USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1761 to 1881, with family sketches > Part 22
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Oliver Red, Nov. 21, 1865, aged 25 years.
Lorinda, wife of C. Underwood, Feb. 4, 1866, aged 30 years. Aug. Sydell, July 5, 1866, aged 70 years.
Jared Damon, June 28, 1866, aged 74.
Mary, wife of Col. L. Stone, July 16, 1866, aged 71 years.
Sally Whitman, Oct. 16, 1866, aged 75 years.
Charles S., son of Elijah Billings, March 19, 1866, aged 29 years. Robert Barrows, April 21, 1867, aged 70 years.
Sylvia, wife of Horace Willcutt, July 22, 1867, aged 35 years. Pardon Washburn, Aug. 29, 1867, aged So years.
Helen, wife of Emmons Putney, Jan. 27, 1868, aged 51 years.
Abigail, wife of Dr. Pierce, March 1, 1868, aged So years.
Julia M. Holman, wife of - Minor, May 9, 1868, aged 25 years. Anna, daughter of John Smith, July 6, 1868, aged 86 years. David Whitman, Nov. 7, 1868, aged St years.
Jackson Willcutt, June 18, 1869, aged 52 years.
Aurelia, wife of Benjamin White, Aug. 11, 1869, aged 73 years.
Rev. Wm. Willcutt, Aug. 19, 1869, aged 72 years. Wm. Tilton, Oct. 15, 1869, aged 76 years.
Amanda, wife of E. Boyce, Dec. 14, 1869, aged 19 years. David Carpenter, Feb. 20, 1870, aged 85 years.
Laura, wife of - Alden, Sept. 11, 1870, aged 18 years.
Cyrus Joy, Dec. 14, 1870, aged 83 years.
Aurelia Fuller, wife of Horatio Bassett, Dec. 10, 1871, aged 43 years. Hiram Willcutt, May 24, 1871, aged 39 years.
Jane Bassett, daughter of Joseph Bassett, March 6, 1872, aged 87 years.
Henry White, March 15, 1872, aged 49 years. Helen, wife of Edward Smith, April 17, 1872, aged 22 years. Wm. H. Miller, Aug. 10, 1872, aged 24 years. Martha, wife of Oren Russ, Sept. 23, 1872, aged 31 years. Franklin Robinson, Nov. 19, 1872, aged 24 years. Rev. T. Walker, July 31, 1873, aged 61 years.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Abner Pynchon, Jan. 7, 1874, aged 67 years. David Beals, Aug. 5, 1874, aged 69 years.
John W. Miller, Nov. 15, 1874, aged 85 years. Jennie, daughter of J. D. Shipman, Dec. 20, 1874, aged 20 years .. Rev. Sydney Holman, Dec. 31, 1874, aged 74 years.
John Fuller, March 27, 1875, aged 85 years. Eleazer Hawks, June 16, 1875, aged 93 years. Luther Stone, July 2, 1875, aged 87 years.
Lilly P., wife of Jonathan Hunt, Sept. 23, 1875, aged 70 years. Betsey Willcutt, Nov. 3, 1875, aged 79 years. Quincy Bates, Oct. 15, 1875, aged 83 years. Rachel Carpenter, Nov 12, 1875, aged 85 years.
Tryphosa, wife of Willard Parsons, Jan. 20, 1876, aged 78 years. Sarah, wife of Horace Packard, April 4, 1876, aged 82 years. Willard Parsons, May 6, 1876, aged 80 years. Mehitable, wife of Francis Willcutt, Sept. 10, 1876, aged 68 years. Mercy, wife of - Miller, Dec. 10, 1876, aged 91 years.
Elizabeth, wife of Elijah Billings, Dec. 16, 1876, aged 80 years. Anna, wife of Calvin Loomis, Jan. 9, 1877, aged 94 years. Thomas Daily, Jan. 27, 1877, aged 17 years. Sally Manning, daughter of Phineas, March 5, 1877, aged 86 years. Levi Barrus, March 18, 1877, aged 82 years.
Julia M., wife of C. C. Dresser, June 26, 1877, aged 56 years. Nelson Russ, Sept. 2, 1877, aged 71 years.
Anna L., daughter of Lorin Barrus, Oct. 17, 1877, aged 18 years. Rhoda, wife of Eleazer Hawks, Nov. 21, 1877, aged 86 years. Pulchera Plumley, Dec. 12, 1877, aged 77 years.
James Prince, Feb. 19, 1878, aged 93 years. Samuel Porter, April 3, 1878, aged 77 years.
