USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 16
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Wilcox, Eldad Graves, Samuel Johnson, jun., Benj. Rising, Silas, Abner and David Fowler, Stephen Russell, Titus Bigelow, Phineas Southwell, Benj. Loomis, Nehemiah and Israel Loomis, Abraham Page, Abraham Page, jun., Hezekiah Jones, Joseph Barber, Roger and Gideon Root, Jonathan Tillotson, Josiah, Ezra and John Kent, Gad Allen, Elijah Blackman, Martin Holcomb. William Mather, Zur. Root. William Miller, Joshua Bottom, Samuel Haynes, John Wilcox. Trustum Story. John Story, Jacob Cook, Isaac Fowler, Abner Rising, Joseph Hyde, jun., Pliny Sacket, Noah Loomis, Noah Loomis. jun., Shem Loomis, Moses Olds, Samuel Olds, Moses Allen, Moses Root, Samuel Kellogg, Jesse Sacket, Jared Bush, Josiah Kellogg, Amasa and David Ives. Thomas Hough. John Berry, Thomas and John Campbell, Amos Rising, Solomon Stephens, Nathaniel Gilbert, Silas Stephens, Freegrace Norton, Isaac Gilbert, Daniel Lee, Eldad Norton, George Granger, George Granger, jun., Levi and Eldred Palmer, Gad Dewey. Simon Wetherbee, Sampson French, Philip Hayes and Daniel Griffin.
Many of these residents of Southwick in 1781 were not life- long citizens of the town, and while a large proportion of the surnames mentioned are not now known in local annals, a num- ber of the present generation of inhabitants can trace their ancestry to one or more of those whose names are recorded above.
Organization .- Having within the brief space of about thirty years acquired necessary number of families and inhabit- ants, including among them some of the strongest men of the mother town, it was only natural that this people should petition the general court for a separation from Westfield, for they were indeed remotely located from the seat of town government and were entitled to the consideration asked. The act conferred dis- trict powers on the new jurisdiction and authorized the election of all local officers except a separate representative to the general court. The provisions of the act were carried out and a full board of district officers was elected annually from 1770 (the act was passed November 7) to 1775, but, unfortunately, the records during the period of the district character are not to be found, and it is possible that they were so imperfectly kept as
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to be of little value, hence many facts of historic interest are thereby denied us.
On August 23, 1775, Southwick was made a town by general aet, and thereupon took its place among the civil divisions of Hampshire county. From this time the records are faithfully kept and well preserved considering their age and service. From 1775 to 1901 the offices of selectman and town clerk have been filled as follows :
Selectmen .- 1775. Gideon Stiles, Noah Loomis, Silas Fow- ler: 1776. Gideon Stiles, Silas Fowler, Abner Fowler, Noah Loomis. Matthew Laflin; 1777, Noah Loomis, Gideon Stiles, Abner Fowler, Ephraim Griffin, Israel Perkins; 1778, Noah Loomis. Gideon Stiles, Matthew Laflin, John Kent, Abner Fow- ler; 1779-80, William Moore, David Nelson, George Granger; 1781. Abner Fowler, James Smith, John Campbell; 1782, Silas Fowler, John Kent, Matthew Laflin, Noah Loomis, Thomas Camp- bell; 1783. Matthew Laflin, Joseph Moore, John Kent; 1784, John Kent. John Barry, James Smith; 1785, Silas