History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 46

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 46

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The Troy and Greenfield Railroad traverses the town along the Deerfield River, and has a well-appointed station at Shel- burne Falls, where the company has an engine-house with two stalls and a small repair-shop. Here is one of the best shipping-points in the county.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Clesson's River, in Buckland, affords much water-power, which was well improved at an early day. Near the Haw- ley line, and at what was called the " Upper City," Silas Dodge had a saw-mill, and handle-factories were carried on by Alpheus Smith and others. A trip-hammer and a forge were also operated. At a power lower down on that stream was a grist-mill, having two run of stones, which was erected by Josiah Davis about 1800. The Ruddock< thoroughly repaired it in 1827, and it was last operated by Harris White, about 1868. About 1835 this power also drove cloth-dressing and fulling machinery for Abel Parker, and afterward broom- and brush-handles were turned here by Sinith, Ames, and others. On the opposite bank was a small saw-mill. An eighth of a mile below, a member of the Ruddock family had a saw-mill, and A. Davis the turning-shop, which is yet standing. Eighty rods lower down, Silas Smith had carding-machines, a cider- mill, a turning-shop, and flax-dressing machinery; and yet a little below was a saw-mill operated by Silas Smith and Josiah Pratt. Near by, J. T. Ward bad a saw-mill, and at a power below was a grist-mill, the latter abandoned many years ago. One hundred rods farther down the stream, Amos Wood had a grist-nr.ill, near where Lilley & Kinney's saw-mill and turn- ing-shop now are; and still farther below, on the site of a former turning-shop, are a cider-mill, brandy-still, and me- chanie shop, owned by Arnold Smith. A quarter of a mile below, Zur Hitchcock built a shop, in 1847, for grinding and polishing cutlery. Two fatal accidents occurred here: A. Perkins was killed by the bursting of a grindstone, and Oscar Hitchcock by being caught in the belting. The building is at present used for a dwelling. Farther down, Perry & Dem- ming built a wooden-ware shop, in which the Goodeil Bros. began the manufacture of their patent bit-brace. Close by, Enos Pomeroy had a carding-machine and cloth-dressing works. The manufacture of files is at present carried on here

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

by William Clark, and formerly gave employment to six men. Aaron Chambers also made files at this point in former years; and southeast from the " corners" was a wood- and iron-turn- ing shop, carried on by Peter Butler. Here, too, was formerly a shop for the manufacture of sash and blinds, operated by Joseph Griswold and others, and at one time this place promised to become a manufacturing centre. Between this point and the village of Buckland was one of the first improved powers in town, which operated a good saw-mill, and a grist-mill having two run of stone, for John Ward. In later years Horace F. Taylor carried on a grist-mill and turning-shop. The flood of December, 1878, destroyed this power, and the machinery has been removed.

At the village Newell Townsley improved the water-power for tannery purposes about 1828. In this branch of business he was succeeded by Wm. B. Caswell, who enlarged the works and carried them on until about 1868, when the tannery was abandoned. About 1835 a part of the water-power was sold to Newton Griswold, who erceted a large two-story building for a sash-and-blind factory, and for the manufacture of wooden-ware. In after-years mill machinery was supplied, and this is at present operated by Horace Elmer.

The power below the village was improved some time before 1840, by Porter, Ballard & Lazell, for a saw-mill. Among the Jater owners were John Porter, Bartlett Ballard, Palmer Ware, and Sumner Ward. The latter's family now carry it on, and it is doing a large business.

Near the mouth of Clesson's River, in the midst of a pine forest, a pioneer saw-mill was built before 1790, by Samuel Taylor, Josiah Johnson, Daniel Trowbridge, and others, which was widely known as the " Pine Mill." After 1800, Levi White became the owner, and carried on these mills- saw and grist-many years. After the old mills had become useless David Crittenden erected a saw- and shingle-mill. Subsequently, II. S. Swan erected a large building, in which was first mill machinery, but which was afterward used to finish cutlery. Later, Fred Bamer here made surgical instru- ments. The freshet of 1869 destroyed this power.

HAMLETS AND VILLAGES.

In the northern part of the town was formerly a business point, called the " MILL-YARD," where Henry Taylor was engaged as a merchant, and was followed by Ebenezer May- nard, who for many years transacted a large business. This trade was diverted to other places, and the little hamlet in consequence declined. Near the southern extreme of the town were shops, mills, and other adjuncts constituting a hamlet, the last store being kept by William Patch, but when these became inoperative the place became, in fact as well as in name, simply a " four corner ;" nor did the busy and once promising hamlet at the Hawley line continue to live to merit . the name of " Buckland Upper City." One after the other of its industries passed away, and the place has long borne a deserted appearance. A store was formerly kept here by Harvey White, and on the road below was a public-house kept by Elias Smith.

