USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 26
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Lilley. Tradition says that the doctor was postmaster too. If so, it was voluntary. He was regarded as a skillful physician. Where he got his medical knowledge, we do not know. He was unique in character, genial and sympathetic in nature. He made many friends and held about all the offices the town had to bestow except that of representative, holding them re- peatedly thereby showing that he held the confidence of his fellow townsmen. Holding office and serving on many important committees he proves himself to have been a trusted and a very useful citizen. His son, Henry S. Dean, became a physician also, and practiced in Coventry. (See genealogy.)
1800. DR. SETH SMITH is mentioned in the town records in 1800. He lived nearly opposite the Partridge house. Where he got his medical knowledge is not known, nor scarce- ly anything of his practice. He may have been a relative of other families of that name in Holland.
1800. ( ?) DR. GROUT is mentioned as attending John Webber about the same year, but what his qualifications were for such work nothing is known. He lived in east part of Monson.
1812. DR. JOSHUA RICHARDSON is also mentioned in 1812, but facts about him are not obtainable. We judge that Dr. Thomas P. Wallis' departure from town left an opening which several doctors sought to fill.
1819. DR. CHILEAB B. MERRICK is mentioned in 1819, but nothing about him is known. He lived in Wilbraham and practiced in Holland only by special call.
1824. DR. JOSIAH CONVERSE is mentioned in 1824, but of him nothing is known. He also kept store in the Glazier house for a time.
1809. DR. GIDEON KIBBE. Among the records of mar- riage intentions we find the following bearing date May 21,
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PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PROMINENT MEN.
1809 :- Dr. Gideon Kibbe of Holland and Fidelia Munn of Mon- son. He probably made his home in Wilbraham.
A doctor who is mentioned in the annals of Holland is Dr. Abial Bottom. In 1823 he married Diana Perrin, daughter of Hollowill Perrin. Mrs. Kinney, aunt to his wife, considered him a fine man and physician. After his marriage, not having sufficient practice in Holland he moved to So. Wilbraham, now Hampden. Some of his descendents still live there.
DR. DANIEL MASON lived on the place later occupied by Henry Vinton. He is spoken of as a good, kind-hearted man and physician; but of his fitness for such work we have no data. His father, Joshua Mason, came from Sturbridge to Holland.
1896-1905. DR. JOSIAH G. WILLIS was a man who had the right to preach and the power to practice, being a minis- ter and physician both. As pastor of the church he did faith- ful work and as a practicing physician, he was efficient, being well informed and thoroughly prepared for practice in a rural community. Advanced years and afflicton of the eyes hinder- ed his work in Holland. He is now (1914) living at North Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
CHAPTER XVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
The Allen Families.
Of all the families of Holland, prominent and influential in town affairs as the records abundantly prove, none held of- fice so little as did the Allen family. But the town annals emphatically prove that the judgment and discretion of the father, ABEL ALLEN, was prized by his townsmen in the stormy period of the towns early history. When Shay's in- ยท surrection was a menace to the peace of New England, he was sent as delegate to the county convention held at Hatfield, 1786, to discuss and devise measures that would afford finan- cial relief as the people were in great distress. What part Abel Allen bore in that convention we do not know, but the patriot of two wars in behalf of his country would not be likely to advocate or vote for measures that would distress the country he had served. His influence would be on the side of law and order. His country, now free, held out to him too glorious hopes willingly to see it rent by faction. Abundant evidence is found of the power of his influence in town and church affairs, but in both it was the power not due to office, but the power of sound judgment and personal worth. This is proved by his frequent appointment on important commit- tees. (See the Allen Genealogy.)
COL. EZRA ALLEN, his son, was very much like his father. The list of town officers contains his name but few times, yet his name is frequently met on committees where sound judgment was needed, both in church and town business. He was a warm friend of the church and it was due to his efforts and help that the church was kept open so constantly. He is remembered still with much affection, as he sat in his
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pew with quiet dignity. His reverent attention with his years and the colonial style of dress and method of hair dressing gave him added dignity and charm that had power with young and old. He left a memory respected and loved for its genuine worth. Tradition says that a part or all the land now owned by the church was his gift.
