USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > Ludlow: a century and a centennial, comprising a sketch of the history of the town of Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
67
A NEW LIFE.
Our divisions of the history of the town, necessarily somewhat arbitrary, could not well ignore the fact that a large share of that prosperity which has made the town locally so well known had its beginnings within the pres- ent century. Moreover, those families best known to the marts of trade hereabouts will, upon consideration, find that while to some of them there was given prestige by reason of extensive acreage and hereditary wealth, to more the resources in their hands at present gained their largest increment between the dates which are placed before this section. And further still, they who concede truth wherever found, will find that the chief factor in producing this state of prosperity was the manufacturing interest at Jenksville, as the village was then called.
It was a new life to Ludlow. Every farm increased in value as the factories developed. Every article of prod- uce was worth money. It no longer paid to team lum- ber to Willimansett for fifty cents on a thousand, for the logs were worth vastly more as wood. The cattle became too valuable to send roaming at large over the common lands, for it was worth while to feed them well and so get heavier beef for hungry mouths ; while the soil was so much more salable that true economy called for strong fences. And if we may digress a little, thus will it be, as time rolls on. Every new mill, every new boarding-house necessarily consequent, added to the rap- idly increasing cluster of villages and towns and cities on or near our limits, will add first to the intrinsic, then to the exchangeable, value of Ludlow farms. The true con- ditions for successful labor, health, sobriety, industry, piety, being held in firm tenure, the town or its territory must have a future.
We left the Springfield Manufacturing Company when it had just completed its second new mill, and introduced the time-saving machinery which elicited the praise of
68
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
manufacturers all about. In 1833 it became necessary to again enlarge the factories. This time an addition was built eastward, forty by sixty-six, completing the range as at present, except the changes made after the fire of a few months since, and the gap between the first and sec- ond stone mill, which was filled about 1844. All these principal parts were dedicated by religious services. The tenements were erected from time to time, dating mainly about at the erection of the factories. In 1844 Slater sold to a resident of the town. In 1837 Barber's His- tory represents the concern as possessing two cotton mills, with ten thousand spindles, using five hundred thousand pounds of cotton in a year, manufacturing sixteen hun- dred thousand yards of cloth annually, whose value was one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Eighty-eight males were employed, and two hundred females. The capital invested had then increased to one hundred thou- sand dollars.
In 1840 the first building at the upper privilege was erected and used by the Company for gun works. They forged barrels under contract with the United States government, continuing their business for about six years. At the close of our period the privilege was used in the manufacture of cotton machinery.
Some applications of science to the arts first used in these works have proven a boon to manufacturers. The ยท friction roller, now well-nigh indispensable in certain parts of machinery, was originated at Jenksville and given to the public with no restrictions of patent laws. It is also claimed, with good reason, that here first anthracite coal was used successfully in working wrought-iron. The prin- ciple, first brought out at Jenksville, is still in practical use, giving to the immense coal fields of the land and world a vastly increased value.
Respecting the class of people who were by these inter-
69
JENKSVILLE FIFTY YEARS AGO.
ests brought into the town, it may be feared that the record cannot truthfully give a glowing description. Of course they were at first from the native population, largely gathered from rural towns. But this does not necessarily speak volumes in favor of moral or intellec- tual worth. The average native of a generation or two ago, was not very far in advance of the average foreigner of to-day in many respects. The records of former days, the condition to-day of those who have not enjoyed such advantages as have been so freely offered hereabouts in later years, or of those dwelling beyond the immediate neighborhood of churches, plainly sets forth the truth of the assertion made. The grandest development of even New England has been within the last two-score years.
We are not surprised, then, to learn that the condition of society at the mills in Ludlow was not eminently praiseworthy fifty years ago. We need not be surprised to hear of very slight respect paid to the sacredness of the Sabbath or the rigid moral demands of the more deeply and intelligently pious people of to-day. One who resided in Jenksville about this time sends a doleful pic- ture of these days : "As you pass the gun shops (on Sun- day) some of the workmen would be busy, perhaps man- ufacturing articles for their own use. Near by would be a collection of boys playing ball. Soon we meet riflemen firing at a mark. A party of young people not far off are playing ' High-low-Jack.' A little further on are as happy a set as the brown jug could possibly make them, who in vain invited me to taste of the precious liquors inside the jug, which to my certain knowledge killed every one of the party inside of ten years. I have known a large field of rye to be harvested on the Sabbath day. These immoralities did not extend outside of the village."1
1From Austin Chapman, Ellington, Conn. See also the Oakley Ballad, Appen- dix, J.
