History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 41

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 41


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RESIDENCE OF L. O. CHITTENDEN, SUNDERLAND.


Photo. by Popkins.


A & Four


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DR. NATHANIEL G. TROW, one of the oldest and most prominent practitioners of Franklin County, was born in Wendell, N. H., on the 25th of July, 1811.


His grandfather, Josiah Trow, was an Englishman, and took an active part in the French-and-Indian war, and also fought in defense of the colonies during the Revolu- tionary struggle. His wife was Elizabeth Weeker, a native of Germany, by whom he had eight children, four sons and four daughters. The third son, Nathaniel, was the father of the subject of this notice.


He was born in Beverly, Mass., on the 25th of October, 1775, and was married in Salem, on the 13th of August, 1799, to Elizabeth Gilman, who was a native of Portsmouth, N. H. To them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters. Four of the sons became physicians.


Nathaniel G., the eldest son, pursued the usual elemen- tary branches of edneation in the common schools of his native town, and was instructed in the higher branches and the classics in the Cunnington Academy, from which he gradnated when twenty-four years of age. Immediately afterward he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Kittridge, of Hinsdale, Berkshire Co., Mass., and in the mean time also took three full courses of lectures at the Berkshire Medical College, from which he graduated in 1837. In the autumn of that year he commenced the practice of medicine in: Buckland, Franklin Co., Mass., where he remained over thirteen years. Then, exchanging practice with his brother Josiah, he removed to Sunderland, where he has sinee resided, in the uninterrupted and success- ful practice of his profession. It is now nearly forty-two years since he commenced to practice, and during that


time he has earned, by his ability and good judgment, a wide reputation as a physician and surgeon, and has also won a place in the hearts of the people as a man of honor and a Christian. Ilis experience and superior ability are frequently called into requisition for counsel, not only in questions of a medical nature, but also in those of public and social import.


He has never in any way sought publie office, preferring to devote his attention to other interests. The only posi- tion he has held is that of justice of the peace, in which capacity he served twenty years. He takes an interest in educational subjects, and has always endeavored to raise the standard of our publie schools. At different times he has had under his tuition fourteen medical students, among others his brothers, Josiah and William M. They have all succeeded in their profession, and those now living are in successful practice.


Dr. Trow has been a member of the Congregational Society forty-eight years, and throughout his life, both by precept and example, has east his influence on the side of Christianity and morality. In the Sunday-school he has been a teacher for nearly half a century, and in that eause his zeal is indeed untiring.


Dr. Trow was married, on the 9th of April, 1839, to Catharine, danghter of Alpheus Brooks, of Buckland. Their marital relations were blessed with six children, of whom four died in infancy.


The only living son is Dr. Cornelius G. Trow. He was born in Buekland in March, 1847, and practices his profession in Sunderland, where he is highly esteemed. He is married to Genevra, daughter of S. A. Shaw, of Springfield, Mass.


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685


HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.


to dispense the Word to those that are removed hither, if one can be conveniently procured on reasonable terms." A com- mittee was thereupon appointed " to seek after and procure a minister." No record indicates that a minister was procured at that time, and in November, 1716, it was voted "that Goodman Arms and Sergt. Isaae Hubbard do take a journey to ye President of ye College in Cambridge, with letters to him to advise where and whom they may obtain to be a min- ister in Swampfield at Lest for this winter half-year, our said Messengers to proceed accordingly, and if no success there, then to come home by way of Norwich to Mr. Willard or any other likely man in Connecticut, and if possible, to bring him home with them."


It was in November, 1716, also, that it was resolved to build a meeting-house " thirty foot wide and forty-five foot long, and in height eighteen foot betwixt joints." At a meet- ing held June 13, 1717, it was agreed " that all the proprietors of Swampfield shall appear early in the morning the next Tuesday to assist in raising the meeting-house, or else each man that absents himself to pay the sum of four shillings per day."


According to this, therefore, the first meeting-house was erected June 18, 1717. It stood in the Street, a little northeast of where the present Congregational Church in Sunderland village stands. Shortly after this date, Rev. Joseph Willard, of Norwich, Conn., who had doubtless been preaching at Swampfield previously, was offered a call to settle perma- nently, and he was ordained Jan. 1, 1718, and received for a settlement the gift of the minister-lot and £170 to build a house thereon .* Ilis salary was to be £65 a year and his fire- wood. No mention is made of there being any difficulty between Mr. Willard and the town, but he retired in 1721, and removed to Rutland, Mass., where, in 1723, he was slain by Indians.


