History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 76

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 76

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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The people of the town were formerly connected with the church of Charlemont, and the first meeting-house of that town was erected in what is now the southern part of Heath. Here they had the ministerial labors of the Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, first as pastor of the old church, and later as an oe- casional preacher, Mr. Leavitt being a resident of the town. After it was determined to form a new town, Jonathan Leavitt, Hugh Maxwell, Asaph White, Nathan Gould, and Roger White were appointed to memorialize the Charlemont church for liberty to form a new church. This favor was granted, and on the 15th of April, 1785, was duly organized

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HEATHI.

The covenant and articles of faith were signed by Jonathan Leavitt, Samuel Hunt, Samuel Gould, Hugh Maxwell, John Brown, Valentine Harris, Asahel Thayer, Eli Gould, Josiah David-on, Asaph White, Joseph Butler, Benjamin White, Jonathan Thayer, Seth Lathrop, Isaac Gould, Durand Bates, William Buck, J. Hart Leavitt, Joshua Leavitt, Sarah Lea- vitt, Eunice Ilunt, Priscilla Maxwell, Sarah Gould, Esther Thayer, Lydia Gould, Lucy Brown, Abigail White, Agnes Thayer, Elizabeth Butler, Elizabeth Rugg, Olive Gould, Clarissa Leavitt, Lilly Maxwell, and Abigail Ballard. It is said that the foregoing constituted all the families but one at that time in town.

Meantime, the meetings were held in the old church, which, as will be seen by reference to the town records, was moved to Ileath Centre in 1789 and fully completed in 1790, under the direction of Col. Asaph White, John Brown, Daniel Spooner, Hugh Maxwell, and Jonathan Thayer. These were instructed by the town " to set eighteen pews adjoining the walls below, and eight in the body, with three seats in front ; in the gallery, one pew over each stairway, and twelve against the walls, with two seats in front, the whole to be laid out with the greatest convenieney."

These pews were sold to the highest bidders by Willis Wil- der, Thomas Harrington, and Asahel Thayer, and the choice was secured by the Rev. Jonathan Leavitt for £8 Gs., who se- Jected No. 9. The other pews were owned as follows : No. I, the minister ; 2, Asahel Thayer ; 3, Peter Hunt ; 4, Jonathan Taylor; 5, Josiah Davidson; 6, David Baldwin, Thomas

Harrington ; 7, Silas Thayer ; 8, Stephen Bates ; 10, Jonathan Leavitt ; 11, Willis Wilder ; 12, Parley Hunt ; 13, Benjamin White; 14, Hugh Maxwell; 15, Luke White; 16, Joseph Butler ; 17, Hugh Maxwell; 18, William Buck ; 19, Isaac Gould; 20, Benjamin Maxwell; 21, Isaac Chapin ; 22, James White; 23, Daniel Spooner ; 24, Silas Allen; 26, Jacob Chapin. Gallery: No. 4, Solomon Hayward; 6, Artemas Thayer ; 8, John Buck; 12, Solomon Gleason ; 14, Ezra Gleason. This house of worship was used until 1833, when the present edifice was ereeted, almost directly north of the old church. It has lately been remodeled, and now presents an attractive and inviting appearance.

The original membership of the church was soon and fre- quently increased by revivals. In 1792, 78 were added, and at other periods from 40 to 60, so that in 1832 the church had 316 members,-said to be a greater number than any other church in the county. The Sunday-school of this period is said to have been the largest in the church outside of Boston, having had more than 500 members. But various causes re- dueed this grand membership of the church and the school, and in the light of the former prosperity their present condi- tion appears insignificant. In 1878 the church had but 28 members, and the Sunday-school only 40. This change has been brought about chiefly by removals, although disaffection among the members and the formation of other societies have aided materially. In 1844 a number felt dissatisfied with the settlement of the Rev. Josiah Fisher, and withdrew to form a new church. Two years later most of them returned to the old church, having been supplied with preaching by the Rev. Salmon Bennett meanwhile, but the church never afterward attained its former harmonious and prosperous condition.

The first deacons of the church were Hugh Maxwell and John Brown. The subsequent deacons have been James White, Medad Dickinson, Jonathan Thayer, Jacob Chapin, Samuel Hastings, Ephraim Smith, David Rugg, Moses Smith, David White, Aaron Diekinson, Joel Rugg, Hart Brown, and W. Il. Hunt, the latter being the present deacon.

