USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our County and Its People A History of Hampden County, Massachusetts > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
( - 535
Dytized by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
though without a church organization. Matters ran along until 1819, when Capt. Timothy Allyn, Calvin Bedortha, and Ebenezer Wyman, members of the First church in West Spring- field, requested dismissal and that they might be organized into a church in Agawam. A council was held at the house of Capt. Allyn on the first day of September, to consider and act upon the matter. Rev. Richard S. Storrs of Longmeadow was the moder- ator. It appears from the records of this conference that not only was the Second church organized, but at the same time the church at Feeding Hills, which had become too much reduced in member- ship to maintain a minister, was reorganized, identical articles of faith and covenant being adopted by the two bodies, to the end that one pastor might be engaged to minister alternately to the two churches. This plan was consummated in 1821, after nearly two years of temporary pastoral supply, when Rev Reu- ben S. Hazen was settled as pastor of the two churches, being paid $250 annually by the Agawam church, and $190 by that at Feeding Hills. This joint pastorate continued until 1830, when Rev. Mr. Hazen resigned the Feeding Hills charge to give all of his strength and energy to the people at Agawam, where he labored faithfully until May 17, 1843, when he was dismissed.
The second pastor of the church, Rev. Ralph Perry, who came from Manchester, Conn., was ordained and installed Jan- uary 3, 1844. His health failing, he was dismissed in 1846, but on recovery he was again installed near the close of the following year, and served the church faithfully and most acceptably until August 26, 1874, when a severe accident sustained at a railroad erosing in Springfield rendered him for a long time helpless. He resigned in the spring of 1875, and was succeeded by Rev. George H. Pratt of Glastonbury, Conn., who was invited October 1, 1875, to supply the church, and was settled a year later. His pastorate was successful, but was terminated in 1879. For the next twelve years no pastor was formally settled, but the officiating clergymen were Rev. Allen Hazen, D. D., February 1, 1880, to April 1, 1882; Rev. Edward E. Lamb, from December, 1882, until his death, July 21, 1883; Rev. Charles L. Tomblen, from April 1, 1884, to May 1, 1887; and Rev. F. M. Sprague,
( 536 )
Digitized by Google
Feeding Hills Street, Town of Agawam
Dlg zed by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
from May, 1887, to October, 1891. Notwithstanding the informality of these pastorates, ninety-three members were added to the church during the twelve years. The present pastor, Rev. Walter Rice, was called December 27, 1891, and was in- stalled February 3, 1892. During his pastorate sixty-five per- sons have joined the church, and its membership is now 177. The church building was fitted with a belfry and steeple in 1833, and was removed to its present site in 1845, being remodeled two years later. A chapel was built in 1868, and the main building was again remodeled, to its present form, in 1875.
The First Baptist church was organized in 1790 by certain persons of that faith who for that purpose withdrew from the First Baptist church at Westfield, by a letter dated January 9, of that year. Eleven persons subscribed to the covenant at the organization of the church, January 26, 1790-John Porter, Stephen Bodurtha, Jonathan Purchase, Earl Bancroft, Margaret Purchase, Molly Worthington, Mary Porter, Martha Purchase, Abigail Palmer, Eleanor Bodurtha, Roxana Bancroft. It appears that earlier in the history of the community a small and weak Baptist society and church had been organized, but both had long before ceased to exist, and the only positive records re- garding the matter show that Rev. Edward Upham was pastor from 1740 to about 1749. On the 4th of March, 1790, the new church extended a call to Rev. Jesse Wightman, a licentiate of the First Baptist church of Groton, Conn., to become the pastor, and on the 29th of September of that year he was duly ordained. The pastorate continued until his death, September 7, 1817. So devoted was Mr. Wightman to the work of his life that long after he became unable to stand at the desk he was assisted to the pul- pit, where, sitting, he would "address the assembled audience in the most fervent manner." A serious dissension in the church regarding the subject of singing occurred in 1814, and threat- ened the life of the church itself. Many withdrew, and obser- vance of the communion was suspended for several months. Through the earnest efforts of the pastor the trouble was finally arranged, and an era of good feeling which began in 1815 induced a strong revival in the community.