JOSEPH LATHROP ALLEN, son of Col. Ezra Allen, be- came famous as the inventor and manufacturer of musical in- struments for brass bands. Before his day, instruments of that kind were almost all of German make. He so improved the quality of tone that his instruments soon displaced those of foreign make. He was also successful in other fields of in- vention. Living to be over ninety, he proved himself a worthy scion of a well-known and much respected family of Holland.
MEMOIRS OF THE ALLEN FAMILY HOMESTEAD.
By Miss Mary L. Charles
The beautiful farmstead in Holland, Mass., where my grand- father, Ezra Allen, was born and lived and died, was made up of four buildings; the dwelling, a big, rambling structure; the barn, also big and partly built of oak, having long and roomy ells running out at either end, enclosing the barn yard; the carriage house on the upper floor of which corn was stored, and the shop. My great grandfather was a carpenter and grand- father's tools and bench were there in my girlhood. It was as large as a small stable and by a ladder which always stood ready one climbed to the loft. We youngsters were forbidden to go up, lest, when up, we fall between the boards loosely laid on the beams.
The shop had two windows, not large, but sufficient to light the interior. To this shop, about 1768 or 69, came my great grandfather, Abel Allen, born 1736, his wife, Jerusha Allen, born a Tarbell-John Tarbell lived in Sturbridge and is buried there. He married Sarah Grosvenor of Pomfret, Conn. Grosve- nor is the family name of the Duke of Westminster. The Grosvenors stood up with the Cromwell during the Civil War
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
in England. One lies under a gray stone in Euster St. Burying Ground, Boston. On that stone is cut his Coat of Arms-See History of Brimfield. The family were, besides the parents, the two little boys, Abel and Alfred, and Towser, the big wolf- dog.
Wolf-dog is the name given to sheep-dogs in the Pyrenees, where wolves to this day live and breed. The name was also given to the big wolfish animals kept by the early New England colonists. These animals had the small, pointed ears of wolves. They were courageous and excellent watehdogs, never affee- tionate nor safe to be cared for by women and children.
The family had been living on the "Curtis Place" on the road from Fiskdale to Brookfield, then South Brookfield. Great- grandfather had spent the two summers, preceding their moving on the land which we had taken up, building the shop, which was his house, and the earriage house, which was the small barn for his live stock. They moved in the spring. Great-grandpa's bench and tools were in the shop. There must have been a fire-place, a bed, a table and some other housekeeping articles. 1 know there was a cradle and in one corner a bag of shavings for Towser. Where all these were placed is beyond my imagina- tion. My unele once told me that the Great-grandpa and Great- grandma slept in the loft, going up the ladder. They must have spread their bed on the loose boards.
The two children slept in the bed below, tied in no doubt, and Towser was outside or inside according to the weather. Any unusual noise would summon the parents quickly. Still, my Uncle was a merry man and I then distrusted his twinkling eyes and do now.
All the drinking water was brought by Great-grandpa from a spring at quite a distance. He had a "yoke" which fitted his shoulders and from either end of the yoke could be sus- pended a bucket. He carried the corn by means of this yoke over to East Corner, now East Brimfield, a distance of, say, a mile, to be ground into meal, a bag being suspended to either end of the yoke. The way led through the woods and, though not unsafe, was dark and uneven. A thunder storm came up one afternoon while he was away on this errand and he did not return when expected. Great-grandma supposed the storm
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
delayed him. As time wore on and the delay continued and the shower had settled into a continuous rain-fall and darkness came on, she became anxious. So she opened the door and taking Towser, reposing on his bed of shavings, by the collar, ordered him to "Go, quest." Now Towser was a wolf-dog of courage. My mother always insisted that there were wolves then about Allen Hill. There were, I know, wild cats and bears and other creatures of doubtful friendliness. Towser did not hesitate to chase and to drive, to a distance, these intruders. Once a wild cat dropped on the back of a cow and began some serious clawing. Towser leaped up too, in some way he got his sharp nose under the savage beast's body, got hold of its throat and held on till Great-grandpa got out his gun and shot it. Towser had to have a slit in his shoulder plastered up, yet he never hesitated to stop at a tree on which was one of the spitting fierce animals and bark till he was hoarse and if the cat had dropped on him she would have been punished.
