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 6
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95
MINISTERS.
and his 800 emigrants, with their wagons, emerged on the plains of the Columbia River Sept. 4, 1843. The treaty was not signed. Oregon and the Northern Pacific coast were saved to the United States by the heroism, energy and zeal of this noble man.
MINISTERS.
Jephthah Pool, many years ago a pastor in Windsor, Mass.
James and William Richards, foreign missionaries. (See genealogical history of James Richards family.)
Wm. A. Hallock. (See Hallock family.)
Erastus Dickinson, son of Ebenezer, born April 1, 1807. Graduated at Amherst, 1832.
Austin Richards, D. D., brother of the missionaries.
David Rood, born in Buckland, Mass., April 25, 1818. Removed with his parents to Plainfield in 1824. Gradu- ated at Williams College in 1844, and at what is now Hart- ford theological seminary in 1847. Married Miss A. V. Pixley, sister of Stephen Pixley, Oct. 3, 1847, was ordained, and they sailed for Natal, So. Africa, the same month, as missionaries of the American Board to the Zulus. In 1860 they visited the old home, and in 1888, after 40 years of faithful service, they returned to the United States and settled at Covert, Mich., near Mr. Rood's brothers. He deceased from a paralytic shock, April 8, 1891. His name will stand and endure with the names of Moffat and Liv- ingstone. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."
Stephen C. Pixley, born June 23, 1829. Educated for the ministry. Graduated at Williams in 1852, and at East
96
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
Windsor Hill (Conn.) Theological Seminary in 1855. Mar- ried Louisa Healy of Chesterfield in 1855. Was ordained at Plainfield the same year, and entered the service of the American Board as a missionary. His field of labor was among the Zulus with David Rood, with which mission he is still connected. He visited the United States and his old home a few years since.
Isaac Newton Lincoln, before mentioned, professor in Williams College.
Spencer O. Dyer, minister in the Methodist denomina- tion.
James Clark and Thomas Thayer, both ministers in the Baptist denomination.
William A. Hallock, 2d, and Leavitt H. Hallock. (See Hallock family.)
Rev. Solomon Clark, a native of Northampton, born March 2, 1811. Pastor of the Plainfield church and closely identified with the interests of the people for over 28 years. He came here from Canton, Mass., in Jan. 1858. Married for his second wife, Mrs. Lucy E. Gilbert, widow of W. C. Gilbert, Oct. 5, 1858. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Richards, born Oct. 5, 1859. Married Wm. H. Gardiner, July 26, 1880. Now reside in Chicago. Mr. Clark in ad- dition to his pastoral duties, has written and published a history of Northampton and its old families, in which line he particularly excels. It is considered a valuable work. He is now engaged in preparing a history of the First Church in Northampton, and its members.
DAVID SHAW.
Although he was not a professional man, the author feels that this work would be incomplete without at least a brief mention. He was the son of Nehemiah Shaw,
97
DAVID SHAW.
was born June 15, 1794, being the oldest of a family of six- teen children. His parents lived in a house which stood opposite the north cemetery on lot now owned by J. N. Benjamin. His opportunities for obtaining an education were exceedingly limited. He attended school very little, if any, but nevertheless managed to obtain a much better than ordinary education. Was well versed in the higher branches of arithmetic and in his calculations used no rules laid down in the text books, but worked after rules of his own devising. Was an excellent and accurate sur- veyor. He was in the strictest sense a self-educated man. Possessed of great mechanical skill, he invented several useful instruments, which displayed great nicety of work- manship, among them a seed-sower and an odometer, an instrument to be attatched to a wheel for measuring dis- tances. He married Elizabeth Randall, and lived for a time in Cummington, but returned to Plainfield, and in 1842 built the house just west of the meeting-house, since occupied by himself and his son Horatio. His principal business for many years, particularly toward the latter part of his life, was repairing watches and clocks, in which business he had a great local reputation. Until a few months before his death, his form was as erect, his eye as bright, his step as nimble, and his hand as steady as a man of forty. He deceased Oct. 6, 1884, in his 91st year.
