History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 58

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 58

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Mr. Hatch possessed a high order of mechanical skill and considerable inventive ability. In his later years he has acquired a thorough, practical education through the medium of travel, close observation, and a varied experience. With but few advantages, socially or edneationally, he has by perseverance and skill risen to a position of independ- ence, and well deserves the title of a self-made man. In ' his social and business relations Mr. Hatch has always com- manded the respect and estcem of his associates.

He was first married to Abigail Wheeler, of Pittsfield, Vt., by whom he had two children. Both died in infancy. Mrs. Ilatch died on the 22d of November, 1842.

He married his second wife, Helen Clark, daughter of Aaron Clark, of Montague, Dec. 5, 1843. By this union he has had seven children, of whom only two are now living.

735

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

voted to appoint a committee of seven men " to be looking out to procure anyhow" four men for the Continental service, as ordered by the General Court. The committee was enjoined to " be looking out" earnestly for the four men, and to hire them " consistent with reason."

It was resolved, May, 1781, to form the town. into three classes to procure Continental men. It was voted in the Sep- tember following to give the 12 militia-men " who ware raised on ye present alarm" 40s. per month, hard money, while they served, and a bounty of three hard dollars each man. In April, 1782, a town-meeting was held for the purpose of hiring " a Continental man" for the term of three years, and to effect the object Stephen Ashley was chosen head of a class to hire said man, and a committee of seven men was at the same time appointed to find the man and hire him. In the December following, a committee was chosen to "talk with John Gill, relative to his belonging to the Continental ser- vice." In May, 1783, it was voted unanimously that " the Tories and absentees who have taken protection under his Brittanic Majesty shall not return to this Commonwealth again." In December, 1783, it was voted to choose a com- mittee to assist the selectmen to receive the accounts of men " that has been in the service the last past unnatural war."

Dr. Silas Ball, of Leverett, served in the war of 1776 as a surgeon, and Richard Montagne, also of Leverett, held the rank of major in the service.

WAR OF 1812.

In July, 1812, the town passed resolutions in support of the General Government in declaring war against Great Britain. In 1813 every man liable to do military duty was obliged to keep a stock of powder and ball on hand. In 1814 it was voted to raise the wages of soldiers to $15 per month, with what the State allowed. In obedience to a requi- sition from Gov. Strong, the following detached soldiers were sent to Boston,-Jonathan Conant, sergt., Lueius Field, Eli- jah Gardner, Charles Stockwell, Luther Broad, Gideon Han- derson, Earle Wilde, Samuel Leland, Abraham Ball, Asa Commins, Peter IJobart, Lyman Richardson.

Touching the action of the town in the war of 1812, it may be noted that Rufus Graves claimed to represent Leverett at the Northampton (anti-war) convention in 1812, but he was not sent there by the town.

ORGANIZATION.

In 1773 the residents of the tract now occupied by Leverett presented a petition to the town of Sunderland, praying for liberty to be set off into a new town, for a grant of the com- mon lands within its boundaries, and an equitable proportion of the town property. In accordance with this petition the town of Leverett was incorporated Mareh 5, 1774. The sign- ers of the petition alluded to were Jonathan Hubbard, Moses Graves, Nathan Adams, John Keet, Jonathan Field, William Field, Jonathan Field, Jr., Jonathan Field (3d), Stephen Ashley, Josiah Cowls, Seth Field, Joseph Clary, Joseph Clary, Jr., Elisha Clary, Jonathan Graves, Moses Field, Daniel Smith, Absalom Seott, Jeremiah Woodbury, Joel Smith, Sol- omon Gould, and Moses Keep. This list, it is probable, in- cluded the names of all the settlers on the traet at that time. The town was named in honor of John Leverett, president of Harvard University.

SELECTMEN.

1774-75 .- Moses Graves, Joseph Clary, Stephen Ashley. 1776 .- Jeel Smith, Moses Graves, Joseph Clary. 1777-78 .- Moses Graves, Stephen Ashley, Joseph Clary. 1779 .- Jeel Smith, Capt. Graves, Wm. Bowman. 1780 .- Meses Graves, Wm. Bowman, Wm. Field. 1781 .- Moses Graves, Ebenezer Curtis, Wm. Bowman.

1782 .- Moses Graves, Stephen Aslıley, Joel Smith. 1783 .- Capt. Graves, Jeel Smith, Ebenezer Curtis. 1784 .- Capt. Graves, Stephen Ashley, Joel Smithi.

