History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 50

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 50

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The Rev. Jonathan Leavitt had come as the town's minister in 1767, and very many of the foregoing had located before

* llon. Joseph White's Historical Discourse.

711

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

that period. It is impossible, in most instances, to give the time of their settlement with any accuracy. Nearly all came from the eastern part of the State and from Worcester County, while a few came from Connectient.

At a later day were added to the settlers of Charlemont, Josiah Upton, Edward and John Giles, and members of the Ballard family. The scope of this sketch prevents a more ex- tended mention of the settlement of Charlemont. In 1790, with a territory much reduced by the formation of the sur- rounding towns, the population was 743; in 1820 it was at its maximum, 1231; and at present (1878) there are but a few linndred inhabitants more than there were almost a century ago.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

The first organization for the purposes of civil government was under the proprietors of the town, in obedience to the fol- lowing warrant :

" Whereas, the Great and General Court, on the first of December current, upon the petition of Moses Rice, of a place called Charlemont, in the County of Hampshire, being Boston Township, No. 1, in behalf of himself and others, did vote a tax of one penny per acre, lawful money, to be laid upon all the land in the within-named township (the public lands only excepted) for the space of three years next to come, and that the money so raised shall be improved for the following puposes, viz. : for finishing the meeting-house already agreed and en- gaged to be put up in said Townsbip, for support of preaching, Encouraging the building of Mills, and for laying out and clearing Highways and other roads there, and in such manner and proportion as the Proprietors of the lands there shall order and determine at their mertings for such purposes called and held. And the said court did also empower the said Moses Rive to call a meeting of said proprietors, to be held in said Township, at some reasonable future time (by posting up notifications of the time and place and purposes of holding the same, at said Charlemont, and at Lancaster, in the county of Worcester), and that the Proprietors so met have power to choose a Clerk, Treasurer, Assessors and Col- lectors, and all otber officers necessary for the assessing, levying, and collecting said tax from time to time, and to agree upon and determine the disposition of the money raised by said tax as they shall see mert, only for purposes aforesaid, and to agree upon any proper method of calling meetings for the future. These are, therefore (by virtue of said order of court we thereto impowering), to warn and give notice to the Proprietors of said Charlemont that they meet at said Charlemont, at the house of Moses Rice, on Wednesday, seventeenth day of Jan- uary next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the partic- nlars aforesaid, and agreeable to the power given them by said court. " MOSES RICE.

"Dec. 9, 1752."

At the above appointed meeting Capt. Rice was chosen moderator, and the following officers elected : Joseph Wilder, Jr., Proprietors' Clerk ; Othniel Taylor, Treasurer ; Eleazer Hawks, Moses Rice, and Joseph Wilder, Jr., Assessors ; Jona- than White and Gershom Hawks, Collectors.

It was agreed that all the proprietors' meetings should be held in Charlemont, on the notice of five of the proprietors, at least fourteen days before the time appointed for the meeting.

For the following thirteen years the town was under the nominal rule of the proprietors, and the records of the most of their meetings have been lost. The last meeting was held June 5, 1765, at the house of David White, when Col. White, Othniel Taylor, and Aaron Rice were appointed to secure the incorporation of the town, which was effected June 21, 1765. Under this act a warrant was issued by Thos. Williams for the first meeting, to be held at the house of David White, Jan. 6, 1766. At this meeting Aaron Rice was Moderator, and Sylvanus Rice was chosen Town Clerk ; Aaron Rice, Jona- than Taylor, and Othniel Taylor, Selectmen and Assessors ; David White, Treasurer ; Daniel Kingsley, Constable; David White and Jonathan Thayer, Highway Surveyors ; Jona- than Hastings and William Brown, Tithingmen ; Peter Rice and Artemas Rice, Fence-Viewers ; Wm. Brown, Sealer of Leather; Othniel Taylor, Gershom Hawks, and Depend- ence Thayer, Wardens ; Caleb Thayer, and Thomas Nichols, Ilog-Reeves; Oliver Avery and Jonathan Taylor, Deer- Reeves.

SELECTMEN.

The selectmen of Charlemont, from 1767 to 1878, have been as follows :

1767 .- Aaron Rice, Jonathan Hastings, Gershom Hawks.

