USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Cheshire > History of the town of Cheshire, Berkshire County, Mass. > Part 21
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Approaching the village from the southern line of the town, the first farm passed is the one bought by Samuel Whipple of Dr. Lyons, and paid for in colonial currency. It is owned by Martin W. Ingalls, and managed by his son George. New buildings have been erected upon it, and it is under fine cultivation.
On a side road, over the hill, is the Coman farm owned by James Wells. This place is well watered, and timbered, with an abundance of fruit, apples, pears and grapes. Grain and grass are grown, sheep-raising made a specialty. No dairy is kept.
On the hill, off from the main road, is the farm owned formerly by Perry Whipple, who succeeded his father, Samuel Whipple, upon it. It is now owned by Brough, who lives there and manages it himself.
The Ora Clark place was purchased more than forty years ago by David Miller, who bought it in 1840 of William Cole and James Cole. March, 1844, he sold it to Robert G. Miller. In 1847 Robert G. Miller sold to Samuel Smith the quartz and sand found upon the farm. Smith in turn disposed of it to the Berkshire Glass Company, and the farm is now owned by Patrick Murphy.
The farm where H. J. Ingalls resided so long is owned by Elisha Prince, a success- ful farmer. There are 340 acres of surface, upon it is a sand bed. Grass and grain are produced, and an extensive dairy kept.
The land of George Fisher, just off from the main road, numbers 271 acres. It is a dairy farm, and has been occupied by the present owner more than thirty years. The milk from these dairies is taken to the cheese factory at the village of Cheshire. As has been noted, this last farm shows deposits of gold and silver; but the strata and general formation do not belong to that class where veins of precious metal are us- ually found in sufficient quantity to warrant much outlay in mining, according to the theory of some scientific men.
Upon the summit of the hill leading up from Muddy Brook lies the farm formerly owned by John M. Bliss, Sr. Here, in 1874, the Farnum Brothers came, and entered upon the business of lime burning, which has grown into one of the prosperous in- dustries of the town, employing twenty men or more, upon their works, and afford- ing business for others, in the barrels used for shipping their lime. A railroad flag- station has been established, where freight is taken on and passengers accommodated.
A little distance from this farm, toward the south and on the opposite side of the highway, was the farm where Nathaniel Bliss settled in the early times, a little knoll, hard by the grave yard now seen there, marks the site of the farm-house in which he lived. This land is now merged into that owned by the family of Ira Jenks, the house has long since crumbled away, only a slight depression in the ground shows
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the cellar, and a few shrubs and bushes tell where the kitchen garden flourished. Later, Orrin, son of Nathaniel Bliss, lived upon the farm where now P. B. Chadwick resides. This is the southernmost farm referred to by James Barker, and to which he sent some stock by his eldest son prior to his own start for Berkshire in May, 1773.
Next are the Curtis places, father and son. M. L. Curtis lives upon what is known to the present towns-people as the Lewis Walker farm. This place is beautifully lo- cated, and is one of the flourishing farms of the town.
The neat and pretty place occupied and owned to-day by Mrs. Roselle Lane and her son, Henry Lane, is the Clark farm, which has for long years been retained by the family of its original owner, and is still in possession of the direct descendants of Mr. Clark.
The Southworth farm, with the same house that was first built still standing, is owned by the sons of Nathaniel Bliss, Jr., and is rented to Edward Purtle. Granville, Clinton, and Milton Bliss occupy the homestead, and not only own the original farm, but have enlarged their borders on all sides of them, taking in a farm here, a ten- aere lot there, a wood land upon some adjoining hillside, gaining and inereasing always-always known as growing, thriving farmers. They keep a dairy, make butter, and cut grass and grain.
The farm upon which stands the red house, just beyond the village at the south- the house ereeted by Squire Ezra Barker, and where he lived at the time of his death, in 1818, is still a fine farm of 592 acres, woodland, meadow, and pasture. It is owned by Thomas Collins.
The place known as the Wescott farm, afterwards owned by Hiram Martin, is in possession now of James Dalton. When the reservoir was laid out this farm was materially interfered with. The house was torn down and the water flooded the home meadow and garden, the road was rebuilt, and upon the east side of it, farther to the north, James Dalton built his house.
The L. H. Brown place is a beautifully located farm, the land lies on the borders of the village, consists of level river flats, with sloping foothills, and some timber land. It is good grass land, raises grain, and has produced good crops of tobacco and hops. It is still owned by the heirs of L. H. Brown, and is managed by tenants, or rented to different parties.
