History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 151

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 151

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There were five slaves in the town. Rev. Noah Merriek had three,-Oronoke, Scipio, and Luke; David Merrick had Caesar, and Capt. John Shaw one.

The murder of Marcus Lyon, by Dominick Daly and James Halligan, on Nov. 9, 1805, occurred in Wilbraham, on the Springfield turnpike, near Sikes' Tavern. It is known as one of the earliest committed in the region, and for it Daly and Halligan were subsequently convicted and hung at Northampton.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

For many years after the settlement of the town no saw- inill existed within its limits. The earliest were erected within the present limits of the town of Hampden, where the principal manufacturing has always been carried on. In 1762 the town gave Caleb Stebbins, of Wilbraham, and Joseph Miller, of Ludlow, a decd of four acres of the " ministry lot," on Twelve-Mile Brook, as a site for a grist-mill, which Steb- bins there erected, and which was the first enterprise of its kind established within the present confines of the town. The first carding-machine was brought into town from Mendon, in 1803, by A. Worthen, who placed it in a building erected by Jonathan Kilborn on the site of the present factory on Twelve-Mile Brook, by the side of Stebbins' mill. Fulling- mills and carding-machines were soon erected in other parts of the town. Thomas and Hervey Howard erected a tannery at an early day on the road from the street to Stony Hill, and Abraham Avery had one near his residence.

The principal occupation of the inhabitants of Wilbraham has always been the cultivation of the land, which in many sections of the town proves very productive, and, as a conse- quence, remunerative to the farmers. The leading manufac- turing enterprises of the town at present are the Collins Manufacturing Company, the grain-mills at North Wilbra- hamn, and the mill of Ellis Bros., at the North village, or But- lerville. The latter privilege has been utilized by various enterprises for many years, the factory of Gates & Nelson, near the Ellis mill, formerly turning out many thousand yards of low-grade satinet. Dr. Marcus Shearer had a saw- and grist-mill there about seventy years ago, which was run for him by Benjamin Butler for many years, after whom the place was named.

THE COLLINS MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

having extensive works at North Wilbraham, was organized as a joint-stock company, in February, 1872, with a capital of $200,000, under the name of the Collins Paper Company. It continued to do business under that name until Feb. 29, 1876, when the name was changed to the Collins Manufacturing Company, and the capital was increased to $300,000. The present officers of the company are Chester W. Chapin, Presi- dent ; William K. Baker, Treasurer ; Henry K. Baker, Agent.

The present handsome mill is run by the water-power fur- nished by the Chicopee, and is used in the manufacture of fine writing-paper, of which about four tons a day are produced. The enterprise furnishes employment to about 175 persons, receiving monthly about $5000 in wages.

THE ELLIS MILL

was erected by Dwight W. Ellis (the owner of another ex- tensive mill in Monson), about twelve years ago, as a woolen- mill, and was built upon the site of a smaller one which he had previously run, and which was destroyed by fire. Still- man Ellis, a brother of Dwight W., has since become asso- ciated in the enterprise, and under the name of D. W. Ellis & Bro. the firm are now engaged in the manufacture of faney eassimeres, of which about 500 yards a day are produced. The mill is a two-set mill, contains 16 looms, 2 sets of cards, and furnishes employment to about 38 persons.

THE NORTH WILBRAHAM GRAIN-MILLS.

The erection of these mills was commenced in the fall and winter of 1876, and the mills first started in the spring of 1877. They are run by S. N. Cutler & Co., who first carried on the business in Ashland as early as 1845, but, desiring a hetter site, established themselves in the present location. The mills contain five run of stone and use about 150 horse-power, supplementing the water-power furnished by the Chicopee with steam. The production of meal is 2000 bags, or 4000 bushels a day, the grain being sent in large quantities from different points in the West. A large part of the business also consists in bagging grain and jobbing it, of which about 275 car-loads a month are shipped from the mills. Employ- ment is furnished to about 25 men, who receive in wages about $1500 a month.

MILITARY.