1768 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, Gershom Hawks.

1769 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, Asaph Thayer.

1770 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, Sylvanus Rice. 1771-74 .- Aaron Rice, Othuiel Taylor, James White. 1775 .- Aaron Rice, Sylvanus Rice, James White. 1776 .- Aaron Rice, Jonathan Hastings, James White. 1777-78 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, James White. 1779 .- Sylvanus Rice, Benjamin Maxwell, Thomas Nichols.

1780 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, Jonathan Taylor.

1781 .- Artemas Rice, George Kennan, Jonathan Taylor.

1752 .- Artemas Rice, Josiah Upton, Joshua Hawks.

1783 .- Artemus Rice, Josiah Upton, Jesse King. 1784 .- Aaron Rice, James White, George Kennan. 17>5 .- Aaron Rice, Othniel Taylor, Jesse King. 17×6,-Aaron Rice, George Kennan, Jonathan Ilastings.

17×7 .- Nathan Rudd, Jesse King, Jonathan Hastings.

1788 .- Artemas Rice, Joseph Nash, Edward Beck with. 17×9 .- Artemas Rice, Joseph Nash, Nathan Rudd. 1790 .- John Rice, Joseph Nash, Jesse King. 1791 .- Nathan Rudd, Joseph Nash, Jared llawks. 1792 .- Nathan Rudd, Joseph Nash, Josinh White. 1793 .- Jesse King, Joseph Nash, Josiah White. 1794 .- Jesse King, Joseph Nash, Artemas Rice. 1795 .- Joshua Hawks, Joseph Nash, Andrew Rudd.

1796 .- Calvin Rice, Joseph Nash, Andrew Rudd. 1797 .- Calvin Rice, Joseph Nash, Stephen Bates. 1798,-Jared Hawks, Joseph Nash, Stephen Bates. 1799,-William Williams, Josiah White, James Parker.

1800 .- William Williams, Josiah White, Joseph Nash. 1801 .- William Williams, Calvin Rice, James Parker. 1-02-3 .- Joseph Nash, Freeborn Mayhew, James Parker. 1×04 .- Amos Avery, Freehorn Mayhew, James Parker. 1805 .- Amos Avery, Fitch Comstock, James Parker. IN06 .- Amos Avery, Fitch Comstock, Libbens Rudd. 1×07 .- Asahel Judd, Jared Hawks, Libbens Rudd. 1×08 .- Samuel Riddle, Sylvester Maxwell, Libbeus Rudd. 1:09 .- Freeborn Mayhew, Sylvester Maxwell, Litbeus Rudd. 1×10-11 .- Asahel Judd, Sylvester Maxwell, Libbens Rudd. 1812 .- Samuel Riddle, Sylvester Maxwell, Libbeus Rudd. 1813 .- Calvin Hawks, Sylvester Maxwell, Libbeus Rudd. 1×14 .- Calvin Hawks, Sylvester Maxwell, Amos Avery. 1815 .- Ebenezer Williams, Sylvester Maxwell, Amos Avery. 1816 .- Sammel Riddle, Sylvester Maxwell, Levi Stearns. 1×17 .- Aaron Lyman, Rufus Rarber, Wm. W. Fitch. 1818-19 .- Sylvester Maxwell, Rufus Barber, Win. W. Fitch. 1820 .- Lucius Allis, Asahel Judd, Seth Pierce. 1821 .- Samuel Riddle, W. W. Fitch, Setb Pierce. IN22 .- Samuel Riddle, Stephen Bates, Sylvester Maxwell.

1823 .- W. W. Fitch, John Fisher, Sylvester Maxwell.

1×24 .- Asahel Judd, John Fisher, Alex. P. Maxwell. 1825 .- Consider Scott, Sylvester Maxwell, Alexander P. Maxwell.