BUCKLAND

is a small but pleasantly located village on both sides of Clesson River, near the centre of the town, four miles from Shelburne Falls. It contains Congregational and Methodist Churches, a good school-house, three stores, shops, and a num- ber of fine residences. Samuel Taylor was one of the promi- nent settlers in early days, and after the custom of those times was an innkeeper. His house stood on the lot now occupied by Dr. Trow's residence. Other hotels have been kept by Joseph Hubbard, and the last by Zenos Graham.

The first to engage in trade was Alfred Jones, in a small building on the cast side of the street. Joseph Hubbard and Zur Hitchcock established a trade in a long, low building, nearly opposite, at an carly day. Near by, Lorenzo Griswold

engaged in business. Other merchants have been Ebenezer Maynard, Frank Ballard, Samuel Townsley, Henry Maynard, W. B. Caswell, S. B. Taylor, John Temple, and Elisha Harris.

The Buckland post-office was established at the "Mill- Yard," in the store of Henry Taylor, who was appointed the first postmaster. Joseph Hubbard was the next appointed, and removed the office to the present village. The subsequent postmasters have been N. G. Trow, Ebenezer Maynard, Josiah Trow, Samuel Townsley, Henry Maynard, Alanson W. Wood, William B. Caswell, John Porter, Samuel B. Taylor, and John Temple. The office has a daily mail from Shelburne Falls.

The first resident physician was Dr. Silas Holbrook, about 1800. Dr. Joseph Allen came next, and, soon after, Dr. Law- son Long. About 1830, Sylvester Axtell located as a physi- cian, and, ten years later, Dr. N. G. Trow. Since 1851, Dr. Josiah Trow has been the resident physician.

Among the physicians originating here have been Wayne Griswold and Sidney Brooks; and attorneys, Whiting Gris- wold, Abner Taylor, and Enos Pomeroy.

SHELBURNE FALLS.

AAbout half of this flourishing village is on the Buckland side, the two parts being connected by a very fine iron bridge. In Buckland are the railway depot, the Methodist Church, Odd-Fellows' Hall, and the interests detailed below. There are about 1000 inhabitants.

The village site was formerly embraced in the Coleman farms, and, aside from the Coleman house, but few buildings were erected before 1850; since then the growth has been steady, notwithstanding several fires have somewhat checked it. The most destructive of these occurred July 22, 1876, about eight o'clock in the evening, and before eleven had completely de- stroyed Anawansett Block, containing the town clerk's office, the Methodist Episcopal Church, Woodward's Hotel, and sev- eral dwelling-houses. It is said the reflected light from this fire could be seen twenty-eight miles.

Anawansett Block was erected in 1853, of brick, 42 by 60 feet, and three stories high, and contained the first stores in the Buckland portion of Shelburne Falls. These were kept by L. M. Packard and Chase & Green. When burned, the Newell Bros. occupied it, and did a heavy business. This firm, A. W. Ward, and Andrew Sauer are the present mer- chants.

On the site of Odd-Fellows' Hall a hotel was opened by Am- brose Kelley, and subsequently continued by Ariel, Abner, and Philip Woodward. The latter is still the keeper of a publie-house near his old stand.

The principal interest in the place is the Lamson & Good- now Manufacturing Company's cutlery establishment. This enterprise was inaugurated by Ebenezer G. and Nathaniel Lam- son, sons of Silas Lamson, inventor of the bent seythe-snathe. About 1835 the Lamsons came to this place and began the manufacture of snathes on the east side of the river, and were long engaged in this branch of business, aggregating some years as many as 20,000 snathes. This work necessitated the employment of iron- and brass-working machinery, and, about 1842, the manufacture of cutlery was begun in this connection, the work being done after the manner of that day. At that time it was not thought possible for American artisans to pro- duce anything in cutlery which would equal European pro- duets, and the demand for the work of this shop was so small that only 40 persons were employed.

In 1844, A. F. Goodnow was associated with the Lamsons, the firm becoming Lamson, Goodnow & Co., and by the in- troduction of machinery, most of which was invented and manufactured by the firm, the establishment was enabled to produce work of uniformly good quality, at prices which al- lowed it to compete with foreign countries, where skillful labor was more abundant and less expensive. The firm has

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

originated many devices in the cutlery business, making the application of machinery so general that this branch of manu- facturing has been completely revolutionized, not only in this country, but in Europe.