However, like all dogs, Towser dreaded a noise which had no body, no throat which he could seize nor any flanks into which he might sink his long, white fangs. He still reposed, when called, on the shavings where he had lain during the electric discharges. He had no intention of "questing." Great-grandma took him by the collar and tried to pull him on to his feet. He growled and drew back his thick black lips, and showed his white teeth. Great-grandma sat on him, beat him about his head and ears and on his sensitive nose with her fists. No doubt she did the beating thoroughly. She was a woman of great resolution and had a fine temper of her own as befitted one whose forbears had stood up with Cromwell. My mother was not affectionate to Great-grandma. From all I have heard of the latter, she inspired a respectful fear in her family. She had her good qualities and was stubborn in carrying out her plans. She was fond of Aunt Roxanna, left motherless when almost a baby and a delicate child. The four girls braided straw for which they got money to buy, in part, their clothes. Great-grandma used to do Roxanna's braiding for her sometimes. This naturally did not win the love of the other girls, as the favor was limited to Roxanna.
Great-grandma had to subdue Towser, who was terrified by the shower which added to his terror, Her quickness of
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
attack, I do not doubt, together with her fieree blows, confused him, at first, and then rendered him submissive. Towser, after a while, recognized her authority, whined, got up and shook from his rough coat the loose shavings. Then she got him something to eat and left him for a period of reflections. She tied into the wooden cradle the "tew little boys," lighted two candles and set them in the window, for night was come, put over her head and shoulders a little wool blanket which she pinned with a thorn-I know for my mother some years after pinned the little shawl which she wore to school with a thorn- took the big bell and the horn and opened the door, calling Towser. The food and his sore nose had their effect and he followed reluctantly. When she had carefully shut and hasped the door and Towser had looked around and not seen the crea- ture which had made the terrific noise, his courage rose and he "quested" in an earnest and diligent fashion, running out into paths which lead into dark places and barking with might and main.
She ran along the main path, now tooting the horn, now ringing the bell. I can imagine her. She was a little woman, small hands and feet. She did not run as we do, feet close to the ground. Her heavy nailed shoes showed beneath her woolen skirt; the blanket over her head and shoulders waved as she raced up and down the path, keeping as near Towser as she could, tooting and ringing. Presently the tone of Towser's bark showed discovery and soon Great-grandpa's voice was heard. Coming home, a tree, blown down by the storm, had fallen on him and pinned him to the ground. Encumbered by his yoke and his bags he could not extricate himself. Great- grandma went back to the house, got a crowbar and by means of it lifted the heavy branches and Great-grandpa wormed his way out, not sacrificing the valuable bags of corn meal. The yoke was left till the next day.
They walked to the house, Towser, barking and running off to "quest" whenever he saw any movement in the woods. Un- doubtedly he believed he was the reseuing party and the terrifie noise was a "figment of the imagination."
JOHN COX BUTTERWORTH was the first of the Butter- worth family to come to Holland, coming from Sturbridge in
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
1824 and buying about eleven acres of Zuriel May "with right to build a dam 16 feet high, but not to interefere with Ebenezer Morris' shop and rights." He sold this property to Abijah Pierce, 1825. He is described as a millwright and evidently had the spirit of enterprise for we find him in many business ven- tures. He was a young man in the prime of life. He also bought land south of Ezra Allen's homestead and the deserip- tion makes it extend to an island in the mill pond, which was where Mr. Alexander now owns. Mr. Butterworth while not the first mill-owner that Holland had, for the Belknap mill and the Munger mill antedate Mr. Butterworth's time by about fifty years, yet for persistence of effort and variety of business, he did more to develop the waterpower of Holland than any other man. It is a pity his labors did not produce a plant that would be a worthy monument to his efforts. Time may yet see the fruition of his hopes, the fulfilment of his fondest dreams. (See Butterworth Genealogy.)