1826-29 .- Asahel Judd, Samuel Potter, Alexander P. Maxwell. 1830 .- Rucl Thayer, James Hawks, Alexander P. Maxwell. 1831 .- Ruel Thayer, Philemon Rice, Alexander P. Maxwell. 1832-33 .- Josiah Ballard, John Fisher, Leonard Rice. 1×34 .- Asahel Judd, A. P. Maxwell, Obadiah Dickinson. 1835 .- Alfred Olds, Samuel Upton, Isaac J. Hawks. 1836 .- Josiah Ballard, Asahel Judd, Silas Hawks. 1837 .- A. P. Maxwell, Asahel Judd, Silas Hawks. 1838 .- A. P. Maxwell, Asahel Judd, Jr., George Upton. 1839 .- Robert L. Bishop, Asahel Judd, Jr., Isaac J. Hawks. 1840 .- A. P. Maxwell, Obadiah Dickinson, A. II. Taylor. 1841 .- Leonard Rice, Holmes Mayhew, R. Houghton, Jr. 1842 .- Elias Taylor, Philemon Rice, E. A. Hawks. 1843 .- Roger H. Leavitt, Philemon Rice, Asahel Judd. 1844 .- Josiah Ballard, Robert L. Bishop, - Taylor. 1845 .- Josiah Ballard, Robert L. Bishop, Asahel Judd, Jr. 1546 .- Roger H. Leavitt, Samuel Potter, John Smith. 1847 .- Asahel Judd, Jr., Samuel Potter, A. P. Maxwell. 1848 .- Samuel Upton, Holmes Mayhew, Peter Wilder. 1849,-Luther Bodman, Asalıel Judd, Jr., John Smith. 1850 .- Samuel Upton, Asahel Judd, Jr., Robert L .. Bishop. 1851 .- Sammel Upton, Asahel Judd, Jr., Levi Smith. 1852 .- A. P. Maxwell, Philemon Rice, George Hillman. 1853 .- Hart Leavitt, Samuel Upton, David B. Hawks. 1:54 .- Fred W. White, Samuel U'pton, Leonard B Rice. 1855 .- Royal Thomas, Samuel U'pton, Leonard B. Rice. 1856 .- Fred W. White, Peter Wilder, Royal Thomas. 1857 .- Roger H. Leavitt, II. H. Mayhew, G. A. White. 1858 .- Josiah Ballard, M. V. Taylor, B. A. Farnsworth. 1859-60 .- A. L. Tyler, MI. V. Taylor, E. D. Hawks. 1861-62 .- A. L. Tyler, Samuel Potter, Leonard B. Rice. 1863 .- A. L. Tyler, Samuel Potter, Ilart Leavitt. 1864 .- A. L. Tyler, Mathew Kingman, Leonard B. Rice. 1865 .- A. L. Tyler, H. II. Mayhew, Leonard B. Rice. 1866-68 .- A. L. Tyler, H. II. Mayhew, Alonzo Thayer. 1869 .- David Todd, David Dunnell, Lorenzo Richmond.

712

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

1870 .- Calvin E. Co dey, E. E. Warfield, Lorenzo Ri hmon I. 1571-72 .- A. L. Tyler, Leonard B. Rice, E. C. Hawks. 1873 .- D. W. Baker, A. C. Biker, E. C. Hawks. 1874-73 .- D. W. Baker, A. C. Baker, C'alvia E. Cooley. 1876 .- E. R. Goro Inow, A. (. Baker, Calvin E. Cooley.

IS77-78 .- J. II. Kemp, Leonard B. Rice, Calvin E. Cooley.

TOWN CLERKS.

1766-76, Sylvanns Rice; 1777, James White; 1778-81, Jonathan Hastings; 1762-86, Artemas Rice; 1787-98, J. White; 1509-1811, Libhens Rudd ; 1812 14, Andrew Rudd; 1:15, Horace Rudd; 1816-28, Consiler Scott; 1829-31, A. P. Maxwell; 1832-34, Waitstill Hastings; 1435, Almon Atkins; 1836, Lewis Bod- man; 1837, Sylvester Maxwell; 1833-43, Waits'ill Hastings ; 1844-47, Stephen Bates: 1843-54, Ansel L. Tyler; 1855, II. Il. Mayhew ; 1856-61, F. W. Winte; 1862-64, Gustavus A. White; 1865-69, Il. II. Mayhew; 1870-73, B. A. Farns- worth; 1874-78, W. E. Niles.