( 538 1
Dignized by Google
THE TOWN OF AGAWAM
Following the death of Rev. Mr. Wightman came a period of depression, and no pastor was settled until 1823, although the pulpit seems to have been supplied most of the time, Rev. John Grant, Rev. David Wright, Rev. B. M. Hill and others officiating. Rev. Thomas Barrett of Sharon, Mass., was called to the pastor- ate in 1823, accepted, and served faithfully for nearly seven years until his resignation in 1829. During this time a remark- able religious revival took place, and with it a revival in the pros- pects of the church and society. In 1826 an old member of the church, Asa Button, died and left a house and several acres of land as a parsonage, of which Mr. Barrett, at his request, took im- mediate possession. Soon after the subject of a meeting house began to be agitated. For ten years meetings were held at the houses of members or at school houses, and afterward the Bap- tists held an interest in the parish house, which was also occupied by the Congregationalists. In February, 1830, it was voted to erect a building of their own, their interest in the parish house being disposed of to the Congregationalists for $600. The com- pleted structure was dedicated October 20 of the same year, Rev. Gustavus Davis, D. D., of Hartford, Conn., preaching the ser- mon. A series of brief pastorates followed, these being the names of the incumbents : Rev. Erastus Andrews, 1830-31; Rev. John W. McDonald, 1831-5; Rev. Pierpont Brockett, 1835-6; Rev. Matthew Batchelder, 1837-40; Rev. William A. Smith, 1840- 41; Rev. Lester Lewis, 1841-6; Rev. John Cook, 1847; Rev. Asa A. Robinson, 1848-52: Rev. Thomas Dowling, 1852-4; Rev. Ad- dison Parker, 1855-64, when he died: Rev. George Colesworthy, 1865-9: Rev. E. P. Bond, 1870-73; Rev. A. H. Simons, 1874-83; Rev. H. M. Heywood, 1884-9; Rev. S. A. Read, 1889-1899. Rev. Frederic S. Boody is the present pastor. The location of the parsonage was changed about the year 1865, when the old par- sonage was sold and the house purchased by Rev. Mr. Parker during his pastorate, located near the church, was taken in its stead. In 1883 the church building was extensively repaired and improved; and as an illustration of the spirit of Christian fellow- ship between the denominations, it may be mentioned that dur- ing the repairs the Baptists were offered and accepted the use
( 539 )
Digitized by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
of the Congregational church, and when the repaired church was reopened with appropriate services, both congregations united in the exercises.
A Methodist Episcopal church was established at Feeding Hills as early as 1802, but the first forty years of its existence were uneventful, and no records have been preserved. The preaching during this time was doubtless principally by circuit riders and casual supply. The church was reorganized in 1844, and in 1851 a small, plain church building was erected. With some improvements this served until 1900, when a small but neat church building was completed and dedicated. In 1840 the New England Methodist Episcopal conference built a small church in the south part of the town, where services were held for a few years with some regularity by Rev. David Taylor, a licentiate who lived in the vicinity. No church was organized in that por- tion of the town. The pastors who have been regularly assigned to Methodist pulpits in what is now the town of Agawam, so far as can be ascertained, (serving other parishes also in some cases,) is as follows: Rev. Amasa Taylor, 1836-7; Rev. William Taylor, 1838-9; Rev. Asa Niles, 1840; Rev. John Cadwell, 1841; Rev. David L. Winslow and Rev. Albert A. Cook, 1842; Rev. William Fleming, 1843; Rev. Homer Clark, 1844; Rev. George W. Greene, 1845; Rev. Ephraim Scott, 1846; Rev. George W. Greene, 1847-50; Rev. W. A. Clapp, 1850; Rev. Ephraim Scott, 1851-2; Rev. George W. Greene, 1852-3; Rev. John Moore, 1853; Rev. D. Todd, 1854; Rev. R. Mitchell, 1855; Rev. Daniel Wait, 1856-7; Rev. John Cadwell, 1858; Rev. John Moore, 1859; Rev. Osman W. Adams, 1861; Rev. N. J. Merrill, 1868; Rev. J. H. Lord, 1871; Rev. N. J. Merrill, 1873-4; Rev. A. Caldwell, 1875; Rev. Jonathan Neal, 1878-80; Rev. S. L. Rodgers, 1881-2; Rev. F. T. George, 1883-4; Rev. H. W. Adams, 1885-6; Rev. A. C. Godfrey, 1887-8; Rev. William Ferguson, 1889; Rev. S. L. Rodgers, 1890-91; Rev. Charles Nicklin, 1892-4; Rev. H. G. Buckingham, 1900-01.
