History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 87

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 87

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Luke Bliss, brother of Jonathan, was also prominently identified with the interests of Springfield, and at various times represented the town in the General Court at Boston.

Among other early residents, most of whom were promi- nently identified with the affairs of the old town, are men- tioned the names of Moses Church, Maj. William, Maj. William, Jr., Walter, Edward, and Dr. Charles Pynchon, Rev. B. Howard, Rev. Robert Breck, Nathaniel Brewer, Samuel Lyman, Joseph Stebbins, Thomas Stebbins, Elizur Williams, Col. William Smith, numerous members of the Chapin family, etc.

Among the prominent men who have been residents of Springfield, other than those whose names appear in the chap- ters on the war, press, medical profession, and churches, may be mentioned the names of Enos Hitchcock, D.D., Calvin Chapin, D.D., William Harris, D.D., Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, United States Senator from Ohio, Francis Warriner, an able writer, Worthington Hooker, M.D., and Ilon. David A. Wells.

INITIAL EVENTS.

During the Revolutionary times the inhabitants were de- barred of many of the conveniences of life which had here- tofore been supplied from the mother-country, and not among the least of these was the common red earthenware, and it was no trivial event in the history of the little hamlet when a pottery was established by Capt. Thomas Stebbins. It was located at the east side of the town strect. The clay, which was brought from Long IIill, was pulverized by a mill similar to the old bark-mills, and was then moulded into erocks and baked.

It is evident that clocks were not among the household goods of the first settlers. There was but one in the place as late as 1753. It was owned by Josiah Dwight, and was a great curiosity to the people, who used to stop and hear it strike.

It was as late as 1810 when the first piano was brought in the village. It belonged to David Ames, and it seems was quite a wonder, as the people would stop and listen to the sounds. The second one in the village, in 1822, was that of James S. Dwight.

Cooking-stoves were introduced here in about the year 1810, but did not come into general use until many years later. About ten years ago the plates of an old cooking-stove, which for a long time had been in the possession of Justin Ely, in West Springfield, were in the possession of Mr. W. L. Wil- cox. The stove was doubtless one of the earliest in this sec- tion, as one of the plates hore the stamp of " Philadelphia, 1774." The castings of this stove probably weighed 800 or 900 pounds.

One of the first dealers in stoves was Daniel Bontecou. Philip Wilcox was also an early dealer in and inventor of stoves.

The first dentist who administered to the wants of the peo- ple was Dr. Appleton, in 1825. Ile was followed, in 1826, by Dr. Darrah. Otis H. Cooley made the first daguerreotypes in 1843.

EARLY TAVERNS.

One of the earliest taverns in this place was known as the Parson's Inn, and stood near the centre of what is now Court Square. Here Gen. Washington lodged upon his visit to the town in 1789.

Another of the representative inns of " ye olden time" was that kept by John Worthington, father of Col. Worthington, who was styled one of the " River Gods." This was located on lands between Bridge and Worthington Streets, originally allotted to Jehu Burr. In this building Col. Worthington died. After his death it was closed for a time, but during the war of 1812 was reopened and kept by Elijah Goodrich.

One of the places of "entertainment for man and beast"

825

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

prior to the Revolution was the tavern of Maj. Joseph Steb- bins, which was located on the west side of the " town street," nearly opposite the present Carew Street. The old tavern and its hospitable landlord figured somewhat conspicuously during the Revolution. It is said that at one time Maj. Stebbins had his cellar full of rum and molasses, the plun- der of American privateers. It was stored far inland to avoid seizure by the British. An army paymaster once left several thousand dollars with Maj. Stebbins, in Continental money, until he should return, and the landlord rested uneasy as the custodian of so much wealth, until its depreciation rendered it worthless. During Shays' insurrection a party under the command of Parsons were at one time quartered in this old house.

The old building known in 1774 as the Hitchcock House occupied the present site of Emery Court. A barn in the rear of this building was used as a laboratory for the manu- facture of cartridges. This house was purchased in 1774 of Moses Church by Ebenezer Stebbins.

The " Old Gaol Tavern" was another famous resort. The jail was built of logs, and was annexed to the rear of the tavern. In 1792, when the courts were removed to North- ampton, the jail was abolished, but the tavern was still open as late as 1810, and was kept by William Colton. Another old hostelry of this period was the Bates Tavern, which was located on the site now occupied by the Fort Block. This was one of the most noted hotels in all New England, rendered famous by the royal entertainment given travelers by " Uncle Jerry" and " Aunt Phebe," as the host and hostess were familiarly called.