THE TOWN RECORDS

contain much interesting and instructive matter, which is given in connection with appropriate topies. Dec. 23, 1773,. a special meeting was held, when it was agreed to make application to the General Court to secure the annexation of 3000 acres of land, lying on the south of the town, granted to Hezekiah Ward and others, to the town of Charlemont. Asaph White was employed to secure the annexation,

"Upon conditions that he can get it done as cheap as he can ; and not to ex- ceel forty-eight shillings; and if he don't get it, not to have anything for his cost or trouble."

In 1774, Lieut. Ilugh Maxwell, for attending the Provincial Congress, was allowed .£6 88. Dencon Aaron Rice, for making rates and perambulating the town line, was allowed 6s.

In 1775, Samuel Taylor, for attending the Congress in April, was allowed £2 15s. Id .; Samuel Brooks, for sweeping the meeting-house two years, 68.

In 1778 " it was agreed and voted that whoever shall kill a grown wolf within the bounds of the town within the term of twelve months, and shall produce a certificate that the same was cropped by the constable, in presence of one of the select- men, shall be entitled to the sum of one hundred dollars."

In 1878 the liabilities of the town were reported at $22,847.39, and the resources at $5360.50. The latter item includes the poor-farm, valued at $1500. It is located in the northern part of the town, and is substantially improved. From five to eight poor are maintained yearly, at a cost of about $160 each ; and nearly $500 per year are expended for the support of the poor outside of the town-farm.

HIGHWAYS.

At the meeting of the proprietors, Jan. 17, 1753, Deacon Israel Houghton, Capt. Jonathan White, and Joseph Wilder, Jr., were appointed to lay out highways and other roads in the north part of the township, and Othniel Taylor, Gershom Hawks, and Aaron Rice were to perform a like service in the south part of the township. The same year Capt. Moses Rice was allowed " to work six pounds, thirteen shillings, and eight pence of his first year's tax, on the land belonging to him and his sons, in making convenient ways to the mills that his son Aaron hath built and engaged to build for the highway he hath marked into the eentre of the town."

In June, 1754, the proprietors voted that Othniel Taylor and Jonathan White " lay out and mend the way up to the meeting-house, and to mend the public road in said town."

" Votel to accept the town road, from the county road by the river up to ye meeting-house frame, as near the way that is now marked as may be with con- venience, and that those that work at said way shall have twenty shillings, old tenor, a day, they working ten hours a day, which shall be accounted a day's work."

It will be seen from the above vote that what is yet the principal highway-the river road-was located before that early period. In regard to what was called the town road it was voted, in 1763, " to discontinue the road laid out from the river so far as Col. White's house, and order it laid out east and west from said White's house to the county road, as near where it is now trod as may be with convenience."

In September, 1763, the following bill was rendered :

" The Prop i tors of Charley Mount, Dr. To two days' work in June at the highways ia Charleymount, and then ia Angust, 1763, 134. 44.

" TIMOTHY THAYER." In 1769 "it was agreed and voted to accept the roads lai ! ont by the Select- men from Dea on Gershom Hawks', npon the line between him and Deacon Aaron Rie, to the foot of the hill, and then, as it is marked, to Mis. Rice's; and another, as it is maike 1, from Sylvanus Rice to William Hartwell ; and another, from Ri hard Dana, Esq., and the public lot north of the meeting-house, from the old town road to the west end of the lot, and then as it is marked by the se- leetmen through the lots belonging to Joseph Wilder and Joseph Butler to Caleb Thayer, through Nathaniel Corbett's lot to Champion C'rucker's.

" Voted that the road from the house of the late Davil White to the house of Asaph White be five rods wide." £30 were raised for the supquent of these roads.

The town has a bridge across the Deerfield, near Zoar, one at Charlemont village, and an interest in a bridge near the Shelburne line, whose support has been a heavy burden, as they have been frequently injured or destroyed by floods. In 1878 the town contained twenty road districts, and the amount appropriated for highways was $1600.