The Rev. Joseph Strong was settled as the first pastor of the church Oet. 27, 1790, and was dismissed June 10, 1803. He graduated from Yale in 1784, and died at the house of his son, Prof. Theodore Strong, at Clinton, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1823, aged sixty-eight years.

The second pastor, the Rev. Moses Miller, was installed Dec. 26, 1804, and remained with the church thirty-five years, his ministry being terminated April 21, 1840. He was born in Worcester, Nov. 23, 1776, and graduated at Brown University in 1800. During the last few years of his pastor- ate he was assisted by the Rev. Calvin Butler, whose connec- tion with the church ended March 17, 1840. He was a native of Pelham, and graduated at Dartmouth.

The Rev. Samuel M. Emerson was ordained the fourth pas- tor, Sept. 16, 1840, and died at Heath, July 20, 1841, aged fifty-five years. Ile was born in Conway, Nov. 17, 1785, graduated from Williams College in 1810, and ordained to the ministry in 1815. " Ile was an active and faithful pastor, a disinterested man, a devoted Christian."

The fifth pastor, the Rev. Josiah Fisher, was settled Sept. 7, 1842, and dismissed Aug. 27, 1845. Ile graduated from Bowdoin College, Maine, in 1828, and was licensed to preach at Boston, April 26, 1831.

The Rev. Alpheus Graves became the sixth pastor, June 18, 1851, and continued that relation until September, 1854. His immediate suecessor was the Rev. E. B Emerson, who was installed Jan. 24, 1855, and resigned Nov. 26, 1857. Then followed the Revs. William P. Alcott, Eli Moody, William F. Avery, B. B. Cutler, D. P. Noyes, and others, as acting pastors or supplies. The present acting pastor, the Rev. J. C. Edgar, was ordained June 14, 1875. He graduated at Oxford, England, in 1864, and from the seminary at Bangor, Me., in 1875.

791

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

In the history of the church, the Revs. Ebenezer Tueker, A. A. Gaylord, Dana Grosell, and Zolva Whitmore also served as supplies.

The Congregational ministers natives of Ileath have been as follows: Rev. Stephen T. Allen, born in Heath in 1809, graduated at Amherst in 1833, and at Andover in 1837. He became an editor of household literature in New York. Rev. Joshua Leavitt, born in Heath, Sept. 8, 1794, graduated at Yale in 1814, studied law, but became a minister in 1823, and is better known as editor of the Independent. Rev. Lowell Smith, born in Heath, Nov. 27, 1802. He graduated at Wil- liams in 1829, and was ordained a missionary to the Sandwich Islands at Heath, Sept. 26, 1832. Rev. David HI. Thayer, born in Heath, May 21, 1825. He graduated at Union in 1849, and studied theology at New Haven. Rev. John C. Thomp- son, born in Heath, Sept. 27, 1804. He graduated at Amherst in 1829, and was lieensed to preach in 1835. Rev. Cornelius E. Dickinson, born in Ileath in 1835. Ile graduated at Am- herst in 1860. Rev. Samuel F. Dickinson, born in town in 1839, and studied at Ann Arbor, Mich. Rev. George L. Dick- inson, born in Heath in August, 1846, and studied theology at Andover and Bangor.

THE HEATH BAPTIST CHURCH

was organized Sept. 9, 1801, but the record of its history has been so imperfeetly kept that no satisfactory account can be here given. Among the early members were Stephen Barker, Vernon Gleason, Sampson Spaulding, David Eddy, Joseph Barker, Moses Eldred, Aaron Gleason, David Streeter, Daniel Lyon, Isaac Chapin, John Pense, John Barber, Frasier Max- well, Alexander P. Maxwell, Stephen Gerry, Joshua Warner, Cassius Harrington, Ebenezer Eddy, James Bond, John Bar- ber, Asa Marsh, Thompson Smith, Jesse Gale, David Lake, and Isaac Davis, In 1830 the church had 100 members, but they constantly decreased until but half a dozen are left, and the organization is no longer strictly kejt up. The meeting- house was erected in the eastern part of the town, on the farm of William Fisk (at present owned by Fred. Tanner), but was moved to the hamlet of Heath years ago, and now stands there in a dilapidated condition, and lately has been altogether unoccupied.

Among the clergy who have served this church are remem- bered the Revs. Bemus, Montague, Long, Smith, Hibbard, Carpenter, Barker, Wetherill, Bruce, Davenport, Wilson, Ilall, Lamb, Austin, Robinson, Nelson, Branch, McCulloch, Case, Ilowe, Fisk, Chandler, Frary, Remington, Stearns, Lamb, Chapman, Converse, Ball, Pease, and Smith in 1873. The Rev. George Benton, a Baptist minister, was a native of Heath.