From the earliest date the town of Wilbraham has taken an active part in the military events of the times. Capt. Samuel Day, Lieut. Thomas Merrick, and Ens. Abel Bliss were commissioned as officers before 1754, and for the French war, which raged during this period, 1755-60, the precinct furnished at least 22 men, whose names are enrolled in the archives of the State as among the patriots of that early day. The names of these soldiers are JJohn Langdon, Timothy Wright, Philip Lyon, William King, Jr., Daniel Cadwell, Paul Langdon, Isaae Colton, Aaron Bliss, Aaron Alvord, Benjamin Warriner, Samuel Warner, Benjamin Wright, Aaron Warriner, Stephen Bliss, Jesse Warner, Aaron Par- sons, Benoni Atchinson, Moses Bartlett, Thomas Dunham, Paul Hitchcock, Samuel Warner, Sr., Samuel Warner, Jr., Moses Warriner.

In the stirring times of the Revolution the town proved stauneh and true to the principles of liberty. The records of the town are replete with patriotie resolutions, as well as practical action in the granting of supplies, furnishing of men, and the raising of funds. The following persons were engaged in the war, so far as can now be ascertained :

At the Lexington alarm :

James Warriner, Captain; Wmn. King, Lientenant; John Ilitchcock, Lienten- ant ; Enos Stebbins, Thomas King, Aaron Alvord, Sergeants; Eleazer Smith, Samuel Day, Joshua Chaffee, Samuel Merrick, Asa Chaffee, Isaac Morris, Moses Colton, Chileab Merrick, Jona, Cooley, Isaac Dunham, Ezekiel Rus- sell, Reuben Thayer, Benjamin Farnham, Comfort Chaffee, Jesse Warner, Jesse Carpenter, Joshua Jones, Rowland Crocker, Darius Chaffee, Ebenezer Cadwell, Josh. Eddy, Enos Clark, Ezekiel Wright, Calvin Stebbins, Thos. Coleman, Gideon Burt, Abel King, Charles Brewer, Benjamin Colton, John Stearns.

The eight months' men encamped at Roxbury, and in the army that besieged Boston, after the Lexington alarm, were

Paul Langdon, Captain ; Daniel Cadwell, First Lieutenant; Noah Warriner, John Langdon, Philip Lyon, Sergeants ; Aaron Stebbins, Othniel Hitch- cock, Corporals ; Chas. Ferry, Drummer ; Abner Warriner, F'ifer ; Daniel Carpenter, Aaron Cadwell, Jonathan Sikes, Seth Clark, Abner Chapin, Nathan Sikes, Moses Simons, Phammel Warner, John Langdon (2d). Daniel

1015

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

S. Somers, Daniel Simons, Simon Stacy, John W. Chaffee, Ephinim Wight, Josiah S Somers, John Davis, Reuben Shayler, Nathaniel Mighets, Ephraim Dunham, Joseph Dunham, Ephraim Wight, Jr., Benjamin Chubb, Muses Rood, Eli Beebe, Simeon Bates.

At Ticonderoga,* from Dec. 5, 1776, to April 2, 1777 :

Daniel Cadwell, Captain; Daniel Parsons, First Lieutenant ; Robert Me Master, Second Lieutenant ; John Colton, John McElwean, Stephen Wright, Ser- geants ; Joseph Abbott, Medad Stebbins, Corporals; Abner Warriner, Aaron Colton, Joseph Colton, Corporals; Judah Moore, Drummer; Wm. Colton, Fifer; Luther Bliss, Ebenezer Steward, Zadock Bebee, Jesse Car- Jenter, Asa and Amos Chaffee, John and Jabez Hancock, Isaac Morris, Moses Stebbins, James Shaw, Samuel Warner, Daniel and Judah Chapin, Jesse Lamphere, John Stebbins, Perez Hancock.

At the Bennington alarm :

James Shaw, Captain ; Joseph Sexton, Charles Ferry, Gad Lamb, and Gains Brewer, Sergeants; Josiah Cooley, Aaron Chanwell, Aber Chapin, Me- dad Stebbins, Corporals ; Calvin Stebbins, Fifer : Gordon Percival, Samuel F. Merrick, Edward Colton, Jona. Leech, Jona. Merrick, Luther Hitchcock, Benjamin Howard, Solomon Loomis, George Cooley, Nathaniel Warner, David Bliss, Asa Jones, Solomou Warriner, Phinehas Hitchcock, Comfort Chaffee, Timothy Worthington, Daniel Swetland, Solumon Lothrop, Oliver King, Lieutenant ; Jabin Cooley, David Wood, John Chatter ton, Luther Cooley, Reuben Warriner, Israel Chapin, Lieutenant ; John Colton, Lemmel Whitney, Elijah Parsons, Judalı Ely, John Langdon, Edward Morris, Jesse Lamphere, Aaron Stebbins, Judah Willey, Isaac Morris, David White, Matthew Keep, Asa Simonds, Aaron Howard, Zudock Steb- bins, Noah Stebbins, Lieutenant ; Ebenezer Colton, Lientenant.

