History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 177

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 177

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Of John Mallory's sons, William D. lives in Russell ; John, in Westfield; and Roland, removing to New York City, died there many years ago. Mrs. Linus Dickinson, now residing in Springfield, is a granddaughter of John Mallory, the elder.

Isaac Palmer left four sons,-Squire, Loren, Elijah, and Reuben,-all of whom are dead. Squire left two sons,-David, now residing in Russell, and Bradford W., living in Chester. Amasa and Isaac, two of Reuben's sons, are citizens of Spring- field, Mass.

Robert Hazard, one of the early settlers, died many years

Photo, by Moffitt.

ROLAND PARKS is the son of Warren, who was the son of Roger Parks. The latter settled in Bland- ford, Mass., at an early day, and was one of the hardy pioneers who first commenced felling the trees and establishing their homes among the hills of Mas- sachmusetts. The mother of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was Lydia Sackett. Both his parents were natives of Blandford, where he was born Dec. 31, 1803, and, passing his boyhood on his father's farm, remained there until the death of his father, in 1835. He then started in the world for himself, first selecting as his partner in life Maria, daughter of William and Rhoda Culver, of Bland- ford, to whom he was married June 25, 1836. His wife was born in Chester, Mass., June 14, 1807. After his marriage he removed to Russell, and for the next five years paid attention to farming, which business he relinquished in 1842, having been appointed station-agent for the Western, now Boston and Albany, Railroad at Russell. He was the first agent at that station, and retained the position till 1851; after which, for two years, he was deputy sheriff and jailer for the county. During Franklin Pierce's administration he was connected with the

Boston custom-house, where he remained four years as inspector. He has kept store at Russell at differ- ent times from 1843 to 1867.

He has but one child, Olive C., born May 2, 1837, and married to Jarvis W. Gibbs, of Russell.

Having been brought up in the school of Democracy, Mr. Parks has never seen any reason why he should change his polities. He cast his first vote for President for Andrew Jackson, in 1825. IIe has several times served in the State Legislature, occupying a seat therein in the years 1841, 1851, and 1864, during which periods he was a member of many important committees. He has been justice of the peace for a number of years ; was from 1873 to 1877 special county commissioner, and has also been postmaster.

Mr. Parks is entitled to the thanks of his fellow- townsmen for his exertions in procuring the building of the beautiful iron bridge over the river when the railroad company changed their track at Russell depot. Although advanced in years, he is still active and energetic. He has retired from business, and enjoys a comfortable competency, the result of his early industry and economy.

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HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

ago, leaving no descendants. The house erected by him near the centre of the town, in about 1800, is still standing, but uninhabitable.

Levi Bishop had five sons. David and Aaron still live in Russell; James and Charles are dead ; Levi, Jr., is a promi- nent attorney and writer in Detroit, Mich.

Of Elias Parks' two sons, Robert died some years ago, and Lyman still lives in Russell. Robert left a son, Horace, who is depot master at Russell station.

Isaac Bronson had five sons. Two are dead; Allen and John reside in Russell, and Ilarvey in Granville, Mass.

Esther, a daughter of Abraham Bradley, married Allen Bronson, and lives in Russell. Lyman, his son, is dead, but left descendants in Addison, Vt. (sheritl of Hampden County in 1877); Judson, now residing in Westfield, Mass., and Dickinson, living in Rhode Island. Another son, George, died some years age.

Of Titus Doolittle's family, Joel removed to Vermont, be- came a judge, and died there. Mark was a lawyer in Belcher- town, Mass., and is buried there. Amasa is dead, and Titus, Jr., who emigrated to the far West early in life. Old Titus had one daughter, who married Abraham Bradley, a pioneer.

Newman Bishop, now living near Russell Pond, at the age of seventy-seven, is a son of Newman Bishop, who was one of the earliest settlers, and died in 1856, aged ninety-seven. Newman, the elder, left three sons,-Jere., Alva, and New- man, Jr. Of these, only Newman survives. Jere. had four sons and two daughters. Alva lives in Blandford; Major lives in Fitchburg; Jere., Jr., and Alfred are dead. Of the daughters, one, Mrs. Russell Ilarris, lives in Westfield, and the other, Mrs. Dwight Wilcox, in Chester. Newman, Jr., has one son, Franklin H., now living in Russell.

