USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 17
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and the loyal support of the pastor. When he died we do not know. But his wife Hannah died Jan. 17, 1776, aged 66. Jon- athan Cram is listed as a resident of the southwest district 1783, a son to Dea. Humphrey Cram. Sarah Cram who mar- ried Lt. John Resebrooks was a daughter. (See Genealogy.)
2. DEA. MOSES LYON was born Feb. 14, 1737, son to Ebenezer and Rebekah (Throop) Lyon. When Brimfield church was seated 1757, he was assigned a seat in the north- west corner. His wife was received into the church by profes- sion in 1760, and was dismissed to the church in South Brimfield 1766, probably when her husband was chosen deacon. Moses Lyon was owner of the land east of the road and north of Morgan's Brook (South Meadow Brook), and was owner of "the plain" where the common is now, as is shown in the effort to get the church built there 1763. His son Ethelbert was a Revolutionary patriot and father to Col. Alfred Lyon, prominent in Holland's early history. Dea. Moses Lyon served his God and the church well. When he died we do not know. James Frizell was the next man to be chosen Oct. 25, 1768.
3. DEACON JAMES FRIZELL, elected 1768, bought his homestead of the Winthrop heirs and was a pioneer settler, coming from Woodstock, Conn. His land lay east of Siog Lake, and its position shows that it must have been the home- stead south of where Mrs. Freeman Blodgett now lives. He was not a soldier in the French and Indian War but Samuel Frizell (probobly a brother) is found in Brimfield's quota for 1760. He evidently had a family, for the name is persistent in the town's history but historical facts are meager. He died Jan. 24, 1813, aged 82. His wife Mary died 1824, aged 87. Hannah Frizell was a witness to Rev. Ezra Reeve's will. The Frizell's are a very old family of Woodstock. (See genealogy.)
4. DEA. SHEREBIAH BALLARD was elected to that office May 20, 1779. He was town clerk of So. Brimfield in
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1778. He does not appear as holding any of the important town offices and yet his name is mentioned among those doing the work of the town. A Sherebiah Ballard is mentioned on a muster roll of the Revolutionary War and as coming from Western (now Warren) and a Sherebiah Ballard Jr., is found also in Capt. Walbridge's Company, Col. Brewer's Regiment, John Ballard too, Capt. Webb's Co. When he resided in Hol- land, he lived on the place now owned by Charles Adams. When he sold out, he sold to Alfred Lyon. The earliest record of him as being of So. Brimfield is 1777. He probably came to So. Brimfield soon after his return from the war.
He was elected deacon of the church when the country was convulsed by the Revolution, but the church evidently kept its hold on the interest of the people and maintained its power, and grew in the people's affections, as well as in num- bers to its roll by the ministries of pastor Reeve.
5. DEA. DAVID WALLIS was elected to that office Sept. 24, 1787. Being brought to the town as an infant in his mother's arms as told by the family genealogist and spending his boyhood and young manhood days near the lakes and stream that then fairly swarmed with fine fish and the forest with game, it is no wonder that his young heart should re- spond to the tender memories of home, and that in his man- hood days he should be a patriot of his country, loyal and true to the noblest sentiments of our social and civic life. When he was brought to his grandfather's house, the country was in the stress of the French and Indian War. If he was brought there in 1755 as some say, he was brought there the very year his grandfather was away. When the Revolutionary war broke out he was a young man and we find him enrolled in Capt. Nehemiah May's Company 1777 from Brimfield for service at Crown Point. We may rest assured that his duty as a soldier was performed with the fidelity that marked all his subsequent
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labors. He became a taxpayer of South Brimfield in 1782, perhaps earlier, and it is noteworthy that he married Persis Rosebrooks that year, and established a home on the estate of his grandfather. His grandfather had been an interested party in having the church established on the hill north of Bugbee Tavern (Henry Curtis place), and we may feel assured that he was an interested party in the division of South Brim- field and the formation of the district Holland.
