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 19
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SELECTMEN .*
1686 .- William Smead, Joshua Pumry, John Sheldon, Beuoni Stebbins, Benjamin Hastings, Thomas French,-to hold othice until others are chosen.
1689, May 30 .- Thomas Wells, John Catlin, Joua. Wells, Samuel Northam, Joseph Barnard.
1689, Dec. 23 .- Thomas Wells, John Catlin, Juhu Allyn, Joseph Barnard.
1690 .- John Sheldon, David Hoyt, Jona. Wells, Thos. French, Daniel Belding. 1691 .- John Sheldon, Edward Allyn, Samson Frary, Godfrey Nims, Henry White. 1692 .- John Sheldon, David Hoyt, Benoni Stebbins, Thomas Freuch, Simon Beaman.
1693 .- Thomas French, John Porter, Jonathan Wells.
1094 .- John Catlin, John Allyn, Edward Allyn.
1695-96, March 2 .- Joua. Wells, Daniel Belding, Godfrey Nims.
* Who were generally assessors also until 1779; called " town-men" for many years.
620
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
1697 .- Jobn Catlin, William Smead, John Hawks. IG98,-Jona. Wells, John Sheldon, Thomas French.
1699,-Jona. Wells, David Hoyt, Eleazer Hawks.
1700 .- John Catlin, John Sheldon, Thomas French.
1701 .- David Hoyt, Eleazer Hawks, Benoni Stebbins.
1702 .- John Sheldon, Nathaniel Sutlieff, Thomas French, John Richards.
1703-4 .- Jona. Wells, Eleazer Hawks, Samnel Carter.
1705 .- Eleazer Hawks, Daniel Belling, Edward Allen.
1706 .- Eleazer Hawks, Daniel Belding, Jona. Wells.
1707 .- Joua. Wells, Thomas Wells, Ebenezer Smead.
1708 .- Eleazer Hawks, Thomas Wells, Edward Allen.
1709 .- Jona. Wells, Thomas French, Thomas Wells, Ebenezer Smead, Ebenezer Brooks.
1710 .- Eleazer Hawks, Thos. French, Edward Allen, Ebenezer Smead, Ebenezer Brooks.
1711 .- Eleazer IJawks, Jona. Wells, Thomas Wells, Jolin Smead, Jos. Barnard. 1712 .- Thos. Freoch, Ebenezer Sureml, Indah Wright, John Arms, Benj. Mnnn. 1713 .- Thos. French, Eleazer Hawks, Thos. Wells, Sau'l Field, Edward Allen. 1714 .- Eleazer Iuwks, Ebenezer Smead, Samuel Chilis.
1715,-Jonathan Wells, Joseph Atherton,
1716 .- Ebenezer Smend, Edward Allen, Eleazer Hawks.
1717 .- Thomas Wells, Ebenezer Brooks, Samnel Barnard.
1718 .- Samuel Field, John Arms, John Catlio.
1719 .- Ebenezer Smead, Samuel Childs, Jona. Wells (21).
1720 .- Eleazer Hawks, Thomas Wells, Ebenezer Wells,
1×21 .- Samnel Field, John Catlin, Thomas French, Jr.
1722 .- Thomas Wells, John Arms, Joseph Severence.
1723 .- Eleazer Hawks, John Catlin, Benjamin Munn.
1724 .- Samuel Childs, Sammel Taylor, Ebenezer Wells.
1725 .- Juna. Wells, Moses Nash, Thomas Wells.
1726 .- Eleazer Hawks, Benj. Muun, John Catlin.
1727 .- John Arms, Jona. Hoyt, Ebenezer Wells.
1728 .- Thomas Wells, Ebenezer Shellon, John Bramau.
1729 .- Thomas French, Ebenezer Wells, John Nivis.
1730 .- Jona. Iloyt, Thomas Wells, Daniel Arms.
1731 .- Ebenezer Wells, Joho Arms, John Catlin (2).
1732 .- Thomas Wells, Samuel Taylor, Eleazer Hawks.
1733 .- Johu Catlin, Thomas French, Benj. Hastings.
1734 .- Jona. lloyt, William Arms, Ebenezer Wells.
1735 .- Elijah Williams, Jova. Hoyt, Ebenezer Wells.