Various service :

Levi Bannister, Daniel Colton, Luther King, Panl Newton, Solomon King, Lewis Langdon, John Calkins, Moses Albert, John Russell, John Huntley, Jo- seph Cutt (colored), Zadoc Benton, David Allin, Daniel Mason, John J. Sikes, Reuben Abbott, Ethan Smith, Seth Warner, Ebenezer Thomas, Gad Warriner, John White, Isaiah Chaffee, Titus Amidon, Henry Wright, Jobn Oreutt, Juseph Bumpsted, Zenas Cone, Gaius Stebbins, Stephen Si- mons, Kittridge Davis, Emmons Lillie, Jonas Banton, Nathaniel Ilitch- cock, Samuel Lyon, John Raymont, Asa Woodworth, Peleg Burdick, Phineas Mason, Nathan Aiosworth, Jotham Carpenter, Chester Morris, John Aquidon, Isaiah Chaffee, Philip Lycn, Josiah Langdon, Renben Carpenter, Johnson Richardson, James Richardson, Jesse Elwell, Elipha- let Hodges, Jabez Percival, Francis West, Casar Merrick (colored), Oliver Sexton, Asa Hill, John Twing, Israel Conant.

But few of the citizens of Wilbraham were engaged in the rebellion of Shays ; many were arrayed against it. Shays and his men passed the night preceding the demonstration upon the Springfield Arsenal at Wilbraham.

To the war of 1812 the following men went from this town : Ralph Bennett, Stephen Caldwell, Joel MI. Lyman, Eleazar Hitchcock, Robert Sessions, Phineas Burr, Solomon Jones.

To the war of the Rebellion, Wilbraham contributed lib- erally of men, supplies, and money. The following is the list of soldiers who served in the late war from the towns of Wilbraham and Hampden, both in the army and navy :+

Charles E. Buell, John Fowle, Oscar J. Gilligan, Henry Gray, Lyman E. Gray, Seneca I. Harris, George F. Holdridge, Horace L. Jones, Stephen Miliard, John Neff, Jesse Prickett, George Robinson, William smith, J. M. Tem- pleman, William F. Darrow, Seth Allen, George Leonard, Henry D. Glea-