70
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
There is but one effectual and enduring remedy for evil like this. Education might in a measure improve, but there must first be an incentive to learning. Law may put forth its power, but this must find in the individ- ual a readiness to yield to its injunctions, else its execu- tion will be hampered and made of no effect. The true remedy was at hand.
The itinerant ministers began to visit Jenksville about 1828. Rev. Mr. Foster, principal of the Wilbraham Acad- emy, was probably the pioneer, and made his first visit on invitation of John Miller, compliant with the request of Benjamin Jenks. The events intimated occurred as early as 1831, the place being then a not unfamiliar one to Methodist ministers. Samuel Davis was the preacher in charge of Ludlow, and visited Jenksville in August with others of his profession. His own simple account is as follows :
" About six weeks since, the work broke out at another factory vil- lage2 on the circuit, called Put's Bridge, in Ludlow. The revival here took place while we were trying to hold forth the Saviour as the sin- ner's friend, and the necessity of each and all becoming reconciled to God. Much feeling was manifest in the congregation. At the close of the sermon an invitation was given to all that had resolved on seeking the Lord, to come forward, and fall on their knees, while the people of God should address the throne of grace in their behalf. At this instant, to our astonishment, more than one-third of the congre- gation came forward, and fell on their knees, with groans and sobs enough to melt the hardest heart; but soon the mourning of some was turned into rejoicing. Our meetings from that time to the present have been very interesting. It has not been uncommon for six or seven to find peace and pardon at a meeting. The glorious work is still going on here."3
Granted, if desired, that every one of these did not maintain a good profession through the days to come ; granted, if it were the case, that the days of excitement
2Than Chickopee.
3From New England Christian Herald, October 26, 1831.
71
METHODIST MATTERS.
soon passed away ; yet there must have been a beneficial result flowing from such services, and we claim, in the absence of any other well-grounded reason to account for the conceded change for the better in the morals of the people, that there was an intimate relation between the revival and the reformation.
These services must have been held in a fitted room in the factories. Here they were continued, regularly or irregularly, for years, until at last it became desirable to erect a church. Before describing the events of interest connected therewith, let us retrace a little, carrying our annals along in as nearly chronological order as may be.
We left the Methodist people in possession of their new house in 1828, with a goodly prospect of success before them. A lamentable difficulty with Mr. McLean occur- ring just at this time created hard feelings, and much dis- cussion, oral and printed, resultant in the withdrawal from the denomination of that gentleman, and the closing up of the affairs of the so-called "Methodist Legal Society " of Ludlow. A considerable debt remaining upon the people was partially relieved by contributions from the churches of the denomination elsewhere. All was in readiness for the revival efforts under the ministry of Samuel Davis, in 1831, which resulted in a more demonstrative work than at Jenksville.4 A large number from the place attended a camp-meeting in Haddam, Conn., and brought back with them some who had there professed conversion. At meetings following in the church, or "chapel," lasting eight days, about two hundred made a profession of reli- gion, of whom more than one hundred and fifty claimed to find peace at the church altar. The news spread about in all the towns around. A large load of wild young men came from Northampton to have a "good time " at the service, but it is averred that every one was brought un-
4See page 70.
72
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
der conviction and went home with different purposes and a changed life. A man named Kendall, addicted to profanity, left his work in the field under profound con- victions, went to the church, cried for mercy, and passed out a better man. Was this enthusiasm? Surely it could not be baneful, to arrest the plans of rioters and displace cursing by praises.
We find incidental allusions to another work of grace in 1837, under Philo Hawkes, while there are many living witnesses to the revival scenes in Dadmun's ministry in '42. The Millerite excitement of '41-3 made little impres- sion in Ludlow, although so near the home of the leader in those scenes. Miller came repeatedly into town to hold meetings, but with little lasting success. Ludlow takes slowly to new and startling ideas, but grasps firmly what- ever it accepts as truth. Clapp, minister in-'43, was the first careful annalist of the church, while Fleming will be remembered as the preacher in charge when the parson- age was erected. Of them all C. D. Rogers bears the palm for quaintness.