In 1821 the " Hampden Coffee-llouse" was erected. It stood on the north side of Court Square. Below is given a cut of the building.

HAMPDEN COFFEE-HOUSE.

As time passed on, and the city grew in wealth and popula- tion, it soon became evident that the importance of the place demanded additional hotel accommodations of a better class, and in 1841 the Massasoit House enterprise was started. The Judge Hooker property was purchased by Israel M. Par- sons and Marvin Chapin, in 1841, for the sum of $8000, and in the same year a contract made with Capt. Chas, McClallan, of Chicopee, for the erection of a building. The financial de- pression of 1842 came, which seemed to paralyze the enterprise for a time, and finally Mr. Chapin purchased Mr. Parsons' in- terest, and took into partnership with him his brother, Ethan S., at that time keeping a hotel at Chicopee. Under this firm the erection of the building was commenced, and the first room completed was the barber-shop, in the basement, early in June, 1843. During the same month the hotel was opened. Some difficulty was experienced in securing a name for the building, and finally a gentleman from Boston suggested Massasoit, and soon after the barber inquired the name of the house, as he wanted to advertise his shop, and, upon being tokl that the name of Massasoit had been mentioned, announced the open- ing of his shop under the Massasoit House.

Thus was the name given to a house which has since become famous both in this country and Europe, and much credit is

due to its enterprising progenitors, and those through whose labor and influence it has reached its present enviable reputa- tion. Numerous locally-famous banquets have been served at the Massasoit, and Kossuth once held a reception here. Among the distinguished men who have spoken from the balcony may be mentioned Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, Jefferson Davis, Wendell Phillips, Andrew Johnson, Kossuth, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, Stephen A. Douglas, Gen. Me- Clellan, and Gen. Sherman. Gen. Grant has also bowed his acknowledgments from this balcony, and in addition to other distinguished men Secretary Seward and Charles Dickens have been housed under its hospitable roof.

HAYNES' HOTEL.

This large and commodious hotel was erected by Tilly Haynes. In 1876 it was purchased by Emerson Gaylord and E. C. Goodman. It present proprietors are C. Il. Goodman & Co.

THE COOLEY HOTEL

was erected by J. M. Cooley in 1849, and he has since been its proprietor.

Other hotels are the Belmont, Evans House, Mansion House, Converse House, Marshall House, Pynchon House, etc.

SLAVERY IN SPRINGFIELD.

"Slaveholders" lived in Massachusetts during the Revo- lutionary period, as well as in the sunny South, but they were few in number. Jonathan Dwight was a slaveholder to the extent of one genuine negro, named Andrew. Mr. Dwight, it is said, was among the number who doubted the poliey of arming against Great Britain, and, hearing that his cattle were to be seized by the colonists, he dispatched the negro Andrew with them to Statford, Conn. It is also said that he removed his best furniture thither.

In the early part of the present eentury a runaway slave woman from Schenectady, N. Y., came to this town, bringing her son, then a small boy. She subsequently married old Jack, a negro, who is said to have been a slave in Longmeadow. In February, 1808, her old master, Peter Van Geyseling, hear- ing of her whereabouts, came and arrested her. She was ar- raigned before John Hooker, and, says Dr. Alfred Booth, " when asked by her master if he had not always used her well, replied, 'yes, but her mistress hadn't.' Old Jack cried, and Oliver B. Morris, then a young man, finding out what was going on, gave the master a sharp lecture on his con- duct."

The case doubtless ereated considerable excitement in the town, as a subscription was started by the Rev. Mr. Howard, for the purpose of raising $100, for which amount Mr. Van Geyseling agreed to relinquish his title to the "property." Charles Howard, son of the parson, circulated the paper, the money was raised, a bill of sale given to the seleetmen of the town, John Hooker, Thomas Dwight, and George Bliss, " of a negro woman, called Jenny, about thirty years of age." The sums subscribed were as follows : Bezalvel Howard, Jas. Byers, Jr., Thomas Dwight, and Daniel Lombard, $10 each ; O. B. Morris, Ebenezer Tueker, James Byers, Mary Lyman, Daniel Bontecou, Solomon Warriner, Mrs. Worthington, Mrs. Dwight, Geo. Bliss, $5 each ; W. Cooley, Mary Smith, Sarah Hooker, Jemima Lyman, $3 each ; William Pynchon, and Simon Negro, $2 each. The original bill and subserip- tion paper are in the City Library. The master subsequently came for the boy, but he thed to the mountains in Wilbraham, where he was living with a Mr. Beebe, and the pursuit was abandoned.