Fowler, Mat- thew Laflin. Moses Root, John Kent, Thomas Campbell; 1786, James Smith, Thomas Campbell, Phineas Southwell, Stephen Sexton, Ephraim Chamberlain; 1787, Phineas Perkins, Noah Loomis. Thomas Hough, Brigham Brown, Joseph Moore; 1788, Phineas Southwell, George Granger, Silas Fowler, Isaac Coit, Phineas Perkins; 1789, Thomas Campbell, Isaac Coit, Phineas Southwell. Ephraim Chamberlain, David Ives; 1790, Ephraim Chamberlain. Thomas Campbell, Samuel Fowler; 1791, Thomas Campbell, Samuel Fowler, Shubael Stiles ; 1792, Sampson French, Samuel Fowler, Shubael Stiles. Phineas Southwell, Phineas Perkins: 1793, Samuel Fowler. Shubael Stiles, Samuel French; 1794. Doras Stiles, Samuel Fowler, David Fowler; 1795, Thomas Campbell. Samuel Fowler, David Fowler; 1796, Samuel Fowler, Doras Stiles, Thomas Campbell, Holcomb Granger, Joseph For- ward; 1797. Thomas Campbell. Joseph Forward, Samuel Fow- ler; 1798, Joseph Forward, Job Langdon, Solomon Stephens; 1799-1800, Job Langdon, Samuel Fowler, Joseph Forward; 1801, Shubael Stiles, Enos Root, Joseph Forward; 1802, Samuel Fow- ler, Doras Stiles, Brigham Brown; 1803, David Fowler, Oliver
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Utley, Ham Loomis; 1804, Matthew Laflin, Reuben Moore, Moses Hayes; 1805, Shubael Stiles, Reuben Moore, Thomas Campbell ; 1806, Shubael Stiles, Roger Moore, Joseph Forward; 1807, Shubael Stiles, Joseph Forward, Oliver Utley; 1808-9, Shubael Stiles, Jos. Forward, Samuel Fowler; 1810, Samuel Fowler, Richard Dickinson, Oliver Moore; 1811, Shubael Stiles, Oliver Smith, Reuben Moore; 1812, Reuben Moore, Solomon Smith, Samuel Fowler; 1813, Doras Stiles, Samuel Fowler, Elijah Hol- comb; 1814, Joseph Forward. Elijah Holcomb, Ephraim Booth ; 1815, Richard Dickinson, Reuben Moore, Gideon Stiles; 1816, Richard Dickinson, Gideon Stiles, Amasa Holcomb; 1817-18, Gideon Stiles, Amasa Holcomb, Heman Laflin: 1819, Amasa Holcomb, William Hosmer, Job Langdon; 1820, Gideon Stiles, Heman Laffin, Almon Gillett : 1821, Gideon Stiles. John Mills, Almon Gillett; 1822, Gideon Stiles, Almon Gillett, Joseph M. Forward; 1823, John Mills, Joseph M. Forward, Eli L. Moore; 1824, Jos. M. Forward, Eli L. Moore, Abraham Rising, jun .; 1825, Eli L. Moore, Abraham Rising, jun., Warren Byington ; 1826, Warren Byington, Gideon Stiles, Thaddeus Foot; 1827, Abraham Rising, jun., Zebina Mason, Almon Gillett; 1828, Abraham Rising, jun., Zebina Mason. Jubal Byington; 1829, Uzal Rockwell, Gideon Root, Elisha Steer, jun .; 1830, Robert Forward. Warren Byington. Abraham Rising, jun .; 1831-32. John Mills. Robert Forward. Elisha Steer, jun .; 1833, Joseph M. Forward, Uzal Rockwell, Elisha Steer; 1834. Elisha Steer, Gideon Stiles, Robert Forward; 1835, Robert Forward, Gideon Stiles, Samuel S. Fowler; 1836. Gideon Stiles, Solomon Green, Elisha Steer; 1837, Joseph M. Forward, Sardis Gillett, Samuel S. Fowler: 1838, Sardis Gillett, Almon H. Baker, Samuel S. Fowler; 1839. Almon H. Baker, Abraham Rising, jun .. Elisha Booth; 1840, Abraham Rising, jun., Elisha Booth. Josiah S. Knowles; 1841, Elisha Booth, Josiah S. Knowles, Carmi Shurt- leff : 1842-43, Gideon Stiles, Abraham Rising, Carmi Shurtleff; 1844, Abraham Rising, Eli L. Moore, Chandler Holcomb; 1845, Chandler Holcomb, Samuel Webb, Tarsus N. Fowler; 1846, Samuel Webb. Heaton Granger, P. W. Stevens: 1847, P. W. Stevens, Daniel W. King. Moses White; 1848, Moses White, P.
