USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 31
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According to recognized authority, the pioneer of Holland was Joseph Blodgett, one of the original proprietors and for
Holland Pond
many years one of its foremost men. When the proprietors made a division of their lands, Mr. Blodgett drew lot No. 67. This drawing was confirmed by the general court in 1732, yet the pioneer probably had established himself in the town as early as 1725. In later years he took an active interest in local affairs. filling several important offices, and he was equally earnest in his endeavors in behalf of the church. He was a surveyor as well as farmer and the records make frequent reference to his work.
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His house was on the South Meadow road which led from Brim- field to Union, and which divides the towns of Holland and Wales. Pioneer Blodgett had several sons, one of whom, Jonas, was the last surveyor and clerk of the proprietors of Brimfield. He died in 1839 at the advanced age of 95 years. He was per- haps more conspicuous in town affairs than his father, and was one of the first board of selectmen, serving several years in that office. The family name Blodgett has always been represented in the town by men of character and integrity, and some of them have been chosen to places of trust and responsibility.
When the pioneer led the advance of civilized white settle- ment into this then remote part of Hampshire county, his action was regarded as hazardous because of the dangers which were supposed to attend life in the wild and almost unknown regions of old Brimfield. But within a short time after Joseph Blodgett had built his cabin and prepared a little tract of land for culti- vation, other settlers began to come and occupy their lots, and in the course of two or three years a little settlement had sprung up. Among the comers of this period there may be mentioned the names of John Webber, Ebenezer Wallis, Enoch Hides, John Bishop, Jonathan and Robert Brown, nearly all of whom brought families and shared with the pioneer the vicissitudes of life in a new and unsettled region. These men were of sturdy New Eng- land stock, some of them descendants of Puritan ancestors, and the dangers and hardships of life in a wilderness region had few terrors for them. The surnames of many of these first settlers are still preserved in the town, and a glance at the records will show that some of them have attained to positions of importance in local history.
Continuing our narrative still further, mention may be made of the names of Henry and Trenance Webber, who came to Holland from Rhode Island about 1730, and who were descend- ants of Henry Webber. They and their descendants in later generations have been active factors in the history of the town. Among others of that surname there may be recalled Frank Webber, Rinaldo Webber, Samuel Webber, Adolphus Webber, Loring Webber, William A. Webber, Ezra Webber and Dwight
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E. Webber, each of whom did his full share in building up the town and establishing a prosperous condition of affairs for his own family, thus contributing to the general welfare of all the town's people.
Since the earliest settlement the Wallis family has been favorably known in Holland history. Ebenezer seems to have been the pioneer, and David came about 1755. He was from Woodstock, Connecticut, a blacksmith by trade and a farmer by subsequent occupation. Among his children were several sons, the names of Thomas, Jonathan, William and John being remem- bered as of the number. Jonathan adopted the trade of his father, and Thomas became a physician, one of the first in Hol- land and a man of influence in the community. William and John Wallis were farmers. In the family of the pioneer Wallis was a grandson, David by name, a son of David, jun., the latter never having settled in this town. This younger David was a soldier in the revolution, and after the war he married Persis Rosebrook who bore him ten children. Like the Webbers, the Wallis family have been prolific in Holland and their work has been for good in all generations of their descendants.
Of the other early settlers in Holland whose names have been mentioned little is known, and it is probable that some of them soon left for homes in some other locality. James Marcy located here about 1767, and was a farmer. Among his children were several sons and daughters, the names of James, Jr., Elisha, David, Job, Sarah and Betsey being recalled at this late day. Most of these children grew up and married in the town and were contributing factors in its best history. Benjamin Perrin was an early settler about a mile south of the Centre. His sons were John, Cyril and Hallowell Perrin. John married a daugh- ter of Ichabod Goodell, also an early settler, and had thirteen children. Later on he removed to Monson. Hallowell Perrin was a farmer and tavern keeper, and a man of prominence in early days. He, too, raised a large family, but the surname is no longer known in Holland. Ichabod Goodell (the year of his settlement here is not known) was a conspicuous figure in early Holland history. He married into the Webber family and had
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four children, Huldah, Polly, Persis and Jabez. The son eventu- ally emigrated to New York state, where he taught school, and through his excellent business capacity he acquired a fortune. He never forgot his old home and in his will left $500 to the town.
