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 69
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BURIAL-PLACES.
There are four public burying-grounds in the town,-one in the northeast, one in the northwest, one at the centre, and one in the southwest. The one in the northwest was originally on the farm of Daniel Brooks, and the ground therefor was bought by the town of Mr. Brooks for $4 in 1802. The land for the ground in the northeast was hought in 1804, and the one in the southwest in 1806 for 16 shillings. The ground at the centre, and the handsomest one in the town, was pur- chased in 1811, by a company of individuals, and is the one now chiefly used. Among the oldest headstone inscriptions to be observed are the following :
Olive Scott, 1802; Obadiah Scott, 1802; Eunice Bascom, 1802; Lysander 1Ius- mer, 1804 : Deacon Moses Bascom, 1805; Capt. Moses Richards, 1802; Henrietta Clark, 1807; Asher N. Bascom, ISIO; Wm. Goodrich, 1814; Moses Bascom, 1814; Ralph Goodrich, 1814; Betsey Luce, 1812; Deacon Reuben Shattuck, 1814; Lu- ciuda Goodrich, 1814 ; Ruth Shattuck, 1815; George Howland, 1815; Moses Scott, 1817; Experience Hosmer, 1822.
v INDUSTRIES.
. As an agricultural town, Gill is more than ordinarily fruit- ful, and the chief support of her inhabitants is gained from the soil. The soil is deep and strong, and in the Connecticut valley is especially valuable for the production of tobacco, of which, however, the cultivation has latterly materially dimin- ished. According to the census of 1875, the value of agricul- tural and domestic products in Gill for that year was $148,348, and of manufactures $18,500.
The most important manufacturing interest is that of the Turner's Falls Lumber Company, which began operations at Riverside, on the Gill shore of the river, at the Falls, in 1867. Running to its full capacity, the company's mill employs the services of forty men, and produces from 30,000 to 40,000 feet of lumber daily.
The assessed valuation of the town in 1878 was $460,766, of which $390,694 was on real estate. The total State, county, and town tax was $4889.66, or a rate of a trifle over one per cent.
MILITARY.
GILI.'S REBELLION RECORD.
The following list of the soldiers who served during the Re- bellion of 1861-65 is taken from the adjutant-general's re- port :
George B. Hale, corp., enl. Oct. 2, 1862, Cu. A, 52d Regt .; disch, Ang. 14, 1863.
Charles M. Billings, enl. Oct. 2, 1862, Co. A, 52d Regt .; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.
Heury A. Dean, enl. Oct. 2, 1862, Co. A, 52d Regt .; disch. Aug. 14, 1863.
Ellsworth O. Fairman, enl. Oct. 2, 1862, Co. A, 52d Regt .; disch, Ang. 14, 1863.
James W. Knowlton, enl. Oct. 2, 1862, Co. A, 52d Regt .; disch. Aug. 14, 1863. Rufus A. Coolidge, enl. Aug. 8, 1864, Co. F, 1st 11. Art .; disch. June 4, 1865.
Charles W. Lander, enl. Aug. 29, 1864, Co. H, 2d HI. Art .; disch. June 26, 1865.
James H. Gary, en1. Sept. 25, 1861, Co. F, 1st Cav .; disch. April 11, 1863, for disability.
David F. Tierney, enl. Sept. 2, 1864, Co. D, 2d Cav .; disch. June 9, 1865.
Thomas O'Donnell, enl. Ang. 31, 1864, 2d Cav. ; dischi. May 18, 1865.
Edward J. Everett, q.nı .- sergt., enl. Jan. 2, 1865, Co. L, 3d Cav .; pro. to 2dl lient., Oct. 5, 1865. Herman Clapp, enl. Dec. 31, 1864, Co. L, 3d Cav .; disch. Sept. 28, 1865.
Ralph L. Atherton, en]. June 21, 1861, Co. G, 10th Inf .; disch. July 8, 1862, for disability. William B. Atherton, enl. June 21, 1861, Co. (}, 10th Inf .; disch. Sept. 4, 1862, for disability. Oscar llale, enl. June 21, 1861, Co. G, 10th Inf .; disch. July 1, 1864 ; nosent wounded.
William C. Marvell, enl. Ang. 9, 1862, Co. G, 10tl: Inf .; disch. July 1, 1864.
Nicholas Paulus, enI. Ang. 9, 1862, Co. G, 10th Iuf .; trans. Oct 9, 1863, to Vet. Res. Corps.
