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 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181
The offices of county treasurer and register of deeds have been elective since 1785. County commissioners were ap- pointed by the Governor and council until 1854, since which time they have been elected by the people.
The following offices have been elective since the adoption of the amended constitution in 1857: commissioners of in- solvency during their continuance, sheriff, register of probate and insolvency, district attorney, clerk of courts. Coroners and medical examiners are appointed by the Governor and council.
The office of county attorney was abolished in 1832, and that of district attorney substituted. The district now em- braces Hampden County.
The following list comprises the names and terms of service of the various county officials who have served since the or- ganization of the county in 1812, with the single exception of coroners and medical examiners :
JUDGES OF PROBATE.
1812 .- Samuel Fowler, Westfield.
1813 .- John Hooker, Springfield.
1829 .- Oliver B. Morris, Springfield.
JUDGES OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY.
1858 .- John Wells, Chicopee.
1863 .- William S. Shurtleff, Springfield.
JUDOES OF INSOLVENCY.
1856-59 .- John M. Stebbins.
REGISTERS OF PROBATE.
1812 .- William Blair, Westfield.
1813 .- Oliver B. Morris, Springfield.
1829 .- Justice Willard, Springfield.
1851 .- William L. Smith, Springfield.
1853 .- Henry Smith, Springfield.
1855 .- Charles A. Winchester, Springfield.
1857 .- Charles R. Ladd, Springfield.
REGISTERS OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY.
1859 .- William S. Shurtleff, Springfield. 1863 .- Samuel B. Spooner, Springfield.
REGISTERS OF INSOLVENCY.
1856-57 .- C. A. Winchester.
1857-59 .- William S. Shurtleff.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
1812 .- Oliver B. Morris, Springfield.
1812 .- George Bliss, Springfield.
1817 .- Samuel Lathrop, West Springfield.
1821 .- Oliver B. Morris, Springfield.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
1832 .- Charles A. Dewey, Northampton.
1837 .- Daniel Wells, Greenfield.
1844 .- William Porter, Jr., Lee.
+ For information upon other county matters, see under head of County Legis- lature.
* Including what is now Hampden.
801
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
1851 .- Increase Sumner, Great Barrington. 1853 .- William G. Bates, Westfield.
1854 .- llenry L. Dawes, Adams. 1857 .- Edward B. Gillett, Westfield. 1872 .- George M. Stearns, Chicopee. 1874 .- N. A. Leonard, Springfiell. 1875 .- E. H. Lathrop. 1878 .- N. A. Leonard.
JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF SESSION.
1812-13 .- Samuel Fowler, Westfield. 1812-13 .- Gideon Burt, Longmeadow.
1812-13 .- Isaac Coit, Southwick. 1812-13 .- Joshua Frost, Springfield. 1812-13 .- Abel Bliss, Wilbraham. 1813-19 .- Abner Brown, Monson. 1813-28 .- Heman Day, West Springfield.
1813-14 .- Ethan Ely, Longmeadow.
1814-18 .- William Ely, Springfield. 1819-20 .- Amos Hamilton, Palmer.
1819-23 .- Stephen Pynchon, Brimfield.
1819-25 .- Sylvester Emmons, Chester.
1823-28 .- James Stebbins, Palmer.
1826-28 .- Joseph Forward, Southwiek.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
1828-31 .- Caleb Rice, West Springfield. 1828-35 .- Joel Norcross, Monson.
1828-35 .- Reuben Boies, Jr., Blandford. 1831-35 .- William Bliss, Springfield. 1835-38 .- James W. Crooks, Springfield. 1835-38 .- Gideon Stiles, Southwiek. 1835-38 .- Cyrus Knox, Palmer. 1838-44 .- John Ward, Palmer. 1841-44 .- Patrick Boise, Westfield.
1841-44 .- Forbes Kyle, Chester. 1844-47 .- Willis Phelps, Springfield. 1844-50 .- Samuel Root, Granville.
1844-47 .- Austin Fuller, Monson. 1847-50 .- Benning Leavitt, Chicopee. 1847-50 .- John McCray, Wilbraham. 1850-53 .- Norman T. Leonard, Westfield.