1736 .- Thomas French, Elijah Williams, Ebenezer Wells.
1737 .- Elijah Williams, Thomas French, Eleazer Hawks.
1738 .- Elijah Williams, Thomas French, John Catlin.
1739 .- Jona. Iloyt, Ebenezer Wells, Nathaniel Hawks.
1740 .- Ebenezer Wells, Elijah Williams, John Hawks.
1741 .- Ebenezer Wells, Elijah Williams, John Catlin (2d).
1742 .- Elijah Williams, Ebenezer Wells, David Field, John Catlin (21), Thomas French.
1743 .- Elijah Williams, Ebenezer Wells, John Catlin (2d), Samuel Childs, Thus. French.
1744 .- Elijah Williams, Ebenezer Wells, John Catlin (21), David Field, John Catlin.
1745,-Elijah Williams, Ebenezer Wells, John Catlin (2d), David Field, Mathew Clesson.
1746 .- Thomas Freuch, Thomas Williams, Elijah Williams.
1747 .- Thomas French, Ebenezer Wells, Mathew Clessoo, Samuel Childs, John Sheldon, Jr.
1748 .- Joho Catlin, Thos. Williams, Sam'l Hinsdale, David Field, Edward Allen. 1749 .- John Hawks, William Williams, Mathew Clesson, David Field, Benjamin Hastings.
1750,-Ebenezer Hinsdale, Joho Hawks, John Catlin, Mathew Clisson, Benjamin Hastings.
1751 .- Ebevezer llinsdale, William Williams, Jona. Hoyt, David Field, Ebenezer Smead.
1752 .- Ebenezer Hinsdale, Elijah Williams, John Hawks, John Arms, Jr., Daniel Arms, Jr.
1753 .- Joseph Barnard, Elijah Williams, John Hawks, David Field, Timothy Childs.
1754 .- John Catlio, Elijah Williams, Jos. Barnard, David Field, Mathew Clesson.
. 1755 .- Mathew Clesson, Joseph Barnard, Daniel Arms.
1756 .- Mathew Clesson, Joseph Barnard, Daniel Arms, Elijah Williams. 1757 .- Elijah Williams, Samuel Childs, John Catlin.
1758 .- David Field, Daniel Arms, Joseph Barnard, Jobu Armis, Joseph Stebbins. 1759 .- David Field, Daniel Arms, Elijah Williams, Samuel Wells, Jos. Barnard. 1760 .- David Fiehl, Daniel Armis, Elijah Williams, John Arms, David Hoyt. 1761 .- Elijah Williams, Joseph Barnard, Sam'l Wells, John Arms, Sam'l Childs. 1762 .- Elijah Williams, Daviel Arms, Jona. Hoyt, Jr., Asahel Wright, Jeremiah Nius.
1763 .- Elijah Williams, David Field, Jos. Barnard, Samuel Childs, John Hawks. 1764 .- Elijah Williams, David Field, Jos. Barnard, Salah Barnard, David Hoyt. 1765 .- Elijah Williams, John Hawks, Jona. Ashley, Salah Barnard. David Hoyt. 1766 .- David Field, Daniel Arms, Jona. Hoyt, Jr., Samuel Childs, Asahel Wright. 1767 .- Elijah Williams, David Field, Jos. Stebbins, John Hawks, Jeremiah Nims. 1768 .- Elijah Williams, David Field, Jos. Barnard, Nathan Frary, Salah Barnard. 1769 .- David Field, Johu Hawks, Juna. Ashley, Jona. Arms, Jona. Hoyt, Jr.
1770 .- David Field, Jos. Barnard, Salah Barnard, Jeremiah Nimis, Asahel Wright. 1771 .- David Field, Jona. Ashley, Jona. Hoyt, Jr.
1772 .- David Field, Jona. Ashley, Joseph Barnard.
1773 .- David Field, Joseph Barnard, Salah Baruard.
1774 .- Daniel Arme, Jona. Hoyt, Jr., Jona. Arnis.
1775 .- David Field, Salah Barnard, John Russell.
1776-77 .- David Field, Salah Barnard, John Bardwell.
1778 .- Jos. Barnard, David Field, Salah Barnard, John Bardwell, Jeremiah Nims.
1779 .- John Sheldon, Samuel McCall, David Saxton, Asahel Wright, Elihn Field, Ebenezer Wells, Isaac Parker.