JOSEPH BLODGETT, SR., is believed to be the first white man to live in that part of Brimfield which later became Hol- land. He bought land in Brimfield in 1729. Born in 1696, and married in 1719, the lure of the west invited him to come and occupy it with his young wife who was Sarah Stone of Coneord, Massachusetts. The family genealogist makes him come to Brimfield, 1735, but we differ, for Jason Morse's An- nals of Brimfield, give him and his wife, Sarah, as admitted to church by letter, 1724. There are reasons for believing that he made his home in Brimfield soon after his marriage. The records show that he owned land there before 1730. Where he lived it is impossible to say. If he did not make his home in Brimfield till 1735, why was he and his wife admitted to church privileges there 1724? He drew Lot 14 northwest of Blodgett Mountain, named after him, and made his home there. He entered into all the hopes and interests of the town, taking up land in various parts of the town. He was a man
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
of good ability. He became surveyor to the proprietors of Brimfield and their Book records his land purchases. His abilities won him recognition and we find him serving as as- sessor, 1731, '33, '35, '36, '38, '41, '42, '43, '44, '47, '48, '50, '52. Moderator of annual town meetings, Brimfield, 1746, '47, '53, '55, '57, '58, '59. He tvas town clerk, 1761, '62. Selectman, 1735, '38, '42, '44, '48, '50, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '62, which was the year So. Brimfield was incor- porated. As a citizen of So. Brimfield he held the following offices :- Selectman, 1766, '67, '69, '70. Joseph Blodgett pre- sented Brimfield's protests to General Court against the div- ision of Brimfield's territory and population in the formation of the district Monson. In this he was defeated, Monson was incorporated, 1760. He was fine material out of which to form a town. He had a family of seventeen children and the service of his family in the French and Indian and the Revol- utionary wars would make it famous. Sce Blodgett record in those wars. Five sons in the F. and I. war; and six sons and six grandsons in the Revolution. One son, Admatha, and two grandsons, Rufus and Solomon were taken prisoners of war by the British, but made their escape. He must have felt dis- appointed in the outcome of the dispute over the church site in 1764. He had hoped that his property being near the cen- tre of the town of So. Brimfield, the church to be established for the newly incorporated town would be somewhere on South Meadow road. The division of So. Brimfield into two parishes with Joseph Jr's., home site and his own in the West parish did not help the matter. It rendered inevitable another div- ision when the two parishes would be separate towns. Div- ision did not take place during the life of Jos. Blodgett, Sr., for he died in spring of 1783, and Holland was incorporated July 5, 1783.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILL OF JOSEPH BLODGETT, SR.
In the name of God, amen. The fourth day of February Anno Domini 1780. I, Joseph Blodgett, of South Brimfield in the County of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts Bay in New England, yeoman being of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God therefor, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the dust to be buried in a decent and christian manner at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but that at the general resur- rection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form :-
. Imprimis: I will and give to my son, Joseph Blodgett's heirs out of my estate the sum of forty shillings to each of them an equal share thereof.
Item, I give and will to my son, Benjamin Blodgett, the sum of forty shillings.
Item, I will and give to my son, Abner Blodgett's heirs the sum of forty shillings to each of them an equal share thereof.
Item, I give and will to my son, Thomas Blodgett the sum of forty shillings and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, my will is, that all the rest of my estate both real and personal shall be equally divided amongst the rest of my chil- dren, viz. To my sons, Samuel Blodgett, Jonas Blodgett, Caleb Blodgett, Elijah Blodgett, Nathan Blodgett and Admatha Blod- gett, and to my daughters, Viz. Sarah Blodgett alias Sarah Williams, wife to John Williams, to Anna Blodgett alias Anna Sherman, wife to Thomas Sherman, to Abigail Blodgett alias Abigail Gates, wife of Samuel Gates; to Ruth Blodgett, alias Ruth Danielson, wife to John Danielson; to Lydia Blodgett alias Lydia Hubbard, wife to Simeon Hubbard ; to Achsah Blod- gett alias Winslow, wife to Ashbell Winslow; to each and every one of them last mentioned six sons and six daughters, my will is that "them" twelve shall each and every one of them have an equal share of my estate besides what is willed before. To
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
the four first mentioned I do constitute make ordain and ap- point my sons Samuel Blodgett and Jonas Blodgett to be exe- cutors to this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other testa- ments, wills or legacies by me in any wise made, ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Joseph Blodgett
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said Joseph Blodgett as his last will and testament.