When Holland was incorporated 1783, he was a young man just married; but we soon find him serving the public. Elected deacon in 1787, he was elected selectman 1788, serving for twelve years but not consecutively. He was moderator of the annual town meeting eight times; of special town meetings twenty-five times, town clerk twice, school committee nine times, and represented Holland and South Brimfield in 1806, at General Court. He was equally efficient in church work and we doubt not that pastor Reeve found in him a man of sound judgment, a warm-hearted friend, a sincere christian. This is attested by his hearty support and work on various com- mittees, especially that of 1822 when a fund was raised which was used to build the parsonage; notice also his work at the death of his pastor in the memorial to his worth 1818.
Here is a type of public servant worthy of imitation. He was the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters, whose names and work are written in all the varied activity of municipal life. Dea. David Wallis died July 11, 1843, aged 85, and the emblem of the country he helped to found, and which he loved and served so faithfully waves over his grave. (See Wallis Genealogy.)
6. DEA. SAMUELL WEBBER was born July 18, 1736, son of Trenance Webber. We find his name on the muster roll also of soldiers in the French and Indian War, 1758 being the year of his service. He married in 1760, Mehitable Frizell.
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Elected deacon 1794 the riper years of his life, it reveals the confidence with which he was held when, 1803, he was elected town treasurer, and held that office five years, four of them in succession. He also served the district as school committee. His name is frequently met in the varied affairs of town life, and being elected deacon in the constructive period of the church's life after its removal to the plain, we conclude that his work was helpful and formative in church and town life, just the same as his patriotie service had tended toward the same result in our state and national life, he also was representative to General Court in 1821.
7. DEA. JAMES A. LYNN became owner of the Rinaldo Webber homestead (where Mr. Thomas Kelley has 1914 recent- ly bought), the deed bearing date April 13, 1803. This was a few days after his marriage to Jerusha Allen, daughter of Abel Allen. He was town treasurer for 1813, moderator of annual town meetings 1816-17, and of special town meetings 1814-'23-'31. Town clerk 1809-'11-'12-'13. He served also repeatedly on the school committee; other /town business proves the public regard in which he was held. Elected dea- con Dec. 12, 1818, his period of service was in a trying period of the church's existence, and judging from his work as a member of various committees having important church busi- ness to do he was an efficient church officer. He died 1839, about 65. (See Lynn Genealogy.)
8. DEA. HORACE WALLIS was born April 14, 1796, son to Dea. David Wallis. He had the benefits of a christian home and christian parentage under tutelage of a father possessed of many gifts. His home was on the ancestral estate, now the home of Mr. Morse, and made, we judge, a good farmer. But his activities were not confined to his home. He was Capt. of Militia in his early days, when he was married by Rev. John M. Hunt to Calista Wood in 1823, Oct. 16. His name is frequently met with in the annals of the town, holding various
WILLIAM A. WEBBER
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town offices, being sent to the legislature 1841. It was also the year in which he was elected deacon. He had a very re- tentative memory as is attested by historians frequently con- sulting him upon local history. He died June 15, 1886, leav- ing a record of extensive and varied service in behalf of the town.
9. DEA. BENJAMIN F. WILSON was elected to that office Feb. 17, 1848. The church roll of 1842 does not contain his name. He was appointed on an important committee in 1846, and was selectman in 1851, besides holding other offices. He has the credit of building the house where Mr. Fred Blod- gett now lives. Tradition has it that he did not work well with the people of the church and finally sold his place and left town. He does not appear as connected with the church in any way when the church was built 1858.
10. DEA. WILLIAM AINSWORTH WEBBER was elected to that office March 5, 1865. A sketch of his life has been prepared by his daughter, Mrs. Ellen M. Webber, which we gladly submit to our readers.