1780 .- Eldad Bardwell, Thomas Bardwell, Eliphalet Dickinson.
1781 .- Samuel Harding, Amzi Childs, Joseph Barnard, David Saxton, Thomas W. Dickinson, Levi Newton.
1782 .- Jos. Stebbins, Sam'l Barnard, Jeremiah Nims, Amzi Childs, Elihn Field. 1783 .- David Hoyt, Sam'l Barnard, Jr., Sam'l Field, Seth Catlin, Elihn Ashley. 1784 .- David Hoyt, Sam'l Baroard, Jr., Paul Hawks, Seth Catlin, Elihu Ashley. 1785-86 .- David Hoyt, Samuel Barnard, Jr., David Saxton, Seth Catlio, Thomas W. Dickinson.
1787 .- David Hoyt, Samuel Barnard, Jr., David Saxton, Seth Catlin, Jons. Arms. 1788 .- David Saxton, Zur Hawks, Aaron Arms, Abner Cooley, Saomel Childs.
1789 .- Jona. Arms, Jos. Stebbins, Jr., Elihu Ashley, Jos. Barnard, Amzi Childs. 1790 .- Joseph Stebbins, David Hoyt, Elihu Ashley.
1791 .- Samuel Field, Kliphalet Dickinson, Abner Cooley, Amzi Childs, Moses Chandler.
1792 .- Jona. Arms, Amzi Childs, Joseph Barnard, Seth Nims, Asahel Wright, Jr. 1793 .- Seth Catlin, Sammel Childs, Elijah Arms, Seth Nims, David Iloyt, Jr.
1794 .- Joseph Barnard, David Saxton, Jr., Eliakim Arms, Asa Stebbins, Asahel Wright, Jr.
1795,-David Saxton, Zur Hawks, Jos. Stebbins, William Tryoo, Eliakim Arms. 1796 .- Joseph Barnard, Joseph Stebbins, Thomas W. Dickinson.
1797 .- Joseph Barnard. Zur Hawks, John Williams, Amzi Childs, Elijah Arms. 1798 .- Seth Catliu, Thomas W. Dickinson, Seth Nius.
1799 .- John Williams, Jos. Stebbins, Amzi Childs, Solo. Williams, Abner Cooley. 1800 .- John Williams, David Hoyt, Elijah Arms, Solo. Williams, Asabel Wright. 1801 .- Joseph Stebbins, Thomas W. Dickinson, Seth Nims.
1802 .- Jos. Stebbins, W. S. Williams, Asahel Wright, Seth Nims, Eliakim Arms. 1803 .- David Hoyt, Augustus Lyman, Abner Cooley, Seth Nims, E. II. Williams. 1804 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbius, Hez. W. Strong, Elihu Hoyt, William Tryon. 1805 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, Elijah Armis, Sam'l Wells, Jr., Angostos Lyman. 1806 .- Seth Nimis, Asa Stebbins, Augustus Lyman, Abner Cooley, Jr., Ebenezer II. Williams.
1807 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, T. W. Dickinson, Zur Hawks, Eliakim Aros. 1808 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, E. H. Williams, Elijah Arms, Elihu Hoyt. 1800 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, Angustus Lyumao, Elijah Arms, Eliel Allen. 1810 .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, Augustus Lyman, Eb'r Newcomb, Jr., Eli Cooley. 18II .- Seth Nims, Asa Stebbins, Angustus Lyman, Ebenezer Newcomb, Jr., Eli- jah Arms, Jr.
1812 .- Seth Nims, Elihu Hoyt, Sam'l Wells, Eb'r Newcomb, Jr., Elijah Arms, Jr. 1813 .- Seth Nimus, E. II. Williams, Augustus Lyman, EU'r Newcomb, Jr., Elijah Arnıs, Jr.
1814 .- Seth Nims, Sam'l Wells, Elijah Arms, Eb'r Newcomb, Jr., Asa Stebbins. 1815 .- Seth Nims, Elihu Iloyt, Elijah Arms, Eb'r Newcomb, Jr., Augustus Ly- man.
1816 .- Seth Nims, Elihu Hoyt, Elijah Arms, John Nelsou, Augustus Lyman. 1817 .- Asa Stebbins, Ebenezer H. Williams, George Arms, Orlando Ware.