1850-53 .- William V. Sessions, Wilbraham.
1850-53 .- Melvin Copeland, Chester.
1853-55 .- William B. Calhoun, Springfield. 1853-57 .- Alured Homer, Brimfield. 1853-56 .- George C. Gibbs, Blandford. 1855-58 .- Francis Brewer, Springfield. 1856-59 .- Henry Fuller, Westfield. 1857-60 .- Henry F. Brown, Brimfield. 1858-64 .- Nelson D. Parks, Russell. 1859-62 .- Ilenry Charles, Ludlow. 1860-63 .- llenry Fuller, Westfield. 1862-65 .- Benning Leavitt, Chicopee. 1863-69 .- Daniel G. Potter, Monson.
1864-67 .- Charles C. Wright, Agawam. 1865-68 .- Ambrose N. Merrick, Springfield. 1867-76 .- William M. Lewis, Blandford.
1868-71 .- Phineas Stedman, Chicopee.
1869-71 .- Randolph Stebbins, Longmeadow.
1871-74 .- George R. Townsley, Springfield. 1871-74 .- James S. Loomis, Palmer. 1873-76 .- Lawson Sibley, Springfield. 1874-77 .- John O. Donnell, llolyoke. 1875-78 .- L. F. Thayer, Westfield. 1876 .- N. S. Ilubbard, Brimfield.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
1812 .- Edward Pynchon, Springfield. 1830 .- David l'aine, Springfield.
1835 .- George Colton, Springfield. 101
1838 .- William Rice, Springfield.
1856 .- Norman Norton, Springfield. 1859 .- Charles R. Ladd, Springfield. 1867 .- M. Wells Bridge, Springfield.
REGISTERS OF DEEDS.
1812 .- Edward Pynchon, Springfield. 1830 .- David Paine, Springfield. 1831 .- William Rice, Springfield. 1858 .- James E. Russell, Springfield.
SHERIFFS. 1812 .- Jonathan Smith, Jr., Springfield.
1814 .- John Phelps, Granville.
1831 .- Caleb Rice, Springfield.
1851 .- Justin Wilson, Blandford.
1853 .- Patrick Boise, Westfield. 1855 .- Nathaniel Cutler, Chicopee.
1857 .- Robert G. Marsh, Holyoke.
1860 .- Frederick Bush, Westfield.
1869 .- A. M. Bradley, Springfield. 1878 .- H. Q. Sanderson.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
1812 .- John Ingersoll, Springfield. 1841 .- Richard Bliss, Springfield. 1852 .- George B. Morris, Springfield. 1872 .- Robert O. Morris, Springfield.
TRIAL-JUSTICES.
The office of trial-justice was established by an act of the General Court, passed May 3, 1850. They were to be appointed by the Governor, to hold office during seven years. This act was repealed May 24, 1851.
A similar act was passed in 1858, establishing a certain number in each county, the number in Hampden being re- stricted to ten, to be appointed by the Governor and council, and to hold office for three years.
Under this act the jurisdiction of such trial-justices ex- tended to all offenses subject to the penalties of fine and for- feiture, not exceeding fifty dollars, or imprisonment in the jail or house of correction for a term not exceeding six months. The present justices and the towns where they have jurisdic- tion are as follows :
Westfield .- llenry Fuller, Henry B. Lewis, Homer B. Ste- vens.
Granville .- J. M. Goodwin. Chester .- Rufus Smith.
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND REPRESENTATION.
Every incorporated town existing at the adoption of the constitution of 1779 was entitled to one representative in the General Court. From that date, every town having one hun- dred and fifty ratable polls was entitled to a representative, and an additional one was allowed for every additional two hundred and twenty-five ratable polls. From the adoption of the constitution no new town could be organized having less than the one hundred and fifty ratable polls, but all towns then in existence were allowed one representative, without re- gard to the number of polls.
Under the amended constitution of 1857* the State was divided into representative distriets by counties, the Legisla- ture fixing the number of representatives to which each county was entitled according to population, and the County Com- missioners were empowered and authorized to subdivide their respective counties into districts in proportion to the number of legal voters in such manner as would best accommodate the population. The first apportionment, made in 1857, was as follows, the county being entitled to twelve representatives :
* Passed by the Legislature May 23, 1855 ; ratified by the people in 1857.