son, Gilbert Rockwood, Charles Saunders, William HI. Brackett, Ransom S. Burr, Charles S. Bates, Robert B. W. Bliss, Seth W. Buxton, Charles HI. Burr, Henry Bushey, William H. Chapin, Charles S. Clark, Albert J. Collins, James N. Darrow, Benjamin C. Davis, John K. Fuller, George E. Fuller, Charles R. Fry, Cyrus W. Goodale, Lucius W. Girason, Charles J. Glover, George Hobart, Haskell Demmon, Newton E. Kellogg, James M. King, Almond Lard, Albert C. Lucas, Dennis McGowan, James S. Morgan, James E. Perry, James Rice, Harrison Rowe, Joseph Twinkler, William P. Truden, Albert S. Vaughn, Joseph W. Holmes, Charles Hi. Arnold, Elmer Jewett, Nelson Sheldon, Frias S. Keyes, Henry Gorman, Lysander Howard, Samuel S. Alden, George W. Bennet, Russell D. Crocker, Pelatiah Glover, George Munsell, John S. O'Reiley, John A. Pease, Charles Ring, Iloward Staunton, Sextus Shields, Emerson G. Brewer, Walter G. Brewer, Francis Brooks, John H. Brines, Watson W. Bridge, Horatio R. Calkins, Cyrus W. Cross, Algernon S. Flagg, Sumner P. Fuller, George Gray, John F. Keyes, Daniel Knowlton, Francis P. Lemon, Benjamin F. McCray, Enos W. Munsell, Addison 11. Mosley, Thomas J, Mills, Jacob Neff, Dwight II. Parsons, Erasmus P. Pease, George Pease, John C. Rockwood, Timothy D. Smith, William Shaw, John Speight, James II Stacy, Albert O. Stratton, Edward Ufford, Albert Vaughn, Elbridge G. Vinaca, Spencer H. Wood, Adin Alden, Charles II. Arnold, Oscar F. Benedict, Lorenzo Bliss, Irving W. Burr, John D. Burr, Marcins H. Chaffee, Nelson D. Crocker, Samuel Chapi , Edward W. Hitch- cock, Charles E. Knight, Albertus Langdon, Oliver H. Langdon, William G. Leonard, Sammel F. Merrick, Lorenzo E. Munsell, Walter S. Prase, Andrew S. Pember, Eugene E, l'orter, Mortimer P'ease, Calvin G. Robbins, Jefferson Rowe, Alonzo L. Scripter, William R. Sessions, David S. Roberts, George W. Tupper, Howard C. West, Richard Armstrong, Charles F. Til- den, Chester Loomis, Orange S. Firman, Peter Higgins, Ilurace L. Mix- ter, Chauncey E. Peck, Stephen Lucas, Jr., Ilenry Rood, William R. Eg- gleston, Junius Beebe, Cyrus N. Hudson, William C. Williams, Eugene Cady, Willis F. Chaffee, Charles A. Taintor, John Truden, Cyrel E. Scrip- ter, Robert Darrow, Edgar A. Stebbins, Albeit Converse, William P. Cal- kins, Dennis Duffee, Charles D. Jones, Merrick Lamphere, John Patten, Solomon Walker, George M. Alden, Cyrus Ramsdell, Daniel J. Simonds, Franklin G. Patten, Joseph A. Parker, Luther Wing, John F. Williams, William McComb, Sylvanus Wilson, Will.am Lawes, Joseph Penor, Mat- thew Davis, John Birney, James Bessater, Peter Butler, Ignat us Ford, Frederick Myers, John O'Connor, Edward Stephens, John Sullivan, Ar- thur Wall, Henry Wilson, George E. Fuller, Eugene S. Allen, Ilarlan P. Rockwood, Eugene Pease, Francis Pease, Heury Wetherbee, Robert R. Wright, Jr., Charles D. Jones, George J. Jones.

NAVAL SERVICE.

Franklin Cobb, John Gibbons, Harlan 1. Rockwood, Daniel Knowlton, James K. Stacy, William leford, Frank Mahoney, Frank Macklin, Paul E. Masters, David McClasky, Charles McGinDis, William Myers, William E. Scott, Albert Simons, Michael Slane, Ilenry J. White, Henry Wbecler, Juseph S. Young, Jolin Young, John Barnes, Henry Rayner, William C. Rogers, William P. Randall, Charles H. Rockwell, Stephen W. Rhodes, Charles F. Russell, Edward N. Ryder, Frederick Read, John A. Rice, Charles E. Rich, William II. Roberts.

In compiling this sketch, the writer is chiefly indebted to the excellent history of the town prepared by the Rev. Dr. Rufus P. Stebbins, and delivered in the form of an address on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the town, in 1863. Valuable assistance has also been afforded by John M. Mer- rick, Esq., E. B. Gates, and other citizens of the town, inclu- ding the several pastors of the churches.

MONSON.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

THE town of Monson is situated in the southeastern part of the county of Hampden, and is the western and most im- portant section of the original town of Brimfield. It is bounded north by Palmer, east by Brimfield and Wales, west by Wilbraham, all in Hampden County, and south by Staf- ford, Conn. It is about eight miles in length, from north to south, and five and a half miles in width, from east to west. Its area is about 44 square miles, or 28,160 acres.

* Of these McElwean and McMaster were from l'almer.

+ Some few were credited to the city of Springfield.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The general character of the soil is good. A narrow valley extends the entire length of the town, from north to south, di- versitied by rich meadow-land, ridges of sand, and rocky out- croppings. East and west of this valley are ranges of hills, running north and south, possessing a productive soil, suit- able for grazing and tillage. East or Grout's Hill, formerly called King's Ilill, lies in the northeastern section of the town, and is a landmark of great interest .; South of it is Moulton Hill. West of Moulton flill lies Cedar Swamp Mountain.

