USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Hawley > History of the town of Hawley, Franklin County, Massachusetts : from its first settlement in 1771 to 1887, with family records and biographical sketches > Part 10
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Immediately after this Rev. Mr. Grosvenor and several of his leading church members appeared before the grand jury at Greenfield, and pro- cured the indictment of Shepard & Knowlton for publishing a book cal- culated to iujure the public morals. This indictment, which was found at the August term in 1834, is a curiously worded document, but, in its phraseology, somewhat similar to one found in England in June, 1877, and tried before the lord justice and a special jury. Knowlton & Shep- ard were arrested by Sheriff's Purple and Wells, and gave bail for their appearance at the November term, when the case was tried, with District Attorney Dewey for the Commonwealth, and Wells and Alvord for the defendants. The jury disagreed, and the case was re-tried in March, 1835, when the jury again disagreed, and the case was nolpros- sed at the next (August) term.
It is a curious fact that nothing inore is heard of this book for forty three years, till its republication in England caused so much excitement. It is also a remarkable confirmation of Dr. Knowlton's claim to original- ity in the discovery of certain physiological truths put forth in this book, that it was stated in the English court that after a diligent search through all medical or quasimedical literature, nothing containing similar statements could be found. Mr. Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant conducted their own defense, the latter occupying several hours in her plea, in which she discussed from a moral and philanthropic standpoint the pro- priety of scientific checks upon the increase of population. After a three days' trial, the lord chief justice charged the jury that if, in their opinion, the book was calculated to injure the public morals, they were bound to render a verdiet of guilty, whether it was published with a bad intent or not. They rendered a verdiet of guilty, but exonerated the de- fendants from any bad motive in publishing the book. Sentence was suspended for a time, and the defendants were released on their own re- cognizances. Meanwhile a writ of error has been granted, and it is thought the verdict will not be sustained.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Justin Bliss Warriner, oldest son of Hezekiah Warriner, was born in Hawley, March 15, 1818, and married Lanra Alfreda, daughter of Samuel T. Grout. He graduated at the Pennsylvania Medical College and com- menced the practice of medicine in Burlington, N. J., in 1848. He died of Asiatic cholera the following year, after having had the remarkable success of not losing a patient from the fell disease, although he treated on an average forty cases a day. People living in that part of Burlington called Beverly still remember the panic his death occasioned, as they had such confidence in his skill that even cholera had lost its terrors.
Hezekiah Ryland Warriner, born in Hawley, July 23, 1822, was edu- cated at Williston Seminary in Easthampton. He spent several years in Deerfield, Greenfield, and surrounding towns, then went to Philadel- phia, establishing a brilliant reputation as an educator. He afterwards commenced the study of Law in the office of Henry T. Grout, of Phila- delphia, was admitted to the bar, and at the time of his death, which oc- curred Jan. 31, 1873, in the prime of life, was rapidly rising in his pro- fession. His body was brought to Deerfield for burial, at his request, and his former pupils in the Academy erected a monument to his memo- ry, and by his side rests the body of his beloved wife, Olive, daughter of Capt. Edmund Longley.
Dr. Henry Augustus Warriner, youngest son of Hezekiah Warriner, was born in Hawley, Sept. 21,1824, graduated from the Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards spent a year studying in Germany, and then returned to fill a Professorship in Antioch College, Ohio. At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion he with other teachers and many students enlisted in the union army, and he was assigned the charge of the Western division of Sanitary stores. After the war he spent some years in literary work, mostly in Deerfield, and represented that district in the legislature. He kft Deerfield to engage in teaching at Plymouth, where he died suddenly, in November, 1871, in the midst of his usefulness, like his elder brothers.
Henry Taylor Grout, L. L. D., youngest son of Rev. Jonathan Grout, was born in Hawley, Aug. 7, 1810, finished his education at Hamilton, N. Y. He at first engaged in mercantile business at Grafton, Mass., where he was postmaster until he left the place. He finally located in
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Philadelphia and commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Kel- ly, and was in partnership with him for some years after being admitted to the bar. He was a staunch Demcerat, and at one time when the city was largely democratic he was strongly urged to accept the nomination for Mayor of the city, but he declined, preferring to continue in the practice of his profession. For several years he was City Solicitor for the District of Pennsylvania. He died June 22, 1886.
The ancestry of the Longleys who settled in Hawley is traced back 220 years to William Longley, who was town clerk of Groton in 1666. His son William was also town clerk, and with his family was massacred by Indians, July 27, 1694.