1785 .- Meses Graves, Wm. Bowman, Stephen Ashley. 1786 .- Moses Graves, Joel Smith, Ebenezer Curtis. 1787 .- Moses Graves, Jonathan Field, Ebenezer Curtis.

1788 .- Moses Graves, Jonathan Field, Joel Smith. 1789 .- Moses Graves, Joel Smith, Hezekiah Howard. 1790 .- Moses Graves, Joel Smith, Jonathan Field. 1791 .- Moses Graves, Joel Smith, Richard Montagne. 1792 .- Moses Graves, Joel Smith, Capt. Howard. 1793 .- Ebenezer Curtis, Stephen Fay, Moses Field. 1794 .- Stephen Fay, Moses Field, Joshua Thayer. 1795 .- Moses Graves, Moses Field, Joshua Thayer. 1796-1801 .- Deacon Graves, Moses Field, John Woodbury. 1801 .- Hezekiah Iloward, Moses Field, James Curtis. 1802 .- Moses Field, Hezekiah Howard, John Woodbury.

1803-7 .- John Woodbury, Moses Field, Roswell Field. 1807 .- John Woodbury, Roswell Field, Jonathan Field (2d). 1808 .- Roswell Field, John Woodbury, Meses Field. 1809 .- Roswell Field, Jonathan Field (2d), Josiah Rice. 1810-11 .- Jonathau Field, Roswell Field, Joshua Thayer. 1812 .- Jonathan Field (2d), Joshua Thayer, Aaron Howard.

1813 .- Roswell Field, James Comins, Alvin Moore. 1814 .- John Woodbury, Wm. Hubbard, Moses Field. 1815-22 .- Roswell Field, Enos Graves, Sylvauus Field. 1822 .- Enos Graves, Asa Olor, Elijah Ingram. 1823 .- Roswell Field, Silas Ball, Isaac Woodbury. 1824 .- Euos Graves, Roswell Field, Silas Ball. 1825 .- Enos Graves, Samuel Leland, Alphens Field. 1826 .- Isaac Woodbury, Elijah Ingram, Samuel Leland.

1827 .- Charles Lee, Alpheus Field, Wm. Heminway. 1828 .- Alpheus Field, Charles Lee, Moses Field, Jr. 1829 .- Wm. Hubbard, Isaac Woodbury, Charles Lee. 1830 .- Alpheus Field, Isaac Woodbury, Win. Hubbard. 1831 .- Wm. Hubbard, Silas Ball, Alphens Field. 1832 .- Silas Ball, Sylvanns Field, Wm. M. Hemingway. 1833 .- Otis Bradford, Horatio Watson, Silas Ball. 1834 .- John Woodbury, Alpheus Field, Otis Bradford. 1835 .- John Woodbury, Otis Bradford, Asa L. Field. ' 1836-37 .- Jolin Woodbury, Asa L. Field, Jedediah Darling.

1838 .- John Woodbury, Silas Ball, H. N. Watson. 1839 .- John Woodbury, II. N. Watson, Asa L. Field. 1840 .- Asa L. Field, Peter Herbert, Sylvanus Field. 1841-42 .- Silas Ball, Ahner Gilbert, IL. N. Watson. 1843 .- Silas Ball, Jr., H. N. Watson, Silas Morgan. 1844-45 .- Peter Hobart, Jedediah Darling, Asa L. Field. 1846 .- Asa L. Field, Silas Ball, Jesse Marvel. 1847-50 .- Asa L. Field, Silas Ball, Timothy B. Rice. 1851-52 .- H. N. Watson, H. O. Fields, Silas Ball. 1853 .- A. L. Field, Luther Dudley, C. C. Adams 1854 .- Asa L. Field, Christopher Adams, Jefferson Moore. 1855-56 .- Asa L. Field, A. C. Field, Jefferson Moore. 1857 .- A. L. Field, A. C. Field, Luther Dudley. 1858 .- Elihn Heminway, Jr., Silas Ball, Frary Fieldl. 1859 .- Asa L. Field, Silas Ball, Elihu Ileminway. 1860-61 .- A. L. Field, Timothy Putuam, Luther Dudley.

1862 .- Silas Ball, Elihu Hleminway, Luther Dudley. 1863 .- Timothy B. Rice, A. C. Field, Wm. II. Smith, 1864 .- T. B. Rice, F. W. Field, Charles Lawton. 1865 .- Luther Dudley, A. C. Field, F. W. Field. 1866 .- F. W. Field, Elihu Heminway, Charles Ball. 1867 .- F. W. Field, Elihu Heminway, Edward Field.