Of the five sons of Samuel Williams, George died in Russell, leaving two sons,-George W. living in Russell, and Henry A. in Westfield. The other four sons of Samuel removed West at an early period. Samuel, Jr., went to Salt Lake and joined the Mormons.

Jacob Loomis had six sons, -Jacob, Hubbard, Josiah, Caleb, Lyman, and Solomon,-all of whom are dead. Of Caleb's sons, Edward lives in Russell and Ralph in Westfield. Jacob, a son of Solomon, lives in Springfield. Hubbard, another of Solomon's sons, left his native hills some years ago. Hubbard left a son and daughter. Harmon William, the son, is a law- yer in Chicago. The daughter is Mrs. Chauncey Latimer, of Westfield. A daughter of Lyman is now Mrs. David Bishop, of Russell.

Abel Tuttle's four sons-Abel, Jr., Byman, Almon, and Daniel-are all dead. The living descendants of Abel, Jr., are Mrs. Apollos Moore, of Montgomery, Mass., Mrs. Joseph King, Mrs. Lucina Goff, and Mrs. Cynthia Tuttle, all of Westfield, Mass. Byman and Almon, sons of Abel, the elder, died in the West. Milo, a son of Daniel, died a bachelor. Of Daniel's two daughters, Mrs. Wm. Chamberlain resides in Westfield. Another, Mrs. Samuel D. Williams, died in Rus- sell a short time ago.

Benjamin Todd, a pioneer, fought through the Revolution, and was with Gen. Israel Putnam when the latter made his famous leap at Horse-Neck, Conn. He had four sons and three daughters. Two of his sons, Ilarvey and Plymud, died bachelors. Benjamin, Jr., removed to New York early in life. Orrin, a son of Gershom, the fourth son of old Benja- min, is yet living in Suffield, Conn.

Stephen Hughes had four sons,-John, Stephen, Henry, and John G.,-but they all died ; it is said without issue. Mrs. Benjamin Pendleton, a daughter of Stephen, lives in Russell.

Of Benjamin Atwater's three sons,-llarris, Titus, and Noah,-all are dead. Franklin B., a son of Titus, lives in Russell ; James, a son of Harris, lives in Canton, Conn. Noah had two sons. John lives in Westfield ; Wells died a few years ago.

Silas Noble had five sons and three daughters. The sons were Silas, Jr., Roland, Reuben, Albert, and Seth. Seth re- moved to Illinois, the others are buried in Russell. Mrs. James Blakslee, living in Russell, is a daughter of Albert. Silas, a son of Renben, lives in Granville, Mass.

Richard Russell raised five sons,-Thomas, Simeon, Almon, Abel, and Yale,-all of whom are dead. Almon, a son of Abel, lives in Russell ; and Edwin, another of Abel's sons, is in Suffield, Conn.

Joel Atwater had four sons and several daughters. The daughters married early and removed to the West. Of the sons, Jere. died some years ago; Leonard lives in Westfield ; Joel, Jr., in Suffield, Conn. ; and Joseph somewhere in the West.

Samuel Chapman was the father of Reuben A. Chapman, who, leaving Russell at the age of twenty-one, afterward be- came chief-justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. lle died in 1875, while traveling in Europe. Reuben's sister, Clarissa, married Richard Armstrong, Minister of Public In- struction at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, and is now residing there, engaged in missionary work. Mrs. Reuben Bradley, one of Samuel Chapman's daughters, died in Russell somnie time ago. Reuben Chapman left two daughters. One is now Mrs. T. M. Brown, the wife of a lawyer in Springfield ; the other, Miss Mary, is abroad.

Jesse Newton's three sons-Elias, Ezra, and Robert-re- moved from Russell many years ago, Robert married Dolly, the daughter of Seth Gridley, a Russell pioneer. Oliver, a son of Seth Gridley, died some years ago, leaving sons, who re- moved to the West, and one daughter, who is now Mrs. Julius Bedortha, of Russell.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.

The early town records do not disclose many evidences of the peculiar customs prevalent among the early settlers in Western Massachusetts, for the reason that they appear to be meagre transcripts of the details of town business.