On the extreme western hill-top, overlooking the village, and clearly visible from it, is the farmhouse of Hezekiah Mason. Standing on the village street as the sun goes down. looking up the mountain road to the very top, the great house rises, the rays of the sun reflected upon its windows flash and sparkle like diamonds. This farm fell in the suceession from Hezekiah to Avery Mason and to the children of the latter.
To a descendant of Hezekiah Mason the fickle goddess, Fortune, has been very lavish, and among the petroleum bubbles she has found one that, breaking at her feet. has left, as substantial evidence of Fortune's favor, riches, diamonds, and a superb elegance that contrasts strangely with the mountain farm house. On this farm now lives Larry Curran.
The Allan Fish farm was a noted one in the years gone by. In 1854 it was sold to Mr. Linden, who lives on the Round's place, the house like many another being left unoccupied.
To Mrs. Matthew Dooly belongs the Dickens Wescott farm. To J. St. John the old Vincent home, and to B. Clancey that of C. Cole. These mountain farms are not kept at the point they had attained a quarter of a century ago when money was made in sufficient quantities to do well by large families.
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Samuel Baker bought, in the spring of 1884, the Mason Wood place located on the hill beyond the kitchen.
Following down this hill we come next to the farm known as the "Neddy Farm," and owned for years by David Cole and later by his son C. D. Cole.
Just beyond the Baker, and opposite from the Elder Leland place, is the home of Lyman Mason, grandson of Hezekiah. Here he has lived for many years, and is one of the few descendants of Hezekiah Mason who are left in this vicinity.
Approaching the Kitchen from the east is the home of Thomas Cropper who has carried on the business of a butcher since 1865, having a shop at Maple Grove. This man followed Farnum & Leach in the trade and is one of the oldest dealers in this line.
The farms owned by Nathan and Daniel Wood on the western hill have always re- mained in the possession of their descendants. In one, Mrs. Daniel Wood lives in a pretty, modern home. The other is owned by Mrs. Arvin Wood, both ladies being widows of direct descendants of the first owners. The latter place is managed by George Northup. (In 1884.)
That of the father of Stephen Ingalls and to which place the latter was taken when only a boy, is owned and occupied by David Ingalls, youngest son of Stephen.
In this neighborhood called " Thunder," lies the small farm owned by Elder John Leland. The house in which he lived until the death of his wife still stands in good condition, it is owned by Miss Desire Mason and is rented. The farm owned by Stephen Northup who cleared the land, now belongs to Farnum Brothers and is oc- cupied by E. Halpin.
At the top of the hill leading from the Kitchen is the quaint, brown house where Tollman Whitmarsh lived of yore, and where he loved to gather around his forge the prisoners of 1812 and listen to their tales of "Merrie England," and "Life on the Rolls " in America. Calvin Ingalls is its owner and resident now.
Advancing up the now grassy, but once busy, Pork Lane, on the brow of the hill, is standing the house where Jesse Mason lived in Revolutionary days, from which he went forth to join the forces of Stark at Bennington, and where he sheltered the frightened men after the collapse of Shay's rebellion. Both house and land are well kept, the deep well with its iron bound bucket, and mossy sides is seen in the side yard. A great barn with modern arrangements has taken the place of the old barns and milking sheds. The apple trees grow in the stone-walled field, the narrow foot lane leads down to the half-acre lot and the brook beyond. The cows browse in the fields and in the pasture by day and come up to the milking-yard at the setting of the sun. Every- thing has an air of thrift and prosperity under the supervision of Mr. Leroy Northup.
Next in order is the farm where Simon Wood lived in the long ago. When Pork Lane was a gay thoroughfare this home was among the brightest, made so by a large family of young people who drew the youth of the neighborhood around them and caused the low rooms to resound with mirth and song. Lyman Northup, father of J. G. Northup, town clerk of Cheshire, was the successor of Mr. Woods, and later the farm fell by purchase to Morris Carroll its present proprietor.
On the opposite side of the lane farther to the north is the farm of the Brown's. Richmond Brown being the last one of the name who lived upon it. It was bought by Jerome Sweet, son of Elder Elnathan Sweet, and is now in the hands of Eugene Phillips and his wife Laura Sweet Phillips. This is not a large farm but is in fine preservation, and the house kept in perfect repair is one of the model homes that every one loves to visit. There is no cheese dairy kept upon it, but the finest butter
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE.
in the market is made there: the cows are Jerseys, mingled with other breeds, noted for good butter. Fowls are kept with great attention, grass is eut and grain raised.