One of the most important was the invention, by J. W. Gardner, of their firm, of a machine for forging the bolster of knives and forks, so as to leave them in the required form and shape by the simple operation of the machine. This bol- ster permits the handles to be fastened so firmly that they can- not become loose, and the control of this valuable device has given the company great superiority in its manufactures. The establishment also claims excellence for the methods employed in getting an exact, evenly and uniformly finished blade, which is hardened by a process peculiarly its own. In every department of the work the most perfect mechanism and skillful supervision are employed to produce the most superior work. More than 500 styles of cutlery for table use, cook-, butcher-, hunting- and carving-knives are made, from the common to the most elaborate kinds, consuming annually in their manufacture 200 tons of steel, 1800 pounds of ivory, 150 tons of ebony, 300 tons of rosewood, 300 tons of cocoanut, 400 tons of coal, 100 tons of grindstones, 10 tons of emery, 5 tons of sheet brass and brass wire, and about 300,000 pieces of shin-bones.

Until 1851 the establishment was carried on in the old snathe- shops, which had been greatly enlarged, but the growth of the trade demanded larger facilities, and in that year the present works on the Buckland side were occupied. In 1864 the old buildings were burned.

The shops are arranged in the form of a hollow square, and cover about 7 acres of ground. The main building is 45 by 208 feet, two stories high, and forms the north side of the square; on the east is the forging-shop, 45 by 128 feet, in which are 21 trip-hammers, 10 drop-hammers, and the heavy machinery used; opposite this, and joining at the west end of the main building, is the polishing-shop, 25 by 116 feet, containing two rows of polishers ; and in front are a shop for hand-forging and blade-tempering, and a building containing store-rooms and well-appointed offices. The buildings are substantial, constructed of brick, and heated by steam. They accommo- date at present about 300 workmen, but have capacity for several hundred more.

The power of the works is furnished by a skillfully-con- structed dam aeross the Deerfield River at the Falls, from four to fourteen feet high, of massive thickness, and about 500 feet long. A raceway leads to three water-wheels, whose force combined is equal to 150 horse-power.

Since October, 1855, the business has been carried on by the present incorporated stock company, whose only president has been E. D. Lamson. The first treasurer was A. F. Good- now, and since 1866 this office has been held by F. A. Ball. The superintendents have been W. T. Clement, J. W. Gardner, and 1I. O. Smith, in the order named, the latter since 1876.

Richmond & Merriam's Sash-and-Door Factory .- Before 1860, Murdock & Greene put up a planing-mill on the site of this factory, which became the property of Tobey & Rich- mond, who added saw-mill machinery. That building was burned in 1869, and the present one erected by Samuel Tobey, who, in addition to the former machinery, added a stone for grinding, but the whole was allowed to become idle in a few years.

In 1868, J. A. Richmond & Co. purchased the property, and, with some changes in the firm-name, have since success- fully operated it as a planing-mill and sash-and-door factory. The power is furnished by an 18-horse-power engine. The firm are also builders and lumber-dealers, and employ from 10 to 15 men.

At the railroad station there is a small car-repair shop, and the usual mechanie-shops are also carried on, giving the place a busy appearance.

EDUCATIONAL.

Nothing definite concerning the carly schools ean be given. Districts were formed soon after the town was organized, and an unusual degree of interest was manifested in early times, the schools being well attended and the instruction, for those times, thorough. At present the interest is not so great, and the amount appropriated per scholar attending the schools falls below that of most towns in the county. In 1876 the number of children of school age-between five and fifteen years-was 421. Of this number 810 were in the Shelburne Falls district. The average attendance was 326; the entire cost, $2448. At the Falls are five schools, graded from pri- mary to grammar departments, taught in convenient and sub- stantial buildings, and in the four other districts are comfort- able houses.

It is said that Mary Lyon began her career as a teacher in her native town, teaching a school near the Falls for the princely salary of seventy-five cents per week.