Eliphalet Janes, the first clerk of the new district formed in 1783, was a farmer and owner of a saw and grist mill, but when and whence he came is not known. In the same connection there may be recalled the names of William Belknap, an early farmer and upright townsman; Asa David, who filled several offices in the town and was especially prominent in matters pertaining to the church. He also taught school and engaged in farming until 1793, when he removed from the town. Reuben Stevens was a farmer and also a cloth dresser, and a useful man among the early settlers.
Capt. Nehemiah May, another early and prominent settler, was an officer in the revolutionary service and a man of much influence in local town and church matters. He settled in the south part of the town about 1764. Ebenezer Morris, the town blacksmith, and it is said he was an excellent workman in his time, married a daughter of Capt. May. Jonathan Cram is remembered as a man of influence and as a successful farmer. Joseph Bruce, who settled on the afterward known Howlett farm, was regarded as one of the most eccentric characters in early Holland history, yet he was a man of worth notwithstanding his pecularities. John Polley was another early settler whose name is frequently recalled as one of the town worthies more then a century ago, and whose farm home lay on the old South Meadow road between the east and west parishes. Gershom Rosebrook was a farmer and lived east of the reservoir. His family name was long preserved in the town.
In addition to those already mentioned among the early settlers, we may still further recall James Frizzell, Humphrey Cram, Jacob, Benjamin, Edward and Samuel Webber, John Rosebrook, William and Asa Belknap, Jonathan Wallis, John and James Anderson, Alfred Lyon, Daniel Burnett, Asa Dana, John Brown, Jonathan Ballard and Eleazer Moore, all of whom were conspicuous figures in town affairs about the time of the
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division of Brimfield and the creation of the new districts out of its southern territory.
Those whose names are mentioned in preceding paragraphs laid the foundation for the subsequent growth of the town. They bore the hardships of life attendant upon the pioneership and early settlement, but notwithstanding all the disadvantages un- der which they struggled they builded well. and permanent bene- fits thereby accrued to their descendants and all others who after- ward came to dwell in the region. There was something in the character and quality of the lands to attract settlement, and a comparison of records discloses that Holland in the early years of its history grew as rapidly in population as any of the adjoin- ing towns. Indeed, in 1790 the town had more than double its present population, the number of inhabitants then being 428 as against 169 in 1900. This loss has not been through any fault of the people and is attributable to the same causes which have worked a like decrease in population in all towns situated as is this; and that, the tendency of later generations of young men and women to abandon the farms for the pleasures of life in the commercial centers.
The various fluctuations of population in Holland are seen in the following extracts from the census reports: In 1790 the inhabitants numbered 428; 1800, 445; 1810, 420; 1820, 453; 1830. 453; 1840, 423; 1850, 449 ; 1860, 419; 1865, 368; 1870, 344 ; 1875. 334; 1880, 302; 1885, 229; 1890, 201; 1895, 199; 1900. 169.
Civil History .- The early eivil history of Holland is narrated on preceding pages and it is stated how South Brimfield was created and the east and west parishes of the latter eventually were made separate and distinct towns. The creation of the dis- trict of Holland in 1783 was necessary for the convenience of its inhabitants and while not then accorded full town powers the civil organization was made complete in that year. The act of the legislature directed Abner Morgan, justice, to issue his warrant to some principal person in the district proposed to be incor- porated, and Joseph Bruce was selected for that purpose. The first town meeting in pursuance of the warrant was held July 24. 1783, on which occasion Mr. Bruce acted as moderator. Capt.