Frederick W. l'otter, enl. Ang. 1I, 1862, Co. G, 10th Inf .; disch. July 1, 1864.
William H. Scott, enl. Sept. 5, 1861, Co. G, 10th Inf .; trans. June 20, 1864, to 37th Inf.
William R. Smith, enl. June 21, 1861, Co. G, 10th Inf .; disch. for disability.
Francis Williams, enl. Ang. 8, 1862, Co. G, 10th Inf. ; disch. July 1, 1861.
Geo. W. Harris, enl. Aug. 9, 1862, Co. 11, 10th Inf .; disch. July 1, 1864.
Alexander C. Sheldon, enl. Sept. 2, 1862, Co. HI, 10th Inf .; disch. Dec. 7, 1863, for disability. Nathan W. Smith, enl. Ang. 7, 1862, Co. H, 10th Inf. ; disch. July 1, 1864.
768
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
John Newton (2d), enl. Aug. 9, 1862, 10th Inf .; disch. Jan. 24, 1863, for disability.
Albert W. Hale, enl. Ang. 19, 1861, Co. 1, 21st Inf. George M. Lander, enl. Jun. 2, 1864, Co. K, 21st
Inf .; killed Muy 31, 1864, at Gaines' Mills, Va. James Stewart, en1. Jan. 13, 1865, Co. D, 24th Inf. Charles 11. Keenan, enl. Jan. 14, 1865, Co. E, 24th Inf.
Daniel Case, eol. Jan. 13, 1865, Co. K, 24th Inf .; disch. May 19, 1865, for disability.
Timothy Whelan, enl. Jan. 13, '65, Co. K, 24th Inf. John Cullighan, enl. Aug. 11, 1862, Co. C, 27th Inf .; disch. to re-en1. Jan. 1, 1864.
John Callighan, corp., enl. Jan. 2, 1864, Co. C, 27th Inf .; disch. June 26, 1865.
Dwight II. Howland, mus., enl. Sept. 20, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf .; disch. to re-rnl. Jan. 1, 18€4 ; disch. May 18, '64 ; q. m. 8. 38th U. S. C. troops; Dennis C. Carter, enl. Sept. 28, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf. ; died Dec. 27, 1862, Annapolis, Md. John C. Delvy, enl. Oct. 1, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf. ; disch. March 27, 1863, for disability.
John II. Gary, enl. Sept. 20, 1861, Co. C, 27th Inf. Harrison 11. White, enl. Jan. 2, 1864, Co. C, 27th Inf .; re-enl. Jan. 2, 1864; disch. June 26, 1865. Wm. If. Scott, enl. Sept. 5, 1861, 37th Inf .; disch. Sept. 10, 1864. Anson J. Bishop, enl. April 6, '64, Co. C, 57th Inf .; disch. July 30, 1865.
Jabez Bullis, enl. Feb. 18, 1864, Co. C, 57th Inf .; disch. July 30, 1865.
Joseph Denio, enl. March 10,1864, Co. 1,57th Inf .; disch. July 30, 1865.
James W. Ellis, enl. April 12, 1864, Co. J, 57th Inf .; disch, July 30, 1865.
Adolphus Legrove, enl. March 10, 18€4, Co. 1, 57th Inf .; disch. July 30, 1865.
David Sancomb, enl. March 10, '64, Co. 1, 57th Inf .; killed May 24, 1864, North Anna River, Vn. William Pike, enl. April 6, 1864, Co. K, 57th Inf .; disch. July 30, 1865.
James W. Ellis, enl. April 2, 1864, Co. 1, 59th Inf .; trans. June 1, 1865, 10 57th Inf.
Lucas Barrell, enl. March 8, 1865, Ist N. C. Art.
ERVING.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
ERVING, one of the central towns in eastern Franklin, is likewise one of the smallest in area and in population in the county.
It is bounded north by Northfield, south by Wendell and Montagne, east by Warwick and a part of Orange, and west by Montague and Gill, being separated from them by Miller's River and the Connecticut.
The town is crossed on the west by the New London North- ern Railroad, and on the south by the Fitchburg Railroad, on which latter Erving Centre is a station.
NATURAL FEATURES.
Erving is a town of hills, but none of them are conspicu- ously lofty elevations. In a range occupying the centre of the town there is a resort for the curious, known as Erving Castle, or the Hermit's Cave. A person who calls himself a hermit has long resided in this hole in a side-hill, and prides himself upon having withdrawn from the world and its fleeting show, while he subsists in a precarious and prim- itive way upon herbs and such other light nourishment as nature has provided in that region. The Connecticut touches the town's western border, and Miller's River, a rapid and powerful mill-stream, forms a portion of the western and all of the southern boundary. At the village of Miller's Falls this stream makes an abrupt descent of twelve feet, and provides at that point a fine water-power for the Miller's Falls Company, as it does also, at Erving Centre and beyond, to several large manufactories.
