History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 156

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 156

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He then sold out and engaged in the shoe business, losing all he had in two years. Engaging in a business which he did not understand he considers a great mistake, but it is one which many others have made. Being now out of funds, he was obliged to work again on a salary as a superintendent. This he did for a number of years.

In 1863 he rented a small mill in North Wilbraham. ITis capital at that time was very limited. In about a year and a half the mill was burned. Ilis loss was considerable, but he had quite an amount of funds remaining wherewith to com- mence a new business. This fire afterward proved a blessing rather than a disaster. He then bought the water-privilege and erected a larger and more modern mill, which has steadily made money since.

In 1868, in conjunction with Julius Converse, Esq., of Staf- ford, Conn., he purchased the Orcuttville mill in Stafford, at the same time continuing his business in Wilbraham. This venture was quite successful.

In 1870 he purchased the water-privilege, tenements, etc., in South Monson, and built a new mill in place of one which had previously been burned. This mill, like the others, yielded good returns.

Mr. Ellis has improved South Monson greatly. He has re- cently erected a fine residence there, which he occupies, and has constructed other buildings. Being somewhat out of health, he recently sold his interest in his Stafford manufac- tory and associated himself in business with a brother at Wilbraham and a son at Monson.

Mr. Ellis has never held any town or State office, or allowed his name to be used as a candidate for such, believing that . division of one's time and energy injuriously affects his bus- iness prosperity.

Mr. Ellis is one of the most successful business-men in Ilampden County, and has, perhaps, made a larger percent- age on capital invested, during the last fifteen years, than any of them. Ile attributes his success to practical knowledge and reliance on his own judgment. At different times he has lost heavily by fire, freshet, and bad debts, but he looks upon these as natural occurrences, resulting in the thorough dis- cipline of the man.

In March, 1849, Mr. Ellis was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of George Puffer, of Brimfield, Mass. The fruits of this union have been four children,-Arthur D., aged twenty-eight, now associated with his father in the manufacturing business at Monson; Frank P., who died at the age of twenty-three; Frederick W., aged twenty-two, now in attendance upon the Harvard Medical School; and Milton G., who died at the age of three years.

WILLIAM NORCROSS FLYNT

is a lineal descendant of Thomas Flint, the ancestor of the family, who is supposed to have come from Wales to this country as early as 1642. He was one of the first settlers of Salem village, now South Dana, Mass., and is first mentioned in its records in 1650. He died April 15, 1663, leaving six children. In the third generation from him the orthography of the name became changed to Flynt.

Rufus Flynt, the father of William N. Flynt, and in the

sixth generation from Thomas Flint, was born in Hardwick, Mass., June 22, 1775, and removed to Monson from that place about 1790. For more than forty years he was a prominent merchant and leading citizen of the town. He was one of the corporators and early trustees of Monson Academy, and held the office of treasurer of that institution for twenty-three years. He was appointed postmaster of Monson by President Madison, and filled the position until his death, June 15, 1836. He was a gentleman of the old school, of high character, and quiet and dignified manners. Nov. 30, 1800, he married Sarah, daughter of William Norcross, of Monson, by whom four children were born to him.

Of these, William N. Flynt was the fourth, born March 14, 1818. He received his education at Monson Academy, and subsequently entered his father's store as a clerk, continuing in this employment under his father's successors in the mer- cantile business after the death of the former.

In 1839 he began to open the Monson Quarry, the first stone from which had been taken out by his father in the year 1825. The character of the stone, the value and importance of the enterprise, and the prominent place which it holds among the industries of the town and State are referred to at length in the notice of the "Industrial Pursuits" of Monson contained in this work.

To the development and management of the quarry Mr. Flynt has for many years devoted his time and attention, manifesting in its control rare executive ability, enterprise, and perseverance. Finally, overcome by constant and unre- mitting labor, he has been compelled to retire for a time from the active management of the enterprise, which is now chiefly under the control of his son, William K. Flynt, the firm being known as W. N. Flynt & Co.

During his long and active life, Mr. Flynt has filled many offices of trust and responsibility, discharging their various duties with great acceptability. For thirty years he was treasurer of the town of Monson; in the years 1848, 1849, 1860, and 1861 he represented the town in the Legislature, and was an active and leading member of the House, receiving high encomiums from the public prints of the day. He was a member of the Executive Council of the State in the years 1865 and 1866, under the administrations of Govs. Andrew and Bullock. He was the first president of the bank in Mon- son, a trustee and treasurer of Monson Academy for many years, has filled the office of president of the savings-bank at Palmer, Mass., and has filled other positions of honor and usefulness.

