History of the town of Plainfield, Hampshire County, Mass., from its settlement to 1891, including a genealogical history of twenty-three of the original settlers and their descendants, with anecdotes and sketches, Part 5

Author: Dyer, Charles Newell, 1850-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Northampton, Mass., Press of Gazette printing co.
Number of Pages: 216


USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Plainfield > History of the town of Plainfield, Hampshire County, Mass., from its settlement to 1891, including a genealogical history of twenty-three of the original settlers and their descendants, with anecdotes and sketches > Part 5


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ELIHU DWIGHT, WILLIAM HOOKER, Jos. H. FLINT.


By virtue of the power in me vested, I have hereunto affixed the seal of the Massachusetts Medical Society.


JOS. FISHER, M. D., President. JOHN DIXWELL, M. D., Rec. Secretary. Attest,


After Dr. Bryant's death, Dr. Shaw in 1824 removed to Plainfield and commenced practice. His wife deceased Dec. 12, 1824, of consumption. This sad event inspired the beautiful poem of her distinguished brother, Wm. C. Bryant, entitled "The Death of the Flowers." In 1830 Dr. Shaw married Elizabeth Owen Clarke of Northamp-


Samuel Shaco


AT 60.


DR. SAMUEL SHAW.


ton, daughter of Joseph Clarke, a lawyer descended from the Cooks, Lymans, Pomeroys, and other early settlers of that town, and the adopted son of Major Joseph Hawley. Elizabeth's beauty, grace and lovely character, were the theme of many a letter written by old Dr. Flint of North- ampton to Dr. Shaw, before the engagement. She died Sept. 27, 1863. Dr. Shaw at first lived in the house lately re-modeled by Wm. Winslow. In 1833 he built the house which he occupied during the remainder of his life, and which is still owned by his daughters, who occupy it dur- ing the summer and fall months. It was thoroughly built and is now in an excellent state of preservation. Dr. Shaw was in active practice until 1854. In the fall of that year he was called one evening to attend his married daughter then living in West Cummington. While descending the hill in the southwest part of the town, some portion of the carriage suddenly gave way, and he was thrown violently to the ground. Being a large, heavy man, the shock was a very severe one, from which he never fully recovered. He was able however to occasionally visit patients for some years after, but always with some one to drive his horse. The writer remembers him as one who always had a good story to tell and liked a joke. His jolly " Haw, haw, haw," rings in my ears yet. One little episode I will relate. A near neighbor had several large boys who were inclined to be unruly. The neighbor was a rather quick tempered man, and one morning, one of his boys having provoked him in some way, he gave him a sounding box on the ear, the doctor being an unseen witness. The boy moaned greatly, and carried his head to one side, pretend- ing that he could not lift it to its normal position. The doctor watching the boy occasionally through the day


78


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


from his office window, noticed that when his father was out of sight, his head resumed its natural position. If his father appeared, his neck was at once bent as before. Toward evening, the father becoming somewhat alarmed, visited the doctor in company with his son, whose head still hung on one side. "Doctor," said he, " I am a little hasty, and when I gave the boy a cuff this morning, I suppose I gave him a harder blow than I intended, and he don't seem to be able to straighten his neck since. Now what treat- ment would you advise?" "Well," said the doctor, de- liberately, drawing down the corners of his eye brows, "In my opinion, the best thing you can do, would be to hit him a thundering crack on the other ear." The boy did not wait to have his father follow this advice, but at once made off with head erect .- The doctor was tenderly cared for in his declining years by his daughters. He deceased Sept. 24, 1870, aged 80. He was for many years prominent in town affairs, being for eight years one of the selectmen. His office has been preserved in very much the same con- dition in which he left it. The case of books and the iron mortar and pestle used in compounding medicines, once belonged to Dr. Peter Bryant, and were used by him, pre- vious to their coming into Dr. Shaw's possession. He was for forty years a member of the Mass. Medical Society. His quick intuitions and great skill, combined with a keen knowledge of human nature and a cheerful disposition, made him a successful and popular physician.


