USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 10
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Odilon Z. E. Charest was born June 1, 1857, in Three Rivers, Canada, a son of Elzear and Arlena (Sulte) Charest. He came to this city in 1878 and found employment with the Holyoke Fur- niture company, where he remained ten years and then went into mercantile business with M. Sainte-Marie, establishing what now is one of the leading houses of our city. Mr. Charest is now serv- ing his third term as member of the school committee, and in many other ways has been earnestly identified wit the best inter- ests of the city. In 1886 he married Mary Jane Robert, by whom he has five children-Leonise, Antoinette, Arthur, George and Romeo.
Felix J. Cloutier, M. D., was born March 15, 1864, in Na- pierville, Canada, son of Siffroid and Oylmpia (Gautier) Clou-
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tier. His father was born in St. Anne, P. Q., and died in Decem- ber, 1900. His mother was a native of L'Acadie, Canada. Dr. Cloutier was educated in the schools of Napierville, in the classi- cal department of the College of St. Therese L'Assumption and St. Sulpice seminary in Montreal. He pursued his medical studies in and was graduated from the Queen's university at Kingston, Canada. He came to Holyoke in 1889, where he has since resided and engaged in successful practice. In 1895 Dr. Cloutier married Emily R. Robert.
Jacques L. Demers was born April 23, 1833, in Montreal, Canada, son of Louis and Mary (Burrill) Demers. His father was a native of Montreal and his mother of Three Rivers, Can- ada. Both are deceased. Jacques was educated in the schools of Montreal and after completing his early education he studied portrait painting. In 1883 he came to Holyoke and established his present portrait and photographic business. In 1858 Mr. Demers married Louise Reel of Montreal. They have five chil- dren-Louis, Hormisdas, Wilfred, Marie Louise and Angelina Demers.
Valere Ducharme was born in St. Guillaume, Canada. Sep- tember 29, 1864. son of Hyacinthe and Sophie Ducharme. His father came to Holyoke in 1879. His mother died in this city in 1896. Valere was educated in Canada, and there also learned the grocery and meat business. He came to Holyoke with his father, and in 1886 opened his present grocery store and meat market in partnership with E. D. Durocher. In 1889 he pur- chased his partner's interest and since has conducted the busi- ness alone. In 1892 he married Corinne Lecault of Verchere, Canada. They have four children-Clement, Camille, Oliver and Romuld Ducharme.
Alfred D. Durocher was born January 30, 1864, at Farnham, Canada, son of Pierre (a native of Longueil, Canada, and a butcher by trade), and Esther (Berard) of Marieville, Canada. Both of his parents are dead. Alfred was educated at Farnham college, and after completing his course he learned the meat and grocery business. He came to Holyoke in 1880 and established his present business in 1882, on Cabot street. where he still is lo-
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cated in one of the finest stores in the city. He also deals in real estate. He is a member of the auditing committee of the West- field railroad and of St. Jean Baptiste society. In 1885 Mr. Du- rocher married Georgene Dame of St. Cesaire, Canada. They have five children-Alfred, Ernest, Aurore, Emil and Ermand Durocher.
John E. Fessant was born in Canada. Ontario, in 1867 and was educated in the schools there. He learned the profession of pharmacist in Guelph, Canada, and came to Holyoke in 1893, where he commenced his present business. Mr. Fessant is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows.
Orphir E. Genest, attorney and counsellor at law, was born July 31, 1860, in Three Rivers, Canada, son of C. B. Genest, also an attorney. Orphir was educated at the seminary in Three Riv- ers and was admitted to the bar March 15, 1882. Immediately after his admission he began practice. He was a member of the board of registrars five years and was appointed probation offi- cer in 1896, which latter office he since has held. He has been interested in politics to considerable extent. He is attorney for the City Co-operative bank, having been one of its organizers.
Leon J. Laporte was born February 15, 1847, in Lavaltrie, P. Q., son of Leon Jeremie and Flavi (Martineau) Laporte. Leon, the father, came to Holyoke in June, 1868, with his wife and seven children, named as follows: Cordelia, Georgiana (de- ceased), Danilda (deceased), Celina, Leon J., Leon and Medric J. Cordelia is now the wife of Maxime Parenteau of Springfield; Leon J. is druggist ; Leon is engaged in carpet cleaning and fur- niture moving, and Celina is organist in the Precious Blood church, which position she has filled for twenty-five years. Leon Jeremie (the father) was engaged in the trucking business. He died in 1874. His wife is still living in Holyoke.