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EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement of Erving does not date back to a very remote period, and its history therefore does not admit of much elaboration. The tract occupied by the town of Erv- ing, and portions of surrounding towns, measuring twelve miles long and two miles in width, was bought by a company of proprietors from the province in 1751, who sold it shortly thereafter to John Erving, of Boston, whose grant was con- firmed by the General Court in January, 1752.
The first settlement of that portion now included within the limits of Erving was probably not made until 1801, when Col. Asaph White, of Heath, located there, a solitary settler in a howling wilderness. Mr. White is said to have entered at once upon a brisk and energetic effort to promote the pros- perity of that section. In 1803 he threw a dam across Miller's River, built a saw-mill, and later kept a public-house. Be- fore his removal to Erving, in 1797, he was one of the incor- . porators of the Second Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation,
and later, in 1799, one of the incorporators of the Fifth Mas- sachusetts Turnpike Corporation.
The first mention in the records of a tavern-keeper was under date of February, 1816, when the first meeting of the freeholders of Erving's Grant was held at Alfred Alvord's tavern, although tradition says that Asaph White kept a tavern there as early as 1803.
After the advent of Mr. White settlers began to locate on the grant, but not rapidly.
Under date of December, 1815, the records show that Phineas Battel, collector of Erving's Grant, was ordered by Shawmon Battel, Amos Piper, and Calvin Ewings, assessors of Erving's Grant, to collect taxes on real and personal estate against the following persons then occupying land within the limits of what is now Erving : Ephraim Sawyer, Israel Sawyer, Jon- athan White, Wm. Crosby, Beriah Ruggles, Joseph Rawson, Amos Piper, Asa Piper, Rufus Field, Jr., Joseph Brown, Darius Carter, Abner Jennings, Calvin Priest, Asa Robbins, John Barrett, Rufus Field & Son, Samuel Coy, Gad White- head, Samson Packard, Ebenezer Cheney, Zachariah Nichols, Wm. Fleming, Reuben Goss, Lurez Ostings, Welcome Ma- son, Earle Olby, John Wheelock, Levi Benjamin, Comfort Ilunter, Ira Benjamin, Samuel Rawson, Turner Rawson, Peter Brown, Thomas Durgey, Abel Drury, A. Lured, T. Benjamin, Elijah Printer, John Ilolden, Calvin Ewing, John Williams, Hezekiah and Elijah Hotten, Rufus Stratton, Heze- kiah Stratton, Elisha Hotten, Elisha Hotten, Jr., Rufus Ty- ler, Alden Rumels, Cyrus Phiney, Reuben Bridge, Ansel Phiney, Jason Phiney, Noah Phinney, Washington Runiels, Ebenezer Tarney, Artemas Fay, Ann Stewart's heirs, Sarah Waldo.
Feb. 5, 1816, the inhabitants of Erving's Grant and all unincorporated places thereto annexed were warned to meet at Alvord's tavern. The names of the clerks chosen at that time and subsequent meetings until the incorporation of Erving will be found hereto appended : Samson Packard, 1816; An- sel Leserve, 1818 to 1822; Jonah White, 1823 to 1829; Asaph Coy, 1830; Fordyce Alexander, 1831 to 1832; Mosely Clapp, 1833; Asa Fisher, 1834 to 1838.
The settlements made about 1815 must have been well scat- tered, for Mr. Darling, now living in Erving, at the age of eighty-nine, says he passed through Erving village in 1819, when it contained three dwelling-houses, a blacksmith-shop, a store, and a hotel. The latter was a log tavern, occupying the site of the present hotel, and was kept by Elisha Alexander. The store was kept by Moscly Clapp, and the blacksmith-shop by Elihu Holton; these two latter were probably respectively the first storekeeper and the first blacksmith. The records
GROSSCUPS WAST. HILA
MILLER'S FALLS COMPANY'S WORKS, MILLER'S FALLS, MASS.
L. JI Everts, Pub'r, Phila.
769
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
of 1819 mention Lord's tavern and Root's tavern as being in the neighborhood.