St. William's Roman Catholic church, located in the Aga- wam portion of the village of Mittineague, affords religious privileges for the French-speaking Catholic people of the locality. The first steps toward the formation of a congregation
( 540 )
Digmxco by Google
THE TOWN OF AGAWAM
there were taken March 6, 1873, when vesper service was held by Rev. Louis Gagnier of Springfield. Later a fine building site was secured, 150 by 175 feet in size, on which, in 1876, the church of St. William was erected. Until 1883 Father Gagnier conducted this branch as a mission of St. Joseph's church of Springfield; but at that time it was erected into the dignity of a parish, with the churches in Longmeadow and East Longmeadow as missions. Rev. E. Pelletier was the first resident pastor, serv- ing until his promotion to a pastorate in Chicopee in 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Campeau, under whom a house was bought on Front street as a parish presbytery. Rev. J. H. A. Biron succeeded to the pastorate in 1888, and died in 1890. During the last year of his incumbency Revs. J. O. Sylvian and J. C. Allard served as his assistants. Rev. Frederick Bonneville was his successor, rendering good service from 1890 to 1893 when promoted to a larger parish in Chicopee. Rev. Humphrey Wren, with Rev. P. J. Hackett as assistant, served for six months to January 1, 1894, when Rev. Joseph M. A. Genest, the present incumbent, was transferred from Southbridge to take charge of the parish. He at once set about the improvement of the parish property, and organized a parochial school of some fifty mem- bers, for which school-rooms were provided in the basement of the church.
Agawam is one of the few agricultural towns in the state showing a steady growth in valuation and population during the past half century. At the time of incorporation it had in round numbers 1,500 inhabitants. According to the national census reports the number had increased to 1,698 in 1860, to 2,001 in 1870, to 2,216 in 1880, 2,352 in 1890, and to 2,536 in 1900.
( 541
Dignc00 by Google
CHAPTER XIX THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
Almost a hundred years after the colony at Springfield was founded settlements were first made on that part of the town lands which were known as the "outward commons, " on the east. Nearly half a century before settlement was begun the proprie- tors of the mother town had been compelled to survey and allot the common lands on the east, under penalty of forfeiture to the crown; and while the town thus saved the title no attempt at improvement was made until 1730, when Nathaniel Hitch- cock of Springfield became the pioneer of what now is Wilbraham and Hampden.
In 1741 the north part of this territory was set off as the "Fourth Precinct of Springfield," not having the character and full powers of a town jurisdiction, but as a parish settlement for the separate maintenance of religious worship, for the good people here had truly represented that they were at great in- convenience in being compelled to journey ten long miles to worship in the meeting house at the old mother settlement in Springfield. At that time there had been no permanent settle- ment in what now is Hampden, but very soon afterward im- provements began to extend southward toward the Connecticut line. In 1763 Wilbraham took another advance step in civil history and was set off from Springfield with full town powers, except in the election of a separate representative to the general court.
Both tradition and authenticated records inform us that in 1741 Stephen Stebbins left his former home in Longmeadow and established himself and family on the north bank of the Scantic, within what now is Hampden. Following closely afterward there
( 542 1
Digliced by Google
THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
came others, all settling along the same stream, on both sides, and in the course of a few more years a scattered yet well defined colony was established here. Rev. Edward A. Chase in a pub- lished historical address gives us reliable information concerning the first settlers in Hampden, hence we have recourse to his writings.
According to Mr. Chase, pioneer Stebbins located where Mortimer Pease now (1885) lives, while Aaron Stebbins, brother of the pioneer, settled north of him, "just north of the red school house." Paul Langdon, who brought the first four-
Hampden-the stream in the valley
wheeled wagon into the town, settled south of Stephen Stebbins on the farm occupied in 1885 by Edward Bartlett. This farm was "overplus land," and was secured by Langdon through the aid of Mr. Pynchon. Abner Chapin came from Chicopee and settled on the south side of the Scantic. Lewis Langdon, son of Paul, built the first saw mill in 1750. William King settled on the land where now stands the Congregational church. The premises afterward passed into the hands of Robert Sessions. William Stacy settled on the mountain south of the Scantic,
( 543
Digmood by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
where Albert Lee now (1885) lives. Moses Stebbins, Comfort Chaffee, Jabez Hendrick, Daniel Carpenter, Henry Badger, Isaac Morris, Rowland Crocker, Benjamin Skinner and Ezekiel Russell also were among the early settlers in the South parish, and were located on the hills and in the valleys bordering on the river. Robert Sessions, the pioneer head of one of the most prominent families of South Wilbraham in later years, settled in the town in 1781.