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W .Stevens , Calvin Cannon; 1849, Oliver Root, Joseph M. For- ward, Calvin Cannon; 1850, Oliver Root, P. W. Stevens, Samuel Kellogg; 1851, Theron Rockwell, Easton T. Rising, P. W. Stevens; 1852, Theron Rockwell, Elisha Steer, Oliver Root; 1853, Oliver Root, B. B. Loomis, Theron Warner; 1854, Theron War- ner, B. B. Loomis, William R. Brown; 1855, Joseph W. Rock- well, A. J. Marvin, Uzal Rockwell; 1856, Thomas Cooley, Uzal Rockwell, A. J. Marvin; 1857, Theron Rockwell, Tarsus N. Fowler, H. H. Hosmer; 1858, Carmi Shurtleff, Alvin Rising, C. K. Lambson; 1859, Carmi Shurtleff, C. K. Lambson, Gideon A. Stiles ; 1860, Gideon A. Stiles, M. M. Steer, William Strain ; 1861, Carmi Shurtleff, Abraham Rising, Luther Fowler; 1862-63, A. J. Marvin, A. F. Webb, A. P. Easton ; 1864, A. P. Easton, E. C. Vining, Moses White; 1865-66, A. P. Easton, N. S. Noble, A. J. Forward; 1867, M. A. Moore, N. S. Noble, A. J. Forward; 1868, M. A. Moore, Calvin Cannon, Raner Rising; 1869, M. A. Moore, Calvin Cannon, Lucien Bacon; 1870, M. A. Moore, O. A. Granger, Marcus Phelps; 1871, O. A. Granger, A. P. Easton, Andrew White; 1872-73, O. A. Granger, E. A. Steer, W. D. Arnold; 1874, W. D. Arnold, J. L. Black; W. W. Easton; 1875- 78, A. J. Forward, J. L. Black, Edwin Gilbert; 1879, A. J. Forward, Dwight H. Hollister, Charles J. Gillett; 1880, Dwight H. Hollister, John Mason, Calvin S. Miller; 1881, Dwight H. Hollister, Calvin S. Miller, Andrew White; 1882, Calvin S. Miller, Andrew White, John Mason; 1883, John Mason, Calvin S. Miller, Homer Noble; 1884, Homer Noble, Dwight H. Hol- lister, Llewellyn S. Wetherbee; 1885, Dwight H. Hollister, Llewellyn S. Wetherbee, William F. Fletcher; 1886, Wm. F. Fletcher, L. S. Wetherbee, Calvin S. Miller; 1887, L. S. Wether- bee, D. H. Hollister, Chas. J. Root; 1888, L. S. Wetherbee, D. H. Hollister, Chas. W. Noble; 1889, D. H. Hollister, Chas. W. Noble, F. M. Arnold; 1890, Chas. W. Noble, F. M. Arnold, L. S. Wetherbee; 1891, F. M. Arnold, L. S. Wetherbee, John Mason ; 1892, L. S. Wetherbee, John Mason, Homer Noble; 1893, D. H. Hollister, L. S. Wetherbee, Chas. W. Noble; 1894-95, John Mason, George Doherty, Charles H. Saunders: 1896-98, Chas. W. Noble, George Doherty, Emerson C. Dibble; 1899-1900,
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George Doherty, Charles W. Noble, Birney G. Holcomb; 1901, Birney G. Holcomb, Charles Phelps, George Doherty.
Town Clerks .- Abner Fowler, 1775-78; William Moore, 1779-80; Isaac Coit, 1781-87; Thomas Hough, 1788; Samuel Fowler, 1789-1801; Enos Foot, 1802; Samuel Fowler, 1803; Enos Foot, 1804-10: Job Langdon, 1811-12; Joseph M. Forward, 1813-17; John Mills, 1818; Ephraim Booth, 1819-22; Levi W. Humphrey, 1823: Robert Forward, 1824; Levi W. Humphrey, 1825-28; Edwin Foot, 1829; Joseph M. Forward, 1830-31 ; Har- rison Foot, 1832-33; Phineas W. Stevens, 1834-36; James Stevens, 1837-44: Carmi Shurtleff. 1845; Joseph M. Forward. 1846-51; A. J. Forward, 1852-54: Joseph E. White, 1855; P. W. Stevens. 1856: Joseph E. White, 1857; Seymour L. Granger. 1858-60; C. J. Root. 1861-65: Luther Fowler, 1866-67; B. G. Palner, 1868: Orrin A. Granger, 1869-70; William W. Phelps, 1871; H. E. Webb, 1872-74: Edwin Shurtleff, 1875-76; William Strain. 1877; William F. Fletcher, 1878-81; Charles A. Reed, 1882-83; Edward Gillett. 1884; Frank A. Osborne, 1885-88; George Brace. 1889-97: J. Spencer White, 1898-1900; Dr. F. Knight Porter, 1901.