Edmund Longley was a prominent, influential man, was a Justice of the Peace, the first town clerk, serving thirteen consecutive years, and for thirteen terms represented his town in the legislature. He was a natural leader among his cotemporaries, and many of his descendants inherit the same quality. He possessed a good business ability and was polished and gentlemanly. He was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, and in after life received a persien of $296 a year. He died Nov. 29, 1842, at the advanced age of 96 years. Of his children, none are living, and of his descendants but one family remains in Ilawley, that of Mrs. Edwin Scott, a great granddaughter.
Gen. Thomas Longley, oldest son of "Esq. Edmund," was born Sept. 4, 1774. Like his father, he was prominent and influential, for many years was town clerk, and was many times sent to the legislature. He was undoubtedly the ablest man of his time who represented the town in the General Court, was a fine public speaker, carrying a strong and positive influence, and was possessed of much dignity and bearing. Unlike most country members of the present day, his voice could be heard with telling effect in the halls of legislation, and in his day he was one of the most widely known and esteemed men in this part of the state. During the war of 1812 he was placed in command of a regiment of infantry drafted from the northern part of the old County of Hamp- shire, (now Franklin County,) with orders to march to Boston to protect the coast from invasion. He settled with his father, outliving him but six years, and died at Hawley, Sept. 22, 1848.
Alfred Longley, son of Thomas, born at Hawley, Nov. 10, 1809, grad. uated from Oberlin College, Ohio, studied theology with Dr. Packard of Shelburne, and was licensed to preach by the Franklin Association. He afterwards preached in northern Ohio, and died at Chatham Centre, in that state, in 1850, aged 41.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Thomas Lawrence Longley, son of Themas, was born in Hawky, Feb. 15, 1821. At the age of 22 he went to Dakota to assist his brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Riggs, in establishing themselves at a new mis- sionary station. Soon after reaching there he was drowned while bath- ing in the river. This sudden erding of a life of so much promise was not only a dreadful blow to his sister and her family, but also to his old father and mother at home, as they had hoped he would soon return to cheer their declining years. It was also a great loss to the town, as no more worthy son ever kft the hills of old Hawley. Ilis parting in- junction to a cousin to "do good and be good" had been his own motto, as his beautiful, unselfish life abundantly provcd.
Joseph G. Longley, youngest son of Thomas, was born in Hawley, May 24, 1843. After his common school life at home he became a stu- dent at Oberlin, Ohio, came home on a visit, and remained on account of his fathers' poor health. After teaching some years, a part of which time he served as a member of the School Committee in his native town, he entisted in the army, and was Ist lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts colored regiment. His health failing, he was discharged, and was em- ployed by the American Missionary Association, as Superintendent of schools among the Freedmen of North Carolina. He afterwards gradua- ted from the Theological Seminary at Auburn, N. Y., and soon after died at Greenville, Ill., May 4, 1871. aged nearly 48.
Mrs. Lucretia Longley Cooley, daughter of Thomas Longley, was born at Hawley, Oet. 4, 1811, and died at Marysville, Cd. in 1881, where she had resided with her sons seven years, after the death of her husband, in South Deerfield.
Mary Ann Longley, daughter of Thomas, born March 10, 1813, mar- ried Rev. Stephen R. Riggs in 1837, and started for the land of the Da- kotas, where her life for the next thirty two years was spent in assisting her husband in his efforts to civilize and christianize the natives, and in caring for and educating her own family of eight children. Those who have read "Mary and I," written by her husband after her death, will have no doubt that the plaudit "Well done" awaited her in "Jerusalem the Golden." She died March 22, 1869, aged 55.
One of their sons visited the east last autumn, lecturing in the inter- ests of the cause in which his parents were engaged. During his travels he visited Hawley.
