79.
REPRESENTATIVES AT TITE GENERAL COURT.
The earliest records of the town do not indicate, except at long intervals and in a vague way, who represented the town at the General Court previous to 1700. The earliest observa- tion in the records touching this matter was made May 14, 1677, when Thomas Dewey was chosen " to plead the town's best interests at Court, if need require." The colonial records state, however, that J. F. Hull represented Westfield at the Court in 1671, '72, and '73. As can best be ascertained, the following were the Westfield representatives from 1671 to 1876, when Westfield became a part of the Tenth Representa- tive District :
J. F. Hull, Thomas Dewey, John Ashley, Daniel Bagg, John Moseley, Elisha Parks, Joseph Lyman, Isaac Phelps, James Taylor, John Ingersoll, Asbbel Eager, Jedediah Taylor, Benjamin Hastings, Frederick Fowler, Azariah Moseley, Wil-
liam Blair, James Fowler, David King, William Atwater, Alfred Stearns, Elijah Arnold, Charles Donglas, David Wright, Aaron Sibley, Matthew Ives, Jesse Farnam, Henry Douglas, Eli B. Hamilton, Henry Fowler, Joseph S. Avery, Elias Cadwell, Lewis Fowler, Asahel Bush, Henry Champion, Chauncey Pease, Thomas Loomis, Joseph Hedges, Asa B. Whitman, Lucins Wright, Joseph Arnold, David Moseley, Jonah L. Gross, Norman T. Leonard, Dennis Hedges, Samuel R. B. Lewis, George Sackett, Hiram Harrison, Oliver Moseley, Chauncey Colton, Iliram Fox, Royal Fowler, Hiram A. Beebe, Israel Sackett, Josiab S. Knowles, Daniel D. Erving, Iliram llull, George II. Moseley, James Noble (2d), James Holland, Luke Bush, Henry Fuller, D. N. Goff, George Green, Addison Gage, Jasper R. Rand, David M. Chase, Lewis R. Norton, Henry J. Bush, Thomas Kneil, James R. Glu]win, Charles Dickerman, William G. Bates, Samuel Horton, Alexander Mckenzie, Reuben Noble, L. B. Walkley.
VILLAGES.
The most important place in the town is the village of Westfield, a station on the Boston and Alhany and the New Haven and Northampton Railroads. It is washed on one side by the Agawam River, and on the other by Little River, and from both streams draws a water-power that is used to a con- siderable extent in its manufactories. Here is the seat of town government and the centre of the town's manufacturing in- terests. The village has a population of about 7000, and con- tains seven church buildings, the post-office, the town-hall, High School, Masonic Hall, Normal School, School of Obser- vation, Davis School, Music-Hall, Westfield Atheneum, two banks, two railroad depots, numerous manufactories, a num- her of handsome business bloeks, eight hotels, and many stores.
The village is a lively, bustling, and thriving place, and wears an air of solid thrift and substantial comfort, while its broad, handsome, and well-shaded avenues-adorned with hundreds of stately elms-make it, especially in the mild sea- sons of the year, a delightfully inviting retreat. Many ele- gant and showy residences grace the outlying streets, sneh as Court, Broad, Silver, Day, Washington, and others. There is a large mercantile trade at this point, to which the inhab- itants of not only Westfield, but of many surrounding towns, journey for their household and other supplies.
The other settlements in the town-none of which, however, have a post-office-are West Parish (originally called Hoop- Pole), which has a church and a whip-factory, and whose people are chiefly devoted to farming, Middle Farms, Little River, Owens, East Farms, and West Farms. At the latter place are two whip-factories and a Union chapel. The inhab- itants of these minor settlements are nearly all agrieulturists, and they are in the main well-to-do.
CHURCHES.
The first religious meetings in the town of which there is any mention were held in 1667. Mr. John Holyoke, son of Maj. Holyoke, of Springfield, conducted the services. In 1668, Moses Fisk began to preach, and continued until 1671. An old record, dated Aug. 11, 1668, speaks of a meeting held at "Streamfield" on that date, when it was voted " to looke out for a minister." About that time it was voted " to pay the minister, Rev. Mr. Fisk, £40 pounds for the year, and to disburse £40 to build a house for the minister." It was further resolved that " the meeting-house should be set on the Fort side." This, the first house, is supposed to have occupied the site whereon the town pound stood about ten years ago.
In 1678 the Governor of Massachusetts colony granted per- mission for the organization of a church in " Harronnoco Col- ony," and in 1679
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
was organized. Rev. Edward Taylor, who graduated at Har- vard in 1671, received a call from Westfield that year, when he responded, and continued to preach until 1679, when he was installed pastor of the church then organized.
In his journal, now in the possession of one of his descend- ants living in Canandaigua, N. Y., is contained this entry : " November 27th, I set out with Mr. Dewey and arrived at
947
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Westfield December 1st. On Lord's Day I preached to them from Matthew iii. 2, my first sermon, Dec. 3, 1671. My going to Westfield with Mr. Dewey was a great part of the way by mark'd trees. I arrived, and lodged the first night at Capt. Cook's, in the little village."
Jan. 6, 1672, it was resolved to build a meeting-house 36 feet square. There was some delay in deciding upon a location for it, and, lots being eventually drawn to determine the matter, a place was chosen " near Goodman Phelps' house."
In those early days it was not the custom to heat the church, and its atmosphere in the winter season was sometimes bitter cold. Tradition has it that while the pastor frequently wore mittens in the pulpit, the youthful lads of the congregation used to create a good deal of discordant musie by hammering their boots against the benches, in a desperate effort to keep their feet warm,-less fortunate than the female members, who invariably provided themselves with feet-warmers upon setting out for church.
The records say that in 1697 the people grew tired of the custom of ealling the inhabitants to Sabbath worship by the beating of a drum, and concluded to buy a bell for two hundred acres of land. That scheme must have miscarried, for in March, 1698, and thereafter as late as 1702, the select- men agreed with certain persons-notably with the Widow Noble and Edward Noble-" to beate ye Drom and sweepe ye Meetting-house for one year, for which they will recieve two pounds and five shillings."
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