USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 37
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Town Clerks .- Capt. Joseph Blodgett, 1762-63; Humphrey Crane, 1764: Jeremiah Needham, 1765; Joseph Blodgett, 1766- 67: Humphrey Crane, 1768; Joseph Blodgett, 1769-74; Joseph Needham, 1775-76; Abner Needham, 1777-80; David Bullen, 1781-84; Abner Needham, 1785-86; Darius Munger, 1787; Abner Needham, 1788-90; Oliver Wales, 1791-1803; Elijah Coddington, 1804-05; James Smith, 1806-7; Jesse Moulton, 1808-14; Wm. W. Thompson. 1815; Alfred Needham, 1816-33; Elijah C. Babcock, 1834: Aaron Shaw, 1835-36; James C. Royce, 1837-39; Leonard B. Wight, 1840-42; Nathan D. Wight, 1843; Absalom Gardner, 1844: Austin L. Rogers, 1845-47; Naham H. Stowell, 1848-50; Ferdinand L. Burley, 1851-54; George H. Needham, 1855; Joel H. Rogers, 1856-59; George S. Rogers, 1860-73; Herbert H. Haradon. 1874-75: George S. Rogers, 1876; Frank L. Smith, 1877: Herbert H. Haradon, 1878; Ozro P. Royce, 1879-88; A. A. Hubbard, 1889; Ozro P. Royce, 1890-1901.
Town Officers, 1901 .- Ozro P. Royce, A. A. Hubbard, Joseph A. Loudon, selectmen, overseers of the poor and board of health; Ozro P. Royce, town clerk; B. S. Baker, C. G. Need- ham, auditors: Willis Chamberlain, treasurer; T. J. Hynes, col-
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lector; W. E. Needham, Wm. Peck, W. W. Eager, assessors; LeRoy Squier, C. G. Thompson, constables; Ozro P. Royce, George M. Stewart, Herbert A. MeFarland, justices of the peace; Dr. E. F. Ross, Anna Thompson, Mrs. Wm. Mckinnon, trustees Wales public library; Willis Chamberlain, librarian.
Wales for many years has been noted for the substantial character of its inhabitants and also for the stability of its institutions and population. Generally speaking, it is an agri- cultural town, with just enough of industrial enterprise to
The Village Fountain
employ the surplus labor element of the locality. Lumbering for many years has been an established occupation for several of the townsmen. In 1776, when the colonial census was taken. South Brimfield (including what now is Holland) contained 850 inhabitants. The later changes in population, as shown by census statistics, have been as follows: 1790, 606; 1800, 774; 1810, 645; 1820, 683; 1830, 665; 1840, 686; 1850, 711; 1855, 713; 1860, 677; 1865, 696; 1870, 831; 1875, 1,020; 1880, 1,030; 1885, 853; 1890, 700; 1895, 783; 1900, 773.
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From this it is seen that Wales, unlike many of the outlying towns of the county, attained its greatest population in 1880, a time when other civil divisions in the region were rapidly de- creasing in number of inhabitants with a corresponding decline in local interests; but fortunately for Wales, the lands which comprise its 10,000 acres area are of a superior quality and yield well in response to the persevering efforts of the husband- man. Moreover, the people always have been loyal to their town, taking especial interest in maintaining the fertility of the soil and guarding carefully the welfare of their youth. This is known as one of the progressive towns, with fixed and permanent institutions, and notwithstanding the decrease in population of the last twenty years, few of the established interests have been abandoned.
This spirit of loyalty to the town is not of recent origin, but dates back to the days of early settlement, and in subsequent years its manifestations have been frequent. Between 1754 and 1763 a number of the townsmen enlisted under the American flag and took part in the closing wars with France. During the revolution a patriotic spirit was displayed in old South Brim- field, and on the call to arms no town made a more generous re- sponse with troops, arms and supplies, also with provision for the payment of bounties to encourage enlistments to the full extent of the town's quota.