Town Officers. 1901 .- Birney G. Holcomb, Charles Phelps, George Doherty, selectmen, assessors, overseers of the poor and board of health; Dr. F. Knight Porter, town clerk; Dwight H. Hollister, William W. Phelps, auditors; Llewellyn S. Wetherbee, treasurer and collector; Lathrop Welcome, highway commis- sioner: William F. Fletcher. Amasa Holcomb, Calvin S. Miller, cemetery commissioners; William L. Babb, chief of police; Monroe G. Spring. Solomon C. Warren, James E. Ames, school committee; J. Ellis Ames, principal of high school; John R. Boyle. Amasa Holcomb, George Phelps, trustees of free public library : H. B. Harding. librarian : Dr. F. Knight Porter, justice of the peace.
From first to last Southwick has furnished to the county an interesting and valuable historical record. It was settled during the prevalence of the French and Indian wars, was brought into incomplete existence just before the outbreak of the revolution and was made full in its organization in the year
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in which that struggle was begun. One of the first acts after the election of town officers was a vote to raise a company of twenty- five minutemen, and Jonathan Hare was sent as delegate to the provincial congress. The committee of safety appointed in January, 1776, comprised Noah Loomis, Silas Fowler, William Moore, John Kent. Deacon Morton, Solomon Stephens and Ephraim Griffin. In this year the town declared in favor of independence, and offered a bounty of 30 shillings each for nine men to enlist in the expedition against Canada. Later on the bounty was increased to fifteen pounds and eventually to thirty pounds to keep the quota full when enlistments were hard to secure.
Glancing over the records of revolutionary services we find that Southwick answered the call to arms upon the first news of the Lexington alarm, with its company of minntemen, whose names, so far as can now be ascertained, were Silas Fowler. George Granger, John Kent, Jesse Dunham, Elijah Hough. Jonathan Hayes. John Campbell. Roger Root, Zenas Graves. Samuel Olds, Israel Loomis, Stephen Russell, Moses Campbell. Thomas Campbell. Ezekiel Graves, Levi Bradley, John Steven- son (probably Stevens), Israel Hayes, Amos Loomis, Noah Loomis, Silas Stephens, Elijah Harmon. William Campbell. James Nelson, Amos Ives. These men served some eight and others sixteen days under the first call, and all were privates.
Nearly all of these patriot forefathers were at once enrolled as members of a better organized company and on the 21st of April, 1775. set out for Roxbury, where they arrived April 29, and were assigned to the regiment under Col. Danielson, with Lieut .- Col. Shepard, of Westfield, second in command. The per- sonnel of this company was as follows:
Captain, Silas Fowler; lieutenant, George Granger; ensign, John Kent; sergeants, Levi Dunham, Elijah Hough, Jonathan Hayes; corporals, John Campbell, Amos Ives, William Camp- bell; fifer, Zenas Graves: privates, Israel Loomis, John Stephen- son, Noah Loomis, Israel Hayes, Silas Stephens, Elijah Harmon, Ezekiel Graves, Moses Campbell, Amos Loomis, Roger Root, Thomas Campbell, Samuel Olds, Levi Bradley, James Nelson,
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Stephen Russell. Of these men 14 were in service 21 days, and 11 were in service 11 days, under the first call. Later on many re-enlisted and served at various periods of the war and others entered the continental army and gave efficient services during the dark period of the war. It is unfortunate that the rolls of revolutionary soldiers are not complete, for it is known that the men of Southwick acquitted themselves with honor on many battlefields, and the names of all of them are worthy of especial mention in the pages of history.
In 1780 the town voted not to have Capt. Fowler make a draft of soldiers for the continental army, and at the same time a committee was chosen to enquire into the action of the general court, the belief being that the legislative body had not the au- thority to enforce the draft. Soon afterward, however, the town voted to pay a bounty of $1.000 (continental bills) to each of three men who should enter the army; and in 1781 Southwick had nine soldiers in the regular army, having offered $1.000 bounty for enlistments and 20 shillings per month pay. These extreme measures completely drained the treasury and also in- volved the town in a heavy debt, which the next generation was called upon to pay. With this legacy of indebtedness upon them it is not to be wondered at that Daniel Shays had a sympathetic following in Southwick, although the records make no dis- closures as to what persons actually joined the insurgent host.