THE BUCKLAND FEMALE SCHOOL

was established by her in Graham's Hall, at the centre, in the fall of 1826. It was attended by about 50 pupils, and was very successful, but the prospect of a more extended field of labor induced her to leave for a few years. In the fall of 1829 the school was again opened with nearly 100 pupils, living not only in the surrounding towns, but in States even so remote as Michigan. Miss Lyon was assisted by Louisa S. Billings and Hannah White as teachers, and Clarissa Ranney, Jerusha W. Billings, Mary W. Billings, Lucinda Butler, and Susan N. Smith, pupil-teachers. Fourteen girls from Buck- land attended, and a prosperous future awaited the school, but it could not be here continued for lack of accommodation, and in 1830 it was permanently removed.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES,

The early settlers of Buckland were long dependent on the neighboring towns for their religious instruction, many be- longing to the churches in Charlemont and Ashfield, and a few to the Shelburne Church. But in October, 1785,

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST

was formed, with the following constituent membership : Samuel Taylor, Lemuel Taylor, Thompson Maxwell, James Butler, Enos Taylor, Elias Carter, Tertius Taylor, Josiah Brown, Nathan Brackett, Jonathan Brackett, Anna Carter, Sybil Maxwell, Martha Johnson, Sarah Butler, Eunice Tay- lor, Deborah Carter, Susannah Brown, Hannah Brackett, and Samuel Carter.

From this period till 1800 other members were added, as follows: Jonathan Whiting, Othniel Taylor, Samuel Edson, Eliza Griswold, Rhoda Griswold, Abraham Stebbins, Lydia Stebbins, Chandler and Jemima Burgin, Elias Carter, Benja- min Ballard, Jacob Spafford, Seth and Mary Wyman, Samuel Truesdell, Abigail Carter, David Johnson, Prudence John- son, Dina and Rebecca Whiting, Sarah Harris, Lucy Pom- eroy, Mrs. J. Spaulding, Joseph Shepard, Edward Damon, James Brackett, Zebulon White, Joseph Taylor, William Flower, Samuel Moody, Joseph F. Griswold, and Mrs. John Wood.

In the winter of 1799 a revival took place, by means of which 17 members were added to the church. In the same way there was an addition of 66 in 1822, and 44 in 1842. In 1851 the church had more than 200 members, but this number was diminished by removals and other causes until there were less than 100. In the winter and spring of 1876 a general revival prevailed, which increased the member- ship by the addition of 45. There were, Jan. 1, 1879, 55 male and 84 female members, 16 of whom were non-residents.

On the 23d of June, 1793, Elias Griswold and Chandler Bur- gin were appointed deacons. Four years thereafter these of- fices were held by Benjamin Ballard and Lemuel Taylor. In

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

1807, Nathan Sherwin was a deacon; and at later periods Enos Pomeroy, Joseph Griswold, John Potter, Silas Trow- bridge, F. Forbes, H1. L. Warfield, and Charles Howes have served in that capacity.

The church was first supplied with preaching by the Revs. Jacob Sherwin, of Ashfield, and Jonathan Leavitt, of Heath, but on the 15th of October, 1794, the Rev. Josiah Spaulding was installed the first pastor, and remained with the church until his death, May 8, 1823, aged seventy-two years. He was a na- tiveof Plainfield, Conn. ; graduated at Yale in 1778, and was ordained to preach in 1780. Previous to coming to Buckland he had been settled over the churches of Uxbridge and Wor- thington. He was an author of merit, as a Christian was irreproachable, and his ministry of twenty-eight years had a powerful influence in Buekland. llis tombstone is inscribed with this epitaph : " Merciful men are taken away, none con- sidering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."

The Rev. Benjamin F. Clarke was ordained as pastor of the church Feb. 4, 1824, and was dismissed May 2, 1839. He was born in Granby, Jan. 18, 1792, graduated at Williams in 1820, and finished his theological course at Andover in 1823.

The third pastor was the Rev. Preston Cummings, who was installed Jan. 1, 1840, and remained until Dec. 31, 1847. lle was a native of Seekonk, a graduate of Brown University in 1822, and ordained to the pastoral office Ang. 22, 1825, at Lebanon, N. Y.

The Rev. Asa B. Smith was next installed, March 22, 1848, and remained until the summer of 1859. He was a native of Williamstown, Vt., and graduated at Middlebury in 1834. He was ordained as missionary in 1837, and labored in Ore- gon and the Sandwich Islands until ill health compelled him to return to this country.

In the fall of 1859 the Rev. P. Cummings became the act- ing pastor of the church, and served in that capacity several years.

In 1864 the Rev. Charles Lord was settled as the pastor, and continued in this relation until his death, in April, 1872, while he was on a visit to New York.

Since 1873 the Rev. L. C. Guild has been the acting pastor of the Buckland and East Charlemont Churches.