The first physician was a Dr. Noyes, but, as far as known, the town never had a lawyer. The first postmaster was For- dyee Alexander, who was appointed about 1830. His sue- cessors were David Blackmer, Joseph Rankin, James Miller, L. A. Bates, and Noah Rankin, the latter being the present incumbent, who was appointed in 1862.
In 1816 the right to vote was based upon the possession by the voter of an income of £3, or an estate valued at £60.
Among the early roads laid out were, -une from the turn- pike near Phineas Battle's, running north ward to Benjamin Goddard's, and intersecting the road from Warwiek ; one be- ginning at the turnpike near Lyman Lord's tavern, and run- ning northeast by Samuel Briggs' to intersect the road from Warwick ; one beginning at the turnpike near where Morse's Brook crosses it, and thence running northwest to intersect the road from Warwick at Jonathan Orcutt's. The road laid out by the Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation in 1799 passed from Greenfield to Athol by way of Erving.
In 1815, 834 sufficed to pay the expenses of the district for that year, and in 1820 the requirement was but $40. In 1822 the district voted to pay its proportion of the cost of a bridge "across Miller's River, near Peleg Jennings', in New Salem."
Very few of the descendants of the early settlers are now to be found in the town. There are the Priests, the Browns and Coolidges, but none others. The persons who compose the present population of the town date their settlement, save with the exceptions above noted, from 1845, or later.
ORGANIZATION.
The tract now occupied by Erving was originally a portion of what was known as Erving's Grant, and by the latter name was called until Erving was incorporated, April 17, 1838, the perpetuation of the name being designed as a memorial to John Erving, who bought the territory of the original pur- chasers. It is the youngest town in Franklin County, Mon- roe, which comes next with respect to paucity of years, having been incorporated in 1822.
No events of stirring ar novel interest have entered into the history of Erving, since the town had no very early history, and it cannot, therefore, furnish those fruitful reminiscences which are found in the musty and time-worn volumes of other towns.
The names of the persons who have served Erving as town clerks and selectmen in succession from 1838 to 1879 will be found hereunto appended :
SELECTMEN.
1838-40 .- Asa Fisher, Calvin Priest, Jr., David Blackman.
1840 .- Elisha Smith, Noah W. Packard, Asa HI. Albee,
1841 .- Elisha Smith, Calvin Priest, Asa H. Albee.
1842 .- Calvin Priest, Earl Albee, Nathaniel Jennings. 1843 .- Calvin Priest, Earl Albee, David Black mar. 1844 .- Calvin Priest, Jr., David Blackmar, Elisha Smith. 1845 .- Calvin Hunter, Judah Nash, Jr., Nathaniel Jennings. 1846 .- Calvin Hunter, Judah Nash, Jr., Robert Day.
1847 .- Calvin Priest, Jr., John Snow, Jr., Asa H. Albee. 1848 .- Calvin Priest, Albert R. Albee, Loring Briggs. 1849 .- L. L. Alexander, A. R. Albee, J. B. Marble. 1850 .- A. R. Albee, Calvin Priest, Jr., Helon Holbrook. 1851 .- Helon Holbrook, Fordyce Alexander, David Blackmar.
1852 .- Albert R. Albee, Calvin Priest, Jr., Henry II. Holton. 1853 .- A. R. Albee, Helon Holbrook, Calvin Priest, Jr. 1854 .- A. R. Albee, II. H. Holton, L. A. Bates. 1855,-A. R. Albee, HI. H. Holton, Loring Briggs. 1856 .- A. S. Packard, Joseph E. Stone, H. 11. Holton.
1857 .- IT. II. Holton, Calvin Priest, Jr., Joseph Rankin.
1858 .- H. 11. Holton, S. H. Woodl, N. J. Benjamin. 1859-60 .- A. K. Albee, Chas. A. Eldy, Lewis Jennings. I861 .- A. R. Albee, Chas. A. Eddy, S. D. Comings. 1862 .- Calvin Priest, Chas. A. Eildy, Lewis Whitney. I863 .- V'alvin Priest, Il. Il. Holton, S. Il. Woodward. 1804 .- A. R. Albee, H. H. ITolton, J. E. Stone.
1865 .- A. R. Albee, S. H. Woodward, Noah Rankin. 1866 .- Chas. A. Eddy, James Moore, Lewis Jeunings.
1867 .- Chas. A. Eddy, H. 11. Holton, Frederick Hunt.
1868 .- 1 .. A. Bates, N. J. Benjamin, S. Golilthwaite.
1869,-A. R. Alhee, Loring Briggs, L. T. Thayer.