William Ainsworth Webber was born at Holland, Mass., June 24, 1818. At the age of thirteen he joined the Congre- gational Church and lived a consistent life for half a century, officiating as deacon during the last fifteen years. His in- fluence as instructor and friend of the young was inestimable. He filled positions of trust in the town and county of which he was a life long resident. March 19, 1843, he married Sarah Damon, a lady greatly esteemed for her many virtues, her maternal grandmother, Lucy Alden, was sixth generation from John and Priscilla who were rendered immortal by the poet, Longfellow; she died Jan. 4, 1868. Mr. Webber married Josephine H. Church, of Wales, Mass., Nov. 1870. Mrs. Church was of irreproachable character and seemed eminently fitted to be the helpmate of such a man as Mr. Webber. An obituary
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notice in the Springfield Republican, reads thus :- Dea. William A. Webber who died in Holland on the thirteenth at the age of 62, was in many respects a notable man. He was a wise and judicious councilor and his advice and presence were always welcome of a cheerful and happy temperament, his sympathetic nature made him always ready to assist in bearing others' burdens. His was a foreible illustration of the apostolie injunetion "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." His death is a serious loss to the town as well as to the church, and is a grievous affliction to his family, who have in their great sorrow the sympathy of the community where Dea. Webber's life has left a fragrant and grateful memory. He was succeeded by his son, Wm. L. Webber, who was a notable and worthy man, and assumed the many duties his father left as a legacy to a son in every way worthy of such a trust. Dea. William A. Webber died March 13, 1881. William L. Webber, the son, died Sept. 1, 1905. These lines were oft repeated by Wm. A. Webber, my father. They fitted his case and he loved the lines.
I live for those who love me. Whose hearts are kind and true; For the heaven that smiles above me And awaits my spirit, too; For all human ties that bind me. For the bright hopes left behind me
For the task by God assigned me. And the good that I can do.
I live to learn their story, Who've suffered for my sake; To emulate their glory, And follow in their wake; Bards, patriots, martyrs, sages, The noble of all ages, Whose deeds crown history's pages And time's great volume make.
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I live to hold communion With all that is divine, To feel there is a union 'Twixt nature's heart and mine; To profit by affliction Reap truths from fields of fiction.
Grow wiser from conviction, And fulfill each grand design.
I live to hail that season By gifted minds foretold, When men shall live by reason And not alone for gold; When man to man united, And any wrong thing righted, The whole earth shall be lighted As Eden was of old.
I live for those who love me, For those who know me true, For the heaven that smiles above me, And awaits my spirit too; For the cause that lacks assistance For the wrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance And the good that I can do.
11. DEA. WM. H. HARRIS was born in Oxford, Mass. He moved with his parents to Holland where he married Augusta, daughter of Gardner and Elvira Wallace. He settled upon the farm owned by his wife's fathers, which is the farm now owned by Mr. Chas. Wells in the south part of the town. He managed the farm quite successfully, and taught school winters sometimes. He held various town offices, and was a member of the church for years before he was elected deacon. He was created deacon March 5, 1863. He had one daughter Adelle E. He died at the age of 84 years. (By Newton Wallace.)
(16)
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12. DEA. GEORGE LIVINGSTONE WEBBER was born in Holland, Nov. 8, 1821 in the house where he lived throughout his life. His parents were Adolphus and Annis Webber. He was educated in the schools of his native town and when twenty-one years of age learned the wheelwright trade which he followed for thirty years. His shop was located on his home place. The last twenty-five years of his life were devoted to caring for his farm. In 1851 he married Sarah Streeter of Sturbridge. They became acquainted while he was serving on the school committee and she was teaching one of the local schools. Eight children were born to them, of whom three, Eugene Mason, Nellie Rebecca, and Herbert Livingstone died in infancy and one Ella Sarah in her six- teenth year. Four daughters, Mrs. Flora N. Hunt, Mrs. Fan- nie O. Cowan, Mrs. Ada E. Wallis and Miss Edith G. Webber are now living. His wife died Feb. 12, 1913.
He was closely identified with church activities through- out his life. He helped support it and served as deacon of the Holland Congregational Church and superintendent of its Sunday school. He held nearly all of the important town offices during fifty years of practically uninterrupted service. In 1870 he represented his district in the General Court. He was elected deacon Apr. 7, 1881. His interest in local affairs was maintained until his death, which occurred Nov. 19, 1896. (By Franklin L. Hunt.)