In 1825 the Unitarians organized a society, and for a short time had preaching by the Revs. Bailey, Huntington, Colman, Field, and Willard. The organization never was strong, and long since became extinet.

THE HEATH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI

was formally organized by the Rev. Moses Spencer, at that time serving Rowe and Heath Circuit, April 14, 1859. Samuel Brown was the leader of the elass. The stewards were George

R. Brown, Horaee Temple, William Darling, E. E. Warfield, George Temple, William Kendrick, Joel Rugg, Joseph Rob- bins, and Noble Fisk. The members numbered 40.

The first and present meeting-house was erected in 1878-74 by a building committee composed of John Burrington, Ilenry D. Gould, and L. D. Wetmore, and was consecrated July 23, 1874, by the Revs. R. R. Meredith, L. R. Thayer, L. P. Frost, and others. It is a very neat frame of shapely proportions, and cost $4500. The lot on which it stands, at the hamlet, was given for this purpose by the Rev. Ephraim Scott. A. parsonage in the hamlet was purchased about 1860. These temporalities are in charge of a board of trustees, at present composed of John Burrington, Jonathan Peterson, Henry D. Goukl, Amos Temple, Abraham Tanner, L. D. Wetmore, Horace Burrington, William Burrington, and Frederick Tanner.

The church had, in 1878, nearly 60 members, under the pastoral care of the Rev. L. P. Frost, and maintained a Sun- day-school of 100 members, of which Amos Temple was superintendent.

The preachers on the Heath and Rowe Circuit, from its formation to the present, were as follows: 1859-60, Moses Spencer; 1860-61, G. R. Bent; 1861-64, Lorenzo White; 1864-66, Randall Mitchell; 1866-67, E. J. Stevens ; 1867-68, N. J. Merrill ; 1868-69, John H1. Lord ; 1869-71, William II. Adams; 1871-73, Alfred Noon; 1873-74, A. M. Osgood ; 1874-75, W. E. Dwight; 1875-76, W. E. Knox ; 1876-77, Burtis Judd ; 1877, L. P. Frost.

MILITARY. WAR OF THE REBELLION.

The following is a list of the soldiers who served in the war of 1861-65:

Amos Temple, corp., umst. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Regt.

Charles Hamilton, corp., must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 524 Regt. Patrick Conley, corp., must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Regt. ; killed June 15, 18G3.

Edward 11. Gleason, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Regt .; died in hospital.

Henry Rushworth, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52.1 Regt.

Henry M. Temple, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 521 Regt.

William H. Temple, winst. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Regt.

Abraham Tanner, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Ilegt. Edwin M. Sumner, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. B, 52d Regt. Samuel S. Gould, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt. Aaron Trask, must. Oct. 11, 1862, Co. E, 52d Regt.

Lemuel M. Bolton, must. Sept. 12, 1861, Co. F, 10th Regt.

Thomas S. Gleason, must. Sept. 12, 1861, Co. F, 10th Regt. ; killed at Fair Oaks. Charles F. Gleason, must. Sept. 12, 1861, Co. F, 10th Regt.

Charles H. Robbins, must. Sept. 12, 1861, Co. F, 10th Regt. Richard M. Powers, mist. Sept. 12, 18GI, Co. 1, 10th Regt.

Charles F. Powers, must. Ang. 9, 1861, Co. H, 10th Regt. Thomas F. Harrington, must. June 21, 1861, Co. HI, 10th Regt.

Herman A. Spooner, must. June 21, '61, Co. H, 10th Regt. ; killed at Fair Oaks. Jolin II. Underwood, corp., must. Nov. 20, 1861, Co. C, 3Ist Regt.

Sanford M. Underwood, must. Nov. 20, 1861, Co. (, 31st Regt .; died in 1863.

W. O. Hawkes, minst. Nov. 20, 1861, Co. C, 31st Regt.

John Palmer, must. Nov. 20, 1861, Co. C, 31st Regt.

Martin O. Browo, Dist. July 31, 1862, Co. F, 34th Regt.

John L. Hawks, sergt., must. July 31, 1862, Co. F, 34th liegt. A. S. Mandell, must. Ang. 1, 1862, Co. K, 3Gth Regt.