LATER PRACTITIONERS.


Dr. Chas. Bowker came here about 1855, but remained only a year or two. Dr. J. M. Eaton settled here about 1858, and remained two or three years. Dr. G. H. Taylor


79


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


came here about 1863, and practiced until his death in 1873, except one year, when he was absent in the army. Dr. O. H. Lamb practiced here a few months about 1874. Dr. Daniel E. Thayer commenced practice here in 1875, · and remained here two or three years. Dr. G. R. Fessen- den came here in 1879, and remained about a year, when he removed to Ashfield. He is now often called to visit patients here. Since his removal we have had no resident physician.


JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


So far as known, the first Justice in town was James Richards, who was commissioned June 8, 1802. Others were commissioned in the order named. Ebenezer Colson, Cyrus Joy, Iram Packard, Elijah Warner, Sr., John Mack, Sr., Erastus Bates, Leavitt Hallock, Jason Rich- ards, Elijah Clark, Isaac K. Lincoln, George Vining, David Shaw, Wm. Gurney, Albert Dyer, Fred E. Camp- bell, James A. Winslow, Charles N. Dyer. L. Campbell was appointed a Notary Public in 1887.


CHAPTER X.


REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS .-- SOLDIERS OF 1812 .-- ARTILLERY COMPANY .-- LIST OF SOLDIERS IN WAR OF THE REBELLION .- DEATHS AMONG .-- G. A. R. POST.


The following list of Revolutionary Pensioners, we copy from Dr. Porter's history of Plainfield. It contains the names of those still living in 1833, with the amount drawn annually by each. The amount is believed to have been based on their length of service.


Lemuel Allis, $ 96 Rev. Moses Hallock, $ 2333


Joseph Barnard, 96 Jacob Nash, 100


Ebenezer Bisbee, 20


Phillip Packard, 96


John Campbell, 23-33


100 Whitcomb Pratt, 80


Vinson Curtis, 80 James Richards, 25,55


Ebenezer Dickinson, 30


Josiah Shaw, 80


James Dyer, 100 Samuel Streeter, 96


Joseph Gloyd, 20


Josiah Torrey, 106-66% 100


Caleb White, 32-33%


At least two of our citizens served in the war of 1812. These were Orrin Tirrell and Samuel Thayer, Jr. It is believed that they were not called out of the state, but did military duty in the vicinity of Boston for a few weeks.


There was another who though not a citizen of the town at the time of the war, settled here immediately after- wards-Lieut. Brackley Shaw, who lived on the farm after- wards occupied by the late Jared Dyer. During the war of 1812 Lieut. Shaw had command of a battery on an


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81


ARTILLERY COMPANY.


island in Boston harbor. In 1825 he removed to Ira, N. Y., and ten years later to Michigan, being one of the pioneer settlers of that state. His son, Brackley Shaw, Jr., had in 1887 been for 14 years a member of the Michigan legis- lature, serving six years as senator. Another son, Rev. Horatio Watson Shaw, went to India in 1850, to take charge of the Mission College at Allahabad, returning after six years service.


THE ARTILLERY COMPANY.


This company was first organized in Williamsburg, and from thence, as it drew many of its recruits from the hill towns, the company armory and guns were successively removed to Goshen, and in the early part of the present century to Plainfield. One of the early Captains of the Company after its headquarters were established here, was Noah Joy of Hawley, who was afterward Colonel of the 3rd Artillery Regiment, of which perhaps this company may have been the nucleus. About 1820 the musicians of the company were Levi Campbell and Wm. Wilcutt, Sr., fifers, and Oliver Pool, drummer. In those days the State Militia was not fostered and petted by Government as at present, but each soldier must arm, equip and uniform himself, lose his time while on duty and pay his own ex- penses. So few there were who felt equal to the sacrifice that recruits were drawn from eight different towns, viz. : Plainfield, Goshen, Chesterfield, Savoy, Windsor, Cum- mington, Hawley and Ashfield. Among the first captains of the company were Capt. Eldridge, Levi Cook, Wm. Joy, Harry Torrey,* David R. Whiting,* Randall Dyer, John Mack,* Charles W. Parker and James Cook; later, Leonard Campbell * and Levi N. Campbell, all citizens of