J. T. KIRKLAND HAYWARD.
Son of Stephen Hayward. Left town when a young man. Became interested in railroads. At the time of the late civil war was president of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Mo. railroad. The people of Missouri were quite evenly divided in sentiment between the Union and rebel cause.
98
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
Mr. Hayward was a strong Union man, and rendered sub- stantial aid to the cause. On this account, as well as a preparatory step toward gaining possession of the H. & St. Jo. R. R., several prominent rebels made an attempt to kidnap him. They took him into custody one night, and all entered an empty box-car. Mr. Hayward, who had not been bound, managed in some way to slip out of the door, which he slammed together and locked, thus completely turning the tables on his would-be captors. They were of course unable to escape. Mr. Hayward at once ordered an engine to be attached to the car, and it was with its in- mates taken to the eastern part of the state, where they were delivered up to the Federal authorities.
CHAPTER XIÍ.
CENSUS .- VALUATION .-- LIST OF VOTERS .- POLITICAL PARTIES .- CAMPAIGN OF 1840. BITS FROM THE OLD RECORDS. -- INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES .-- FIRES.
The following figures show the population of the town for the last hundred years:
1790-458. 1840-910. 1870-521.
1800-797.
1850-814. 1875-481.
1810-977.
1855-652. 1880-457.
1820-936.
1860-639. 1885-453.
1830-984. 1865-579. 1890-436.
The deaths in the last decade outnumber the births by 37. This shows that 16 more have moved into town than have removed from town in that time. The writer is of the opinion that the population has reached its lowest figures and that the next census will show an increase from the last.
The following is from the Assessors' books for 1890:
No. of residents assessed on property, 106
" " non-residents " 51
" " Polls 147
Assessed value of personal estate,
$ 37,880
66 " land, 76,000
66 66
" buildings, 38,525
Total assessed valuation,
$152,405
Tax rate per $1,000,
$16
(99)
100
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
Acres of land assessed. 12,795
No. of dwelling-houses, 116
No. of horses, 148-Cows, 440-Sheep, 396-Neat cattle other than cows, 302-Swine, 123.
LIST OF VOTERS, MARCH 2, 1891.
Age.
Age.
Atkins, Edwin A. 58
Cook, Nelson W. 50
Benjamin, James N. 51
Cook, Homer 59
Barton, Henry S. 66 Clark, Levi 88
Barton, Nathan 55 Clark, Chas. C. 54
Barton, Geo. N. 27
Clark, Seth W. 57
Burt, Sumner 75
Clark, Fred D. 31
Burt, Chas. R.
45
Colburn, Millson S. 83
Cleveland, Wmn. M. 72
Barker, Isaac T.
82
Cudworth, Paul H.
68
Beals, H. Harrison
50
Cudworth, Frank B.
34
Beals, Henry W.
Dunham, Warren I.
49
Beals, Fred W.
28
Dunham, Chas. F. 32
Beals, Leander J. 57
Dyer, Wm. H. 64
Blanchard, Oliver
56
Dyer, Chas. N. 41
Blanchard, Geo. A.
Dyer, Shepard R. 50
Bogart, Mandeville
56
Dyer, Elwin F. 38
Bogart, John 29
Gardner, Apollos H. 61
Billings, Geo. W.
48
Gardner, Jason W. 60
Butler, Melville C.
54 Gardner, Jeremiah T. 58
Campbell, Leonard 79
Gardner, Ira J. 27
Cole, Ansel B. 57
Gardner, Nelson W. 25
Cole, Arthur T.
30
Gardner, Eugene H. 30
Cole, Fred S.
21
Gloyd, Bethuel 81
Cook, John F.
55
Gloyd, Levi W. 57
Burt, Edmund 35
Clark, Henry D. 25
Burt, Orsamus C.
21
101
LIST OF VOTERS. MARCH 2, 1891.
Age.
Age.
Gloyd, Joseph O. 49
Packard, H. Clark 50
Gloyd, Edwin S. 21 Packard, Harold S. 30
Griggs, Amos K. 73 Packard, Henry C. 24
Gurney, James F. 45 Packard, Cyrus W. 38
Gurney, Albert N. 43 Packard, B. Franklin 32
Gould, Daniel H. 51 Parker, Eugene L. 45
Gould, Clark F. 25 Parsons, Stephen 50
Harris, Geo. E.