The spirit of abolition which manifested itself at such an early period assumed definite shape about the year 1840, when the first political abolition organization in the town was effected, and was known as The Liberty Party. The follow- ing is a copy of the original document :

104

826

IIISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

" We, the subscribers, legal voters of the town of Springfield, hereby pledge ourselves to sustain the principles of the Liberty party by our votes at the polls: Jonna Coolidge, George W. Callender, Benj. Rathlon, Horace Gerome, James Sanderson, F. F. Rider, Chauncey Chupin, James Guill, Lyman Hitch- enck, Luther Blis, George A. Creset, B. A. Bullard, Harvey Danke, Amos Rice, Otis Lombard, Calvin Hunter, Amazi, Mayo, B. L. Warner, Luther Cutler, Rufus Elmer, H. D. Bouman, Noi man Noitun, John M. Wood, D. B. Rice, Thos, Cullier, Geo. Stebbius, Ebenezer Graves, Harvey Brewer, D. C. M. Rupp, J. A. Mixter, N. A. Wellman, John Ashley, Stephen Hills, John Masters, Samuel O. Gay, Ephraim Lyon, A. W. Walenty, M. Clough, George Conley, R. White, James S. Curtis, James Pease, Amos Cull, O. Bartlett, S. P. Rood, James Sikes, II. A. Ferre, Luther Bliss, Jr., Rufus Rice, Wmn. Mellen, Joel Miller, Oliver Bartlett, Robert Crossett, D. A. Adams, Edwin Ells, Chas, Ashley, James Chapin, Marvin Wellman, E. W. Dickinson, Elisha Bliss, Jr., Martin Chapin, O, Baker, Samuel Daniels, Benjamin Eldridge, Mark N. Staples, Amaziah Bullens, Ashbel Eaton, George Miller, R. E. Ladd, M. Pemlleton, Hophni Scarl, V. Streeter, Edwin Booth, Karl Woodworth, David Smith, Ephraim Bullard, Julius Appleton, E. P. lenks, Thomas D. Haw kes, L. N. Crocker, Dennis Cook, Horace W. Ladd, Orin Wilson, John Kilbon, H. G. Amadon, A. D. Sheldon, Isaac C. Bridge, Amos O. Bridge, John W. Bridge, Orrin Newton, S. B. Pratt, A. A. Cook, N. Branch, Sr., J. G. Taylor, Chester Osborne, Lyman Wood, Lewis Dart, Henry Appleton, S. P. Chapin, A. B. Crane, H. Diblde, J. Dibble, Benjamin Hall, James P. Chapman, 2. Wood, R. Piatt, John Wright, R. M. Cooley, - Wilder, James Osgood, F. B. Bacon, J. R. Hixon, Wm. Bryant, A. Tomlinson, B. Hubbard, L. MeIntyre, Luther C. Clapp, Win. Gilmore, Loman Danks, Hiram Danks, L. A. Hubbard, D. Ellenwood, Austin Ely, Eber Wright, Gilas 8. Chapin, W. P. Addison, Otis Skeele, Samuel Clark, Jr., Erastus Stebbins, Daniel Rathbone, Stephen Ferre, Orrin Doane, A. W. Rice, Martin Chapin, Daniel Goss, Samuel Walker, John Hall, Richard Walkley, Moses Hitchcock."

BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

of this city was the fourteenth bank organized under the national banking system, April 4, 1863. The first board of directors was as follows : James Kirkham, Henry Morris, O. H. Greenlief, Daniel B. Wesson, Samuel Norris, William K. Baker, and George E. Howard. The first president was Jas. Kirkham, and the first cashier James D. Safford. The latter was succeeded by D. A. Folsom, who in turn was suc- ceeded by the present cashier, Julius H. Appleton. The present board of directors (1878) is as follows : James Kirk- ham (president), Henry Morris, Tim. Henry, E. Trask, O. II. Greenlief, John Olmstead, George E. Howard, Julius H. Ap- pleton, and W. H. Wesson. Capital, $400,000.

THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK

is the successor of the old "Springfield Bank," which was organized in 1814, with Jonathan Dwight as president and Edward Pynchon cashier. The first board of directors was composed of Jonathan Dwight, John Hooker, James Byers, Jonathan Dwight, Jr., and Moses Bliss, Jr. The original capital of the bank was $100,000. This was increased to $150,000 in 1819, to $250,000 in 1828, and to $300,000 in 1849. The officers of the old bank from its organization to 1864 were as follows: Presidents, Jonathan Dwight, 1814-17; John Hooker, 1817-29; Jonathan Dwight, Jr., 1829-33; James Byers, 1833-36; John Iloward, 1836-19; Benjamin Day, 1849-56; E. A. Morris, 1856-59; Henry Alexander, 1859-64. Cashiers, Edward Pynchon, 1814-15; Moses Bliss, 1815-16; Benjamin Day, 1816-21; John Howard, 1821-86; Lewis Warriner, 1836-64.

The bank was reorganized as the Second National Bank, Jan. 5, 1864, with Mr. Alexander president and Mr. Warriner cashier. Mr. Alexander died in July, 1878, and was sue- ceeded by Alfred Kowe, the present president. Mr. Warriner is the present eashier, having officiated in that capacity more than forty years, beginning as cashier of the old Springfield Bank in 1836. The present board is as follows : Alfred Rowe, Gurdon Bill, William Gunn, Horace Kibbe, Hinsdale Smith, Albert D. Briggs, Albert T. Folsom, Henry M. Philipps, and Virgil Perkins. Capital, $300,000.

THE THIRD NATIONAL BANK

was organized March 10, 1854, and the following composed the first board of directors : George Walker, John Wells, E. Freeman, Joseph C. Parsons, Aaron Bagg, Joseph Carew,

and Clark W. Bryan. The bank bas had but two presidents,- George Walker, served from 1864 to 1872, and was suceceded by the present incumbent, Joseph C. Parsons, who was chosen Jan. 15, 1872. F. II. Harris, the present cashier, has officiated in that capacity since the organization of the bank.

The present board of directors is as follows : Aaron Bagg, Joseph Carew, Henry A. Gould, James H. Newton, N. A. Leonard, J. S. MeElwain, C. L. Covell, and F. Il. Harris, Capital, $500,000.

THIE JOHN HANCOCK NATIONAL BANK

is the successor of the " John Hancock Bank" which was or- ganized in 1850, with J. M. Thompson as president, and E. D. Chapin cashier. The bank was reorganized as a national bank in 1865, and Col. Thompson was succeeded by R. S. Moore, who is the present president. E. D. Chapin remained as cashier, and is the present eashier. The present board of directors is as follows : R. S. Moore, Col. J. M. Thompson, E. Gunn, W. W. Wilkinson, A. L. Soule, John Kimberly, and E. C. Rogers.

THE CHICOPEE NATIONAL BANK

is the successor of the " Chicopee Bank," which was organized May 2, 1836. The first directors were as follows : George Bliss, Wells Lathrop, Edward A. Morris, James Brewer, Albert Morgan, Sable Rogers, William Bryant, and Elisha Edwards; George Bliss, President ; Henry Seymour, Cashier.

Mr. Seymour resigned Jan. 23, 1841, and March 19, 1841, Mr. B. F. Warner was elected cashier; and April 1, 1840, Mr. George Bliss resigned the presidency, and Theodore Bliss was elected in his place; Feb. 29, 1856, B. F. Warner re- signed as cashier, and T. Warner, Jr., was elected to fill the vacancy, and is at present cashier. In June, 1850, Mr. Theo- dore Bliss, the president, died, and Mr. P. F. Wilcox was designated to act as a special director of the bank until further action. Oct. 9, 1850, Mr. P. F. Wilcox was elected president ; Dec. 31, 1865, Mr. Wilcox resigned the presidency, and Mr. James D. Brewer was elected to fill the vacancy, Jan. 2, 1865. Jan. 22, 1866, Mr. J. D. Brewer declined a re-elee- tion, and Mr. Henry S. Lee was, at this meeting, chosen presi- dent. Jan. 12, 1869, Mr. Lee declined a re-election, and Mr. Henry Fuller, Jr., was chosen president pro tem., and Jan. 11, 1870, Mr. Fuller was chosen president, and continues as such.