Joseph Masse was born April 2, 1866, in St. Bruno, Canada, son of Solomon and Philomene (Peltier) Masse. Joseph was educated in district school and came to Holyoke in 1885, where he was employed in a grocery store. In 1890 he opened a store on his own account and five years later added meats to his gro- cery stock. He has been a member of the republican city com-
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mittee for five years ; is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Foresters of America, the C. M. B. A., the Union Fra- ternal league, St. Jean Baptiste society and L'Union Nat. Fran- caise. In 1889 he married Mary S. Bibeau of St. Julie, Somerset, Canada. They have two children-Joseph L. Armand and Lodo- hiska Loretta-and also an adopted child, Edgar Brunelle.
Anthyme S. Menard, M. D., was born December 31, 1863, in St. Cesaire, P. Q., son of Charles and Zoe (Monty) Menard. Charles Menard came to Holyoke in 1865, and was actively prom- inent in securing a French priest in the city. He is still living in the city ; his wife died in 1897. Dr. Menard obtained his early education in St. Cesaire and his medical degree from the Univer- sity of Vermont in 1888. He is a post-graduate of the Post- Graduate Medical college, New York, and has studied his spe- cialty on diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat under Profs. Abadie and DeWecker of Paris, France. In 1894 he represented the fourth ward of Holyoke in the city council. He engaged in his present drug business in 1891. In 1888 he married Osia M .. daughter of Dr. C. W. Gelineau. Dr. and Mrs. Menard have three children-Claudio, Cozette and Alice. Dr. Menard has traveled through both American and European continents and is a musician of ability.
Val. Moquin was born August 3. 1855, in Saint Urbain, Can- ada, son of Joseph and Priscilla (La Fountain) Moquin. His father came to Holyoke in 1866 and carried on a grocery and provision store. He died in 1890. His mother was a native of St. John Baptist, Canada, and died in 1864. Val. Moquin has re- sided in Holyoke since 1868, and during this period of more than thirty years he has been actively engaged in business, in which he has been very successful. He has identified himself with the progress of the city in many ways. He early saw the future greatness of Holyoke, and by judicious investments has become one of our largest real estate owners. In French social circles he is prominent and influential, and is the best known man of our French-speaking population. He has given substantial aid to some of our best public institutions and is a director in the French Co-operative bank and also in the Peoples' and Holyoke
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Savings banks. He has been a member of the St. Jean Baptiste society since he cameto Holyoke and has held many offices in that organization. He received an appointment from Mayor Griffin as member of the old fire commission and was asked by Mayor Farr, as a special favor, to serve on the new commission. To this he assented only upon condition that he be assigned a short term.
Francis X. Patoel, M. D., was born September 3, 1845, in Joliette, Canada, a son of Theodore and Sophrenie (Pannlton) Patoel, both of whom are now dead. Francis obtained his early education in the schools of Joliette and pursued medical studies at the University of Victoria, Montreal, P. Q., from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1869. He came to Holyoke in 1873, where he since has practiced his profession. He has served on the board of health two years. In 1871 he married Marie Louise Ducondu. They have two children- Alexander, a druggist, and George, a jeweler.
Adelard M. Potvin was born October 27, 1869, in St. Ours, Canada, son of Louis and Sophia (Proulx) Potvin. His parents came to Holyoke in 1871, and are both dead. Adelard acquired his early education in the schools of Holyoke and began his busi- ness career in a men's furnishing store. He started his present furnishing and hat store in 1890 and has since conducted it with gratifying success. He is a republican and has served on the board of aldermen and also as alderman at large for the years 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1902, and made an excellent run for representative in 1901, being defeated by less than 200 votes in a democratic stronghold, the 7th Hampden representative district. In 1889 he married Elodie Valin of Pittsfield, Mass. They have two children-Lillian A. and Lena E. Potvin.