1818 .- Asa Stebbins, Eb'r HI. Williams, Geo. Arms, Orlaudo Ware, Eliakim Arms. 1819 .- Seth Nims, Elijah Arms, Stephen Whitney, Chas, Hitchcock, Elihu Hoyt. 1820 .- Orlando Ware, Elijah Arnis, Stephco Whitney, Charles Ilitchcock, Jolin Nelson.
1821 .- Orlando Ware, Angustus Lyman, Amos Russell.
1822-23 .- Orlando Ware, Stephen Whitney, Charles Hitchcock.
1824 .- Orlando Ware, Deunis Stebbins, Zebediah Graves.
1825 .- Elihu Hoyt, Deunis Stebbins, Stephen Whitney. 1826-27 .- Rufus Saxton, Dennis Stebbins, Amos Russell.
1828 .- Orlando Ware, Deunis Stebbins, Amos Russell. 1829,-Orlando Ware, Elihn Hoyt, Amos Russell. 1830 .- Amios Russell, Deunis Stebbins, Seth Sheldon.
1831 .- Stephen Whitney, Asa Stebbins, Jr., Baxter Stebbins.
1832 .- Orlando Ware, Asa Stebbins, Zebina Stebbins.
1833,-Stephen Whitney, Asa Stebbins, Orlando Ware.
1834-35 .- Dennis Stebbins, Alvah Hawks, Allen Mansfield.
1836 .- Dennis Stebbins, Alvah Hawks, Allen Mausfield, George Wright, Ira Abercrombie.
1×37 .- Dennis Stebbins, Eli Cooley, Jr., Ephrairo Williams.
1838,-Asa Stebbins, Jr., Eli Cooley, Jr., Ephraim Williams.
1839 .- Ephraim Williams, Cephas Clapp, Ira Abercrombie.
1840 .- Ephraim Williams, Cephas Clapp, Amos Russell. 1841-44 .- Epbraim Williams, Cephas Clapp, Ira Abercrombie. 1845,-Ira Abercrombie, Cephas Clapp, Eli Wright.
1846 .- Ira Abercrombie, Cephas ('lapp, Charles Williams.
1847 .- Ira Abercrombie, Cephas Clapp, Asa Stebbins. 1848 .- Ira Abercrombie, Daniel Tilton, HI. K. lloyt.
1840-51 .- Ephraim Williams, Allen Mansfield, Ralph Clapp.
1852 .- Ephraim Williams, William Sheldon, Sumner Dunlap. 1853-54 .- William Sheldon, Almon De Wolf, Allen Mansfield. 1855 .- William Sheldon, Ralph Clapp, Almnou Bryant. 1856 .- William Sheldon, Ralph Clapp, Allen Mausfield. 1857-58 .- Horatio Hawks, Elisha Wells, James C. Arms. 1859-60 .- Elisha Wells, Allen Mansfield, Dexter Childs. 1861-62 .- Elisha Wells, Allen Mansfield, Philo Temple. 1863-66 .- Dexter Childs, Geo. W. Jones, Charles Arms.
621
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
I867-69 .- Josiah Brown, Geo. W. Jones, Charles Jones. 1870 .- Dexter Childs, S. D. Billings, Charles Jones. 1871 .- Dexter Childs, Charles Jones, Charles Arnis. 1872 .- Charles Jones, Geo. W. Jones, Charles Inger. 1873 .- Charles Jones, Geo. W. Jones, Geo. W. Smith. 1874-75 .- Charles Jones, Charles E. Williams, Albert Stebbins. 1876 .- Charles Jones, Charles E. Williams, Joel De Wolf. 1877 .- Charles Jones, Joel De Wolf, Charles P. Akirich. 1878 .- Charles Jones, Lester L. Lacy, Charles P. Aldrich. 1879 .- Charles P. Aldrich, Jonathan Ashley, Robert Abercrombie.
WAR OF 1812-15.
No military organization from this town served in the war of 1812. A few were drafted, and a few volunteered. A list is given of such as are known :
Col. John Wilson, Maj. John C. Hoyt, Stephen W. Williams, Israel Boyden, Wm. Palmer, Stephen Smith, Robert L. Lanfair, Ephraim Lanfair, Ichabod Nelson, Moses Hawks, Lorenzo S. Hatch, Wm. Loveridge, Zur Sweet, Robert Fout, Abuer Goodenough, James Hayden, Samuel Frink.