6


82


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


Plainfield. Those of the above marked with a star after name, were honored later by being elected field officers in the 3rd Artillery Regiment. Levi N. Campbell was by the unanimous vote of the Regiment elected Major, but declined. While he was captain, in 1847, the state author- ities, at his request, granted an order for building a new armory, the old one which stood near the present site of J. N. Benjamin's house, having become unfit for use. The contract was given to the late David Shaw, who erected the building a few rods east of where Jeremiah Tyrrell lives, and finished it to the acceptance of the Adjutant General. It was used as an armory until the company and regiment disbanded. As late as 1860 it was sold, removed to the upper village, re-modeled into a dwelling, and is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Frances P. Clark (since deceased). About the time the new armory was built, the state sup- plied the regiment with the old Springfield musket and required the rank and file to drill with them, and to prac- tice the manual of arms; but the project was only a par- tial success, the soldiers not taking kindly to the clumsy arm, and they were soon called in. About this time the old four pounder brass cannon were exchanged for new six pounders. L. N. Campbell having resigned, he was succeeded as captain by Edward Bridgman of Goshen, and he by Levi Gardner of Ashfield. Among the Lieu- tenants of the company were Madison Knowlton of Ash- field, Henry Joy of Hawley, Abishur Nash, Daniel Stock- well, Philander Packard, Thomas Packard and Ansel K. Bradford of Plainfield. Bradford was afterwards chosen .captain, and held that office when the company disbanded. Among those who served as musicians, were L. N. Camp- bell, William and Abner Gurney, Orson S. White, Lyman


83


SOLDIERS IN WAR OF THE REBELLION.


K. Thayer, Leonard and J. Lyman Campbell, Milleon S. Colburn, Sylvanus Rice, Isaiah Stetson, Orrin Stetson, Isaac S. Nash, Calvin Shaw and Horace Hamlen. The late Apollos Gardner belonged to this company, and will be well remembered by those members still living. He used to "thumb the piece." The cannon by continuous firing soon became heated and I suppose the merest spark sometimes remained in the breech. It was his duty to hold his thumb over the touch-hole while the gun was being re-loaded. As soon as he removed it, the draft of air thus admitted fanned the latent spark within, and a discharge immediately followed. A cot of deerskin was usually worn on the thumb for protection, but he was sometimes without this. He never flinched, though his thumb was sometimes badly burned, and never permitted a premature discharge. Among the members of the company Capt. Ansel K. Bradford, Isaac S. Nash and Chas. S. Stetson served in the civil war, and probably a number of others.


SOLDIERS IN WAR OF THE REBELLION.


Plainfield furnished during this war sixty-one men, an excess of seven over all calls. The following is a list, the names occurring in the order of their enlistment, to- gether with the regiment and company in which they served, also date of mustering in and of discharge or death. Mass. Infantry is understood, and their rank as private, unless otherwise stated.


Co. and Reg't. Mustered In. Discharged.


Chauncey C. Shaw, H 27 Sept. 20, '61. Mar. 31, '63. Wesley Woodard, Corp.C


Oct. 1, Oct. - '62. Newell Dyer, 2d., C 31


" 12, Apr. 11, " do. 2d enlistment, C 12 Sept. 12, '63. Dec. 12, '63.


84


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


Co. and Reg't. Mustered In. Discharged. Henry Y . Town, C4 N. Y. Ind. Bat. Oct. 18, '61. Oct. 17, '64. Sherlock H. Lincoln, E 1 Cav. Dec. 9. " Nov. 14, '62.