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Nehemiah May, Joseph Blodgett and Alfred Lyon were chosen selectmen, and Eliphalet Janes, town clerk. - A full board of officers were chosen and then Holland began making civil history. The succession of selectmen is as follows:
Selectmen .- 1783, Nehemiah May, Joseph Blodgett, Alfred Lyon ; 1784, William Belknap, Daniel Burnet, Jonathan Cram; 1785, Jonas Blodgett, Daniel Burnet, Nehemiah May; 1786, Joseph Bruce, Daniel Burnet, William Belknap; 1787, Jonas Blodgett, Asa Dana, Wm. Belknap; 1788, David Wallis, Asa Dana, Wm. Belknap; 1789, David Wallis, Asa Dana, John Polley ; 1790, Wm. Belknap, Alfred Lyon, John Brown; 1791-93, Wm. Belknap, Asa Dana, David Wallis; 1794, Alfred Lyon, Ichabod Goodell, David Wallis; 1795, Alfred Lyon, Wm. Belk- nap, David Wallis; 1796, Joseph Bruce, John Polley, Halowell Perrin ; 1797-8, David Wallis, John Polley, Wm. Belknap; 1799, David Wallis, Gershom Rosebrook, Rinaldo Webber; 1800, Wm. Belknap, Ichabod Goodell, Rinaldo Webber; 1801, David Wallis, Ichabod Goodell, Jonathan Ballard; 1802, David Fay, Ichabod Goodell, Ebenezer Morris; 1803, Jacob Thompson, Ichabod Goodell, Ebenezer Morris; 1804, Jacob Thompson, Ichabod Goodell, Rinaldo Webber; 1805, Jacob Thompson, John Polley, David Wallis; 1806-07, Zerial May, John Polley, David Wallis; 1808, Ebenezer Morris, Ezra Allen, Ezra Webber; 1809, Ebene- zer Morris, Jacob Thompson, Samuel Webber; 1810, David Wal- Jis, John Weaver, Ezra Webber; 1811, Edward Blodgett, James A. Lynn, Wm. Putnam; 1812, Edward Blodgett, James A. Lynn, Reuben Stevens; 1813, Edward Blodgett, Ezra Webber, Leonard Morris; 1814, Cyril Perrin, James A. Lynn, Edward Blodgett; 1815, John Weaver, David Wallis, Ezra Allen ; 1816, John Weaver, Ezra Webber, Edward Blodgett; 1817, Benj. Church, Freeland Wallis, John Wallis; 1818, Samuel Webber, Freeland Wallis, Reuben Stevens; 1819-20, Samuel Webber, Elbridge G. Fuller, David B. Dean; 1821, Samuel Webber, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean; 1822, Benj. Church, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean; 1823, Isaac Partridge, Freeland Wallis, John Wallis; 1824-25, David B. Dean, Freeland Wallis, Benj. Church ; 1826, Adolphus Webber, Freeland Wallis, Loring Webber; 1827, Reuben Stevens,
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David B. Dean, Loring Webber; 1828, Leonard M. Morris, John Wallis, Baxter Wood; 1829-31, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean, Willard Weld; 1832, Adolphus Webber, Loring Webber, Willard Weld; 1833, Willard Weld, Adolphus Webber, Elbridge G. Fuller; 1834, Freeland Wallis, Adolphus Webber, Lyman Gould; 1835, Freeland Wallis, Willard Webber, David B. Dean; 1836, Freeland Wallis, Lyman Gould, Gilbert Rosebrook; 1837, Wil- lard Weld, Horace Wallis, Isaac W. Wood; 1838, Willard Weld, Horace Wallis, Freeland Wallis; 1839, Willard Weld, Levans McFarlin, Freeland Wallis; 1840, Adolphus Webber, Horace