Following this is the Caleb Brown land where the wolves, skulking down from the near mountain sides, heavily timbered then to the very tops, carried off the calves and lambs if they were not carefully fastened within the fold at the approach of night. Captain C. J. Reynolds owns and lives upon this farm. He is a retired sea captain who has resided here for the last twenty years. His wife is a great-grand-daughter of Valentine Bowen the first tything-man of the settlement. Alonzo Chase occupies the next house beyond: the land is largely mountain and wood lot. and was the Roswell Mason farm.
Next is the farm owned and occupied by George Carpenter, from whose door-stone a magnificent view of mountains and valley delights the eye.
Just at the junction of the old and the new roads, are the Cole farms. Israel Cole, the pioneer, settled first, close by Stephen Northmp. He built his log house, eleared a spot of level land and put in his erops. The first growth of corn was unusually fine. He watched it with deepest interest as it tasselled and ripened beneath the September sunshine, for it meant a great deal to the settler to have a fine crop of eorn when winter came.
One day he received a call from an acquaintance who had cast his lot on Pork Lane. The man was cross and dissatisfied, expressed himself as vexed for having settled there, and at length confessed that he could not agree with his neighbor next door; said that he annoyed him, trespassed upon and quarrelled with him. At last he de- elared that the object of his visit was to ask Israel Cole to exchange farms. Mr. Cole hesitated. The land on Pork Lane was quite as good as his own, he thought. The location was superior, he knew, for the lane had turned out a very popular street, the number of aeres were the same, there was little choice in the buildings; but there was the noble field of corn that he had watched with such delight-how could he sacrifice that ? The two men talked it over, again and again, and finally quite unable to reach an intelligent decision. Mr. Cole sought his wife and asked her opinion. The little woman stopped her work, and listened with attention to the story of the proposed elange. She saw at once the advantage it would be to live on a thickly settled road, near to the best families the settlement afforded. and the moment her husband had finished the narration she exclaimed with enthusiasm:
"La, Mr. Cole, don't let one crop of eorn stand in the way of such achance. Settle the question before the foolish man is sick of his bargain."
This ended the matter. The arrangements were made, the families moved, and three days later the proposer of the trade would have thrown in a big bonns could he have had baek the Pork Lane property. The place where Israel Cole first moved was in the hollow beyond George Carpenter's present domicile. Afterwards he purchased the farm which was owned by James Cole, his son, at a later date. Upon the death of the latter it fell to Dexter. Part of the farm was sold by him. The house on the original farm is occupied by the widow of Mortimer Cole, son of Dexter. A new house has been erected on the main road and is owned by E. Phelps, son-in- law of Mortimer Cole.
The farm known as the Deacon Carpenter farm where he settled when that section was yet New Providence, is on the road to Adams, a road which was the only way to reach that town for many years. This has always been among the best farms and its successive owners have made themselves comfortable fortunes there. Levi Mason dying in 181, left some $30,000, made and laid away while on this farm, and was con-
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APPENDIX.
sidered a very rich man. Alonzo Mason great-grandson of Hezekiah, is its present owner, and has put up, recently, fine buildings.
Cheshire Harbor is a manufacturing hamlet located among the hills and where the valley narrows. A cotton factory owned by Elisha Jenks has long been in successful operation at this point, through the management of Mr Jenks until his death. Since that time under the ownership and oversight of the Adams Brothers, manufacturing men of Maple Grove.
The farm purchased early in the century by Ephraim Farrington, then by Zebedee Dean, and having only these two owners until the death of Mr. Dean, is now owned by Thomas Prest, who came to Cheshire from Tennessee in 1870.
The splendid place of Ira Richardson is owned now by C. K. Lamphear, who bought it of the Richardson family. Jonathan Richardson built the house on the farm owned for many years by Silas Cole, or his heirs. Mr. Albertson Cole re- sides there now. He pays much attention to vegetable gardening, and carries early plants, small fruits, and vegetables to market.
The Medad King farm and house upon it, which was the early inn, is owned by Mrs. Barbara Martin. The steep roofed house built in 1768, is still in good preservation, but is unoccupied at present. Anew, and exceedingly tasty house has been put up by Mrs. Martin, on a grassy knoll across the street near where the few tall elms stand, that are left of the many that threw their shade across the grass plat and ancient stoop, that day when the gun sounded its call for Bennington.