L'uclassified .- Nathan Chapin,* A. J. Gleason, Henry B. Kinsman," John L. Harris,* Luzern Fairbanks,* Almon Hawks, Elihn Porter, George S. Eddy, Flavel Woodward, Edwin Fairbanks, William II. Bolton, Heury D. Barker, Timothy M. Harrington, Aaron S. Cooley.

* Died in the service.

MONROE.

GEOGRAPHICAL.

This town is situated in the extreme northwestern part of the county, west of the Deerfield River, and principally on the eastern slope of the Hoosac Mountain. It is bounded on the north by Vermont, on the west and south by Florida, in Berkshire County, and on the east by the town of Rowe, of which it formerly constituted a part. Monroe was incorpo- rated Feb. 21, 1822, to embrace all that part of Rowe lying west of the Deerfield, and an unincorporated tract of land, called " the Gore," receiving its name from the President of the United States. Its area is small, embracing only about twelve square miles, and but a small portion admits of easy or profitable cultivation. Along the river are some fertile lands, having a loamy soil, and near the centre of the town is a tract of arable land, though of a somewhat less productive nature. The remainder has been valuable chictly for the timber growing upon it, and since that has been removed is esteemed of little consequence. Mill Brook is the principal stream. It crosses the town in a diagonal course from the northwest to the southeast, and affords a number of small mill- sites, whose improvement has given employment to many people of the town.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The rugged nature of the town presented few attractions to the pioneer, and it was not until about 1800 that an attempt at permanent settlement was made. About that period Daniel Caneday, of Coleraine, brought in his family, and was fol- lowed soon after by Ebenezer Howard, Samuel Gore, and Daniel Gore. Some of these left town early ; the latter re- mained until his death. He lived a little south of the centre, and reared a number of sons, among them being Hiram, Lowell, Moses, Asahel, and Luther. The latter moved to Ohio, where he became a noted lawyer.

Three brothers of the Ballou family-David, Benjamin, and Nathan-came from Richmond, N. H., about the same time, and settled within half a mile of one another, near the present school-house in District No. 2. Benjamin lived on the road west, on the place afterward occupied by his son, Martin, and where the latter's son, Martin MI., now resides. David Ballou lived north of the school-house, on the place now owned by Alfred Phelps. His sons were David, a Universalist minister, Leavitt, Moses, and John. The third brother, Nathan, lived southeast of the school-house. He had three sons-Nathan, Ilosea, and Maturin-and seven daughters. The last-named son, Maturin, drove a stage across the mountain, from Green- field to North Adams, seventeen years. His home was in the castern part of the town. One of his sons, Cyrus, is a well- known citizen of Rowe. Hosea F. Ballon, a son of the noted Boston clergyman, was a resident of Monroe a number of years.

Jonathan Hicks is also named among the carly settlers. Hle lived in the northern part of the town, and had sons named Joseph, Daniel, and Albert, the latter being still a resident of Monroe. In his neighborhood, Levi Whitcomb was one of the first settlers. Ile had sons named Stillman, Nathan, Samuel, and Myron, nearly all of whom live in the town. At a little later period Dana Phelps settled south of the centre, where he reared a large family, the sons being Dana, Frank, Cyrus, Charles, Newell, Iliram, Alfred, Asa, and Darius.

The last three named yet live in town, and, with their de- scendants, constitute a large share of the population at the present time.

At the centre and near that point were Thomas Stafford and his sons Isaac, Thomas, Ezekiel, James, Elijah, and Nathan ; Jacob Bryant and his sons, Martin, Asahel, and Roswell ; Rufus Spaulding and his sons, Ansel and Thomas; Thomas Hlines and his sons, Maranda and Arnold ; Elisha Bryant and his sons, Benjamin, Elisha, and Arad ; Isaiah Dunbar, Charles Dunbar, Thaddeus Dunbar, Nathan and Elkany Bullock, Gilson and Elnathan Taylor, and James Sheldon, all of whom may be properly classed among the early settlers of the town.

In 1840 the town had 282 inhabitants, and every subsequent decade showed a diminished population, the inhabitants at present numbering only 190.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION.

Under the act incorporating Monroe, the warrant to call the first town-meeting was issued to Martin Ballou by Jesse King, a justice of the peace in Berkshire County. The voters were directed to assemble at the house of Martin Ballou, April 4, 1822, to elect officers and transact such town busi- ness as the welfare of the new town demanded.

