History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 158

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 158

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1841-42, B. F. Lombard (M. E.); 1846, Daniel E. Chapin (M. E.) ; 1847, David Sherman (M. E.); 1848, Z. A. Mudge (M. E.); 1848, William Hall (Cong.); 1857, W. II. Daniels (M. E.); 1858, David K. Merrill (M. E.) ; 1859, L. R. S. Brewster (M. E.); 1860-61, George E. Chapman (M. E.); 1862, Jolin Noon (M. E.); 1863, J. A. Kibbe (M. E.); 1868, A. Gardner (Cong.); 1872, H. E. Crocker (M. E.) ; 1873, J. A. De Forest (M. E.); 1874, Timothy Lyman (Cong.). The present pastor is Rev. C. L. Cushman.

BURIAL-PLACES.

The oldest place of burial in the town is located about a mile northwest of the centre, near the residence of Truman Hubbard. This piece of land was presented to the town by Benjamin Sikes, and a suitable acknowledgment of the gift is thus noted in the town records :

" Received a deed of Gift from Mr Benjamin Sikes of a Certain piece of land, in order to or as a place to bury our Dead. Voted also that the Thanks of the Town he returnd for the same to the said M' Sikes for his Benevolence."

A board fence was ordered to be put around it in 1782, and in 1825 it was repaired. The present fence was erected in 1866. The ground is in a good condition and is still in use. Many of the earliest settlers of the town are there interred. Among the inscriptions on the various tombstones is the fol- lowing :

"In memory of Mrs. Sarah, wife of Mr. Timothy Root, who died Mar. 3, 1785, in her 44 year. Also an Infant buryed by her side.

Other persons buried there are Lient. John Sikes, who died July 27, 1807, in his sixtieth year ; Hannah Sikes, wife of Benjamin Sikes, who died April 17, 1790, aged eighty-four years ; Mrs. Hannah, wife of John Sikes, who died June 9, 1772, in her twenty-third year ; Abner Sikes, who died June 24, 1800, in his seventieth year; and Beriah Jennings, who died May 12, 1776, in the forty-fifth year of her age.

What is known as the East burying-ground was laid out about 1801, and is situated on the extreme eastern border of the town. It has been recently enlarged. The ground is still in use, and contains the remains of many persons who have been early and prominently associated with the affairs of the

1037

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

town. Among others are David Paine, who died July 2, 1807, aged seventy, as the inscription says, " by a cart-wheel running across his breast ; he expired instantly," and Nicholas Daniels, who died April 26, 1827, aged sixty-five.

The Centre burying-ground is located near the Congrega- tional Church, and was presented to the town by Elisha Fuller in 1801. A substantial fence was placed around it in 1805, which was repaired in 1817 and 1825. Great excitement was occasioned about this time by a proposal to remove all the bodies previously interred there. Some of the stones indi- cate that it must have been in use as a place of burial some time before the formal ceding of the ground. It was prob- ably laid out in 1786, the first burial taking place in that year. Among the inscriptions upon its various tombstones are the following :

"In memory of Doc" Philip Lyon, who died July 26, 1802, aged 40 years, who, after having experienced the sweets of conunbial bliss, died, leaving no family. Ilis amiable consort died at Randolph, Oct., 1801."

" Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Mary, wife of Mr. Leonard Miller, who died in Childbed, June 6, 1790, in the 38th year of her age. Besi.les a birth, and she left 8 small Children to mourn her untimely fate."

"In memory of Chester, the son of Mr. Asa & Mrs. Sarah Dodge, who Died Septm IIIb, 1805, aged 3 years 4 months and 18 days."

" With dysentery and with wornis, God did Death licence give, To take my precious Soul away, And say I should not live."

Among the oldest inscriptions are those of two children of Capt. Joseph Miller, who respectively died Oct. 13, 1786, and Dec. 10, 1787; Cyprian and Lucy Wright, who died, Jan. 7, 1779, in his forty-fifth year, and she, Ang. 22, 1794, in the thirty-seventh year of her age; and Capt. Joseph Miller, who died April 3, 1803, aged seventy-nine years.

" Praises on tomles are Titles vainly spent, A mau's good name is Ilis best monument."

What is known as the New cemetery is situated southwest of the centre, and was purchased and opened in 1842. It comprises 3 acres of land, which were originally a part of the farm of Increase Sikes, and contains many handsome monu- ments. It is in constant use, and is neatly fenced.

The Jenksville cemetery is situated a little northeast of the village, and was laid out probably about 1830. The first ref- erence to it contained in the records of the town is on May 30, 1842, when the town is asked to enlarge it. It contains the remains of many persons who have been prominently asso- ciated with the growth and development of that section of the town.

NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

In 1804 the town magnanimously appropriated $25 " to the present singers, on condition they sing well and still continue to sing, to the Edification of the Inhabitants of sª town ;" and two years after, a committee was again empowered to hire a singing-master.

The voters of the town seem to have indulged in all the privileges of American citizenship. At one time they sol- emnly and with full assurance " voted that James Bowdoin, Esq., be governor."

In the year 1817 a man named John Annibal went from Belchertown to Connecticut to peddle wagons for one Filer. On his return he was seen to enter Ludlow about sundown. Afterward his horse, with bridle cut, was seen in Granby, near Asa Pease's house. His portmantean and saddle were found near Ezekiel Fuller's, and blood was discovered in the road between these points. Great excitement prevailed, as every one thought he had been robbed and murdered. A vigorous search was made for the body, a pond covering an acre of land being drained; but all to no purpose, and the mystery remains unexplained to this day.

About 1830, one Wright, a deaf-mute, residing over the mountain, disappeared quite suddenly. He was supposed to

have had an altereation with one of the citizens living in another part of the town, and foul play was suspected. A melancholy interest was added to the affair by the finding of a skeleton in an outlet long afterward, which bore unmis- takable signs of identity with the missing man.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.

The principal occupation of the inhabitants of Ludlow bas been agriculture. At the present time, although several prom- inent manufacturing industries have become established in the town, the majority of the population devote their time and energies to tilling their excellent farms, finding a ready market for their products in the adjoining city of Springfield.

Attempts at manufacturing were made in the latter part of the last century. In the laying of a road reference is made to "the saw-mill of Jonathan Burr and Company," afterward with the water-power known as the MeLean privi- lege. A mil) of some kind was also in operation in the ex- treme north part of the town, at the " city." At the south- west corner there was also a saw-mill.

Early in the present century Rufus Calkins had a little chair-shop a mile up Higher Brook from the centre post-office. llere were made many of the old chairs now to be seen in the more ancient houses of the people. At one time he also ad- justed a spindle, by means of which he conld spin flax or wool. His was the first manufacturing of the kind in the town.

Farther down, below Warren Fuller's privilege, was, in 1814, a little fulling-mill, operated by Gustavus Pinney. Near the bank, at two different places successively, Elisha Fuller carried on an ashery, the last location being opposite the present Methodist Church, on the lot now owned by the society. Harris' mill-privilege was under improvement in 1805, under the name of the " Continental Mill."

On Broad Brook were two privileges, now unused, where were located Thornton's saw-mill at the foot of Burying- Ground Hill, and Alden's sash-and-blind shop, a few rods above. At Ludlow City was at one time a distillery. Tar- kilns were set up here and there, traces being still discernible on Facing Hills and elsewhere.

Near the old Sikes place, south of the brook, a mile north of the centre churches, is still shown the ruins of the onee- famous Lndlow Glass-Works, the wonder of the region. Here stood a small building, partly masonry and partly wood, in which were ponderons furnaces. The article made was green glass, mostly in the shape of bottles. It existed a few years, but finally suspended operations.

The falls of Wallamanumps early attracted attention. In 1788 reference is made to " Deacon Timothy Keyes' mill-dam" at this point. About the opening of the present century Ab- ner Putnam came from the east, and improved the privilege by erecting a shop for the manufacture of seythes, which de- veloped into a considerable business.

About 1840, Plumley's saw-mill at the mouth of Broad Brook utilized the fine water-power at that point, while the Alden Mills above turned out large numbers of farm-forks and rakes. Fisk's mill, at the " city," manufactured a dura- ble and handsome woolen fabric, well known in this region. Here, too, were brought fleeces from the neighboring farms for carding. Jacob S. Eaton also had a share of this trade at his mill, near Indian Orchard, where wool was carded and satinet manufactured.

The principal manufacturing enterprise at the present time is that of the

LUDLOW MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

The beginnings of the present important operations of the company date back to the year 1812, when Benjamin Jenks, then of Smithfield, R. I., ignoring the opportunity to pur- chase the present site of the city of Rochester, N. Y., with its splendid water-power, at the same sum, bought the privi- lege at Wallamanumps (Jenksville) of Capt. Abram Putnam.

1038

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

A company was formed in 1814, and did a limited business in the manufacture of cotton warps, which were sent into fami- lies to be made into cloth with woolen " tillings."