At the extreme eastern portion of the town is the farm of Martin Cole, and north- erly on the same road is that of Stewart White, which he inherited from Daniel Reid, his great uncle, to whom reference has frequently been made in the earlier decades. Mr. White is a native of the Hill, and thoroughly posted on its history.
The great house on the glebe land is in charge of its agent, Shubal W. Lincoln, and is rented to E. Wood. On the Dr. Cushing place, George W. Perkins has lived as tenant for twenty-five years.
The old Stafford property on the brow of the hill, extended on both sides of the high- way, the dwelling house of Frank Prince is on the western side.
S. W. Lincoln owns two farms in the vicinity; but lives at the one where was for- merly the hotel on the old stage route.
Philo Leonard owns the Charles Bliss farm. Just below this place is a sand bed and saw mill, owned by E. F. Adams. Over the field from the site of the old meeting house on the Hill, lives Albert Wells, teacher of the school at Pumpkin Hook, and with him that noted individual, "the oldest inhabitant," Mrs. Field, who counts her ninety- fifth year, with active mind and good memory. The largest part of this life that began in the last century, has been spent upon this spot, and, probably, no person knows more of the past and present of New Providence settlement than does Mrs.Field.
Well on to the northeastern limit of the town is the land cleared by Deacon Jona- than Richardson, when he first came through the woods from Newton. Mr. John Burt owned it for many successive years. It is now owned by H. F. Wood.
Warner Farnum was a substantial farmer on the southern declivity of Stafford's Hill, and to his descendants the land still belongs. Ira Curtis living upon it as a tenant.
Jackson Farnum, son of Warner, owns a farm in the vicinity, upon which James Keily lives, and a part of the old David Bowen farm just beyond, or adjoining the Jacques place. Mr. J. Farnum bought a place on Richmond street in 1873, where he has lived since.
On the farm near the Cheese factory at Pumpkin Hook, is the pleasant home of
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Scott Jenks. son of Harvy Jenks. The factory is a large, commodious building, the pink of neatness in every quarter. At a little distance from it, on one side, is the home of S. L. Lincoln, on the other is that of W. F. Card. The latter farm contains 170 acres and is beautifully located.
At the old Sayles homestead, just beyond the school house, lives Mrs. Alanson Wood, and her son John Wood. Mrs. Wood is a direct descendant of the first Sayles that settled at Stafford's Hill, and has spent her life there.
The Edmonds farm, now belonging to David Richmond's heirs, is situated on the slope of the hill toward the south, and was a flourishing farm in the early times. Mr. Edmonds lived there for many years, and reared a large family. The sons were among the substantial men of the town, twenty-five years' ago, but are mostly gone from the oldl places, but few of the descendants remaining in this neighborhood. Thomas Edmonds formerly owned the farm belonging to the heirs of George Martin and James Shay.
The land of Charles Jenks, is pleasantly located on the main road, and his dwelling house stands in a delightful spot, a crystal brook flows by on one side, erossed by a rustic bridge, and great trees shade it on the other. Charles Jenks, Sr., settled in Adams as early as 1787.
Coming down the road from Stafford's. the farm of Daniel Chapman lies at the right. It has passed from the possession of the family. Thomas Corliss is its owner now. Stephen and Mason Chapman, sons of Daniel Chapman, are among the farm- ers who have bought residences in the village, and are active citizens.
Along this road the views are beautiful and romantic ; at the east and sonth is a ridge of towering rocks, with scraggy bushes, and gnarled trees growing from the seams and crevices all up and down their surface. These are called Whitford Rocks. a name given, no doubt, from the name of an early settler who owned property there. Peleg Whitford. Tradition tells a tragic tale of his death, by a fall from their steep. rough summit to the crags below. Some believed the fatal leap was taken by him- self. AAdvancing along this high, narrow road that winds along the ridge of land, suddenly is opened to view a plain, as leveland smooth as art could make it, not a rock, a stone, or a tree is upon it, the thick grass of many year's growth covers the whole area and presents its enchanting green to the eye. At this point we find the Bennet farm, occupied to-day, by descendants of the first JJohn Bennet, who bought this land of Daniel Brown. The swelling hills, gentle slopes, and rounded views, are just the same as when his eye first rested upon them, and his children show their wisdom in retaining the soil of their ancestors ; for it is fertile, under good cultivation. and presents so many prospects upon which the eye loves to linger.