Hosea L. Thayer, E " 16. " July 21, '65.


H. Dwight Gloyd, C 31


Feb. 1. '62. Jan. 31, "


Wm. A. Hallock, K 23 Aug. 4, "


do. 2d enlistment,


Dec. 1, '63. July 20, '65.


Lorenzo Streeter, Corp. H 37 Aug. 15,'62. Nov. 21, '63. Nelson W. Cook, .. .. .. Aug. 14, "


Almon M. Warner, Lt., " ..


Aug. 28, '65.


Fordyce A. Dyer, 2d Lt. F 46 Sept. 26, "


do. 2d enlist'nt, 1st " F 2 H. Art.


'63. d. Oct.26,'64.


Franklin Cook, F 46 Sept. 26,62. d. June 20,'63.


Newcomb Dyer,


..


. .


July 29, "


Chas. C. Gloyd,


do. 2d enlistment, A 2 H. Art. May 27, '63. Sept. 3, '65.


J. Wesley Gurney, F 46 Sept. 26, '62.


do. 2d enlistment, -2 H.Art. June 5, '63. Dec. 30, '63.


Stephen Hayward, Jr. Corp. F 46


Sept. 26,'62. July 29, "


Samuel W. Jones, F 46


Robert P. Loud,


do. 2d enlistment, A 2 H. Art. May 28, '63. Sept. 3, '65.


Chas. S. Stetson,


F


46


Sept.26, 62. July 29, '63.


Geo. W. King,


Clifford Packard. Corp., ..


Josiah Rood,


Theodore W. Shaw,


" d. " 10, " 29, “


Allen Smith,


do. 2d enlistment, -2 H. Art. June 5, '63. Sept. 3, '65.


Wm. Edwards Warner, F 46 Sept.26,62. d.June 28,63.


Alden H. Dyer,


" d. Jan. 19, "


Ira W. Hamlen, Corp.,


July 29, "


..


85


SOLDIERS IN WAR OF THE REBELLION.


Co. and Reg't. Mustered in. Discharged.


Justus W. Gurney, do. 2d enlistment,


F 46 Sept. 26,'62.


- 2 H. Art. June 5, '63.


Deserted.


Oliver C. Burr, E 46 Oct. 15,'62. July 29,'63.


Wm. W. Vanalstine,


-2 H. Art. Dec. 7. '63. Died - - -


Wm. J. Nash, D 34 Mch. 1, '64. June 19,'65.


John C. Dean. F 2 H. Art. Aug. 25. " 26, "


Arthur W. Robinson, .... ..


66 6.


Winthrop B. Robinson,


Wm. L. Lucas, .. ..


John Stewart,


6. . .


G. H. Taylor, Hos. Stew. "" " Sept. 1. " May 23. "


The following persons were drafted and obtained sub- stitutes. 1863, Nathan Barton, Joseph O. Gloyd, Nahum S. Packard, Horatio A. Shaw, James A. Winslow. 1864, Stillman F. Dyer, Levi W. Gloyd.


The following persons were drafted in 1863, and rejected. Henry W. Beals, Chas. C. Clark, Ansel B. Cole, Newell Dyer, 2d, Jeremiah T. Gardner, Geo. Richards, Thaddeus Rood, Sylvester Stetson.


The following are the names of substitutes furnished :


Alfred Videtto. Thaddeus Connors, Springfield.


Morris Bishop. Thos. Figges, Boston.


Danford Glazier. Arthur Hitchcock, Charlemont.


Milo Lucas. James Stanard, Guilford, Vt. Peter Taylor.


The following Plainfield men were in the service but were credited to some other town:


Co. and Reg't. Mustered In. Discharged.


Isaac S. Nash, D


34 July 31,'62. June 16, '65.


Charles Gurney, E 37 Sept. 2, " k'd. July 2,'63.