The directors in 1878 were Henry Fuller, Jr., James D. Brewer, Henry S. Lee, Horace Smith, George L. Wright, Varnum N. Taylor, Andrew J. McIntosh. Henry Fuller, Jr., was president; Thomas Warner, Jr., cashier ; Arthur B. West, assistant cashier. The capital is $400,000.

THE PYNCHON NATIONAL BANK

was organized June 18, 1853, as a " State bank, " and the first directors were II. N. Case, Willis Phelps, Jas. B. Rumrill, Jos. C. Pynchon, E. W. Bond, Charles Merriam, William Stowe, R. S. Moore, Horner Foot. The following is a list of the presidents and cashiers from its organization to 1879: Presidents : Il. N. Case, 1853-57; James Kirkbam, 1857-62; II. N. Case, 1862-78. Cashiers : IT. Alexander, Jr., 1853-58; F. II. Harris, 1858-64; J. D. Safford, 1864-66; Charles Marsh, 1866.

The bank was reorganized as a national bank, April 26, 1865. The original capital was $150,000, which was increased to $200,000, Oct. 11, 1869.

THIE AGAWAM NATIONAL BANK

is the successor of the old "Agawam Bank," which was or- ganized March 11, 1846, with a capital of $100,000. The first board of directors was as follows : C. W. Chapin, Jas. Barnes, Horatio Lyon, Wells Southworth, Albert Morgan, J. B. Vinton, John L. King, and Addison Ware. C. W. Chapin was the first president, and F. S. Bailey cashier, April 26, 1865,

144

LITTLE SC.

RES. OF COLD J. M. TMAMARam

L. H. Everts, Pub'r, Phila,

RES. OF RICHARD F. HAWKINS,

Goist, Del .*

S27

HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

the institution was reorganized as a national bank, with a capital of $300,000, with Marvin Chapin as president, and Mr. Bailey continuing as cashier. Mr. Chapin was subse- quently succeeded by the present president, Mr. II. S. IIyde. The first board of directors of the national bank was as fol- lows: D. L. Harris, J. B. M. Stebbins, I. R. Vinton, S. C. Bemis, M. Chapin, Lombard Dale, Edward Southworth, R. Ashley, and J. A. Rumrill. The present board is as follows : H. S. Ilyde, Marvin Chapin, Charles O. Chapin, T. M. Brown. P. S. Bailey, D. R. Smith, John II. Southworth, G. B. IIol- brook, and L. J. Powers. Present capital, $500,000.

THE SPRINGFIELD INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS

was incorporated JJune 16, 1827. The incorporators were as follows : Barzaleel Howard, Israel E. Trask, Daniel Bontecou, Daniel Lambert, Robert Enery, Frederick A. Ponchard, John Ingersoll, Joshua Frost, Oliver B. Morris, Samuel Orne, John B. Kirkham, and Henry Brewer. The first president was John llooker, and the first vice-presidents were George Bliss, J. Dwight, Jr., Daniel Ames, Roswell Lee, J. Chaffee, Joshua Frost, Robert Enery, and John Ingersoll. The trustees were Daniel Bontecou, J. B. Kirkham, Diah Allen, Samuel Hanshaw, William Child, Joseph Weather- head, Benjamin Day, William F. Wolcott, George Bliss, Jr., Charles Stearns, Moses Bliss (2d), Oliver B. Marsh, Justus Willard, and Samuel Reynolds. John Howard was the first treasurer, and Samuel Reynolds secretary. The following have served as presidents from its organization to the present time, viz. : John Hooker, George Bliss, Theo. Bliss, J. Hooker, and Col. J. M. Thompson. President Hooker died in 1870, after having served twenty-six years, and was succeeded by Col. J. M. Thompson, the present president.

The first depositor was Marshall Blake, now collector of internal revenue for New York City,-amount, $40. The total amount of deposits for the year 1828 was $520.50. The ninth depositor was Judge Henry Morris, and the tenth James D. Brewer. In 1844, William Dwight, Robert E. Bemis, and T. W. Carter were appointed agents to receive deposits from Cabotville and Chicopee Falls. In this year Henry Vose was chosen secretary. In 1849, when the institution was moved from the Springfield Bank to the Foster Block, corner of Main and State Streets, the deposits amounted to $180,958. In 1849, Edward A. Morris was chosen treasurer, but deelined to serve, and Henry Stearns was elected instead. In 1858, Mr. Stearns resigned, and May 10th, the same year, Ilenry S. Lee was elected treasurer, and still continues. The deposits this year were $609,064.60. In 1853, W. S. Shurtleff was chosen secretary, and is the present secretary. In 1867, when the bank moved to its present location, the deposits amounted to $1,836,022.88. In 1870, Mr. Hooker, who had officiated as president twenty-six years, died, and Col. J. M. Thompson was chosen his successor. The fiftieth, or semi- centennial, report of the treasurer shows that the total amount of deposits since the opening of the institution is $20,788,464.03. Since 1858 the deposits have been $17,251,984.89; interest and dividends, $3,008,344.71 ; payments, $14,238,641.47. The total cash transactions for the fifty years have been over $78,000,000, and the total number of depositors 52,500.