In 1805 the town charges were fixed at the inconsiderable sum of $50 for that year, and in the following year a public pound was directed to be built in David Holmes' yard, although it is likely that the town had a pound before that date. In 1806, a school-house having been completed " nigh Robert Hazzard," town-meetings were ordered to be held therein after that time. The first pauper mentioned in the records was Mary Stebbins, and she seemed to give the town much concern, and was, moreover, a burden upon it from 1805 to 1821. In the first-named year it was decided to sell Mary Stebbins "at the loest bider for fore months," and Stephen Hughes got the contract for keeping her, at three shillings per week.

A record was made in 1814 of Mary Stebbins being bid off to John A. Mallory at eighty-five cents each week, and in 1816 the town voted that the selectmen should not give more than ninety cents per week for keeping Mary Stebbins. The prices of the necessaries of life must have been low in 1821, for in that year Squire Palmer kept Mary Stebbins for forty- seven cents per week, and, as the records make no later mention of Mary Stebbins, it is to be inferred that she passed out of existence about that time. She appears to have been the only pauper the town had for many years, although under date of 182I mention is made that Andrew Mallory was allowed $61.80 for keeping his father and mother one year. Under date of March, 1817, it was voted "not to allow the cost of diging up Miss Harris."

An amusing incident, showing how cheaply physicians es- teemed their services in the early days, is related of one Dr. King, who lived in Blandford about the year 1800. One stormy night a stranger tarrying at the tavern of Landlord Grey, near the centre of Russell, was taken suddenly ill, and a messenger being dispatched for Dr. King, who lived fully six miles away,

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

that worthy came promptly through the rain and mud, phys- ieked his patient until he cured him, and when asked for his hill, replied, hesitatingly, as if fearful of asking too much, " Well, I think I ought to have fifty cents." The patient paid the bill without a murmur, and the doctor was subse- quently heard to express his satisfaction by remarking that it was "a pretty good night's work."

The Landlord Grey referred to in the story must have been one of the first innkeepers in Russell. Titus Dov- little kept tavern abont 1800, in a house now occupied by Mr. Quance as a residence, on the river-bank, about midway between Russell village and Salmon Falls. It is a substantial- looking house at this day, although it is probably nearly a hundred years old. A Mr. Day kept a tavern shortly after 1800, where Mr. Lawrence Marony now lives, a half-mile northeast of Russell village. Mr. Day kept the tavern for nearly forty years, to the close of the year 1848, and from the fuet that it was known as the flawley tavern, it would appear that lawley must have kept it before Day's advent. The first postmaster in Russell was Reuben Palmer, who was appointed in 1825, and who also kept a store then and for some years previous about a half-mile north of Russell village.

John Gould kept a store in 1806, near where the Chapin & Gould paper-mills stand at present, and where at that time, too, a Dr. Frye had a cotton-mill. In connection with his store Mr. Gould also operated a grist-mill.

What Russell did in support of the war of 1812 cannot be learned from the records, but according to the recollection of Mrs. Hannah Diekinson (now living in Russell at the age of ninety-two, and a resident there since 1807), the town sent but two men into the service,-John Carrington and Lyman Holmes. Mrs. Dickinson above noticed is remarkably ac- tive in her mental faculties, and talks in a spirited and inter- esting manner of the events of seventy-five years ago. She has a sister, Mrs. Northrop, now residing in Marcellus, N. Y., at the age of one hundred and one.

The two oldest houses in Russell are supposed to be the residence of Thomas Williston, on the river-bank, opposite the paper-mill at Salmon Falls, and the house now occu- pied hy the Widow Clark, a mile southwest of Russell village. Both these dwellings are said to have been built as early as 1780.

A record made in 1823 of a vote " not to petition the Gen- eral Court to dissolve the town of Russell" would seem to in- dicate that the town had a narrow escape from oblivion.

The Eighth Turnpike Association of Massachusetts laid their road from a line between Westfield and Russell, through Russell and Blandford to Falley's Store, and thence west.

There was also a turnpike association early in the present century, charged with the maintenance of a road between the towns of Russell and Blandford.

During the Revolution the road from Springfield to Albany entered Russell at the southeast corner, over Glasgow Moun- tain, now called Little Tekoa.

Russell suffered considerably by the flood of December, 1878, and by washed-out roads, destroyed bridges, etc., was damaged to the extent of about $5000, exclusive of the loss of the dam at the Chapin & Gould paper-mill. The floods of 1819 and 1839 are also well remembered in this section as having caused similar havoc.