On the 31st of December, 1821, the proprietors met and or- ganized, according to the act of incorporation, as the Spring- field Manufacturing Company. This company carried on a large business in the manufacture of cotton goods until July 14, 1848, when it failed for a large amount. In 1840-46 it manufactured gun-barrels for the United States Government at the upper privilege.

After the failure of the Springfield Manufacturing Com- pany, the firm of Wood & Merritt carried on the business from 1848 to 1856, when it was merged into the first Ludlow Manufacturing Company. The power was for a number of years leased to George Il. Doane, who fitted up the stone mills that had been erected by the old company for the man- ufacture of jute goods, and the upper mill for the manufac- ture of wadding. After the expiration of the lease, Mr. Doane purchased the property and formed the Ludlow Mills Com- pany, which, after carrying on business for a while, sold out to the present Ludlow Manufacturing Company, of which L. II. Brigham is agent.

The enterprise is now in a prosperous condition, and new additions and improvements are being made by the company. Besides the large stone mill erected by the first company, and the mill at the upper privilege, the company erected during the past summer (1878) an extensive and elegant brick mill, near the stone mill. A canal has also during the same time been dug, at great labor and expense, across the company's site, with a view of increasing the facilities.

The goods now made are, at the stone mills, gunny-bagging, various kinds of crashes, plain and figured, and all kinds of hardware-twines and linen warps ; and at the upper privilege are made cotton warps and seamless grain-bags of the same material. The company employs about 400 persons, paying monthly about $10,000 in wages. The number of employés will be greatly augmented when the new mill is completed.

MILITARY.

The town of Ludlow was barely established before it was called upon to pass through the trying times of the Revolu- tion.

In 1774, Joseph Miller was appointed to represent the town in the several conventions which were held at Concord, Salem, Cambridge, and Watertown, and in the fearful struggle that followed, one in every seven of the town's inhabitants left, for a longer or shorter time, their homes and loves " for a life in the tented field." The records make evident the fact that every burden imposed by the war was cheerfully borne, every tax paid, and every responsibility met. The following inhab- itants of the town served in the war of the Revolution :

Ichabod Barker, Ezekiel Beebe, Cæsar Begory (colored), Noadiah Burr, Ren- ben Burt, Joel Chapin, Charles Chorley, Aaron Colton, Solomon Cooley, Edward Cotton, Oliver Dutton, Ezekiel Fuller, Lothrop Fuller, Jabez Goodale, Joseph Hitchcock, Joseph Jennings, John Johnson, David Lombard, Jonathan Lombard, Dr. Aaron J. Miller, George Miller, Jr., Leonard Miller, David Paine, Tyrus Pratt, Samuel Scranton, Thomas Temple, Moses Wildler, Cyprian Wright.

In 1786-87 occurred the Shays rebellion, in which Ludlow bad her share, furnishing, it is claimed, recruits to both parties.

The Shays column of malcontents is supposed to have passed through the town on its way to Springfield, and also in its

retreat. On its passage through South Hadley, Isaiah Call, a Ludlow man, was killed by a chance shot from a house. The others in the Shays forces whose names are preserved as being from Ludlow were Titus Pratt, John Jennings, and Samuel Olds.

The war of 1812 received no special notice on the records of the town, although Ludlow was not backward in furnishing her quota of men. The citizens who participated in the ser- vice were

Henry Acres, Gideon Cotton, Sammuel Gates, Chester Kendall, Amos Root, Charles F. Wood, Benjamin Ainsworth, Lemuel Gardiner, John Howard, Reuben Parsons, Verauns Shattuck, Gordon B. Wood, Harvey Wood.

The Mexican war fever reached Ludlow, but only took effect in one case, Joseph Rood, who is supposed to have been wounded in one of the frays in the land of the Aztecs.

In the days of the great Rebellion but one sentiment was manifest in Ludlow. Few towns were more active, and none more loyal. As early as April 27, 1861, the citizens met and appropriated $2000 as a bounty to those who would enlist. In August of the next year $100 was offered to each of the 17 men who enlisted. Throughout the entire war the people were equally earnest and patriotic. Out of a population of 1200 souls, Ludlow furnished 120 men to the army, of which the following is a list. Those who fell are designated by a *.