# The first town-plat of Brimfield was lail out on this hill.

1016

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Chicopee, or West Hill, is the principal elevation in the west part of the town, while Bald Peak, its northern extremity, Packard Mountain on the south, and Black Rock and Moose Mountain on the western border, stand as sentinels guarding the approaches to the town.

Chicopee Brook flows through the centre of the valley, having its rise near the Stafford line, and flowing north ward to the Chicopee River. Its water-power is extensively used for manufacturing purposes. Other streams traverse the eastern and western sections of the town. Twelve-Mile Brook is a stream of some importance in the northwestern part, while minor streams are found in various localities.

RAILROADS.

The town has been greatly benefited by the railroads. The Boston and Albany road passes through its northern section. In 1850 the New London and Northern Railroad was built through the centre of the town, north and south, atfording excellent shipping facilities to the already important manu- facturing enterprises of the place, and opening to some of them markets before out of reach.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Monson was originally included within the limits of the town of Brimfield; and in the history of that town will be found many facts relating to the carly settlement of what is now the town of Monson.

The settlement, in 1657,* of Richard Fellows, in the north part of the town, near the junction of Chicopee Brook with Chicopee River, and the establishment by him of a tavern at that place for a short time, is often stated as the first settle- ment of Monson. This was, however, nearly fifty years prior to the permanent settlement, as his stay was but temporary. The petition of Fellows was as follows :

"That the General Court at Boston grant him Two Hundred Acres of upland & Meadow to be laid to George Colton & Benj. Covley, on Chicopee River, to be Rate free under the following condition: Build a House suitable to entertain travellers, mun & Beast, with lodging and food, with Beer, Wine, & strong liquors, provided they Build within one Year & Maintain & Entertain travellers for Seven Years."

It was granted Oct. 23, 1657. Fellows established his tav- ern, but finally abandoned it from fear of the Indians, whose depredations caused him much uneasiness and alarm. He buried some of his farming-tools, which were found many years after in plowing a field by Capt. James Merrick, much injured by rust.

Although the conditions of the grant, in point of continu- ance, were not complied with, yet Fellowst held and sold the land. It afterward passed into the possession of Gov. Hutch- inson's family, from whom the Woods family, of Monson, obtained it, and occupied it for many years.

Between sixty and seventy years ago the remains of an In- dian were found upon the land. He was apparently buried in a sitting position, accompanied by his gun and a bottle of rum, in true aboriginal style. The rum had lost its flavor, and the gun was much injured by rust. He appeared to have been a man of extraordinary stature, and from the manner of his burial is supposed to have been a chief.

The first permanent settler to locate in Monson was Robert Olds, ¿ one of the original Brimfield proprietors. He was born at Windsor, Conn., Oct. 9, 1670, and was the son of Robert and Susannah llanford Olds. He went to Monson from Springfieldl about the year 1715, and occupied the land after- ward owned by Royal Merrick.

About one-ninth of the proprietors of Brimfield settled in the west part of the township. Soon after Robert Olds, came Ezra and Samuel King, Benjamin Munn, John Keep, John

Atchinson, Mark Ferry, Daniel Killam, Obadiah Cooley, and Samuel Kilborn.

Ezra King had a house and grist-mill on Elbow Brook, and a house on King's Ilill, south of the Grout school-house. Samuel King lived near Ezra, on the Sylvanus King place. Ilis son Samuel was the first clerk of the district of Monson. Sylvanus King is a grandson of the original Samuel.

Benjamin Munn lived at the northern extremity of King's llill, on the premises now occupied by Edson Walker. His sons, Reuben and Jeremy Mann, lived near each other in the same neighborhood, and were farmers. Reuben was an early clerk of the district, and was also a colonel in the militia. IIe engaged in the suppression of Shays' rebellion. Ile was grand- father to the wife of Joseph L. Reynolds.

John Keep located on the westerly side of King's Ilill, on the Daniel Carpenter place, about a mile cast of the village. John Atchenson located on King's Hill, south of Ezra King's house-lot. Daniel Killam located on Chicopee Brook, but the exact location remains in doubt.

The rights of other proprietors were taken up by their chil- dren, and sold to different persons. Some whose rights laid in the east part of Brimfield sold or exchanged them, and re- moved to the west part of the town. Among these were Capt. David Hitchcock and Thomas Stebbins, the latter of whom settled in Monson about 1734. Capt. James Merrick purchased land in Monson about the same time, and made an actual set- tlement in 1735. Josiah Keep was another early settler. The names of Shaw, Hoar, Warner, Warriner, Chandler, Fullar, IInynes, Jennings, and Moulton likewise occur early in the settlement of Monson.