Edw. F. Hamlen, Sergt. I


52 Oct. 11, " Aug. 14.


66


86


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


Co. and Reg't. Mustered In. Discharged.


Almorin S. Latham, D 49 Sept. 19, " Sept. 1, 63.


Sidney H. Latham, 66 66


James Wetherbee, C 10 June 21,'61, Dec. 21,


Harrison Loud, I 57 Mch. 10,'64, d. Aug. 1,'64.


The following now residing here, served to credit of other towns, as given below :


Geo. W. Billings, Monson, E 10; June 21, '61; July 1, '64. Edwin A. Atkins, Sergt. 1 Conn. Cav .; Dec. 9,'61; Dec .- '64. Wm. H. Packard, Windsor, I 49; Nov. 19, '62; Sept. 1,'63. Shepard R. Dyer, Corp., Conway, C 31; Nov. 20, '61; Sept. 9, '65.


Onslow Taylor, Corp., Hawley, I 52; Oct. 11, '62; Aug. 14, '63.


Melvin Packard, Northampton, D 34; Jan. 4,'64; Jan. 20,'66. Leander J. Beals, Huntington, H. 37; Aug. 30, '62; April 27, '63.


Melville C. Butler, Buckland, K 60; July 22, '64; Dec. 3, '64. James W. Loud, F 22 Iowa; Aug. 14, '62; June 14, '65.


Norman W. Stetson, Cheshire, I 49; Sept. 19, 62; Sept. 1,'63.


Sept. 26, 1862, 18 men from Plainfield were mustered in, it being by far the largest number who enlisted at any one time. These were all members of Co. F 46 Mass. Only one man was killed while in service, Charles Gurney, son of Wm. Gurney, at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Six died from disease, viz .: Alden H. Dyer, son of Samuel Dyer, at Newbern, N. C., of typhoid fever, Jan. 19, 1863. His re- mains were brought to Plainfield for interment .- Frank- lin Cook, son of James Cook, died at Beaufort, N. C., June 20, 1863 .- Wm. Edwards Warner, son of Wmn. Warner, died at Newbern, N. C., June 28, 1863, of typhoid fever .- Josiah Rood died on shipboard, 24 hours out of


87


PENSIONERS.


Boston harbor, July 10, 1863, of consumption, and exhaus- tion caused by sea-sickness. He was in poor health most of the time while in the army and was unable to do regular duty. His courage was good, however, and he embark- ed at Newbern, feeling that when he reached home his health would improve, but his strength gave out and he died as above stated. His body was brought home for in- terment .- Lieut. Fordyce A. Dyer, son of Albert Dyer, died at Newbern, N. C., of yellow fever, Oct. 26, 1864. He was detailed as City Inspector during the prevalence of the yellow fever and fell a victim of this terrible disease. His remains were subsequently brought home for inter- ment. - H. Harrison Loud, son of James Loud, died Aug. 1, 1864, of typhoid dysentery, at Chestnut Hill hos- pital, Philadelphia, and was brought home for burial .- Wm. W. Vanalstine (colored) is reported as dying in the service, but the Adjutant General's rolls give no particu- lars.


PENSIONERS.


The following named veterans, now residing here, are in receipt of pensions:


Edwin A. Atkins, $4 per mo. Wm. H. Packard, $6 per mo.


Leander J. Beals, $8 " " Melvin Packard, $10 " "


Nelson W. Cook, $8 " Onslow Taylor, $12 66 Norman W. Stetson, $8 per mo.


Mrs. Mary A. Dunning, widowed mother of Samuel J. Dunning, draws a pension of $12 per month, and Mrs. Susan E. Taylor, widow of Dr. G. H. Taylor, $8 per month,


88


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


G. A. R. POST.


Mountain Miller Post No. 198, G. A. R., was organized here in 1889. It consists of 22 members. The officers for 1891 are as follows :


Commander, E. A. Atkins.


Senior Vice Com., Onslow Taylor.


Junior " Geo. W. King.