Wallis, Grosvernor May; 1841, Adolphus Webber, David B. Dean, Warren A. Wallis; 1842, Freeland Wallis, David B. Dean, Harrison Allen; 1843, Adolphus Webber, Willard Weld, Uriah P. Marcy; 1844, David B. Dean, Adolphus Webber, Harrison Allen; 1845, Freeland Wallis, Nehemiah Underwood, Eleazer Moore; 1846, William A. Webber, Nehemiah Underwood, Harri- son Allen; 1847, John'Wallis, Stephen C. Weld, John B. Gould; 1848-49, William A. Webber, Warren A. Wallis, William Frizell; 1850, Nehemiah Underwood, Uriah P. Marcy, John P. Gould; 1851, Benj. F. Wilson, Alvin Goodell, John Wallis; 1852, Elea- zer Moore, Warren A. Wallis, John Wallis; 1853, Wm. A. Web- ber, Nehemiah Underwood, Roswell A. Blodgett; 1854, Nehemiah Underwood, William A. Webber, Uriah P. Marcy; 1855, Alvin Goodell, Eleazer Moore, George L. Webber; 1856-57, Wm. A. Webber, Warren A. Wallis, Clement B. Drake; 1858, Wm. A. Webber,, Harrison Allen, Wm. H. Harris: 1859, Warren A. Wal- lis ; Geo. L. Webber, Eleazer Moore; 1860, Ferdinand L. Burley, Clement B. Drake, Wm. A. Harris; 1861, Ferdinand L. Burley, Wm. A. Webber, Warren A. Wallis; 1862, Ferd. L. Burley, Geo. L. Webber, Warren A. Wallis; 1863, Win. A. Webber, Horace Wallis, R. A. Blodgett; 1864, Ferd. L. Burley, Uriah P. Marey, J. Ballard; 1865, Wm. A. Webber, Clement B. Drake, J. A. Webber; 1866-70, Wm. A. Webber, Clement B. Drake, Uriah P. Marcy; 1871-72, Freeman B. Blodgett, Harrison Allen, Uriah P. Marcy; 1873, Clement B. Drake, F. B. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis: 1874. William A. Webber, Freeman B. Blodgett, R. A. Blodgett; 1875, Wm. A. Webber, F. B. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis;
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1876, Uriah P. Marey, F. B. Blodgett, Frank Wight; 1877-78, Wm. A. Webber, Freeman B. Blodgett, Henry Vinton; 1879, George L. Webber, Henry Vinton, Francis Wight; 1880, George L. Webber, Francis Wight, A. L. Roper; 1881, George L. Webber, Freeman B. Blodgett, A. L. Roper; 1882, Francis Wight, F. B. Blodgett, A. L. Roper; 1883, Francis Wight, Wm. L. Webber, R. A. Blodgett: 1884, Francis Wight, R. A. Blodgett, A. L. Roper: 1885, Francis Wight, R. A. Blodgett, Henry Vinton ; 1886. R. A. Blodgett, A. L. Roper, George L. Webber; 1887, George L. Webber, Wm. S. Wallis, Freeman B. Blodgett; 1888- 89, George L. Webber, Wm. S. Wallis, F. B. Blodgett; 1890, Francis Wight, R. A. Blodgett, Wm. S. Wallis; 1891-2, Francis Wight, Wm. S. Wallis, Freeman B. Blodgett; 1893, George L. Webber, John S. Glazier, H. E. Wallis; 1894, Geo. L. Webber, H. E. Wallis, Francis Wight; 1895, F. B. Blodgett, Francis Wight, Wm. S. Wallis; 1896, F. B. Blodgett, Wm. A. Webber, B. C. Bennett; 1897, F. B. Blodgett, D. E. Butterworth, B. C. Bennett; 1898, F. B. Blodgett, A. F. Blodgett, D. E. Butter- worth: 1899, F. B. Blodgett. L. M. Howlett, H. E. Vinton; 1900, A. F. Blodgett, L. M. Howlett, C. A. Webber; 1901, L. M. How- lett, C. A. Webber, Francis Wight.