Later settlers were Abner Brown, who was a man of influ- ence and station, as early as 1798. Hle represented the district for thirteen successive terms in the General Court, and did considerable business as a justice of the peace for a number of years. Ile formerly lived about two miles west of the centre of the town, but in later years moved into the village and resided just north of the meeting-house. During the greater part of his life he engaged in farming.

Abijah Newell was born in Roxbury, Mass., entered the matrimonial state at Dudley, and took up his residence at Monson about the year 1740. Ile lived southwest of the cen- tral village, where Eli Rogers now resides. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and had six sons and six daughters. All of these removed from town except Abijab, who remained with his father on the old farm until the latter's death, in 1807, and afterward occupied the place until the end of his life. IIe married Naney Burt, of Longmeadow, who was born, however, in Monson in 1760. They had ten children, of whom only three were sons. Austin, still a resident of the town, was born Oct. 17, 1798.

Abel Goodell lived on East Hill, about two miles from the centre, where Charles Carpenter now resides, as early as 1781. Ile was a farmer, and is said to have been the first justice of the peace commissioned in Monson.

David Hyde lived in the north part of the town in 1796, and was a man of wealth and influence. He owned a saw- and grist-mill on the Palmer side of the Quaboag River, and was there drowned in 1806.

Stephen Newton came from Hardwicke in 1789. In 1790 he married Susannah Davidson, who came from Pomfret. He was a carpenter by trade, and located where Hiram New- ton now lives. His children were Voltaire, Lemuel D., Lu- cius F., Freeman, Hiram, and Selim. The latter two were twins, and, what is somewhat remarkable, Selim lived to be over sixty, and lliram is still living at the age of eighty. Lucius F. is also living. Hiram has in his possession an old concordance that was printed in London in 1658, and that has been in the family for one hundred and fifty years; also an old copy of John Johnson's arithmetic, printed in London in 1657, besides other interesting relics of the olden time.

* Sce history of Brimfieldl.

f This name is sometimes written Fellis. Others claim that the name should be Weller.

# In the Windsor records this name is'variously spelled,-Oll, Olds, and Ould.

1017

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Other early settlers were Simeon Keep, who lived about a mile east of the village as early as 1780, and was a farmer ; Jonathan Chapin, who lived about two miles and a half south- west of the village, and engaged in a like occupation as early as 1778; Stephen Warriner, an influential farmer, in the northwest part, early in the present century; Joshua Shaw, who resided in the southwest part ; John Shield, who lived on the road to Palmer, about a mile from the village, probably as early as 1785, and who established and carried on a grist- mill on the site of the present North factory, in which occupa- tion his son, David L., succeeded him; Aaron Merrick, who lived near Fellows' tavern; and Joseph, his brother, who resided on what is known as the Toby place, both at early dates.

TAVERNS.

The earliest tavern that existed in Monson was that of Richard Fellows, to which reference has already been made. The next one was kept by Richard Bishop, at least as early as 1762, in a gambrel-roofed house, which stood near where the barn of Cyrus W. Holmes now is. It was probably one of the earliest buildings in the town, and was taken down in 1820. The first district-meeting of Monson was held there. In 1775, Joseph Merrick kept a tavern on the Toby place, half a mile northeast of the centre. William Norcross built a tavern where Green's hotel now is, in 1796. Ile kept it until 1803 or 1804, when it was kept for upward of forty years by his son Amos. Its more recent history is elsewhere alluded to. Jesse Stebbins kept a tavern in the north part of the town early in the present century.

ROADS.

The first important road laid out in the town was in 1738, and was a continuation of one laid out in Brimfield in 1737. It crossed south over Grout's Hill, and continued down into Stafford, Conn. In the same year a road was laid out from Grout's Ilill to the centre of the town, connecting with the one last mentioned. In 1732 a road was laid from Cedar Swamp, in the south part of Monson, to South Pond, in Wales. In 1739 a direct road was laid out from the centre of Monson to the old road running to Springfield, which tra- . versed the northeastern section of the town.

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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 151

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