The first meetings of the church were held in dwellings, and for a short time in a barn. In 1793 the frame of a' meet- ing-house was put up at the village of Buckland by Col. John Ames, in which worship was thereafter held, although the house was not completed until 1800. The nails used in this building were wrought by hand by Jabez Brooks. There is a tradition that the town appointed a meeting.to decide whether a house should be built that year, and that so anxious were the people of the northern part of the town to have a house, and to have it located at a point no farther from them than the centre, that they emphasized their opinions by bringing building material with them ; and at a later period their zeal to complete the house led to the death of one of the young men of the town. While several teams were engaged in drawing lumber the wagons came in contact with each other at the creek crossing, near Deacon Forbes' present place, with such force that one of the drivers, Thomas Carter, was thrown off' and killed.

The meeting-house was used at its old site, on the south side of the square, until 1846, when it was rebuilt in its pres- ent location ; and subsequent repairs have rendered it an at- tractive and comfortable place of worship. The basement has been fitted up for a hall for town-meetings and other ap- propriate public gatherings. A Sunday-school is held in the church, having at present 125 members, and II. L. Warfield as superintendent.

The Congregational ministers hailing from Buckland have been the following: Rev. Jesse Edson, who graduated at Dartmouth in 1794, was licensed to preach in 1795, and died

while pastor of the Halifax, Vt., Church, in 1805, aged thirty- two years.

Rev. Washington A. Nichols, who was born in Buckland in 1808, graduated at Amherst in 1834, and at Andover in 1838, and removed to Chicago.

Rev. Lebbeus R. Phillips was born in Ashfield, but in early life moved to Buckland, graduated at Williams in 1836, and was licensed soon after.

Rev. David Rood was born in Buckland, April 25, 1818, graduated at Williams in 1844, and was ordained a foreign missionary in 1847. In that year he embarked for his field of labor among the Zulus of South Africa.

Rev. Lathrop Taylor was born in Buckland, Aug. 3, 1813, graduated at Middlebury, Vt., in 1839, and at Andover in 1842, and was ordained the following year.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF BUCKLAND.

The organization of this body is obseured by contradictory statements, one account placing the origin as early as the 22d of July, 1789, " when 10 persons were delegated from the Ashfield Church to form a branch in Buckland." It is proba- ble that the mission was not successful, and that the church was not permanently established until November 21, 1828, although occasional Baptist meetings may have been held meanwhile in the southeastern part of the town. There being no records, a full list of the constituent membership cannot be produced ; but among the early members were Deacons Japhet Chapin, Harris Wright, William Putnam, and Na- thaniel Dodge ; Heman Farnum, William Farnum, Dr. Law- son Long, Samuel Taylor, Henry Green, Newell Townsley, Mantor Ware, Lurana Putnam, Ehnina Wright, Julia Far- num, Lucy Ware, Mary Dole, Esther Green, Louisa Long, Submit Townsley, Rachel Willis, Lydia Daniels, Noah Willis, and Rufus Trowbridge.

The meetings were first held in the school-house, but some time about 1832 a small church was built at the centre, which was occupied as long as the church maintained an existence. It was then used for other purposes until 1869, when it was taken down and removed to Ashfield, where it was rebuilt for a Baptist Church.

Among the clergymen who served the Baptist Church in Buckland were the Revs. Linus Austin, James M. Cooley, Benjamin F. Remington, John K. Price, Amherst Lamb, A. B. Eggleston, P. P. Sanderson, James Parker, James Clark, and one or two others for a short time. No regular meetings were held after 1860, and at present but one member of the extinct church is left in town.

Rev. William Wilder, a Baptist minister, was from Buck- land.

BUCKLAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodist meetings were held as early as 1795, though no church organization was formed until many years after,- probably not until 1820. Lorenzo Dow was one of the early preachers who proclaimed the word in the western part of the town, in a grove, or at the house of Edward Forbes, who was one of the early members, if not the first, in Buckland.

After 1825 the future of the society was so encouraging that measures were taken to build a church, but not until April 3, 1828, was this purpose acted upon. At that time a committee, composed of Eliphaz Woodard, Levi Sprague, Jonathan Youman, Alexander Ward, James Clark, Cale Pelton, and Oliver Rawson, was appointed to build a house on the last street at the centre, at the foot of the street leading up Put- nam Hill. It was completed in that year, and used until the summer of 1849, when it was taken down and more eligibly located on the upper street. Recent improvements. have changed its appearance and rendered it an attractive place of worship, and it is said to be valued at $2000. The society also owns a parsonage in the village, rated at $500. The trustees are Graham K. Ward, Alfred Rood, S. A. Ruddock, Anson

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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 46

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