There are no scoret orders in the town at present. A Good Templars' lodge flourished some years previous to 187t, but at that date passed out of existenec.

ORGANIZATION.

Feb. 25, 1792, Russell was incorporated as a town, and was made up of a portion of Montgomery and a portion of that part of Westfield known as the New Addition. The town was named in honor of a Mr. Russell, of Boston, upon his agreeing to donate a bell for the first church erected by the

inhabitants. For some unexplained reason Mr. Russell was never ealled upon to ratify his promise, but the honor was his, nevertheless. The town records, especially those of early dates, are in a very imperfeet condition, while the records of town-meetings from 1792 to 1804 are not to be found. A list of selectmen and town clerks who served the town from 1804 to 1879 is herewith presented.

SELECTMEN.

1801 .- Silas Doolittle, Levi Bishop, Stephen llugbes. 1805 .- Stephen Hughes, Isaac Palmer, Silas Noble. 1806 .- Thomas Day, Silas Noble, Stephen Hughes. 1807 .- Stephen Hughes, Jacob Loomis, Elias Parks. 1808 .- Dudley Williams, Abel Tuttle, John Gould. 1809 .- Daniel Sherman, Elias Parks, Henry Parks. 1810 .- Stephen IInghes, Elias Parks, Daniel Sherman. 1811 .- Stephen Hughes, Levi Bishop, Titus Doolittle.

1812 .- Elias Parks, Enoch Stiles, James C. Carter. 1813 .- Elias Parks, Daniel Sherman, Moses Allin. 1814 .- Levi Bishop, John Gould, Jr., Dudley Williams. 1815 .- John Gould, James C. Carter, Elias Parks. 1816 .- Elias Parks, Dudley Williams, Rolon Parks. 1817 .- Stephen Hughes, John Gould, Jere. Bishop. 1818 .- Jacob Loomis, Levi Bishop, Rolon Parks. 1819 .- Rolon Parks, llenry Parks, Jere. Bishop. 1820-25 .- Rolon Parks, John Gould, Abel Tuttle, Jr. 1826 .- Bolon Parks, Abel Tuttle, Jr., Reuben Bradley. 1827 .- John Gould, Abel Tuttle, Jr., Rolon Parks. 1828-29 .- Zachariah Dickinson, Renben Bradley, George Williams. 1830 .- John Gould, Abel Tuttle, Jr., Rolon l'aiks. 1831-32 .- John Gould, Abel Tuttle, Jr., Linus Dickinson. 1833,-Chauncey W. Morse, James Bishop, Benjamin Bennet. 1834 .- Chauncey W. Morse, Justin Loomis, Benjamin Bennet. 1835 .-- John Gould, Abel Tuttle, Jr., Benjamin Bennet. 1836 .- Benjamin Bennet, Jere. Bishop, Justin Loomis. 1837 .- Channeey W. Morse, Albert Noble, Jere. Bishop. 1838 .- John Goukl, Benjamin Bennet, James Bishop. 1839 .- Roland Parks, Justin Loomis, Noah Atwater. 1840 .- Roland Parks, Benjamin Bennet, Win. D. Mallory.

1×41 .- Charles Tinker, James Loomis, Jabez Clark. 1842 .- Roland Parks, Daniel Fry, Benjamin Bennet. 1843 .- Daniel Fry, John Dickinson, Benjamin Bennet. 1844 .- Roland Parks, John Dickinson, Allen Bronson. 1845 .- Benjamin Bennet, Bradford W. Palmer, Julius Bedortha.