Through the assistance of Leon H. Thompson, the writer is able to furnish a reasonably complete list of the men of South Brimfield (Wales) who served during the revolution, viz .: Daniel Giles, Joseph Gardner, Charles Gardner, Amos Green, Aaron Green, Ames Walbridge, Anthony Needham, Stephen Needham, David Needham, Paul Stewart. William Carpenter, Malachi Nichols, Capt. Daniel Winchester, Hezekiah Fisk, Asa Fisk. David Davis, Samuel Davis, Robert Andrews, Ludim Andrews. Ezekiel Willis, Cyrus Munger and Ebenezer Moulton. Othniel Brown, who entered the naval service, was a native of Rhode Island, but lived and died in this town. Isaiah Blood, who enlisted from Charlton, Mass., also is buried here. Nehemiah Needham. a soldier of the French and Indian war, was a private
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under Capt. Ebenezer Moulton in the expedition to Crown Point in 1755.
During Shays' rebellion there was much local interest in occurring events, and tradition says that the prevailing discon- tent was felt in the locality. During the war of 1812-15 publie sentiment favored the federal or peace party, and whatever there was of feeling in the town at the time, it was quietly settled in tavern discussions, where the worthies were accustomed to congregate and debate serious questions. In the war of 1861-5
Wales, on the street
the town furnished more than sixty men for the several com- panies recruited in part in this locality, while a number of Wales enlistments were in Connecticut regiments.
Wales Village .- In accordance with an old custom of our earliest New England ancestors, the first settlers in South Brim- field established their trading center along the principal thor- oughfare leading through the town. From the days of pioneer- ship to the present, the village called Wales has comprised the almost continuous row of dwellings, stores and other structures
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incident to such municipalities, scattered along the main road leading from Brimfield to Stafford, Connecticut, being more than a mile in length, although the population here has not any time exceeded 400 persons. "The Street" is an interesting locality in the history of the town, although as a business center it did not attract attention until after 1825. In this vicinity the pioneers settled, and here also the first store, tavern and meeting house were established, some of them considerably more than a century ago.
Wales is believed to have been a post station about 1800, and it is said that Oliver Wales was the first postmaster. He was followed by Daniel Green, James C. Royce, Leonard B. Wight, Joel H. Rogers, Absalom Gardner, Philip Snow and Warren Shaw, about in the order mentioned. The first physician was Dr. James Lawrence, who practiced from 1746 to 1778. Then followed Dr. Dudley Wade, 1779-83; Dr. Abel Sherman, 1883-86; Dr. Jeremiah Round, 1881-89; Dr. David Young, 1790, and later a storekeeper; Dr. Ferdinand Lethbridge, 1805-11; Dr. Thad- deus Fairbanks, 1811-15; Dr. Daniel Tiffany, 1812-22; Dr. Aaron Shaw, 1813-45; Dr. John Smith, 1815-67. However, this element of the town's history is treated in another chapter.
Neither record nor tradition gives us any definite informa- tion as to the early business interests in Wales, yet it is under- stood that the people were provided with the necessaries of life within their own town, for the south half of old Brimfield was settled by an independent and self-supporting class of men. It is known that a store and tavern were established here previous to 1795, and while a public house has not been maintained con- tinuously, there has not been a time within the last hundred years when Wales was without at least one good store. Twenty- five years ago the town had four large general stores, but that was when six woolen factories were in full operation, as well as a box shop and a silk mill. At that time, too, Wales had more than 1.000 inhabitants and enjoyed especial prominence as a manufacturing center.
In the early years of the century just passed there was some small attempt at manufacturing, wagons and occasionally car-
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riages, farm tools and various articles of wearing apparel. chietly hats, being the main products. Between 1830 and 1842 the manufacture of boots and shoes was an established industry, the product for the business year of 1836-7 being valued at more than $27,000. For the year ending March 31. 1854, a total of 40,000 pairs of boots and shoes was made in the town, and in the next year the product amounted to more than 33,000 pairs, valued at $27,735. The men engaged in this special manu- facture were Jonathan G. Royce, George H. Needham, Dwight W. Ellis, Erasmus D. Shaw and Chauncey D. Brewer. A glance at the early settlement history in another part of this chapter will disclose that several of these once prominent manufacturers were descendants from pioneer stock, and therefore it may be inferred that the boot and shoe industry of former years was originated in the town and was not an importation, although it was the means of a considerable addition to the town's popula- tion.
About 1847, at a time when boot and shoemaking was com- paratively quiet, Harlan G. Dunham began the manufacture of cotton batting on Mill brook in a building which for several years previously had been occupied for various purposes. In 1855 William P. Osborn started a wicking factory, but not meet- ing with hoped-for results, Osborn & Needham in 1857 turned the works into a plow handle and farm implement shop. A shingle mill was added in 1858 and a saw mill in 1860. Mr. Osborn having sold his interest in the works, Wm. H. Lane suc- ceeded Mr. Needham in 1863, and in 1865 the plant and power passed into the hands of Elijah Shaw, who perhaps more than any other single person was identified with the industrial his- tory of the town. Shawville was so named in allusion to him.