802
IHISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
First District .- The towns of Brimfield, Monson, Holland, and Wales .- To be entitled to one representative.
Second District .- The town of Palmer .- One representative.
Third District .- The towns of Wilbraham and Long- meadow .- One representative.
Fourth District .- The First and Second Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Fifth District .- The Third and Fourth Wards .- One rep- resentative.
Sirth District .- The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Wards .- One representative.
Seventh District .- The towns of Chicopee and Ludlow .- Two representatives.
Eighth District .- The towns of Holyoke and West Spring- field .- One representative.
Ninth District .- The towns of Agawam, Southwick, and Granville. - One representative.
Tenth District .- The town of Westfield .- One representa- tive.
Eleventh District .- The towns of Chester, Blandford, Tol- land, Montgomery, and Russell .- One representative.
Under the apportionment of 1866 the county was allowed the same number of representatives, and the commissioners divided it into nine distriets, as follows :
First District .- The towns of Brimfield, Monson, Holland, and Wales .- With one representative.
Second District .- The towns of Palmer and Wilbraham .- One representative.
Third District .- The First, Second, and Third Wards of the city of Springfield .- Two representatives.
Fourth District .- The Fourth and Sixth Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Fifth District .- The Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Sieth District .- The towns of Holyoke, Chicopee, and Lud- low .- Two representatives.
Seventh District .- The towns of Granville, Southwick, Agawam, West Springfield, and Longmeadow .- Two repre- sentatives.
Eighth District .- The town of Westfield .- One represent- ative.
Ninth District .- The towns of Chester, Blandford, Mont- gomery, Russell, and Tolland .- One representative.
The third apportionment, made in 1876, gives the county twelve representatives, as hefore; and the commissioners divided it into eleven districts, as follows :
First District .- The towns of Monson, Brimfield, Holland, and Wales,-One representative.
Second District .- The towns of Palmer, Wilbraham, and Ludlow .- One representative .*
Third District .- The town of Chicopee .- Two representa- tives.
Fourth District .- The First and Second Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Fifth District .- The Third and Sixth Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Sixth District .- The Fourth and Seventh Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Nerenth District .- The Fifth and Eighth Wards of the city of Springfield .- One representative.
Eighth District .- The First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Wards of the city of Holyoke .- One representative.
Ninth District .- The Sixth and Seventh Wards of Hol- yoke, and the town of West Springfield .- One representative. Tenth District .- The towns of Westfield, Agawam, and Montgomery .- Two representatives,
Eleventh District .- The towns of Southwick, Granville, Tol- land, Blandford, Chester, and Russell .- One representative.
For list of representatives, see histories of towns.
In addition to the regular county officers, the county of Hampden has furnished the following State officers :
Lieutenant-Governor .- Eliphalet Trask, Hampden County, from 1858 to 1861.
Secretary of State .- William B. Calhoun, of Hampden County, from 1848 to 1851.
CHAPTER III.
BENEVOLENT RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS.
VARIOUS societies and associations have been in existence for many years in connection with the religious organizations of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. An association of Christian ministers was in existence before 1800, for we find that at a meeting held in Springfield, Feb. 12, 1799, at " the request of some gentlemen residing in the new settle- ments," it was
" Voted I. That we will encourage a mission to the Mohawk River, in the vicinity of Fort Stanwix [now Rome], not exceeding four months.
" II. That we will endeavor, with the consent of our people, to supply the pulpit of the gentleman who shall undertake the mission during his absence.
" III. That we will endeavor to collect from our respective parishes eighty dollars as a compensation for the four months."
Under these resolutions the Rev. Joel Baker, of Middle Granville, went as the missionary, and was paid sixty dollars, as he was absent only three months, the amount being dis- tributed among the various towns of what is now Hampden County. At another time the Rev. Dr. Cooley, of East Granville, labored as a missionary for three months in the vicinity of Utica, N. Y.
Upon the division of Old Hampshire County, in 1811-12, the early organizations of the original county were subdivided into three county organizations. Previous to the division . there was a Hampshire missionary society, and undoubtedly a Bible society, and perhaps other associations for benevolent purposes.