George J. Prew, son of the late Nicholas and Sophia (God- dard) Prew, and was born in West Springfield, March 15, 1855. Nicholas Prew (originally spelled Proulx) was a native of St. Ours, Canada (which township was settled by his great-grand- father, Francis, who came from France) and came with his wife and five children, to live permanently in Holyoke, on February 3, 1858. The events of his business life are more fully narrated
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on a preceding page. He died June 29, 1888, and his wife died May 27, 1870. They left eight children, as follows: Sophia, Mrs. A. C. Lawrence, Mrs. Damas Chabot, Mrs. J. G. McCarthy, John J. (contractor and brick manufacturer), George J. (clothier), Lina (who was burned to death August 19, 1859), and Joseph N. Prew. George J. Prew married Cordelia Perry, daughter of Isaac Perry. Their children are Hattie M. and George J.
John J. Prew, a well-known and successful contractor and manufacturer of brick in this city, is a son of the late Nicholas and Sophia (Goddard) Prew, of whom mention is made in a pre- ceding paragraph. John J. Prew has spent his entire business life in Holyoke and has taken an active interest in all that has pertained to the general welfare of the city, as well as his own personal affairs. He has been successful and has deserved suc- cess, and to-day he is regarded as one of our leading citizens. His wife, whom he married June 13, 1875, was Mary M. Laperre of Beloud, Canada. They have one daughter, Lina M., now the wife of George A. Savoy of Holyoke.
Joseph N. Prew, formerly a merchant, but now a dealer in real estate, and withal one of Holyoke's enterprising business men, was born in Canada, April 15, 1844, and came to this city with his parents previous to 1860, his father, Nicholas Prew (or Proulx), having been one of the pioneers of the first French col- ony in this locality, as is fully narrated in an earlier paragraph. Joseph N. Prew has passed the best portion of his life in our city and he himself has taken an active part in promoting its wel- fare and growth. For about eighteen years he was engaged in the picture trade, but in 1877 turned his attention to real estate business. On May 20, 1872, Mr. Prew married Matilda Marse- seault, who died in 1895. In June, 1897, he married Carrie Lyon Vincent of Springfield.
Henry Proulx was born in Holyoke January 17, 1874, son of Daniel and Caroline (Laporte) Proulx. Daniel Proulx is a native of Canada and came to Holyoke in 1865, where he opened a harness shop, which he conducted for twenty-five years. He was alderman at large for two years and is now fire commissioner. Henry Proulx was educated in the schools of Holyoke. After
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leaving school he learned the shoe business, and in 1898 engaged therein as a partner with Antoine Marcotte. In 1900 he pur- chased his partner's interest and is now conducting the business alone. In 1898 he married Eva Lareviere of Sorel, Canada.
Frank A. Rivers was born in St. Albans, Vt., February 13. 1854, son of Alexander and Matilda Rivers, both of whom now are dead. Alexander also was a native of St. Albans and for many years was roadmaster of the St. Albans division of the Central Vermont railroad. Frank was educated in the schools of Vermont. After leaving school he learned the millwright trade and came to Holyoke in 1862. where he worked as journey- man until 1882, and then started his present contracting busi- ness. For the past two years he has been a member of the firm of Rivers & Young, contractors. He served one year in the Hol- yoke common council and is now alderman for the ward of Chico- pee. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the For- esters of America. He married, first, Julia Tart, who died in 1880, leaving two children, Edward and Julia, the latter the wife of David H. Young. In 1883 he married Julia Lague, who has borne him one child, Reah B. Rivers.
Clovis Robert was born February 22, 1838, in St. Cesaire, P. Q. He came to Fair Haven, Conn .. when he was sixteen years old, where he learned brickmaking; at eighteen he began learn- ing the blacksmith's trade and at the age of twenty-one he went to San Francisco, Cal., where he carried on blacksmithing seven years. Returning to his native town he married. at the age of thirty-one, Malvina Archambault, a native of Abbotsford, Can- ada. In 1872 he came to Holyoke and for a few years worked at his trade and later engaged in real estate business. He has been agent for the Holyoke and Westfield road two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Robert have three children-George C., who received the degree of M. D. at McGill university. P. Q., and is now city physician ; Albert N., also a physician, a graduate of Bellevue medical college, New York, and now practicing at Volcano, Cal., and Emily, wife of Dr. F. J. Cloutier of Holyoke.