1846 .- Benjamin Bennet, Nelson D. Parks, Lyman Parks. 1×47 .- Bradford W. Palmer, Newman Bishop, Lyman Bradley. 1848 .- Roland Parks, Newman Bishop, Nelson D. Parks. 1849 .- Boland Parks, Justin E. Loomis, Wm. W. Crosby. 1850 .- Newman Bishop, Jr., Marshall N. Fales, Lucius P. Bishop, 1851 .- Nelson D. Parks, Bradford W. Palmer, Henry K. Loomis. 1852 .- B. W. Palmer, David Parks, W. L. Dickinson. 1853 .- Win. W. Crosby, Noah Atwater, L. P. Bishop. 1854 .- Newman Bishop, Jr., B. W. Palmer, Wm. L. Dickinson. 1855 .- Simeon Mallory, Sheldon Brownson, Stanton S. Clark. 1856 .- Simeon Mallory, Benjamin Bennet, Joseph Osborn. 1857 .- Newman Bishop, A. J. Bradley, Horace Parks, 1858 .- Newman Bishop, A. J. Bradley, Stanton S. Clark. 1859 .- Roland Parks, Benjamin Bennet, Dexter Parks. 1860 .- N. D. Parks, Wm. Holmes, F. H. Bishop. 1861 .- Nelson D. Parks, Henry A. Gould, Edwin A. Russell. 1862 .- Nelson D. Parks, Allen J. Mallory, Horace Heath. 1863 .- Nelson D. Parks, Dexter Parks, Edwin A. Russell. 1864 .- Roland Parks, Dexter Parks, Dwight S. Brouson. 1865 .- Roland Parks, E. A. Russell, Win. Pomeroy. 1866-67 .- N. D. Parks, Simeon Mallory, Lyman Shurtleff. 1868 .- N. D. Parks, Simeon Mallory, A. II. Lewis. 1869 .- N. D. Parks, Simeon Mallory, Wm. Holmes. 1870 .- Simeon Mallory, Horace Parks, Wm. Holmes. 1871 .- HI. Parks, Wm. Holmes, Marvin Wright. 1872-3 .- Horace Parks, Wm. Holmes, Robert Pitcher. 1874 .- Horace Parks, Roland Parks, Wilbur O. Merrill.

1875 .- Ilorare Parks, George T. Bryant, Leonard P. Palmer.

1876 .- Horace Parks, F. E. Bushnell, Wm. Holmes. 1877 .- llorare Parks, F. E. Bushnell, Roland Parks. 1878 .- F. E. Bushnell, Dexter Parks, L. B. Palmer.

TOWN CLERKS.

The first report of a town-meeting, as gleaned from the ree- ords, is dated April, 1804. There were records of earlier date, but they are not in existence. Beginning at 1804, the town clerks were :

Levi Chapman, 1804-6; Isaac Palmer, 1806-11; Dudley Williams, 1811-12; Isaac Palmer, 1812-18; Dudley Williams, 1818-20; Isaac Palmer, 1820-26; Reuben Bradley, 1826-27; Reuben Palmer, 1827-31; Linus Dickinson, 1831-33; Jere.

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HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

Bishop, 1833-34; John Dickinson, 1834-37; Zachariah Dickinson, 1837-39; Jus. Bishop, 1839-41; John Dickinson, 1841-43; Wm. D. Mallory, 1843-45; Roland Parks, 1845-47; Lucius P. Bishop, 1847-49; Nelson D. Parks, 1819-51; Justin E. Loomis, 1851-53; H. L. Gridley, 1853-54; J. W. Gibbs, 1854-55; Joseph Gridley, 1855-58; J. W. Gibbs, 1838-59; H. Parks, 1-59-61; Roland Parks, 1861-65; Jo- seph Hutchinson, 1865-66; N. D. Parks, 1866-67; Howall Parks, 1867-70 ; S. F. Root, 1870-71; R. W. Parks, 1871-72; 11. L. Goodrich, 1872-73; J. B. Smith, 1873-74; E. E. Gibbs, 1874-75; George T. Bryant, 1875-76; II. L. Goodrich, 1876-79.

REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.

No mention is made in the records of the election of a rep- resentative previous to 1827, in which year Capt. John Gould was chosen, and after him the following :

Abel Tuttle, Jr., Reuben l'almer (Mr. Palmer being charged not to oppuse [in 1829] the building of the railroad from Boston to Albany, if built without expense to the State), Roland Parks, Chauncey M. Morse, Justin Loomis, Jere. Bishop, Benjamin Bennet, James Bishop, John Dickinson, Daniel Fry, Bradford W. Palmer, Frederick Sackett, Newman Bishop, Gardner S. Burbank, llenry K. Loomis, Nelson D. Parks.

This list closes with the year 1857, when Russell became a part of the Eleventh Representative District.

VILLAGES.

The only village in the town is the village of RUSSELL, a station on the Boston and Albany Railroad, and located on the Westfield River, where the stream receives the waters of Black's Brook, from which the village derives its water-power. Here are two churches, the town-hall, an excellent district school, hotel, post-office, two stores, and several small manu- factories. A large tannery established here some years ago was recently destroyed by fire, but is likely to be restored shortly. The village numbers about 200 inhabitants, and in the summer and autumn seasons gains considerable business from the large influx of visitors who tarry there en route to the mountains of Blandford and Montgomery.