The task of seating the church to the satisfaction of every- body was a difficult one, and created no end of complaint and a vast deal of trouble. In 1722 it was voted "that the house be seated ; that the (gallery ) pews shall be esteamed in Dignity to be equall with the third seate in the Body of the House, and that the Rule which the seatters shall gow in by seatting shall gow by age, estate, and Qualifications." Until 1737 the sexes were always apart at the church services, -. the women on one side the house, the men on the other.


The signal for calling people to church in 1784 was a flag, which was hung outside the meeting-house just before the holding of services. Widow Root was, in 1734, employed to " tend the Flagg," and received for her services that year £1 10s. The Widow Barrett performed this service in 1736, and in 1744 a contract was made with Samuel Clary, who agreed " to sweepe the meeting-house and blow the Conk-shell on the Sabbath for £2 10%. during that year." Later, Jonathan Graves was engaged to sweep the meeting-house and beat the drum each Sabbath.


In 1751 the town purchased a bell for the church, and to raise the purchase-money ordered the sale of "the Little Bog- gie Meadow." It was further voted " to sell as much land at Hunting Hills as will procure as much money as Little Bog- gie Meadow fetcheth, to be improved either to the building a Meeting-House or settling a Minister there." The bell was placed in the church-tower in 1754.


Rev. Wm. Rand began to preach in Sunderland in August, 1723, and in May, 1724, was ordained as Mr. Willard's sne- cessor. He preached until 1746, when-there arising between him and the town's people differences touching the new re- ligions sentiments created by the advent in New England of George Whitefield-he resigned and removed to Kingston, where he died in 1779.


In December, 1742, the town voted that " we are inclined to allow traveling preachers to preach among us ;" and this, it is believed, is the rock upon which Mr. Rand and the town split. Rev. Joseph Ashley, a native of Westfield and gradu- ate of Yale, was installed in November, 1747, as Mr. Rand's successor, and received a settlement of £700 and the promise of a salary of £240, all in old tenor.


In 1761 the town authorized Deacon Samuel Montague " to get all the necessary work done, and prevent the meeting-house from spreading any further." In 1764, Rev. Mr. Ashley's sal- ary was £500, old tenor, equal to £66 13s. 4d. In 1773 it was voted by the town to sequester, during the town's pleasure, for the use of the singers, " the two fore and the two second seats in the front gallery, and the two fore seats in the south gallery, and the fore seat in the lower tier and the second seat in the upper tier in the north gallery."


In 1780 the town began to look with disfavor upon Rev. Mr. Ashley, but the cause of the displeasure is not revealed. In that year a committee was appointed to ask the pastor upon what terms he would desist from officiating in his ministerial office. Nothing seems to have come of this request, for Mr. Ashley continued to preach as formerly ; hut in 1784, upon a second request to him to desist from preaching, he answered that he would stop preaching if the town would agree to give him a yearly sum of £35 and 30 cords of wood until another minister should be settled, and after that he would take one- half of his agreed annual salary during the rest of his life. To this the town refused to agree, and, after determining to dismiss Mr. Ashley, a change of resolution was effected, and an agreement made to leave the controversy to a church council for decision.


Meanwhile, Mr. Ashley sued the town for salary which had been withheld from him, gained his suit, and then renewed his offer to desist from preaching, conditioned that he should receive one-half his usual salary and 30 cords of wood yearly. The council was not called, but the matter was left for settle- ment to an arbitration, and, according to the committee's decision, Mr. Ashley refrained from preaching, and received yearly thereafter until his death, in 1797, one-half his agreed salary and 30 cords of wood.


The second meeting-house was built in 1792, and was sup- plied with a steeple and tower at one end, a porch at the other, 35 windows, each containing 40 squares of 7 by 9 glass, and it contained on the lower floor 41 pews.


Rev. Asa Lyon was ordained in October, 1792, as Mr. Ash- ley's successor, and was to have a settlement of £200, a salary of ESO while Mr. Ashley lived, and £90 after Mr. Ashley's death. There was some trouble with Mr. Lyon, and in August, 1793, it was voted " to call a council to determine the immoral conduct of Mr. Lyon." He was dismissed in October of that year. After him, Rev. David H. Williston was settled in 1804, just previous to which time the meeting- honse tower was supplied with a clock "with three faces." Mr. Williston preached two years, and was succeeded by Rev. James Taylor, who was ordained in 1807, and died while in the pastoral office, in 1831. His successors have been the Revs. Ilenry B. Holmes, Solomon B. Ingram, Austin Carey, Henry B. Hosford, Sereno D. Clark, E. D. Root, David Peck, and Wm. F. Arms, the latter being the pastor in charge in 1879.