Henrietta Arms Longley, youngest daughter of General Longley, was born July 12, 1826, was educated at South Hadley Seminary, taught at Mauch Chunk, Pa., died in 1850, at the age of 24.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
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The following is copied from an issue of the Greenfield Gazette in June, 1882 :-
Mrs. Jerusha King, who died in Plainfield, May 29, was a representa- tive of one of the oldest families in Hawley. Her grandfather, Thomas King, came into town in the spring of 1772, the second year of its settle- ment. She was a direct descendant on her maternal side of Gain Rob- inson, a clergyman who emigrated from Scotland in 1682, being his great granddaughter. (The writer is a descendant of the same stock.) The subject of this sketch was born in Hawley, Nov. 25, 1788, which was three years before the town was incorporated and received its name, and was therefore 93 years old at the time of her death. At the age of 18 she married Ezra King, thereby not changing her maiden name, and became the mother of 15 children, seven of whom survive her, the oldest at the age of 75. She has been almost a life-long resident of her native town, and in the same neighborhood of her birth, having lived at one place forty years. She was possessed of a fine physical constitution, was active and industrious, and for many long years "Aunt" Jerusha's hospitality was extended to friends, relatives and strangers. Her name was a house- hold word and she was one of those town aunts who is a friend to every body. About forty years ago her husband died, and about twenty five years ago she went to live with her brother and manage his household, he being a widower, and remained until his death in 1877. Mr. King died with that terrible scourge, a cancer, which ate away the entire side of his face, and his sister, then 88 years of age, had the whole care of him, being obliged to get up several times each night for a number of months, and without shrinking and with Christian fortitude did she minister at that bedside until death relieved him of his sufferings. She then went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Jones, in Plainfield, where she quietly passed the last five years of her life, surrounded by the love of all who knew her. And now, after her life work is done, and nobly done, having rounded up almost a century, this venerable mother in Is- rael peacefully sleeps in the cemetey in Hawley, and her children, all of whom occupy respectable positions in life, rise up and call her blessed.
Warriner King was born in Hawley, May 27, 1787. On arriving at his majority he married Elizabeth Crowell and bought a farm adjoining his birthplace, which is the present town farm, which he greatly im- proved by erecting substantial buildings, enclosing the fields with stone walls, and clearing up the original forest. He operated a sawmill and turning shop for many years, and done some local business at making and monding shoes. He lived without ostentation, but possessed a sound, matured judgment, receiving the highest offices in the gift of the town. It was a motto with him "What is worth doing is worth doing well." In his religious sentiments he was a Methodist, and in the old days of cir- cuit preachers his hospitality was shared by many of those itinerants.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
His voice in prayer, exhortation and song was often heard in the con- ference meeting. After becoming disabled from age and infirmity he sold his farm and bought a homestead near by, where he spent the rest of his days, enjoying a competency which his hands carned in the prime of life. He died Feb. 27, 1877, at the age of almost 90, having passed his entire life within half a mile of his birthplace.
Jonas King, son of Jonas and Abigail (Leonard) King, was born in Hawley, July 29, 1792. His parents were poor, and the avenues for ob- taining an education were limited in those primitive days, but he had a strong desire for learning and used every means in his power in that pursuit. In his boyhood he once went to a schoolhouse in Plainfield, where he knew there was a school, arriving the first one on the ground in the morning. When the master came he asked him who he was and what he wanted. On learning his history, the master took him into the school and afterwards made arrangements to give him the benefit of that term. His schooldays were but a succession of stuggles for the object in view, but he fitted for college, and graduated at Williams in 1816, at the age of 22, studied theology at Andover, and was ordained in 1819. In 1823 he went with Pliny Fisk as a missionary to Jerusalem, and in 1828 became a missionary to Greece, where he labored the remainder of his life, being an able and ( fficient power in behalf of the oppressed in- habitants. In 1865 he made his last visit to America, at which time he preached once in his native town, and was the object of marked attention elsewhere in this country. He died in Greece since his return.
George Lathrop, son of Zephaniah, was born in Hawley, March 5, 1795. Able and public spirited, he was identified with the interests of the town, held the office of town clerk, and selectman, and was several times sent as a Representative to the legislature. The material for the history of Hawley in Dr. Holland's "History of Western Massachusetts" published in 1855, was furnished in part by him. Honest and conscien- tious, he was upright in all his dealings. He died Sept. 8, 1862.
Rufus Sears, when a boy of 11 years, came ftom Dennis with Joseph Bangs, and lived to advanced age in Hawley, At different periods he served as deacon of both the churches in town, had a strongly marked religious character, and held the respect of all who knew him. During the last of his life he used to stand in the pulpit beside the minister, during services, on account of deafness. He lived to see the burial of his namesake, a grandson who had grown to manhood. £ His death oc-
curred Nov. 6, 1856.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Freeman Atkins, born in Coleraine, Aug. 21, 1806, spent the most of his life in Hawley, where Zenas Bangs settled in Pudding Hollow. Has served as town clerk and on the board of selectmen, and for thirty- seven years was Treasurer of the Congregational society in West Hawley, the duties of which he ever discharged with promptness and fidelity. He was a large, well proportioned man, and in his prime but few had a finer physical development. It was a characteristic of his to do his work in the neatest manner, and everything coming under his supervision was marked with the most perfect order. The neat, substantial farm build- ings which he erected, and his principles of strict integrity and sobriety are a sufficient monument to his memory. He died Nov. 30, 1879.