In Southwick during the war of 1812-15 there appears to have been a more loyal support of the American side of the ques- tion at issue than was shown in many other towns in the county. In the Northampton convention and the frequent other assem- blages to voice a protest against the prosecution of the war this town did not send a delegate, and it is believed that the sentiment here was one of general loyalty to the cause against Great Britain; but of course there was a small federal contingent in the town who opposed war and favored peace.
During the war a regiment of infantry was raised in the south part of the county and was placed under command of Col. Enos Foot of Southwick. These troops marched for Boston about the middle of October, 1814, and spent about forty days
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in camp at Dorchester, this being the extent of their service during what was locally called "Governor Strong's war." The strength of the town contingent of men in this event is not known, yet among the Southwick soldiers who took part in the active struggle were Abraham Rising, Robert Forward, David Noble, Elisha Steer, Benj. Lounsberry and Leonard Smith.
In the war of 1861-5 this town is credited with having sent into service a total of 110 men, whereas in fact the number was near 125 men in all branches of the service. These were scat- tered through the several regiments recruited in Hampden county, notably the 27th, 34th and 46th regiments of infantry, and the 2d regiment of cavalry.
Southwick always has been known as an agricultural town, and many foundations of substantial fortunes have been laid by persevering effort on the part of thrifty husbandmen in that direction and in the special growth of tobacco. If the reader will glance over the succession of selectmen it may be seen that more than one hundred names of well-to-do farmers are there mentioned, whose first and only source of income was the old home farm. During the first half of the last century the best results in this field of labor were achieved, but the last half century has not been without its successes. In this time thrifty farmers have not only acquired a competency, but have also been active factors in the civil history of the town. We refer to such men as James Black, a farmer and an influential citizen ; Edwin Gilbert, who with other interests owned a saw and grist mill; John Boyle, farmer, contractor and miller; Amos Eason. long time a selectman ; Thaddeus Foot and Gen. Joseph Forward, who were for years identified with local interests; Deacon Horace Noble, farmer; also Sardis, Creighton and Seth Gillett, Quartius Black, Charles Bingham, Matthew Field, Robert For- ward, "Uncle Sol." Smith, Tuttle Webb and Oliver Root. This list might be extended by the addition of other equally worthy names, but the above will suffice to show something of the char- acter and quality of the factors in town history during the last half century.
If it be permissible that we speak briefly of some of the prominent farmers, producers and men of business of the present
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time, naturally we should feel called upon to mention the names of such men as Calvin S. Miller, former representative and leading republican : Edwin C. Hills, substantial farmer; Birney G. Holcomb, Charles H. Phelps and George Doherty, farmers and present selectmen; William F. Fletcher, miller, grain dealer and cemetery commissioner; Frank W. Noble and H. L. Miller, tobacco buyers; Charles A. Reed, merchant and postmaster ; Henry R. Barnes, wagon maker; Frederick M. Arnold, a factor in democratic politics; John R. Boyle, retired farmer; Dwight H. Halsted, farmer; Dr. F. Knight Porter, physician, town clerk and justice of the peace; L. S. Wetherbee, treasurer and col- lector : Amasa Holcomb, Joseph M. and A. J. Forward, William Boyle, and others.
Southwick attained its maximum population in 1830, since which time there has been a gradual though not serious decrease in number of inhabitants. At the time of the colonial census in 1776 the town had 841 inhabitants, and at the time of the first regular federal census in 1790, the number was exactly the same. The subsequent changes, as shown by the census reports, may be noted as follows: 1790, 841; 1800, 867; 1810, 1,229; 1820, 1,255; 1830, 1,355; 1840, 1,214; 1850, 1,120; 1855, 1,130; 1860, 1,188; 1865, 1,155; 1870, 1,100; 1875, 1,114; 1880, 1,104; 1885, 982; 1890, 944; 1895, 961; 1900, 1,040.