Harriet, wife of Asa White, May 19, 1878, aged 80 years.
Moses Dresser, July 19, 1878, aged 88 years. Melvin Steel, July 21, 1878, aged 56 years. Geo. W. Manning, Aug. 26, 1878, aged 78 years. Nabby Bates, Nov. 19, 1878, aged 95 years.
Celia, daughter of Josiah Miller, Nov. 9, 1878, aged 37 years. Wealthy Nichols (Godfrey,) Nov. 29, 1878, aged 71 years. Calvin Loomis, Dec. 13, 1878, aged 99 years. Vesta C., wife of Edward C. Packard, May 18, 1879, aged 24 years. Abigail Warner, Aug. 2, 1879, aged 74 years.
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Etta, wife of Frank Sears, Sept. 12, 1879, aged 19 years. Elijah Billings, Dec 12, 1879, aged 79 years.
Mary Bassett, daughter of Joseph, March 2, 1880, aged 86 years. Cynthia Richardson, March 5, 1880, aged 81 years. Caleb C. Dresser, March 25, 1880, aged 66 years.
-, wife of J. W. Miller, July 13, 1880, aged 84 years.
Corrections.
Page 239. Lydia, daughter of J. Gardner.
Page 240. Willard Packard died April 6. Mrs. Sarah Stearns died June 25.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
APPENDIX. Act of Incorporation.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one. An act for Incorporating the Plantation called Chesterfield Gore and the Northwardly part of the Town of Chesterfield, in the County of Hampshire, into a Town by the name of Goshan.
Whereas the Inhabitants of the Plantation called Chesterfield Gore, formerly known by the Second Additional Grant made to Narraganset Township Number four, and those on the Northwardly part of the first Additional Grant to said Nar- raganset Township now included in the Town of Chesterfield aforesaid, have represented to this Court the great Difficulties and Inconveniences they labor under in their present Situation, and have earnestly requested that they be incorporated into a Town :
Be it therefore Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same-The Plantation called Chester- field Gore and that part of the first additional Grant to Narraganset Township aforesaid, now included in the Town of Chesterfield, and bounded as followeth, viz. :- Beginning at the Southwest Corner of the said Second Additional Grant or Chesterfield Gore, thence North bounding westerly on unappropriated Lands Eight hundred and Sixty-four Rods to Ashfield south Line, thence East nineteen Degrees South on said Ashfield South Line 'till it comes to Conway west Line, thence South nineteen Degrees west on said Conway west Line to a Bound formerly known by Hatfield North-west Corner, thence south eleven Degrees west on Williams- burgh west Line to the South-east Corner of the first Additional Grant to said
. Narragansett Number four, thence west on the South Line of said Grant, Six hun- dred and fifty-four Rods including the whole of the four Tier of the Original Lots on the said first Additional Grant, thence North Eleven Degrees East on the west Line of the aforesaid four Tier of Original Lots, four hundred and fifty Rods to the Northwest Corner of the Original Lot Number twenty-nine, thence West three hundred and twenty-six Rods to the Southwest Corner of Lot number Ninety-four, being the North-west Corner of the Pine Timber Lot so called, thence North Eleven Degrees East four hundred Rods to the South Line of the second Addi- tional Grant, or Chesterfield Gore, thence West to the first mentioned Bounds, be
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and hereby is incorporated into a separate Town by the name of Goshan with all the Powers, Priviledges and Immunities that Towns within this Commonwealth have, or do enjoy.
And be it further enacted that Jacob Sherwin, Esq., be and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant to some principal Inhabitant of said Plantation requiring him to call a meeting of said Inhabitants in Order to choose such Officers as by Law Towns are empowered to choose in the month of March annually-provided nevertheless the Inhabitants of that part of the first Additional Grant which are included in the Town of Chesterfield shall pay their proportionable part of all such State and County Taxes, and Town Taxes so far as respects the raising of Men and Supplys for the Continental army as are already set upon them by the Town of Chesterfield in like manner as though this Act had not been made-
In the House of Representatives, May 14, 17St. This Bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
CALEB DAVIS Speaker.
In Senate, May 14, 1781.
This Bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted.
JEREMIAH POWELL, Pres't.
Approved, JOHN HANCOCK. A true Copy, Attest- JOHN AVERY, Secy.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Biographical.
The following obituary notice of a native of this town is from the Marietta (Ohio) Register of Feb. 12, 1880.
Died in Fairfield, Feb. 10th, John D. Chamberlain, aged 90 years and 5 months.