In his religious convictions he is firm and decided, and actively identified with the Congregational Church of his town, and a prominent mover in its benevolent and philan- thropic enterprises.

Mr. Flynt is eminently a domestic man, and his warmest affections have ever clustered around his own fireside. He has been twice married, having seven children,-four sons and three daughters,-all of whom are now residents of Monson. His eldest son, William K. Flynt, is the present treasurer of the town, and the successor of his father in that office.

Mr. Flynt's house at Monson is one of the most tasteful in the town. A large attractive residence, surrounded by hand- some grounds, ornamented with a fine fountain, it occupies a prominent location and adds greatly to the many beauties of the place.

LUDLOW.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.

THIS town is situated in the northeast corner of the origi- nal town of Springfield, and is bounded on the north by the towns of Granby and Belchertown, in Hampshire County ; south by Wilbraham and Springfield ; east by Belchertown ; and west by Chicopee.

Its northern, eastern, and western boundaries are straight lines, with the exception of a break of a quarter of a mile in the line between it and the town of Chicopee. The southern boundary follows the devious course of the Chicopee River. Its dimensions are about four and a half by six miles, with an area of 27 square miles, or 17,280 acres, of which a large pro- portion is unimproved or forest land.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of the town is generally comparatively level, with the exception of a few important elevations. The most prominent of these are what have long been known as the " Facing Hills," in the northern part of the town, which at- tain a considerable altitude, and afford, from their summits, an excellent view of the surrounding country. " Minncchaug* Mountain" is a landmark of great interest, located southeast of the geographical centre of the town. "Jefferson's Peak" is the name bestowed upon a detached elevation lying south . of the " Facing Hills."

The soil is good, and has afforded rich returns to the inhabi- tants, who are engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Numerous small ponds of water diversify the landscape, of which the most important are " Pickerel" and "Second" Ponds, in the northern part of the town, and "Chapin," " Wood," and " Minnechaug," in the southern part.

The principal affluents of the Chicopee River are Broad Brook, which drains the larger part of the town lying east of the highlands ; Chapin Brook, in the south, and Higher Brook (so called), which drains the central and south western portions, and discbarges into the Chicopee about a mile west of the town line in the town of Chicopee. The northwestern corner of the town is drained by Stony Brook, which discharges into the Connectieut in the town of South Hadley, in Hampshire County.

The Chicopee River forms the southern boundary of the town, and in its course of three or four miles furnishes excel- lent water-power, the best of which is at the falls of Walla- manumps and Indian Orchard. At the former place the water descends along a narrow, rocky channel 42 feet in a dis- tance of 100 rods, and at the latter, less than a mile distant, there is a fall of 63 feet from the top of the dam to the still water below.

Just below the falls of Wallamanumps the river in its tor- tuons course forms a little peninsula of a few acres of land, formerly densely wooded, and elevated about 80 feet above the water, the extremity of which has long been known by the name of " Indian Leap." The story, which is purely legend- ary, and of which there are several versions, is that a party of Indians, being surprised in this secluded spot, and finding no other way of escaping their enemies, sprang over the preci- pice in fearless desperation, and all of them save one perished

in the seething waters and among the rocks below.t In this place, on the high bank of the river, is supposed to have been the encampment of 600 of King Philip's warriors the night after they had burned Springfield, in 1675, since those who went in pursuit of them the next day found here 24 camp-fires and some of their plunder left behind. The railroad-bridge spans the river at this point.

The abrupt extremity of this strip of land is composed of red sandstone, the quarrying of which constitutes an important branch of industry on the part of neighboring corporations. The nature of this deposit, and its uses, are fully treated in a general chapter.

The town has been noted for the longevity of its inhabitants.

RAILROADS.

The Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad passes in an easterly direction through the southern border of the town, touching at Jenksville, Collins' Depot, and Red Bridge, and thence following the course of the Chicopee River into Palmer. It crosses the Chicopee at " Indian Leap," where also the

AQUEDUCT,

which supplies the water for the city of Springfield, crosses. The reservoir from whence this supply is obtained is located in Ludlow, in the region formerly known as Cherry Valley, and was constructed in 1873 and '74. The number of acres in the bed of the reservoir is 445, to which must be added a mar- ginal area of 360 acres. Of this entire territory 280 acres were woodland. Six and three-eighths acres of swamp have been covered with 13,924 cubic yards of sand, and a little over one-half as much have been sanded between the south dam and the filter. The land was purchased of Benjamin Sikes and sons, Reuben Sikes, S. Billings, A. L. Bennett, C. S. Bennett, J. L. Banister, Mrs. Margaret Sikes, M. King, and C. W. Alden. A ditch of a mile in length turns Higher Brook into the reservoir, and one longer and larger taps Broad Brook, just north of the town line.

EMINENT CITIZENS.

Rev. Joel Chapin was born in Ludlow soon after its origi- nal settlement. He served in the Revolutionary war, and afterward received a collegiate education at Dartmouth Col- lege.

Hon. Chester W. Chapin, widely known in connection with the railway, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises of the valley, and as a representative in Congress from the Springfield district, is a native of Ludlow, where he passed his early years.

Hon. Gordon M. Fisk, editor of the Palmer Journal, an enterprising newspaper published at Palmer Depot, in Ilamp- den County, who is well known as a former member of the State Senate, and in connection with various other official positions, is also a native of the town.

Other prominent citizens of the town have been Hon. S. Bliss Stebbins, of Boston, Hon. Edwin Booth, of Philadel-

* The word is variously written Mineuchoug and Monoachong.

+ The prevalent unbelief of later years has caused this legend to be doubted, and modern iconoclasta have presumed to assert that, had the Indians varied a few feet from the alleged course, they might have reached the river by an easy path. The tribe to which these Indians belonged are said to have been called the Cuughmanyputs, and their chief " Roaring Thunder."

1031

1032

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

phia, Hon. Dexter Damon, of Willoughby, Ohio, Hon. Chas, L. Miller, and a number of prominent Christian ministers.

INDIAN OCCUPATION AND RELICS.

The history of this region before the white man appropri- ated the lands is preserved only in tradition. The territory comprised within the town of Ludlow, and indeed of all the towns lying along the Chicopee River and in the eastern por- tion of Hampshire County, constituted one of the principal hunting-grounds of the Indians, and through its entire extent these wild denizens of the forest were accustomed to roam at will in the pursuit of game, and when preparing for the darker deeds of the war-path. The names " Minnechang"* and " Wallamanumps" bear evidence of Indian familiarity with this region, and the relies of their savage warfare and rude agriculture abound to this day throughout the town. Numerous sharp and irregular fragments of stone,-porphyry, quartz, chalcedony, and sandstone,-the chippings thrown otl' by the Indians in fabricating their implements of warfare, of the chase, and for their domestic use, are found in various places. Thousands of arrow-heads of various sizes, hatchets, chisels, gouges, mortars, and pestles have been picked up within a few years, and a large spearhead, of great value as a curiosity, and also a remarkable gravestone were lately found, the latter wrought somewhat into the human form, being ahout 3 feet in height. It is supposed to have marked the burial-place of some distinguished chief .;

Of the Indian lore of the neighborhood two incidents have been already given. A precipice on " Facing Hills" is said to have been the theatre of another thrilling adventure. Two women, connected with a small hamlet somewhere in the valley of the Chieopee, were surprised by savages during the absence of the men in the fields. One of them successfully concealed herself under a tub in the cellar. The other was carried off, and when the Indians, closely pursued by the set- tlers, found their prisoner a burden, they put their victim to a savage death at the spot indicated.}

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first distribution of land within the present territory of Ludlow was made to avoid the reversion of what were known as the " out ward commons" of Springfield to the English erown. . To avoid such a catastrophe the Springfield colonists voted in town-meeting, Feb. 3, 1685, that after reserving 300 acres for the ministry, and 150 aeres for schools, on the east side of the Connecticut River, and due proportions for like purposes on the west side, the remainder should be divided among the 123 heads of families or legal citizens, adding to the latter class the names of all male persons under age.