50 Richmond, Austin L. 61
Harris, Daniel 52
Richmond, Albert F. 22
Harris, James P. 28
Rice, Frederic M. 26
Holden, Chas. N. 43
Sears, Joseph W. 39
Holden, Frank A. 34
Sears, Samuel H. 36
Howes, Mark E. 40
Shaw, Horatio A. 69
Ingraham, Frank C. 28
Shaw, Willie E. 34
Jones, William
58 Streeter, Lester E. 39
Joy, Lorenzo W. 58 Streeter. Alden E. 29
King, Geo. W. 58
Starks, Wilbur J. 27
Kinney, Edwin R. 67
Stetson, Marshall 47
Kinney, Theron E. 38 Stetson, Nelson B. 25
Loud, James W. 56
Stetson, Orren M. 23
Mason, Ira 76
Stetson, Sylvester R.
59
Mason, Thos. G.
Smith, Clark 66
Mason, Lemuel 51
Taylor, Onslow 52
Mason, Ezra H. 45
Taylor, Henry E. 26
Mason, Edward W. 33
Taylor, Frank G. 31
McCloud, Edward I. 29
Thatcher, Eugene
33
Nash, James A. 53
Thayer, Fred T. 32
Packard, David 71
Thayer, Lester D. 28
Packard, Sylvester 65
Thayer, Lyman K. 79
Packard, Wm. H. 68
Thayer, Frank L. 46
Packard, Luther W. 35
Thayer, Amasa W.
102
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
Thayer, Samuel B. 74
White, Lucian A. 39
Tirrell, Almon B. 31
Whiting, Wm. C. 77
Tirrell, Russell 76 Wheeler, Thos. K. 78
Tirrell, Arthur R. 37 Wheeler, Norman 32
Tirrell, Orren 68 Willcutt, William ɔ̃ɔ̃
Tyrrell, Jeremiah J.
82
Willcutt, Geo. L, 33
Torrey, Merritt 65
Willcutt, Horace 63
Torrey, Alden L. 30
Winslow, William 78
Torrey, Elwin T.
69
Winslow, James A. 51
Torrey, Geo. A. 30
Whole number, 131.
The following persons are eligible, or soon will be, to register as voters, but have not done so : Chas. L. Alex- ander, Henri H. Fenton, Wm. H. Leete, Newton K. Lin- coln, Eugene F. Parker, Clark W. Streeter, Lyndon Wheeler, Rev. John A. Woodhull.
POLITICAL PARTIES.
Plainfield, like most of the Western Hampshire towns, ever since the formation of the present prominent political parties, has been strongly Republican. At the last Presi- dential election, 94 Republican votes were cast, 15 Demo- cratic and 3 Prohibition. Chas. C. Clark is the present chairman of the Republican town committee and Wm. M. Cleveland of the Democratic. The Prohibitionists as yet have no town organization. Probably at no time in the history of the town or of the nation has political ex- citement run so high as in the Presidential campaign of 1840, when Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, Wm. Henry Harrison and John Tyler were the opposing candidates for President and Vice Pres- ident. Several mass meetings were held in Painfield that
103
BITS FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
fall, at which speeches were made and songs sung in the interest of the favorite candidates, Harrison and Ty- ler. "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," "Log cabin and hard cider," were the war cries of the whigs. On one of these occasions, a wagon 30 feet in length, specially constructed for the purpose, containing 90 persons, and drawn by thir- teen yoke of oxen, driven by Russell Tirrell and others, came down from "Hallockville." It required no little skill to engineer the cumberous and lengthy vehicle around the numerous curves, but it was safely done, in spite of many predictions to the contrary. The writer has in his possession a tattered banner which did service during that memorable campaign, bearing this inscription : "Plain- field Whigs, True to Liberty and the Constitution. Nov. 2 Tells the Story." On the reverse is inscribed " Martin and Dick, Hang up your fiddle. Tip and Tyler are com- ing." The vote of Plainfield that fall was as follows : For Harrison electors, 176 ; for Van Buren electors, 27.