Philo W. B. Alden, Preston Alden, Hiram W. Aldrich,* Wilson Allen, Dennis

Anderson, George Ashton, James Bagley, Leonard Baker, Lemuel Ben- nett, Lyman Bennett,$ Warren D. Bennett, Sumner Budtish, Lyman Brewer, John H. Brines, Edward F. Brooks,* James Buckley, Joseph A. Bugbee, Amaziah E. Burcham, Franc s A. Burcham, Henry Bushey, An- drew Carpenter, James Chapin. Angustus Chapman,$ William F. Chris- tian, Benjamin F. Clark, William Clements, John Coash,* Charles B. Comstock, Calvin Cooley, Thomas Cowan, Daniel D. Currier,* Caleb Crowningshield,* John B. Dunn, Benjamin C. Davis, John B. Dav s, Wilbur Davis, Cornelius Dugan, Elisha Dutton, Charles B. Fay, George Feathers, Edward E. Fuller, J. R. Fuller, Horace Gates, Marvin Giboney, Austin C. Gove, Thomas Higgins, Isaac T. Hines, llenry Hobson, John Hoison, Jr., Ilenry A. Hubbard,* James B. Kellams, Andrew Kenney, Jannes D. Kenney, Ilenry Keyes, Arthur King, Homer K. King, Samuel King, Francis R. Lemon, Dexter Lombard, Isaac Lowry, Thomas 1. Lyndles, Ebenezer Lyon,* John Mack, Julius M. Marshall, Harry Martin, John Mccutcheon, John MeDonald, Charles MeFarland,* Charles Mcken- ney, Charles Mcsheney, Wilbur F. Miller, Edward Morrill, Michael Munsing, Charles M. Nash, James L. Nash, Stephen O'llolloran, David M. Olds, Robert Parsons,* Henry M. Pease,* Levi L. Pease, Lyman Pease, James E. Perry, Anthony O. Pott,* Daniel Pratt," Edwin Price, Flavius J. I'utnam,* Michael Reinhart, Andrew Renny, Wiison Rogers, Joseph Rood, William Sanderson, Daniel R. Sanger, Peter Scott, John Shangh- nessey, Alexander Shaw, Charles Sikes, Charles Simonds, Francis F. Simonds, Franklin R. Simonds, Josiah Stephens, Edward II. Stewart, George L. Streeter, Addison Waide, George Wallace, Charles S. Wash- barn, William E. Washburn,* Abram W. Watson, Lovinski White, Loren Woodl.

The war over and some of the men returned, measures were taken in 1866 to erect a monument to the memory of the fallen. The memorial was constructed of Monson stone, and cost $1025. It was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in the summer of 1867. It stands near the Congregational Church at Ludlow Centre,-a worthy testimonial to the bravery of the dead and the patriotism and public spirit of the living.

In preparing this history of the town, assistance, for which the writer is grateful, was cheerfully furnished by Benjamin F. Burr, Ambrose Clough, Hezekiah Root, and other citi- zens. Great aid was also afforded by the excellent Centen- niał llistory published in 1875, and compiled by Rev. Alfred Noon.

LONGMEADOW.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

THIS town is situated centrally on the southern line of the county, and is bounded north by Springfield, south by the towns of Enfield and Somers, in Hartford County, Conn., east by Hampden, and west by Agawam, in Hampden County, from the latter of which it is separated by the Connecticut River. Its average length, east and west, is about seven miles, and its average width a little more than three and a half miles, with an area of twenty-five square miles, or 16,000 acres.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The western half of this township is comparatively level. The lowest level is the famous "long meadow" on the river. Back of this at an average distance of about three-fourths of a mile is an abrupt rise of some sixty or eighty feet to the second " terrace" of the Connecticut River, which is on the same level as the armory in Springfield, and constitutes the principal plain of the great valley. On this plain is situated the old village of Longmeadow. Between this village and East Longmeadow lies a comparative wilderness covered with an extensive growth of forest-trees, conspicuous and important among which is the " lofty pine."

The eastern portion of the town is considerably broken by a chain of hills, many of which reach a considerable altitude. This region was formerly designated as "Poverty Ilill," in allusion to its supposed sterility, but in later years, under im- proved systems of cultivation, it has fully redeemed itself from this stigma, and now contains the largest portion of the town's population.

The streams are quite abundant. In the western section, starting from the north and proceeding southward, Pecowsie Brook, Cooley's Brook, Wheelmeadow Brook, Longmeadow Brook, and Raspberry Brook each flow into the Connecticut River. The most important of these streams are Pecowsic Brook and Longmeadow Brook, each of which has its rise in the eastern part of the town, and both have been utilized to a greater or less extent for industrial purposes. Long Dingle and Entry Dingle Brooks are small affluents of Pecowsic Brook in the northwestern part of the town.

In the eastern section are only two streams of importance. Watchaug (sometimes written Oatchoag) Brook flows south- erly into Connecticut, and, uniting with the Seantic, from Wilbraham, finds its way into the Connecticut River at East Windsor. The South Branch of Mill River rises near the eastern border of the town, and flows northerly into Spring- field.