The "commons" east of the "Great River" seem to have included two sections, bounded by a line running north and south ; the line on the east side, commeneing at Newbury Ditch, so called, on the boundary of William Clark's land, extending from the hill west of the Norman Lyon homestead, and passing southward near the present residence of Ezekiel Fuller, past the rear of Mr. Haviland's house, and near the crossing of the Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad with the Three Rivers road, across the river and near the Stony Ilill road, in Wilbraham. The land thus described was the outward commons eastward of this line. Each of the 125 took a share in the three sections east and the two west of the Great River. The northern section of the east "out- ward commons," and a small portion of the middle section, are within the present territory of Ludlow. In the north

section, east, the school- and ministry-lots ran through Cedar Swamp, near the centre of the present town, and over the north end of Minnechang Mountain. The south boundary must have passed not far from the south shore of Wood Pond, and past the Miller Corner school-lot to the river. The orig- inal proprietors of Ludlow, under this division, were Jona- than Burt, Jr., Eliakim Cooley, John Warner, Geo. Colton, Samuel Stebbins, Samuel Marshfield, Ebenezer Jones, Benja- min Knowlton, James Petty, Joseph Ely, Inerease Sikes, Sr., Obadiah Miller, Sr., Widow Sikes, Sr., James Munn, David Throw, Widow Bedortha, John Burt, Sr., James Stephenson, and Col. Pynchon.

The middle section was the first settled, but the name of the first to locate there remains in doubt. Tradition awards the honor to Aaron Colton, whose home was situated on the bluff, above the Chicopee River, where Arthur King now lives, and who is supposed to have settled prior to 1751. James Sheldon, Shem Chapin, and Benjamin. Sikes are said to have lived in the town at the same period. James Sheldon is sup- posed to have lived on the site now occupied by the house in which Reuben Keith resides; Benjamin Sikes, at the place next north of the George S. Page farm, on his allotment of commons ; and Shem Chapin, near the home of James M. White. These four are presumed to have been the earliest white settlers of Ludlow, although it is rumored that a man named Antisel occupied a log house on the edge of " Facing llills," subsisting on game, and that he antedated all of these settlers.

In 1751, Joseph Miller settled with his family where Elihu J. Sikes now lives. The friends in their former home, West Springfield, mourned them as dead, and it is said that a funeral sermon was preached over their departure into the wilds of that unknown region.

A little later, in 1756, Ebenezer Barber sought a home for himself near Shem Chapin's, in the inward commons.

Jonathan Lumbard commenced to clear a farm in the upper part of Cherry Valley, in 1757.

Joshua Fuller cleared a spot on the Dorman place, at the centre, in 1767.

James Kendall came from Ashford and located May 2, 1769. In 1770, Jonathan Burr moved in an ox-cart from Con- neeticut, and settled between Mary Lyon's and the mountain.

In 1772 came Joel Willey, to Miller Corner ; while a young man from Wilbraham, Isaac Brewer, Jr., married a daugh- ter of Capt. Joseph Miller, and established himself in Ludlow.

Of the other families who came to town and settled about this time a few may be mentioned :

Northward of Colton and Miller, and toward the present centre, lived Benajah Willey, afterward the first district "elark." Next south of him was a Mr. Ainesworth. Ben- jamin Sikes, the father of Benjamin, Aber, and John, oc- cupied the farm afterward owned by J. Mann, north of the centre. The son, Abner, settled three miles to the eastward, near the present Alden Distriet school-house. The Hitchcock home, occupied by Josiah and his son, Abner, with families, now forms the homestead of Lucius Simonds, while another son, Joseph, lived next west, and probably Ezra Parsons and John Hubbard not far away. Beriah Jennings was near the present site of the late Ezekiel Fuller's house. Shem Chapin's neighbors were Aaron Ferry, Jacob Cooley, at the Torrey place ; Noah Bowker, on the Samuel White farm; Is- rael Warriner, a little below, and farther to the south. At the mill-privilege were Ezekiel Squires, who built the first grist-mill, and, hard by, Oliver Chapin and the Zachariah Warners,-father and son.

These settlers came from divers places, -from West Spring- field, Ashfield, Wilbraham, Shutesbury, Ellington, Glaston- bury, Somers, Brookfield, and Bridgewater,-until finally the rough places of "Stony Hill, " as the region was formerly called, were made smooth. Forest and swampy dell were

* This name was applied by the Indians to the whole eastern portion of Wil- braham and Ludlow, and signifies " Berry-land."

+ It is more than probable that these relics belong to a much older race than the Indians, and one greatly superior to them in civilization .- [ED.]

# This incident bears some resemblance to the account of the massacre of the Wrights, at Skipmuck, July 26, 1708, as detailed in Holland's Western Massa- chusetts, Vol. I., p. 158.

1033

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

made productive fields, and the rocks and hills of Ludlow resounded with the glad acclaim of those who had success- fully established themselves.