BITS FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
March 16, 1789, "Voted that the log-house Ichabod Pool put up on Doct. Solomon Bond's land, be made use of for a pound for the District." An article was inserted in the warrant for annual town meeting for many years " To see if the town will allow horses and swine to goe at large the present year." It was usually voted that swine at least be allowed to go at large, if well yoked and ringed. April 3, 1797, it was voted to build a stone pound 30 ft. square, the height and thickness of the walls being speci- fied, and that the contract be set up at vendue to the lowest bidder. Struck off to Oliver Robinson for $37. For some reason he failed to build it, and March 12, 1798, it was.
104
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
"Voted to build a wooden pound, thirty feet square, in the same manner that Cummington pound is built. To be built of hemlock timber by the first of July." This was built and used until 1807. April 6, 1807, it was voted to repair the pound; then the vote was reconsidered, and a "committy," consisting of John Hamlen, Jacob Nash and Edward Curtis, was appointed to inspect the old pound and report whether it was worth repairing, and voted to adjourn "fourteen night," to await their decision. They reported it not worth repairing, so it was set up at vendue and struck off to Josiah Torrey for 80 cts. Then voted to build one of stone "on the north side of the road, about 40 rods west of Joel Carr's." This spot is a little north- west of Charles Dunham's, and part of the wall may still be seen. The south wall was to be 3} feet thick, the others 3 feet, and to average six feet high. The contract was awarded to Timothy Packard for $39.
Aug. 20, 1789, " Voted that the District shall procure a Drum and fife for the use of the foot company of militia. Voted that Capt. John Cunningham shall purchase the above Drum and fife."
June 27, 1794, "Voted to make up the. pay to the Sol- diers that may turn out to stand Ready to march at a min- ute's warning for the Defence of their Country, Seven Dollars per month with what is allowed by the Continent, exclusive of the Dollar and 60 cents per month allowed for Cloathing and three Dollars Bounty, provided they are called upon to march."
Sept. 9, 1800, " Voted to make provision for the Train- ing soldiers at the General muster at Northampton. Voted that Lt. Jacob Allen, Mr. Elijah Warner, and Mr. Abel . Warner be a committee to procure provision for the com-
105
BITS FROM THE OLD RECORDS.
pany. Voted that there be 25 lbs. Cheese, 120 lbs. Wheat bread and 100 lbs. Mutton provided for said company. Voted to allow Mr. Abel Warner five shillings for convey- ing and taking care of said provision."
Oct. 15, 1798, " Voted that Elijah Warner be directed to collect flax sufficient to purchase the town stock of led."
It appears that the persons named below in this certifi- cate had been concerned in "Shay's Rebellion."
" A List of the several persons belonging to Plainfield who took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance before Samuel Mather, Esq., January, 1787, viz .:
Moses Curtis, Stephen Steth, Isaac Joy, Solomon Nash, Tobias Green, Salmon Fay. N. B. No arms were return- ed to me.
S. MATHER, Justice Peace."
April 2, 1798, " Voted to procure a half Bushel and peck measure. Voted that a set of Brass Weights be pro- cured to four pounds."
April 7, 1794, " Voted that Samuel Streeter be Sexton the present year. Sd. Streeter is to Receive for his Trouble in taking care of the meeting-house, sweeping the Alleys once a month, and the Seats and Pews once in three months, Eight shillings.
INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
Not long after the erection of the meeting-house belfry, as some boys were playing around the meeting-house, one of them, Comfort Beals by name, threw up a stone which struck the cock which was placed on the summit of the spire as a weather vane and bent his tail feathers. His comrades told him that he would be put to death, which it is presumed he actually believed, unless he went up and straightened them. In this dilemma, he climbed up by :
106
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
the lightning rod as far as the bell, where he rested awhile, and then ascended to the vane. After restoring the tail to its proper position, he descended, without meeting with any accident. Years afterward, his son, Levi, when the old meeting-house was about to be torn down, "for and in consideration of the sum of fifty cents to him in hand paid," ascended to the vane from the bell deck in the same way, removed it, and brought it down in safety. This vane was placed on Wm. Robinson's barn, where it did service until a few years since.