Adjutant, Nelson W. Cook.


Quartermaster, J. W. Loud.


Chaplain, A. N. Hubbard, Windsor,


Officer of the Day, Shepard R. Dyer.


Guard, L. J. Beals.


Sergeant Major, Geo. W. Billings.


Q. M. Sergeant, Wells P. Taylor, Ashfield.


Surgeon, M. C. Butler.


Color Bearers, ) John Campbell, Savoy.


( Norman W. Stetson.


It is believed that this post covers the largest area of any in the state, it having members from seven different towns and three counties. Capt. Edward F. Hamlen, chief clerk of the Executive Department of the State, who re- sides here a portion of the summer, is a member of this Post.


CHAPTER XI.


COLLEGE GRADUATES AND PROFESSIONAL MEN.


[The writer is indebted to an article in the Hampshire County Gazetteer from the pen of the Rev. Solomon Clark, for much of the material for this chapter.]


LAWYERS.


Cyrus Joy, son of Jacob, graduated at Williams College in 1811. Studied law and practiced in Northampton, af- terwards in this town. Removed to Philadelphia, where he deceased a few years since.


Hosea F. Stockwell, lived forty years at the West, hav- ing an extensive practice in New Philadelphia, O.


Elisha Bassett, son of Thomas, for half a century con- nected with the U. S. District Court at Boston.


Alden B. Vining graduated at Williams College in 1843. Located in Bridgeport, Conn. Died in New Haven.


Erastus N. Bates graduated at Williams College in 1853, studied law, but his health did not allow him to pursue its practice. Has been twice, at least, State Treasurer of Illinois.


E. Livingstone Lincoln, son of Isaac K., graduated at Willams College in 1853. Admitted to the bar in 1858. Died in Westfield, Mass., in 1859.


Almon M. Warner, son of James, is now in practice at Cincinnati, O.


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90


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


CHAS. DUDLEY WARNER.


HIS BIRTHPLACE,


91


EDITORS, PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS.


EDITORS AND LITERARY PERSONS.


Gerard Hallock (see genealogical history of Hallock family.)


Charles Dudley Warner, son of Justus Warner, was born Sept. 12, 1829, on the homestead where the late Francis W. Joy lived, a mile north of the village. He graduated at Hamilton College in 1851. Is well known as an author and is one of the editors of the Hartford Cour- ant. The engraving of his birthplace is from a photo- graph, and shows it as it now appears.


Mrs. Fidelia Cook, daughter of Stephen Hayward, for some time superintended the literary department of the Springfield Republican.


Mrs. Martha J. Lamb (see genealogical history of Jacob Nash family.)


PROFESSORS AND TEACHERS.


James Hayward, Jr., graduated at Harvard in 1819. Was tutor there. Afterwards professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. Published "Elements of Ge- ometry."


Isaac Newton Lincoln graduated at Williams in 1847. Was professor of Latin and French at that college for nine years. Died in 1862.


Tilly Brown Hayward, son of Capt. James, born April 2, 1797. Graduated at Harvard in 1820. Was for many years a teacher. Later a preacher in the Swedenborgian denomination.


Alden Porter Beals, son of Dea. Robert, graduated at Williams in 1849. High school teacher for more than 30 years, much of the time at Stamford, Conn., where he deceased a few years since.


92


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


Francis Torrey, superintendent of schools in Newark. N. J., (see genealogical history of Josiah Torrey family.)


Charles Lyman Shaw, son of Dr. Samuel, graduated at Williams in 1864. Has for many years taught a classical school at Astoria, N. Y.


PHYSICIANS.


Dr. Samuel Shaw. (See Chap. IX.)


Dana Shaw. (See genealogical history of Josiah Shaw family.)


Washington Shaw, nephew of above. Settled in Wil- liamsburg, Mass.


Joseph Richards, a brother of the missionaries, long a physician in Hillsdale, N. Y.