A cavalry company here had for officers, Captain, Thomas W. Ashley ; Lieutenant, Charles Hitchcock; Ensign, Josiah 1 .. Arms. A company of infantry, Zebina Russell, Captain ; Zebediah Graves, Lieutenant ; David Wright, Ensign.
WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
In the great Rebellion, Deerfield was not found wanting in patriotic endeavor, and furnished her full share of men and money to put down the wicked ambition of the South. A fit- ting monument, erected on the common of the Old Street, attests our gratitude to the defenders of our country, and proclaims our loss, it bearing the names of those who perished in the service. The following is a list of the soldiers from Deerfield : Robert L. Adair, George N. Allen, James M. Allen, Lafayette Anderson, Jamies Armstrong, Charles S. Babcock, Henry Baker, Arthur W. Ball, Charles M. Ball, Francis W. Ball, Dwight W. Bardwell, George W. Bardwell, John Barnard, Oliver Banash, Leonard B. Barns, Albert W. Bates, Michael Beban, Patrick Behan, Charles A. Belden, JJames Belden, Henry E. Bolton, Lois Boobly, John M. Brazer, Lorenzo Brazer, Francis W. Briggs, Henry E. Briggs, Daniel Bullard, Casper Burghardt, James Butler, John M. Campbell, George B. Cantrall, Alonzo Childs, George II. Childs, Alfred D. Clapp, Calvin S. Clapp, Charles Clark, George N Clark, Henry Clark, Henry G. Clark, Samuel E. Clark, Christian ('lass, Henry S. Church, Frederick Colly, B. O. Comme Il, Allen Cooley, Richard Costelow, Andrew Day, Francis Drane, Henry Deering, William Dernsmore, Abel E. De Wolf, Charles L. Delland, Alonzo T. Dodge, Clinton HI. Dodge, Henderson N. Dodge, James Dononghne, Daniel Donovon, Peter Dono- von, Mathew Dooley, Joseph Dunning, Orrin J. Eaton, John Eberlen, Edward Kly, Joseph Farlander, Daniel Finn, John Finn, Michael Finn, Edwin T. Fowler, Sumner Frink, Frank B. Fuller, John Fuller, Thomas Ferguson, Alonzo Gay, Michael Glasset, Edward D. Goland, Alfred B. Goodenongh, James Grady, Albert H. Graves, Dickinson E. Graves, Henry W. Greenough, Dexter F. Hager, Charles E. Hastings, George A. Hastings, llenry A. Hastings. Lorenzo T. Hastings, George Hawks, Ed- ward Hays, Andrew Herman, James Hitchcock, Gottheb Halle, Edward Hosmer, Jr., James K. Hosmer, Edward Hoyt, George G. Iloyt, Alexis R, Hubbard, Frederick A. Hubbard, William N. Ilnbbard, George Hunter, John W. Jackson, Frank L. Jenks, Alvord A. Jewett, Gilbert Jewett, John Johnson, Alfred G. Jones, Frank W. Jones, Orrey Jones, Dexter Kemp, Michael Kenedy, Joel Keyes, Frank Labell, Seth P. Lanfair, Charles Leonard, Warren Leonard, William Leonard, Ilenry C. Lewey, Henry Lyman, John Manhan, Bathus Markle, William Martin, Alphonso H. Melenda, Harland W. Miller, Otis Moore, Martin Moran, Edward E. Morton, William Mniller, Richard O'Hary, Edwin B. Ockington, John B. Palmer, W. R. Parker, Simeon Peck, Charles O. Phillips, Dwight C. Pe- here, Horace Pehere, Ru>sell Pehere, William Prevo, Philip Reuth, David L. Rice, George Rice, Isaac D. Rice, Luther Rice, Charles Rich- ards, Washington Ross, Joseph Rowland, Lucins II. Sammuis, Edward Savage, Mirand W. Saxton, Orrin D. Saxton, Thomas Saxton, William P. Saxton, Philip A. Sears, Maurice Shehan, James Shehay, Jobn Shehee, Robert Shehee, James HI. Sheldon, Wm. A. Simms, George Slate, Charles Smitlı, David A. Smith, Edwin A. Smith, Edwin B. Smith, Erastus C. Smith, George W. Smith, Henry D. Smith, Albian Stebbins, James T. Stebbins, Wellington M. Stebbins, William H. H. Stebbins, B. Washing- tou Stebbins, Dana W. Sprout, Edgar P'. Squires, Hiram B. Stearns, James Stewart, Charles Stock well, Charles Stowell, Cyrus A. Stowell, Myran A. Stowell, Cornelius Sullivan, Joseph Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Henry W. Temple, William C. Thayer, James B. Tilley, Charles G Tilton, Asa E. Todd, David E. Todd, Stephen C. Todd, William II. Todd, Almon Van Wanger, George Vizzard, Arthur Wait, Erastus T. Wait, John Ware, Charles Warner, Jr., George M. Wells, Ebenezer E. Whitney, Henry Wil- der, Jr., Charles L. Williams, Ephraim Williams, John Williams, Martin V. Williams, Charles Wilson, Lyman Wise, Justus Wrisley, John Zini- merman.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. CEPILAS CLAPP.