In June, 1829, as Capt. Levi Cook was engaged in shoeing a yoke of oxen, one of the animals being fast- ened by a chain to a staple, in attempting to extricate himself, pulled out the staple, and in doing this threw the chain round the man's legs, the hook catching with what is known as a "log hitch." The ox then took the road, and ran for about half a mile, dragging the unfor- tunate man after him. He was finally stopped by a boy. The Captain retained his faculties sufficiently to raise him- self up, throw off the chain, give the ox a Scotch bless- ing, and invite him to proceed to a locality which we will not now name, and then fainted. He was severely bruised, and if his body had not been somewhat protect- ed by his leather apron which dragged under him, his injuries would have been much more severe. He recov- ered after a tedious confinement. The shop where he was at work was the one that stood in the upper part of the village, nearly opposite where J. W. Sears now lives. The ox was stopped near the site of the Bates house, mid- way between the village and A. B. Cole's. The writer remembers Capt. Cook as being somewhat peculiar, quite nervous and excitable, but withal a good neighbor and
107
INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.
a kind-hearted man. He was for many years the village sexton, ringing the bell at noon and 9 P. M. as regular as the sun. He also had the care of the meeting-house and rung the bell for Sunday services. About the time of the dismission of Rev. D. B. Bradford, the church and parish were divided on the subject, some being in favor of his dismissal and others opposed. One Sunday noon, the Captain, who was a warm friend of Mr. Bradford, while in the entry ringing the bell for the afternoon ser- vice, became involved in a somewhat heated discussion on the subject with some of the bystanders, in which he claimed that Mr. Bradford had been mis-used. Just then Mr. Bradford entered the porch, and overhearing a little of the conversation, said, "Why, Captain, you're getting excited are you not ?" "Excited ?" replied the old man in his thin, high-keyed voice, "No ! I aint excited, but I'm mad as the devil." The Captain was a descendant of Francis Cook, who came over in the Mayflower, the de- scent being traced as follows : Francis, Jacob, Francis, Robert, Nathaniel, Levi and Levi, Jr. He was born in Abington, Mass., Feb. 14, 1783. Died Dec. 19, 1868.
About the year 1859, as William Warner's barn was being "launched," being drawn by two lines of oxen, assisted by a company of men, with the intention of placing it on a new site, it suddenly, without any warn- ing, fell in a promiscuous heap. Strange as it may ap- pear, none of the men or oxen were injured.
FIRES.
The following is a list of fires that have occurred in town. Probably all are not included : Joseph Beals' house was burnt February, 1789. Early in 1819 the house
108
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
of Benj. Gardner, Jr. and Warren Gardner. April 22, 1824, Ira Hamlen's house, including a hat manufactory. February, 1825, the woolen factory of Arnold & Nahum Streeter. Dec. 13, 1833, the house of Stallham Rice, with all its contents, the family being absent. Dr. Porter, writing in 1834, says: "Four school-houses have been destroyed by fire, the last on Dec. 3, 1833. Two of these were in the northeast district. There have also been burnt four mechanics' shops and a small distillery." March 28, 1835, the house of Bela Dyer, where John F. Cook's house now stands, was burned. Mrs. Dyer was frying doughnuts, and the fat taking fire, ignited flax which was spread overhead, the house being unfinished. The house and barn of Rev. A. H. Sweet, which stood where the house of the late Mrs. Frances P. Clark now stands, were burned one Sunday evening in August, 1858. It was set in the barn by his son, then a small boy, while playing with matches. Probably a hundred people were there within ten or fifteen minutes after the fire broke out, it being about five o'clock, and inany were on their way to evening service, it being a time of special religious inter- est. Nearly everything was saved from the buildings, including doors and windows, and had any proper ap- paratus been at hand, the house could probably have been saved, as a large tank of water holding many barrels was near. There was no insurance .- Geo. Vining had a barn burned one summer night, said to have been struck by lightning. Later, about 1860, his house and another barn were burned at different times. Cause of fire un- known. Fully insured. Not far from this time, an un- occupied house in the north part of the town, known as the "Livermore " house, owned by Leonard Joy, was
E
109
FIRES.