Charles V. Roy was born February 8, 1866, at St. Alexander, P. Q., a son of George T. Roy. He came to Holyoke in 1884. and
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engaged in the shoe business, which he since has followed, being until recently a member of the firm of Roy & Laramay, which was formed in 1893, but now is dissolved. Mr. Roy has served two terms as a member of the board of registrars, and is a mem- her of the Improved Order of Red Men. In 1892 he married Luella Coon of Saugerties, N. Y. They have five children- Charles, Vivian, Irene, Ruth and Winifred Roy.
John St. John was born January 14, 1847, in Beloeil. Can- ada, a son of G. B. and Lucie St. John, both natives of Beloeil. now deceased. John was educated in the schools of Canada, and after finishing his schooling learned the brickmaking trade and later the carpenter's trade. He has been a contractor and builder in Holyoke since 1882, and is one of the largest operators in this business in the city. In 1874 he was married to Malvina Per- rault, a native of Canada. They have had four children, of whom but one survives.
Arthur R. Vincent was born January 9, 1863. in St. Guill- aume, P. Q., son of Isaac and Marie (Desrosiers) Vincent. Isaac Vincent came to Springfield in 1877 and died in that city in 1892. His wife was from Berthier, P. Q .. and is now living in Holyoke. Arthur R. Vincent was educated in the schools of Sorel, after which he learned the drug business. He opened his present store in this city in 1891 and has since conducted it with gratifying success. He was elected alderman in 1900 and served one year. He is a member of the Foresters of America. St. Jeane Baptiste society and the Sorel conclave, C. M. B. A. On October 7. 1896, Mr. Vincent married Bernadette Chapdelaine. by whom he has one son, Paul Vincent.
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CHAPTER II THE TOWN OF PALMER BY ORRIN PEER ALLEN
Topography .- Palmer is located in the extreme northeast corner of Hampden county. As viewed on the map it presents very irregular outlines, and contains about 20,000 acres. It is bounded on the north by Belchertown and Ware; on the east by Warren and Brimfield; on the south by Monson; on the west by Wilbraham and Belchertown. Its surface is much broken by hills dominated by Mount Pottaquattuck, which attains an alti- tude of about 1,000 feet in the northern part of the town, from which an extensive view is gained of the Berkshire terraces in the west and of Monadnock in the north. Some of the lesser elevations are known as Baptist hill, south of Three Rivers; Thompson's Mountain in the west part of the town, and King's Mountain west of the Old Center. The Quabaug river is the dividing line between the town and Warren, Brimfield and Monson: Swift river courses on the extreme western border, while Ware river passes nearly through the center; these three streams unite at the village of Three Rivers and form the Chi- copee river, which. after a rapid transit of about a mile, enters Wilbraham. Each of these streams furnishes abundant power, much of which has been made available. The following brooks have their source within the town limits and flow into the Qua- baug, viz .: Pottaquattuck, Salisbury, Kings and Dumplin ; Cedar Swamp brook flows into Ware river. All these streams are attractive resorts for sportsmen because of the trout which lurk in their pools. The natural ponds are Glassford's, on the plain near the junction of Ware and Swift rivers, which has no visible
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outlet : Crawford's, near Bondville, and the two Pottaquattuck ponds, the larger of which is now known as Forest Lake, which has been converted into a noted summer resort.
The several rivers find their way through narrow valleys which afford but spare margin for meadows, the only extensive plain lands being found between Three Rivers and Bondville.
At the time of the advent of the first settlers the country was covered with dense forests of pine, which have largely given place to oak and chestnut. The silva and flora of Palmer are
Historic Pine Tree-Palmer
extensive and interesting, made possible by the varying condi- tion of soil from the rich meadows, to the hidden swamps, and the dry hillsides. The writer has collected and identified 140 specimens of trees and shrubs native in Palmer, which embrace nearly all the varieties found in the state, with the exception of those found only in maratime localities. He has also identified more than three hundred specimens of the flora of the town, which is far from exhaustive. The town takes reasonable pride in the preservation of two trees which connect colonial times
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with the present. One is known far and wide as the Washington Elm, standing beside the highway on the original Maj. Aaron Graves farm, beneath whose grateful shade Gen. Washington sought a few moments for rest and refreshment on that torrid 30th day of June, 1775, while on his way to take command at Cambridge. The other tree is the notable pine standing in the yard of Ridge's Food factory, which has a girth of seventeen feet and is over a hundred feet in height. It must have beer a vigorous sapling when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and still preserves its vitality. It won its title to fame one hundred and fifty years ago, when one Sunday as Thomas King. a son of the first settler, was on his way to church, he espied a large bear in its branches, which he brought down by his trusty gun. He gave as an excuse for this seeming desecration of the Sabbath that the bear was a menace both to the flocks and the families of the neighborhood, and ought to be killed even on the Lord's Ds as a matter of protection, which excuse was favorably accepted by the elders of the church.