For many years the town enjoyed especial prominence in the manufacture of cloths of various grades, satinets, doeskins and cassimeres being the leading products. Several of the fac- tories were located in the upper end of the village, Shawville, as best known in local designation. Among these interests were the works of the Shaw Mfg. Co., first started in 1847 and en- larged twice in the course of the next ten years. The once well
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known "Dell Mill", the largest building in the town, was erected in 1860-61 by Elijah and Aaron Shaw, and was used for the manufacture of woolen cloths. The building was burned in 1870, and in 1873 a large flouring mill was built on the site. The "Eden Shaw" mill was built at the upper village, near the Dell mill, in 1864-5 by Eden D. and Aaron Shaw, and produced doe- skins from 1866 to 1869, and later made cloths of various kinds. In the same locality also the "Heagan" mill was built and put into operation in 1865-6 by Elijah Shaw, and turned out a superior grade of cassimeres. The "Valley mill", also in this vicinity, originally was a saw mill and box factory, and in 1872 was converted into a cloth mill under the proprietorship of Elijah Shaw. Later on the building was leased to Samuel Hodgson.
When the business of cloth manufacture was at its height in the town, about 350 workmen were regularly employed, but when there came the general tendency of manufacturing interests to center in the large cities, the greater industries of Wales gradually declined, and those who had been connected with their operation found employment elsewhere. At the present time Wales has two cloth mills in operation, owned respectively by J. H. Loudon and H. E. Shaw.
Almost a century and one-half ago, in 1752, settler Phineas Durkee started a small tannery and established an industry which was maintained in the town until quite recently. Later proprietors in the same business were Robert Durkee, Robert Andrews, Aaron Winchester, John Sabin and Zeno Farrington, the latter having conducted the tannery longer than any of his predecessors. Zeno Farrington, Jr., started an extensive tan- nery in 1853, and at times finished as many as 3,000 sides of leather and calf skins each year. Among the other proprietors whose names are to be mentioned in connection with the old-time industries of the town were Bela Tiffany, Oliver Wales and Hiram Watkins, who in 1828 and 1829 erected buildings for the manufacture of woolen cloths; and among those who in later years were directly concerned in the enterprise were R. P. Wales and John W. Bliss. The plant last mentioned was burned in
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1837, but was rebuilt two years later by John W. Bliss, Royal and James L. Wales. In 1840 this concern was resolved into the "Wales Manufacturing Company", and satinets were added to the products of the works. In 1865 the mill was sold to the Rogers Bros. (Joel H., LaFayette and Clinton Rogers), who, in turn, sold out to the Shaw Mfg. Co. (the latter having been incorporated in 1848), large producers of cassimeres and doe- skin cloths of superior grade. The first mill (built in 1847) operated by the Shaw Mfg. Co. was located near the center of the village.
In the course of time these industries began to lose some- thing of their prestige, and as the tendency toward the large manufacturing centers gradually increased, the local concerns suffered a loss of business. Still, in Wales cassimeres are yet produced by the proprietors whose names have been noted. In addition to these interests the village has a soap and candle factory, of which Boynton & Williams are proprietors, and a saw mill owned by E. L. Needham. The other business interests here may be noted as follows: Frank Town, carriage maker and blacksmith; Herbert A. McFarland, auctioneer; Merrick Converse, boots and shoes; E. & E. Lanphear, notions; Willis Chamberlain & Co., Frederick M. Royce and Ozro P. Royce. general merchants; Peter Gaudette, proprietor Wales hotel: J. C. Burley, insurance agent ; E. L. Needham, lumber manufac- turer and dealer; E. E. Lanphear, postmaster; Dr. Ellsworth F. Ross, physician and surgeon; John Royce, provision dealer; A. F. Fisher, stoves and tinware; C. G. Thompson, undertaker; George Dimmick, proprietor of stage line; E. Belding, Peter Gaudette, W. G. Parker, stable keepers.
Churches .- The ecclesiastical history of Wales during the last century has been interesting, and the town has been the abiding place of as many denominations as any other similar civil division of the county can boast; yet among the several societies organized from time to time only two can show an un- broken record of continued, healthful existence.