John Dresser Chamberlain was born at Goshen, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, Sept .. 10, 1789. His father was the fourteenth child whose name was Asa, and the name is wide- ly disseminated. The subject of this sketch came on foot across the mountains and landed at Waterford, this county, March, 1811. He taught school at Adams, (Cat's Creek,) Water- ford and Amesville. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and was honorably discharged at its close in 1814. He was near Sandusky in hearing of the battle on the lake which resulted in Perry's victory. After the war he engaged in the manufacture of clocks at Cincinnati with Luman Watson, under the firm name of Watson & Chamberlain. He afterwards returned to his farm in Wooster (now Watertown), where he spent most of his long and useful life. He held many offices of trust and always discharged his duties honestly. He was County Commissioner from 1834 to 1840, serving with Robert K. Ewart, Daniel H. Buell and Wil- liam Dana. In politics he was an anti-slavery Whig and ardent Republican, and, while always a law-abiding citizen, he never turned from his door a hungry human being, though forbidden by an odious law of Congress to feed the hungry slave fleeing from servitude. He reared a large family and was the kindest of parents, fondly devoted to those of his kin and ready to labor incessantly for their welfare. Though of a strong will he was a man of tender sympathies, and human suffering moved him as it does a child. He defended what he conceived to be his rights with an unconquerable devotion, but asked nothing for him- self that he did not concede to others. For many years he had lived in the past, recounting the incidents of his life, and of the lives of those with whom he had associated, with great pleasure. Those who stood with him in his pioneer life have been swept down by the ruthless hand of time, and now the lone sentinel at the ripe age of fourscore and ten has laid down his burden to meet them. His funeral will take place to-day, from the residence of C. H. Goddard, his son in-law, in Fairfield.
Rev. Joseph Stone Burgess.
The early part of Rev. J. S. Burgess' life, was spent on his father's farm in Go- shen, Mass. His older brothers, Benjamin and Frederick, having left home, his father depended largely on Joseph, in .carrying on the farm, and entrusted much to his care .. Immediately following his father's death, which occurred when Joseph was seventeen years of age, he assumed with his mother, the entire responsibility of conducting the interests of the farm, which were considerable, and were made
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quite successful. At eighteen he was appointed in connection with his mother, ad- ministrator of the estate left by his father, and guardian of four minor children, George, Sarah, Lucretia and Silas. The duties of this office were faithfully dis- charged, and approved by the Court. About this time, he became very anxious to obtain an education superior to what could be acquired at the schools in Goshen, especially at that time.
In April of the following year, he left Goshen on foot with a few books and need ed clothing, for the purpose of fitting for college at Andover, Mass. Finding the expenses here too great for his limited means, he soon left Andover for Shelburne Falls Academy, an institution established on the "Manual Labor System," to aid indigent students. Here he was provided with instruction, and labored daily three hours to pay for his board, rising each morning at four o'clock. His industry and studious habits secured good health and proficiency in his studies. Here he re- mained three years and was promoted to the position of assistant in mathematics, under Prof. Brown.
Several young men of Goshen followed his example, and soon entered the Acad- emy. Among the number were his brother George, F. W. Lyman, Levi L. Pierce and H. Orcutt. During his connection with the Academy, he taught winter schools in Goshen, Ashfield and Shelburne. Some of these were large and difficult, but he won commendatory reports from the committees, for his efficient services. He was subsequently engaged for eight years in teaching in New Jersey. While residing in that state he was delegate to the State Educational Convention at Trenton, where he took a prominent part in the discussion of important educational ques- tions then before the, public.
In 1844, he was delegate to the Whig State Convention at Trenton. He took a very active and earnest part, by frequent addresses and by circulation of documents and newspapers, advocating the election of Henry Clay for President.
Towards the last of his residence in N. J., he read law in the office of Mr. Alex- ander of Princeton, and expected to have made the legal profession his life work. Subsequently pecuniary matters took him to Boston, Mass., when Religious Im - pressions so wrought upon his mind as to entirely change the whole tenor of his life and labors. These impressions dating back to early religious meetings in Go- shen, under the labors of Rev. Mr. Noyse of the Congregational church ; the piety and faithfulness of his parents, his brother Frederick, and sister Maria, and Rev. Mr. Boardman; strengthened by Baptists and Methodists of Ashfield, were consum- mated at last in Boston, much through the influence of his oldest brother Benjamin and wife. Here he decided to be a Christian, and to preach the Gospel of Christ to the best of his ability. He immediately gave up his business and worldly plans, and entered at once the Theological Seminary at Whitestown, N. Y., under the auspices of the Free Baptist denomination, in due time becoming a member of the church and ordained minister in the denomination of Free Baptists. When about leaving the Seminary at W., Mr. B. received a call to settle over the Free Baptist church at West Waterville, Maine. His labors here were attended with a very in- teresting outpouring of the Divine Spirit, adding some sixty persons to the church. Here he was united in marriage with Miss Laura A. Gage, a relation which has been most happily continued to the present time.