The Troy and Greenfield Railroad traverses the town on the south side of the Deerfield to a point east of Zoar, when it crosses the stream and passes along on the north side into the town of Rowe, near the Hoosac Tunnel. The company has provided convenient stations at Zoar and Charlemont villages.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

Aaron Rice made the first improvement for operating ma- chinery in the town. Before 1753 he hegan building a corn- mill on Mill Brook, at what is now the village, and near the present mill-sites. The proprietors deemed his enterprise of such importance that they gave him a bonns of £21 138. 4d., and promised further aid if he would keep the mill in repair ten years, " and grind at all convenient times for the proprie- tors, taking one-sixteenth part for toll and no more." In May, 1753, the proprietors met at the mill to examine the work al- ready done and what was necessary to complete the mill. "After debates on that affair, it was voted to give Rice £13 6.s. 8d. on the conditions above, and have him, also, build a saw-mill." For the latter purpose it was voted " to give said Aaron Rice the saw-mill irons belonging to ye proprietors, and to compleat the set, he engaging to build a saw-mill on the brook he hath built his corn-mill on, and to saw bords for the proprietors at ye same price, and sell bords at ye same prices that they are sold for at Deerfield, for ye space of ten years. next ensuing." For the performance of these conditions and the faithful use of the £40) and the "cumpleat set of mill- irons," Aaron Rice gave his bond for $100, and soon com- menced grinding for the "one-sixteenth part" and sawing " bords" at the customary prices. The mill was swept away by a flood in 1775, and it is said that Sylvanus Rice erected the second mill an the east side of the stream, which had two run of stones, and which was operated until 1822, when the present mill was built by David Crittenden. In a repaired condition it is now operated by Preston Baker.

Several saw-mills have been operated since the first one, by Sylvanus Rice, Artemas Rice, Jonathan Hawks, and others. An excellent lumber-mill is now carried on by Dennis Baker, and chair-stock material is also manufactured here. The power at this point was formerly employed to operate other industries. About 1800, Aaron Lyman carded wool in a small building attached to the saw-mill ; and, later, his son, Josiah, carried on the same trade in a room in the grist-mill. At a point below, about the same time, the power was used to work a scythe-factory, and was afterward employed by Capt. Jo- seph White to operate clothing-works. His buildings, and others which had been used by Eugene Field for a snathe-fac- tory, and a trip-hammer by Fuller & Rudd, were destroyed by fire. Above the grist-mill Eugene Field had a carding- machine, about 1836, which became the property of Dexter Hawks, who supplied machinery for making cloths. This was burned in 1852. Below the lower bridge, on Mill

OR. Pour

ORLANDO B. POTTER, was born in Charlemont, Franklin Co., Mass., on the 10th of March, 1823. He was fitted for college in the Buckland and Shelburne select schools and the East Bennington Academy. At the age of eighteen he left his father's farm, and has since made his own way without any aid, except from a kind Providence. IIe studied at Williams College, and at Dane Law School, Cambridge. Subsequently he practiced law for about five years in the city of Boston, after which he became interested in manufacturing, and devoted himself almost exclusively to that business for twenty-five years.

In 1853 he removed to New York City, where he has since resided. He is an honored and respected citizen, well known to the thousands of merchants, mechanics, and laborers with whom his busy mereantile life of a quarter of a century has brought him in contact. The manage- ment of the large interests that devolved upon him de- veloped his faculties as a financier, and there are few men in any walk of life more thoroughly posted, or who enter- tain sounder principles on financial questions.

Mr. Potter is a man of great enterprise and remarkable prudence. He never goes beyond his own ability to per- form, has never failed to meet an obligation at maturity, and has never been embarrassed through the vicissitudes of business. He has always been confident and hopeful when want of confidence prevailed about him. He borrowed money and continued building in New York City, and sus- tained its labor during the panie and distress of 1857. In that year he built the " World" building ; and later, at a time when all enterprise was brought to a standstill and capitalists feared to invest a dollar in anything but govern- ment bonds ; when business generally was in the lowest state of depression following the panie of 1873; when in- dustry was paralyzed, and there was no employment for mechanic or laborer, he had the boldness to buy the large

property on the corner of Astor Place and Lafayette Place, and when scarcely another building was being put up in that city he set his laborers and mechanics to work, and erected the imposing structure which is now one of the landmarks of the city.

He is a man of great force of character, and of clear and earnest convictions, which he always acts upon, and acts up to. He has ever sympathized with the workingman, and his greatest wish is that he should be remuneratively em- ployed. During his life he has employed thousands of workmen and clerks, and has paid them the highest wages. Ilis motto is " Live and let live," and he asks not of what re- ligion, nativity, or politics are those who work for him ; the only qualities he requires are honesty and capability.

