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 12
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HISTORY OF IIAWLEY.
David Scott of Whately, known as "Master Scott," was a man of great originality, a farmer, and carpenter, also a great hunter. (See page 42.) His son, Phineas, was the pioneer Scott in Hawley, and removed from Whately in 1782. He had previously been there and made a little clear- ing and built a log house, covering the roof with bark. When they mov- ed he had a yoke of steers two years old, and a cow, and with his family, household furniture and farming tools on a sled, they went the first day to the west part of Conway, where they found it so blocked with snow that they were obliged to stop. The settlers turned out with teams and shovels and went through, and, hitching on their teams, pulled them through to their house, when lo! they found the roof had been so loaded with snow that it had broken in. Such was the introduction of one fam- ily to their newly-founded home. Mr. Scott was a farmer, an energetic, go-ahead man. Had done yeoman's service in the Revolutionary army. A man of integrity, and considerable prominence in his adopted town. Two of his children were born in Whately, and the others in Hawley.
In the old sixth school district is a lot of land which has always been known as the "Hitchcock lot," which was never transferred by deed. Before the settlement of the town, the territory was surveyed, the sur- veyors taking land in payment for their services. Among the party was a Mr. Hitchcock, whose son was subsequently one of the original settlers. This lot was taken by Mr. Hitchcock, though he never occupied it him- self-it being probable that he never saw it after becoming its owner- and its ownership has passed by inheritance through successive genera- tions to its present owner, Joseph A. Hitchcock, who was born there, now being the head of the only family bearing the name in town. It has formerly been occupied as a homestead, but now the buildings are re- moved, and it is occupied as an "ont lot, " a part of it being pasture.
In the near vicinity of the Hitchcock lot, on the farm formerly occu- pied by Ansel Hemenway, is the celebrated "Moody spring." The wa- ter from this spring is very medicinal, very soft and smooth in quality, preserving its natural qualities for any length of time, when kept in bot- tles or barrels, without becoming sour or rancid. It also has the power of removing any musty or inoffensive qualities from an old barrel or jug, and is a great curative for cutaneous diseases, leaving the skin in a healthy, normal condition. Quantities of the water have been carried considerable distances for use. There no doubt that if its approaches were more feasible, and some enterprising citizen would work up a boom by erecting fashionable buildings and attractive surroundings, it might rank favorably with watering places and summer resorts. But with its present surroundings, it must, as in the past, remain in comparative ob- scurity, and contribute very little for the "healing of the nations."
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Rowland Sears bought land of parties in Springfield, on which he set- tled, being on the north line of the town, where his son Benjamin, and grandson of the same name, both lived and died, now owned and occu- pied by Lewis W. Temple. He did not make payment in full at the time of purchase, and afterward sent his neighbor, Ebenezer Hall, to make the settlement, and final payment, going on horseback. Atter com- pleting the business, which was at a business office, Mr. Hall took his departure for home, and cogitating the matter in his mind, he discover- ed that an error had been made. Retracing his journey, he went to the office and told them he had returned to rectify a mistake. He was blunt- ly informed that they never made or rectified mistakes there. "Very well," said Mr. Hall, "I think I can stand it if you can; the mistake was in your favor."
Benjamin Sprague who lived in the east part of the town in its early history had a habit of making unwarrantable statements when relating or describing anything, and there is a tradition that when some one ques- tioned a statement he had made, he said he hoped his hair would turn white, if it was not true, and the next morning it was actually white.
Clesson Smith lived a little west of the Square, and was known as an inveterate story teller. Some of the older people now living remember the yarns he used to tell, in which himself was usually the hero of the occasion. Whether he thought people would believe his recitals, or or whether he wanted to become notorious, or what his real object was, is still an open question. Once his daughter was taken with a fit in the night, and cramped so that her head and feet came together. He went for his horse in the pasture, some distance away, while a violent thunder shower was raging, repelled a flash of lightning with his fist, passed on and found his horse, went four miles for a doctor, and got him to the house in fifteen minutes after starting for the horse.