Lyman F. Griggs was born in Hawley, Oct. 19, 1821, but went away in early life to shift for himself. He applied himself to studying and teaching for some time, when he turned his attention to the study of medicine, went to a Medical college in Philadelphia, where he graduated and located for practice at Ware, Mass., giving promise of a bright fu- ture, but died soon after. His wife was a Miss Powers of Brimfield.
Clark Sears, born in Ashfield, Jan. 30, 1804, passed the majority of his life in Hawley, and died Nov. 29, 1879. He represented both his town and district in the legislature, and was often moderator of the town meetings. "Uncle Clark" was a plain-spoken, good-hearted man, and was in every way worthy of confidence and esteem.
Henry Martyn Seymour was a young man of promisc, was a son of Rev. Henry Seymour, was for several years connected with the Spring- field Union. He died suddenly in 1876, in Hadley, where he had gone with his bride of a month to keep Thanksgiving. His age was 28.
Horace Dwight Seymour, another son of Rev. Henry Seymour, was associated with his brother in business in Brooklyn, N. Y., and was also a brilliant and promising young man. Being ill, he came home to Haw- ley to recuperate, but sank under the disease, and died March 19, 1886, aged 24 years.
Dennis W. Baker was born in Hawley, Jan. 16, 1829, and married Lucretia Vincent. He was an able, efficient business man, for a term of years was a manufacturer of broomhandles, and for the last eight ycars he remained in Hawley, was town clerk, was also a prominent member of the church choir. He afterwards removed to Charlemont, where he operated a lumber mill. For a time he was Treasurer of the Deerfield Valley Agricultural Society, the duties of which he performed ably and promptly. He also served on the board of selectmen of Char- lemont, and died in that town in the midst of his usefulness.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
BOZRAH.
CONTRIBUTED BY GEO. D. CRITTENDEN OF SHELBURNE FALLS, FOR THIS WORK.
This neighborhood, which is in the north part of the town, a mile and a half south of Charlemont village, was settled in 1775, by five families from Bozrah, Ct., a small town which was formerly a part of Norwich.
The heads of four of these families were Zebedee Wood, Joseph Ed- gerton, Zephaniah Lathrop and Gershom West. The name of the fifth family is not known to the writer.
Zebedee Wood seems to have been the pioncer, as he came to spy out the land in May, 1774. A diary which he kept during his journey shows that he was gone about twenty-three days, and his travelling expenses were 17 shillings, six pence and 2 farthings, or about $4 25, and the dis. tance covered by the round trip was 243 miles. He was a farmer, tanner and shoemaker, and his wife was a tailoress. She was also for several years the only person in town who acted as a physician. On one occa- sion her services were wanted in a family at Pudding Hollow, some two miles distant. The snow was very deep, there was no road, and travel- ling was impracticable. A spruce tree was cut, the top cut off, on which she was drawn by several men, and rendered the necessary aid. Mr. Wood settled on the place now occupied by Frank Simpson, and built a log house and a small tannery a short distance west of where Mr. Simp- son now lives. In the summer of 1785 he built the house now occupied by Mr. Simpson, which is supposed to be the oldest house now occupied in town. His barn was built in 1784. He was for several years clerk of No. 7, the name by which the town was called before its incorporation. He was one of the minute men who responded to the call of Gen. Stark, and assisted in defeating Col. Baum at the battle of Bennington, on the 16th of August, 1777.
Zephaniah Lathrop, who settled on the place now occupied by W. E. Mansfield, was for many years a prominent man, both as a town official and an officer in the church.
Gershom West, who settled where Mr. Clemons now lives, is suppos- ed to have kept the first retail store in town.