Chilion Packard, in early life went South.


Seth H. Pratt, went West many years ago.


Newell White, still living in Pennsylvania.


Royal Joy, studied with Dr. Samuel Shaw and settled in Cummington.


Francis Pratt, a practicing physician in Ohio.


Newton Robinson, also a physician in the same state.


James F. Richards, son of Jason, a physician in Ando- ver. Mass.


Lewis Whiting, deceased a few years since in Saratoga, N. Y.


J. Emerson Warner, son of James, now practicing in Sterling, Va.


Daniel E. Thayer, a physician at Adams, Mass.


Dr. Shepard L. Hamlen was a dentist in Cincinnati, O. Dr. Joseph Beals, a long time dentist in Greenfield, Mass. Geo. Burt, a dentist in Springfield, Mass.


Samuel Francis Shaw, son of Dr. Samuel, was born at


93


PHYSICIANS.


Plainfield, Sept. 7, 1833. He was fitted for college at the Northampton Collegiate Institute. Entered Williams Col- lege in 1852, and was graduated in 1855. After graduation he remained at home four years, studying medicine with his father and making collections of native plants and birds. He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduating in 1862. A few months later he entered the navy as assistant surgeon. During his service of nineteen years he made many long voyages, visiting the West Indies, the Azores, Peru, Sitka, China, Japan and Siberia. He married Oct. 27, 1877, Ade- laide Roberts, daughter of Edward Roberts, Esq., of Phila- delphia, and sister of the well-known artist, Howard Rob- erts, whose statue of Fulton is in the Capitol at Washing- ton. After spending a year with his wife in traveling through Europe, he resigned his surgeon's commission and settled in Philadelphia. He died at his home 1909 Walnut St., Dec. 7, 1884. Dr. Shaw was a man of commanding presence. His tall and well proportioned figure, over six feet in height, together with a handsome face which was lighted up by a pair of blue eyes of unusual softness and beauty, attracted universal attention. While his great dignity of character inspired respect, his unselfishness won the affection of all who knew him.


Dr. Marcus Whitman, noted as a missionary, physician and surgeon for more than ten years in Oregon, also for the long, tedious journey which he made across the Rocky Mountains in mid-winter to Washington, D. C., when Daniel Webster was Secretary of State, spent many. of his boyhood days in Plainfield, living until early manhood with Col. John Packard, whose home was the same now occupied by Albert N. Gurney. He attended the school


94


HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.


of Rev. Moses Hallock, which perhaps had much to do with shaping his subsequent career. Having graduated at the Pittsfield medical school, he became in 1835 a mis- sionary of the American Board. The next year in compa- ny with Rev. H. H. Spaulding, they with their wives cross- ed the Rocky Mountains and located in Oregon. Visiting as surgeon the various forts of the Hudson Bay Co., Dr. Whitman became convinced that the plan of that company was to secure that vast territory with all its wealth and resources for Great Britain. To make the story brief, he started to cross the continent in mid-winter, reaching Mis- souri in February, 1843, frost bitten and exhausted. Here he engaged to pilot a colony in the spring to the Columbia River, contradicting the reports that wagons could not cross the mountains. Hurrying on to Washington he called on Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State, and also on President Tyler, affirming that wagons and emi- grants could cross the mountains, which they were loth to believe. Webster said, "I am about trading that worth- less territory for some valuable concessions in relation to the Newfoundland cod-fisheries." Dr. Whitman replied with earnestness, " I hope you will not do it, sir. We want that valuable territory ourselves." The president finally said : "Dr. Whitman, since you are a missionary, I will believe you, and if you take your emigrants over there on your return, as you propose, the treaty will not be ratified" In March he was back in Missouri and led a thousand emi- grants to Fort Hall. Here the commander of the fort, in the service of the Hudson Bay Co., offered to give them pack horses in exchange for their wagons, declaring that they could not cross the mountains with them. This offer was refused, and after a long but successful journey, he




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