Within a quarter of a century after the pioneer led the way for civilized white settlement in this part of the mother town, we find a flourishing colony had sprung up; lands were cleared and many fine farms had been opened for cultivation. Then the settlers sought to establish regular religious services in their own community, but their first application to be set off and established as a separate parish met with the same fate as did the petitions of Wilbraham to Springfield in earlier years. In 1765 the inhabitants of the new settlement asked for money to pay for the services of a minister during the next winter, but the request was refused. In 1767 they sought to have preaching among them at their own cost, but in this also they were unsuc- cessful.
In 1772, Asa Chaffee, son of Joseph, on behalf of the in- habitants of the south part of Wilbraham, presented a petition asking that his people be set off as a separate town; but this request, too, was denied, and it was not until 1778, after several unsuccessful attempts, that the town voted to establish the South parish. However, in 1780 this vote was reconsidered, and the next year the inhabitants sought relief at the hands of the gen- eral court. In the meantime the people of the north part had become more considerate of the interests of their townsmen in the south locality, and in December, 1781, voted to appoint a com- mittee from out of the town to consider the method of dividing the territory into parishes. This committee comprised John Hale, Luke Bliss and William Pynchon, junior, whose report, dated Springfield, February 21, 1782, in part said :
"It is the united opinion of the committee and which they conceive will best accommodate the inhabitants of the several
( 544 )
Dgazed hy Google
THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
parts of the town, that it be divided into two parishes, by the name of the North and South Parishes, by a line coinciding with the south line of the lot whereon Nathaniel Bliss, deceased, lived, from the westward bound of said town to the Monson line :- (with this exception) that the inhabitants of said town living on the west from the top of the mountain to the south side of Lieut. Thomas Merrick's lot to the westward bounds of said town, with their estates, be annexed to the North parish, and that the inhabitants living east from the top of the mountain from the south side of said Bliss' lot north to the south side of the lot originally laid out to Jonathan Taylor's estate to Monson line, be annexed to the South parish, with their estates," etc., reserving to the inhabitants along the boundary the privilege of selecting the parish to which they would prefer to belong and pay "rates."
In accordance with this division, an act of the general court, passed June 20, 1782, created the North and South parishes of Wilbraham, making Thomas Merrick and his lands a part of the North parish, and David Wood, Jesse Carpenter and Jonah Beebe and their lands a part of the South parish; and also providing that John Bliss, Esq., issue his warrant to some principal in- habitants in each parish warning them to meet and choose such officers as "may be necessary to manage the affairs of the said parishes."
The purpose of the new parish creation was the spiritual welfare of the people in the south part of Wilbraham, that they might establish and maintain a separate church and such local government as they were authorized to set up was for the espe- cial object of building a house of worship and paying the ex- pense of a minister, rather than the conduct of civil affairs in the precinct. The early history of the parish was part and parcel with the history of the church, and was continued as long as the custom prevailed of supporting religious worship at the public or parish expense. During the latter part of the eighteenth century the South parish had become well settled with people whose religious belief and form of worship was not in accord with the doctrine of the precinct church, and the estab-
85.8
1 545 )
Digarco by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
lishment of other societies led to the ultimate abandonment of the system of public support of the "orthodox" church. hence the gradual decline in authority of the "committee of the parish" and other officers who were from time to time chosen to adminis- ter its affairs. After the separation of church and civil govern- ments in the North and South parishes, both societies supported themselves as church bodies are now maintained, and thereafter the name South parish was changed and became South Wilbra- ham. It was so known until March 28, 1878, when the territory of the South parish, South Wilbraham, was regularly incor- porated into a town by the name of Hampden.
The old South parish records serve to throw some light on the early history of the region, and likewise furnish us the names of many settlers in addition to those previously mentioned, yet for further detail of early life and reminiscences in this locality, the reader may have recourse to the history of Wilbraham, the mother town, for there was no complete separation until within a comparatively recent date. The first treasurer in the South parish was Colonel John Bliss, who served from 1782 to 1784, when he was succeeded by David Burt. The records also give us the names of Capt. Paul Langdon and Lieut. Samuel Sexton. who served during the revolution and there gained their military titles, as also did Col. Bliss. From the same source we obtain the names of Enoch Burt, Moses Stebbins, junior, Deacon John Hitchcock. and Elizur Tillotson, junior, the latter one of the earliest tavern keepers in the South parish, and whose application for license in 1807 was refused on the ground that his public house was not a benefit to the public. The remonstrance against Mr. Tillotson's petition for a license was signed by John Bliss, Robert Sessions, Confort Chaffee, jun., William Clark. Enos Clark, Jonathan Flynt, Levi Flynt, Joseph Morris, Edward Morris, David Burt, Noah Sexton, William Clark, Asa Isham, Samuel Sexton, Walter Shaw, Jared Case, William Wood, Lemuel Jones, Charles Sessions and Nathaniel B. Chaffee.