Joseph Edgerton settled on the farm recently occupied by the late Erastus Brayman. His son Ezekiel succeeded him on the homestead, and besides being a farmer, he was a master mechanic. There were but few houses, churches or mills built in that vicinity for many years that were not under his supervision.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
A native of the neighborhood, who has long been abroad, gives the location of the families there about 1820 :-
"On the hill, south, was Eben Maynard and his mother; at the foot of the hill, Ethan Hitchcock, next, widow Taylor, Ichabod Hawkes, Abi- sha Rogers, Elisha Sanford, Samuel Wing, Andrew Wood, Simeon Crit- tenden, Zephaniah Lathrop, Ezekiel Edgerton; at the foot of the hill, north, Isaac Packard; commencing east, Capt. Ellis, Noah Look, Oli- ver Edgerton, Levi Leonard; in the "Turkey pen," Seth Salisbury; next, Oliver Patch, Abel Parker. Mr. Parker succeeded Mr. Patch in the clothier business. A man whose name I cannot recall, once lived on the Samuel Wing farm and accidentally killed his wife by falling a tree on her.
The following family history is from a member of the Edgerton fam- ily, and a native of the town :-
Capt. Joseph Edgerton came from England, - in what year is not known,-and settled in Norwich, Ct. He was lost at sea and his ship never heard of. When he came to Norwich he brought with him four sons and one daughter, whose names were Simcon, Benjamin, William, Joseph and Hannah. Hannah married a man by the name of Lefenwell, and settled in Salisbury, Ct., Simeon settled in Pawlet, Vt., Benjamin settled in Bennington, Vt., William settled in Hartford, Ct., and was a seafaring man.
Joseph Edgerton, the youngest son, was born in 1738, married Lucy Lyon and came with his family of six children to Hawley in 1775, being literally one of the fathers of the town. Their children's names were Darins, Oliver, Joseph, Ezekiel, Asa, Nancy, and Lucy, who was born in Hawley. He died in 1809, and his wife in 1823, and at the time of her death her descendants numbered 58.
Darius married Mary Beekwith, and had five children, Eunice, Betsey Amy, Maria, and one died in infancy. He settled in Charlemont, and from there removed to Ovid, N. Y., where he died in 1840. All his chil- dren have been dead some years.
Oliver married Persis Rice, having no children, and settled on the place now owned by Charles Crittenden, when the land was in a wilder- ness state. He removed to Brecksville, Ohio, in 1831, where he died in 1849. His wife died in 1836.
Joseph married Candace Rice and they had eleven children, all born in Hawley, viz :- Dexter, Saphronia, Oliver, Joseph, Elias, Wells, Orie, Austin, Candace and Ruth. The two oldest are buried in the cemetery in Bozrah. He removed with his family to Brecksville, Ohio, in 1815, being one of the first settlers of that town, then a wilderness. He died in 1842, his wife in in 1855, and the last of their children died in 1886. All but two died in Brecksville, one in Missouri and one in Wisconsin. They were all farmers.
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HISTORY OF HIAWLEY.
Ezekiel Edgerton succeeded to the homestead, and was the only one of his name and generation whose life was spent and family reared in Hawley. He was a farmer and mechanic, and besides being a carpenter and builder he had a shop in which he made various kinds of cabinet work, wagons and sleighs. He was a very well educated man of his day. He married Lucy, daughter of Dea. Ebenezer Fales of Charlemont, in 1800. They had twelve children, as follows: Harvey, born in 1801, Al- mira, born in 1803, John, horn in 1805, Justus, born 1806, Sardis, born in 1808, Ann, born in 1809, David, born in 1811, Eliza, born in 1813, Clarinda, born in 1815, (the writer of this sketch,) Ezekiel, born in 1817 Lucy F., born in 1818, Hiram B., born in 1820. The father died in 1837, the mother in 1823, are buried in the cemetery in Bozrah, and by their side rests three of their children, Eliza, whose death occurred the same year of her mother's, Lucy and Ezekiel. Three of them died in North Royalton, Ohio, Hiram in 1884, aged 64, John in 1883, aged 79, David in 1837, aged 26. Harvey is living at, No. Royalton, O., aged 86, Justus is living at Brecksville, O., aged 81, Sardis is living at Royalton, aged 79, Clarinda is living at Brecksville, aged 72.
Asa married Lydia Washburn and settled in the west part of the town. They had eight children; Laura and Electa died in childhood, Aurelia, Miranda, Lydia, Sarah, Samuel lives in Palmer, runs an iron foundry, Mary Ann, lives in Cleveland, O. From Hawley he removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., where he died soon after.
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