Once he was loading hay in the field, when a shower arose. He made such speed in driving to the barn that he escaped the rain; but his dog, not being able to keep up, was obliged to swim to the barn, through the accumulating waters.
Another of his exploits was to draw 200 loads of manure from the barn to the field in a day, with an ox team.
Warriner King, when a schoolboy, soon after the year 1800, attended school near the present site of Hallockville-being the same school where his cousin, Jonas King, was a scholar-more than a mile from his home, making his own track through the snow a part of the way. During one winter term he built the fire at the schoolhouse, which was in a large, open fire-place, his only remuneration being the ashes, which he collect- ed and sold, and with the proceeds purchased a copy of "The American
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Preceptor," the reading book in vogue in those days. Its title page bears the date, "Boston, 1801." About 1850, he gave it to the author of this work, and narrated the incidents above stated. It is highly valued as a relic, with its ancient and sombre appearance.
Jonas King was once a student at Halifax, Vt., at a school which was in some degree a self-supporting institution. It was a custom for the stu- dents to chop the wood they used, but Jonas was so engrossed in his studies that he preferred them to manual labor, so much so that he was "dubbed" as being lazy. But dire necessity compelled him to perform the task, and a brother student penned the following satire, and clan- destinely placed it upon his door :-
"Mirabile dictu, Marcy on us, Lament the fate of poor King Jonas; Who from his high exalted station, Is doomed to wield the axe for recreation."
Oliver Taylor received encouragement in various ways, in early life, to pursue his studies. The family was poor, and could not give him the advantages he desired, even in his youth. One winter several families in the east part of the town agreed to take turns in boarding him, while attending school there. In his early years he is described as not being very prepossessing, but made an education his only purpose and object. One evening when he was at Capt. John King's, some one proposed that he try his hand at poetry, when he produced these lines :-
"Cold and stormy is the weather, Hard and wretched is my heart;"
They were written on his slate, and were the extent of his effusion. After he had retired for the night, Capt. King jokingly and wickedly added :-
"You simple, shatter-headed fellow, From my house you may depart."
It may be added that the sentiment and decision expressed by those lines were both revoked, and Oliver was allowed to continue his studies, with what success is attested by the reputation he attained in after life.
When Rufus Sears came to Hawley he was a boy of 11 years. Coming from the "Cape," his early childhood had been identified with people of a seafaring life, and he had been accustomed to looking out upon the broad expanse of salt water. His minority, after coming to Hawley, was passed with Dea. Joseph Bangs, and after attaining his majority, he re- turned to the Cape, in the fall of the year, intending to remain and settle there. But during the winter, the scenes of ocean experiences did not look as flattering as he had anticipated, and in the spring he returned to Hawley, where he remained through his long life.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
When he left Dennis the farmers were planting; arriving at the hills east of the Connecticut river and looking westward, the landscape was white, and arriving at Hawley, the people were still under the embargo of the winter's snow.
At a town meeting held May 6, 1799, it was voted to accept a road from Camp rock west to Savoy line. This rock is a little east of the house of Chester F. Hunt, and a little north of the site of the Theophilus Crosby house. It stands in a smooth field, and its highest point is about fifteen feet high, sloping each way from its apex to the ground, having a length of perhaps 50 feet, running north and south. Its eastern face is smooth and nearly perpendicular the entire length, while the west side is a sharp incline from top to bottom, making it something the shape of a quarter of an egg, cut lengthwise.
It is said that when Thomas King came to Hawley, in the spring of 1772, with his family, this rock was made a camping place over night, hence the origin of the name, "Camp rock." By its peculiar shape, it made a natural protection from the west wind, and a stream near by fur- nished water. Whether this place was appropriated as a camping-place for only one night, or while they prospected for a location, tradition saith not. The spot where Mr. King located and built was : bout a mile and a half west of this rock.
Somewhere about the year 1850, a woodchuck brought some bones · out of its hole, in the West Hawley cemetery. They remained there upon the ground several weeks, attracting many visitors, and causing much speculation. It was not known to whose remains they belonged, until an examination was made, when a plate was found, showing it was the body of Joseph Howard, who had been buried many years, The woodchuck had entered at one end of the coffin and traversed its entire length, making the abode of the dead its home.