In the early history of the town the settlers appear to have comprised both Congregationalists and Baptists, the latter per-
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haps prevailing in point of numbers. The mother church natur- ally was Congregational and was established in Brimfield, and when the town was divided the district set off organized its own church. In 1763 the town voted to build a meeting house, and also voted to hire Ezra Reave to preach to the settlers. But it appears that soon after this time certain disturbances entered into the councils of the society and resulted in the formation of the East and West parishes. The meeting house itself was par- tially completed, but later on after the parish division it was torn down and removed from the town. This was virtually the end of the Congregational church in Wales, and those of the settlers who preferred that denomination joined with the society in the East parish. In 1819 an effort was made to re-establish the church, but the attempt was only partially successful.
The devout Baptist worshippers of this part of old Brimfield organized themselves into a society and built a meeting house about 1760. Originally these settlers were Congregationalists, but separated from the mother church and styled themselves Anabaptists as early as 1734. They gained strength and in 1736 formed their society, with Ebenezer Moulton as spiritual guide and minister. Settlers Joseph Hovey and Benjamin Johnson were the first deacons. Soon after this dissentions worked ad- versely and caused a division in the church, but in 1771 a reor- ganization was effected and the society became established on a permanent basis. In 1760 a meeting house was erected and was occupied until 1802, when it was removed and gave way to a larger union edifice, the latter provided for occupancy by the Baptists, Universalists and Congregationalists. In 1773 Elder Elijah Coddington-"Father" Coddington-was installed as pastor and continued in that relation fifty-three years. Follow- ing him the early pastors in succession were Revs. Joshua Eveleth, 1826-29; John M. Hunt, 1829-30; Tubal Wakefield, 1834-36; George Mixter, 1836-42; Warren Cooper, 1842-43; Volney Church, 1843-48; and in later years Samuel R. Allard, Henry H. Hazelton, Sylvester Barrows, Asa A. Robinson, Wil- liam S. Phillips, Moses Curtis, Justin Aldrich, Lyman Partridge, Edwin J. Stevens, Charles A. Cook. John Shepardson and others
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of still more recent date. The present pastor is Rev. Walter Persey, under whose care the church is in a healthful condition, with a present membership of nearly 150 persons.
Universalism in Wales dates almost from the years of early settlement, although it was not until about 1780 that the first society was formed in the town. This church never has been strong in the locality, and the frequent attempts to establish a permanent organization have not met with marked success. Soon after 1820 an earnest attempt was made to found a Chris- tian society and church in Wales, but without permanent results. A society of Adventists was informally organized soon after
The street near the Methodist Church
1840, but as a religious body it attracted little attention among the townspeople.
Methodism in Wales dates its history from the year 1830, when the first society of that church was formed here, and was placed under the pastoral care of Rev. Horace Moulton. From that time the church has been progressive and has extended its influence and work throughout the region. The house of wor- ship was built in 1832 and has been occasionally repaired and remodeled. The present pastor is Rev. George L. Camp.
The first burial ground in what now is Wales was laid out in pursuance of a vote of the town of Brimfield, September 5,
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1732, and included one and one-half acres of land on the south- east side of the South pond. The second burial ground, located north of the pond, was donated to the town April 2, 1792, by Anthony Needham. In 1813 more land was added to the plot by the town, and for more than half a century this was the recognized cemetery of the region. The "New Burying Ground" was laid out in 1841. In addition to these cemetery tracts mention may be made of that located on Shaw hill, in the upper part of the village, which was donated to the public by Julius M. Lyon, and of the Walker burial plot in the southwest part of the town.
Schools .- As early as 1766 the town made provision for the maintenance of a school and the establishment of a district in charge of a prudential committee, and in 1772 a grammar school was started in compliance with the colonial laws. In 1799 the town was divided into four districts, which number has been maintained for more than a century. Including the grammar school, Wales now has six schools, and for their support raises annually by tax more than $1,500. The town receives from the public school fund about $560 yearly, while the total expense of maintenance is about $1,700. The school census shows a total of 155 children of school age in the town, for whose instruction six teachers are employed.
The town school committee comprises H. A. McFarland, chairman ; J. H. Loudon and H. E. Shaw ; superintendent. Albert Robinson : principal of the grammar school, William T. Jack.