1868 .- F. W. Field, Dan Field, C. P. Marvel. 1869 .- Dan Field, Luther Dudley C. P. Marvel. 1870 .- Dan Field, F. W. Field, C. P. Marvel. 1871-72 .- A. C. Field, A. L. Field, Isaac Dudley. 1873 .- Dan Field, C. P. Marvel, George E. Field. 1874 .- C. P. Marvel, F. W. Field, Wm. B. Stetson. 1875-77 .- F. W. Field, C. P. Marvel, R. A. Field. 1878 .- F. W. Field, C. P. Marvel, Sawyer Fickl.

TOWN CLERKS.

Joseph Clary, Jr., 1774-80; Wm. Bowmau, 1781; Silas Ball, 1782-83; Wm. Hubbard, 1784; Wm. Bowman, 1785-87; Silas Ball, 1788-1807 ; Zebina M. Ball, 1808; Josiah Dewey, 1809-10; Walter Gunn, 1811-13; Zebina M. Ball, 1814-16 ; Alpheus Field, 1817-21 ; Isaac Woodbury, 1822; Zebina M. Ball, 1823-26 ; Eliph- alet S. Darling, 1827-29 ; Samuel D. King, 1830-32; Stillman Field, 1833-35; Butler Wilmarth, 1836-37; Jefferson Moore, 1838-43; Walter Graves, 1844; Jefferson Moore, 1845-52; Elisha Ingram, 1852-62; Levi M. Graves, 1863; Charles II. Field, 1864-66; Elisha MI. Iugram, 1867-79.

REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.

From 1809 to 1857, when Leverett became a portion of the Fifth Representa- tive District, the town was represented successively by the following : Roswell Field, Rufus Field, E. S. Darling, Alpheus Field, Isaac Woodbury, Silas Ball, Rufus Fitts, Asa L. Field, Jonathan Conant, Horatio N. Watson, Lucius Field, Timothy Rice, Ransom Adams, Jefferson Moore, Allen C. Field, E. M. Ingram.

736

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

VILLAGES.

The villages in the town are three in number,-Leverett C'entre, North Leverett, and East Leverett, the first two only being post-offices.

LEVERETT CENTRE,

the scene of the first settlement of importance, is a station on the New London and Northern Railroad, although about a mile distant from the depot. The village contains, besides a small collection of houses, a post-office, a church, the town- hall, one store, and the New England Box Company's factory.

NORTH LEVERETT,

on Saw-mill River, near the Montague line, contains a church, two stores, a post-office, two factories, saw-mills, ete. Although the village has suffered a decline through the loss, by with- drawal lately, of some of her manufacturing industries, it is a moderately prosperous community, and its people thriving and industrious.

EAST LEVERETT is likewise devoted somewhat to manufac- ture, and boasts the most extensive saw-mill in the town, two factories, one store, and minor business interests.

There is a small settlement on the line of the New Lon- don and Northern Railroad, about a mile west of Leverett Centre. This locality is called LONG PLAIN, where there are a railway-station, a store, and about a dozen houses. Here also is one of the oldest cemeteries in the town. The earliest settlers concentrated in this region, as the land is generally more pro- duetive than that of any other portion of Leverett./

CHURCHES.

In March, 1774, it was agreed to devote £15 to the hire of preaching for the ensuing summer. In September, 1774, it was agreed to add an extra £5 to the preaching fund, and to build a house for public worship. It was voted the house should be 50 feet long by 40 feet wide, or "as big as the Whately meeting-house." £40 were appropriated to build the house, and 2s. per day was agreed as the price which should be paid for work on the frame. In October, 1774, it was voted, " by a great majority, to set the house for public worship on the hill near the southeast corner of the fish-pond, in the cor- ner where two roads meet the county road through the town north and south." In June, 1775, it was voted to provide for the raising of the meeting-house, and further that " we pro- vide meat and peas or beans, and some cake, if needed, for raising dinner or dinners; that we have three barrels of cider, and that we make fourteen bushels of cake for raising said meeting-house, meaning any man whoever provides ye above articles for raising is to keep a particular account of ye same, to settle with ye committee appointed for ye meeting- house work, and have his credit and pay for ye same." In 1776 it was voted to reconsider £15 of the £20 voted in 1775 to hire preaching. There was, it seems, a warm controversy touching the seating of the meeting-house, and a committee consisting of three persons-one from Amherst, one from Shutesbury, and one from Northfield-was called in to decide the matter.