Hawley, like other towns, had a military company in the primitive times of the old State militia. In those old days ardent spirits were deemed a necessity, and were very freely brought into requisition on all occasions of that kind. Elias Goodspeed was captain of the compa- ny, and for some reason became unpopular with his men. On one occa- sion when they met for drill, he called them into line, and when the order "Forward March" was given, they started, but could not hear the com- mand "Halt," and marched up plump against a building. Similar ma_ neuvers were repeatcd, and the men were found to be incorrigible, when another captain was chosen, but the spirit of rebellion had detracted so much from the true military spirit, and the law requiring regular milita- ry drill having previously been taken off, the company disbanded in 1834, although some of the Hawley militia afterwards joined companies in adjoining towns.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
On Monday evening, March 7, 1887, a great reception was held in Pittsfield, in honor of Hon. Henry L. Dawes, and his re-election to the U. S. Senate. Among the letters read was one from P. L. Page, of Ann Arbor, Mich., tendering congratulations and contributing this sen- timent :-
Massachusetts, and the equal rights of man; Fought for on her soil, in the first battle of the Revolution, at Lexington, and Concord.
Maintained by the first blood shed in the war for the preservation of the Union by her sons, in the streets of Baltimore.
Contended for by her distinguished legislators, John Quincy Adams and Charles Sumner, in our National Congress, in behalf of the African; and now by the senior senator of Massachusetts in behalf of the Indian. May his efforts be crowned with complete success.
Roswell Longley was a great scholar, fitted for college, but his health failed and he was obliged to give up his studies, and died at the age of 33. The following was written by him as an Acrostic :-
Hung up 'neath rocks and Nature's battlements she stands, And towards high Heaven she lifts her giant, outstretched hands; Waked by the eagle's cry, rocked by the stormy blast, Long may she stand, to tell of ages past. Earth has no nobler clime, no race of men more brave,
Yonth, Age, and Beauty there, but not one cringing slave.
Asa Vining, with his family, came from Weymouth to Hawley in 1806, arriving at the Connecticut river, at a point opposite Northampton, June 6, the day of the execution of Daley and Halligan. The rush was so great in consequence of the hanging that they could not cross the ferry as they desired, and Mr. Vining made arrangements with the ferry con- pany to do some work in payment of their passage, and thus secured a transit across the river.
On the farm of Atherton Hunt are some objects which deserve men- tion. Near the buildings are three chestnut trees which Mr. Hunt set out with his own hands, more than 70 years ago. This is mentioned from the fact that the chestnut is not a native on these hills.
"Annt Charity's chair" is an old landmark, being a rock by an old discontinued roadside, in which is a depression, making, by its shape and height from the ground, a natural seat.
Just east of Mr. Hunt's buildings there runs a long, narrow strip of swamp, which has been reclaimed, making good meadow land. There is a tradition that when one of the settlers came into town, his wagon be- came mired, and was overturned while crossing that swamp, and some table knives were lost. Mr. Hunt states that he has always had an eye open when working there, but never discovered any of the lost knives.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
Reminiscences of a Former Resident.
WRITTEN BY P. F. COOLEY OF PITTSFIELD.
My earliest recollections of the old town where I first saw the light are very pleasant, and I love, in imagination, to again look out from the old east chamber over the hills and valleys, where in the distance can be seen the proud Mt. Wachusett, lifting its head above all its surround- ings. Turning to the northeast, plainly outlined is the broad-based, yet equally towering Mt. Monadnock, while facing eastward, is the valley of the Connecticut river, which is often curtained by dense fogs, which sometimes in early mornings extended over and covered its entire length.
Our neighboring farmers used to say that fog on the river for three continuous mornings betokened rain. In fact, the broad expanse over which we could look became a sort of barometer, guiding the agricultur- ist in his daily calculations about what work to do, and what to postpone until the weather predictions should be favorable. In fact, all the ob- serving men of that time were a self constituted signal service corps, and in justice I must say they were as reliable as some of the modern ones.