The succession of the town clerks is as follows: Eliphalet Janes, 1783-86; William Belknap, 1786-89; David Wallis, 1789; William Belknap, 1790-94; Asa Dana, 1794-98; Jonathan Bal- lard, 1798-1803; David Wallis 1803; Ezra Webber, 1804-9; James A. Lyon, 1809: Ezra Webber, 1810: James A. Lyon, 1811-13; Reuben Stevens, 1814; Freeland Wallis, 1815-19; David B. Dean, 1819-23: Luther Brown, 1823; David B. Dean, 1824; Freeland Wallis, 1825-27: John Wallis 1828; Samuel Frizell, 1829-33; Freeland Wallis, 1833-36; Elbridge Fuller, 1836; John Dixon, 1837: John Wallis, 1838-41; John Dixon, 1841-42; William A. Wallis. 1842-46; Warren A. Wallis, 1846; William A. Robbins, 1847-53; Warren A. Wallis, 1854-55; Freeman B. Blodgett, 1855-62; Francis Wight, 1862-65; Frank E. Kinney, 1865-73; Freeman B. Blodgett, 1873: Frank E. Kinney, 1874-89; Wm. L. Webber, 1890-1900; Arthur F. Blodgett, 1901-now in office.
The present town officers are as follows: L. M. Howlett, C. A. Webber, Francis Wight, selectmen; Arthur F. Blodgett, town
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clerk ; Lewis D. Durant, auditor; Arthur F. Blodgett, treasurer ; Carl F. Howlett, collector; F. B. Blodgett (chm.), Henry E. Vinton, Charles A. Webber, assessors; overseers of the poor, the selectmen; constables, Oliver L. Howlett, Arthur F. Blodgett; cemetery commissioner, Freeman B. Blodgett; board of health, the selectmen; chief of police, Oliver L. Howlett; justice of the peace, William L. Webber.
Holland was so named in allusion to Charles James Fox. Lord Holland, a member of the British parliament during the revolution and one of the few earnest champions of American rights in that body.
From the earliest years of its history this has been an agri- cultural town. The land surface is rolling and in places is quite hilly, yet there are few areas which are unfit for cultivation. Under proper tillage the farms (and the town abounds in good ones) yield well and through intelligent effort many husband- men have acquired a competency. The hill lands produce abund- ant crops of grass and afford excellent pasturage. During the stage coach era the people prospered and farmers found a ready market for the product of their lands. The old South Meadow road then was a thoroughfare of great importance and travelers were passing daily through the town; but when the railroads compelled the stages to cease operations that which for years had been of the greatest benefit to the people was taken away. In the dispensation of public improvement enterprises Holland never was favored with a railroad, and being remotely located from the county seat its inhabitants have turned to other commercial centers for conveniences of trades.
But notwithstanding the disadvantage of situation, Hol- land previous to about a quarter of a century ago was quite a busy town, and in its little trading center considerable business was carried on. Let us briefly refer to some of these old-time interests. As early as 1785 a store was opened by a Mr. Brown (probably Robert or John). A little later Alfred Lyon kept a stock of goods and a tavern near the reservoir dam. Still later Isaac Partridge had a store about half a mile south of the Centre. Among other and subsequent merchants there may be recalled
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the names of Chase & Ward, Luther Brown, Dr. Josiah Converse, Sewell Glazier, Clement B. Drake, Elisha Kinney, Willard Weld, Orlando Anderson, Lynn & Co., Jonathan Sikes, John Carpen- ter and others. These stores, particularly those in existence between 1810 and 1850, did a thriving business, but when much of the trade was attracted to other localities they naturally de- clined until Holland people found themselves under the necessity of traveling outside for needed household supplies.
In 1784 the town licensed David Bugbee to keep tavern, and from that time a hotel generally has been maintained here. Alfred Lyon kept public house in connection with his store near the reservoir. About 1812 David Marcy built the Holland hotel and kept the same about two years. The later proprietors were John Webber, Mr. Bridgeman, Allen Tiffany, Mr. Harris, Luther Brown, E. G. Fuller, Baxter Wood, Mr. Benson, Elisha Kinney and Frank E. Kinney, about in the order mentioned. The first resident physician was Dr. Thomas Wallis, who in later years was followed by Drs. Seth Smith, Ichabod Hyde, David B. Dean, Joshua Richardson, Chileab B. Merrick, Josiah Converse and Abial Bottom, the latter, however, having removed to Wilbra- ham and practiced from that town. The present physician of Holland is Dr. Josiah G. Willis.