Taking a more northerly road from Stafford's hill; driving past the old church site. the ancient grave-yard with its simple inelosure; by the farms of Martin Jenks, and the one first cleared by John Wells, now owned by Jesse A. Jenks, the valley may be reached at the little hamlet of Maple Grove.
The house is still standing upon the farm of Mr. Jenks, in which Major Low lived, and kept the slaves Tony, Violet, and Mary Diamond. Mr. Jenks is an enterprising man, and has lately put the buildings in good repair; however, there are many land- marks that point to the day and times when Major Low walked the fields, and crossed over to the meeting-honse on Sunday mornings, where he was wont to wor- ship with his neighbors. This Mr. Jenks, the present owner, is a prominent towns- man, and carried on at one time a cheese factory, which was finally burned down and not rebuilt.
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APPENDIX.
The next oldest farm-or a contemporaneous one-is passed on this rond. Joseph Bennet, who was its owner for some years after exchanging with John Wells, left no descendants in town, the farm was disposed of, and for successive years was known as the " Nick Brown place."
Turning from the high land to descend into the Hoosac Valley, the beautiful farm of Russel Harrington is passed. He sold his home in Adams to the Hoosac Tunnel company in the first days of that mammoth enterprise, and since that time has resided upon this spot, which is a fine dairy farm, pleasantly situated and produc- tive. It is the same that the first John Wells gave to his daughter upon her marriage to Zephaniah Buffington as a bridal present. The pioneer had added gradually to his possessions that he carried from Warwick on horseback, and by the time his sons and daughters were grown he had verified the prediction of Tibbits when he returned to Rhode Island, as noted in our introductory chapter.
This place which was one of the early settled ones is a desirable location to-day, lying in the immediate vicinity of Adams, a busy, thriving village; it is near a good market, and while the land presents to the eye an uneven surface, with swells and rolling hills, it is all under good cultivation. Mr. Harrington has a large family of boys reared as practical farmers. Lying next to this place is that which was settled by the Braytons in early days, partly in Adams, and partly in the, then, New Prov- idence Grant. It has been known for many years as the Spencer Edmonds' farm.
The village of Cheshire has gained incomparably by the additions it has received from time to time of those who liave come within its limits to make their permanent homes, but while it has reaped so great a benefit the town has been a loser. Many of the houses along the higher mountain roads are deserted, some have been empty and neglected from year to year until, finally, they have tumbled down, and were it not for the foreign element which has, in a measure, come to the rescue, many more of these wind swept farms would be deserted, and left forlorn and untenanted as when first seen by the pioneers.
Compared with the boundless prairies of the west, they are not the places to live, if one is compelled to wrench his fortune from the rugged fields; but the French and Irish peasantry, who have flocked to Berkshire in far greater numbers than any other nationalities, with their more simple tastes, and fewer wants, are able to secure a sustenance for themselves and theirs.
NAMES OF PIONEERS
WHO TOOK UP LAND IN THE NEW SETTLEMENTS.
Nicholas Cooke-Providence, R. I., June 28, 1765, one half of certain land contain- ing in all 1176 acres, lying north and adjoining New Framingham.
Joseph Bennet-Coventry, R. I., June 28, 1765, one half of certain tract containing in all 1176 acres, lying north and adjoining New Framingham.
Nicholas Cooke-Providence, R. I., June 26, 1766 ; Joseph Bennet-Coventry, R. I., June 26, 1766. To each one of them one half part of 3740 acres and 14 perches laying northerly and adjoining Lanesborongh partly and partly on No. 4, excepting land 1176 acres now owned by them.
Joab Stafford-Coventry, R. I., November 5, 1766, 3 several tracts lying between East Hoosuck and Williamsburg. Lot No. 5, 200 aeres; lot No. 17, 100 acres; lot No. 22, 96 aeres and are parts of a certain tract conveyed to us by Aaron Witherell.
John Bucklin-Coventry, R. I., November 6. 1766, one tract of 200 acres lying be- tween East Hoosuck and Williamsburg, and is lot No. 1.
Nathaniel Jacobs-Providence, R. I., November 6, 1766, 4 several tracts lying be- tween East Hoosuck and Williamsburg. Lot No. 7, 237 acres; lot No. 10, 110 acres; lot No. 11, 66 acres; Lot No. 25, 125 acres.
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