In 1848, Mr. Burgess received and accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
the Free Baptist church of Lewiston, Maine. Here his labors were continued 12 years, during which time, several religious awakenings were enjoyed, resulting in large additions to the church. He also rendered very important aid in ibe erection of a large and beautiful. house of worship. He served also as Superintendent of the public schools. Returning to Lewiston after an absence of eight years, he estab- lished a second Free Baptist church, building a meeting-house and adding many members during his seven years of pastoral work. The additions to both churches during his pastorates of twenty years were nearly seven hundred souls.
During Mr. Burgess' whole ministry he has firmly maintained an anti-slavery and temperance position, sometimes at a loss of place and means of support. From principle he has vigorously defended the poor and oppressed, and lifted up his voice emphatically against all National sins. He has been settled over import- ant churches at Bangor, Me .; Haverhill, Mass .; Harrisburg, Pa., and St. Johns- bury, Vt., and has been often engaged in raising large sums of money, in payment of burdensome church debts. He has served several times as delegate to the F. B. General Conference ; and Corresponding Secretary of the Home Mission Society, travelling extensively West and South, raising funds and aiding in church building. He was one of the original founders of the Maine State Seminary, now Bates Col- lege, of Lewiston, Me., and was eight years President of the Board of Overseers of the College. He has for many years been correspondent of several newspapers. His public addresses and sermons upon various important occasions, have been published and commended. Mr. B. has joined several hundred in marriage, besides attending very many funerals ; and has been uninterruptedly engaged in the Chris- tian ministry 35 years.
Personal Reminiscences by Leri L. Pierce.
Circumstances over which I had no control, prevented my being born in Goshen, but I went there to live in 1824, when only eight years old-on the 19tli of April, a day memorable in the history of New England-a day when in the streets of Con- cord. "The embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world." I lived with my uncle, Col. Timothy Lyman, a farmer residing in the north district of the town. He owned some three hundred acres of land, of average quality for that part of the country, having stones enough on the surface to fence it into five acre lots, with walls five feet high. He was a thrifty farmer, and here I learned the ru- diments of farming, which I have never regretted, as it brought me in close com- munion with nature, and laid a slow but sure foundation for success in after life.
Fred. W. Lyman, a cousin of mine, and of about the same age, lived half a mile distant. We were always warm, intimate friends and companions, and attended school in the old red school house, and always occupied the same seat in the north- west corner of the school-room. There we studied Peter Parley's geography, and learned, "The earth is round, and like a ball seems swinging in the air." We also studied reading, writing, arithmetic, and the studies generally taught in district schools in those days. I don't know as there was anything vicious in our natures, but
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we were disposed to have a good deal of fun, both in and out of school hours. We generally managed to escape punishment, but occasionally would go so far as to be brought up with a round turn and a smart application of birch. As a sample of our tricks in school, I will name one : A boy we will call Roger, sat on a seat in line of ours, but some eight feet distant. We beckoned him to move up toward us, in- timating we had something to give him. Just as he had managed to get near us, without the teacher, noticing him, we would scream out at the top of our voices, "Roger is here"' That would startle the whole school, and the teacher would ex- claim "What's the matter now ?" and coming to the scene of the tumult, we would say, "Just as we were busy at work on a hard sum, Roger came and bothered us." The result was, Roger was taken by the ear and marched into the middle of the floor, there to stand for half an hour to be pointed at as a warning to others. Did space permit, I would speak of spelling schools, militia trainings, and musters. At the first muster I attended, my uncle gave me twenty-five cents for spending money, and Aunt Hannah said, "Now, Levi, don't spend it foolishly." But long before the day was over it had all gone for ginger-bread and fire crackers, mostly for ginger- bread. I went to meeting regularly every Sunday in the once yellow old meeting- house on the common. Rev. Mr. Wright was the minister. I doubt not he was a good man in the usual acceptance of the term, and has long since "gone up higher." * But to my mind a brighter day is dawning-a day that will brush away the cobwebs of Dogmatic Theology, and usher in the Christianity of Christ -- a Christianity broad as the world and whose membership shall embrace the whole family of man. Then will come the true millennium, when the lion and the lamb can lie down together, without the lamb being compelled to lie inside the lion.