The Hampden County Home Missionary Society was or- ganized at the court-house in Springfield on the 19th day of May, 1831, by a convention of pastors and delegates. The first annual meeting was held in the following October.
The Hampden County Bible Society, and the Foreign Mis- sionary Society of Hampden County, had also been organized for a considerable time ; and soon after the formation of the llome Missionary Society the three organizations held their annual meetings in concert, and published their reports to- gether.
In 1843 all the religious benevolent associations and so- cieties, with a few exceptions, were consolidated under the name of "THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF HAMPDEN COUNTY."
The first officers of the Hampden Home Missionary Society, organized in 1831, were: President, Hon. Saml. Lathrop; Vice- President, Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, D. D. ; Secretary, Rev. Ilervey Smith ; Treasurer, Henry Brewer, Jr. Its directors were Rev. Alfred Ely, Rev. Saml. Osgood, D.D., Daniel Bon- tecou, Rev. Isaae Knapp, Augustus Collins, Esq., Orrin Sage, Esq., Rev. Alexander Phenix, Rev. Thomas E. Vermilye, Justin Ely, Esq., Rev. R. S. Hazen, Elisha Burnham, Esq., and Col. Galen Ames.
From 1850 to 1861 the Conference of the Congregational Churches of Hampden County acted in concert with the Be- nevolent Association, and in the latter year united with that organization. The prominent organizations of the county are at the present time the Hampden County Home Missionary Society, the Hampden County Bible Society, and the For- eign Missionary Society ; and around these has grown up the system of religious charities and home evangelization.
Within the forty years from 1831 to 1871 the Congrega- tional Churches in Hampden County increased from twenty-
* This district includes the new town of Hampden.
803
three to twenty-eight, and from a membership of three hou- sand three hundred and seven to five thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight, and their Sabbath-school membership from three thousand seven hundred and forty-three to six thousand four hundred and fifty-eight. These figures have been since somewhat increased. The total contributions of the Benevo- lent Association for the year ending Oct. 20, 1878, were twelve thousand seven hundred and fifty-one dollars and forty-one cents.
The present officers of the association are as follows: Pres- ident, Rev. Aaron W. Field ; Seribe and Treasurer of Con- ference, Rev. John W. Harding ; Treasurer of the Benevolent Association, Charles Marsh ; Auditors, Henry Brewer, Henry S. Lee.
The total contributions of the Congregational Churches of Ilampden for benevolent purposes in the forty years between 1831 and 1871 were four hundred and eight thousand four hundred and sixty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents.
CHAPTER IV. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
THE HAMPDEN DISTRICT MEDICAL SOCIETY.
THIS society was instituted May 30, 1840, under a charter granted by the Councilors of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety to Joseph H. Flint, William Bridgman, George Hooker, Aaron King, Bela B. Jones, Reuben Champion, John Apple- ton, and L. W. Humphreys. It is composed of the Fellows of the Massachusetts Society residing in the county of Hamp- den .* The society is in a flourishing condition, and occupies a high position among the medical associations of Massachu- setts. Its officers since its organization have been as follows :
Presidents.
Elected. Resigned.
Elected. Resigned.
Reuben Champion ... 1840
.1841
P. Le B. Stickney
.... 1860. 1862
Aaron King ...
1841
.1842
E. G. Pierce.
.1862. .1862
Joseph Il. Flint.
.1842 1843
Cyrus Bell
.1863. .1866
David Bemis
.1843
.1845
David P. Smith.
.1866 .1>67
John Smith.
1:45
1846
William G. Breck ..... 1867 ...
1869
William Bridgman .. .. 1846
1:48
A. S. McLean ....
1869
1871
Silas P. Wrigbt.
1848
1:49
V. L. Owen ..... 1871
1×72
Jesse W. Rice .. .1849 .. 1851
T. L. Chapman ...
.1872
1874
James M. Smith
.1851
.1:54
W. J. Sawin ..
.1874
1876
William Bridgman ... 1854
1857
David Clark
.1876.
.1877
Nathan Adams ..
1857
1859
II. G. Stickney
1877 1878
Alfred Lambert. 1859
Sanfordl Lawton
.1878
Vice-Presidents.