1870 .- A. R. Albee, H. Il. Ilolton, L. T. Thayer.
1871 .- A. R. Albee, W. H. Adams, Noalı Rankin.
1872 .- A. R. Albee, Frederick Hubbard, E. H. Spring.
1873 .- II. H. Holton, L. L. Perry, S. G. Titus. I874 .- A. R. Albee, L. L. Perry, T. II. King.
I875 .- S. U. Titus, T. H. King, W. F. Curtis.
1876 .- T. II. King, S. H. Woodward, H. D. Reynolds.
1877 .- T. II. King, A. B. Parker, H. D. Reynolds.
1878 .- L. L. Perry, H. D. Reynolds, T. H. King.
TOWN CLERKS.
Asa Fisher, 1838-39; Elisha Smith, 1840-45; Luther L. Alexander, 1846 ; John Snow, Jr., 1847-48; Luther L. Alexander, 1849-50; J. G. Barton, 1851-52; Helon Holbronk, 1853; John B. Day, 1854 ; E. M. Alexander, 1855-56; Charles A. Moul- ton, 1857; Noah Rankin, 1858; J. M. Tenney, 1859-61; Nonh Rankin, 1862-74; J. B. Hunt, 1875-79.
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.
Erving had exclusive representation at the General Court, between 1838 and 1857, in the following persons :
Elisha Smith, Calvin Priest, Jr., Fordyce Alexander, John H. Willis, and Albert R. Albee.
VILLAGES.
There are two villages in the town, and both are manufac- turing points.
ERVING CENTRE, a station on the Fitchburg Railroad, lies also on Miller's River, and gains its chief support from four wooden-ware manufactories, located on the stream near the village. The village is the seat of town government, and has a fine town-hall, which was built in 1874, at a cost of $14,500. There are also here two stores, a hotel, a church, and two schools.
The second village is MILLER'S FALLS, on Miller's River, opposite Miller's Falls village in Montague. flere are located the extensive works of the Miller's Falls Manufacturing Com- pany, and of many of the employés at this establishment the population of the village is composed.
Both Erving Centre and Miller's Falls village rest, as has been seen, for substantial support upon the interests of manu- facture, which have prospered at both points uninterruptedly since 1868, and which promise to maintain and improve, in time to come, the healthful growth and substance of both villages.
CHURCHIES.
The church history of Erving may be briefly told. There may have been occasional publie worship in the town previous to 1818, but, in the absence of evidence upon that head, it is probable that the earlier settlers attended religious services in adjoining towns. In 1818, Elder David Goddard, of Wen- dell, began to supply Baptist services to the people, and with Elder Andrews, of llinsdale, N. H., continued to serve them more or less in that respect until 1830, although after 1820 the Massachusetts Missionary Society furnished some assist- ance. In 1830, Revs. Dr. Packard and T. Packard, Jr., of Shelburne, preached occasionally, and in September, 1832, a Congregational Church was organized with 15 members.
Worship continued to be held in school-houses and other places most convenient-as it had been held since 1818-until 1842, when the present Congregational Church edifice was erected in the village of Erving. Neighboring ministers sup- plied to that year, when Rev. Josiah Tucker was settled as the pastor of the Erving Church and of a Congregational Church at Irvingsville, in the town of Orange, preaching alternately in the two villages. Following him, preaching was provided by Prof. William Tyler, of Amherst College, and Revs. Charles Chamberlain, A. B. Foster, John H. Stratton, George Trask, Ochus G. Hubbard, R. G. Hayward, and others.
The church began to wane in 1853, and in 1854 a press of financial difficulties led to a sale of the church building, then owned by a company of proprietors. A revival occurring shortly afterward, the church building was repurchased, and
97
770
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
since then the church, which now numbers 48 members, has prospered fairly. Since 1865, Rev. A. Stowell, who preaches also for the Congregational Church of Wendell, has been the pastor.
A BAPTIST CHURCH was organized as a branch of the South Orange Church in 1835, and after a brief existence of four years became extinct in 1839. There is now in Erving the Baptist Mission Society, a branch of the Baptist Church of Wendell. It numbers 15 members, and is supplied with preaching by Rev. Mr. Davis, of Wendell.
A UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY was organized in 1836, and con- tinued until 1848, when, by reason of a material decline, it was dissolved.
SCHOOLS.