burned. Mr. Joy had kindled a fire in the fire-place while making some repairs on the interior of the building, the weather being cold, and while absent at a neighbors on some errand, the house took fire and was consumed. Feb. 22, 1861, the house of S. H. Lincoln was burned; supposed to have taken from a defective chimney. Insured for $700. Considerable clothing and furniture were destroy- ed. Mr. Lincoln owned an old house on the opposite side of the road, which he repaired and occupied .- About twenty years since, the old house formerly occupied by the late Samuel Davison, caught fire from a burning brush heap. The house was unoccupied. Loss small .- Francis W. Joy's carpenter's shop was burned in the spring of 1863 .- A few years later Thomas Wheeler's barn was struck by lightning and destroyed .- The woolen fac- tory of S. C. Streeter was burned in 1876. The loss of contents was nearly total. No insurance .- Ezra Tyrrell's house, occupied by Levi Blanchard, was burned in 1880. Supposed to have taken fire from a defective flue .- April 4, 1886, the house of Roswell Davison was burned. The chimney took fire in the morning and burned out, and being watched through the day was supposed to be all safe, though still hot at evening. During the night the fire broke out, and the house was consumed with most of its contents. Mr. Davison was quite ill at the time and unable to render much assistance. It was nearly burned down before any help arrived. Mrs. Davison and her daughter carried out some articles, but most of the cloth- ing and bedding removed caught fire and were burned. Insurance $400 .- March 12, 1889, the barns and carriage- house of Clark Smith, occupied by his son, Wm. C. Smith, took fire from a heater used to warm water for the cattle,
110
HISTORY OF PLAINFIELD.
situated in the extreme south end of a connecting shed, and were consumed, together with six young cattle and several hogs. Most of the farming tools were saved. The house was in great danger and was saved only by the most persistent efforts. The contents were removed, it being doubtful whether it could be saved. A large quantity of ice packed for creamery use, (but not covered) between the house and the burning building, was of great assistance in saving the house, the men being able to stand under its shelter at the most critical time, when the fire was nearest, and throw water on the house with small force pumps. No insurance on buildings or contents. The roofs of Rev. Solomon Clark's buildings on the opposite side of the road, repeatedly took fire, but were extinguished .- The saw-mill of Geo. W. Billings, with all its contents, were burned on the night of April 18, 1890. They had been blasting logs for fuel, in the mill yard, during the day, and it is thought that fire might in some way have been communicated to the sawdust in or near the mill. No insurance. The mill has been rebuilt, Mr. Billings being aided in it somewhat by the town's people .- Sept. 18, 1890, the barns of W. E. Shaw were consumed with some sixty or more tons of hay. Insurance on barns, $500; on hay, $500. The cause of the fire is unknown. These barns were on the place formerly occupied by the late William Warner .- The blacksmith shop of J. & E. Spearman took fire on the roof in June, 1878, but was barely saved from destruction by great exer- tions on the part of the citizens .- July 4, 1888, J. W. Sears' house took fire on the roof. Fortunately it was about dinner time and most of the neighbors were at home, and rallied so quickly that the fire was extinguished before great damage was done. The Insurance company awarded
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111
FIRES.
him $60. The town has no apparatus for extinguishing fires. A large public cistern holding many barrels of wa- ter, and kept filled by a never-failing stream, was placed near Mack's store, at least 50 years ago, and is still kept up. A similar one was placed near the Town Hall in 1890.
C
CHAPTER XIII.
PERSONS NOW LIVING HERE OVER 75 .-- FOREIGNERS .-- OLD HOUSES. -- GENERAL TYPE. -- ORIGINAL DWELLINGS NOW STANDING .-- SINGING SCHOOLS .- - " THE OLD VILLAGE CHOIR." -- DRAMATIC CLUB .-- " SADDLE THE DOGS." -- CONTRAST.
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