Meanwhile the Congregationalist Church was thriving for a season under the ministry of the saintly Wright. Owing to ill-health he found himself obliged to ask in 1830 a release from pulpit labors for a year, relinquishing his salary and assisting the society in securing a supply.
In 1835 a colleague was settled, Rev. David R. Austin, of Norwich, Conn., a graduate of Union college of the class of 1827. Although the formality of settlement was un- dertaken by the town there is no record of the matter upon the books, nor hereafter do we discover any action of the town with reference to settlement. Mr. Austin continued over the church for two years, winning friends by his earnestness and geniality. He was considered a preacher of more than ordinary power. His dismissal oc- curred in July, 1837. His career since has been watched
73
THE FUND.
with interest by the people of Ludlow. The pleasure of the recent Centennial Celebration was enhanced by his presence and kindly words.
Meanwhile Mr. Wright had found himself failing in health and unequal to many of the duties which he con- ceived as necessarily belonging to the ministry. He took an early opportunity after the settlement of Mr. Austin, to ask a dismissal, which was granted, his ministry in Lud- low terminating in October, 1835. If there be any one man more than others to whom the town and church has been brought under obligation, that man was Ebenezer B. Wright.
The "First Parish in the town of Ludlow " was organ- ized December 9th, 1835, Daniel Miller, one of the peti- tioners, executing the warrant for the first meeting, Elisha T. Parsons being the moderator, Elisha A. Fuller the treasurer chosen, and Theodore Sikes clerk. The organ- ization probably grew out of the controversy concerning the ministry fund. We have seen by the charter5 and various references that the town once held certain lands in trust for the maintenance of the ministry. Early in this century these lands were sold, and the money put into the care of a committee of trustees, appointed by the town from year to year. This fund became the source of much contention as the religious societies developed. For a number of years its revenues were equally divided among the various denominations, all of whom were rep- resented in the pulpit as the years passed on. After the existence of the "Methodist Legal Society"6 the agita- tion respecting the fund was carried on with increasing force, until some parties petitioned for its disuse in the support of the ministry, and its appropriation to the pur- poses of education. A suit followed, which was afterwards
5Page 23.
6Page 50, note.
10
1
74
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
carried up to the Supreme Court, where Marcus Morton and his associates decided the case in favor of the defend- ants. The money has since been used by the Congrega- tionalist Society for the support of its ministry. The parish organization was effected during the pending of this suit.
After Mr. Austin's dismissal the society did not long continue without a minister. The high estimate of Mr. Wright was pleasantly shown in a second call to him to settle over the church. For some reason the call was de- clined, though evidently with reluctance.
Rev. Alonzo Sanderson settled here in 1839, and con- tinued his ministry four years. Mr. Sanderson was born in Whately and graduated at Amherst in 1834. He after- ward studied theology at Andover, and, like Wright and Austin, came to Ludlow with the flush of youth upon his brow. He is remembered as an earnest, pious, and de- voted minister, with broad Christian views. His best re- membered monument passed from sight in a blaze of glory in 1859; but who shall say its influence did not reach down to the minds of them who had charge of the erection of the present church ?
The old church had been falling into decay as years glided by, until a new edifice was a necessity. At least so thought the majority of the people. In 1839 a com- mittee to solicit subscriptions was appointed, who soon obtained over $3,000. In November of the next year the folks begin to talk of hiring slips, while the entire expense was reported in April, 1841, as $4,127.09. The dedication took place January 20th of that year. The following order of exercises was observed :
"1. Singing ; 2. Invocation, by Rev. Mr. Rogers of Chicopee Falls ; 3. Reading Scriptures ; 4. Singing; 5. Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Rogers ; 6. Singing ; 7. Sermon, by Rev. Mr. Clapp of Cabotville ; 8. Prayer of dedication, by the pastor ; 9. Singing ; 10. Benediction ; 11. Singing."
The old church finally became the property of the town,
75
REV. J. W. TUCK.
passing meanwhile through the hands of Increase Sikes, who removed it to its present site, where it has stood ever since, a shield for those noble oaks which link the days of successive generations.