At the stated time Rev. David Ballou was chosen modera- tor, and the following officers elected :

Martin Ballou, Town Clerk ; Nathan Ballon, Maturin Ballou, and David Caneday, Selectmen ; Martin Ballou, Hosea F. Ballou, Asa Bullock, Assessors ; Martin Ballou Treasurer ; David Caneday, Collector and Constable.

SELECTMEN.

The following is a list of the seleetmen from 1823 to the present time :

1823 .- Matmin Ballon, Martin Ballon, Hosea F. Ballou.

1824 .- Erastus Hall, Martin Ballou, Hosea F. Ballon.

1825 .- Maturin Ballon, Martin Ballon, Hosea F. Ballon.

1826,-David Cuneday, Martin Ballou, Hosea F. Ballou. 1827 .- Daniel Gore, Martin Ballon, Hosea F. Ballon. 1828,-Daniel Gore, Martin Ballon, Maturin Ballon. 1829-30 .- Daniel Gore, Joseph Barber, Matunin Ballou. 1831 .- Hosea F. Ballou, Joseph Barber, Martin Ballon. 1832 .- Hosea F. Ballon, Isaac Stafford, Jonathan Hicks. 1833 .- Martin Ballou, Thomas Stafford, Jonathan Hicks. 1834 .- David Ballou, Jr., M. Hines, JJonathan Hicks.

1835 .- Thomas JJ. Spaulding, M. Hines, James K. Sheldon.

1836 .- Thomas J. Spaulding, Charles Phelps, James K. Sheklon.

1837 .- Martin Bryant, Charles Dunbar, Ezekiel Stafford. 1838,-Hiram Gore, Joseph H. Hicks, Jonathan Hall. 1839 .- Martin Bryant, Martin M. Ballou, David Ballou. 1×40 .- Ilosea Ballou, Martin M. Ballou, Daniel Gore. 1841 .- John Ballon, Joseph II. Hicks, Samuel Stockwell.

1842 .- Maranda Hines, Henry B. Dunbar, Ezekiel Stafford. 1843 .- Martin M. Ballou, Isaac Stafford, Samuel Stock well. 1844 .- Asahel Gore, Joseph H. Ilicks, James K. Sheblon. 1845 .- Chester Hinsdale, Joseph II. Hicks, Marauda Hines. 1846 .- Chester llinsdale, Hosea Ballon, Jeremiah Gifford. 1847 .- Thomas Hines, Daniel Gore, Jeremiah Gifford. 1>48,-Maranda Hines, Joseph II. Hicks, Riley Boyd. 1849,-Asuhel Gore, Martin M. Ballou, David Ballou. 1850 .- Asahel Gore, Joseph H. Hicks, Martin Kingsley. 1851 .- Asahel Gore, Joseph HI. Hicks, Janws K. Sheldon. 1852 .- Maranda Hines, Gilson Taylor, James K. Shellon. 1853 .- Alfred Phelps, Joseph H. Hicks, Charles Walrott. 1854 .- Charles Legate, Joseph H. Hicks, Asahet Gore.

1855 .- Tyler Walcott, Hiram G. Phelps, Asithel Gore. 1856 .- Alfred Phelps, Stephen J. Ballou, Asahel Gore. 1857 .- James K. Shellon, Henry Hinsdale, Martin M. Ballon.

792

793

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

1858 .- S. J. Ballou, David Ballou, Martin M. Ballou. 1859 .- James Stafford, Charles Legate, Cyrus Phelps. 1860 .- James K. Sheldon, Joseph H. Ilicks, Samuel Stock well. 1861 .- David Ballon, Joseph H. Hicks, Martin Kingsley. 1862 .~ Maranda Hines, Joseph H. Ilicks, Henry Hinsdale. 1863 .- R. A. Stafford, Joseph HI. llicks, Jeremiah Gifford. 1864 .- Alvin Tower, David Goodell, Jeremiah Gifford. 1865 .- Maranda Hines, Henry A. Legate, Albert A. Hicks. 1866 .- Alfred Phelps, Martin M. Ballou, Simeon Barker. 1867 .- Martin Kingsley, Charles Watwell, Charles B. Stafford. 1868 .- Charles I. Walcott, Josiah Hamilton, Emerson J. Hicks. 1869 .- Asahel Gore, Josiah Hamilton, Emerson J. Ilicks. 1870 .- Asahel Gore, David Goodell, Charles B. Stafford. 1871-Charles J. Walcott, David Goodell, Stillman Whitcomb. 1872 .- Martin M. Ballou, Warren F. Tower, Henry Hinsdale. 1873 .- Emerson J. Hicks, David Goodell, Albert A. Hicks. 1874 .- Charles B. Stafford, Stillman Whitcomb, John Taylor. 1875 .- Charles B. Stafford, Stillman Whitcomb, Truman A. King. 1876 .- Charles B. Stafford, Stillman Whitcomb, O. F. Negus. 1877-78 .- W. F. Tower, Henry Hinsdale, Samuel Stafford.