In 1831, soon after the death of my uncle, I went to live with Mr. Benj. White, where I remained until I was twenty-one. In 1840, I went to Southport, now Ke- nosha, Wis., and since then my life has been somewhat checkered. In IS48, I be- came acquainted with P. T. Barnum, Esq., the great show man, and was in his employ the most of the time for twelve years, travelling with Jenny Lind, the Chi- nese family, and for two years, 1850-51, as treasurer and ticket seller for his great travelling American museum and menagerie. Dec. 10, 1856. 1 sailed on the steamer Persia, in company with Gen. Tom Thumb, as his treasurer and ticket seller, for an extended tour of Europe. I found the General a very genial, companionable, generous little man. The exhibition proved a financial success, he appearing daily before large audiences, including crowned heads and heads not crowned. On the Ioth of Feb., 1863, I had the pleasure of attending the marriage of General Tom Thumb and Miss Loviena Warren, at Grace church, New York. The wedding at the church and reception at the Metropolitan Hotel were very elegant. I accom- panied the General and wife on their wedding trip to Washington, and on the even- ing of the 12th, by special invitation of President Lincoln and his wife, we spent two hours at the White House. There were present several members of Congress., and in passing into the East Room, Mr. Lincoln said to the little General, "You go ahead, I would rather follow you than many Generals I have in the army." Becom- ing tired of the show business I engaged in the shoe business in Syracuse, N. Y., where I was quite successful. In 1870, with my wife, Mr. Barnum, and an English
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friend, I took a pleasure trip to California, via Union Pacific R. R., visiting the Yosemite valley, and many other interesting places, all enjoying it highly. For the past ten years I have been a semi-invalid. I bought a home, and am now living in the pleasant village of Greenfield, Mass. surrounded by the kindest of relatives and friends, with all my needed wants supplied. Here I intend to remain until called to fairer fields and pastures new, on the other side of Jordan.
L. L. PIERCE.
Sketches of the Centennial Committee.
Alvan Barrus, son of Levi, chairman of the committee, was born in 1831, the the semi-centennial year of the town. He has always resided in this town, and taken an active interest in every thing that pertains to its welfare. As one of the town officers, he has borne his full share of labor. He was commissioned as Justice of the Peace in 1867, and is the only Justice now resident in the town. He has frequently been engaged in various public duties, and was a member of the Legis- Jature in 1879. Devoting himself to a careful study of the questions coming before the House, he made several short but effective speeches, by which he won an hon- orable standing among his fellow legislators. His aid was often sought in drafting and advocating bills introduced by other members. He was a member of the Com- mittee on County Estimates.
A paper referring to the bill for amending the game laws, said, it was "discussed with no little spirit. Mr. Barrus of Goshen was the champion of the bill in the interest of the farmers, and cudgelled some of the lawyers and city sportsmen who had taken occasion to speak lightly of his calling, in a way that won for him the sympathy and approval of even those who opposed the measure. It was the first time Mr. Barrus had spoken upon the floor, but the professional debaters will not care to shake him up again."
The Boston Traveller, in commenting upon the prominent members of the House, classed Mr. Barrus " among the men who have made the session of the Massachusetts Legislature of 1879, memorable."
His record as a member of the First Mass. Cavalry in the civil war may be found on a previous page.
He is Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for 1881-2.
George Dresser, Secretary of the Committee, son of Moses, resides on the ancient homestead of the family, where he was born and has always dwelt, except for a few .. years spent in New Jersey, and in trade in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. Educated in the common and select schools, and at the Academy in New Salem, he was for
GEO. DRESSER.
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BARR
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ALVAN
BARRUS:
J. H.
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DFREY
ALONZO
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T. P. LYMAN
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE.
HIRAM
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some years a successful teacher, and has often acceptably served as one of the . School Committee of the town. He is one of the deacons of the church, for which he has peculiar qualifications, and has served on the Board of Parish Assessors , and also as one of the Selectmen and Assessors of the town.
Hiram Packard, Treasurer of the Committee, son of Willard, born IS16, has always been a resident here ; always true to his convictions of right and duty; always doing his full share, pecuniarily, in sustaining church and parish ; never " signing off," because something had been done of which he did not approve. He has done frequent official service for town and parish, and was tendered the diaco- nate of the church, which he declined. Ile represented his district in the Legisla- ture of 1873. Farming is his chosen calling, and of late years, in company with his son, Edward C., and Lorin Barros, he has been experimenting with varied success in the culture of Fish, their latest effort being with carp imported from Germany by the U. S. government. Ile is one of the Board of Selectmen and Assessors for ISSI-2.
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