Mr. Sanderson's dismissal, May 11, 1843, was immedi- ately followed by the candidacy of Rev. Mr. Tuck. The call to become the pastor was extended to him in July, and he was installed and ordained September 6th. Jeremy Webster Tuck was born in Kensington, N. H., graduated at Amherst in 1840, and passed through the theological instruction of Andover and East Windsor. Two days be- fore his ordination he was married to Irene M. Moody of South Hadley, who died after a year or so of married life. The Mrs. Tuck so well known here bore from infancy the name of Mowry. We leave the church at the close of the period under Mr. Tuck's faithful ministrations.
The new cemetery was purchased and opened in 1842. Increase Sikes, from whose farm the three acres were taken, found three cemeteries within his lands at the time. The first notice of the Jenksville yard is May 30, 1842, when the town is asked to enlarge it. The tomb was constructed in 1846, and cost $100.
But little more than ordinary work was performed upon the highways. The road from the present Benjamin Sikes place southward was laid out in 1834, and one or two smaller ways of travel established, while of course Cedar Swamp continued to perplex the citizens. Refer- ences to a bridge where now stands the " red bridge" be- gin in '36, while in the following year the present struct- ure was erected. Before reaching the structure was once a dry bridge, near the river. The practice of lighting the Jenksville bridge is mentioned first in 1842 as the duty of the town.
The better attention paid to town annals gives us an idea of the mortuary record of the town. The average
. 76
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
number of deaths annually seems to have been not far from twenty-three for the last dozen years, arising to twenty-nine in 1841 and the unusual number of forty- four in 1848. During the latter year there were three funerals in a single day. The population in 1835, was 1,329, in 1840, 1,268; there were two hundred and fifty- seven votes cast this latter year. The anti-masonic vote in the Morgan days was thirty-two in a hundred and sixty-one.
Among the unique characters in the town were two of special note. One, Veranus Shattuck, of Jenksville, known best under the soubriquet of "Doctor Foggus," we have met before as a soldier in 1812,7 in which strife he did valiant service, yet perhaps not always using the best of judgment. In these days he figures as the little round- shouldered cobbler of Jenksville, almost as crooked as the sibilant, whose powers of oratory were seriously crippled by a strong nasal twang. Indeed, his only speech, which has been handed down by indulgent fame, was the one made on occasion of his election as captain of the military company of the town. At that time he is reported to have stepped forward to the astonished colonel and her- alded through his facial protuberance the eloquent words, "Mr. Colonel, I excuse myself." Nor was he always the butt of ridicule, notwithstanding the wishes of malicious boys. It was his habit to sit near the entrance to the factory and see the people go in. The approving lads would signify their interest by patting him upon the head on passing his seat, sometimes with unpleasant emphasis. They did so once too often, for Dr. Foggus found an occa- sion when he did not "excuse himself," but sat down as usual, except as to the condition of his hat, as classic tyros would say. That useful covering, a tarpaulin by the way, he had adorned within with some bright sharp
7See page 55.
77
INCIDENTS.
awls attached to a piece of sole leather, the leather resting upon his hair, the awl points aiming upwards. One by one the "boys" patted his head, as usual, and passed sadly along. We hardly need add that the Doc- tor's prescription was efficacious.
The hermit "Friday" was also well-known. His name is supposed to have been Timothy Haschall, and he be- became chargeable to the town in 1832, which relation was only broken by death about fifteen years later. He lived a while in a rude cabin near Red Bridge, subsisting on the vilest food, unless he was helped to better by neighbors or the town. Whence he came or who he was no one knew, nor could it be ascertained satisfactorily.
A few incidents of the period may perhaps be noted. The citizens at town-meeting adjourned on May-day of 1837 to attend in procession the funeral of their aged neighbor, Lewis Barber. A negro aged twenty was drowned in Mineachogue pond in '48. The Mexican war fever reached Ludlow, but only took effect in one case, Joseph Rood, who is supposed to have been wounded in one of the frays in the land of the Aztecs. The town clerk was so much impressed with a twelve-hours thunder- storm March 25, 1842, that he made note of the fact- the only attention paid to meteorology in all the town books, unless we infer that the earlier fathers adjourned from the meeting-house stake to the house of Joshua Ful- ler because of the cold. A good many found employ- ment in 1846 on the factory and village works then commenced by the Indian Orchard Corporation.