The first roads laid out in the town were rough bridle-paths, marked by blazed trees. After the incorporation of the town, the first mentioned are those from the present west school- house to Ludlow City, and from L. Simonds' to Jenksville. The old Cherry Valley road, through to 1. P. Hubbard's, was laid out in 1782, and that from J. L. Mann's to W. G. Ful- ler's in the same year. A highway from the east cemetery to Miller Corner was projected in 1784, and the same year another across Cedar Swamp. The road from the Congregational Church, northward, was laid out in 1800. In 1793 a petition was sent to the county officers to lay out a road corresponding to the route from Collins' Depot to Granby, as part of a line which shall "commode the travil from the eastern part of Connecticut to Dartmouth Colledge in New Hampshire."

A pound was erected near Elisha Hubbard's in 1776, 30 feet square. Sixteen years later it had fallen into decay. Soon afterward a new one was erected of white oak, near Oliver Dutton's house.

The first reference to guide-boards is in 1795, when it needed a committee of nine to erect " way-posts."

MERCHANTS.

One of the first stores kept in the town was by Elisha Ful- ler at Ludlow Centre, on the corner opposite the Fuller tavern stand. The exact date of his opening the store is not known, but his book of accounts contains charges against the Rev. Antipas Steward, who was the first pastor of the town, and who was ordained in 1793. Mr. Fuller kept the store proba- bly as late as 1840. During the latter part of the time one was kept in the L of the hotel building. About twenty years ago, Lucien Cooley traded in the Fuller store for a short time. Some time afterward Homer and Arthur King car- ried on the market and grocery business for a short time.

The first store at Jenksville was established by Benjamin Jenks and partners, probably as early as 1814. After the fail- ure of the Jenks manufacturing enterprise in 1848, Ephraim Jenks & Son are supposed to have traded there for a while. Jerre Miller carried on business in the same building in 1855, and was succeeded by his son Austin. Next, Hezekiah Root & Son traded there ; then Walter Miller, followed by Eli M. Smith. Later, David Joy kept store in the same building for several years. Howard & Beckwith, who are still in trade there, commenced in the spring of 1878.

About 1830, Ilarmon Booth kept a store at Jenksville for several years. Ile was succeeded by Henry Jenks, and he by Walter Miller. James Jenks and others followed for a short time, and were succeeded by Edmund Bliss, who kept it for several years, and then removed to his present store. Heze- kiah Root, after disposing of his old store, established another at Jenksville, and is still in business, in connection with his sons.

TAVERNS.

The oldest tavern kept in Ludlow, it is said, was on the Dorman place, south of the centre. A tavern, called the " Old Ark," stood at the " west middle" part of the town in 1787, and was kept by Ezekiel Fuller. Amos Kendall after- ward resided there. Another tavern was kept at the Jen- nings place by John Jennings, at an early date. One was also kept near the Ezekiel Fuller place by a man named Wright,. about the same time. It was a place of popular resort and the centre of terpsichorean festivities.

The next tavern was kept at the centre by Ely Fuller for a number of years. He was there in 1833. This place was long known as the old " Fuller tavern stand," and was also a place of public resort, the town clerk's office being kept there for many successive years, Ely Fuller filling that office. After the death of Mr. Fuller, the tavern was kept by his

family for some time, Isaac Plumley succeeding them as pro- prietor for a few years.

The first tavern at Jenksville was kept by Calvin Eaton. He was succeeded by a man named Sawin, and Ashley Hay- don, in turn. It was afterward kept by Jerre Miller. Eras- mus Rood kept the last one at Jenksville. There are none in town at the present time.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician to practice in Ludlow was Dr. Aaron John Miller, who was born Jan. 11, 1750. He married Esther Burr, and died at Ludlow, Nov. 4, 1838. " He was a very tidy man, distinguished for wearing the highest- priced black broadcloth he could find, and always eating molasses instead of butter on his bread, drinking clear tea, and a very little old New England rum and water. He was a rapid talker, made his fever-powders of camphor-gum and loaf-sugar, and was never known to hurt his patients with his medicines. He usually walked on his visits to patients, always accompanied by his little yellow dog. He was intol- erant of others' opinions, and emphasized his own with fre- quent thrusts of his eane." He was a surgeon in the Revolu- tionary war, and is reliably reported to have been a member of the original Boston Tea-Party.

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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 156

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