There are two small settlements on the Westfield River, near Russell village, one two miles south, at the Jessup & Laffin paper-mill, and one two miles north west, at the Chapin & Gould paper-mill. These settlements are peopled by the employés of the mills, and inelude an aggregate population of about 200.

CHURCHES.

The town records are silent upon ecclesiastical matters, and the inference is therefore that, unlike miost Massachusetts towns, Russell left the consideration of church affairs exclu- sively to church societies. An early record says that " The religious covenant and articles of faith and practice of the Second Baptist Church in Westfield, begun June 6, 1786, now under the care of Elder Ebenezer Stowe," were adopted by the First Baptist Church of Russell shortly after the date just mentioned, and upon the organization of that body. A meet- ing-house was built in 1792 in the village of Russell, and after a somewhat precarious existence the church was dissolved about the year 1811, In 1816 the church was revived, and that year ordained as its first pastor Rev. Asa Todd, who was succeeded, in 1825, by llev. Amos Clark, among whose successors were Revs. Mr. Childs, J. M. Whipple, J. M. Phillips, George Gunn, M. H. Rising, Lester Williams, and J. C. Carpenter. The meeting-house erected by the first so- ciety was used by the new church until 1820, when it was de- stroyed by fire. A new one was built in 1826, and in 1853 this latter was replaced by the present neat and substantial structure, at a cost of about $2400. The pastor now in charge is Rev. J. B. Ashley.

The first Congregational Church of which any note is made was organized Nov. 1, 1800, by Rev. Joseph Badger, of Bland- ford. It had then 15 members, but did not seem to prosper during the subsequent thirty years of its existence. It was eventually dissolved in 1830.

The Congregationalists and Methodists built a church in conjunction near the centre of the town, about 1820, and used it in common, under the name of the Union Society. The

foundations of this structure, which was torn down in 1830, are still to be seen.

After the dissolution of the Union Society, in 1830, the Methodists of Russell had no regular place of worship until 1869, when the present society was formed, and a very neat church building erected in the village of Russell. Rev. N. J. Merrill was the first pastor. The present pastor is Rev. S. Coles. The congregation numbers 70 members. The two churches here noted are the only ones in the town.

BURIAL-PLACES.

The village of Russell contains a trimly-kept and hand- somely-embellished burying-ground, but the early tombstones are few in number, and those do not date beyond 1794. More ancient graves there probably are, but their location is un- known. Of the old tombstones, reference is made here to that of Maj. Ebenezer Whiting, who died in 1794; Mary, "ami- able consort of Deacon Titus Doolittle," who died in 1798; Reuben Parks, 1803; Lowell Thomas, 1811; Jane, his wife, 1803; Hager Warner, 1818; John Dickinson, in 1830, aged ninety-three ; Dorothy, his wife, 1815; Titus Doolittle, 1818; and Jonah Mallory, in 1816.

Another burial-place is found near the centre of the town, at Russell Pond, and here it is likely the first interments were made in the town. Except, however, a tombstone recording the death of a daughter of Jacob and Thankful Loomis, in 1793, none of earlier date than 1802 are found. In that year Mehitable llazard was buried ; Enoch Stiles, in 1805; Matilda Williams, in the same year; luanna Williams, in 1804, aged seventy-three; and Bethiah Ward, in 1812.

SCHOOLS.

The first reference made in the existing town records to educational matters occurs under date of 1804, when $130 were raised for the support of schools. In 1805 the appro- priation for schooling was reduced to $100, and at this time there were two school-houses in the town,-one at the cen- tre, near Robert Hazard's house, and one on the mountain, in the southern section. The records do not mention the first school-teacher, but, in 1807, Miss Lindsey taught, and a Miss Sherman taught in 1808. The Miss Lindsey mentioned be- came Mrs. Dickinson shortly after 1807, who is still living in Russell village.

In 1810 what is known as the South River school district was divided into two districts, and it was agreed that one-half the money assessed should be schooled out to the east side, with the privilege given to the west-side people to send their children to school there as long as the assessed money held out.

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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 177

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