The First Church has adhered steadfastly to the orthodox faith, from the date of erection of the first meeting-house, in 1717, to the present time (1879). The second meeting-house, erected in 1792, was replaced in 1835 by the present structure, By a vote in town-meeting in 1831, the church society was in- structed to form a parish separate from the town, and the measure was at once carried into effect.


There were Baptists in Sunderland in 1788, and they objected to paying the town rate assessed for the minister's support, whereupon legal measures were brought to bear upon them ;


* This lot is the first one north of the Congregational Church. The first min- ister's house was the one now occupied by E. A. Delano.


686


HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.


but they triumphed over the town, and in 1784 it was voted to relieve the Baptists of the minister's rate.


A Baptist Church was organized in the north part of the town in 1822, near the Montague line, and was long known as the Sunderland and Montague Baptist Church. A church edifice was built in 1822, and since that time the society has continued to flourish. Among the early pastors were Revs. Hosea Trumbull, David Pease, Elias Johnson, Elijah Mon- tague, Moses Curtis, Erastus Andrews, L. W. Wheeler, Lorenzo Rice, J. D. Donovan, Artemas Piper, Charles Farrar, A. W. Goodnow, and Samnel Everett. The present pastor (1879) is Rev. J. Robinson ; number of present members, 42.


SCHOOLS.


Although in their petition for incorporation, in 1718, the in- habitants petitioned for land for school purposes, they took no public action concerning educational matters until December, 1719, when it was determined to hire a schoolmaster for the winter, on condition that writers should pay 4d. a week, readers 3d., " the rest to be paid by the town." Joseph Root taught school in 1721, 1722, and 1728, but who preceded him -- for it is likely that there was a teacher before him-is not known.


The first school-house was probably erected in 1731, and its location "as near as convenient to the middle of the street, near about the south side of Capt. Scott's home-lot." This school-house, which was destroyed by fire in 1762, was used until 1749 as an exclusive winter school, after which date summer schools came into favor. It was located on the Street, near the road now leading to the Sunderland bridge. For many years there was but one school-house in the town, but in December, 1760, £4 were appropriated for schooling in the cast part of the town, which is now Leverett.


A new school-house-to succeed the one destroyed by fire- was built in 1768, and set in the town street north of the meet- ing-house, " on a certain heap of earth carried there, known as the monument." In 1771, when Caleb Billings taught the school, it was voted to build a school-house in the east part of the town ; but this vote was rescinded, for the reason that one school was thought to be as many as the town could afford to support. In 1779, John Montague received $ a month for keeping school in the winter, and he taught, it is said, as many as 100 scholars.


In 1791 the town was divided into three school districts, the first including all north of Clay Brook; the second, all south of Clay Brook to what is now Cold Spring ; and the third, all south of the latter point. In that year, too, the old school- house was sold to Melzar Hunt, at public vendue, for £2 16s. Its successor, built in 1791, did duty in Sunderland village as the shoe-shop of Ira Beaman until 1875, when it was taken down. Between 1816 and 1862 the districts provided their own schools, engaged teachers, etc., but in 1862 the charge of town schools passed to the care of the town. The first school- mistress of whom mention is made was Elizabeth Wair, who taught in 1779.


There were in the town in 1879 four school districts, in which, during 1878, 205 scholars attended school. There is at Sunderland Street an excellent graded school, divided into three departments, and popularly known as the high school. For the support of schools during 1877 the town expended $1068.


The town has an excellent public library, containing 1600 volumes. It was founded in 1869 by a donation of $1000 from Rufus R. and Augustus Graves, descendants of Erastus Graves, one of the early settlers of Sunderland. To this was added $200, offered by the late Horace Greeley to the town first re- porting to him the growth of two grape-vines upon cach home- stead within its borders. Later, Mr. A. J. Johnson donated $500, and from the estate of the late R. R. Graves $2000 were received as a perpetual fund for the use of the library.


Among the natives of Sunderland who became college grad- uates were Rev. E. Billings, the first minister of Greenfield, Mass., William Billings, Elisha Billings, Rufus Graves, Rev. Joseph Field, Rev. Eli F. Cooley, Rev. H. N. Graves, Rev. A. O. Hubbard, Rev. Jonathan Hubbard, Rev. O. G. Hub- bard, R. B. Hubbard, and Nathaniel Smith.


BURIAL-PLACES.