During the period of its history Wales has produced many strong, substantial and influential men, the benefits of whose life work have been felt beyond the borders of the town itself. In this honorable Jist let us place the names of those who are no longer living but whose records are still proudly referred to in local annals. We refer to such men as the late Absalom Gard- ner, Royal P. Wales, Dr. John Smith, Luther Parker, J. H. Rogers, J. G. Royce, J. C. Royce, Joel Rogers, Elijah Shaw, J. M. Lyon, Warren Shaw, F. L. Burley, Jonathan Needham and Adam Stewart. This list might be enlarged, but the above will suffice. And if asked who are the leading men of the town to-
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day, the answer would be: H. E. Shaw, Joseph H. Loudon, A. A. Hubbard, G. S. Rogers, Willis Chamberlain, F. M. Royce, E. L. Needham, J. C. Burley, H. A. MeFarland, W. E. Needham, Dr. E. L. Ross, T. J. Hynes, G. M. Stewart, W. W. Eager, O. P. Royce, and perhaps a few names might be added to this list.
CHAPTER XVII
THE CITY OF CHICOPEE
The geographical position of the city of Chicopee is near the center of the northern line of Hampden county. Its terri- tory is bounded on the north by the towns of South Hadley and Granby in the county of Hampshire, east by the town of Ludlow, Hampden county, south by the city of Springfield, and west by the town of West Springfield and the city of Holyoke, from which it is separated by the Connecticut river. The territorial area amounts to 25.7 square miles, or about 16,000 acres, and the surface is either nearly level or slightly rolling. In some sections the bluffs overlooking the streams rise to the dignity of low ranges of hills. The Chicopee river, which enters near the southeastern angle, divides the territory into two unequal por- tions, running diagonally to the Connecticut river, into which it empties. In its passage through the city limits this river has a fall of seventy feet, furnishing valuable power, which has been utilized at Chicopee Falls and Chicopee Center for the impor- tant manufacturing industries which have been the principal factors in the city's development.
Originally the territory now comprising the city of Chicopee formed a part of the town of Springfield, and so continued under the names of Cabot or Cabotville, Chicopee Falls or Factory Village, and Chicopee Street, until created a separate town by act of the Massachusetts legislature in 1848. Settlements began on the Chicopee river, however, within a very few years after the
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settlement of Springfield proper, probably not later than the year 1640. The first of the settlers were probably Henry Chapin and his brother Japhet, sons of Deaeon Samuel Chapin, who came to Springfield in 1642, and whose statue by St. Gaudens stands in one of the parks in that city. The first contract for a deed of land in this territory was executed March 9, 1659, by John Pynchon of Springfield, who covenanted to convey "to Henry Chapin 200 acres of land on ye Chiekkuppy river, to run fro ye hills on ye east side to the Great river (Connecticut) on ye west, and on the south it is to be bounded by and join to the Chickkuppy river,-only one twenty-five acres, or thirty, being
The Old Chapin Homestead, Chicopee Street
by Chickkuppy river, about the place which shall be judged best for a warehouse, is to be taken out and excepted out of the parcel ; yet so as to be 200 aeres is to be made up there together. Also, Henry is to have half of ye upper Island, which is to be as equally divided as can be, and also he is to have five acres of mowable meadow at the lower end of the mixmeadow." For this sizable tract of land the grantee was to make payment in wheat, in four annual installments, at the current prices, the amount of the purchase price being twenty pounds sterling. The land thus conveyed seems to have comprised a considerable por- tion of what has been and still is known as Chicopee Street, but
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Mr. Chapin built his house on the south side of the river-per- haps for the sake of more convenience in reaching the strong houses at Springfield in case of Indian troubles,
In fact, the natives had by this time become troublesome, and more or less open hostilities existed for many years. About the same time a settlement was made at Skipmuck, some distance above Chicopee Falls, where a few families located, but were often obliged to take refuge in the old fort at Springfield. Dur- ing this period of general peril a part of Springfield was burned, and there were massacres and battles further up the Connecticut river; but the settlers along the Chicopee did not suffer seriously, though the men were constantly under arms, even in making their way through the wilderness to attend public worship, while the women were also trained in the use of weapons. The com- parative immunity of these isolated families is the more notable from the fact that the region bordering the Chicopee river had been a favorite resort for the red men, as is attested by the dis- covery of Indian relics there within comparatively recent years.
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