During the period of the last French and English wars, and also during the revolution, Hampden under its original name gained an enviable prominence, and by reference to the chapter
( 546 )
Dio woo by Google
THE TOWN OF HAMPDEN
relating to Wilbraham, there may be found the names of those of the South parish who took part in those memorable contests. Robert Sessions, who came into the town in 1781, was one of the famous "Boston Tea Party," and is entitled to mention in these pages. Moreover, he was the progenitor of one of the most prominent families in the town, and one whose representatives in all subsequent generations have been active factors for good in the civil, ecclesiastical and industrial history of the town.
From all which is stated on preceding pages it must be seen that settlement in the South parish was accomplished rapidly after the beginning was made by pioneer Stebbins and his fol- lowers. Indeed, it is a matter of unwritten history, yet worthy of mention, that the lands of the South parish were found to be more fertile and accessible and equally desirable for farming purposes as those of the North parish, and, moreover, the south- ern region did not appear to have been subject to the unequal and questionable subdivision of lands which embarrassed the settlers on the first allotted tracts of the outward commons. The land surface here is broken with high hills, in localities approach- ing the magnitude of mountains, yet, comparatively, there is little waste land: and few indeed are the areas which are unfit for cultivation.
Organization and Civil History .- In the early part of this chapter the writer has traced something of the civil history of the old South parish in connection with the general events of settlement and growth. As has been stated, the imperfect and limited parish organization was effected in 1782, which. although sufficient for the time, gave no rights to its inhabitants outside of church government, and even had the effect to prejudice the parish in the distribution of civil offices in the town at large. However, after the disappearance of the parish character and the rise of South Wilbraham, the latter region furnished the mother town some of the best material ever called into office in the jurisdiction. and also sent into public life some of the strongest men the county has produced ; and to-day the sons and descendants of South Wilbraham and Hampden are found among the foremost professional and business men of the county seat, as well as in many other commercial centers.
1 547 1
Lighzed by Google
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
The act of the legislature creating the town was passed March 28, 1878. The new jurisdiction comprised, substantially, all which previously had been known as South Wilbraham, originally the old South parish. The first town meeting was held April 8, 1878, and was warned by S. C. Spellman, justice of the peace. William R. Sessions was chosen moderator, and the following officers were elected : William R. Sessions. Freeman W. Dickinson, Patrick E. Wall, selectmen ; Sumner Smith, town clerk and treasurer; S. M. Stanton, Andrew Beebe, John W. Isham, assessors; A. B. Newell, John N. Isham, Moses H. Warner, school committee.
The succession of selectmen and town clerks is as follows :
Selectmen .- 1878-80, William R. Sessions, Freeman W. Dickinson. Patrick E. Wall; 1881, Decius Beebe, Frank S. Smith. Solomon C. Spellman : 1882, William R. Sessions. Decius Beebe, Andrew Beebe; 1883-4. Decius Beebe, Andrew Beebe, Lyman Smith ; 1885-6, Decius Beebe, Dr. George T. Ballard, Charles H. Burleigh ; 1887, William R. Sessions. E. H. Temple, William Leach: 1888, Decius Beebe, George T. Ballard, Charles H. Burleigh : 1889, George T. Ballard, David R. MeCray, John N. Isham; 1890, George T. Ballard, David R. MeCray, Charles H. Burleigh; 1891, Sumner Smith, S. P. Chapin, John Kenworthy : 1892, George T. Ballard, Charles H. Burleigh, John Bartlett : 1893, George T. Ballard, Charles H. Burleigh, Alpheus Peck : 1894. Mortimer Pease, Charles H. Burleigh, N. M. Carew; 1895- 97, Mortimer Pease, Sumner Smith, N. M. Carew; 1898-99, Mortimer Pease. N. M. Carew. William J. Sessions; 1900, C. N. Whitaker, N. M. Carew. William S. Hunt; 1901, George T. Ballard, N. M. Carew, William S. Hunt.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.