Sept. 13, 1776, it was voted that " it be our mind to settle the gospel among ns as soon as may be, and that we invite Mr. Hays a candidate to that purpose." Mr. Hays, however, declined the call. In March, 1777, a committee was appointed to provide a ministerial settlement, and Mr. Hays was at the same time invited to return and preach the following spring, and promised 40s. per Sabbath for what preaching he had done since the previous spring. From this it appears that Mr. Ilays had been preaching occasionally at Leverett.

In March, 1778, another resolve was made to come into some method to purchase a ministerial settlement. In June of that year another effort was made to induce Mr. Hays to settle with the church, but a second time he declined. In the following December, £60 were raised to hire preaching. In

1780 it was voted " we will provide some boards for ye meet- ing-house." Shortly thereafter it was voted "we will do something to ye meeting-house."

It was resolved in 1781 to invite Mr. Lyon to return and preach on probation. In 1785 the town gave its full leave and consent to any gentleman or men, in town or out of town, to build a handsome porch over the front door of the meeting- house. At the same time the town promised to color the meeting-house the next spring, to glaze it, to ereet handsome pillars under the gallery beams, and to lay the gallery floor.

The organization of the Congregational Church dates from 1774, but the settlement of the first pastor did not take place until 1784. This pastor was Rev. Henry Williams, who, after serving the church twenty-seven years, died in 1811. Among his successors were Joel Wright, Joseph Sawyer, Jonas Col- burn, Freegrace Reynolds, and David Eastman. The old church stood until 1838, when it was replaced by the present edifice. The pastor now in charge is Rev. A. F. Clark. The church membership is 89.

The origin of the First Baptist Church at North Leverett dates back as far as 1767, when it was organized in Montagne, by people of that town and of Leverett living near the pres- ent Leverett line. In 1791 the centre of the organization was removed to North Leverett, and the name changed to the Bap- tist Church of Leverett, although it was also known as the Baptist Church of Leverett and Montague. The first church building was erected in North Leverett in 1795, and in 1836 the present structure replaced it. Since 1791 the pastors of the church have been Simeon Combs, Elijah Montague, Elias McGregory, Aaron Burbank, N. B. Jones, B. F. Remington, Samuel Everett, and Baxter Newton, the latter, who is the present pastor, having occupied the pulpit of this church for about thirty years. The church membership is about 100. A Free-Will Baptist Church organized in the east in 1835, a Unitarian Society, and a Universalist Society, organized about the same time, are now extinct, having passed out of existence about twenty years ago. The Baptists, in common with those of other towns, were in frequent controversies with the town authorities because of their unwillingness to pay the town tax for the support of the " orthodox" minister. Suits at law were brought against them by the town to compel the pay- ment of the tax, but the verdict of the law generally up- held the Baptists.

SCHOOLS.

In March, 1774, it was voted to raise £10 for schooling for the year ensuing. In July, 1774, a committee was appointed " to view a proper place to move the school-house," which was probably built by Sunderland before the incorporation of Lev- erett. In the following September the "South" school-house was moved "to where the west road from Long Plain comes into the county road north of Capt. Graves' house."

In 1775 it was agreed to keep school in three places, to wit : at Moses Graves' house, at Barnard Wilde's house, and at Joseph Harrow's house. Ten pounds were raised for schooling that year, and a committee was appointed to each school " to sec that the money was prudently spent." In 1776 the South school-house was ordered to be sold to John Keet, for the reason, probably, that it had become sadly dilapidated.

In 1778, £80 were raised for schooling for the year, and the money divided by the " scollar" from five years old to sixteen. In December, 1780, it was resolved to raise £1000 for school- ing the next year .* In 1782 it was resolved not to raise any · money for schooling the ensuing year. In 1786, £20 were raised for schooling. In 1788 it was voted to divide the schools into squadrons, and that the matter about building a school-house be dropped. The school-house was not bnilt until about 1800.

* This largo sum was no doubt "Continental" money, which had greatly depreciated.

€

737

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

The number of school districts in the town in 1878 was six, the average daily attendance of scholars 117, and the amount expended for the support of schools $1056.

BURIAL-PLACES.