We take the privilege of adding an appendix to the fore- going sketch, for that life was grandly supported by the noble woman he had called from the school room, to the school of life with him, to help him bear its burdens and its sorrows, to share its joys and successes. Those who recall her pleasant winsome ways in home and church life, unitedly bear testi- mony to the value of her life as a power in her home and in the community. Not every young lady would give up what
DEA. GEORGE LIVINGSTON WEBBER
DEA. FREEMAN B. BLODGETT
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she did of future promise and hope, and humbly, patiently, take up the toil and retirement of farm life, make a home for herself and those she loved, and with the years win her way into the hearts of all about her, and make easier the road to success for her husband. Patiently and unconsciously she did it. Her labor yielded happiness and success to both, "and her works still follow her." We have recently been called upon to mourn her death. She rests among those whom she loved and served. (By the Historian.)
13. FREEMAN B. BLODGETT, son of Edward and Miranda (Pierce) Blodgett was born in Holland Mar. 27, 1831, and died Mar. 18, 1909, having always lived in town; the last fifty-three years of his life in the house which he bought in 1856, and situated south of what was formerly Fuller's factory village, and near where the northeast schoolhouse was situated.
He attended the public schools of the town, a private school and Monson Academy. He began to teach when a young man, teaching in all the schools of the town and also in Sturbridge, the entire time covering a period of about forty years. The school houses in Holland during most of those years were well filled and the average of the scholars much greater than at present. There are many now living but widely scattered who remember those days in the school-room when under his charge. Also many teachers who will recall his visits to their schools as a member of the committee. He was always deeply interested in the schools as well as every- thing else connected with Holland. He served as town clerk, town treasurer, selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor, school committee, cemetery commissioner and library trustee, holding most of these offices many years. In 1885 and again in 1895 he took the state census in Holland.
He was very much attached to his native town. In his earlier years tempting offers came to him from other places
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which he refused, because of a disinclination to leave his home town. All its hills and valleys, meadows and brooks were familiar to him, for as a boy and young man he engaged to a considerable extent in trapping fur-bearing animals, But later refrained from that work on account of the growing feel- ing that he could not take the life of anything if it could be avoided. He was always ready to help in every good cause and being young in spirit was a friend of the boys and in- terested in their sports. When the young men wished to form a debating society he was ready to aid them, taking an in- terest in the details of the work.
Some of the older people may remember him as connected with the lead mine in Sturbridge, for in his early life he with his father had the contract to work the mines and for several years through the summer and fall months he was engaged there. After a few years it became so dangerous, the mine was abandoned.
He was a republican in politics and a member of the Congregational church, being one of the deacons at the time of his death. He married Miss Laura E. Towne on April 5, 1853, and quietly observed their golden wedding anniversary April 5, 1903. (By Mrs. Caroline Blodgett Webster.)
One of Mr. Blodgett's pupils wishes to pay the following slight tribute to his memory and many virtues :
He was a man respected for his moral worth, loyalty to truth and justice, learning and abilities, and for his conduct and exam- ple. Those who come after him will know of his public services, of the work he did, of the places he filled in the history of the town ; but we also remember, and shall never forget, the honesty of heart and mind, the simplicity and purity of life, the humor, the love of books and sound learning, and, above all, the kind- ness which never failed and the loyalty which never faltered. We can confidently say, others will come to take up and carry
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on the work to which his life was given, but the place which the tried and trusted friend left empty in our hearts cannot again be filled.
DEA. FREEMAN B. BLODGETT was born in Holland March 27, 1831. He was the son of Edward and Comfort Miranda Blodgett, and was one of the best known men the town has produced within the last century. At the early age of three he attended the public school which in those days began the Monday after Thanksgiving. Ferdinand S. Burley tanght the school and at its close presented him with a reward of merit, which he has always kept. Later Rev. James Sandford taught a private school, Mr. Blodgett being one of the pupils. Still later he attended Monson Academy. Back in those days the town of Holland, not unlike the neighboring towns, had its school districts, Holland being small in area, had four dis- tricts only, the schoolhouses being located as nearly as might be in the four quarters of the town. The districts were the northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest.