The present (1878) officers are as follows : James MI. Thomp- son, I'resident ; John B. Stebbins, Vice-President ; Henry S. Lee, Treasurer; Wm. S. Shurtleff, Secretary ; James M. Thompson, John B. Stebbins, Wm. Gunn, Geo. Dwight, Charles Marsh, J. H. Appleton, Lawson Sibley, Henry S. Lee, Horace Smith, Trustees ; Homer Foot, J. D. Brewer, J. D. Safford, Auditors.

THE SPRINGFIELD FIVE-CENT SAVINGS-BANK

was incorporated in 1854. The incorporators were as follows : George W. Rice,* William B. Calhoun,* Harvey Danks,* J.

T. Rockwood, Ephraim W. Bond, S. S. Rollins,* Horace C'utler,* J. Stearns, * Daniel Bontecou, * Joseph C. Pynchon, C. O. Chapin, and E. Brigham, only five of whom are now liv- ing. The first year the deposits amounted to $99,406.63. The first depositor was Geo. W. Rice ; amount, $100. In 1878 the deposits amounted to $1,250,000. The bank has had but two presidents, Mr. Willis Phelps, and the present president, Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon. There have been three treasurers, Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon, Chas. Marsh, and the present treasurer, Daniel J. Marsh, who was elected in 1857. The present offi- cers of the bank are as follows : Joseph C. Pynchon, Presi- dent ; Willis Phelps, Aaron Bagg, A. W. Chapin, Vice- Presidents ; Daniel Pynchon, T. Warner, Jr., Henry Fuller, Jr., Charles Marsh, George B. Morris, B. K. Bliss, David Smith, Wm. L. Smith, James E. Russell, Trustees ; E. W. Bond, Secretary ; Daniel J. Marsh, Treasurer.

THE HAMPDEN SAVINGS-BANK

was incorporated April 15, 1852. The incorporators were as follows : Albert Morgan, Chester W. Chapin, Samuel S. Day. The first president was Albert Morgan, and the first vice- presidents James T. Ames, C. W. Chapin, F. Morgan, and E. Trask. The first trustees were Samnel S. Day, William Malcher, H. Q. Sanderson, Henry Gray, E. W. Bond, Thomas W. Wasson, E. Blake, Gilman JJaquith, S. Adams, A. Hun- tingdon, S. C. Bemis, E. Southworth, A. L. Soule. The first secretary was Augustus L. Soule. Mr. Morgan was succeeded in 1856 by S. C. Bemis, who served as president until 1870, when he was succeeded by the present president, Ilon. E. Trask. A. L. Soule was the first secretary, and F. S. Bailey treasurer. The latter was succeeded by Peter S. Bailey, the present see- retary, in 1871. The deposits for the first year were about $24,000. The first deposit was by Edward Dahm; amount, $60. The present deposits amount to $1,500,000.

THE CHAPIN BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY.

The first meeting to consider the feasibility of organizing this institution was held May 24, 1872, the following persons being present, viz. : Chester W. Chapin, Col. J. M. Thomp- son, Eliphalet Trask, Henry Fuller, Jr., Henry S. Hyde, William R. Baker, II. S. Lee, B. F. Bowles, J. D. Safford, and J. A. Rumrill. Chester W. Chapin was chosen chair- man of the meeting, and James A. Rumrill secretary. This meeting was adjourned to June Ist, when the capital stock was fixed at $800,000. At this meeting the institution was named by Col. J. M. Thompson the Chapin Banking and Trust Company. Business was commenced in August, 1872, but the bank was not incorporated until May 13, 1873. The charter of this institution gives it special advantages not en- joyed by banking institutions generally. Among the numer- ous special privileges accorded is that of acting as executors of wills, which is an important and distinctive feature.

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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 87

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