Education does not seem to have received in Erving that attention usual with the early settlers in a majority of New England towns. The first public appropriation for schools was made in 1815, when the grant was divided into three school districts, and $30 raised for schooling. " Aunt" Lu- cretia White, who died in 1876, aged eighty, was the first school-dame, and taught school at Erving village in 1815, or earlier. The youth were taught, perhaps, previous to that year, but educational advantages then, and for some time thereafter, were exceedingly limited. Schools ocenpy at the present time a satisfactory standard of excellence.
There were in the town, in 1878, six schools, two at Erving village, one of these being a grammar school. In that year $1500 were appropriated for schools, at which the average daily attendance numbered 160.
BURIAL-PLACES.
The burying-ground first laid out is at Erving village, and is the only public burial-place in the town. Although in- terments were made in the ground as early as the year 1800, or shortly after, the oldest headstone bears the date of 1814. The cemetery occupies the deelivity of a hill a short distance north of the village, and is admirably adapted by nature as an appropriate resting-place for the dead. Among the oldest inscriptions are the following: Elizabeth Field, 1814; Sally Fisk, 1818; Hannah Hammond, 1826; Rufus Field, 1820; Tra B. Packard, 1833; Jonathan White, 1829; Eunice Holden, 1832; John Packard, 1849.
SOCIETIES, ORDERS, ETC.
At Erving Centre is the General Sedgwick Lodge of Good Templars, which was organized in 1867 with 13 members, and had, in 1879, 91. The first board of officers was composed of the following : Thos. W. Burnham, W. C. T .; Mrs. T. W. Burnham, W. V. T .; Walter E. Stone, W. S. ; J. B. Hunt, W. M. ; J. 11. Brazier, W. T. ; Rev. A. Stowell, W. C .; Mrs. E. W. Hunt, W. F. S.
There is also at the centre a hand fire-engine company, known as Erving No. 1. It was organized in 1868, and num- bers now 60 members. Erving No. 1 has achieved consider- able local fame as the winner of numerous prizes at firemen's musters in Franklin County.
The Erving Brass Band, likewise well known, was organ- ized in August, 1877, under the instruction of Wm. L. Day, of Greenfield, and still retains him as instructor. The leader is M. F. B. Howe, and the number of pieces in the band is twenty-two.
INDUSTRIES.
Manufacturing is the chief interest of the town, and in this department the most important enterprise is carried on at
:
Miller's Falls by the Miller's Falls Company, controlled prin- cipally by Greenfield capitalists. The works, which are ex- tensive, are located on Miller's River, opposite Miller's Falls village, in Montague, and employ about 150 hands in the manufacture of saws and small hardware of various descrip- tions, brace-bits being a special feature. The company was organized in 1868, and the location of the manufactory at Miller's Falls in that year gave that locality its first sub- stantial growth. The capital invested in buildings and stock aggregates $185,000. The fine water-power gained at this point from Miller's Falls is controlled by the Miller's Falls Company, whose dam and canal were constructed in 1868. There are numerous advantageous mill-sites, and in time they will doubtless attraet in no small degree the atten- tion of manufacturers and capitalists.
Messrs. J. E. Stone & Sons are engaged to a considerable extent in the manufacture of piano-cases, piano-legs, and bil- liard-table legs and frames on Miller's River, about a mile east of Erving village. Their works occupy ground in both Erving and Wendell, the dividing line being the river. They give employment to 40 persons, and have about $75,000 in- vested in the enterprise. The firm of J. E. Stone & Sons con - tinues the business originated by Washburn, Stone & Co. upon the same site in 1851.
Wm. B. Washburn & Co., employing 15 men and a capital of $100,000, have been engaged at Erving Centre since 1850 in the manufacture of lumber, door-sash, pails, etc., of which they produce yearly wares to the value of $20,000. At the same point Washburn,* Eddy & Co., organized in 1859, having a capital of $10,000, and employing 15 men, manufac- ture annually about $20,000 worth of sash and doors.
The Washburn and Heywood Chair Company, organized in 1870 with a capital of $40,000, manufacture annually the value of $50,000 cane- and wood-seat chairs. Seventy-five men find employment in this establishment, which has been since its foundation the most important industry at Erving Centre. Noah Rankin has been engaged at Erving village since 1860 in manufacturing chairs. IIe employs 15 men, and produces $25,000 worth of chairs annually.
The agricultural interests of Erving are not very important. Tobacco and small grains are grown to a limited extent, and grazing-lands provide for the production of considerable butter and the raising of stock, to which pursuits the agriculturists are chiefly devoted. The farms nambered 42 in 1875, the dwelling-houses 155, and the taxable aeres in 1878 amounted to 8811.
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