In the fall of 1849 there seemed to be a feeling on the part of the committee that a teacher of considerable ability, physi- cally as well as mentally, was to be desired, and, particularly in the southwest district, as commonly called, the Uriah P. Marcy district. After due deliberation, U. P. Marcy hired Mr. Blodgett to teach the school, paying him the fabulously high price of $15 per month, 26 days constituting a month, and as was customary, he taught every other Saturday. Fifty- four scholars were crowded into that small schoolroom that winter. The other districts having proportionate numbers. A few who attended that winter are Holowell P. Marcy of Palmer, Mrs. C. H. McAllister of East Brimfield, Andrew J. Howlett of Ashford, Conn., and the late Betsey J. Switzer of Holland. Mr. Blodgett taught in after years in all the above mentioned districts, many times in most of them. When taken
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inte account that he taught in the fall of 1849, teaching almost continually until 1889, a period of 40 years. To attempt a men- tion of all his pupils cannot well be undertaken. A few how- ever, living in this vicinity are: J. M. and E. B. Drake of Warren, L. M. and L. C. Howlett, H. E. and C. A. Vinton of Holland, Albert Roscius and Chas. Back of Southbridge, J. D. Underwood and Mrs. J. F. Hebard of Sturbridge (now of Hol- land), the late Luther S. Howlett, brother of L. M. and L. C. Howlett, of Holland, was a particularly interesting pupil, and one of the brightest students ever under Mr. Blodgett's charge.
Mr. Blodgett taught several terms in the town of Stur- bridge. Some of the families sending pupils were Gifford, Hookers, Davises, Marcys, Vintons. One secret of his success was in the fact that while he always maintained strict dis- cipline during school hours, he was ever ready, when school was not in session, to engage in any of the sports prevalent in those days. In his early life, in company with his father, he worked in the lead mine situated in the town of Sturbridge. Here he was engaged during the summer months, it being worked only during the summer and fall, from 1848 until the winter of 1853, when accidents frequently occurring, it being so dangerous the mine was abandoned. On April 5, 1853, Mr. Blodgett married Miss Laura E. Towne. Four children were born to them. He is survived by his widow and three children, Mrs. Chas. R. Webster, of Union, Conn., Miss Delia M. and Mr. A. F. Blodgett, of Holland. Mr. Blodgett had held almost every town office, being a man who never sought office, but held it by the will of the people. He voted the republican ticket from the formation of that party and had been secre- tary of the republican town committee for many years and was holding that office at the time of his death. Since his health failed, he had taken a less active part in town affairs, yet, he was one of the library trustees, cemetery commissioner and one of the overseers of the poor. He was a member of the
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Congregational Church and one of the deacons when he died, being clected to that office Jan. 4, 1890. He died Mar. 25, 1909." (From the Springfield Republican.)
14. DEA. WALLACE P. MOORE was elected to that of- fice March 7, 1907, and is still serving the church in that office. He is therefore writing his biography in terms of service and that it will be well-written is manifest, for, although he is a resident of Brimfield, he yet attends faithfully to his duties in Holland church, four miles away, whenever the service of a deacon is needed.
CHAPTER XI.
HOLLAND BAPTIST CHURCH
The town records of Holland from its earliest date show plainly that a few Baptist families in Holland were anxious to establish a church of their own persuasion there. Suits by the Baptists were repeatedly threatened. In one case, suit was actually brought, and the district voted to appoint an agent to defend the suit. Doctor Thomas Wallis and Joseph Bruce were appointed. The matter was settled by the payment of six pounds, two shillings, and nine pence. Denominationalism was very strong then. None of the churches of the Protestant faith considered long the practical question of how two churches were going to be supported in a town where onc had had a precarious existence, if only a second could get started with likelihood of success. Little real sympathy and no fel- lowship existed between churches of different denominations. Division of So. Brimfield was inevitable for the mountains geological and the mountains theological would bring it about. Only the tactful policy, ability and worth of Rev. Ezra Reeve kept it from being organized earlier. With him weighed down with years, too feeble for pastoral work, those anxious for a division met less opposition to the plan. It was sure to come, however. Efforts were made for a division of the use of the church on the common, between the Baptists and Congrega- tionalists, allotting to each society its proportional part of the sabbaths in the year, which was at first bitterly opposed but finally a vote was obtained to grant it. It did not heal the difficulty nor prove satisfactory as we shall see.
The most energetic man in this movement as well as the most influential, as we judge, was Benjamin Church. It was at his home where the men interested in forming a Baptist Church first met, April 12, 1817, and he formed one of the
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