Indian Remains .- It is said but one Indian family remained at the coming of the first white settler, whose wigwam stood not far from the present Burleigh bridge. The finding of arrow heads, pestles, mortars, ceremonial stones and other relies give abundant evidence of the former presence of the red man is nearly every part of the town. One Indian trail passed frit Warren through the present village of Palmer, another through the north part of the town, and still another came past the Pat- taquattuck ponds, thence across the plain lately known as the George Brown farm, past the present village of Three Rivers and on to Ludlow. The falls at Three Rivers was a favorite to sort for the Indians when the salmon came up the stream, and afforded them a time of general festivity : Pottaquattuck pod was also another locality much frequented by them for fishing purposes. Although Indians often passed through our confins after its settlement by white men, no harm was ever experienced on their account, notwithstanding that rumors were often rife alf their dire intentions during the last French and Indian war which raged in other quarters.
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Tradition has it that in order to meet this rumored invasion a rude stockade was erected on a commanding knoll located on the George Brown farm, near the Indian trail, but the enemy did not materialize, so the people were left in peace, and the sight and rumor of Indians gradually faded away.
The First Settler .- John King was the first white settler of Palmer. He was born in England in 1681, and came to Boston in his young manhood, where he married Sarah Allen; John, his eldest son, was born in Boston in 1715. In the spring of 1716 he came with his wife and child into the houseless wilderness to enter upon the strenuous life of a pioneer. Attracted no doubt by the open lands on the plain where the present village of Pal- mer stands, he erected a rude log cabin a few rods south of the present residence of Mrs. Maria Lawrence, and cultivated the first land on the present Church street. He remained but a short time at his first stopping place, but removed half a mile east to the present Tenneyville, where he built a more substantial log house just west of the present Cooley house, where he spent the remainder of his days and where eleven of his twelve children were born.
John King and his sons became useful and honored members of the new township. John, Sr., died April -, 1744; Sarah, his wife, died Jan. 1, 1762. No descendant bearing the name of the first settler now remains in town, although there are many in the female line still living here. Several years elapsed before King was joined by other settlers, but before 1732 many accessions had been made, largely of Scotch-Irish descent, with numbers from the river towns and other localities. Many of these settlers had been induced to take grants of land from the Joshua Lamb Co., which claimed jurisdiction over the territory now known as Palmer; but it was found on examination that their Indian deed covered no part of said territory, which fact caused no little trouble to the settlers; so in 1732 fifty-six of the settlers inter- ested in the matter sent an humble petition to the General Court praying to be relieved of the perplexing difficulty in which they were placed. The prayer of the petitioners was finally brought to a favorable conclusion by the able efforts of Steward Southgate,
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one of the leading and best informed men of the plantation. This turn of affairs was reached through the mutual understanding of the settlers and the General Court that the claims of Lamb & Company be disallowed. Nov. 24, 1732, the Court appointed Col. John Alden and Mr. Samuel Bradford, with such as the Honor- able Board might appoint as a committee to view the lands of the petitioners and report at the next session of the court. On November 28, 1732, Ebenezer Burrell, Esq., was joined in the affair.
The committee appointed by the General Court visited the plantation in due time and faithfully discharged the duty in- volved.
Report of the Committee .- After giving a detailed account of the boundaries of the plantation the report continues: "We find the greater part of ye sd Land to be Pine Land, High Hills and Low Valleys; the hills very poor and mean, the valleys pretty good. We also find that the said Tract of Land lies in a Broken form, and is much Discommoded by Farms claimed by Particular Grants from this Court, which have taken up the best of ye land. We also find that the Circumstances of ye Peti- tioners & Settlers and their Settlements are Different and much Intricate and Perplexed; some of them having entered and Setled without Regulation, and Interfered and Incroached upon other men's Pitches & Improvements. And in many instances 100 several Setlers claim one and ye same spot under different pleas and pretences of Right ; some having Lots laid out; Some partly laid; and others only Pitched, interfering one with an- other as aforesaid.
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