The oldest burying-ground in Sunderland is found at Sun- derland Street, where it occupies a commanding and pictur- esque site upon the east bank of the Connecticut, about half a mile from the village. The oldest headstone is one recording the death of Elizabeth Graves, in 1722. Another old stone bears in roughly-cut letters the words, "of Lebanon C. C., 1731," and still another simply " E. S., 1767." Other old in- scriptions are here given as follows :


Hannah Clary, 1747 ; Lieut. Joseph Clary, 1748; Mrs. Isaac Hubbard, 1744 ; Joseph Dickinson, 1755, Thomas Ilovey, 1727; Deacon Joseph Field, 1754; Wil- liam Scott, 1759; Elizabeth Scott, 1762; Miriam Graves, 1760; Benjamin Graves, 1756; Abigail Smith, 1767 ; Elizabeth Montague, 1753; Mary Graves, 1769 ; Mrs. Moses Clark, 1754 ; Isaac Hubbard, 1763; Mary Field, 1767; Elizabeth Leonard, 1770; Sarah Clark, 1772; Moses Clark, Jr., 1776; Jeremiah Ballard, 1774; Ste- phen Cooley, 1776; Zinas Couley, 1777; Oliver Cooley, 1778; Zebina Leonard, 1775; Samuel Graham 1781; Moses Clark, Sr., 1785; Lient. Abner Cooley, 1788; Catherine Smith, 1787; Eunice Russell, 1786; Tryphena Hubbard, 1788; Anna Ashley, 1791 ; Lieut. Lemuel Delano, 1792; Huldah Graves, 1793; Dracon Samnel Montague, 1789; David Hubbard, 1787: Lient .- Col. Noadiab Leonard, 1790.


There are said to be in this burying-ground about nine hun- dred graves, and among those buried therein are 42 llubbards, 35 Montagues, 85 Graves, and 31 Smiths. Six clergymen- Revs. Jos. Ashley, Jas. Taylor, Solomon Ingram, Austin Cary, and Win. Hawley-lie buried there, as do twelve deacons. Of the forty persons who made the first settlements in Sunder- land, the graves of but seven thereof can be found in the old church-yard. There is a cemetery fund of $1000 left to the town by the late R. R. Graves. The income of the fund is used to keep the cemetery in repair and to beautify it from time to time.


INDUSTRIES.


The industrial pursuits of Sunderland are confined almost exclusively to agriculture. There are a few saw-mills, but no other manufactories. There was at North Sunderland, several years ago, the wieking-factory of Thos. E. Munsell, but it has been abandoned.


Along the valley of the Connecticut the lands are fertile and richly productive, while generally the farming interest is a prosperous one, and the inhabitants of the town a thrifty and well-to-do people.


The town contains 135 farms, which, in 1875, yielded agri- cultural and domestic products of the value of $184,520. For the same year the value of manufactures was but $800. The total assessed valuation of the town in 1878 was $398,402, of which the value of real estate was $349,078. The total tax- State, county, and town-was $5786.87, or a rate of about $1.66 per $100. The debt of the town, March 1, 1878, was $12,334.


Sunderland has a flourishing Farmers' Club, which was organized in 1866, and which since that date has continued to have periodical assemblies, at which the members discuss agricultural topics and exchange opinions upon proposed schemes or newly-discovered ideas for the advancement of the interest of agriculture. It ineludes upon its membership-roll nearly every farmer in the town.


MILITARY.


SUNDERLAND'S REBELLION RECORD.


The following list of soldiers who served during the war of the Rebellion, 1861-65, is taken from the adjutant-general's report :


HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.


687


James W. Stebbins, Ist sergt., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 521 Itegt., Co. G; disch. June 11, 1863, for d.s- ability.


Edgar J. Pomeroy, Ist sergt., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


A. Smith Munsell, corp., enl. Vet. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


James B. Whittemore, corp., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., C'o. G; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


James R. Warner, corp., enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G ; disch. Aug. 14, 18G3.


James Mason Armstrong, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Julın R. Banks. enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 186.3.


William F. Bowman, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. B; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Leander Brigham, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Israel Childs, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


Jesse L. Delano, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G ; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Ileury J. Grover, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


Parker D. Hubbard, vul. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


George W. Miller, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


Arthur Montagne, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; di-ch. Feb. 27, 1863, for disability.


Merrick Montague, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 524 Regt., Co. G; disch. April 11, 1863, for di-ability.


Charles L. Russell, enI. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; di-ch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Wylie J. Russell, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Austin N. Russell, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G ; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.


Waters Tower, enl. Oct. 11, 1862, 52d Regt., Co. G ; disch. Ang. 14, 1863.