There are six cemeteries in the town,-public and private,- but of these only two-one at Leverett Centre and one at North Leverett-lay any claim to early origin. Even in these there are no headstones bearing dates contemporary with the carly settlement of the town. The pioneers of Leverett marked the resting-places of their dead with only cheap head- stones, or in many instances with none at all. The stones have cither crumbled away or had their inscriptions effaced by the destroying hand of time. Among the oldest now to be observed are the following :

Y'apt. Jonathan Field, 1751; Esther, his widow, 1795: Martin Willard, 1794; Moses Graves, Jr., 1794; Electa, daughter of Moses Field, 1781; Lncy, wife of Joseph Willard, 1795; Lucy, daughter of Rev. Henry Williams, 1792; Elihu Field, 1789; Rebecca Field, 1788; Electa, daughter of Josiah Cowles, 1783; Isaiah Adams, 1808, aged eighty-four; Asa, son of Seth Wood, 1802; Christiana, wife of Josiah Cowles, 1803; Moses Graves, 1803; Rebeca, wife of Giles Ilub- bard, 1810; Phineas Field, 1808; Daniel Abbott, 1>09; Naomi, his wife, 1801; Mary, wife of Seth Field, 1>03; Seth Field, 1813; Seth, son of Moses Fichi, 1793; Dolly, wife of Moses Field, Jr., 1816; Rev. Henry Williams, 1811 ; Deacon Jon- athan Field, 1814; Jason, son of Gideon Hubbard, 1818; Josiah Cowles, 1822; Josiah Cowles, Jr., 1818; Deacon Hezekiah Howard, 1815; Elizabeth Howard, 1:02, aged sixty-three; Mary, widow of Hezekiah Howard, 1818; Capt. Solomon Dewey, 1813.

INDUSTRIES.

The manufacturing interests of Leverett have latterly suf- fered a decline, but are still the most important elements in Cephas Porter, 31st Mass. Isaac H. Cardner, 27th Mass. HI. S. Leach, 52d Mass. J. S. Brewer, 27th Mass.

Ilenry Amidon, 27th Mass.

I. II. Gardner, 27th Mass.

J. E. Wales, 52d Mass.

I. M. Dodge, 10th Mass. Andrew Gardner, 26th Mass. 14

Win. R. Comins, 22d Mass.

C. F. Williams, 31st Mass.

Francis Smith, 21st Mass.

Joseph Briggs, 27th Mass.

Loammi Woodard, 31st Mass.

Il. W. Holden, 21st Mass. Jolm Hemenway, 10th Mass.

C. L. Hartwell, 101h Mass.

IJ. B. Glazier, 37th Mass.

C. B. Cutter, 37th Mass.

1,7

Of the foregoing, the following lost their lives in the service : Henry Amidon, Levi Moore, Francis Smith, Chas. C. Field, J. J. R:chard- son, Ephraim Marsh, Jr.

ASHFIELD.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

This town is situated in the southwestern part of Franklin County, and is one of the southern tier of towns in that county. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Hawley, Buckland, and Conway, in the same county ; on the south by the towns of Goshen and Cummington, in Hampshire County, and Conway, in Franklin County ; on the east by the town of Conway, Franklin Co .; and on the west by the towns of Plainfield, Hampshire Co., and Hawley, Franklin Co.

BOUNDARIES.

Beginning at the southeast corner of the town, the line runs north, 19º 20' cast, 6 miles and 300 rods, separating it from Conway and Shelburne on the cast; thence in a nearly west direction about seven miles, separating it from Shelburne, Buckland, and Hawley on the north. On the south, beginning

the town's industries. At North Leverett the chair-factory of Wm. Ilatch, the pail-manufactory of S. S. Graves, who also operates a scythe-nib factory, and several saw-mills on Saw- mill River, give employment to about 50 persons. Wmn. B. Stetson, of East Leverett, has operated an extensive saw-mill at that point for the past fifteen years, and employs therein at present 15 hands. At the same place, A. C. Field & Son have a small establishment for the manufacture of yarn and satinet, and Rodolphus Turner manufactures extension-tables, churns, ete. Leverett Centre has one manufactory, owned by the New England Box Company, which began operations there in 1875, and employs 20 persons in the production of fig-boxes and similar light receptacles, to the value of about $15,000 yearly.

The agricultural interests of the town are embraced in the production of tobacco in a small way, the raising of stock, and the manufacture by farmers of butter and cheese. The growth of grain and other farm products is not beyond the demands of local consumption. The State census reports of 1875 give the following statistics: Number of farms, 179; value of agricultural and domestic prodnets for 1875, $84,150; value of mannfactures, $32,004. The total valua- tion of the town in 1878 was 8303,950, of which $52, 135 was in personal and $251,815 in real estate. The total tax-State, county, and town-was $4115.16, or at the rate of $1.30 per $100.