In those days of sparse settlers, and in the scarcity of reading matter, such as books and daily papers, it was very customary, as they met, to compare their prophetie skill, pertaining not only to rain, but also to what might be expected in the coming winter. If the corn husks were thick and heavy it was concluded that a hard winter was to come. If the muskrats were slow in making their holes in early autumn a long and pleasant fall was to be enjoyed. If the autumn winds howled with a pe- culiar noise around the farm buildings, it would be a time when they would find themselves short for hay in the spring. If, after a shower, the fog climbed up the sides of the hills, it would be fair on the next day, but if it settled into the valleys it would be a "catching" time for harvesting till after the next good shower had come and gone. In short, there was a sign for almost everything, and each event had a sign pre- ceding it. When the time for "hog-killing" came, it must be done in the full of the moon, and the hog must receive the death stroke while the tide was coming in, or the pork would shrink in the pot. When the cat. washed her face, the direction of her paw showed which way the wind would blow the next day. During a rain if a rooster crowed on the fence it would soon be fair, but if he erowed standing on the ground, the rain would continue until another day.
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HISTORY OF HAWLEY.
I can recall numerous signs like specimens given, which were by uni- versal consent considered as infallible by the old settlers; some of which I learned from tradition, and others I heard from the lips of the descend- ants of that old puritan stock which settled in the town when it was an unbroken forest, and had to be subdued by the slow, hard work of the pioneer.
The east part of the town was settled by people coming from the east- ern part of the state, from all the way as far as Cape Cod. My grand- father, Noah Cooley, came on horseback from Palmer in Hampden coun- ty, guided by blazed trees to indicate his road, and built a house (shanty it was termed) near the dividing line of Hawley and Buckland, in the primeval forest. The country was then filled with game, such as would be rare sport for the huntsmen of to day, consisting of black bears, rac- coons, wolves, lynx and foxes, the latter of which were very plenty and quite tame. After felling the trees and making a clearing sufficient to raise a few potatoes and some corn, he built a barn near by for his horse and cow, for which he had to return to Palmer on foot, and drive back, making a journey of abont 120 miles, both ways. He also combined pleasure with business, and at the same time paid his future wife a visit, which visits he annually kept up for seven years, at the expiration of which time, by diligent and hard work he had so far made a home in the wilderness that he had erected a more commodious house, and cleared more land and put it under cultivation, so that on the eighth year Es- ther Hyde accompanied him as his wife to the home he had thus prepar- ed, he on horseback, she riding behind on a pillion Their outfit of housekeeping goods, which she had been all those eight years in prepar- ing, was hauled by a yoke of oxen attached to a two wheeled cart, the only wheeled vehicle then in common nse. This manner of settlement by my grandfather is a sample of what was in almost every case the ex- perience of the early settlers of the town. £ As a sequence, the pioneers grew up a hardy, self-reliant people, both men and women. They were brave and during, and a community strongly religious and conscientious was the outcome of those descendants of the Puritan, obeying the con- mand to be "fervent in spirit," and their necessities required them to be "diligent in business."
It will be my purpose in these pages to reproduce by a pen picture as I remember in part, and in part as has been described to me, the pecu- liarities and characteristics of some individuals who were prominent in town in its carly days, beginning at the castern part, which was earliest settled, and where my Hawley life was for the most part spent.
DEA. ISAAC TOBEY.
One of the early settlers in the extreme northeast part was Dea. Isaac Tobey, a native of Taunton, Mass. I am unable to tell at what age he
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came to town, but he must have been somewhat advanced in years, as he had previously been a soldier in the Revolution. It is said of him that when young he was a natural athlete, and could stand behind any man of common stature and vault completely over his head.