From what has been stated in preceding paragraphs it must be seen that at one time Holland had important business interests and as a producing town it held a place of prominence in the county. About 1803 Josiah Hobbs started a tannery in the south- west corner of the town and carried on business with fair success for many years. In 1828 Jedediah Healey succeeded to the property and continued its operation several more years. After- ward the building was converted into a dwelling house, and there George Haradon made boots and shoes. About the beginning of the last century two men named Paddock, father and son, the latter named John, started a furnace about half a mile below the reservoir dam and began the manufacture of iron from ore mined in the vicinity. Another similar industry for a time was conducted in the town and was located where afterward stood the Fuller cotton factory. Still another old interest was the
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factory for the manufacture of cut nails, which was operated several years beginning about 1830. About the year last men- tioned Elbridge G. Fuller built a mill and carried on a cotton cloth works on the road leading from Holland to East Brimfield. In its day this was an important industry in the town, but about 1855 the buildings were destroyed by fire and were not replaced. About the same time (1830) John C. Butterworth began the manufacture of cotton batting in a building erected for that pur- pose. Leander Bradd afterward succeeded to the business and continued it several years. In the same building Mr. Fuller made candle wicking, but about 1854 this old factory was burned.
Holland Church
Holland village, where is located the post-office,' also the other business places of the town, is a small hamlet of a dozen or more dwellings and a like number of small shops, but not at any time has the place contained more than one hundred in- habitants. Here, too, is the seat of town business, the clerk's office, the public school, the Holland library and the Congrega- tional church. Previous to 1860 it was a village of much local prominence, but with the constant decrease in population its interests have likewise declined. The present interests of the
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town may be noted substantially as follows: Freeman B. Blod- gett, boot and shoe maker and mason; A. J. Bagley and Anson Williams, carpenters; John D. Barney, cider mill ; D. E. Butter- worth, saw and grist mill ; the Holland hotel; William L. Webber, justice of the peace and postmaster; D. E. Webber, painter; Dr. Josiah G. Willis, physician and surgeon; the Holland public library, Mrs. C. F. Howlett, librarian, and Francis Wright, Oliver L. Howlett and Freeman B. Blodgett, trustees.
The town has but one public school, with an average yearly attendance of about 15 pupils. According to the latest published report, Holland has 88 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, for whose instruction one teacher is employed eight months in the year. In the last year the amount raised by town tax for the support of the school was $225; expense of super- vision was $25; expense for books and supplies, $32.22. The town's share of the school fund is about $455, and the local fund, the income from which can be used for school maintenance, is $222.22. The school committee for the present year comprises Arthur. F. Blodgett (chm.), Charles A. Webber and Francis Wight.
In 1783 the town comprised four school distriets and for many years thereafter four schools were maintained. In 1800 the districts were reduced to three, and were so continued until the decreasing population of the town generally necessitated a still further reduction in the districts. Under the present dis- position of school interests, with a scattered population of less than 200 persons a transportation system is employed in convey- ing children to and from school. Holland is one of the towns in Hampden county which is not under the supervision of a school superintendent.
Long before Holland became a town and even while its territory formed a part of South Brimfield the inhabitants, ever mindful of their spiritual welfare, established a society for regilious worship and supported the same at the expense of the town. For several years services were held in the dwellings of devout members of the flock, and Rev. Mr. Conchelin acted as their spiritual guide. Then a meeting house was built, the first
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in the region, and stood on the South Meadow road, not far from the foot of Rattlesnake mountain. This edifice served the needs of the worshipers for many years, and was followed by a second house of worship which stood near the center of the town and was a more pretentious structure than its predecessor. This building, however, was removed to Connecticut and was replaced with the meeting house which was burned in 1858. The present church edifice was erected in 1859.
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