Elected. Resigned.
Elected. Resigned.
William Bridgman. .. 1840
.1/41
A. S. McLean.
1867 1869
T. B. Bridgman.
1848 1849
William J. Sawin ..... 1>69
1870
Thad. K. De Wolf.
.. 1857 1×58
V. L. Owen ...
1870 1871
Thos. L. Chapman ... 1858
1859
T. L. Chapman
1871 1872
P. Le B. Stickney.
... 1859
1860
A. R. Rice.
1872
1874
D. P. Smith
.1860 .1861
Il. G. Stickneyt.
.1874
1876
Cyrus Bell.
1862
.1863
G. S. Stebbins ...
1876
1877
Alfred Lambert.
.1864
G. W. Davis ...
1877
1878
George G. Tucker ..... Isti6.
.. 1867
Harlow Gamwell.
.. 1878
Sceretaries and Treasurers.
Elected. Resigned.
Elected. Resigned.
John Appleton .. 1840
1842
William G. Breck
.. 1863
1864
William A. Davis ...... 1842
1845
11. G. Stickney
1864
J. G. Holland.
1845 1847
A. R. Rice ...
180G
1869
Thos. L. Chapman .... 1847 .1849
George F. Jelly ..
.1869
.1869
Alfred Lambert.
1:49 1×54
Charles P. Kemp.
1869.
.1871
William G. Breck .. ... 1854 .1856
Geo. S. Stebbins. 1872 1876
George A. Otis. .1856
1861
F. W. Chapin
.. 1876
Members, April, 1878 .- John Curran Beach, Springfield ;} Herbert Chauncey Belden, West Springfield ; Cyrus Bell, Feeding Hills; Charles Blodgett, Holyoke; Charles Wesley Bowen, Granville Corners ; Stephen Wallace Bowles, Theo- dore Frelingbuysen Breck, William Gilman Breck, Lawton Stickney Brooks, Samuel Doolittle Brooks, James Raymond Brown, Marshall Calkins, Frederic Wilcox Chapin, Spring- field ; Thomas Luce Chapman, Longmeadow ; David Clark,
* From pamphlet by-laws and list of members for 1878.
+ Died in December, 1878.
Į Retired.
Springfield ; George Washington Davis, Holyoke; Thaddeus Kingsley De Wolf, Chester Centre ; Francis Frye Dole, Chicopee ; Edgar Leroy Draper, Holyoke; James Monroe Fay, Chester ; James Milton Foster, Wilbraham ; Harlow Gamwell, Westfield; William Wallace Gardner, Spring- field;& George Hooker, Longmeadow; John Hooker, Spring- field ; Luther Frink Humeston, Holyoke; John Francis Hurley, Chicopee ; Charles Parke Kemp, Sanford Lawton, George Chesley MeLean, Springfield ; Walter Jenks Nor- folk, Westfield ; James John O'Connor, Holyoke; Varillas Linus Owen, Springfield ; Francis Follam Parker, Chicopee ; Stephen Franklin Pomeroy, Springfield ; Andrew Fairfield Reed, Holyoke; Albert Raymond Rice, Frederick Eugene Rice, Springfield ; Joseph William Rockwell, Southwick ; Alvan Smith,¿ Monson; David Paige Smith, Springfield ; Samuel Finley Smith, Indian Orchard ; William George Smith, Chicopee ;¿ George Stanford Stebbins, Horatio Gates Stickney, | Pierre Le Breton Stickney, Springfield; George Grenville Tucker, Westfield ; Edward Goodrich Ufford,¿ Agawam; Henry Robert Vaile, Springfield ; James Henry Waterman, Westfield ; John Ricord Wilbur, Chicopee Falls.
The following brief notices of members of the regular pro- fession,-including the early practitioners, and several of the present day,-in various parts of the county, have been com- piled from many sources. The want of a written history of the medieal profession has been a serious drawback in colleet- ing materials, and a large share of the information has been picked up among old and young by word of mouth, and culled from old account-books, newspaper articles, and fragmentary sketches here and there. Many of the physicians who have practiced in the county are spoken of in their respective towns, and more especially in the eastern portion of the county. To all who have assisted us in our researches we tender our obli- gations.