My earliest recollection of him as a boy was as an old man of about 75 or 80 years of age, straight as an arrow, not tall, of slight build, full of energy, and fully believing the generation had much deteriorated, both mentally and in industry. His son John, with whom he lived, was a perfect contrast to the father, remarkably large and stout, weighing nearly or quite two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a good education, and his lymphatic build compelled him to a literary and sedentary occu- pation, in fact, the deacon considered him lazy. I well recollect on one occasion hearing the old pensioner remark, "John don't like to work as weil as I did," adding, after a pause, "Don't know as I say right; he don't like the profits of it as well." At the age of eighty five or more, the old deacon would with cane in hand every day visit the farm work as carried on by his grandsons, and suggest how the work should be done, which advice was not always acceptable to the boys, who were not particularly pleased with his frequent visits, yet his demeanor could but inspire them with respect for the old gentleman, as they usually called him. On one occasion when the boys were piling logs on a piece of land they were clearing, the old deacon came out as usual, and seated himself on a log near the pile they were making, when the log rolled over, throwing him on his back, between that and the pile. The boys were quite alarmed, fearing he was badly hurt, for he did not speak, and taking hold of him carefully, they began slowly and gently to lift him out. All at once, the old man spoke out in strong, commanding toner, "Lift, boys, Lift! you don't lift worth a copper." As might be expect- ed, the boys speedily placed him on his feet.
At another time when mowing in the hayfield, one of the boys cand. across a bumblebees' nest, directly in his swath. The bees came out and sharply attacked the lad, who retreated, fighting them with his hat. The old deacon was near and saw the affair, and rushing up to the lad, ex- claimed, "What, afrail of a few little bumble bees? Let me take your scythe." Taking the unfinished swath, he commenced mowing, but the bees were getting more troublesome and quite mad at being thus distur- bed. Finally the old man laid down the scythe and stamped down the nest with his feet, then turning to the boy, he said, "Josh, you ain't got much pluck." He then started for the house, but the boys could see that he often rubbed his face, legs and arms, quite sharply, but his "pluck" was too good to own that the bees had stung him at all.
He was an honorable man in all his transactions, and well fitted by his life to adorn the position he held so long in the church as one of the deacons. He dated his first religious impressions in youth, from while
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walking with a comrade of his own age. A lightning bolt struck down his companion and killed him by his side, and from that time he made up his mind that he would live a christian life. His health was always good, and he wore out, dying at the age of over ninety.
Like every early New England town, Hawley had its village "Squire" to whom all questions of law and matters of dispute were referred, and
EDMUND LONGLEY,
one of the early settlers, living near the then populated center, occupied that honorable position. My first knowledge of him was when he was well advanced in life. He was then hale, and in my boyish eyes, a per- fect pattern of all that was noble and great. He and his brother Joseph came from Groton, Mass.
His house was larger and more imposing than most of his neighbors, and he was possessed of more worldly goods than most of his townsmen. The Longleys by nature were of a strong, sterling character, of the sort born to command. In fact, three of his sons were military commanders in days when the arms-bearing men were all required to do military duty. One was a Brigadier general, another a Colonel, and a third a Captain in the Massachusetts militia of that day. As the pages of this bistory show, Esquire Longley and his descendants occupied many and varied places of trust in the affairs of the town. So honorable a position was accorded to many of that name, that a few years ago a quaint old divine in the town of Dalton remarked to me, "Your Hawley folks always thought the Longleys made the town." At all events, the Longleys had much to do in shaping the an- nual town meetings and giving general direction to all affairs of the town. To be able to do so, shows that the material from which such stock de- scended is of no ordinary type. Such men, to rule others, must be of the kind who can rule themselves. As an illustration, when Squire Longley was well advanced in years he made up his mind that tobacco, which he had constantly used from boyhood, was doing him ro good, and as soon as he thus decided, he took out his pipe and a partly used paper of tobacco and laid them on the mantle shelf over the open fire- place, in plain sight, and wrote on the tobacco package, "Tobacco, I have done with you," and there it remained untouched until he was gathered to his fathers, at a ripe old age.
In the adjoining town of Buckland was a family of Taylors who occu- pied the same position in that town that was accorded to the Longleys in Hawley, in fact, Squire Taylor of Buckland and Squire Longley of Hawley were considered the two magnates of that region.
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