A serious affair is supposed to have occurred during the earlier years of the period. One Wright, a deaf mute, residing over the mountain, disappeared quite suddenly. He was supposed to have had an altercation with one of the citizens, living in another part of the town, and some suspected foul play. A melancholy interest was added to
78
HISTORY OF LUDLOW.
the reminiscence by the finding of a skeleton in an out lot long afterwards, which bore probably unmistakable signs of identity with the frame of the missing man.
Of the minor manufacturing interests during these years there is little to be said. Plumley's saw-mill at the mouth of Broad Brook was made to use the fine privi- lege there, while the Alden mills above, next to those of Thornton,8 were made useful in turning out forks and rakes. The Indian Orchard mills spoiled the romance of the lower falls of Wallamanumps, even trespassing upon the sandstone riches of the Indian Leap cliff. Otherwise that grand manufacturing interest, it seems, had only a general influence upon Ludlow. Fisk's mill, at the city, turned out a durable and beautiful woolen fabric, well- known in the region. Here, too, came to be carded fleeces from the neighboring farms. Eaton also had a share of this trade at his mill near Indian Orchard.
We come again to the Jenksville interests as we find ourselves closing the period. In 1845 and 1846, Daniel E. Chapin was preacher in charge of the Methodist Soci- ety. Under his popular ministry a successful effort was made to erect a church, resulting in the construction of the edifice now standing there. Rev. Dr. Holdich, now of the American Bible Society, preached the dedicatory sermon from the sublime text, "Great is the mystery of godliness," and immediately afterward dedicated the place to the worship of God. A question of privileges in the house arising between the Methodists and Congrega- tionalists, the former removed themselves from harm's way by erecting after a little a house for their own use, opposite Col. Miller's. David Sherman was then preacher in charge in 1847, and Zachary A. Mudge in the fol- lowing year. The Congregationalists had meanwhile organized a church and called Rev. William Hall, who
8See page 63.
79
CALAMITY.
was settled in 1848. The society never elected any deacons.
The affairs of the Company had gone on meanwhile, apparently with prosperity. True, in lieu of cash the help and other creditors had been asked from time to time to accept Company notes, but these were to them even better than cash, in their estimation. A large busi- ness was in progress, with the fairest prospects. The treasury was a bank to the inhabitants. Scarcely was there a person in town who was not glad of an opportu- nity to lend money there.
But to a smaller circle of lookers-on there had been a growing anxiety in reference to the management of the affairs of the Company. No one distrusted the agent, who, with all his brusque manners, evidently had a kindly and honest heart and hand. But there was friction within the ranks of the proprietors. At last the crisis came. It was suddenly announced to the astonished creditors that the Springfield Manufacturing Company had failed ! Surely 1848 was an ill-starred year for Ludlow. Mr. Hall was dismissed from the new church at Jenksville. The place fails to appear on the next Methodist minutes. The town appropriations for 1849 fell fourteen per cent. Many a poor girl lost her all, while cases of parties who had no money in the concern was cited as unusual. The affairs of the Company went into the hands of Wood & Merritt of New York city.
Here we must leave the town, sitting as it were in sackcloth and ashes, and hasten on to our last task.
SECTION V.
1848 TO 1875.
THE LUDLOW OF TO-DAY.
Toward the end-Congregational Church-Mr. Tuck-The fire-Re- building-Dedication-Rev. Mr. Mayo-Rev. Chester Bridgman -Rev. C. L. Cushman-Rev. S. V. McDuffee-Methodist Church -Re-modeling-Rev. F. Fisk-Revival scenes-War record of society-Rev. D. K. Banister-Wesleyan Praying Band-Rela- tions of societies-Jenksville-Manufacturing interests-Present Company-A good chance-Methodism-Sale of a church - Rev. W. H. Daniels-Union Church-Roads and Bridges-Rail- roads-A fine opportunity lost-Items-The Miller "boys" - Incidents-The Rebellion-Enlistments-The Monument-Mr. Banister's Address-War scenes-Names of Soldiers-Spring- field Aqueduct-Prominent men-Incentives to effort - Con- clusion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.