TOWN CLERKS.

The town clerks since the first meeting have been as fol- lows :

1823-43, Martin Ballou; 1844-47, Martin Briant; 1848-50, Charles Phelps ; 1851-53, Hosea G. Ballou ; 1854-56, Asahel Gore ; 1857, Samuel Stafford ; 1858-60, H. G. Ballou ; 1861, George H. Ballou; 1862-65, Henry Hinsdale; 1866, George H. Ballon ; 1867-73, Joseph H. Hicks ; 1874-78, H. G. Phelps.

At the meeting held April 4, 1822, " Nathan Ballou was appointed to examine into and ascertain the state of Rowe as it respects our connection with that town, according to the Incorporating Act."

In 1848 it was decided to erect a new town-house as near the centre of the town as possible, and to use for this purpose the surplus money received from the Treasury of the United States. The selectmen were empowered to serve as a building committee. This house is yet used for public purposes as well as for religious meetings.

ROADS AND CEMETERIES.

At the first meeting the town was divided into four high- way districts, having Jonathan Hicks as the surveyor of No. 1, David Ballou of No. 2, Elisha Bryant of No. 3, and Harvey Goodell of No. 4.

One hundred and fifty dollars were appropriated for the im- provement of the roads, labor on which was to be compen- sated at ten cents per hour. In 1878 the town had nine road surveyors, and about $500 per year has been appropriated an- nually for the improvement of the highways. The expense of keeping these in repair has been a heavy burden to the sparsely-settled town, and is the chief cause of the burden- some taxation which prevails. In 1878 the rate was 3% To per cent. on the valuation.

The town is supplied with two public cemeteries, which are conveniently located and moderately well cared for.

THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS

of Monroe have been limited by the water-power of its single stream to the common industry of this part of the State,-the manufacture of lumber. Beginning at the north western point of Mill Brook, there have been the following improvements : a saw-mill, built soon after the town was settled by Daniel Gore, which was replaced by a mill erected by Levi Whit-

100

comb, and which is now operated by A. A. Hicks; the next power was improved by Jonathan Hall, and the mill is now carried on by Charles Stafford ; at the third power a mill was put up by Gilbert Ballon, which is at present owned by War- ren Tower ; Stillman Whitcomb improved the fourth power, and still operates the mill he built; below this point Isaiah Dunbar put up a mill where Emerson Stafford now has a saw- mill; and still lower, on the same stream, Amos Mason has in operation a saw-mill. Most of these are small, and the total quantity manufactured annually will not exceed 200,000 feet. Many years ago Thomas Stafford had a small grist-mill south of the centre of the town, which was long since aban- doned.

SCHOOLS AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

On the 11th of April, 1823, the town was divided into two school districts, and $50 appropriated for the support of schools. The following year a new district was formed, and a school-house erected at the " four corners" by a building committee composed of Hosea F. Ballon, John Hicks, and David Caneday. Three districts are yet maintained, although there were four twenty years ago, and, in 1878, 54 children of school age were reported. For the support of the schools appropriations are made by the town to maintain them in summer only.

No church has ever been formally organized in town. About 1810 the Rev. David Ballou, at that time a resident of Monroe, formed a Universalist Society, which maintained its existence about forty years. The meetings of this society were held at the town-house and other places, and the officia- ting ministers were the Reys. David Ballou, Hosea F. Ballou, Joseph Barber, Joy Bishop, Jeremiah Gifford, Charles O. French, and Jonathan Hicks. Of these, Hosea F. Ballou, Jonathan Hicks, and Moses Ballou were Universalist clergy- men, and Russell A. Ballou was a Unitarian minister. In late years religious meetings have only been occasionally held.

There are no villages in Monroe, and no mercantile busi- ness or mechanic-shops.

THE MONROE POST-OFFICE

is kept as near the centre of the town as the residences of the different postmasters permit. The office has been held by Martin Ballou, Samuel Stafford, Emerson Stafford, Stillman Whitcomb, and David Sherman. A semi-weekly mail is sup- plied from the Hoosac Tunnel, ria Readsboro', Vt.

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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 76

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