MILITARY.

LEVERETT'S WAR RECORD.

Leverett provided soldiers for the war of the Rebellion, as follows :

Eph. Marsh, Jr., 52d Muss.

C. J. Rice, 52d Mass.

A. W. Goodnow, 52d Mass.

A. J. Woodard, 52d Mass.

II. G. Goodnow, 27th Mass. A. L. Williams, 10th Mass. Levi Moore, 26th Mass.

J. M. Pierce, 27th Mass.

E. O. Dickinson, 27th Mass.

M. Blodgett, 27th Mass. II. M. Hart, 27th Mass.

J. L. Woodbury, -. Geo. W. Wood, 3d Cav.

Jas. Kilroy, 10th Mass. Dan Wood, 31st Mass.

II. A. Newton, 524 Mass.

Chas. F. Field, 31st Mass.

HI. R. Haskel, 52d Mass.

11. W. Field, 521 Mass,

E. D. Graves, 31st Mass. Lyman Pierce, 1st Cav.

Jas Thompson, 521 Mass.

Jas. II. Reed, 52d Mass.

Henry Bartlet, Ioth N. Y.

Putnam Field, 10th N. Y. John A. Glazier, 37th Mass.

Chas. J. Gunn, 37th Mass. E. E. Taylor, 27th Mass.

M. Patrick, 26th Mass.

J. J. Richardson, 27th Mass.

F. C. Hartwell, 10th Mass.

Wm. R. Glazier, 37th Mass. 10 -

The town, if reduced to regular dimensions, would form a square whose sides would extend six miles and one-fifth, inclosing an area of 24,6011 acres.

The nearest railway stations are Buckland, seven miles dis- tant from the centre of the town, Shelburne Falls, nine miles distant, and South Deerfield, twelve miles.

NATURAL FEATURES.

. The town is well watered, though possessing no great water- power. The principal streams are Bear River, in the north-

at the southeast corner, it runs north, 68º west, 201 rods ; thence north, 171º east, 28 rods; thence north, 69º fl' west, 870 rods; thence south, 12º west, 14 rods; thence north, 673º west, 410 rods, dividing the town from Goshen; thence in the same direction 259 rods, dividing it from Cummington ; thence north, 30' west, 517 rods; thence westerly 85 rods ; thence due north 122 rods; thence north, 6º east, 329 rods.

R. Noble, 52d Mass.

738

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

east part of the town, which flows northeasterly through Con- way into Deerfield River; South River, which takes its rise in Great Pond, near the " Plains," and, flowing first south and then cast, is a prominent tributary to the same river; and Swift River, in the western part of the town, which flows south into Hampshire County and Westfield River. All of these streams have been utilized to a greater or less extent for small manufacturing enterprises. A large number of brooks traverse the different scetions of the town. The principal pond is "Great Pond," nearly in the geographical centre of the town. It has, by an embankment twelve feet high, been made into a reservoir.

The town occupies an elevation of about 1200 feet high above tide-water. The highest part in it is Peter's Hill, situated a little northwest of the centre, and which is 1740 feet above tide-water. Numerous other hills exist in the town. Men- tion may be made of Pumpkin Hill, near the northern bound- ary ; Ridge Hill, about a mile and a half east ; Mount Owen, in the eastern part of the town ; Mill Hill, about a mile north- cast of Ashfield Plains; and Brier Hill, in the southeast section.

The surface of the town is broken into hills and valleys, and contains but a comparatively small portion of arable land. Indian corn succeeds well, but English grain is of secondary quality. Wheat is seldom sown Grazing may be said to be a principal object with the farming interest. The town has many fine dairies, and holds high rank as a butter- making country. Many tons of the finest wool are annually furnished to the manufactories. Agriculture is the leading interest. The soil is of that hard and rocky nature which is generally found on the slopes and plains and in the valleys of the lloosae Mountains. The farmis in general are well cul- tivated. Wool, lambs, neat stoek, horses, butter, cheese, and maple-sugar are the chief articles of export, the latter being taken from the trees of that variety with which the town abounds. Corn and oats are rarely raised beyond individual wants. Potatoes, to some extent, are an article of commerce, and are usually of good quality.

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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 58

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