It has been said that "a truthful representation of a worthy life is a legacy to humanity ;" and as such we pre- sent a brief outline of the life and character of Cephas Clapp. He was the son of Erastus and Katie ( Ross) Clapp, who were natives of Deerfield. His father was born July 30, 1771; his mother, May 14, 1773. The former died Sept. 12, 1851, and the latter June 17, 1858. They were married in Deer- field, May 15, 1794, and bad nine children, of whom the sub- jeet of this memoir was the second. Cephas Clapp was born
in Pine Nook, Deerfield, Jan. 1, 1797. When he was twelve years of age his father removed to Mill River, where he bought a farm. Although an industrious and worthy man, he was . in straitened circumstances, and could give his son but few educational advantages. Mr. Clapp's education for this reason was confined to an attendance at the common school during the winter. ]Ie exhibited, however, at an early age a deter- mined and enterprising spirit. When twenty-one years old he purchased his father's farm, and successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. By the energy and integrity which he displayed in all his pursuits he won the confidence of his townsmen, and in 1850 represented Deerfield in the Legisla- ture. He served also nine consecutive years as selectman, and was elected the tenth, but he declined serving. He was for two years a trustee of Smith Charities, and by the sound judgment which he displayed in discharging the duties pertaining to that office he gained the respect and esteem of all officers of that institution. The Smith Charities and the savings-bank often called into requisition his superior judgment to make appraisals of property on which loans were to be made, and it is remarkable that in no instance was loss incurred when his advice was strictly followed. He acted as referee in nu- merous cases, to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. He was quick to see the right, and when once convinced no amount of argument could induce him to change his de- cision. In polities he was a Whig of the staunchest kind.
Mr. Clapp was united in marriage, April 17, 1828, to Emily Boyden, of Deerfield. They had seven children, of whom
622
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
three died in infancy. Those living are Cephas Gerry, Fran- cis, Emily B., wife of J. C. Melendy, and Charlotte M., wife of A. A. Cooley. Francis is living upon the old homestead, and contributes this memoir and the portrait of his father to this work.
Mrs. Clapp died in 1872, and her husband mourned her loss so deeply as to materially affect his health and spirits. Hle survived her three years, when after an illness of but six days he died, March 7, 1875. The following, from the Franklin County Times of April 9, 1875, is a just tribute to a good man : " The death of Mr. Cephas Clapp, of South Deerfield, an old and respected citizen, was sudden and unexpected, and is a loss to the community which will be long and deeply felt. 1Ie was not only loved and honored by his own family, but by all who came in contact with him in social or business relations. In all his intercourse and dealings he was frank, open-hearted, honest in the strictest sense of the word, always ready and willing to do what he thought right in the face of all opposi- tion, and without reference to any injury to self which might be caused by so doing. He was one of the stannch men of the past generation, deep in thought, high-minded, pure in heart, and a liberal supporter of the Congregational Church, of which he was a member. He was also liberal in his aid to the missionary cause and other fields of labor. . . . We can all exclaim, and truly, that we have lost a great and good man, one of the noblest of the ' noble works of God,' a beacon- light whose rays will never grow dim till those who have known and loved him pass too over that river to the shore beyond."