Edwin W. Ball, artif., enl. Feb. 23, 1864, Co. L, Ist II. Art .; dird Sept. 10, 1864, at City Point, Va. Otto Peterson, etil. Sept. 3, 1864, 2d Inf., Co. G; disch. July 10, 1864.


Samuel Graves, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Regt., Co. C; disch. July 1, 1864.


John Hemenway, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G; disch. to re-enl. Dec. 21, 1863; trans. June 20, 1864, to 37th Inf.


Abraham C. Puffer, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G; died Nov. 25, 1861, at Washington, D. C.


Charles M. Whitmore, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G ; d sch. Nov. 21, 1862, for disability.


George A. Whitmore, enl. June 21, 1861, 10th Inf., Co. G ; disch. July 1, 1864.


James llarrington, eul. May 14, 1864, 19th Inf.


Charles Wood, enl. Ang. 23, 1861, 21st Inf., Co. D; disch. Ang. 30, 1864.


George H. Page, enl. Feb. 9, 1865, 24th Inf., Co. I. Julın Walsh, enl. Sept. 12, 1864, 24th Inf.


James Hill, enl. Sept. 3, 1863, 32d Inf., Co. A ; died


of wounds, May 12, 1864, at Laurel Hill, Va. Richard N. Blodgett, enl. Nov. 12, 1861, 32d Inf., Co. C; disch. Dec. 22, 1862, for disability.


Thomas Archiball, enl. Jan. 2, 1804, 34th Inf., Co. G; died of wounds April 26, 1865.


Geo. L. Cooley, enl. Ang. 30, 1862, 37th Inf., Co. F; disch. June 21, 1865.


Frederick B. Crocker, en1. Aug. 30, 1862,37th Inf.,


Co. F ; killed June 21, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. Martin S. Hubbard, eni. Aug. 30, 1862, 37th Inf., Co. F ; killed May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, Va.


Gep. D. Whitmore, enl. Aug. 30, 1862, 37th Inf., Co.


F; died of wounds, April 13, 1865, at Peters- burg, Va.


James P. Thorne, enl. Aug. 26, 1864, 54th Inf .; trans. to 55th Inf.


Anson S. Munsell, 2d lieut., enl. May 16, 1865, 61st Inf .; dli-ch. June 4, 1865.


BERNARDSTON.


GEOGRAPHICAL.


BERNARDSTON, one of the northern towns of Franklin County, borders upon the State of Vermont, which is its northern boundary, and has upon the south the towns of Greenfield and Gill, upon the east the town of Northfield, and upon the west the town of Leyden. Fall River, an im- portant mill stream, enters the town in the north, near the village of North Bernardston, and, flowing almost due south, empties into the Connecticut at Turner's Falls.


The Connecticut River Railroad enters Bernardston in the southwest, and, touching at Bernardston village, passes out on the southeast at the Northfield line. The area of the town is equivalent to about five miles square, and covers about 16,000 acres.


NATURAL FEATURES.


The town abounds in attractive natural features, and in the valley through which Fall River pursues its way, or in the mountainous regions which lie on the east and the west, varied and picturesque displays of charming scenery meet the eye upon every hand. West Mountain, which overlooks Bernardston village on the west, is a notable eminence, 779 feet in height above the village level ; Bald Mountain, in the northwest, is said to be still higher ; and Wild Cat Mountain, just north of West Mountain, although the lowest of the three elevations, is a hill of more than ordinary pretensions. Besides Fall River, already noticed, there are many smaller streams, such as Dry Brook, Mill Brook, and Shattuck Brook.


Clay slate, calcareous gneiss, lower sandstone, and lime- stone abound, and in the east there is a quarry whence an ex- cellent quality of sidewalk-flagging is taken in considerable quantities. About a mile and a half north of Bernardston village there is a bed of iron-ore, hut as it is heavily charged with sulphur it is not much valued.


Bernardston is a popular summer resort, especially at a place called Sylvan Grove, about half a mile west of Bernardston village. Here, in a delightful grove on the line of the rail- way, the Connectient River Railroad Company expended several thousand dollars, in 1870, in the construction of in-


viting pienie-grounds, and hither come every summer great numbers of people, bent upon healthful and pleasant recrea- tion.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


In November, 1784, the following was presented to the General Court :


" A petition of Samuel Ilunt, of Billerica, for himself and other surricors of the officers and soldiers that belonged to the company of Capt. Turner, and the representatives of them that are dead, shewing that the said company in 1676 engaged the Indian enemy at a place above Decrheld, and destroyed above three hundred of them, and, therefore, praying that this court would grant them a tract of land above Deerfieldl suitable to make a township."




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