Schools .- In 1775, when the town's population was more than 800, there was voted for school maintenance the sum of 15 pounds. In 1777 the amount was increased to 25 pounds. At the beginning of the twentieth century the town annually ap- propriates about $1,300, receives more than $450 from the gen- eral school fund, and expends for schools more than $1,900 each year. In 1781 the town was divided into five school districts. Now there are nine districts, with ten schools, district No. 1, which includes the pretty little hamlet of Southwick, having a public school of ordinary grade and the Dickinson high or gram- mar school, the latter having been so named in honor of Richard Dickinson, who bequeathed to the town about $16,000. One-half of the income of this fund was provided to be devoted to the support of the grammar school and its free enjoyment by pupils living in the town. Subsequent changes in the school laws have
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necessitated corresponding changes in the system of operation of this school, yet the benefits are derived from the fund to the advantage of the townspeople. The Southwick schools employ ten teachers. The school census shows about 200 children be- tween the ages of five and fifteen years.
Southwick Village .- This pretty little hamlet, the only trad- ing center of any importance in the town, is located near the geographical center, and on the line of the Northampton branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad. Where is now the village site was once the lands of the Fowlers, and one of that family as early as 1780 opened a tavern here, and in the same building kept a small stock of goods. This established the center of trade in the town, and in later years the village was built up in the vicinity. The old meeting house originally was located about a mile south, and in 1781 a new edifice was erected at the "Centre", as the place was then known.
For many years the institutions of the village have com- prised the Congregational and Baptist churches, the public school and the high school. There has been maintained, too, a comfortable public house and two good stores. The population of the village proper is hardly more than 200 persons. The present interests comprise the general stores of Charles A. Reed and F. W. Healy ; the grist mill of Wm. F. Fletcher, located at the station; the wagon shop of H. R. Barnes, and the hotel of which William Sherman is proprietor.
This locality for many years has been noted for its staple tobacco product, and the annual visits of the buyers and specu- lators constitute an event in local history. Still, the town has its own dealers as well as growers, H. Z. Miller and Frank W. Noble; and also has cigar making establishments of R. B. Camp- bell and C. J. Gillett.
The Congregational church of Southwick, dates its history to the year 1773, and appears to have been less dependent upon the town than many of the churches whose organization ante- dated the revolution. Still, in Southwick, the town did give material support to the mother church. The first pastor was Rev. Abel Forward, 1773 to 1786, and the second was Rev. Isaac
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Clinton, 1788 to 1807. The first house of worship was built about a mile south of the Centre, and it is believed that the old structure was not completed before the erection of the new meet- ing house at the village. The latter was built in 1783, and from that time the Congregational church has been the leading eccles- iastical body of the town. In 1824, during the pastorate of Rev. Calvin Foote, the church edifice was burned, and in its stead the present house of worship was erected in 1825. It is in a good state of preservation and is, perhaps, the most preten-
Southwick-Congregational Church
tious building in the town. In membership the church is not strong, yet in attendance at services the congregations are large. This church is under the pastoral care of Rev. L. S. Crawford.
Previous to the revolution a number of Baptist families had settled in Southwick, and soon afterward endeavored to establish meetings of their denomination; and they sought to be excused from paying "rates" for the support of the recognized church, but without success for several years. Finally they were granted "sittings" in the meeting house and were obliged
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to accept this concession, yet they attended services at the church of their own faith in Suffield. In 1805, they organized a society and church and called Elder Niles to be their pastor. A house of worship was built in 1822, at Southwick village, and from that year the church has enjoyed a healthful existence. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas Terry.
Among the settlers who came into the town after 1800, were several whose families were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and while they held informal class meetings and occa- sional services, they did not have sufficient strength to organize a society and church until 1816, when Rev. David Miller was ap- pointed to minister to their spiritual wants. In 1825 the society became possessed of the meeting house at Gillett's Corners, which has since been the seat of the church. At this time the pulpit of this church is supplied by Rev. J. H. Stoney.
CHAPTER V
THE TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD
A noticeable fact in connection with the history of West Springfield is that the town previous to 1810 contained a greater population and in many other respects was regarded as being superior of the mother town on the east side of the river. Some writers of local history have asserted that the town always has been the specially favored child of Springfield. This may have been true to the extent that the settlers on the east side of the Connecticut were well aware that the richest lands of the entire valley region lay opposite the plantation of Springfield, and as such they were sought to be kept a part of the mother town; but there is much in the early history of West Springfield which shows that as far back as 1695 the inhabitants on the east side were not pleased with the idea of having a separate parish on the west side. and for the next three-quarters of a century, until
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