As a workingman himself, Mr. Potter has no superior. He is never idle. In the midst of the cares and anxieties of business he has been watchful of the interests of the country, the State, and especially of the city government.

In 1861 he made valuable suggestions to the rulers of the nation, and has since, from time to time, been in corre- spondence on finance and kindred subjects with the leading men in Congress. He has always been a consistent Demo- erat, and an uncompromising enemy of fraud. He has de- voted both time and money without stint in endeavoring to obtain better government for New York City. He has been a most active member of the council of political reform, and through his efforts mainly the bonded indebtedness bill was passed through the Legislature and became a law.

Mr. Potter was married, Oct. 28, 1828, to Martha G. Wiley, daughter of Benjamin Brown, of South Reading, Middlesex Co., Mass. To them were born seven children, of whom only four are now living.

Mrs. Potter died on the 12th day of February, 1879. She was universally esteemed, and is sincerely mourned by all who knew her.

LITTLE

Photo. by Popkins, Greenfield.

Samuel Bitte

SAMUEL POTTER was born in Hampden, Conn., Oet. 24, 1794, and has therefore passed his eighty-fourth birthday.

His father, Abel Potter, was also a native of Connecticut, and was born in Hampden, June 15, 1750. He removed to Wallingford, in the same State, and died there Aug. 29, 1818. ITis wife was Mary, daughter of Abram Turner, of llampden, and was born in that town, June 21, 1765; she died Oet. 7, 1831, in her sixty-seventh year. Her father was a prominent man in his day, and served in the Revolutionary war, taking part in the battle at New Haven.

To Abel and Mary Potter were born nine children, viz .: Abel, Jr., Sallie G., Elam (who died in infaney), Rhoda T., Samuel (subject of this notice), Polly A., Mary E., Elam, and Rebecca M.

Samuel Potter enjoyed but few opportunities for obtaining an education in his early years. His father being in straitened circumstances, and with a large family dependent upon him for support, was forced to put his sons to work at a very youthful age, and Samuel thus, when only six years old, was " hired out" to ride a horse in the fields for other farmers, and in that way earned six and a quarter cents per day for his father. A paltry sum it would seem even for a child of that age; but in those days, when almost every article of clothing and also most all household utensils were made by tbe family, a little money went a great way, and twenty-five cents per day was considered good wages for a man's labor.

When ten years of age the subject of this notice performed the greater part of the work on his father's farm, of which, four years later, he took the entire charge. This he continued until he reached his majority, after which he worked six months for his father, for which he received wages. He then, desiring to add to his stock of knowledge, entered the public school at Waterbury, Conn., and while there paid for his tuition and other expenses with the money he had earned.

He subsequently returned to Hampden and leased his father's farm, upon which he remained, taking care of his parents and the family until his father's decease.

Soon after the death of his father Samuel sold the property, and removed, in 1819, to Charlemont, Franklin Co., Mass. He was married in that town, Feb. 21, 1819, to Sophia, daugh- ter of Samuel Rice. He then bought a farm in Charlemont,

on Leggett Hill, where he remained twenty years, engaged mostly in agricultural pursuits. At the expiration of that time he purchased the place in the same town where he now resides. Although not a wealthy man, Mr. Potter now owns a fair share of " worldly goods," and possesses the satisfaction of knowing that what he has garnered has been the work of his own hands. He has always been active in forwarding educational interests, and has delighted in giving his children the advantages of the superior facilities for learning which were denied to him. Ile has always been a strong advocate of the principles of temperance, and these he put into practice without consulting popular customs long before the temper- anee movement became general.

In his earlier life Mr. Potter was a Democrat, but since the formation of the Republican party has voted that ticket. He has held the offices of selectman, assessor, agent of the town, and also that of deputy-sheriff twenty-three years, in which latter capacity he served both in Hampshire and Frank- lin Counties. He was town collector and constable six years, and indeed has been identified with most of the leading inter- ests of the town. He took an active part in forwarding the building of the Troy and Greenfield Railroad, and took the first subscription for it in the town of Charlemont. He was also one of the first directors of that road.

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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 50

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