The soil of the town is quite variable. In the western part it is good and productive, yielding satisfactory returns to those engaging in agricultural pursuits. The bottom-lands along the Connecticut River are abundantly fertile. The central part of the town is sandy, and cannot be cultivated with any degree of success. In the eastern part the soil is good, and, although it requires careful cultivation, is reasona- bly productive. Red sandstone, which forms so prominent a geologic feature of the valley, abounds in the eastern part of the town, and is quarried to a considerable extent for building purposes .*

RAILROADS.

The town enjoys an abundance of railroad facilities, each section being fully provided for. The New Haven, Hartford and Springfield Railroad passes through the western part of the town, between the village and the river, having a station at Longmeadow. It was first opened for traffic on the 9th of December, 1844. East Longmeadow is accommodated by the Connecticut Central Railroad, which passes through the town just east of the geographical centre. It has a station at the village of East Longmeadow, and was opened in the spring of 1876.

EMINENT MEN.

Longmeadow has produced her full share of men who have risen to positions of prominence in the world of religion, let- ters, and politics. Among these are included a large number of clergymen of eminence. Others of her citizens have achieved success in other walks of life, among whom mention may be made of Hon. Wm. Ely, a native of Longmeadow, subsequently a resident of Springfield, and a member of Con- gress.

INDIAN OCCUPATION.

The town of Longmeadow was without a doubt occupied by the Indians in the early days of the settlement of Spring- field. Local evidences still remain, and these are supplemented by the pages of history. After the settlement of the town its territory was frequently the highway of the Indians as they passed north and south on their predatory and hostile excur- sions. Its forests also afforded a convenient hiding-place to the savages during the terrible events of King Philip's war. March 26, 1676, the town was the seat of a tragedy which involved the death of one of the first settlers and principal inhabitants. It was a Sabbath day, and a party of eighteen persons-men, women, and children-started from Long- meadow to attend public worship at Springfield. They had proceeded as far as Pecowsie Brook, accompanied by a small guard, when they were assaulted by a band of eight savages, and John Keep, his wife, and their infant child were killed, and several others wounded. Mr. Keep was a prominent man in the town, and held the office of selectman, Longmeadow being then a part of Springfield. Other incidents attending the occupation of the town by the Indians will be found re- ferred to in the general history.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement of the town of Longmeadow is said to have been made about the year 1644, eight years after the set- tlement of Springfield. Among the earliest settlers were Ben- jamin Cooley, George Colton, known in the records by the name of " Quartermaster Colton," and John Keep. These were probably the first three to establish themselves in the town, although tradition says there was still a fourth, who is supposed to have been a Burt or a Bliss. At any rate, fami- lies of both these names were carly settled in the "long meadow." The Ely family probably settled as early as 1650 or 1660. They are descended from Nathaniel Ely, who came from England, and was one of the first settlers of Connecti- cut, but who finally removed to Springfield, where he died, Dec. 28, 1675. The Stebbins family, represented in the per- sons of Jonathan and Samuel Stebbins, were also early settlers

1039

* See general chapter on geology.

1040

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

of the town. They were there as early as 1717, and possibly very much earlier.

The first settlers located on the meadow which borders the Connecticut River, and were probably attracted to the town by those rich bottom-lands which, throughout the entire val- ley, had afforded the principal inducements to early settlement. The country was then young, the emigrants who sought its shores were poor and largely dependent upon the soil for sup- port, agricultural implements were comparatively unknown, and they naturally selected the richest and most easily tilled soil for the establishment of their New-World homes. Here, then, about the year 1644, the fathers of Longmeadow located themselves, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. But they were soon annoyed by the annual rising of the river, which not only greatly interfered with their farming enterprises, but at times of special floods occasioned them serious alarm.

Finally, in the year 1695, a freshet of unusual magnitude occurred, which not only overflowed the lands of the settlers, but drove them in fear from their homes. The Cooley family, who had located at the north end of the " meadow," near the mouth of the brook which bears their name, fled to Springfield. The Burts and Blisses, who had established themselves near the present site of the railroad station, secured a boat, and, in their haste to escape from the angry waves, overturned it, and, crawling out upon the banks, were compelled to pass the night in the woods. The Coltons and Keeps, who were located be- tween the two, proceeded northward, and, establishing them- selves in the dwellings of the Cooley family, passed a com- fortable and safe night, while the real owners of the dwellings were at Springfield, believing that their homes had been swept away,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 158

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