HON. GEORGE SHELDON.
The Sheldon family have been among the distinguished in- habitants of the Connecticut Valley. The first of the name who settled in Deerfield was Ensign John Sheldon, in 1684 .* About 1698 he built the dwelling afterward famous as the " Old Indian House," which was removed about 1848.
The original Sheldon homestead passed into the hands of the lloyt family in 1743, a daughter of Ebenezer, who was a son of Ensign Sheldon, having married one of the family. Ebenezer was a boy of thirteen years when his father's house was so furiously assaulted by the French and Indians in 1704, and he was taken prisoner and carried to Canada at that time.
George Sheldon is of the sixth generation from Ensign
Sheldon, and was born on the homestead, which has been in the family since 1708, on the 30th of November, 1818. IIis father, Seth Sheldon, was a farmer, and the young man worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when an accident disabled him from manual labor for some ten years of his life. His early education was obtained at the common district school and at the Deerfield Academy, which he attended during several winter terms.
From 1853 to 1858 he was employed in the Dwight Cotton- Mills, at Chicopee ; but in the latter year an injury received in a railway collision compelled him to return to his father's, where he subsequently took charge of the homestead for a number of years, until about 1868, when he relinquished it to his son-in-law.
From the last-mentioned date to the present Mr. Sheldon has been engaged a large portion of his time in literary and antiquarian pursuits, and has contributed many interesting and valuable chapters and papers from time to time on the history and archæology of the Connectieut Valley, in which connection he occupies the foremost rank as a collator and writer.
He was actively instrumental in founding and organizing the " POCOMPTUCK VALLEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION," which assumed tangible form in 1870, and has been president of it since its organization .; Mr. Sheldon has also held important civil positions. Has been justice of the peace in his native town for fifteen or twenty years ; was a member of the Massa- chusetts House of Representatives in 1867, and of the State Senate in 1872. He married, June 11, 1844, Susan Stewart, daughter of John F. Stearns, Esq., of Dummerston, Vt. He has two children,-a son and daughter. The son is in busi- ness in Greenfield, and the daughter and her family live on the homestead with her father.
Few places in the Union can compare with the quaint and quiet old town of Deerfield in the richness of its historical inemories. For many years succeeding 1690 it was the grand objective-point in Western New England against which the northern enemy directed his mingled white and dusky bat- talions, and the stories of its burnings and massacres are among the most thrilling and interesting in our annals.
In this rich field Mr. Sheldon has ample scope for the full employment of his powers ; and if his life and health continue, the results of his labors will no doubt be highly appreciated by the coming generations.
MONTAGUE.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
MONTAGUE, one of the eastern towns of Franklin, lies on the east and south banks of the Connecticut River, and is bounded on the north by the Connectieut, on the south by Sunderland and Leverett, on the east by Erving and Wendell, and on the west by the Connecticut River. Of the 16,520 tax- able acres which the town contains, about one-half consists of improved lands. The New London Northern Railroad crosses from the Sunderland line on the south to the village of Miller's Falls in the northeast; the Vermont and Massachusetts branch of the Fitchburg Railroad passes east and west through the centre of the town ; and in the north west corner the Greenfield and Turner's Falls branch of the Fitchburg Railroad connects those two villages.
NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of the town is generally level, save in the east and sonth, where high hills cover the face of that region lying east of the New London Northern Railroad. The only eleva- tion of consequence in the north is Wells' Hill. Other emi- nenees are Dry, Chestnut, Pine, and Country hills, but none of these rise to the dignity of mountains.
The Connecticut River bounds the town on the north and west, and Miller's River, on the northeast, is n rapid stream of considerable size, which furnishes the manufactories at Miller's Falls and other points with valuable water-power. Reference to this, as well as to the greater water-power of the Connecticut at Turner's Falls, will be found in detail farther along.
* See history of Deerfield.
+ For an account of this association see history of Deerfield.
623
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
From the hills on the cast and south, richly picturesque views of the winding Connectieut, its charming valley, and the far- reaching and diversified landscape are obtained. During the past few years the timber-land of the town has been industri- ously eleared. Chestnut is now the principal growth found on the woodlands. Besides the Connecticut and Miller's River, there is also Saw-mill River, which flows through Southwest Montague and empties into the Connectieut.
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