In presence of
Benjamin Tiffany Benjamin Tiffany, Jr. Jacob Tiffany.
Jonas Blodgett presented the will for probate. It was ad- mitted and ratified by Eleazer Porter.
Judge of Probate.
Entered Oet. 1, 1783.
Joseph Blodgett, Sr., died Jan. 16, 1783.
It will be noticed that all his children are mentioned in above will except Marsena. He had probably died. Evidence in favor of this conelusion is found in the faet that Caleb Blodgett names one of his sons Marsena after his unele prob- ably. It should be noted that the heirs of Abner Blodgett are mentioned. Who were they?
JOSEPH BLODGETT, JR., was born in 1721 and undoubt- edly received the greater part of his preparation for the work of life from his parents. He was acquainted with surveying and became surveyor to the proprietors of Brimfield for a while after his father gave it up. He made his home south of his father where Mr. Gaudette now lives. For proof, see aet dividing So. Brimfield into two parishes, 1766. He held the following offices in Brimfield. He was assessor, 1758, '59, '60. Of So. Brimfield he was town elerk, 1762, '63, '66, '67, '69, '70. Selectman, 1771. His service as town offieer was undoubtedly
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ROSWELL ABNER BLODGETT
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
hill above David Bugbee's tavern. (Dr. Dean's.) He had un- doubted ability, but lacked the tact to deal with men. He had served his country well in the French and Indian War, becom- ing eaptain in campaign of 1756. When Holland was incor- porated, 1783, South Meadow road was made the boundary line and the house sites of Jos. Blodgett, Sr., and Jr., being on the east side of said road they became a part of Holland. The division of Holland into school districts, 1783, reveals three Blodgett patrons in the northwest district. In 1793, the tax list gives John Blodgett as the only Blodgett, a taxpayer in the district. Caleb had died, Jonas had moved to Brimfield, Solomon had gone too.
ROSWELL ABNER BLODGETT, son of Roswell and Charity (Fletcher) Blodgett, was born in Holland, Massachu- setts, April 7, 1825 ; died, June 29, 1891. His ancestor, Joseph Blodgett, born 1696, was one of the original proprietors of Brimfield, drawing Lot No. 67 in what was afterward named Holland.
Mr. Blodgett, the subject of this sketch, was born on the parental homestead where Loring Howlett now resides. His grandfather, Edward, built the house in 1814. The site of the first meeting house in Holland is very near. Here his boy- hood was passed, like the typical boy of his generation, work- ing on his father's farm and, during the short winter terms, attending the district school. At one time he had as a tutor the Rev. Washington Munger, installed pastor of the Baptist Church. Later, his father purchased the Partridge farm, south of the center, bordering on the Quinnebaug river and on the highway leading to Union, Connecticut.
As a boy Mr. Blodgett was early trained to habits of in- dustry, frugality and preseverance, (traits which were the strongest characteristics of the sturdy people of that day. Upon becoming of age he purchased his father's farm and, by
1
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THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
careful and judicious management, was able to reap good re- turns.
When the Hamilton reservoir was to be built, about 1865, he sold it and purchased another large farm one-half mile north of the church. He was an energetic and prosperous farmer, and, by active and systematie labor, made this farm one of the best in town.
He held various town offices as prudential committee of schools, commissioner of highways, and for many years select- man and overseer of the poor.
In politics he was a Republican and took an active inter- est in all the moral reforms of his day.
He was a consistent member of the Congregational Church from early manhood and contributed freely of his time, strength and means to its support.
The following tribute to his memory came from one who knew him all his life in his home and in his dealings with his neighbors and towns-people :-
Mr. Blodgett was one of Holland's best men, modest and unpretending in his manners, always exemplary in his conduct and strictly honest in his dealings. Thereby he secured, in a high degree, the love and respect of his fellow men. To those who sought his advice he gave it with a elearness and sound judgment which was convincing and satisfactory.
He never did anything for the town that was not done to its credit as well as his own. He held official positions in the town without austerity.
He left, as the richest legacy within the power of man to leave, the influence and memory of a life nobly lived.
Mr. Blodgett married Mary J. Robbins, daughter of Wil- liam A. and Mary (Wallis) Robbins, November 27, 1855.
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