PHYSICIANS OF SPRINGFIELD.
COL. JOHN PYNCHON, of the fourth generation from Wil- liam Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, had two sons who entered the medical profession, and of whom Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon furnishes the following particulars :
DR. JOSEPH PYNCHON was born on the 7th day of February (O. S.), 1705, in the " Old Fort" in Springfield. He studied both medicine and divinity, and graduated at Harvard Col- lege. He followed the ministerial profession for a time, and afterward practiced medicine in the town of Longmeadow. Dr. Pynchon was a member of the General Court, and died while in the discharge of his duties.
DR. CHARLES PYNCHON, son of Col. John Pynchon, and brother of the preceding, was born Jan. 31, 1719, in the " Old Fort," or Pynchon mansion, in Springfield. It is not known where he was educated, but he practiced medieine in Spring- field and the surrounding country. lle died Aug. 19, 1783. The office which he occupied is still standing, on the east side of Main Street, the second building above Ferry Street. Dr. Charles Pynchon appears to have had an extensive practice and quite a number of students, first and last.
DR. CHAUNCEY BREWER was born in Springfield, Mass., May 5, 1743. He studied medicine with Dr. Charles Pyn- chon, of Springfield, and graduated at Yale College in 1762.
He began practice in West Springfield, but about the com- mencement of the Revolutionary war removed to Springfield. He was a prominent man in the affairs of the colony previous to the war, and represented this region in the First, Second, and Third Provincial Congresses of Massachusetts. His father was a stone-cutter, and his grandfather the Rev. Daniel Brewer, who came from Roxbury, and was the first settled minister, or one of the first, in West Springfield.
Dr. Brewer was an uncompromising friend of the colonies in their struggle for independence, and was considered the
¿ Retired.
| Since dead.
A. S. McLean ..... 1861
.1863
HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.
804
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
most eminent practitioner of his time in Western Massachu- setts. Ile was the family physician of Rev. Joseph Lathrop, and a member of his church. It is related of him that he often officiated for his pastor when the latter was disabled or absent from his place. They were warm friends. The doctor was a very attentive reader of the Scriptures. After his re- moval to Springfield he united with the First Church, of which he was afterward a deacon. His mental and physical faenlties were well preserved to the day of his death, which took place on the 15th of March, 1830, in his eighty-seventh year.
Many interesting anecdotes are told of him. On a certain occasion, in the early times, a man who was very sick in West Springfield had employed a somewhat noted Indian doetor to attend him; but, not improving as rapidly as was expected under his treatment, his friends became anxious, and deter- mined to call in some of the Springfield physicians. Tradi- tion says that among those who were called for consultation was Dr. Chauncey Brewer. The party erossed the river on the ferry, made a careful examination of the case, and con- cluded that the Indian's manner of procedure was not the proper one. Dr. Brewer was something of a wag, and loved a good joke, and, probably at his suggestion, the diagnosis of the case and the proper treatment were written out in Latin, and the family were instrueted to lay the papers before the red man and desire his opinion.
Soon after, the Indian came to see his patient, and the elab- orate document was laid before him, with the request that he examine earefully what his learned white contemporaries had conelnded upon. Now, the Indian was evidently a shrewd observer of human nature, and, though the papers were as illegible to him as the Egyptian hieroglyphies, he took them and proceeded to examine the contents with all the apparent interest and solemn dignity of a veteran M.D.
At the eonelusion of his reading he ealled for pen and paper and proceeded to write down his opinion of the white man's remedies, together with his own diagnosis of the case, and a statement of the proper remedies, all in the Indian language, and, giving the papers into the hands of the friends of the patient, bade them good-day. What was the result of the white doctor's examination of the Indian documents we can- not say, but they evidently respected the shrewdness which had so ingeniously turned the tables upon them. It is said the patient recovered.
Dr. Brewer, we believe, was the man whom the insurgents, under Capt. Luke Day, captured in the winter of 1786-87, while they were in occupation of West Springfield, and en- deavored to convert to their revolutionary belief, but in which they were disappointed, as neither threats nor persuasions could stir him from his position, and they soon released him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.